The virus is not Republican or Democratic (letter to the editor) Updated Dec 24, 2020; By Joseph Valente I rebut Norman Ladner’s harangue, whose main theme is that Staten Island Republicans are responsible for the highest virus infection rate of any other borough. As if no Democrats might have contributed to it. Moreover, in his sardonic manner, he describes the Republican Party as Fascist. He raises the possibility that God hates Republicans. Wow. It’s nice to have God’s ear. You’re never wrong. The virus is not a Republican or Democratic recession. It’s an American recession. It’s been given to us by China, which “woke” Democrats refuse to publicly acknowledge. As to the writer’s belief that Islanders scoff at virus-prevention science, if you count by numbers of people, more people from other boroughs doubt the validity of the science.