"Listening to the experts to set policy is an elitist approach...."

[yonder]

Gosh, I don't know where to start - this is nuts, yet becoming normal in Idaho. Way too many kooks, who somehow keep getting elected, making no sense while trying to make decisions for the rest of us. Senator Steven Thayn, R-Emmett (Idaho) has been at it for years. He sits on Idaho's Sen. Education Commitee, an oxymoron if there ever was one. Others apparently think certain selected appointed positions should be necessarily filled by the will of the people. Whoo boy, all of this in preparation for a forthcoming special legislative session where civil liability restrictions due to emergency (Covid) are rumored to be acted on also.

Legislative working group wants to change school closure authority

Legislators warned of abuses of power and concerns about totalitarianism Monday as a legislative working group pushed to take away health districts’ ability to close schools. The Education Working Group requested the Legislature take up the issue of school closure authority when Gov. Brad Little convenes an extraordinary session of the Legislature the week of Aug. 24. Currently, health districts do have the authority to issue quarantine orders or close schools.

During a hybrid in-person/remote meeting Monday, House Education Committee Vice Chairman Ryan Kerby, R-New Plymouth, pushed a draft proposal that would make it so school boards have the authority to close schools and public health districts play an advisory role. Kerby said school administrators want to be able to make decisions without somebody else “looking over their shoulder.”

Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, made a motion to delete a section from Kerby’s proposal that would have still allowed heath districts to quarantine or close schools to prevent the spread of an infectious disease. Several legislators were concerned public health boards are appointed; they are not elected by voters.

Senate Education Committee Vice Chairman Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, said he is worried about “letting a few fearful people control the lives of those of us that are not fearful.”
Sen. Steven Thayn

“What’s happening is we’re having a standardized approach by people saying we need to listen to the experts,” Thayn said. “Listening to the experts to set policy is an elitist approach. I’m fearful of an elitist approach. I am also fearful it leads to totalitarianism, especially when you say ‘We are doing it for the public good.’”

-snip-

more here:
https://www.idahoednews.org/news/legislative-working-group-wants-to-change-school-closure-authority/

[DBoon]

1. Ignoring health experts results in death

So 'We are doing it for the public good.’ is totalitarian?

What does he think of the General Welfare clause of the US Constitution then?

[yonder]

2. I'm guessing he thinks if it isn't in the 2nd Amendment he can ignore it.

Like most other things.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Asimov

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. "letting a few fearful people control the lives of those of us that are not fearful."

Like letting a few fearful people who have to carry semi-auto weapons control the lives of millions of students who have to endure active shooter drills and all the fall-out that entails.

[yonder]

5. I just can't seem to get my arms around all the craziness. It's not just this state either.

Everyday, things make less and less sense to me and whom I consider reasonably normal. Where do these people come from? What kool-aid have they been drinking? It's like there is a quickening to some sort of Event Horizon for Idiots.

[LastDemocratInSC]

6. The next time one these yahoos has a dental problem

I'm sure he'll head down to the tire shop to see if his friend Billy can do something about it. No need to seek out education and expert advice!