The recent kerfuffle perpetrated by two of the Bonner County commissioners regarding defunding the Panhandle Health District is a symptom of how far from reality our society has fallen.

Commissioner Dan McDonald claims “It's your responsibility to protect your own health, it's not the rest of the public's responsibility — in my opinion — to protect your health.” Commissioner Steve Bradshaw claims the masks hinder people's right to breathe:  “There is no human right more fundamental than the right to breathe.”

These gentlemen seem not to be aware of the primary use of masks: to prevent the wearer from dispersing the aerosols that contain the coronavirus and hence infecting others. Wearing a mask shows we care about our fellow citizens' welfare and health. It shows we have respect for others.

Apparently the commissioners aren't aware of Matthew 7:12, where Jesus says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — one of the essences of Jesus' teachings.

I expect this resistance to mask wearing stems from the president's scorn for the virus (“a hoax”). Many say it's no worse than the flu, but 30,000 annual flu deaths are a far cry from the 270,000 COVID deaths so far.

Wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus is certainly a much better option than having another lockdown.

JOHN HARBUCK

Sandpoint