Weigh risks of ignoring rules

It’s hard not to be disappointed and frustrated with those in our community unwilling to follow the guidelines set out by health officials on both the local and national level around COVID-19. People have sacrificed much more than this for the betterment of the nation; we’re asking you to stay home and when you need to head out not (to) congregate in groups.

If you’ve lost your job, you have my sympathy, that’s not an easy time for anyone. If you’re simply complaining about not being able to go fishing, or go to some group activity, ask yourself if an hour of enjoyment is worth losing a neighbor.

COVID-19 story lacking clarity

In the April 19 (Tri-City Herald) article on coronavirus deaths, you mention that seasonal flu (is estimated to be) 24,000 to 62,000 for the 2019-20 (flu season) — stat I saw for last flu season was 34,000 — and the 2009 swine flu killed 12,000.

What you didn’t note is that we didn’t shut down and physical distance for those flus. An Imperial college study by esteemed scientists reported that if we hadn’t taken any measures for COVID-19 that U.S. deaths could have been as high as 4 million! Compare that 4 million vs. 34,000 and you can see that your article could be misconstrued by some that are angry at our state shutdown.

Sheriff shouldn’t ignore the law

When government officials decide that they are going to personally decide which laws and executive orders to follow; the community is in jeopardy. If the Franklin County sheriff doesn’t agree with a child abuse law, will he decide to not enforce it? If he doesn’t agree with the speed limit on a certain street, will he decide to not enforce the speed limit?

Our country is founded on a system of checks and balances that is designed to ensure our rights are upheld. If the sheriff believes the governor’s order is unconstitutional, he needs follow the legal process while he upholds his duties as a law enforcement officer.

In my opinion, the sheriff’s blatant disregard for the law is an indication that he needs to take a leave of absence until he can resume his duties in a way that matches the department’s core value of “lead by example.”

On an additional note, since Franklin County commissioners are saying Franklin County never closed, I’m confused as to why the sheriff’s office was closed to the public. And so, now are all county offices open to the public?

Park restrooms need to be open

The governor’s “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” proclamation includes as essential: “engaging in outdoor exercise activities, such as walking, hiking, running or biking.” Leslie Groves and Howard Amon Park restrooms are locked up. The parks are filling with people by the day. Schools are closed and many workers are off or working from home, resulting in large numbers of citizens with time to engage in outdoor exercise in city parks.

The City of Richland is failing in its responsibility to the citizens to maintain restroom facilities in city parks. City crews should be maintaining city park restrooms same as other city buildings and assets. Restrooms should be opened and signage posted that users of restrooms supply their own hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes (vandalism of sanitizer dispensers has been a longstanding problem). Many people are now carrying these items, especially mothers with children.

Businesses continuing to operate under the governor’s authorization have functioning restrooms, e.g., Winco, Costco, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, convenience stores, etc. If private businesses can provide this service to customers, the City of Richland can step up and provide access to park restrooms. Locking up park restrooms for an indefinite period is inexcusable.

COVID-19 denial not a healthy idea

I am writing to talk about the attitude of COVID-19 deniers. Many people think that COVID-19 is not that big of a deal or that it is better to go outside and risk their health and the health of others to keep the economy afloat. News sites such as Fox News have encouraged their viewers to go outside and ignore this stay-at-home order. I think that this is a terrible idea.

COVID-19 is very contagious and easy to spread. You might not be in a risk group, but there is no guarantee that you will be fine. Even if it is not serious to you, you could spread it to other people who are more susceptible to it (such as senior citizens and people with a serious medical history).

During pandemics, social distancing has been proved more effective at keeping a virus from spreading than going about your life as normal. During the flu pandemic of 1918, cities that were quarantined had a faster recovery time with fewer deaths than cities that did not.

I encourage you to stay home and stay by safe, only going out when necessary.

Viral infections aren’t political

To all my friends and neighbors in John Dam Plaza this Sunday (April 19): Remember, there are viruses that you don’t recover from.

We don’t know the long-term damage this virus may cause or what it could make you more susceptible to later on in life. It’s been four months. We don’t know if it causes liver damage and overproduction of prothrombin in six months after you have recovered and you die from a blood clot though you’re not “high risk,” (and) you don’t have underlying conditions. AIDS takes years to develop. Herpes isn’t curable. Chickenpox causes shingles. HPV causes warts. Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly. That is a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared with babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

You are not cool for risking getting a virus because you’re protesting like an idiot. Stay at home. Have you ever seen someone you love need to be on a ventilator? This isn’t political.

Who’s cutting Inslee’s hair?

Saw (Gov. Jay) Inslee on TV on April 22 with his hair cut nicely. Who cuts your hair, Gov?

Was taken a bit aback with his statement relating to the “Stay at Home Order” that individual law enforcement cannot “arbitrarily decide which laws they are going to enforce and which laws they’re not going to enforce.” Wow, and he said that with a straight face!!! Inslee has made it clear over and over Washington state will not comply with any federal Laws he does not agree with, specifically those relating to illegal immigration, and proudly tells all he will not cooperate with ICE.

He’s adamant that small businesses can not reopen in order to keep us all “safe” — however, he appears to have no concerns as he releases thousands of felons from prison.

