The more things change ...
What science?
Regarding “Patrick: U.S. shouldn’t have been shut down,” (A15, April 21): It is said that great leaders set an example for those around them, and this could not be truer than for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Mr. Patrick recently cited the changing forecast of the fatalities from COVID-19 as proof that science has been wrong and we never should have issued stay-at-home orders for our state or others across the country.
Mr. Patrick knows that hurricanes never shift from their projected paths, and scientists never update those forecasts as new data are gathered. He understands that scientific research can’t make new discoveries, because that would mean our understanding of how the world works might change! Mr. Patrick knows that when he leaves his house in the morning, the traffic report will never change and there is no chance whatsoever of a wreck delaying his travels. Mr. Patrick has shown his great leadership by setting an important example. Thanks to him, all Texans can plainly see how foolish you look when you ignore science and don’t pay attention to the world around you.
Gregory Konieczny, Philadelphia
I am waiting to hear a clear explanation from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick describing how he reconciles his passionate opposition to abortion, based on his view that all life is precious including the unborn of any age, with his dismissal of the preciousness of the lives of all those who might still contract and die from COVID-19 as a result of his equally passionate calls arguing that the business impacts of the virus mitigation measures are more important than the lives which have been and will be saved by these measures.
So, Mr. Patrick, which is it? Is all life precious or just some lives? Are the lives which are not as precious suitable sacrifices in order to reduce the hardships on the rest of us from the negative economic impacts by the measures taken to date?
Robin Converse, Houston
Coronavirus in jail
According to the Harris County Sheriff ’s Office, 93 inmates and 124 staff of the Harris County jail system have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday. Even if you’re not sympathetic to those incarcerated — though you should be — safely decreasing jail populations is necessary for the health of the staff. As Holly Harris of the Justice Action Network has put it, the coronavirus can spread through incarcerative facilities like “fire through a dry barn.” Jurisdictions across the country, in red states and blue states, are finding ways to safely and significantly reduce their jail populations. Harris County needs to act now.
John Arnold, co-founder, Arnold Ventures, Houston