Letters on politics and COVID-19: Mask order a relief. McConnell must do more.

Help us, Mitch

I would like to know why Sen. Mitch McConnell refuses to help Kentuckians during this pandemic. Voters gave him their trust, and in return he is ruining our lives and killing our families. He will not take any action that could provide any relief or assistance to Kentucky families. I wonder if he is unaware that thousands of good people are being evicted from their homes because one $1,200 payment from two months ago has long since been spent, or if he simply does not care because he’s got his money and he’s all set. Does he really expect us to sacrifice our children by sending them to school before we’ve even flattened the first wave of COVID-19, and thereby endanger entire communities? Does Kentucky have to join the unhappy list of states with Florida, Arizona, and Texas having hospitals at full capacity and dozens of folks dying every day for McConnell to take his responsibilities seriously? Would he even care if we did?

Kentucky needs help, not partisan platitudes about how unemployed people are trying to game the system. We deserve so much better than this, and I hope we live to see it.

Gillian Smith, Richmond

Shapeshifter

Maybe it’s my imagination but it appears to be the time of year that Sen. Mitch McConnell begins to stiffen his spine for the upcoming election. His recent support for wearing masks and looking to the Centers for Disease Control for guidelines in opening schools indicate he is strategically positioning himself as not just merely being a stooge for the president. I suspect he plans to use masks and school openings as evidence of his independence. If he suspects the handwriting may be on the wall for the president, he will, after all, need an exit strategy.

This is but another example of the senator’s considerable skill in having it both ways. His chameleon approach to issues has enabled him to ensure his reelections and satisfy big money contributors for decades. At some point it would be refreshing to have elected officials who are not totally self serving and have at least some consistently in who and what they support rather than focusing on the appearance of support when it’s convenient.

Charles Myers, Lexington

Deadly politics

I went to the grocery for the first time since the new statewide mask requirement was enacted by executive order. It was much less stressful to shop without having to work at avoiding the non-masked.

At the beginning of this pandemic, many of my Republican friends expressed relief that Andy Beshear is our governor instead of Matt Bevin. It seemed that Kentucky could be a state where both political parties treat COVID-19 as the medical emergency that it is. My trust was misplaced. Thanks to Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and Scott Circuit Judge Brian Privett, Kentuckians are being placed needlessly at risk to help businesses stay open without meeting settled COVID safety standards.

Kentuckians’ economic and physical health both will be restored far faster if we all follow the guidelines to contain this virus and not reopen too soon or without restrictions. The efficacy of mask wearing, handwashing, and social distancing should not be up for debate or ignored to score political points.

The quickest way to effect these simple rules for all Kentuckians is by executive order, not by creating some lengthy approval process, unnecessary when science already tells us how to reduce the rapid spread of this deadly contagion. Shame on you all.

Drusilla Bakert, Lexington

School nurses crucial

School nurses should play an essential role as schools plan to reopen. The start of a new school year is a very stressful time for parents, students, and school staff. The school nurse needs to be a core component in helping school staff develop case management plans for medically fragile students. All students must be assessed for vaccine status and follow up done for those students not completely or properly immunized. A school nurse is needed in every school to address health issues as they arise.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that there be one school nurse for every 750 students. Many students in Kentucky currently do not have access to a school nurse on a regular basis. In order for Kentucky schools to reopen safely and comply with COVID-19 guidelines, a school nurse needs to be present for proper assessment of students. Please help our students by requesting a school nurse be present in schools.

Barbara Ecton and Pat Dimon, retired school nurses, Lexington

Coal war hoax

Donald Mullineaux’s recent op-ed was enlightening on the war-on-coal hoax perpetuated by President Donald Trump and believed by his supporters. It is understandable that those in the coal industry want to keep their jobs, but to suggest that electing certain politicians would bring back coal jobs is the real hoax.

It is ironic that many who perpetuate this war-on-coal hoax are also staunch champions of U.S. innovation and free market beliefs. Many of us easily recall how American entrepreneurial spirit made us the envy of the world. Innovations and changes have enriched our lives. Now natural gas and renewable energy sources are in the process of replacing coal, offering cheaper and cleaner energy.

Douglas and Carole Boyd, Lexington

‘Friend’ of coal?

In a recent Herald-Leader opinion piece, Donald Mullineaux, professor emeritus in the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics, reports that Kentucky coal mining jobs dropped from 178,000 in 1988 to 46,000 by May of this year despite President Donald Trump’s and Sen. Mitch McConnell’s vows to bring back coal mining jobs. If the decline continues, the “Friends of Coal” may have to change their vanity license plates to “Friend of Coal,” providing a single job remains.

