Letters to the editor: Masks, experts, America

Wear a mask

Early in the virus shutdown, I had no idea what to think about it. I listened to the director of Panhandle Health District at the Coeur d’Alene Council meeting. She was clear, straightforward and seemed quite honest. Later I found she’s an Army veteran so it was a briefing. No one listened to her.

Then the fair board asked that the fair be closed and no one listened then, either. So my doctor and my friend voted for a mask mandate. And still no one listened. In fact, some people want them removed from the Panhandle Health board.

I watched all the opinions and ideas on Facebook from the local modern Republicans. I’ve watched our state representatives work against the state. The governor is doing his best to protect Idahoans’ health and safety.

Modern Republicans should be looking for solutions to problems, not creating them.

Who should we thank if and when our schools don’t open? Who’s going to pay all the overtime when kids are running around unsupervised.

This country asks that you pay your taxes, show up for jury duty and now to wear a mask. That’s not much to ask for the benefit of living in America.

Russ McLain, Coeur d’Alene

Experts vs. politicians

In response to Tom Luna’s op-ed. We have a “duly elected president,” and look how that has turned out for the United States. We have had the worst response to the pandemic of any country in the world, civilized or not. Trump has experts who struggle to advise him, and he ignores them and blunders on blithely recommending ineffective and sometimes dangerous remedies. Yes, our elected officials are held accountable, but not so much. Time after time, we reelect the same old party line hacks.

I may not be a public health expert but, after 40 years of learning and practicing medicine, I have a pretty good understanding of disease. And I’m not impressed with the judgment of our “Great Leader” and those who would make him king. If the policy is to “expose them all to the virus and let God sort ‘em out,” let the politicians say so. We’re overpopulated anyway.

We’re in a war that has taken more lives than all our wars since World War II combined. Doesn’t it make sense to let the “generals” take charge until the enemy is contained?

Jack Havlina, Boise

This is who we are

I was impressed by Barack Obama’s speech at the DNC Convention. It was a powerful speech but I sensed a sadness in him that his words were falling on deaf ears like whispers in the wind. I do not agree though with our last great President. Our democracy does not hang in the balance because of Trump, it has already left us because of our indifference. We created the petri dish that is Trumpism. A petri dish filled with laziness, narcissism, victim mentality, and hate fueled by the internet and social media. A petri dish that is controlled by the wealthy and politically connected ruling class who use technology to divide and conquer. Our world is transitioning from the promise of democracy, decency, freedom, and a stable middle class to dictatorship, hate, economic slavery, and two classes, a super-rich ruling class and a massive lower class. Millions of Americans have sacrificed, suffered, and died for our freedoms but we are too lazy and narcissistic to wear masks and social distance to keep fellow citizens from dying. We the people have failed in our responsibilities to maintain the great experiment that was the United States. It is what it is.

Kurt Smith, Boise