Parlet made some unsupported claims about vaccines and COVID
The story on Mayors (Aug.20 Record-Bee) was interesting but Lakeport mayor Parlet made some unsupported claims. The population of Massachusetts is 7.1 million of which 4.3 million are vaccinated (60.6%). Of these 12,641 breakthrough cases have been reported of 693 thousand (1.8%).
The weekly total of cases, 8257, had 2672 breakthrough cases (32%). The 74% figure that Parlet mentioned came from Provincetown County in Massachusetts. This county has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country so most reported infections would be among vaccinated people.
Please see this factcheck.org article:
factcheck.org/2021/08/scicheck-posts-misinterpret-cdcs-provincetown-covid-19-outbreak-report/
for full coverage. He also fails to mention that most vaccinated people can show infection but it is quickly destroyed by the immune system. But if you are of Mayor Parlet’s thinking, any news contradicting his view
from social media must be wrong.
—Kevin Bracken, Kelseyville
A Misquote?
Lakeport City Mayor Kenny Parlet was quoted in the Friday Aug. 20 Record Bee as stating:
“I’m a very diligent researcher, and as a former pre-med student at UCLA, I know my science”. He further states, “ You cannot stop a virus any more than you can stop the common cold”. Surely he is aware of chickenpox, smallpox. Measles, and polio, all viruses, all held in check or eradicated by vaccines. If this was a misquote by the Record-Bee it should be so stated, lives are at stake.
—Tim Snider, Lakeport
We must protect Social Security
August marks the 86th anniversary of the Social Security Act, an earned benefit that provides critical financial support to both current and future generations of retirees. Since the 1930s, seniors across our nation have relied on this program to secure the dignified retirement they deserve.
In retirement, millions of seniors in our country depend on Social Security for most of their income. In our district alone, there are 140,574 Social Security beneficiaries. It’s the money they use to buy groceries, fill up their gas tank, and pay their bills. Without Social Security, not only will they lose that dignified retirement they all deserve, but also we will lose a key driver of our local economy because an overwhelming number of Social Security recipients spend their monthly checks locally.
That said, Social Security is facing a real budget shortfall that requires congressional action. That’s why I am an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act. This legislation would help increase the program’s longevity and ensure Social Security remains strong for our kids and grandkids. We must continue to fight to ensure Social Security continues to fulfil its promise to men and women who worked hard, played by the rules, and paid into the system all their lives.
—Rep. Mike Thompson, California 5th District
Vote NO on Recall
California’s debt tripled under the leadership of the last Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. But now, because of the leadership of the Democratic Governors that followed, California has a $75.7 billion dollar surplus. Under Democratic Governor Gerry Brown and now Governor Gavin Newsom our economy has thrived. We went from the 8th largest economy in the world to the 5th. We need our legitimately elected Governor to continue to:
- Bring broadband to rural communities so small businesses and startups can compete and succeed.
- Support the California Comeback Plan to keep people housed and families out of poverty.
- Support fire suppression technology, modern equipment and the fire fighters on the front lines.
- Streamline building regulations and encourage affordable housing
- Humanely work towards solving the homeless crisis and not push the problems off on neighboring states and countries
- Realize the value of immigrants to our work force, educational system and our ability to compete in a multicultural world.
- Be the foremost leader in fighting climate change.
Vote NO on this senseless recall that is wasting millions of dollars for a power grab from our legitimately elected governor. Do not vote for any of the candidates who want to replace him! Just VOTE NO.
—Tom and Val Nixon, Kelseyville