Ralph W. Derickson, Lexington

Senators a disgrace

Any thoughtful Kentuckian cannot help but be perplexed (if not apoplectic) by the disingenuous whine of state Sens. Rick Girdler, Paul Hornback, Damon Thayer, and Max Wise in their work-avoidant op-ed published recently in the Herald-Leader.

Kentuckians are contending with a relentless heat wave, in the midst of a spiking pandemic. Our federal legislators are failing us by dragging their feet on supplying aid to cities and states during a time of unprecedented need. And up out of the muck of GOP incompetence rises a public rebuke of a governor who is working his heart out, not hiding behind group-signed letters or even on a Twitter feed. Andy Beshear is leading, abiding by science, appearing regularly before his constituents, and refusing to stoop to partisan time-wasting. What are these scribbling state senators doing to earn their keep? Where were they when Matt Bevin was dismantling the institutional infrastructure of unemployment insurance during his tenure as governor?

No, senators, Governor Beshear’s moving with decisiveness to protect Kentuckians did not cause the shutdown and the loss of jobs. The abject failure of the commander-in-chief, and his toady GOP accomplices launched our country into shut-down mode. They are the national threat and embarrassment, and on the state level, that would be YOU.

Linda Connolly, Lexington

Part of the problem

The four sanctimonious Republican state senators who had the gall to write an opinion piece in the Herald-Leader criticizing Gov. Andy Beshear for the long lines of people waiting to get unemployment insurance payments is astounding. The governor inherited this data processing mess from his Republican predecessor. I wonder where these four “champions” were when Gov. Matt Bevin paid a data processing guru over $300,000 annually to bring our antique state data processing systems out of the dark ages. The salary this grossly overpaid bureaucrat made over the years would have been a good start in remedying the problem. Where were they when it became clear that it would take many dollars to update these ancient systems? Answer: nowhere to be found and certainly no help in appropriating the dollars required to solve this lingering problem. It takes tax dollars to run state government efficiently in the 21st century, but these fatuous four apparently are living in the 18th century. Their mantra is “no new taxes” no matter how badly needed. They should be ashamed of this political diatribe published in the newspaper. It’s easier for them to stand on the sideline and take cheap shots rather than do anything to solve the problem.

Jack Blanton, Lexington

Long way to go

Phoenix Rising Lex is a nonprofit corporation founded to preserve and honor the contributions of African American horsemen in establishing Lexington as the Thoroughbred Capital of the World.

Phoenix Rising’s board and membership were appalled to read the racist comments by horsemen Tom VanMeter and Donnie Snelling. While those by VanMeter were the most egregious, Mr. Snellings’ remarks should not escape rebuke. Both were blatantly racist and unfortunately, continue to reflect the thoughts of many of Lexington’s and racing’s old guard.

We applaud the swift and decisive response by Keeneland and their commitment to making Thoroughbred racing more inclusive. In addition, Linda Blackford’s excellent response delineated many of the factors that show the significance of African American’s contributions to racing. It can justifiably be said that American racing was built on Black backs.

Even with all of this country’s problems, we also live in a rare time of hope. The story of Black horsemen offers a microcosm of an issue that has been America’s greatest plague for 400 years. This incident is a good reminder for all of us just how important our mission is, and how far we have to go to establish true equality for all Americans.

Bill Cooke, president of Phoenix Rising Lex, Lexington

Memories, regrets

I have known the VanMeter family since I moved to Winchester almost 50 years ago. Tom and his siblings welcomed my family. The respective parents were comfortable with one another, though our social statuses were widely different. Whenever I had responsibility for any of the VanMeters’s children, Tom’s father would sternly say, “I hold you personally responsible for whatever goes on while they’re with you”. In none of our gatherings was there any racism expressed; had there been, my family would have suspended contact with the VanMeters.

It seems I have been oblivious to Tom’s personal problems and now feel I needed to have been a better friend, not just someone who was willing to take advantage of the leverage he had. The Herald-Leader article putting his current life in context has made this apparent. I could have been present to him and been some sort of an icon from a more stable, gracious life we both knew that could have better kept him oriented above the current cultural fray.

I admire his son, Griffin, for being willing to help his dad come to terms with his racism and complete his life in the productive way of which he has from childhood to now shown he is capable.

Henry Pinkerton, Midway