What Would You Do? Covid-19 Edition

June 26, 2020

What Would You Do? Covid-19 Edition

covid-19

Mark Rubin

On Facebook the other day, I engaged in a conversation about masks. I know, I know, I seem bright enough. But, sometimes I’m not!

Anyway, after a discussion with some moderately reasonable But Freedom types, one said: Well, what would you do? Stay tuned, I wrote, thinking I could never express myself adequately in a FB post.

I suspect my inquisitor wanted something simple, which he could knock down quickly. (A few days ago, intemperately, I called out a new business group for kvelling about a kickoff event sans masks or distancing. “You are pathetic,” said one fellow. Blocked.)

So, what would I do? To answer, I must discuss what I would have done. Nobody should have to solve for the steaming mess of caca our POTUS created, without having an opportunity to address his many eff-ups.

First, I would listen to experts. Scientists know more about science than Donald Trump. More, even, than Jared the Wiz Kid.

Second, with experts advising me about the health issues, I would use the bully pulpit to rally the nation behind the cause. I’d read up on Churchill and King George VI. I would invite the remaining members of the FDR clan to the White House. I would do PSAs. In short, I would use the pandemic to bring the nation together.

Third, I would get my econ team to come up with a plan to maintain the nation on life support. I would tell anyone who slams working people “the door is over there, and don’t let it hit your ass on the way out.” I would enlist a team of prosecutors to go after profiteers and fraudsters, and make sure my own supporters get equal prosecutorial attention.

Finally, I would remind the rest of the world, every day, that America leads, in a just and modest way. I would offer assistance and have our nation join the rest of the world as we attend to the novel Coronavirus. The virus knows nothing about anyone, and we survive only if we assume it attacks individuals on a random basis.

(Of course, long before we knew about the virus, I would have continued and increased funding for pandemic preparation, for those scientists – the one I mentioned a few sentences ago – have been telling us for a decade or more to expect exactly what faces us.)

So, to the fellow who asked me what I would do, you’ve got my answer. But, there’s a little bit more. Donald Trump does not own the virus, but he owns our response. A known fraudster who gave no one any reason to think he could serve in a marginally competent way got elected because a few too many people in the wrong places voted for him. But let’s not forget the fact that he won the R nomination going away, which means way too many Republicans chose him.

Oh, but what about But Hillary, some say? Sure, she messed up her email thing. Et tu Ivanka! And yes, faults abound with her and Bubba. OMG, though, her faults do not include a lack of competency or a lack of appreciation for making government work for people.

We can hope for change come January. But, we must act to make sure we don’t waste this tragic moment. Vote for Joe, and throw this bum out on his keester!

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