The cost of an inadequate response to COVID-19
Re: “CDC: The asymptomatic don’t need to be tested,” Aug. 26 news story
Having served in WW11 and the Korean conflict, I saw the backbone of this nation. Americans of all shapes and sizes stood up and did what patriots do: They saved this nation from tyranny at great cost.
What happened to that backbone? Everyone seems willing to succumb to the destructive behavior of this president. All to salve his ego and at the cost to all of us — to what? Lose our lives so he looks good. This latest go-round to do fewer COVID-19 tests because more tests make him look bad is about the lowest form of a lackless leader.
Bruce Jacobsen, Denver
Recently I heard this analogy, and I think it would be helpful to share as we desperately want students of all ages to return to school, and hopefully their parents will be able to fully engage at their jobs. If all Americans had been asked before Sept 11, 2001, if they’d do anything and everything to prevent that horrific event that killed over 3,000 innocent people, itap believed nearly everyone would affirm willingness to do everything possible.
A few weeks ago, a University of Washington study predicted that 60,000 fewer Americans would die over the next several months if there were significant mask wearing and social distancing. Thatap almost 20 9/11s. Think of how we’d react to a person refusing to act to prevent 9/11. Why are we now observing so many people purposely defying the call to action?
If you know people who are still resistant to help, please try this analogy. Deaths have reached these levels because too many of us didn’t react as if we’d do anything and everything to prevent the deaths of so many.
Mark Zaitz, Denver
Stop blaming big-bad businesses
Re: “The gig gap,” Aug. 23 commentary
The New York Time’s Greg Bensinger wants us all to believe that Uber and Lyft drivers are not contract workers (gig workers), but employees with a right to ‘’company-backed benefits like health care, paid leave and severance pay.’’
After criticizing the companies for their multi-million dollar lobbying against state efforts to force them to classify gig drivers as employees, Bensinger points out that the companies combined to lose $11.1 billion in the year before the pandemic. A couple questions:
If states push Uber/Lyft out of their borders, who will replace those gig workers? Gig workers in yellow taxicabs? Don’t riders avoid taxis because of their pricing?
If we believe that Americans who work — or Americans, period — deserve’ a modicum of income, income security, paid leave, health insurance, etc, maybe we should swallow hard and admit to ourselves what it would cost to change these conditions.
We could then vote to put into place guaranteed basic incomes for all; Medicare for all; and/or whatever other programs we are honestly willing to pay higher taxes to support.
Reading self-righteous do-gooders like Bensinger tilt against the big evil corporation or politician of the moment is getting old.
Steve Baur, Westminster
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