Letters, editor Modesto Bee: Fear makes bad coronavirus policy

Reopening advocates aren’t monsters

The term “safetyism” is found in the watershed book on the state of American youth, “Coddling of the American Mind.” The authors define “safetyism” as “a culture or belief system in which safety has become a sacred value, which means that people become unwilling to make trade-offs demanded by other practical and moral concerns.”

Beware of politicians and government officials who have bought into this belief system in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due concern and respect must be given to the deceased, ill, and truly endangered in this pandemic, as well as to the responders and care-givers. Their loss, risk, and heroic actions are unprecedented and profound.

Safetyism rears its irrational head when those who call for a reopening of the economy are castigated as uncaring ogres because such actions may endanger the health or safety of other humans beings.

The embattled World Health Organization cites unreservedly the world’s biggest killer: extreme poverty. While lives are saved by the quarantine, more lives will be lost if the economic devastation is allowed to carry on too long.

Leadership mandates looking at the big picture and giving priority to the common good, and not being driven by fear or politics.

Ross W. Lee, Modesto

They shouldn’t have gutted public health

The government response to the coronavirus global pandemic has been slow and inadequate.

In recent decades, government health departments have been gutted and replaced by the for-profit private sector. Overhead is minimized by operating facilities at capacity and using supplies produced cheaply overseas.

For years, tens of millions of uninsured citizens have had no access to health care. Inadequate capacity exists even before a pandemic hits.

We elected politicians who gutted the public health care system. Taxes were cut that could have enabled health departments to prepare for the pandemic and provide services for the public good.

If the desire is to have an effective health care system with adequate resources to deal with fluctuating demand, a combined public-private system is the best solution. Alone, the private sector has failed miserably. If money is more important than lives and quality of life, change nothing.

Money recently spent in emergency bailouts could have funded a better health system. Instead, the national debt has been increased with nothing to show for it.

Bruce Frohman, Modesto

Coronavirus model too pessimistic

Of the 40 million who live in California, our pre-coronavirus daily mortality rate was 740. That’s the number of people who died from natural causes, medical issues, car accidents, gunshot wounds, etc. The current coronavirus fatality count is between 680 and 700, counted from the end of February when testing became available. So in 73 days we have not yet lost an additional one day of Californians to the virus.

Now that the curve is bending, Governor Newsom, like the other politicians whose interests are served by the crisis, fails to mention that the curve may have been a grossly pessimistic model created by politicians who should have left the issue in the hands of the medical community. As a result we have an economic disaster like nothing this generation has ever seen, coincidentally in the last year of the current administration’s first term and directly after a humiliating failed attempt to impeach our elected president.

Marty Miller, Modesto

Mayor Novelli nailed it

Re “Stanislaus mayors ask state to ease virus restrictions” (Front Page, April 23): After reading the seven mayors’ letter to the governor I applaud the mayor of Patterson. She seems to be the only one who is paying attention to the science behind this pandemic. The others appear to be attempting to be the first lemming to jump off the cliff. Our number are doubling every eight days and until we go two weeks with decreases in cases our leaders should be prudent in their misguided desire to get back to “normal.”

Rich Holmer, Riverbank

Far too many restrictions

I can go to a rather crowded grocery store, shop in a hardware store, and enter Walmart or Target with ease and without much delay, if any. I can go to a restaurant and pick up food. I can go to the bank, gas station and various other places where I encounter people either wearing masks or not, as they prefer.

What I cannot fathom is why at this time Emperor Newsom is not moving in a direction of allowing businesses to immediately open that can also observe the same risk levels as all the places that I can already go. For instance, restaurants, clothing stores, hair salons, jewelry stores, and the like. Churches also could be reopened with appropriate spacing and temperature checks. I think the vast majority of us get it. We understand what is at risk and what is effective conduct for preventing the spread of disease.

My belief is that this is slowly morphing into a power trip. The emperor has seen how easily he can manipulate the masses and he likes it. Power yields the desire for greater power. Isn’t it time now that we remind him who he works for?

Gary Nelson, Modesto

Trump and his enabler-in-chief

For months Jane Mayer had searched Mitch McConnell’s backstory for a biographical sketch I read April 19, looking for his early principles and sense of purpose. Finally, a long-term associate of his told her to give up, they never existed. Others called him shallow and selfish. One stated: “He just wants to be something; he doesn’t want to do anything.” Mitch’s goals to acquire and keep money and power led him to help elect and then cover up for Donald Trump whom he stated was “nuts.” Just as Trump’s ghost-writer, Tony Schwartz, concluded there is no “there” there, the president and Senate leader are eerily similar, both swamp denizens helping each other stay afloat.

That same Sunday I watched “60 Minutes.” Profiled were the NYC chief medical examiner who oversees death investigations; a National Guard first lieutenant who leads a team collecting 30 to 40 bodies in NYC a day; a Michelin Star chef whose nonprofit has dispensed nearly 2 million meals during the pandemic.

These interviewees showed expressions that were somber, maybe fatigued, but still resolute that they would keep on giving because others need them.

Contrasts. Self-seeking hearts versus hearts of love.

Diana Doll, Modesto

Political cartoon was inane

I’m having a hard time getting past the sheer stupidity of the editorial cartoon comparing the desire to get back to work with big tobacco and lung cancer. What’s next, Hitler? The editorial staff should be embarrassed.

Soon, we will have to crawl out of our holes or there will be no reason to crawl out. We can rip right past recession to soup kitchen.

Lee Adams, Oakdale

Good reasons to keep studying

Doing homework is important because it keeps you smart for when you go back to school. By doing homework at home everyday you can keep up on the things that you would normally be doing if school was still open. It means that you can keep up with the things you are supposed to be learning.

During this time, you cannot go anywhere so homework is something to keep you occupied and your mind off of the things happening in the world. If you do homework, you will not be bored.

Homework makes you smarter so you will be ready for the next grade. If you do good in school, you will have more options for your future and a better career. If you have a good career, you can be more successful and make more money.

Those are my reasons why doing homework is very, very important especially during this time when schools are closed.

Aidan Chavez, 9, Walnut Elementary School third grade, Turlock

Educators still hard at work

I teach at an elementary school in one of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in town. I must address the dialogue that’s coming out, saying “We must open schools back up, even at the expense of 2 or 3% of our population, in order to keep kids safe and learning.” Comments like that discount the tremendous efforts school districts have swiftly put into place to meet the needs of the students and families we serve. We have done what educators do best: We have put systems in place to take care of the educational, nutritional, and social-emotional needs of our kids, even while at home.

Every student in our district has been given a computer; instructional coaches and teachers have been working together to create rigorous and engaging distance learning opportunities; nutrition services continues to hand out breakfast and lunch daily; administrators and teachers go on home visits to check on some of our most vulnerable kiddos; mental health services are being offered — the list goes on.

Of course, we know these are not ideal conditions for learning, especially for the most socially disadvantaged population, but they are not being forgotten.

Elizabeth DeRieux, Modesto