By Samuel Strait – Reporter at Large – July 24, 2022 One other noticeable trait found only in the low information inhabitants of both Portland and Seattle is the continued over reliance on masking to avoid infection from the dreaded Covid-19 virus. Most people no longer are subject to the belief that masking had any positive benefit towards avoiding becoming ill from a virus. Even those that had not experienced the dreaded contact with Covid are finding it unavoidable no matter how well immersed in government talking points, or what the level of "safety" was being assured if only Public Health protocols were followed. It is hard to penetrate the mind set of individuals who have "bought" into the notion that masking or even full vaccination including boosters, will provide any sort of guarantee against any virus, let alone the current version of Covid-19. Clearly, it now should be plainly evident, when one of the most protected persons on the planet, our unbalanced president, cannot seem to avoid becoming infected, let alone ride a bicycle properly. It has become almost an event of hilarity to see one clinging to masking as some sort of "magic" shield against the inevitable exposure to what ever version of the virus that happens to be circulating. There remains some in this State, California, that appear to be on the verge of reinstituting indoor masking in spite of clear evidence that its benefits are non existent and its negatives are a legion. Leave it to Urban areas of the Country and those States, California, New York, Illinois and other "blue" states to continue this insanity. I suspect it will be a hard sell for much of the rest of this Country, where Covid dictators no longer have their citizens in thrall of the pandemic of the century. It is unlikely that the "empty suit" in California, who appears to have designs on the White House will budge from his Progressive base to add rational decisions to his repertoire. Should those that were reluctant to remove Mr. Self Important from his post as governor, one only hopes that you are enjoying the results of your imprudent vote. While there are a lot of things wrong within the State of California, going back to pandemic era mistakes will not likely solve anything we will face until Democrats in California are forced to release their destructive grip on power in Sacramento. Fear of Covid for most in this Country has gone the way of most Progressive policy making and it is time for folks to begin the path back to a saner more stable society. The current crop of leadership in California will continue to ignore any effort to rein in those that do not have the best intentions for those that they govern and will revert to mandates that have no merit in stemming virus infection that occurs every fall no matter what. The entire range of mandated policy for Covid should be eliminated immediately and prevented from being returned in the future. Science has found them to be wanting. During this entire period of the pandemic, governing policies have been found to be exactly what not to do when facing this sort of threat. What has been the most unfortunate lesson from this past two years is that it could have been avoided had those who said it would not work were heeded. Not only has the response to Covid been overstated, but much of our "Expert" class revealed as frauds. Politicians, the Medical establishment, the Education Community and the Media have damaged their collective reputations that will take many years if at all to be restored. Those that continue to insist that what they have done benefited those in this Country should pay a steep price for their foolishness. Those that continue to mask and continue to virtue signal should receive the disrespect they are entitled. Covid needs to find a way to be in everyone's rear view mirror and life return to normal.