PUBLIC HEALTH VS THE ECONOMY

Trump has poisoned the well when it comes to accurate information concerning the Covid-19 virus. His constant ire with Dr. Fauci countering his fully open and go back to school economic message. This comes when 70% of the population takes Dr. Fauci’s advice over Trump’s, which only fares 30% trust when it comes to the virus. 

This obvious rub between the economy and public health is to the extreme where Trump’s allies distributed opposition research about Dr. Fauci to the White House press corps.  This included an attempt to show all his mis-statements over the last 6 months. This included his not recommending masks, initially. My memory goes at least that far back and I can remember the rationale was to reserve them for the health care and EMT workers because there was a severe shortage of PPE at the beginning of the pandemic. In January there was large quantities of PPE sent to China to fight their outbreak. This action helped create the shortages here.

I’m sure the Lincoln Project is doing the opposition research on Trump’s mis-statements and outright lies concerning the virus. I’m sure it will include his infamous “if you want a test you can get a test” he has repeated or his idea that fewer tests means fewer cases.

The difference between Trump and Fauci is the willingness to learn and the ability to apply facts in order to solve medical problems. Fauci always tells the truth when it’s known and is willing to correct the record, whereas Trump has been stuck in an information bubble that blinds him to facts and is not willing to change his opinion. Trump uses the virus as a political tool, blaming China for his inadequate response and utter failure concerning the virus.

The disinformation smoke screen concerning the virus comes from the preference for opening the economy setting aside public health. Even a few days ago (Monday July 13^th) Trump insisted we would not have as many cases if we did not test as much. This is at least the 3^rd time he uttered that absurdity.

 Was it to take your attention to the lack of PPE, testing inadequacies taking 4-6 days for results, lack of testing where the outbreaks are happening, no contact tracing. Or his actions with Roger Stone to take the attention of record numbers of Covid-19 cases in states he insisted on prematurely opening. Florida had a record number of cases for any state including California and New York at their high. Despite that Florida is still totally open including Disneyworld.

The bully pulpit should be one that provides honest information and not discrediting facts with a desire to open the economy. By using the health of individuals as a result of seclusion creating medical problems as a result is used as the justification for pushing the opening. This specious argument makes no sense if you don’t provide the necessary safety and PPE and proper guidance.  PPE and mandatory guidance is the only way opening won’t backfire with additional deaths. The isolation was meant to be a time to prepare for the re-opening.  Today there are shortages in PPE and ventilators in hospitals where the record numbers of cases exist. Thanks to Peter Navarro and Jared Kushner for their stellar work in this arena we now have shortages.

Fauci has been muzzled by the White House because his message is counter to that of the President.  And by discrediting Fauci, the President is attempting to elevate his rhetoric and drown out the honest public health messages.

There are third world countries that have done a better job than us. The United States has become a pariah and U.S citizens are being banned from travel to most European countries and I’m sure others are to follow. The struggle continues to be politics and money vs public health.