Regarding the Whidbey News-Times article, “McDowell on hot seat over APZ,” dated May 10.

After reading some statements given by our public servants, I knew instantly that they were suffering from what I call “Save Us From Ourselves” syndrome (SUFO). This is a common illness among elected officials and government employees.

Since it is the county’s duty to anticipate for all contingencies and remove as much risk as possible to protect citizens, anticipate our planning directors and commissioners to come up with a new ordinance requiring everyone to stay in bed. You cannot be any safer, unless of course, a Navy aircraft crashes into your house because “it is not bound by the flight pattern.” Ooooops.

Two contingencies emerge to counter this minute possibility, make the Navy leave, or remove the people from the island. Wait, even if the Navy leaves it will not prevent the possibility of that Piper Cub from Oak Harbor airport or that Airbus at 30,000 feet from crashing into your house. What is the contingency for that?

Move everyone to a vacated U.S. military missile silo. However, that requires transportation. If a plane is used it might crash into someone’s house on Whidbey Island. Busing citizens via Keystone ferry is definitely out of the question because it might capsize. Taking the bridge is out because it might collapse or worse the bus jumps the rail. How old are the ferries at Clinton? Hmmm, maybe moving citizens is not the answer.

Besides, the Coupeville Town Council is using the silo as part of their Public Avoidance System (PAS). They too have public safety concerns.

It would be interesting to find out what contingencies our county officials have for the two churches next to the Navy’s Outlying Field. What about contingencies for patrons at Countryside Inn or the Boys Scouts camping at the rifle range nearby, or the soccer players at Rhododendron Park?

Wait! Let us draft an ordinance making Whidbey Island a crash free zone!

In the interest of protecting citizens, all aircraft must crash somewhere else. Also forbidden is crashing your car, truck, or boat on Whidbey Island. That’s it! I feel safer already.

It is folly to think that by enacting legislation it will protect every citizen from every harmful possibility. Legislation will not prevent the sky from falling, devastating storms, cancer, heart attacks, constipation, or the common cold. Legislation will not infuse common sense into the minds of men or women nor will it eradicate stupidity, incompetence, ignorance, apathy, or carelessness.

Does anyone have contingencies for the baby boom caused by all of us staying in bed? Never fear our current county planners and commissioners are here to save us!

Kenneth J. Wolf

Coupeville