Patriotic sacrifice

Recently, several of your readers have expressed opinions that the federal and state governments’ isolation and quarantine laws are unconstitutional.

The federal law which allows the president of the U.S. to call for isolation and quarantine during a pandemic is found under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S. code 264). Under this law the U.S. secretary of health is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the U.S. and between states.

To date, this law has not been found to violate the federal Constitution by any federal court or the Supreme Court.

During World Wars I and II, our government ordered automobile factories to stop production of civilian cars and switch over to military vehicles. So was the case for aircraft production. Farmers were told by the government what crops to grow. Civilian ration books were required to purchase a limited supply of such things as sugar, butter, meat, bread, gasoline, tires and many other products. Millions of Americans were inducted into the military.

Throughout our history, we have been called upon to make sacrifices for our country. This too, will pass.

Mark Johnson

Nine Mile Falls