Postal service is scapegoat for Trump’s poor prospects

I worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 35 1/2 years. I worked my way up from clerk-carrier to supervisor to postmaster at Millersport, Ohio, for 20 years.

Carriers were required to take out all first class mail every day. If they had to bring first class mail back to the office, they were interviewed by management and had to have a very, very good reason for bringing it back.

The new postmaster general, appointed by President Trump, stated that all mail did not have to be delivered every day. This will cause a backup of mail that just keeps accumulating every day.

If there are mail-in ballots in the mail, those will not be delivered on time. I think this plan will start the destruction of the postal service. It will help President Trump in the election and provide a way to explain why the postal service needs to be rescued by private delivery service.

Just remember, once the U.S. Postal Service is gone, it would be almost impossible to bring it back.

Jerry Sanborn, Westerville

What will it take for GOP to take president to task?

While members of the Republican Party have been quick to respond negatively to the idea of postponing the November election, an idea recently floated by President Trump, nary a one that I have seen has condemned him for even suggesting the idea.

The extent to which members of that party are willing to excuse his behavior is truly remarkable. I do wonder if the entire party is suffering from Stockholm syndrome as it relates to their kidnapper, Donald Trump.

John Heintz, Columbus

God grants all of us the freedom of speech

I respond to the Thursday letter “Former football coach has right to voice misguided opinon” from Neal Snyder concerning Mike Ditka’s comment about respecting our flag.

Snyder commented, “But you have to expect some of that when you give freedom of speech to the wrong people.” I won’t comment on who he feels are “wrong people,” but I wish to address his belief that we are “given” freedom of speech.

We are born with freedom of speech; it is not granted by the U.S. Constitution, nor by our government. It is a God-given, irrevocable right — one our current “cancel culture” would like to revoke from the “wrong people.”

Remember: A right granted by a benevolent government can be easily revoked by a tyrannical one.

Brian Rooney, Grove City

Real leader would make sure election, results are secure

Three months before a presidential election, a real leader would be saying: “We are going to make sure that every eligible voter gets the opportunity to vote. We are going to do everything to make absentee balloting safe and secure and will provide the U.S. Postal Service with resources to make sure that all ballots sent by mail arrive safely and in a timely manner.” And a real leader would say, “We are going to make sure that no foreign entities interfere in any way with our election process and results.”

America’s current leader is saying that maybe we need to delay the election. He is trying to undermine Americans’ faith in the election by badmouthing voting by mail.

He is actively striving to defund the U.S. Postal Service when America needs it most. He also is saying absentee voting is good and voting by mail is bad when, in reality, they are so similar as to be one and the same.

The sad reality is that our current leader is more concerned with his own standing and position.

America needs faith in the election process and results and a real leader would be doing everything possible to help build that faith.

Charles Summers, Pataskala

Dangerous actions show disdain for science, others

Who knew, back in 2016, that Hillary Clinton was too nice when referring to the deplorables?

These same people claim COVID-19 is a hoax, masks are useless and their freedom to do anything they want, anytime they want, anywhere they want, anyway they want trumps everything else. As many as 1,500 citizens dying per day for three months means nothing to them.

Let’s play a game. Imagine that two full planes crashed in the U.S. tomorrow. Would there be outrage? Calls for an investigation? Cries for greater safety? Sure there would.

Now imagine that two full planes crashed every single day for the next three months. That’s the equivalent to the COVID deaths that are all too easily ignored.

Let’s go even further. Imagine that all those planes crashed because of passengers using their cellphones during flight. Something so easily prevented.

Sure it’s a pain to put your phone away, but your responsibility to your fellow passengers mandates you abide by the rules and leave your cellphone off.

But we all know there would be several Trump supporters on the plane who would demand their freedom. And just as with COVID, many more of us would die.

Neither God nor Jesus speaks to me so I am not able to quote either of them. But from their words and teachings, I can feel comfortable knowing that, when all those for whom the only important things are making sure every baby in our country is born no matter what, and, as soon as that baby is born, a gun must be placed in that tiny hand, a severe scolding will be in order from the Almighty and they will have only moments to realize that their entire life was lived on the wrong path.

Sadly, by that time, their heartless actions will have condemned many good Americans to death.

Randall Alan, Columbus

State restrictions are going to give rise to speakeasies

Americans have a long-established and well-documented history dating back over two centuries of gathering in groups, often with alcohol, to celebrate victories and share community with friends and family. In the COVID-19 world, our citizens’ patience and compliance with heavy-handed government mandates to restrict our gatherings is exhausted.

Delusional Gov. Mike Dewine’s ongoing efforts to keep youths from gathering at the county fair or late-night patrons from having another round will be ineffective. Our citizens will simply and quietly protest by continuing to gather in pole barns, patios and basements.

Long live the speakeasy: Craft cocktails and near beer are coming to your neighborhood soon.

Jim Atkinson, Lewis Center

State representatives made another error in judgment

The photograph of the Ohio House chamber on Page A11 of Friday’s Dispatch disgusted me and not because former speaker Larry Householder is the only member being criminally charged.

Nearly half of the elected representatives pictured are shown at an indoor work site without masks. I once had pride being an Ohioan. This example of absurd, self-indulgent ignorance has turned pride into pitiless shame.

Daniel Finn, Worthington

Big tech companies could aid students during pandemic

What a golden opportunity this pandemic presents for big corporations to show their better angels.

Not all of our nation’s schools have equal access to the technology they need to study remotely. Some areas of the country do not have adequate broadband connections.

How about Apple, Dell and Microsoft along with Spectrum and AT&T partnering to help out? Surely they have some cash socked away. After all, they have been feasting on our intellectual abilities and pockets for years.

While I don’t have children, I feel keenly the anxiety parents must be feeling right now. They obviously cannot count on the alleged secretary of education, unless their children attend private schools.

Janice Spohn, Westerville