Editorial

Please stop turning a health crisis into a political issue

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.

“The purpose of gummint is to create a healthy bidness climate.” — The late great columnist Molly Ivins quoting a Texas legislator.

“The purpose of government is to solve problems and be a fair referee.” — Me

The greatest challenge we Americans have faced during my lifetime thus far is the Coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, it is my humble, but correct opinion that we have failed miserably.

It’s hard to swallow because our ancestors, whom broadcaster Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation,” did an admirable job taking on and defeating the Great Depression and Germany and Japan in World War II. Fast forward 75 years and all we see is terrible failure in combatting the tiny invisible enemy that is Covid-19.

This pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the world in less than a year, but its most devastating impact has been in the rich and powerful United States of America.

It is virtually impossible for me to feel anything but shame in us collectively failing to slow or stop the spread of a virus that has killed more than a half million Americans. When it comes to number of cases and number of deaths on the planet, we’re No. 1.

Contrary to popular belief, former President Donald Trump did not create this deadly virus. His greatest sin was failing to deal with it effectively.

But he had a lot of help.

Those who have insisted, and continue to insist, on making a serious health issue into a political issue have done horrible damage to our communities, families, schools, states and country.

I saw the most recent example of this on Facebook, a post signed by such area dignitaries as State Senator Aric Nesbitt, State Reps. Steve Johnson and Mary Whiteford, Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski and Martin Township Clerk Rachelle Smit:

“The People of the State of Michigan have endured unprecedented restrictions and hardships all based on the unknown, which has never been the historical convention of this country. As a result, individual freedoms have been abridged. We are being told what we can and cannot do, what to wear, how many people are allowed in our homes, how to best care for ourselves, businesses have been destroyed, families have suffered financially, fear has been spread and division in our society has occurred. Students have had their educational progress hampered deprived of in-person instruction, graduation, athletic and other special events. The elderly and infirm have been isolated to die alone. The cure has been worse than the disease and more irrevocable damage will occur if we do not change course.”

I submit that deadly, wrong-headed attitudes such as these have contributed mightily to the tragedies we have seen in our communities, our county, our state and our nation. Furthermore, Americans wrongly have dealt with this crisis in 50 different ways rather than take a unified approach, just like in a war.

By not treating this health crisis seriously and by not masking up in confined areas for meetings, events and gatherings, people such as these have aided and abetted the spread and misery of a disease that already has killed more than 500,000 Americans.

At the core of the “Allegan Declaration” is toxic defiance of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health, who have issued controversial orders that indeed create hardship but also save lives.

The undersigners of the declaration appear to place the rights if the individual over the life and safety of the individual. Some of this thinking spilled over into the “Let ‘Em Play” movement, spearheaded by a woman who doesn’t want to play by the same rules as everyone else.

Michigan is among the very best among the states thus far in coping with the deadly virus, mostly because its political officials have treated Covid-19 as a health crisis, not just a business and political inconvenience.

Many like to point to other states that aren’t as strict in anti-Covid protocols, but they have much worse statistics in cases and deaths.

I also have my issues with “Big Gretch,” but this isn’t one of them. I have admired her courage in the face of public vitriol and even very real death threats.

The “Allegan Declaration” continues:

“We cannot in good faith, as representatives and advocates for the people of our communities, be silent in the face of the continued harm to our families, businesses, schools, churches and communities. Our citizens’ rights to assemble, to freely practice their religion, to travel, to keep their property, businesses and jobs must no longer be swept aside. The Constitution must rule in all cases and apply in ALL times, regardless of the situation or agenda and NEVER be set aside again, in this great State of Michigan. It is time, as the leaders of this community, we come together for a common cause and let our unified, non-violent voice be heard. THIS is what the United States of America is about.”

Once again, the biggest problem with this declaration is that it turns a health issue into a political issue. Many of these same people don’t have a problem with implementation of martial law, which essentially has happened in a different way over the past 11 months.

