Letters to the Editor: Praise and questions for Beshear. Rand Paul’s actions ‘inane.’
Beshear’s true test
I have appreciated how paternal and even-toned Gov. Andy Beshear has been over recent events. It’s been refreshing to see a restraint on the charismatic and bombastic attitudes we’ve seen in recent political leaders.
However, do not forget that the governor is a politician. Nothing he says or does behind that podium is completely divorced from his political worldview, his party platform, and his political self-interest. This is true of all political offices: President Donald Trump, the U.S. Senate and House, the state authorities as well.
The governor has recently taken authority that isn’t usually his, and though he has been careful to console those who are now under his direct rule, he has given no impression of when or under what circumstances he will return authority to the people. The vision he casts is only half-clear, and it grows increasingly opaque.
The test of the governor’s political leadership is not found in the limitations he is ready to impose. Those are hard decisions, but the real test will be his courage and readiness to restore the liberties he has suppressed. He has spoken about our duty as Americans and Kentuckians, but we must not forget our duty as both is to be critical of our leadership.
Zac Lewis, Richmond
Expand Maddox plan
Republican state Rep. Savannah Maddox of Dry Ridge has proposed an amendment to House Bill 322 that would allow businesses who believe they have been harmed by the necessary coronavirus closures to sue Gov. Andy Beshear. But this is just a half-measure. Maddox should also include an amendment that allows us to sue her if her delusions during this worldwide pandemic kill our grandparents or us.
Ivonne Rovira, Louisville
Wow! Just wow
I’ve been watching Gov Andy Beshear’s coronavirus briefings. I have one word: wow. After dealing with the contemptuous, mean-spirited orations of Gov Matt Bevin and President Donald Trump for a few years it’s truly refreshing and encouraging to hear a calm, thoughtful voice at the podium. Leadership takes more than administrative skills and decisiveness. It takes compassion and empathy. I see it all on display with Governor Beshear. My faith that true statesmen still exist inside the scrum of unscrupulous politicians has been reinvigorated.
John Vance, Versailles
Paul’s decisions ‘inane’
They say if you live long enough you’ll see everything. Well, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s behavior may not be everything but it displays a horrendous amount of stupidity.
As a doctor, the Kentucky senator knew that after being tested for coronavirus he was to enter self-quarantine. Instead, he chose to go out and mingle with his fellow government officials. And by the way, I wonder why the senatorial gym was open when many gyms across the country were shuttered.
Paul’s inane actions warrant that he not be reelected when his term is up. His actions are equivalent to a math teacher adding one plus one together and not getting two.
Robert Hoeller, Lexington
Why a gun run?
Let me get this straight — we are foregoing church services, school, regular medical and dental appointments, nonessential shopping, haircuts, restaurants, visits to family members and friends who do not live with us, but we are swarming to buy firearms? Where are our priorities?
Susan Ledford, Lancaster
Drop abortion test
Recently, Democratic politicians have been screaming their heads off in solicitude for innocent coronavirus victims. They urge massive governmental support — as they should — to help these poor people.
Their compassion would be a thousand times more believable if they also did two things to increase the odds that innocent, unborn children would not be aborted.
First, stop making support of abortion a litmus test for judicial nominees. Second, stop making Democratic candidates for office vow to support legal abortions in order to receive campaign funds.
I wonder if they will do these two things. Don’t hold your breath.
Paul David Nelson, Lexington
Lives over economy
I hope that Right to Life and some religious organizations are speaking out on the COVID-19 response, and voicing the concern that some people (including political leaders and media) are putting economics ahead of the lives of our people. The more isolation and social distancing we employ, the more lives we will save. The economy will come back eventually. Kentucky is taking the lead, but the response across the country and the federal response is uneven. Please speak up.
