Letters to the editor: Shutdown, Costco, Easter service, Singapore, leadership
Shutdown
Dear fellow Idahoans. We need to take a collective deep breath and remember this crisis involves everyone in a community, not just ourselves. I realize that this shutdown is an inconvenience to most of us, but it is necessary. You may not be concerned about getting sick but what about others with compromised health? Every family has its own battles with health, financial, etc. We do not need to add to the stress of others! It is our responsibility to help where we can. I support Gov. Little for shutting things down in Idaho. This is not just the flu as if flu was not hard enough on people with compromised health issues. Over precaution is better than ignoring our scientists and medical profession who are monitoring this from a scientific perspective. Myself, I lean towards facts, not fiction! Our country will come back financially, but we have to survive this first. If we can send our brave men and women to war to fight for us, then we certainly can do our part for this country!
Margaret Anderson, Boise
Costco
Big kudos to the staff at the Boise Costco on South Cole. They have gone above and beyond to protect customers during this trying time. During this morning’s event to support the elderly and disabled, they kept a positive control of all of us, cleaned the carts before we got them, and handed out the scarce supply of toilet paper in an orderly fashion. Their thoughtfulness was so appreciated by all who stood in line on this very cold morning. I was number 275 in the line and I got there at 7:15 a.m. They are an example many other stores need to follow during these trying times.
Thomas P. Fry Sr., Boise
Easter service
The evidence is overwhelming that the virus has not peaked. President Trump’s unrealistic deadline to reduce the restrictions to spark the economy is unrealistic. If Easter is an important symbolic “beautiful” milestone, President Trump should sponsor and lead a national Easter service for the nation. Get us together on all media at the same time to feel united and that we will win this together. It would appease his religious base and appeal to his opponents. A leader needs to be truthful, credible and uniting.
Mark Miklos, Eagle
Leadership
We live in Hailey, Blaine County. I retired after 37 years from Lockheed Martin, working with many government agencies and forces who are committed to our protection. Our area has 10x per capita the infection rate of Santa Clara county, a coronavirus hotspot. We are a county of 22,000 people. Many of our cases may be due to being part of a resort area. My daughter and son-in-law are first responders with Wood River Fire, and keep our 5 year old granddaughter safe. Yet many younger people (yes I was a teenager) seem to not care less about our exposure to the virus. Why should they care, it’s the “old” that are at risk. Now I know why our education system is 49th. We’ve achieved the lowest common denominator on almost all fronts. The Fed provides zero support to Idaho. Many of our state legislators want you to work to qualify for Medicaid, while they get full coverage for their part time jobs that add limited value. Our economy will recover. Unfortunately, it is our “leaders” who are lost.
Keith Winnovich, Hailey
Singapore
Listen up media and fellow Americans! My family weathered the SARS pandemic while living in Singapore thanks to a government that rolled out scientists who explained how dangerous the virus was and proposed civic and personnel practices, including social distancing and quarantines, to fight the virus.
Singapore’s Prime Minister encouraged the citizens to listen to the scientist and then stepped back and let those who know the right way to fight the virus and keep the people safe.
Sounds familiar in our current situation? Not!
Our president said it was a “a Chinese problem,” a “Democrat hoax” and is only worried about the economy!
He has not been honest nor believable regarding myriad issues, so why believe him and not the scientific experts now.
I would ask that the media cover only the scientists and not the president and every citizen follow their guidelines. Singapore has blunted the threat of the coronavirus as they did SARS. We can do the same if we listen to, and follow the advice of the experts instead of the president.
Practice social distancing, stay home, be safe and listen to the scientist and not the president.
Mark Samson, Boise
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 11:28 AM.