Letters to the editor: Masks, Boise mandate, Roger Stone, education cuts
Masks
I know wearing a mask has become political. Personally, I would crawl a 100 miles through sludge in order to do no harm to another person. If there is the remotest possibility I could do good in a situation, I would!
Clinical studies show compelling evidence that wearing a mask prevents harm. So why do many people not seem to care?
I ask non-mask wearers: If I was your surgeon and proclaimed just before performing your abdominal surgery, “I want freedom, I can’t breathe with that thing on, and it’s inconvenient, so I won’t be wearing a mask today.” I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t like it, as it would almost guarantee you’d get an infection.
Please care about others as the Golden Rule encourages!
Beverly J. Ludders, Boise
Boise mandate
Ever had pneumonia shots? Been vaccinated against polio? Got other medical assistance/medicines/advice to keep you healthy? Yes? You did the right thing.
Mayor Lauren McLean is very concerned that all Boiseans stay healthy and protected from COVID-19. That’s her job.
She knows that COVID-19 is a deadly, extremely contagious disease. It doesn’t respect age or sex. It has killed over 130,000 Americans. The number is skyrocketing. It has killed over 100 Idahoans. Ada County has had 4,146 confirmed cases and 25 deaths.
Masks offer protection to the wearer and those who are in contact with him/her. That’s the reason the mayor made the correct and courageous decision to require Boiseans to wear masks when (in public).
Some excuses from non-maskers: “It’s uncomfortable/inconvenient”. How “uncomfortable/inconvenient” is getting sick/dying from COVID-19? “There’s a constitutional right not to wear a mask.” Totally false. Our Constitution gives nobody the right to make other people sick or die. Read it.
Non-maskers are broadcasting: “I really don’t care if I get you sick.” If they should get COVID-19, they deserve no sympathy. And, please, no whining!
Boiseans should thank and publicly support Mayor McLean’s efforts to keep Boiseans healthy. It’s the right thing to do.
Jack Stevens, Stanley
Roger Stone
Where is Sen. Jim Risch and Sen. Mike Crapo as Roger Stone’s conviction is commuted by Donald Trump? Stone was found guilty by his peers in a federal court. Donald Trump commutes Stone and where are our Idaho senators’ cry for foul from these actions and many more by Trump? How much more does this corrupt man have to do before our congressional representatives speak up and say, “No more. The rule of law matters!” It should be about America first and your career in Congress second. Our forefathers did not plan for you all to spend your life living off the American people. Vote Risch out 2020 and Crapo out in 2022.
Corinne Mitchell Samson, Boise
Budget cuts
We all want our schools to open as soon as possible and in a manner that will provide safety and high-quality programs. There will be many modifications required to be able to do this. This will necessitate adequate funding, or all will be lost. To date we have only heard about the major budget cuts that will be in place. It is totally unreasonable to expect that schools will be able to provide their programs with this reduced funding. It is imperative that the governor and legislature immediately start working on ways to increase funding for education. Isn’t it about time for there to be removal of many sales tax exemptions? This would be only one way to significantly increase funding for education. Let’s hope that our governor and legislators can find more. After all, it’s their job to do so.
Kenneth Winer, Boise
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 3:50 PM.