Letters to the Editor: Praise for local COVID-19 heroes. Keep churches empty.

Get going, Biden

OK, Joe Biden is the Democratic presidential nominee. Now what?

Honestly, I preferred some of Bernie Sanders’ democratic socialist proposals and solutions, but I am now solidly in Biden’s corner. Here is what I hope he will do:

1. Name his vice president (hopefully Elizabeth Warren) immediately, thus avoiding speculation to become a distraction from the extraordinarily serious campaigning he must undertake. Plus, by naming her now, there will be two of them to carry the message to the country.

2. Appear more frequently than President Donald Trump in the news media and political advertisements, to counteract Trump’s incumbent advantage. Ensure that his appearances are not attack ads, but rather are positive, presidential-like messages explaining clearly: what is needed and how he will accomplish it; what we, the people, need to know and to do now, in this time of troubles; and what steps he will take to rectify the mistakes and the resultant problems arising from the current administration.

3. Lead us to retaining (increasing?) the Democratic majority in the House, and taking back Democratic control of the Senate.

This is Biden’s opportunity to demonstrate his skills, insights, foresight, and leadership. He must take the fullest advantage of this time.

Robert S. Tannenbaum, Lexington

Allow voting by mail

The federal stimulus legislation includes money to secure voting. Before we spend money on our present voting system, shouldn’t we evaluate how effective it is and the cost to improve and maintain it?

Only 31 percent of Kentuckians vote because of Kentucky’s restrictive voting laws: no early voting, limited absentee voting, not enough voting sites or voting hours; all of which cause hours waiting in line to vote. Mail-in ballots would eliminate the need and cost to expand early voting, absentee ballots, voting sites, and hours to vote. It would also eliminate costs to maintain, replace, and upgrade existing voting machines ($700,000 in my county). Mail-in ballots would eliminate the postponement of elections due to natural disasters or COVID-19-like emergencies.

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said he would consider voting by mail. I hope he does so and quickly. While we have postponed our primaries, we can’t postpone our national elections. Kentucky voters should not be forced to choose between voting in person or surrendering their right to vote. Several states vote by mail so there doesn’t need to be a debate about the security and efficacy of it; we just need to decide to do it.

Margaret Groves, Frankfort

Keep pews empty

Many pastors in Kentucky are relying on the beliefs of their church members to justify gatherings to celebrate their faith. Religiosity plays a part in why ministers call the faithful together despite our current pandemic. However, economics play an even stronger role than God in weekly services. So many churches in Kentucky, and America too, just survive offering to offering. Skipping offerings places a crunch on that church’s budget viability. Yes, there are some big megachurches that have some money in the bank; however, many of those megachurch pastors also have expensive spending needs that depend on a steady stream of cash coming in week after week. I don’t know if the $2 trillion stimulus package helps incentivize religious organizations or not. Even if it does, the reward is so paltry for almost everyone receiving stimulus payments.

God loves us all; however, viruses don’t have ears, don’t pay attention to divine protection promises from the pulpit, and spread their deadly presence to everyone close by every chance they can get. Everyone, please, stay home and help Kentucky and America defeat this deadly pandemic. For your house of worship send your support by mail or an electronic transfer mechanism.

Gene Lockhart, Lexington

Death dealers

In reference to these religious organizations who insist on holding large in-person services during these trying times, I suggest a common identifying term: death cults.

Hal S. Midkiff, Mount Sterling

Praise for corrections workers

There are many heroes in this war, but one group I want to make sure we do not forget are the correctional workers who enter prisons and detention facilities on a daily basis. They have families, are frightened, are frustrated, but every day they enter prisons and jails to do their best to protect the public while maintaining the health and safety of staff and offenders. I don’t think anyone would argue that any get paid commensurate to the job they have. What is amazing is they continue to work, when most probably would like to stay at home. I think it’s important to remember it is not the line correctional worker who dictates policy or whom is in prison and jail. Someone else provides the policy and says who needs to remain confined. Only recently have some in the media commented about the sacrifice of correctional staff. They talked about how well people were prepared or not prepared and the devastating effects COVID-19 could cause from a public health perspective in prisons and jails. The individual correctional officer or the staff nurse, the food service foreman. etc., has no say in much of this. They only know they go in because it is their duty.

