DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA

“One nation, under Trump, divisible, without liberty or justice and ventilators and PPE for some…”

A handful of red state Republican governors have so far not issued stay at home orders in response to the Covid-19 crisis.  Maybe they think it is a big city blue state problem that won’t impact their state.  Or maybe, like Georgia’s governor said, think that non-symptomatic people can’t spread the disease.  Or maybe they think that issuing a government mandate goes against their ideology.  Or maybe they are waiting for a clear signal from the White House that everyone should stay at home and shelter in place.  That in spite of Dr. Fauci’s statement that he can’t believe that all states haven’t issued a mandate to have everyone stay home.  Or maybe they just have their heads up where the sun don’t shine.  In any event, we are not the United States of America.  We are the Divided States of America.

Jared Kushner says that states can’t tap into “our” stockpile.  If it’s not for the states, then who is the “our” for?  For Friends of Trump who treat him nicely?  All this wrangling is fiddling while Rome burns.  The virus will not be contained by a state by state or municipality by municipality strategy.  We need a clear, coordinated national strategy that unites all Americans, even in red states, not a self-serving MAGA rally daily briefing by the Commander in Chief who says he’s a war time president but doesn’t act like it.

Doctors in New York will soon be making life and death decisions regarding who gets a ventilator and who does not.  If you are over 80 with chronic conditions, good luck.  Hopefully your will is up to date.  When you die, you’ll be put in the back of a refrigerated truck parked outside the hospital.  Funeral?  What funeral?  Better say your goodbyes now if you still can.

Times of national crisis require a national response.  For examples of national leadership look to Lincoln or FDR.  This national crisis has exposed our divisions, and we are paying the price for it.  We are all looking forward to a time when this is over.  And it will end, sooner or later.  Question is will it end after running unchecked leaving millions dead in its wake, or be blunted by everyone hunkering down and following CDC protocols?  Afterwards will we still be the Divided States of America, or the United States of America?  As Trump likes to say:  we’ll see what happens.