Forum Letters: Since Trump is halting WHO funding, we should halt funding to his campaign

Don’t halt WHO funding

“States confront practical dilemmas on reopening” (The Sacramento Bee, April 15, Section 1A):

Trump announced the United States will halt funding to the World Health Organization over its coronavirus response. Trump failed to take significant steps to address the coronavirus until mid-March despite multiple warnings in January and February 2020 from top administration officials in the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, National Security Council, Health and Human Services and a Hong Kong epidemiologist who alerted Trump’s deputy national security adviser to the virus. WHO declared a global public health emergency on January 30. When Trump started to take steps, he continued to minimize the risks of coronavirus. If the US halts funding of WHO while the US investigates WHO’s claimed slow response, should there be a halt to contributions to Trump’s re-election campaign due to his administration’s slow response to a pandemic that has infected over 650,000 people and killed over 30,000 in the US?

No-contact groceries

Submitted April 14, regarding grocery stores during the coronavirus pandemic:

Isn’t it time for grocery stores to ramp up low-contact or no-contact shopping to protect their employees AND shoppers? Pack the grocery bags for us, we pick up. Safe social distancing for employees doing the packing. This would probably create more (temporary) jobs at the groceries. And those jobs need to pay a decent wage. Why can’t we do this? Instead of bailing out, the government could help support grocery wages if needed during the health emergency - split the difference maybe. Instead of wiping down carts for us, grocery workers can keep their work environment as safe as possible - they can pack a couple wipes for us to wipe down our stuff when we get it home.

Gun sales

“NRA’s lawsuit against California exploits coronavirus crisis to push agenda of death” (sacbee.com, March 28):

The Sacramento Bee’s recent NRA attack ignores critical self-awareness. Their anti-self-defense rant falsely claimed the NRA sees guns as the solution to every problem. That overlooks the fact that gun control supporters usually dismiss any idea involving a firearm even if it’s rooted in common sense. Instead of engaging in rhetoric, we should heed the marketplace, empirical evidence, and the will of the people when searching for truth. There are compelling reasons why gun sales spiked: law enforcement is selectively arresting criminals, prisoners are being released to avoid contagion, and some police departments are down by as much as 20 percent. Americans are just trying to protect themselves and their families. Why fault them for that? The coronavirus has people scared. Many are taking precautions to ensure their safety. They’re wearing masks, social distancing, staying home, and taking responsibility for their own personal safety - some by purchasing a firearm.

PPE for prison employees

Submitted April 5, regarding the spread of COVID-19 in prisons:

There has been a lot of publicity for the justifiable fears expressed by inmates of the state prison system. If the virus once gets loose in the populations, it could be catastrophic. However, I can’t help but notice that the thousands and thousands of prison employees, hardworking men and women doing jobs that the rest of society doesn’t want to think about, are never mentioned! Many employees are forced to come into close contact with prisoners and one another without any personal protective equipment (PPE) whatsoever. Precautions and safety measures are implemented unevenly in individual facilities. Education and enforcement is spotty. Employee unions are vague and general in response to complaints. These hardworking people do not deserve this.

Thank you to our Muslim neighbors

“Religious worship in the age of coronavirus: How centuries-old traditions are being upended” (sacbee.com, April 5):

As consumers of news, we’re accustomed to reading the details of things which have happened. It’s less common to read about that which hasn’t happened. In recent days, we’ve seen reports – both local and national – about churches holding services in violation of stay-at-home orders forbidding such gatherings. What we haven’t seen are similar reports of mosques holding services in direct violation of these legitimate orders. You can rest assured that’s because that hasn’t happened. Here in Sacramento, the SALAAM Center near American River College is normally abuzz with activity on their days of worship. Now, it is shuttered. Our Muslim neighbors are doing their part to help all of us halt the spread of COVID-19. Perhaps those among us who spread hate and intolerance for Islam should look in their mirrors and ask themselves who it is that more closely resembles what we think of as American values.

Trump has delivered

“Trump botched the coronavirus crisis. But will Gavin Newsom’s praise help re-elect him?” (sacbee.com, April 7):

In chastising Gavin Newsom for his “overdone applause” of Trump, Gil Duran must now be fuming that Governor Cuomo has likewise been unable to “temper his collegiality.” “He has delivered for New York. He has,” said Cuomo, responding to a question from Howard Stern as to whether the president had done anything of consequence to help. How dreadful that the Democratic governors of the two largest blue states should set politics aside in this national emergency and give credit when its due. Speaking of Trump, Duran writes, “It’s hard to imagine a more disastrous performance.” May the same words be more justifiably applied to the Bee’s opinion editor.

This story was originally published April 19, 2020 at 6:00 AM.