Better Off Now Than Four Years Ago

 

Some Republicans hope that most Americans have poor memories. As they dare to promote the era of the former resident as one of peace and prosperity, they ask, “Are you better off now than when he was in office”? My answer is a firm YES. I am absolutely better off now. Some of my personal and global explanations are below.

In March 2020, over the course of a few days, I went from working in an office to getting set up and working from home, as did many others, when the COVID pandemic arrived in our communities. Abruptly, we learned to do our work in the Cloud, hold online team and Zoom conferences, and configure our homes into workspaces.

We immediately began searching for gloves and surgical masks to protect ourselves from this unknown virus for the rare times when we ventured into public spaces such as grocery stores. The stores put down physical barriers to keep us apart, painted ‘feet shapes’ on the floors to show us where to stand, and placed barriers at check-out counters to protect their masked workers.

Nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, aides, and others employed in hospitals discovered a scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE), limited respirators, and inadequate medications to combat this unfamiliar and lethal virus. They received little help from a president who assured the country that we would only have twenty cases and he would keep the virus away by not allowing at-sea cruise lines to dock and off-load passengers who might have been exposed or infected while away. His government allowed the stocks of health emergency supplies to deteriorate, go out of date, or become unusable, so the gloves, lab supplies for viral tests, and respirators were just not to be found in the governmental storehouses.

As businesses and schools shut down, people masked up and isolated, and elderly patients in nursing homes were dying, the president did little to improve the situation when he ignored the advice of healthcare professionals when they predicted the situation would continue to get worse. Instead, he relied on the advice of quack advisors, suggested that people inject bleach or take a drug used for malaria or lupus called Hydroxychloroquine, neither of which had been deemed effective. (Subsequently, actual lupus patients who needed the medication could not find it, because of this alternative promoted use.) Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) worked to develop a test to determine the presence of the virus that could be in widespread use. That, too, did not go well initially. Our government, staffed by some of the best scientists in the world, did not have the tools to jump in at the outset of the pandemic because those in charge did not want to acknowledge the seriousness of the pandemic. Ignoring it did not make it go away. Warnings were worldwide, beginning in January. America did not even address the conditions until March. By then, there was no easy way to contain the spread.

The president did not assist the public health messages when he refused to isolate or wear a mask, even as any who came in contact with him had to be tested for the virus. He encouraged movements in some states where anti-maskers refused to wear a mask or protect workplaces. Some pastors held outdoor church services to protect their parishioners, while others decried the ‘governmental interference with religion’ as they saw it and held indoor services. Many people then identified them as disease spreaders, calling them “super spreaders” when large numbers of their congregations got infected. And, as became apparent later, once the president contacted the virus, he did not mask nor announce this, kept up public appearances, and was possibly another one of the super spreaders.

When plants and other production lines shut down, suddenly America learned about supply chain issues. Were you a person going from grocery stores to 7-11s trying to find toilet tissue, or hitting the neighborhood online news to see who just got in a supply? And, when you got there, you learned you were limited to only two packages? When you went to the grocery, meats, and vegetables were not only in short supply but prices were suddenly much higher than before. Again, the Federal government appeared to not know how to solve these problems.

Then, as people started dying in large numbers, some tried to hide the totals. But, as refrigerated trucks full of bodies piled up outside New York City hospitals and morgues, people noticed. As Governor Cuomo went on TV calling for help with respirators, PPE, and staffing, the president did little. He even said he would send respirators to those governors who asked nicely. Older adults suffered the most as, when one ages, one’s ability to fight off infections decreases.

Public health advocates were encouraged by the arrival of vaccines but were astonished by the resistance to widespread immunizations. The anti-vaxxers followed the anti-maskers movements, leading to a delayed and imperfect vaccination program. COVID is still here. As recently as February, CNN reported, thousands of senior citizens are still dying each month. CDC data today notes that throughout the active pandemic period, there were 6,909,932 hospitalizations and 1,187,509 deaths. This number does not count the cases now recognized as the extended form of the disease known as long-covid.

There are so many other reasons I am better off now, aside from COVID issues. Consider the supply chain issue. When President Biden took office, cargo ships were lined up for weeks along the California coast waiting to off-load their wares. Companies could not fix appliances or find necessary parts because they were sitting on those ships. President Biden changed the issue, got the docks working around the clock, and soon resolved most of the problem.

Getting vaccinated against COVID has protected my health, but I still refrain from wading into sizeable crowds or taking unnecessary risks because I am older and have other health concerns. However, I also do not worry that my president will try to take away my Social Security, decrease my Medicare or prescription coverage, or take away Medicaid for those who need it. Some higher drug costs are being reviewed and the costs for insulin and some inhalers came down because of presidential pressure and congressional action. I do not worry that my president will attack the Affordable Care Act as his opponent is now promising to do. As for health care, I am better off except for the Dobbs’ decision rendered by some justices DJT selected. I hope women speak up and come out to vote this November on this issue. A population should not lose rights on spurious legal grounds.

We are all better off now because President Biden has rolled back the diminished acreage in public parklands such as Bears Ears in Utah implemented by his predecessor. I believe he will continue to protect the environment; I do not believe DJT had any interest in doing that as he continued to promote fossil fuels and their mining. Heather Cox Richardson wrote about this issue in her column today.

Although DJT constantly spoke of infrastructure week, he never implemented it, while President Biden already has shovels in the ground across the country on a variety of projects that are improving communities and creating jobs. The country is better off as unemployment is low and more jobs are being created each month. Inflation has come down, but corporate greed continues to keep some prices high. Fortunately, some minimum wage increases are helping unions and other working families.

I could go on and mention more, but I think you get my point. I remember those scary days back in 2020 that were made much worse because of inept leadership. President Biden is a workhorse, not a show horse. He is not glitzy, but he is thoughtful. He does not threaten populations or call immigrants animals, nor does he plan to disrupt courts, the rule of law, or plan a coup. So, in conclusion, we are all better off now and I hope for the next four years under a wise, not a wild leader.

Before I close, did you see the Eclipse today? I watched from my backyard off and on this afternoon, using my special glasses. Maryland was out of the track for totality, but I enjoyed what I could see. Awesome!! It was also encouraging to see the number of children and families gathered across the country to share this significant event. I hope it moves more young people to look into science as a career.

Til next week-Peace!