LETTERS TO THE
E DITOR We need leadership
To the editor: Senator Mitch McConnell has said the White House and Congress were distracted by the impeachment of President Trump, giving that as the reason the Trump administration has been so slow to react to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world.
It was three weeks after the Senate impeachment vote that Trump declared the coronavirus to be a Democratic hoax. Even now, as he admits the death toll could reach as many as 240,000 Americans — even if everyone follows the recommendations of medical experts, and he extended social distancing guidelines through April 30, and announced the new CDC recommendation for everyone to wear a face mask when venturing from their homes — he surrounds himself daily with advisors and says, “I am choosing not to do it.”
Trump likes to tell us how much he helps farmers, but where is it? With food pantries seeing the number of patrons increase tenfold, 10 million people unemployed and farmers dumping milk, it would help everyone if our government bought the surplus and put it into people’s hands in the form of cheese, butter, or even fresh milk.
Such an action would take coordination, attention to the terrible problems facing this country, and leadership. President Trump has announced one thing he does pay attention to when he said, “Did you know I’m #1 on Facebook?” He might be president, but he is not a leader. Darlene and Dennis Bucheger Greenwood
Many postal services can be accessed from home
To the editor: You don’t have to go to the post office to use many postal products and services. In fact, most simple tasks can be done from the convenience and safety of your home with or without a computer.
Like purchasing stamps. Using your computer, you can go to the postal store on usps.com and select different stamp denominations. USPS will deliver them right to your home.
No computer? No problem! Ask your local post office or carrier to bring you a Stamps by Mail order form, complete it and put it in your mailbox with a check. Again, USPS will bring you your stamps.
What if you need to send a package? You can order free Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes or other package supplies at usps.com. Again, USPS will deliver items to your address. And at usps.com, using Click-N-Ship, you can print a mailing label with the appropriate postage right from your computer.
Need that package picked-up? Go to usps.com and schedule a free carrier pick-up. In your request, let your local post office know where they can find the package or packages and the carrier will retrieve them when he or she delivers your mail.
USPS postal employees are working around the clock to ensure you get your important letters and packages. Skip the trip to the post office by ordering stamps, package supplies and print package postage from your home. We’ll pick up your packages too. It’s the most effective type of social distancing around!
The postal service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Melanie Boeck Abbotsford post master
Service member deserve better COVID protection
To the editor: Save our service members!
Call your elected representatives and tell them that you are aware and concerned that people serving in our military are becoming ill, that they must be protected from this terrible disease, and that every effort be made to see they receive the best treatment available.
The government’s performance to date has not been good at advocating for safe behaviors or for providing the supplies necessary to deliver good safe and effective treatment to those who become ill. Veterans are dying in veterans care facilities. (Note that testing is happening in the White House. No arguments from the administration about that).
Captain Brett Crozier, former commander of the U.S.S. Teddy Roosevelt, spoke up to get help for the sailors who became ill on his ship. He was decommissioned for this act. The administration wants to silence all who would speak up when there is evidence of poor leadership anywhere in our government. Commander Crozier should be reinstated, and commended for being a spokesman and protector of his sailors!
I write this on behalf of my husband, brother, uncles, nephew, brothers-in-law, and friends who served, none of whom used bone spurs to avoid service.
Phyllis Goeke Greenwood
