Letters: Coronavirus, Trump, State bills and more | April 23

Have Tri-Citians gotten the word?

I had to drive to the Tri-Cities yesterday to help my elderly mother with a few items she needed done. No way could I tell that the Tri-City area has a stay at home order in place. I went to two locations and both were as if it was a normal Spring Monday. Lots of people and cars. Very hard to believe these people were all in need of that much stuff!! It was sad to see that it seems that most people have no clue what is going on right now and are either that blind or selfish.

Very disappointed.

Pray for our president

Even if you are one of the Trump haters, I believe that no one loves this country more than he does. They had a deal ready to vote on when Queen Pelosi flew in and demanded more, so she added another $1.2 trillion of pork and wasted another week. Why is it that Democrats do not want you to watch Fox News, Judicial Watch, Mark Levin and others? What are they afraid of?

I also appreciate having Jay Inslee, who has never made a right decision except to move to Seattle to get elected. Access has been closed to WDFW and DNR lands so that we cannot hike or ride on those lands, and what is the purpose? We promise not to kiss any wild animal! They say it is public land, however, as soon as they purchase a gate and a lock then their laws are enforced.

Wonderful plays

On March 6 and 7, I attended three one act plays written by the senior graduating class at Southridge High School. What a delight!

I was so happy to see this group of kids performing as I had watched a lot of them starting in grade school (choir etc.) It was great seeing how poised and confident they were. They were so supporting of each other. Thank you.

Why are alcohol sales essential?

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., many citizens have been advised to stay home and others have no choice due to unemployment and statewide Stay-At-Home Order. While this is great to reduce the spread of the virus, it has also increased cases of domestic violence within homes in the U.S. The Domestic violence Hotline has seen 1,800 to 2,000 calls a day, which is a 55% increase compared with recent weeks. And the fact is that over 52% of domestic violence cases in the U.S involve alcohol, so it doesn’t make sense for our government to allow The sale of alcohol as essential.

If we as Americans would like to reduce the rise of domestic violence, then one of our first steps to consider is to recognize the sale of alcohol as nonessential. Although many believe it is good to consider it essential due to the fact that 10% of the population suffers from alcohol use disorder, what is more important? An illness that can be treated if needed or the trauma that can affect a child or individual their entire life?

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

Keeping record straight on bills

Responding to D.L. Anderson’s April 12 letter attempting to set the record straight:

S.B 5395 has too many problems to list, but examples include (Ref. 1):

• The bill assumes that consent determines whether sex is right or wrong, and doesn’t recognize that sex is about far more than consent.

• The bill requires “scientifically accurate” programs. You can bet that what biology says about when life begins, or the biologically impossibility of a third gender, will not be discussed. The bill requires unscientific teaching of gender concepts beginning in kindergarten.

HB 1775: D.L. is wrong. The bill requires the prosecutor to divert cases for anyone under 18 charged with first offenses of prostitution, voyeurism and sale or distribution of sexually explicit materials.

SB 6037: D.L. has the wrong bill. The 2020 bill requires boards of public companies to be “diverse,” including with regard to sex, race and historically underrepresented groups.

HB 1551: D.L. is wrong. The bill states that trying but failing to transmit HIV to a partner, or knowingly misrepresenting his or her infection status, it is at most a gross misdemeanor. Assault is charged only if the HIV was successfully transmitted to a child or “vulnerable” adult.

www.myfaithvotes.org/articles/sex-ed-and-religion-a-battle-in-washington-state

Feds, Trump not doing their jobs

A major role of federal government is to prepare for, and respond to, nationwide emergencies. They must develop technologies for future risk, establish national stockpiles and direct production and distribution of critical resources. This requires foresight, planning and leadership.

The private sector is fundamentally incapable of doing this. The profit motive drives them to compete, minimize inventory, produce only what can be immediately sold, sell at the highest prices and distribute to those with the most money not the greatest need. The federal government must direct the private sector’s skills in innovation and manufacturing to effectively deploy resources for the public good.

A rapid and coordinated federal response is required. However, this president does not seem to grasp the federal government’s inherent role. He also lacks the empathy to act quickly beyond self-interest. At this point, it doesn’t matter if it wasn’t fast enough. It wasn’t. What matters is that now, right now, the federal government needs to direct industry to produce what is needed, provide logistics to deliver and have people stay home. No excuses or praise should be required. The country needs leadership that is effective, accountable, honest and united. Unfortunately, not skills of the current one.

Little relaxation of social distancing

Americans should plan for little relaxation of social distancing rules, if we are to save lives. Republicans now foreseeing relaxations are either pandering or are yet dreadfully unaware that pandemics end when at least 40% to 60% of the population are immune.

Immunity comes from recovery or immunization. Here in mid-April 2020, we have less than 0.5% immune. We are are NOT on the 90-yard line in this game. We have over 99% to go.

Every new case multiplies by three COVID-19’s Basic Reproduction Number. Every case we stop now pays off exponentially, giving us time to vaccinate more of our population.

Demand very high vaccination rates (per capita) or statistically significant results from randomized testing in our community before relaxing constraints.

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Coronavirus, Trump, State bills and more | April 23."