Lynda Matusek, Lexington
Protect workers
I recently drove past three different employers on Mercer Road that happened to be on their lunch breaks, and I witnessed people sitting hip-to-hip on picnic benches and standing close enough to kiss each other. What happened to the six-feet-apart rule? I listen to our governor speak at a podium every evening telling everybody how proud he is of the way Kentuckians are handling the pandemic so far and how important it is for everyone to keep six feet of space between them and the next person. Companies such as Amazon, Trane, UPS, Schneider Electric, Aventics, and Georgia Pacific employ hundreds of people, many of whom are doing jobs that require an individual to work side by side with a partner. I know most of these places have to stay open because of the nature of their business. We need heat and air conditioning, electrical assemblies to make the heat and air conditioners work, and people to ship life-saving and necessary equipment and products all over the world to where they need to go. But I wonder why these people aren’t wearing more personal protection equipment.
Yolanda Maria Averette, Lexington
Self-quarantine now
The World Health Organization warns that the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, with more than 400,000 cases confirmed.
The COVID-19 pandemic took 67 days from the first report to reach 100,000 cases, then 11 days to reach the second 100,000, and only four days for the third 100,000. We could be at a half-million or more infected individuals as you read this. The majority of infections are occurring after people were told the only way to protect humans is for everyone to self-quarantine.
The disease is spreading by people refusing to stay away from others. What some people don’t realize is that everybody has to stay at home at the same time, otherwise the virus continues to be spread. A “lockdown” is the only way we can stop this pandemic.
As a senior citizen with lung issues, I am highly vulnerable to the virus so I take this lack of effort to self-quarantine personally. Do not follow political pundits on biased media and rely on the following sources for factual information:
National Institutes of Health current scientific information regarding the COVID-19: https://www.nih.gov.
The World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/
For Kentucky-specific information: https://govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19
Ceci Mitchell, Frankfort
Ventilator question
Right now, the state of New York appears to need 30,000 more ventilators in order to prepare for what might be an oncoming surge of critical patients related to COVID-19. The state of Washington’s health department has recently updated guidelines to help doctors decide who should get a ventilator if there are not enough for everyone. Disability groups are now asking the federal government to prohibit such policies that they believe discriminate against the elderly.
One group of individuals, however, may actually have a constitutional right to ventilators — inmates. In the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Estelle v. Gamble, the court held that failure to provide inmates with adequate medical care violates the Eighth Amendment prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.
There are now positive cases of COVID-19 in U.S. prisons and state jails. And the amount of people currently incarcerated, often in overcrowded facilities, suggests that prisons and jails may eventually become hot spots for infection.
If inmates need ventilators, and have a constitutional right to adequate medical care, then it is possible that in any rationing scenario these inmates must have access to ventilators.
States and counties must do everything possible to reduce the number of people behind bars.
Dustin Nelson, Georgetown
Dangerous ignorance
We are now witnessing the fruits of President Donald Trump’s ignorance. He fired the National Security Council pandemic experts and here we are. Firing these experts is like throwing out extra ammunition because we are not in a war today, at this very second. The only reason Trump is doing anything is because the stock market crashed and he is afraid he will not be reelected. If you watch his briefings, you will notice that his subordinates have to compliment him first before giving information. Ask yourself, “Is that normal?”.
Although of course he did not start the virus, we can call it “Trump’s Virus” because he has made it much worse by not listening to the experts who kept saying this was coming months ago. Now every child in the United States is having their education disrupted, many small business owners will go under, and there will be so many deaths that did not need to happen. Trump simply can’t judge or act with a world view. The only view he has is, “How will this affect me?” This is how he handles a crisis. It is not only ignorant, it is deadly.
Mary Lisle, Lexington
Pelosi uncaring
For those who have ever doubted the buffoonery of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, they only have to look at her recent actions regarding a stimulus bill designed to help workers, save the economy, lessen fear, and promote a return to normal times. With the loss of jobs, closing of businesses, people dying, and a plunging stock market, consider Pelosi’s contributions. Her first step was to leave Washington D.C. and go home to sunny California. She returned with a legislative package that would have created more damage and stifled any constructive progress being made to deal with the crises. Her proposal called for money for the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and actions that would further penalize the airline industry. She cares nothing about those who suffer and continues to play greasy politics like business as usual. She’s no friend of the American people.
Robert Adams, Lexington