Facts really are stubborn things

In her recent email to constituents, Rep. Heather Scott partially quoted John Adams, "facts are stubborn things." Ms. Scott references what she refers to as CDC data in maligning the state of emergency in Idaho, with a link. A quick fact check revealed that the link does not go to CDC data, and the percentages she further references are attributed to a conservative blogger who downplays the severity of the pandemic and discourages vaccination. Fact checking reveals that the age specific "survival rates" listed did not come from the CDC. CDC has not released any age specific COVID-19 survival rates. The link Rep. Scott uses to try to support her use of misinformation actually outlines the measurement challenges and flaws in trying to determine survival rates with COVID-19.

Even assuming the percentages she references are close to accurate, which they are not, it is alarming that she would want her constituents over the age of 70 years to believe that they are so expendable, that a 5.4% mortality for people over the age of 70 is acceptable and not an emergency.

To be accurate, John Adams actually said: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." It would be so very refreshing if our state representative would take action based on facts, rather than inclinations or passion. 

JONATHAN QUINN-HURST

Priest River