Thankful for local leaders

Thank God for our local leaders and Eastern Washington representatives’ willingness to question the autocratic direction of our exalted czar.

Our local leaders are merely trying to balance the livelihood and lives of remaining survivors with the potential risk of additional infections. These representatives requested the early implementation of phase 2, as a result of Spokane County’s successful implementation of virus prevention practices and resulting substantially reduced virus infections.

As a result of Inslee’s denial of this request and unreasonable response that Spokane County was required to have three consecutive weeks of no new virus cases, our local representatives filed suit to question the constitutionality of his actions. While Inslee characterized their actions as “biologically ignorant” for trying to remove all restrictions, our representatives are merely trying to protect the rights, lives and livelihood of their local citizens.

While the loss of life from this virus is extremely painful and should be minimized as well as possible, unfortunately potential future risk needs to be balanced with the lives and livelihood of the survivors. If Spokane County is required to eliminate all new virus cases for three consecutive weeks before virus controls are marginally relaxed not eliminated, then all counties including King County should be under the same restrictions.

We can only hope that our judicial system will overrule our czar’s unrealistic requirements. If the majority of the state is required to follow this direction, the surviving state economy will be in shambles — coupled with the public’s will to follow any ongoing state restrictions.

Amen to our health care workers, first responders and critical workers.

Randall Pownell

Newman Lake, Wash.