(10/2020) Over the past several months I have found it very difficult to fathom what constitutes whether something is dubbed positive or negative, important or unimportant. A case in point is the number of Pennsylvanians state-wide that are hospitalized with the effects of the Corona Virus.

As of July 28th, Pennsylvania’s state-wide total of individuals hospitalized with the Corona Virus was 701. As of September 21st the total number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized for the treatment of Corona declined to 400. These figures were available from the PA Department of Health. This is an amazing decline of 301 patients, but there was no media announcement of this notable occurrence; yet this information is at the fingertips of the media and PA DOH. Why no attention or announcement? Other states with declining hospitalization also get similar media attention. Why?

One statistic that the media and DOH do not fail to publish is the running total of positive Corona tests. This total has currently reached approximately 150,000+ positive tests. The count is kept religiously like a headline score card. Why? As individuals recover from Corona those individuals are not removed to reduce the running total. Why? I wish my bank account were managed the same way, continually adding and adding to my account without removing my withdraws. This is a great way to impress others with skewed information. By the way, according to the PA DOH, presently an estimated 82% of those infected with Corona have been classified as recovered.

Using the above data, the probability of Pennsylvanians being hospitalized with Corona can be calculated without skewing the numbers. Determining that probability is simple, divide the number of people hospitalized by the population of Pennsylvania. The PA population is at least 12,500,000 and the hospitalizations for Corona over the past several months have averaged 500 on a given day. So, based on these numbers the percentage of Pennsylvanians being hospitalized with corona is .004%. That means that you and I have a .004% chance or 4 out of 100,000 people, of ending up in the hospital with Corona. If you live in Adams County that would basically mean four people could expect to be a Corona patient on a given day. Actually, there have been days when there have been zero Corona patients in the Gettysburg Wellspan Hospital.

Given the above facts, I have confidence that I can leave my home and be among the public without fear of being infected with Corona. Repeatedly I have been among outside crowds and have not been infected. That has even built my confidence to continue to be among public gatherings, even to being comfortable among thousands (being at Lincoln Speedway). It is my opinion that sheltering, and masking interferes with building immunity. Also, I have heard and read that fear, anxiety, and stress weaken our immune system. So, does unnecessary sheltering aid and enhance these conditions? I believe many are suffering as a result of arbitrary decisions that are controlling individuals’ lives rather than providing the freedom to become resilient in the face of Corona.

While we try to navigate among the issues created by Corona (natural and man-made), election season is upon us. Legislative changes in the election process have occurred since last year. The PA Suprema Court has also created some unconstitutional changes of their own that are legislative in nature and outside the duties of the court. The Court has taken upon itself to extend the election three days beyond election day. Election day is just that, a day that is to conclude the voting and a declaration of the winners.

Along with extending Election Day, the PA Supreme Court has declared that ballot drop boxes may be located throughout the state. What a reckless means of inviting irregularities to the election process. As a Commissioner member of the County Board of Elections, I will not vote in favor of staging drop boxes throughout the county. The only drop box I will promote will be one located within the Courthouse under security surveillance. The integrity of the election process must be maintained; now our PA Supreme Court is robbing us of that right. Please pray that our elected offices, state and federal, can reverse these and other injustices of the PA Supreme Court.

There are some legal changes in the election law that have passed the PA legislature. One change is to the ballot; there will not be the ability to vote straight party. Voters are now required to vote for each separate office/candidate. The convenience of voting a straight party ticket will no longer exist. My recommendation is that each voter know all candidates on the ballot; studying a sample ballot before election day will be good preparation. If you are concerned that your mail-in or absentee ballot will arrive by the deadline, you may deposit your ballot in the Courthouse Drop Box by 8:00 p.m. on November 3rd.

Best Regards and Prayers for a civil nation, Commissioner JIM Martin