Letters to Editor 4/23
Letter to the Editor:
Have you seen the miles-long snaking caravan of hundreds of cars waiting to get into the Food Bank in Duquesne PA? Have you seen and heard the pleas for PPE’s, and medical equipment like ventilators from frightened and overworked doctors and nurses around this country especially in “hot spots” like New York where dozens of refrigerated trailers are parked behind hospitals to hold the bodies? In the U.S. as of this writing, we are creeping up on 200,000 cases and over 3,500 deaths. Although we are presently just in the beginning stages of this pandemic, already the health, social, and economic impact of this pandemic are staggering. So much for President Trump’s assertions that we “have this under control” and “this is just another Democratic hoax.”
As for the Trump administration’s response, consider the following:
The Wall Street Journal, not a “liberal” outlet, just reported that US manufacturers are begging the Federal Government to provide more guidance on where to send (states, regions, hospitals, etc.) badly-needed medical supplies and equipment. There is no coordinated federal/national system or plan for procurement and distribution essential medical supplies and equipment to those who most need them. Governors are reporting that orders they thought were coming are being cancelled because all 50 states and even the Federal Government outbid them. Why are we subjected to a bidding war when the Feds could negotiate, set the price, procure supplies, and distribute them throughout the nation according to the needs? BECAUSE TRUMP WILL NOT ALLOW IT.
How does the Trump administration benefit from keeping this chaotic, unsettling, anxiety-provoking, and fragmented scramble for life-saving items going? Did you know that the U.S. buys most of these supplies from China? In addition to costing thousands of lives, keeping this bidding war going is also serving to jack the prices up on everything, especially ventilators which, by some estimates, have skyrocketed from around $25,000 to $65,000 each. Why would Trump want to placate and benefit President Xi?
Besides refusing to nationalize the medical supply procurement process, Trump has refused to issue a national “stay at home” order, thereby creating another chaotic patchwork of state and regional regulations and directives in that area. Again why? He is attacking and demonizing governors of Democratic/Blue states such as Washington, Michigan, etc. and making it hard for them to obtain their supplies. Meanwhile, Republican/Red state governors like his buddy, DeSantis in Florida are getting everything they need. So, your personal relationship with Trump decides how many people in your state might be saved. Also, it is mainly these “Red” states that haven’t issued state-wide “stay-at-home” orders. (Louisiana reported 1250 new cases in one day.) Again, Why? He, his base like FOX (Hannity), voters, etc. are still clinging to the idea that this would be “Socialism” or “Obamacare”, etc. As a result, thousands of people will die.
For those like Trump, himself, and others who still trot out the tired talking point that, “It’s Obama’s fault”, I would remind them that Trump has been in office now for almost a full 4-year term. What has he and Congress done all that time?
William Conti, PHD
Honolulu, HA
