Regarding the Rev. Tony Joseph’s letter "Government shouldn’t keep us from church": These are extraordinary times. For those of you who compare this virus with the flu, there is no comparison. This virus is new and more contagious than any other virus. It has killed more people in two months than the flu in one year. Besides the lungs, it affects the heart, kidneys, blood clots and sense of smell; it can lead to weeks in intensive care.

The only tool we have is to keep away from each other until the scientists can truly understand this virus and produce medicines and vaccines.

You imply that the government is infringing on the practice of religion. Not true. People are attending services on the internet, taking care of the sick and the hungry, donating to food banks, volunteering, buying takeout or gift cards so restaurants can possibly stay in business, and finding ways to help people.

This is what religion is all about. You don't need to go to a building to practice your religion. It would be nice, but nice does not protect you from getting the virus.

I find your point of view irresponsible. If you open your doors for service and a third of your congregation gets sick, that is on you.

There is a saying that God helps those who help themselves. So don’t go to large gatherings. Stay home, maintain distance, wear masks and use sanitizers.

Edna Martorell, Export

Problems with mail-in voting

Mail-in voting for everyone. Are you kidding?

1) How can you be sure the person filling out the form is the person it’s intended for?

2) Absentee ballots are not secret ballots.

3) Double voting will happen. This should not be open for discussion.

4) Do you depend on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver all ballots to correct addresses?

5) Voter fraud is not isolated. Don’t believe CNN.

6) The financial cost would be in the billions, mailing to and from.

7) There would be more invalid ballots, i.e., overmarking and damaged ones in transit. That’s not a problem with on-site voting.

Let’s keep the voting procedure as fair as possible and without these additional problems.

Dennis C. Biava, Mt. Pleasant

Each state responsible for itself

The National Governors Association has requested $500 billion in direct aid to states as many states face enhanced budget crises due to the unexpected economic ravages of the covid-19 pandemic. No doubt the suspension of the U.S. economy has added unforeseen financial burdens to many already struggling state budgets.

However, it is also true that Congress has already delivered substantial direct and indirect support through the CARES Act; direct grants, municipal loans, emergency disaster funds, schools funds, mass transit and childcare support, election preparedness, small business relief, direct individual payments, and unemployment benefits. Congress has done enough.

If Congress would like to take further measures to buttress citizens’ spending power, allowing individuals and corporations to keep more of the money they earn is a fair, simple solution. What is neither fair nor good policy is for the U.S. government to distribute direct aid payments to the states. Each state has adopted policies through elected officials which impact their state ledgers. Some states have been fiscally prudent while others have put policy preferences above fiscal reason.

It is not the responsibility of Pennsylvania taxpayers to support budget shortfalls in other states, nor is it on citizens of other states to underwrite shortfalls in the Pennsylvania state budget. Each state must take responsibility for its own fiscal policy decisions.

Enough of redistributing hard-earned wages of American taxpayers. Clean up your own state house.

Stacey West, Sewickley

Help us save the postal service

Word has it the U.S. Postal Service could go bust between June and October. Although letter volume has been declining, it has really fallen off during this pandemic. For us dedicated postal workers, this would be a disaster.

We, like all the other essential workers, are a vital part of keeping America running. However, we are being denied any relief money, unless it’s taken like a loan and not nearly in the amount needed to keep us alive.

Unlike years ago, when the bulk of a carrier’s mail was letters and catalogs and a few packages, we now load up packages like it’s Christmas every day. We realize this is our bread and butter for postal revenue, but we also need to let the public know that if we close, that service is left to a more unpredictable system.

We walk in terrible weather, long distances, near dangerous drivers — all because “we deliver for you” with postal pride. By the time we are near retirement, most of our bodies are worn to a frazzle.

We appreciate your support, and this isn’t a plea to set us above others. However, there are things we could do to keep the postal service afloat. Buy a book of stamps or some stamped postcards and write someone a nice note during these hard times. Introduce your kids to the interesting stamps available and their history. Send Arnold Palmer or Fred Rogers stamps to your out-of-town friends.

Let’s save the postal system and your carriers. I deliver for you, so please deliver for me and all carriers.

Cheryl Koloshinsky, Latrobe

Mayor Bill Peduto’s gun moves misplaced

Well, it looks like Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is at it again. He is determined to put those darn legal gun owners in their proper place — under the boots of “our” government (“Pittsburgh argues it has legal authority to regulate use of firearms.” ) He seems unable to count ordinal numbers above “first.”

But his intent is grossly misplaced. He should be directing his desire to save lives toward the medical profession.

In 2018, there were at least 100,000 deaths due to iatrogenic errors — medical mistakes. There are approximately 1.1 million MDs. That comes to 91 deaths per 1,000 members of the medicos.

There are at least 55 million legal gun owners in America, and annual gun deaths (suicides, accidental or intentional homicides) are below 40,000. That’s about 1 death per 1,000 gun owners.

Maybe Peduto needs a math major to tell the difference between those two numbers. Wait! Here comes one now. Hello, are you the famous Billy, of the seventh grade (note — ordinal number above first) at Trafford Middle School? Which number is worse, Billy, 91 per 1,000, or 1 per 1,000?

Billy’s reply — “91 is so much worse. And I want to change my name.”

Don Carrera, Irwin

Biden entitled to presumption of innocence

Regarding Jonah Goldberg’s column “Burden of proof on Joe Biden to deflect Tara Reade accusations”: Even though I wouldn’t vote for Biden, I think that he is entitled, as is every American, to be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty by a jury of his peers. He already stated he did not assault his accuser. In these “he said-she said” cases, it is very difficult to determine who is telling the truth, but when a person comes forth after 30 years and then changes her story several times, it causes me severe doubt. Especially right before an election.

Maybe if this woman had gone to the press 30 years ago, Biden would have changed his behavior toward women.

Sam Petrill, Jeannette

Disjointed efforts to fight covid-19

Multiple sources have reported that the White House ignored warnings from U.S. intelligence in November 2019 about a deadly virus outbreak in China. Various government agencies had briefings which resulted in a detailed outline of the threat in the president’s daily briefing in early January. For the next two months the president downplayed the threat repeatedly. Why were we lied to? Why was early, aggressive action not taken? Why did he deny, delay and deflect? Why was information not shared with the public and the governors so that they knew the threat and could take action?

In past crises (World Wars I and II), our presidents invoked the War Powers Act so that profiteers could not inflate the price of needed supplies, and businesses had to manufacture what was essential. Our current disjointed efforts have allowed price gouging and entities bidding against one another for desperately needed supplies. Why no coordinated national plan to fight this virus war?

Why is there still not adequate PPE or tests, despite assurances from the administration that there is? Why do our institutions need to beg for needed supplies? Why no plan to assist food producers in getting their products to market rather than destroying food supplies while Americans go hungry? Why?

Lisa Messineo, Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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