Do the math: Stay-at-home orders will save lives
Stay-at-home orders are not absurd
To Forum writers who say the lockdown for coronavirus is absurd, let’s do some simple math. There are 330 million people in the U.S. right now. If we do nothing, let’s assume half get infected and 1% die. That’s 1.6 million deaths.
The same math yields 52,000 dead in North Carolina and 5,400 in Mecklenburg County.
A March 19 article in The Atlantic projects 2.2 million would die in the U.S. with a “do nothing” scenario, well beyond the 12,000 to 60,000 from seasonal flu.
Deniers please wake up, listen to the scientists and not the politicians. Take this outbreak seriously.
Ken Kneidel, Charlotte
Take a breath, stop frenzied buying
When there are natural disasters and towns/cities lose power or roads are washed out deliveries to stores become more difficult. People aren’t able to get the groceries they need so they have more reason to shop in a frenzied manner.
We’re not experiencing any natural disasters. Stores are getting their supplies, roads aren’t washed out, there are no power outages, etc. Yet, people are grocery shopping as if the shelves will be empty by evening and there won’t be anything tomorrow morning.
Everyone needs to take a deep breath. This situation is here for the long haul and our normal shopping for groceries should be done with a common sense approach. Help your local grocery stores - buy only what you normally would. Help stores get back to supplying the community with the products it needs.
Luz Aveleyra, Charlotte
I’ll take bailouts over bread lines
Regarding “US must stop bailing out corporations,” (March 26 Forum):
Sure, let Boeing go under so that the European consortium of Airbus can be the leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft - not to mention the number of people this will impact. All Boeing employees and their suppliers’ employees would be on the bread lines.
Sure, let all the major airlines go bankrupt, see how many more people are applying for unemployment.
If all of the above go bankrupt and the Dow drops back to 10,000, our economy will collapse. Your cash will be worth less than toilet paper.
Bill Hite, Indian Land
Wish Burr had shared with all of us
Sen. Richard Burr was one of a few in the Senate who voted against the insider trading law in 2012, saying there were already laws on the books to cover it.
So, why don’t we see if some of those laws can be applied to his recent trading decisions? While the information may have been “public,” the part missing for the rest of us was the analysis from the intelligence community. I’m pretty sure I would have made some different decisions back in February had I seen that.
Carey Camp, Raleigh
Seeing the gifts we seldom notice
I want to express my gratitude for all of those in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County who have made these anxious times “less anxious” for so many residents. Often those gifts we seldom notice have a deeper meaning in those times when we feel more vulnerable.
My wife and I live a short distance from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on Park Road. As we walk in the neighborhood, we are uplifted by the beautiful chimes that lift our spirits several times a day.
Dick and Nancy Lindsey, Charlotte
Thanks to all the brave, selfless folks
I can’t stress using the ‘T’ word enough. To the medical professionals, hospital aides, supermarket, restaurant and public transit workers who literally put their lives on the line 24/7 so we can at least try and live a normal life during these hectic times, how about we all shout out a big THANK YOU!
Herb Stark, Charlotte
Cam’s departure is a sad loss for me
It was a sad day for me when the Carolina Panthers released Cam Newton. What a joy it was to see him play. Nothing like watching him elude or run over tackler after tackler. Nobody did it better. I loved the way he played and his enthusiasm. The Panthers always had a chance as long as Cam was in the game.
After any loss he never blamed anyone, always saying he could do better.
My hope is that he can overcome the injuries and give others the great memories he gave me and Charlotte. We were so lucky to have him for nine years. Godspeed, Cam Newton.
Maury Casey, Fort Mill
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This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 3:27 PM.