Fear and COVID: Letters to the editor, May 29, 2020

Where is the fear of COVID pandemic?

We live in a society dictated by fear in every aspect of the word. To a certain degree, of course, fear is warranted; however, our society has completely lost touch on where to draw that line.

On Halloween we are afraid there will be poison or razors in our children’s candy, even though that has happened maybe twice in 30 years. We lock our doors and windows every night because the news tells us crime rates are going up, even though according to FBI crime statistics from 1990 until 2019 we are at an all-time low. We allow the fear of so many things control our lives; yet, when it comes to a virus that has regularly been killing the same amount of people who were sadly lost on Sept. 11, 2001 every few days, all of the fear which has controlled this country for decades somehow is gone.

We are left with a portion of our society who believe it is more important to open up the economy because money is more important than the 100,000 lives we have lost in this country alone.

U.S. must have carbon-fee system

Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Fresno thanks Rep. Jim Costa for co-sponsoring H.R. 4051, the Climate Action Rebate Act.

CARA is similar to our preferred legislation, H.R. 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.

Both acts charge gradually increasing fees to producers of oil, coal and natural gas based on the carbon dioxide released when these fuels burn.

EICDA returns all of the money to the people as dividends. CARA returns 70% as dividends to low- and middle-income residents. Another 20% goes to infrastructure, 5% to investments in clean energy and energy innovation, and 5% to transition assistance.

Economists agree that carbon fees are the most effective and market-friendly method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Congress should pass this kind of legislation.

Small businesses, do the right thing

I was a small business owner in Fresno for 25 years, I know how difficult it is to run a small business — labor costs, insurance, taxes, material, rent, electricity, the competition from the big chains down the street — it’s tough. I have complete empathy for business owners and the millions who are unemployed because of this pandemic. Much of the pain this country is experiencing could have been avoided with stronger leadership from Washington, which is why it is vital to vote in November.

The businesses that are defied state and city guidelines and insisted on opening, come hell or high water, will never get my business again. It is not a matter of freedom and liberty; it is a matter of selfishness, greed and disregard for the safety of the greater community. Until there are ample tests and a vaccine, we are all vulnerable to this virus.

As much as I enjoy going to a restaurant, it is not worth my life nor the lives of my family.

I will make my own waffle!

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Fear and COVID: Letters to the editor, May 29, 2020."