Letters to the editor: Braver Angels, COVID-19, Trump

Editor’s note: The deadline to submit letters to the editor related to the elections is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

Braver Angels

In this time of political acrimony, social division, economic uncertainty, and all the other challenges we face on a daily basis — many of which seem to be forcing us apart — it seems important that I try to be a voice urging us to look for something to bring us together: an appeal, perhaps, to our shared humanity. A nonpartisan nonprofit organization called Braver Angels has been of great help and encouragement to me in this effort. Today, they released a public letter stating the intention of this work. I have signed it, and I believe that the more Americans who do, the better our chances of weathering the current and coming storms. I invite you to sign it. https://braverangels.org/hat/

Michael Marvosh, Boise

Better angels

In a few weeks, we will be challenged with the task of holding America together as the American people decide the outcome of our presidential race.

Whatever that outcome, we must remember Abraham Lincoln’s call for the “better angels of our nature” as America entered the Civil War. Those angels were not fully present until the aftermath of that horrific war when a wounded nation gradually discovered once again the bond which was to make America a nation of hope and freedom for so many.

Just a little over three years ago a group of Black Lives Matter protesters confronted a group of Trump supporters at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The outcome of that confrontation was a respectful connection of their leaders, who discovered they had more in common than initially realized.

Some of us will vote for President Trump and others for Vice President Biden. But in these times we must understand that our differences can strengthen and complete us. Let the outcome of this election answer Lincoln’s call for the better angels of our nature.

Bob Fontaine, Eagle

Not the flu

So Trump is once again comparing COVID-19 to the flu.

Using death certificates from health care providers in each state that list cause of death, the CDC records show the flu might kill 15,000 U.S. citizens in a bad year (2017-18) compared to 200,000 COVID-19 deaths in a little over six months. Over the entire year that means that COVID is 20 to 30 times more deadly than the flu.

Then take into account that the COVID numbers are with the shutdown of schools, businesses and sports, use of masks, distancing and testing. If we had treated COVID just like the flu the death rate could have been as high as 2 million. In fact, in July Trump himself admitted that if we had treated it just like the flu we would have lost millions of lives and I quote; “...By closing up, we saved millions — potentially millions of lives … it could be 2 to 3 million lives...”

So COVID could be 20 to 100 times more deadly than the flu, but that won’t stop Trump from contradicting himself and lying to the American people to get elected.

Tom Buchta, Boise

Trump

To anyone who approves of Trump and his lying words, deeds and actions I must ask: How can you still believe in him?

In the last 10 days, he has shown himself an arrogant, selfish, greedy, despicable person. Trump doesn’t care if he exposes his Secret Service team to danger. If someone gets hurt because of his actions, too bad. Donors? He does not care if they get COVID-19 as long as he gets their money. The men and women who work in the White House or Congress are replaceable as far as Trump is concerned. Trump does not give a damn about keeping you or me safe from infection and/or death. “We the People” are expendable because we don’t have enough money to matter.

I believe “We the People” matter more than Trump and his bullies. But each and every one of us must vote so his voice is heard. Let your voice be heard and vote them out! Democracy will not survive another Trump administration. I wonder if it will survive the present one?

Joan Ehrnstein, Meridian

Trump treatment

Three quick questions for pro-life Trump supporters. How do you feel, one, that the Trump administration performed hysterectomies on female detainees without their knowledge or consent? Two, are you comfortable that the Regeneron “drug cocktail” Trump was administered as part of his COVID-19 treatment was created in part using human embryonic stem cells? And three, how is it pro-life that the individuals Trump forced to drive him around Walter Reed Medical Center for his pathetic political theater parade must now be quarantined for 14 days and may get sick, or worse, die?

Scott Hauser, Boise

Don’t blame Trump

It is totally outrageous that the many acts of violence in this country perpetrated by Democrat supporters are blamed on President Trump.

We have rioters and looters, destroying business, burning buildings, attacking police, secret service and more. And who gets the blame? President Trump.

Are Democrats not responsible for their own actions or are they just puppets controlled by a master puppeteer? Either Trump is a master magician with godlike powers or there is a great deception occurring.

And who could be the force behind such a deception? The answer is obvious to the common people in flyover country. The major media, Hollywood and Democrats.

First they demonize him by unjustly comparing him to Hitler and his supporters to Nazis. Then they blame all the mistakes, violence and misdeeds of Democrats on Trump and associates.

If a female is assaulted then is the criminal justified for blaming his violence on her? We all see that this is crazy thinking so why can’t we see through the media fog and blame all violence in this country on the ones who actually commit it rather than our president, who is doing all that is within the law to stop it.

Joseph Dewey, Boise