The Coronavirus (COVID-19) - A Targeted Approach Is Better
Post #6 (April 07, 2020)
This coronavirus pandemic has shown that many Americans have the ability to work together in a crisis. All over America, you see examples of ordinary Americans putting asides their differences in order to fight this common foe, COVID-19. However, many of our leaders at the federal and state level have not been able to work together with the same ease as ordinary Americans. They have engaged in a game of blame and complain in the media that has been more than willing to give them a platform. What I am referring to is the back and forth between President Trump and many of our nation's Governors. Notable are the public feuds between the President and these Governors: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and to a lesser degree California Governor Gavin Newsom. As has been since his election, the hostility also continues between President Trump and Democrats in Congress led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and their sycophants in the media. Now is not the time to engage in this blame and complain game for political reasons. The politicizing of this pandemic makes me think that many politicians do not see this crisis as being all that bad and that this is another opportunity to score political points. Aside from the ridiculous blame game, it is the draconian response to this virus that concerns me the most. It appears that the driving force for the response to COVID-19 is politics rather than reason and commonsense.
I realize that COVID-19 is scary, but I have always wondered if the response to this virus and the threat it poses to our country has been overblown. I am sensitive to the fact that a lot of people are dying from the virus; and I'm sensitive to the scourge it has been. However, I am skeptical that shutting down most of the economy with stay at home orders and business closures that apply to the entire country is the best way to deal with this crisis. I believe that a targeted approach is better. I believe a better approach is for the Governors of each state with input from state health officials and local leaders to determine what measures to put in place in their states to combat the virus from the standpoints of health and the economy. The challenges that each state face as it relates to this virus are different. In states like New York and New Jersey, the virus has been more devastating than in states like North Dakota and other mid-western states. It seems that a one size fit all approach is not the best way for all states. However, I'm not saying that national guidelines that apply to basic preventive measures and treatments for the virus should not be adhered to by each state.
I'm concerned that this one size fit all approach to COVID-19 will have a lot of unintended consequences. It will leave many Americans without jobs and unable to provide adequately for their families. For the Americans that are fortunate enough to keep their jobs, they will be bankrupt from the financial hardship of not working for weeks if not months. The closing down of the economy will cause other hardships as well. Already we are facing shortages of healthcare supplies, food, and gasoline. It is truly a disgrace that our elected officials cannot put aside their differences based on personal hatred and politics in order to get this country up and running again. If Covid-19 doesn't cause elected officials to come together, nothing ever will. However, it is our responsibility as Americans for holding these officials accountable, because we have the power to change their behavior.
This coronavirus pandemic has shown that many Americans have the ability to work together in a crisis. All over America, you see examples of ordinary Americans putting asides their differences in order to fight this common foe, COVID-19. However, many of our leaders at the federal and state level have not been able to work together with the same ease as ordinary Americans. They have engaged in a game of blame and complain in the media that has been more than willing to give them a platform. What I am referring to is the back and forth between President Trump and many of our nation's Governors. Notable are the public feuds between the President and these Governors: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and to a lesser degree California Governor Gavin Newsom. As has been since his election, the hostility also continues between President Trump and Democrats in Congress led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and their sycophants in the media. Now is not the time to engage in this blame and complain game for political reasons. The politicizing of this pandemic makes me think that many politicians do not see this crisis as being all that bad and that this is another opportunity to score political points. Aside from the ridiculous blame game, it is the draconian response to this virus that concerns me the most. It appears that the driving force for the response to COVID-19 is politics rather than reason and commonsense.
I realize that COVID-19 is scary, but I have always wondered if the response to this virus and the threat it poses to our country has been overblown. I am sensitive to the fact that a lot of people are dying from the virus; and I'm sensitive to the scourge it has been. However, I am skeptical that shutting down most of the economy with stay at home orders and business closures that apply to the entire country is the best way to deal with this crisis. I believe that a targeted approach is better. I believe a better approach is for the Governors of each state with input from state health officials and local leaders to determine what measures to put in place in their states to combat the virus from the standpoints of health and the economy. The challenges that each state face as it relates to this virus are different. In states like New York and New Jersey, the virus has been more devastating than in states like North Dakota and other mid-western states. It seems that a one size fit all approach is not the best way for all states. However, I'm not saying that national guidelines that apply to basic preventive measures and treatments for the virus should not be adhered to by each state.
I'm concerned that this one size fit all approach to COVID-19 will have a lot of unintended consequences. It will leave many Americans without jobs and unable to provide adequately for their families. For the Americans that are fortunate enough to keep their jobs, they will be bankrupt from the financial hardship of not working for weeks if not months. The closing down of the economy will cause other hardships as well. Already we are facing shortages of healthcare supplies, food, and gasoline. It is truly a disgrace that our elected officials cannot put aside their differences based on personal hatred and politics in order to get this country up and running again. If Covid-19 doesn't cause elected officials to come together, nothing ever will. However, it is our responsibility as Americans for holding these officials accountable, because we have the power to change their behavior.
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