U.S. needs better risk communication
I greatly enjoyed the March 8 article “CMU Expert: In Times of Crises, People Want Facts, Not Spin.” I urge anyone who has not read this article yet to read it, especially those working in government, public health and emergency services. The information is out there to read and learn.
I became aware of the work of Baruch Fischhoff, a Carnegie Mellon University professor of public policy, and that of Dr. Vincent T. Covello, the founder of the Center for Risk Community, while working in the mid-1980s with Penn State on a project involving lowlevel radioactive waste.
Their work became the basis for my discussion of risk issues related to health risk assessment and risk communication at Superfund sites.
It is sad that after almost 35 years, countless emergencies and a wealth of opportunities to develop effective risk communication, we still can’t seem to get it correct. ANTHONY GAGLIERD
Baldwin Borough
Doom and gloom
When I was in grade school, my classmates and I were told to “duck and cover” in anticipation of nuclear armageddon that would destroy the planet.
More recently, the world has been panicked by the possibility of global warming, a threat that could supposedly destroy the planet.
Now, we have COVID-19, a global pandemic. Can someone please tell me how I am going to die and when? I’d appreciate it. Then I won’t have to worry about my 401(k) tanking anymore.
GREG SKAVINSKI Bethel Park
Futile gesture
Now that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the other fools in the Democratic Party have blundered their “witch hunt” of President Donald Trump — a pointless impeachment that ended in the president’s acquittal — taxpayers should be reimbursed for the millions of dollars wasted on the process.
After all, why should our tax dollars pay for the Democratic Party’s futile gestures?
I have had enough of Washington’s games. Thomas Jefferson supposedly floated the idea of resetting the U.S. government every two decades to ensure it is working on behalf of the people. It might be worth returning to that idea. KEITH KARTMAN
Dormont
Support voting
In Jonah Goldberg’s March 5 op-ed “Convenience Above Citizenship,” he argues against making it easier for Americans to vote, in spite of the fact that America already has the worst voter participation of any Western democracy. Mr. Goldberg quotes a professor from Georgetown who claims that nonvoters are “roughly even” in their political preferences, so increasing voter turnout would make no difference. This is absolutely false.
Recent Pew surveys have shown that more than 50% of nonvoters are either Democrat or lean Democrat, while only about 30% are Republican or lean Republican. The fact that he quotes a professor telling the same lie doesn’t make it true.
The Republicans know that making voting easier would send more votes to the Democrats; that is why they routinely push for anti-democratic initiatives like reducing the number of polling places (always preferentially in poor or minority neighborhoods) and limiting early voting or voting by mail.
This is exactly why we need to take control of elections out of the hands of the politicians. When politicians get to choose their voters, we all lose.
RON LALONDE
Harmony
Proverbs ring true
While channel surfing late last month, I had the opportunity to hear Donald Trump Jr. make a statement that implied Democrats are craving the deaths of millions of American citizens from coronavirus. This, he argued, would harm his father’s “winning” streak.
I thought to myself: What an ignorant and repugnant statement!
But it does give credence to the two age old proverbs: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” and, “Like father, like son.”
EMIL ZIMMERMAN North Versailles