‘Deadly fools’
I really wish the Tribune-Herald would stop publishing such dangerously stupid letters as that from Vicki Vierra in (the May 13 edition).
I support freedom of speech, but not every idiotic notion deserves space in our newspaper.
Ms. Vierra’s claim that social distancing has no scientific basis is simply false. In addition to the clear evidence that COVID-19 infection rates are lower in places where social distancing is enforced, common sense should tell anyone that staying out of sneezing range is a sensible precaution against an airborne illness.
And communism? Really? Nobody is “taking over” anything. But governments are trying to protect the larger community from the potentially deadly fools among us.
Dan Lindsay
Hilo
It could be worse
What a great time to battle a pandemic! For the absolute first time in history, most people can do absolutely nothing and still win the war on virus.
In prehistoric times, we would still have to hunt and gather each day, though infected, or starve. In the past, we would still have to daily tend to the farm or be forced to go to the market daily and risk infection.
There was no refrigeration. Food or beer (!) could not be kept for long, making food concerns during a pandemic deadly.
Now, we don’t even have to leave the couch, and unlimited food will be dropped off at our door.
Your grandparents only had AM radio, NO TV! OMG! Imagine trying to entertain yourself under quarantine with no computers and iPhones!
In the past, they didn’t need a pallet of toilet paper per person per day! They had leaves.
Be grateful.
Leighton Loo
Mililani, Oahu
‘Piss-poor leadership’
Gov. David Ige: You don’t seem to have any problem with dismissing the laws, or making up the laws as you go along. Perhaps this is one of those times you can do the same.
Now (more like yesterday actually), would be the time that you put a portion of that CARES Act money toward the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for every household and small-business owner that has been impacted by the shutdown and the unemployment computer crash.
You need to temporarily forget all rules and financial guidelines for now. These people are severely struggling just to pay their rent/mortgage, so how can we expect them to feed themselves and/or their families with no income coming in?
To watch people have to drive and/or stand in line for hours just to eat is not only heart-wrenching for those of us that actually have a soul, but it also clearly demonstrates your piss-poor leadership.
So stop being greedy and cunning and release the federal funds that were meant for the people. Those funds weren’t meant for you and your shady government to hoard, so release more funds so everyone can eat and, at the very least, salvage what little dignity they have left, no thanks to you.
Lisa Malakaua
Hilo
