Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to primary day. Tuesday, Aug. 9, provides a chance for members of the two major parties to pick candidates for office who will run in the November general election, and although some of the marquee races are not up for grabs, there is still much to be decided. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor have long been clear in Connecticut, which means neither party has to go through a costly, divisive primary campaign for the state’s top political job. But other positions, including secretary of the state and treasurer and a number of legislative positions, have primaries Tuesday to determine who will be on the ballot. Connecticut has closed primaries, so you have to be a party member to take part.

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thumbs down to threats to election workers. People who help facilitate voting every Election Day and primary day are overwhelmingly volunteers who are giving their time to help the country’s political process. But in the wake of lies about a stolen election in 2020 (the election was, in fact, remarkably free of fraud), election workers are facing a raft of threats nationwide, and advocates are calling for help. The threats are mostly concentrated in battleground states, which does not include Connecticut, but the problem is national in nature, and could therefore strike anywhere.

Volunteers at the polls deserve our thanks, and nothing more.

Thumbs down to “the new normal” apparently

meaning that COVID-linked deaths no longer inspire a measurable shift in behavior by the general public in Connecticut. Not only was there a recent week-toweek rise in the number of deaths tied to the COVID, but it was an increase of 28 people. We’re all weary of dealing with the pandemic, but it should still give everyone pause that our state has lost about 2,000 residents to COVID in 2022. We also have more people in the hospital with COVID-19 since late May. As Hartford HealthCare Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Ulysses Wu, observed, “Our hospitalizations are still high, and deaths are still high.” In short, COVID is still not something to be ignored.

Thumbs down to the ongoing heatwave. Yes, it’s

summer, and we all expect hot weather. But a break once in a while doesn’t seem like much to ask. It’s been a mostly uninterrupted run of hot, humid, generally unpleasant weather for what seems like weeks now, and it’s taking a toll on everyone. It’s also taking a toll on our water supply, and despite some rain overnight into Monday, the state remains in a drought. People who work outside have the most to worry about, and must ensure they remain hydrated. At least it’s only a few weeks until September.