Letters to the editor: Voting early, essential shopping, being kind, Trump
#VoteEarlyIdaho
As they say on their website, “Voting Absentee is as easy as 1, 2, 3”. First, request a ballot at https://idahovotes.gov/vote-early-idaho. Next, wait because they won’t start mailing our absentee ballots until 45 days before the May 19 Primary Election. Finally, vote and return your ballot by mail or in person just so long as it’s at the County Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day, May 19, 2020. Heck, while you are at it, request absentee ballots for all the 2020 elections and encourage your family and friends to request their absentee ballots too. Our votes matter!
Kayla Dodson, Boise
Be kind
To the two women who were in line at Home Depot Saturday, disrespecting my space, then saying “Well there are germs everywhere, If you’re gonna die, you’re gonna die.” To the woman at Albertson’s who laughed out loud at a woman who was wearing a mask who is immune-compromised, who not only took her picture, but exclaimed, “She’s wearing a mask.” And then to the neighbor who laughed at another neighbor when she was walking her dogs trying to keep her distance, shame on you!
You think this coronavirus is a joke! Try telling the families who have lost loved ones. This virus does not discriminate. It is out to kill. Stores and restaurants closed, affecting employment. Hospitals are stretched thin. On March 31, per the Washington Post, “Italy reported 837 new deaths Tuesday, raising the toll to 12,428. Spain reported 849 new deaths earlier in the day, the worst 24-hour period yet in an outbreak that has killed 8,189 people there.”
The deaths don’t end there. Then there’s the United States. This virus is a test, and humans are failing. Now we’re having earthquakes! Stay safe, be kind. God Bless.
Carole Crosson, Nampa
Essential items
I am an employee at one of the mass merchandisers that is allowed to stay open under the governor’s declaration because we sell “essential” items such as food and medical supplies. While the foot traffic in our store has declined, there are still many customers coming in.
Sadly, approximately 70% or more of these customers are not purchasing “essentials.” They are purchasing everything from a tiny bottle of fingernail polish to a major piece of furniture.
Interestingly, most of these customers are not “selfish and inconsiderate” young people. Instead, they are “selfish and inconsiderate” adults, some of whom are senior citizens. Many of these adults are accompanied by their school-age children.
Gov. Little needs to help reduce this non-essential shopping by making it clear that the mass merchandisers that are allowed to stay open during the stay-at-home period because they sell food and medical supplies are limited to selling only those “essential” products and must refrain from selling all the other “non essential” products in their stores.
Larry Rupp, Garden City
Trump
How sad. We have figured out how to keep gun and liquor stores open, but not schools, places of worship, playgrounds, other businesses……… Our health care system is predicted to be overwhelmed as the coronavirus spreads. What is the role of leadership? We are all real people, Donald. “The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success,” Trump tweeted. “The real people want to get back to work ASAP. We will be stronger than ever before!”
Diane McConnaughey, Boise