The degree to which the government can impose its will to protect the public has long been a source of debate. Interventions that limit public freedoms to promote public health are necessary and, more importantly, ethical. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent widespread disease and unnecessary death.
Sometimes, individual rights must yield to the collective good. That’s part of being a mature and considerate member of society. We do what is reasonable to protect each other, to reduce burden on the health-care system and to save lives.
No one wants to see a loved one suffer needlessly in the intensive-care unit with something that could be managed at home. No one wants their child to catch a debilitating disease because someone decided not to vaccinate their own school-aged child.
When it comes to public health, we’re in this together, neighbours. Do the right thing.
Karen Colorafi, Airdrie
Ignored problems don’t go away
As I get older, I’m learning there are people who are good at saying “No” to anything that will prepare our city, province and country for the future.
“No” to more housing, public transit, climate mitigation, immigrants, etc. How easy it must be to say “No” all the time and not contribute any ideas that will move things forward and address the many ways in which our world is changing.
We can’t solve 21st-century problems with outdated ideas that may have served some of us well in the past but won’t address the needs of future generations of Canadians. This isn’t partisan.
To those who want to take us back to the past, I borrow from the words of another boomer, like me, Billy Joe: Remember that for many, the good ol’ days weren’t always good and tomorrow won’t as bad as it you think.
Andrea Riccio, Calgary
Alberta politics getting scary
Re: Premier indulges UCP board instead of governing for all Albertans, Opinion, Sept. 26
Don Braid’s recent column is the most frightening thing I have read in years. If what he has written is correct, Alberta is governed by a Politburo. An unelected entity, not selected by the general population. Yikes.
Where are all the moderate conservatives who believe in democracy?
George Gish, Claresholm
In support of protecting parks
One night last week I went to bed upset and angry with this city’s mayor and council’s decision regarding their sweeping blanket “rezoning” policy. Earlier in the day I had signed a petition to stop a proposed building development on one of our small children’s playgrounds and parks in Bowness.
The next morning, I was given renewed hope and encouragement after reading the wise words of Yvonne Hodges: “The case for preserving Bowness playground.”
Thank you, Yvonne, for speaking out so eloquently and reminding us all to preserve our precious city parks and playgrounds.
Sandra Hannigan, Calgary
Downtown a black eye for city
On a stroll down Stephen Avenue Walk on a beautiful fall day, it occurred to me this could be one of the jewels in Calgary’s crown. Instead, I saw individuals smoking crack in the open, many bent over in a drug stupor or lying on the sidewalk.
Last week, 3,000 delegates were downtown for the International Pipeline Conference and Expo, recently the same for a zoological conference.
What thoughts of Calgary will they take home?
John Ragan, Calgary