Politics and protests
Quit playing games
Hopefully the continuing nonsense of political games and endless rioting will make voters get rid of most incumbents in the next several elections. Since Democrats and Republicans will never change on their own, it’s up to the voters to make the changes we need for a more positive society, and that doesn’t mean ultra-socialism or wealthy versus poor. It’s time to get away from extremist lefts and rights and get more into the middle. It will benefit all ofus. Peter Stern, Driftwood
Houston doctor
Regarding “Viral video puts local doctor in spotlight,” (A1, July 20): Crises bring clarity, and there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has made absolutely clear: Stupidity kills. Some cranks are relatively harmless, such as flat earthers and moon landing deniers. Others, like Holocaust deniers, are more sinister, because they spread a message of hate. However, those who promote conspiracy theories, hoaxes, anti-mask myths and bogus cures in the midst of a deadly pandemic are not just amusing crackpots or even axe-grinding ideologues. They are killers. When fighting a deadly pathogen, our only weapon is knowledge. Our only hope lies in the expertise of doctors and scientists and in the integrity of those leaders willing to follow their recommendations. Those who undermine knowledge with misinformation and disinformation, and those who enable them by transmitting their lies, are agents of death. Keith M. Parsons, Friendswood
Nursing homes
Regarding “Virus task force arrives at nursing home,” (A5, July 29): COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire through our nation’s nursing homes. With only a few weeks until the district work period in August, Congress must take meaningful action to protect nursing home residents now; it is critical. The first U.S. outbreak of coronavirus occurred more than four months ago — in a nursing home — but the death toll continues to mount without sufficient action from Congress and the administration. Nursing home residents and staff are dying each day. It is past time for our elected officials in Washington to enact a bipartisan five-point plan to protect nursing home residents and staff by: Providing adequate PPE and regular testing; creating more transparency with data; requiring access to virtual visitation and improving staffing and oversight; and stopping attempts to provide blanket immunity to long-term care facilities. Nationally, more than 56,000 nursing home and other long-term care facility residents and staff have already died from COVID-19. In Texas nursing homes alone, as of July 23, there have been 15,497 COVID-19 cases reported, with over 1,700 deaths. Assisted living facilities in Texas have seen over 1,500 cases with 227 deaths. Congress cannot afford to wait any longer to stem the loss of life. We should all be appalled at the current nursing home crisis and must contact members of Congress to act, like their lives dependent on it. Charlene Hunter James, AARP Texas state volunteer president, Houston