Art Beeler, Franklin, North Carolina; former warden of Lexington’s Federal Medical Center

Florence erred

I have been deeply impressed with how all of Kentucky has been “in the game” to limit the impact of the novel coronavirus. People and organizations are stepping up to the plate, making sacrifices, and playing by the rules. It was disheartening to read about the city of Florence declining to take a turn at bat by refusing to allow a hotel to offer shelter to Northern Kentucky’s homeless. It could have been a home run for city officials; instead, they took themselves out of the lineup. Shame on Boone County for continuing to play “not in my ballpark”.

John DeWitt, Edgewood

Override vetoes

For years, taxpayers have been at the mercy of unelected, unaccountable, appointed agencies such as local library boards, health boards, conservation boards, etc., that can raise taxes without approval from elected officials. While taxpayers and voters can remove fiscal court, city council, and school board members who impose higher taxes, they have no such recourse for appointed boards. This year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 5, which would give elected bodies such as fiscal courts the power to overturn tax increases imposed by appointed boards. Unfortunately, Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed SB 5. It’s time to put decisions about taxation back in the hands of officials who are ultimately accountable to the voters, and reduce the tax burden on the populace. When the legislature reconvenes later this month, the spotlight will be on the voter ID bill that Beshear also vetoed. Hopefully, it will be overridden, but the legislature also needs to override the veto of SB 5 to rein in these appointed boards and give taxpayers more of a say on taxes. We’re overtaxed as it is by elected bodies. At least with SB 5, if a fiscal court signs off on a tax increase, we can pay them back at the ballot box.

H.B. Elkins, Beattyville

Kentucky gun sales

Regarding a recent Herald-Leader article, “Kentucky is the only state to see this happen with guns amid coronavirus outbreak,” additional data is helpful. During the coronavirus pandemic, Kentucky firearm sales are right in line with the national trend.

The FBI National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS) provides timely background check data that include all background checks, including those for concealed carry permits. The National Shooting Sports Foundation adjusts the NICS data by removing non-purchase checks. This filters out checks for new and existing concealed carry permits, for example. NSSF started this five years ago to get a better understanding of national and statewide trends.

The 2020 March NSSF-adjusted NICS figure reflecting checks for firearm sales in Kentucky was up 73 percent. This mirrors the overall national increase of 80 percent. These figures offer the most timely and accurate trends in firearm ownership. Kentucky residents are buying guns, lots of them and many for the first time.

For law-abiding Kentuckians, the Second Amendment and responsible firearm ownership are still valued rights. Those rights are exercised at the gun store’s checkout counter. They’ve been just as busy in the Bluegrass State as everywhere else.

Lawrence G. Keane, Washington D.C.; senior vice president for government and public affairs, National Shooting Sports Foundation

Choose Booker

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is up for reelection this November as he seeks his seventh term in office. He’s become one of the most powerful architects in Washington D.C. while neglecting Kentucky’s best interests.

Kentuckians deserve a change that shakes the status quo. That change can only come from someone in the moral center. That someone is 43rd District Rep. Charles Booker.

Booker understands struggles better than any other Democratic primary candidate. He grew up in and represents Louisville’s West End district — one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state. A Type 1 diabetic, he nearly died from ketoacidosis last year because he rationed his insulin to help support his wife and two kids.

His struggles mirror that of thousands in the state. That’s why he believes in Medicare for All and a Green New Deal so that we can start ending generational poverty and trauma in Kentucky.

He’s fought for the working class at all levels of the government. Booker doesn’t accept any dark money from super PACs or special interests.

His only interests are the people who have been dying and lied to by McConnell. That’s why you need to vote for Booker in the June 23 primary.

Mohammad Ahmad, Lexington

Always basketball

An April 6 Herald-Leader article had this headline: “I know my time is now”.

Is this Moses at the burning bush?Joan d’Arc at the stake? General Dwight Eisenhower ordering the storming of the beaches? No, friends, this is a fellow announcing his destiny to make a fortune bouncing a ball. Every day, rain or shine, in season or out, the Herald-Leader blesses us with news of University of Kentucky basketball recruits, former stars, transfers, not sure whether to stay or go: all this accompanied each day with photos of clenched fists and open-mouth roars of triumph celebrating the feat of depositing a spherical object through an iron ring. Meanwhile scores of fine young University of Kentucky students depart to pursue careers in medicine, science, engineering, business, government service, education, and other fields dedicated to serve the public good; no bouncing balls or dunks required. No headlines for these career choices, no press conferences, no front page photos. Such seem to be the priorities around here.Go figure.

Ernest Henninger, Harrodsburg