Letters: Leaders put politics ahead of health; Bogus election claims have gone too far
Leaders put politics ahead of health
Recently, my 5-year-old granddaughter could not be in the new kindergarten class she loves. Why? Because a member of her class tested positive for coronavirus. Children can’t be vaccinated, but most of us can.
Perhaps the president of Penn State can explain to my granddaughter why he is putting her, and other children’s health at risk for political reasons. Surely he knows, as president of a research university, that the message he is sending is that getting vaccinated is not that important. He may say that it is, but by not requiring those he is responsible for to get vaccinated, he is communicating that it is not. Is political expediency worth it to put all of us, especially children and the frail, at higher risk?
And speaking of political expediency, the President of Penn State is afraid of Jake Corman, who seems to be more concerned about wasting our dollars, and attacking our democratic elections, by auditing the already established fair election (which his side lost) than with fighting the virus with proven public health practices. As Centre Countians, where do we begin? Perhaps by letting both Corman and President Barron know that it is time to put the common good ahead of politics?
Isn’t it time for community members to say “enough is enough?” Isn’t it time for all of us to say “what can I do for my community” in these difficult times? Yes, it is time.
Bogus election claims have gone too far
The headline for the lead article in the Sunday, Aug. 29, CDT reads: “In Pennsylvania, pressure grows for ’20 election “audit.”
Let me see if I understand this article correctly.
First, Donald Trump lies and claims the Pennsylvania election was stolen.
Second, Trump’s Republican partisans in Pennsylvania swallow the “election was stolen” lie and regurgitate the claim, without any evidence.
Third, spineless Republican leaders like Jake Corman listen only to the partisans and say “people are bringing pressure” to “audit” the election results, so we must do it.
Clever! Create a bogus issue, listen only to those who believe the bogus claims, then assert that we must investigate our own bogus issue.
No matter how this plays out, two things are certain: First, whatever the partisan “audit” committee comes up with will be bogus, just like the original election fraud claims.
Second, Jake Corman and the state Republicans will make Pennsylvania the laughingstock of the nation.
Jake Corman needs to stop wasting taxpayers’ money — and leave elected office.
Did I miss anything?
Long-term impacts of casino must be considered
A College Township casino ... really? Alexis de Tocqueville, author of “Democracy in America,” wrote “America is great because she is good, and if America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” I wonder how would the proposed casino at the Nittany Mall help our community to be good, let alone great? How would this business prospect benefit our entire region? Who would bear the financial cost of any increased services for police, fire, EMS, mental health/social services? What would be the long-term non-financial cost to individuals and families related to foreseeable gambling addiction, drug/alcohol abuse, child neglect (children left in cars or motel rooms while parents gamble) and other crimes? Doesn’t Happy Valley have enough bars, breweries, other entertainment venues without adding a casino to the mix? Since College Township does not reportedly need the tax revenue to support its budget, then who does this business really benefit? It doesn’t seem to be the majority of local residents who live here and want to enjoy an optimal quality of life. Let’s carefully consider the long-term impact this venture may have on the next generation of children who grow up here and the heritage which we leave for them. Surely there are alternative options for use of the Nittany Mall property that would better support family values and not contribute to any increased societal ills.