Letters to the Editor: ‘Disgusted’ by Rand Paul, Thomas Massie
Paul, Massie ‘abhorrent’
Perhaps if Sen. Rand Paul and Congressman Thomas Massie were in an ICU on a ventilator, they would have a different response to our governor’s insistence that we stay home even on Easter Sunday. The entire world is recognizing the importance of not congregating to stop this pandemic, and they criticized Gov. Andy Beshear for trying to save lives. Many thousands have died worldwide, including over 100 healthcare workers trying desperately to save others’ lives. These two abhorrent politicians represent the worst in humanity and the worst in Kentucky. Their actions and words represent a selfish, narrow-minded approach to the world. Their criticism says to courageous, dedicated healthcare workers that they don’t give a damn about them. These two individuals are anomalies that are dangerous to us all. They disgust me. We, the people of the world, not just the people of Lewis County, where Massie lives, or Warren County, where Paul lives, are all in this together, and we must all take steps to protect one another.
Charles Don Noderer, La Grange
Use your brains
Amazing how Rev. Jack Roberts of the Maryville Baptist Church and 40 to 50 of his attendees for Easter services think more of themselves than the multitude of people they could infect with COVID-19 if any of them were positive; and how do they know they aren’t?
So if they are, or become positive for the virus, why should the people they come in contact with have to suffer. Why must the overburdened, overstressed healthcare workers have to jeopardize themselves to take care of them.
The majority of people in Kentucky know not to walk too close behind a horse. Some of those that don’t learn a hard lesson. It makes sense to use the common sense the good Lord gave you or suffer the wrath of stupidity.
James Evans, Harrodsburg
Stop talking, Rand
If I remember correctly, Sen. Rand Paul took the Hippocratic oath to “do no harm”. The American Medical Association needs to check on his oath. First, he didn’t quarantine himself, in turn endangering many other senators. “Do no harm.” Second: He condemned Gov. Andy Beshear for protecting Kentucky by keeping people from gathering together. “Do no harm”. Third: If he wants to keep his oath, he needs to keep his pie hole shut. Let Governor Beshear continue doing his excellent job and support him in “doing no harm.” Great job, Governor Beshear!
Annette Daniels, Richmond
No absolute rights
Gov. Andy Beshear, with the backing of more than 99 percent of Kentucky’s faith leaders, implemented a plan to enforce the state ban on mass gatherings by requiring those who attend in-person religious services to be identified, reported to their local public health department, and quarantined in their home for 14 days.
Sen. Mitch McConnell and state Attorney General Daniel Cameron have raised objections to the governor’s decision as a potential violation of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom. Please! They are both trained as lawyers so they know, or should know, that no constitutional guarantee is absolute. All the rights protected by the Bill of Rights are subject to regulation if doing so is necessary to accomplish a compelling governmental interest. Surely, protecting the rest of us from transmission of the deadly coronavirus by those who attended in-person mass gatherings, including religious services, is such a purpose.
Give no credence to Sen. Rand Paul’s similar objection. It comes from a person who took a coronavirus test and, before receiving the results, swam in the Senate swimming pool without notifying any other senator of his potential coronavirus status. He lost whatever moral authority he might try to claim when he engaged in such an intentional, immoral act.
Carolyn Bratt, UK College of Law professor emerita, Lexington
Uphold voter ID veto
Some Kentucky legislators want to rig Kentucky elections by making it more difficult for elderly and low-income people to vote. They passed Senate Bill 2, which would require voters to show photo identification before they can cast a ballot. Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill. When the legislators return this week, they have a chance to override the veto. I wonder if democracy or rigging will prevail. Haven’t the elderly and low-income people suffered enough from the coronavirus?
Michael Kerwin, Lexington