Am I the only one who finds this hypocrisy scary?

Am I the only one wondering who’s cutting his hair? Has that person been fined and their license suspended?

Trump a doctor without license?

So Trump, M.D., (medically dyslexic) has recommended chloroquine as a cure all for the COVID-19? Isn’t he practicing medicine without a license?

Recovery simple: reopen state now

In response to the Tri-City Herald editorial dated 4/26/20, titled “Gov. Jay Inslee is losing support for coronavirus fight,” I take issue with two points in the conclusion of this editorial, “Inslee must launch a recovery plan that includes fairness, substance and precision, as well as provide encouragement to business owners who fear they will have to close permanently.”

The Tri-City Herald needs to make a much firmer stand for our extraordinary, hard-working business community members and farmers. They provide jobs for themselves and our neighbors, tax revenue for our cities, which helps provide income for “essential” workers, and goods that we all need. Without them we wouldn’t have a community.

Secondly, why does the governor need to provide “the recovery” plan? The elected are the servants to the people, not the people the servants of the elected. Even on Wednesday, 4/29/20, Gov. Inslee couldn’t provide “the recovery” plan.

The “recovery plan” and “encouragement” are simple, so some with many degrees or (who) have been in government too long will have a hard time understanding this, because the “recovery plan” and “encouragement” rely on giving freedom to the people, “Open Washington Now!”

Why does Trump play blame game?

Why won’t Trump accept responsibility for any of his own actions? It’s always somebody else’s fault when he screws up! He loves to play the “blame game” and doesn’t realize that intelligent people are holding that against him. His favorite “blame game” targets include the press, President Obama, Pelosi, (Sen. Charles) Schumer, the Democrats, immigrants, UN, Iran, NK, Ukraine, Paris Accord and now the WHO. Did he forget that his own administration warned him in writing last Dec./Jan. that COVID-19 posed a serious risk to the U.S. and world, and he did nothing to prepare for it? Trump is to blame not the WHO! Generally, the world disrespects people who are unable/unwilling to tell the truth or accept responsibility for their own actions. The lack of hospitals, test kits, PPE, respirators, trained personnel, lack of a national strategy to deal with COVID-19 continues today, and that is Trump’s fault, not the the WHO. My country is leaderless!!

Time for another Mueller probe?

U.S. intelligence services are reporting that Russia, China and Iran are using social media to spread false information on the U.S. Coronavirus pandemic response. If mainstream media, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff and other liberal Democrats continue to disparage Trump’s/Pence’s pandemic program, are they colluding with these foreign powers and Putin’s/Xi’s puppets? Should Robert Mueller investigate for two years?

He’s annoyed by that fact-checking

Are other readers annoyed by the ubiquitous fact-checking article about President Donald Trump as I am? We all know he speaks in hyperbole, and often states things in a clumsy manner, exaggerating and bragging — yes, that is Donald Trump. However, to single him out as the only political figure who sometimes misinterprets or equivocates is nothing short of ludicrous. How about Joe Biden? Bernie Sanders? or Adam Schiff? The mayor of New Orleans who blamed Trump for not having her shut down Mardi Gras? They never lie? The worst of the bunch is Nancy Pelosi, who wouldn’t recognize the truth if she bumped into it on the street. About a month ago, she told San Francisans to go ahead and visit Chinatown and go about their daily lives , then blames Trump for being slow in his pandemic response; she’s the one who delayed for a week the passing of the pandemic aid law in Congress, then said while Trump fiddles, people are dying.

Since it’s an election year, Democrats are nervous about all the air time the president has been getting (Well it’s a pandemic, for Pete’s sakes..he needs to be highly visible. Trump’s pandemic task force has highly qualified experts to whom he does listen and from whom he takes advice. He’s doing his best to get this country through this crisis, and the responsibility on his shoulders is immense. Reasonable criticism is always fair, but not hate mongering, false accusations (No, he’s not promoting hydroxychloroquine to benefit himself) or fact-checking inconsequential comments.

Follow Romans and obey the law

For you good Christian people out there who wish to defy our governments’ rulings on the pandemic, may I remind you of Romans 13:1-2 which says, “Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.”

Christians aren’t exempt from following the rules. Everyone, whether a county chairman, a county sheriff, a city councilman or an activist, must obey. So, as our governor works to keep the majority of our neighbors safe, and alive, fight on his side, not the side of someone you happen to personally like better.

You have the right to congregate — do it via computer and or phone until it is safe to do it in person. Even if you don’t care about yourself, care about your neighbors, your family — from that cherubic child to all the old aunties and uncles. Obey the government, and give us all a chance at survival. Your right to congregate stops at the right of my daughter and her family to live.

2 plants stand in marked contrast

The contrast of working conditions between two local food processing plants is astounding. Teamsters Local 839 has worked with management at Lamb Weston to vastly improve the safety of their workers. Timely precautions put in place have highlighted the value of organized labor representation and receptive management. On the other hand, the tragedy at Tyson has well over 100 workers with COVID-19, and one death so far. I’ve heard some folks say that “unions have outlived their usefulness.” Tell that to the Tyson workers.