Letter to the editor: Hysteria shouldn't kill our economy

It’s amazing so many are oblivious to the enormous damage this lockdown could do to our lives for years to come.

When President Trump suggested we restart the economy soon, there was a chorus of criticism from the political left claiming he cared more about money than saving lives.

Indeed, the covid-19 pandemic is extremely dangerous, and responsible measures should be taken to avoid its spread.

But everyone must understand the reason why we have the amazing life-saving tools like respirators and medicines to fight this virus is because people work, and economic activity creates these products and services. If we stop working, this prosperity and security will quickly evaporate, and it could take us years to recover from this.

It is not uncaring to put coronavirus in perspective and consider the millions of lives lost annually to other diseases and drug abuse, and still we have always kept working through those dangers. Why is this different?

What about the lives being ruined from the arbitrary shutdown of businesses that could safely operate? Or the lives that could be lost or shortened because people were denied needed treatment because hospitals canceled elective procedures?

Why are we allowing ourselves to be controlled by hysteria fomented by the political left?

Dave Majernik

Plum

The writer is vice chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.