Protecting from virus

Roger Harnack's April 2nd editorial quotes Benjamin Franklin about giving "up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety...," which was not written at the time of a pandemic, even though Roger wrote that our nation's forefathers were not unaware of them. Thanks to science, we now know much more about how viruses spread.

I am glad we are giving up the right to assemble, as directed by Governor Inslee, for as long as necessary to stop this scourge.

I happen to believe scientists more than I believe politicians. Medical and health experts are telling us that this virus is extremely unlikely to "go away" until there are no more human victims to infect. So, until we deprive COVID-19 of the opportunity for more infections, it will continue to circulate until its victims are either dead, survive, or we have a vaccine to protect us.

I feel terrible that essential workers have to risk exposure but I am extremely thankful for what they are doing. Many businesses and workers are suffering. The sooner they are operating, the better.

Many states have now issued similar orders. One of the few that didn't is North Dakota. What good does that do to my home town friends in eastern Montana if they quiet the virus circulation only to have it freely infecting folks across the state border?

Finally, regarding any threat to our freedom, I am much more concerned about the President's repeated attacks on our newspapers and television companies, and their reporters.

Mark Bordsen,

Colfax