Houston Chronicle Sunday

Candidates need to clean up

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Election signs

If you were a primary candidate in the last election and did not win or hold a runoff position, do us a favor and pick up your signage that has become trash. Greg Armstrong, Richmond

Sanders and Cuba

Regarding “Letters: Side with human rights,” (A13, March 9): Seth Rock’s letter to the editor urging Sen. Bernie Sanders to ask Raul Castro to free political prisoners comes not a moment too soon.

Cuba is engaged in a roundup of dissidents and kangaroo trials, hoping that the world, preoccupie­d with the coronaviru­s epidemic, will not notice.

Granma, Cuba’s official newspaper, wrote approvingl­y of Sanders in a front page article a few days ago.

Although he visited with the Cuban leadership when they held Alan Gross, an American, political hostage, the senator did not ask for his release, Gross said.

Amnesty Internatio­nal can provide informatio­n on Cuban prisoners of conscience.

There are almost 100 political prisoners in Raul Castro’s jails today. John Suarez, executive director for Center for a Free Cuba

Coronaviru­s

Regarding “Concerns disrupt life across U.S.,” (A1, March 12): As we continue to read how the coronaviru­s spreads into every aspect of our lives and more people die, maybe we can learn a lesson: No matter how wealthy, how powerful, no matter how many weapons we have, we can be brought down by a virus. Maybe we can learn that we are a part of and deeply interconne­cted with nature, and maybe we can begin to give it the respect and cooperatio­n it deserves. Christine Eheman, Houston

Now may be the time when the coronaviru­s forces Congress to pass Medicare for All legislatio­n to stop the spread. Without everyone who contracts the virus in the United States being treated, those persons will overwhelm the health care system, thereby rendering valueless the coverages of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. The situation will be akin to a lack of measles vaccinatio­ns causing a loss of the herd immunity where those persons who are not vaccinated will be more vulnerable to the measles. With respect to coronaviru­s, everyone is unvaccinat­ed. Everyone is vulnerable. The only way to be protected is to ensure that those who are displaying symptoms get tested and those who have COVID-19 be properly treated. Thus, my protection and proper medical care requires that proper medical care be furnished to everyone in the United States. Unfortunat­ely, many will not be able to meet the costs of such treatment

(if uninsured), or the expense of deductible­s and co-pays if insured. The federal government needs to furnish the testing and the care free of charge. My Medicare benefits cannot be provided unless everyone needing tested or treatment is treated, free of charge, immediatel­y. Milton J. Flick, Missouri City

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