Valley News – Forum, October 6: Americans face a crisis of confidence

The opinion column of the Senses. Sue Prentiss and Tom Sherman of New Hampshire State (“Leadership, Unity on Political Showmanship,” September 25) discuss the importance of leadership and a unified approach, especially in responding to a crisis of public health like the pandemic. Such an approach would require cooperation between public officials and citizens, which in turn depends on trust. I fear that citizens’ confidence in themselves and in the government is at an all-time low.

For example, there is a growing distrust of our ability to make informed decisions about democratic leadership, a relatively new phenomenon. Americans’ doubts about each other appear to be due to partisan animosity and concern that citizens are too easily misled by social media. As for the government, the public’s anger centers on Congress and the way its members do their jobs. Many say elected officials don’t care what people think and put their own interests first. A fraction of Americans now trust their government to do the right thing.

Research shows that trust in government becomes more important when citizens are faced with crises. For example, the Ebola crisis in Liberia created high levels of risk and uncertainty. A series of surveys during and after the crisis showed that people with low trust in government were less likely to support and comply with preventive measures than people with higher levels of trust. The resistance of many U.S. citizens to the COVID-19 vaccine is due, in part, to mistrust of the government.

What to do? James Madison believed that the fate of the republic depended on an educated population. More investment in civic education would be in line with its principles. Relational factors such as economic equality and social trust affect the severity of the pandemic. It’s no surprise that the pandemic has hit the United States hardest in areas plagued by poverty and social strife. Confidence-based awareness raising will improve people’s receptiveness to emergency health measures. We need to recognize the role that government can play in delivering certain public goods such as workforce training and infrastructure investments.

BOB SCOBIE

West Lebanon

Escaping the reality of COVID-19

As NHPR’s Josh Rogers reported in the Valley News on September 24 (under the very circumspect headline “Lies Reach NH Lawmakers”), Senior Republican State Representative Ken Weyler, Chairman of the House Finance Committee, had a heated exchange during a hearing with Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette, who accused him of spreading disinformation and opposing efforts to boost COVID-19 vaccinations in the state.

Based on his reported statements, Weyler is apparently firmly determined to escape the reality of COVID-19 and the current wave of infections in New Hampshire, including denying that the majority of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 do not are not vaccinated. (Oddly enough, he apparently gets the annual flu shot on a regular basis. Perhaps he is having difficulty coping with change and information about a new disease, its communicability, and how to prevent and treat it.)

Given his lack of scientific understanding, perhaps Weyler, along with other deniers in the House and in the general public, will soon call for the adoption of a modified state slogan for New Hampshire: “Live without Vax and die”.

JERRY ROTH

Enfield

The failed women of “Valley News”

In Lebanon on Saturday there was a rally of 250 to 350 women supporting women’s health care, Planned Parenthood, including all of its services, and abortion according to Roe vs. Wade as the law of the land. Why was it not the front page of your newspaper? Are you a friend of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who I believe clearly hates women’s independence from male sperm expulsion? Your failure in women’s health is noted.

Now is the time to hold men’s semen responsible for every pregnancy. The fetal cells must be tested and the sperm found and made public. This sperm must pay the rest of his life a third of his income for this new family he has created. The sperm has to work the rest of its life to pay for its laying. No more female humiliation and desperate attempts at survival. More boys need a tubal ligature as a teenager. Retain semen. Blame and shame the sperm for the next million years. We don’t want you to miss this horrible opportunity.

Take note of the women. The Valley News failed us.

VICKI CENTER

Barnard