To the editor:

An old fellow with Leukemia observed that three million people die in this country every year. Given a worst-case of 100,000 Coronavirus deaths, that would be just 3 percent of all deaths. Let’s assume Indiana virus deaths will top 1,000. That would represent 1.5 percent of all yearly deaths in the state.

Here is something else to consider: 90 percent of Coronavirus deaths are old people and 90 percent of the deceased had major ailments already. It is not much of a stretch to say that very many of those who died would have died this year anyway. Others have noted that expected deaths in other categories have mysteriously fallen. No mystery really, these “missing” deaths are now being reported as Coronavirus deaths.

Now this is interesting: Professor Yitzhak Ben Israel of Tel Aviv University has mathematically shown us that coronavirus closures were a mistake. The virus runs its own course regardless of mitigation. If this is true, we shut down the country for nothing.

I do not think we should destroy our economy over this virus. It is madness. Another thing is that because of mitigation, we have prevented the population from developing herd immunity, and the virus may return in the Fall with a vengeance. What are we going to do if that happens?

Convoluting this whole mess is politics. It is an election year, and every move is made with political thought. The media share a monolithic viewpoint and see themselves as agents of change. The change they seek is the destruction of President Trump. This is why a task force briefing resembles a shooting gallery.

Opening up the economy is turning into political football. We see the guidance the California governor has issued. The plan has six conditions that guarantee the state will not open anytime soon. Other Democratic governors may follow suit. This will not do. There is only one economy and not 50 independent economies. The president will be forced to act decisively with strong statesmanship. The president is the only person who can act in the interest of the whole country.

—Mike Gramelspacher Jr.
Ferdinand