I don’t like living like this either. But I’m willing to do what health experts say is best and work together with others in this difficult effort.

We are seeing promising improvements in case and death statistics, a lot because of the vaccines and following guidelines. To change course now because of political and economic hardship would be foolish and shortsighted.

In the words of Rosie the River: “We can do it!”

 

9 Comments

  • Mr Young.
    Excellent editorial… what can one expect from those whom only think of themselves, encourage their children to “find themselves ” (not accepting the gender they are born into ), want all their debt erased ( even though it was their own choice to take it on), etc.
    China had no trouble releasing this microscopic virus into the atmosphere, knowing that in time they may very well rule the world.
    As one can see what’s happening in the Middle East and Africa is just starting to be mimicked here in the U.S.
    Whoever thought in January of 2021 our citizens would act like those in
    third world countries and storm the White House.
    “Cancel Culture” may have had something to do with it. Once you remove history and historical things. People no longer have any reference as to what the outcome of their actions may produce.
    We are a “nation under siege,” one little bug has disrupted sane logical thinking. We all have bought into the faction that is correct in our mind. It will only take a small spark to ignite the destruction.
    If we only knew what that spark was, it could be extinguished, but there are so many topics that could make that spark

  • Mr Editor,

    So NOW you want to stop politicizing the China Virus…………… Where were you this past election year when your progressive liberal friends were doing the same? Hard to have it both ways…….I am guessing that you want to see the two parties unite and come together NOW as well………..Kumbaya………

    Cheers!!

  • Where is the outrage for China unleashing this engineered virus on the world… not a damn peep except from President Trump.
    A little over a month into a Biden dictatorship, most executive orders done in such a short time. Killing the pipeline and 11,000 jobs, opening up the border to illegals, trying to kill over a million jobs because of $15 min. wage, and now firing missiles on Syria. I know Democrats love killing jobs and people, now they want expanded war in the Mideast? For what reason and what military strategy was this? Or was it Dementia Joe flexing his war muscles?
    This administration is off the rails and getting more so every day. Where the hell is the media? Is there no true journalism anymore where the truth is told or is this country abandoning the freedom of speech and the press? Or is big business Bezos types now running the country?

  • News Flash Mr. Young. It was the WHOLE campaign for Biden. It was all he could talk about. Now since the vaccine rollout (vaccines that would not exist if not for Trump’s “Warp Speed” initiative) dementia Joe is sctewing that up. He still blames Trump for that too! Hey Joe, you are the damn president now, or did you forget already? What a POS!

    • Please don’t try to fool yourself into thinking that vaccines would not have existed were it not for Trump. Pharmaceutical companies world-wide would have been, were, and are working on vaccines without Trump. And now, under Biden, those vaccines are finally being distributed in an efficient manner so as to reach as many people as possible. Even in AZ where the governor is a dope and hasn’t done much to facilitate that distribution.

      I know that you believe Trump was the greatest pres. to ever grace the White House, and that your loyalty doesn’t allow you to see the warts and wrinkles of his administration. Admit that no president has ever been perfect, and never will be perfect. And admit that there will be failures as well as successes in every administration.

      • Aren’t you glad you absconded from Michigan for Arizona, where the air is healthy and dry. You don’t like your governor, neither do we. The Big Gretch never met a decision she couldn’t screw up or blame Trump. Just like Biden, Trump is gone and they still don’t know it. Of course Biden doesn’t know what day or where he is so he has an excuse. Gretch is still clueless on how to lead with all her orders to start/stop/start/stop/start athletics, how many people in a bar or restaurant; you name it, she can stop it. But she can open up something if it benefits her or her family – typical Democrat – do as I say, not as I do!
        As for vaccines, without Trump spearheading the accelerated effort to get manufacturers to develop them with government money, they still would be In development and not available. Evidently you don’t know how development of vaccines work; turtle speed. The president did that, nobody else.

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