Editor:
In the Dec. 30, 2020 edition of The New Era, Ms. Woody and Ms. Cutright express their frustration with the measures that Gov. Brown is implementing to stem the rising death toll here in Oregon.
I believe we are all frustrated with where we are and why this is happening. Of course, the U.S. death toll stands at over 350,000, and small businesses, landlords, tenants and school children are all suffering harm that will undoubtedly last for years to come.
My opinion may be different than the majority of Linn County residents, so I express this with no harm, as the greatest thing about our democracy is free speech. I simply do not think it had to happen like this.
I believe the messaging from Trump Administration is mostly to blame. The words of a president are so important, especially during disasters like the one we are currently facing.
Trump admitted on an audio recording to Bob Woodward, author and former Washington Post reporter, that he downplayed the seriousness of this disease because he did not want the Ameican public to panic.
On Feb. 26, 2020 at a press briefing regarding Covid 19, Trump boasted, “you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days, is going to be down to zero.” And then he added, “We’re going very substantially down, not up.”
Also, in February 2020, during an on-the-record interview with Bob Woodward for his book “Rage,” Trump said, “Now it’s turning out it’s not just old people Bob,” and added, “young people too, plenty of young people.”
On March 8, 2020, Trump said, “We have a perfectly working and fine-tuned plan at the White House for our attack on coronavirus.”
On March 10, 2020, Trump advised Americans to, “stay calm. It will go away.”
Let’s think about how this could have been handled differently.
On March 1, 2020, let’s say Donald Trump goes on national TV for a very important briefing. He tells all Americans that we are facing a very serious health crisis here and we need to close everything down for 12 weeks.
“I need all citizens to wear a mask, wash hands, social distance, etc.”
His followers are very devoted to him and many would have accepted this shutdown. The cost of not doing this has led to more deaths and an accumulation of more national debt in the long run. This stop-and-start stuff is so difficult.
The government would probably incur more stimulus funds up front, but less tax dollars would likely be needed in the long run.
If every citizen knew the potential peril, there could have been so much better planning. Every governor, school administration, city manager, and small business owner could have taken steps to protect their interests.
Now we are all panicking. From 15 cases to over 350,000 dead, students struggling with virtual learning, small business wondering how it will work, etc.
It is hard to, as Trump said, “stay calm,” when hospitals are using refrigerators to store the dead, mortuary capacity is tapped out.
So yes, we are all frustrated, but the loss of one life is too many when it didn’t have to be this way.
I would be curious as to how Ms. Woody and Ms.Cutright would have done Gov. Brown’s job, given the lack of help from the Trump administration.
Peace and happy New Year to all.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Willett
Sweet Home