Is the Star-Telegram just trying to scare people about coronavirus?

Annoying steps aren’t tyranny

Some people are outraged that they’re asked to wear face masks in public. Why? The overwhelming consensus of experts in pandemic medicine is that wearing masks saves lives. Yet many refuse to act in the interest of public health, angrily complaining that being told to wear face masks in a store is tantamount to tyranny.

If that’s tyranny, what about other public health and safety regulations, such as: designated parking for the disabled, stopping at red lights and stop signs, getting vaccinations, driving the speed limit and having to wear shirts and shoes in stores?

Calm down people. Inconvenience does not equal tyranny.

- Cary Clark, Fort Worth

Sacrifice needed? Give me names

President Donald Trump wants to reopen our country for business, get our economy going and get people working again. Trump acknowledges “there will be more death,” but the great economy he takes credit for is first and foremost.

Many medical and pandemic experts beg to differ, warning of the certainty of increases in COVID-19 and deaths across our country.

My question to Trump: Who are you willing to sacrifice to open us up? I cannot think of a single person I am willing to sacrifice.

- Carolyn Sawyer, Fort Worth

Not the time for political stunts

As a political independent, I am disturbed by the tendency of both left and right to politicize the current emergency.

I have voted Republican more often than not, but I am disappointed in the behavior of Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz. In the Dallas salon owner’s case, they politicized a legitimate legal ruling and undermined the separation of the branches of government. Shelley Luther chose to disobey the law and thumb her nose at the court. (May 9, 1A, “Sen. Ted Cruz gets haircut from salon owner who defied order”)

I can only pray that her behavior and that of state leaders don’t cost lives by setting such a horrible example on the rule of law.

- Keith Stark Jr., Arlington

You’re just trying to scare us

Does the Star-Telegram ever report when predictions about COVID-19 prove to be incorrect? Maybe that does not sell.

All you want to report about is the experts saying that reopening Texas is bad. You never analyze what projections have been made and how far off they are. Are you trying to create fear? Does fear really sell?

- Ken Sladovnik, Fort Worth

New Green Boogeyman

Texas Republican Party Chairman James Dickey’s column Thursday was nothing more than political propaganda aimed at scaring Texans. (9A, “Biden would use coronavirus as excuse to crush Texas economy”) Is he so afraid of progress that he needs to use schoolyard taunts like “Green New Disaster”?

Neither Joe Biden nor the Green New Deal wants to take away Texas’ oil and gas. Dickey needs to look at Texas history and the gas crisis of the late 1990s. In response to a crippled economy, Texas had the foresight to diversify our economy.

It might be worth listening to Biden’s call to action or to the Green New Deal’s call to dialogue. Instead of scaring Texans and using silly insults, let’s lead the nation with economic diversity, strength and innovation.

- Shelly Ward, Benbrook

The sins of prejudice

How sad it is that from Texas to Florida, there are racist, evil people allowed to walk free after killing unarmed black men and women. Why can’t these people just live their lives and let others live theirs? The judicial system needs to step up.

- Frankie Manley Andrew, Willow Park