As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the globe, disrupting markets and the lives of citizens in most countries, the level of fear is rising. While there is certainly justification for concern, politics has, once again, exacerbated the situation here in the United States.
President Trump's comments and behavior, fed by his extreme narcissism and paranoia, have repeatedly interfered with messaging from public health experts. Funding cutbacks at the CDC, his Administration's slow response to the coronavirus outbreak and his predilection to blame the media for hyping the crisis, have all inflamed distrust, fear and confusion across the country. Having placed Pence and other sycophants in charge of our national response, Trump has doubled-down on efforts to protect himself from any high-level criticism.
As scary as the pandemic may be, it is the sense that our government is both ill-prepared and too politically-oriented to effectively deal with the pandemic that augments fear in America. Self-indulgent leadership will only complicate the crisis.
President Trump's comments and behavior, fed by his extreme narcissism and paranoia, have repeatedly interfered with messaging from public health experts. Funding cutbacks at the CDC, his Administration's slow response to the coronavirus outbreak and his predilection to blame the media for hyping the crisis, have all inflamed distrust, fear and confusion across the country. Having placed Pence and other sycophants in charge of our national response, Trump has doubled-down on efforts to protect himself from any high-level criticism.
As scary as the pandemic may be, it is the sense that our government is both ill-prepared and too politically-oriented to effectively deal with the pandemic that augments fear in America. Self-indulgent leadership will only complicate the crisis.
