Got election jitters? I have. 

One fear I have is that when the election is over we will have no skills left to us to share its results as one America.  It is now painfully evident, and has been for a while, that no matter which side of the political spectrum to which we belong, we can’t seem to speak to those on the opposite side in ways we can be heard and understood –– not to agree, but just to be heard and understood. This chasm renders any significant conversations almost impossible as if both parties were speaking in different tongues.

Of late, good will in political conversation and communication has begun to atrophy, leaving in the wake only party sound bites and tense recriminations as if vitriol and moral indignation were all that was needed to establish one’s credibility and to clarify differences. This also occurs in families, my own included. I fear I can’t talk about the election in any way with some members of my family for fear, not so much about what they’ll say, but what I will. The result for me, and I know it is for many, has been to duck the whole topic with the relatives we differ with. This gets tense.

There’s an old story that marriage counselors tell about fighting couples.

Betsy and Bob sleep together in the same bed. They have one electric blanket with two sets of controls. Bob gets cold easily so he turns the heat up.    Betsy, likes it cooler so is always turning her dial down. Unbeknownst to both is that the control dials are mixed up: she has his and he has hers. As each of them try to find their own comfort zone, they inadvertently create more discomfort for their spouse. They become angry. They don’t realize that ultimately, the mechanism available to regulate their own comfort must be in their own hands. I think we Americans are in a similar fix. 

If there’s good will and curiosity about what had been happening, that the couple in fact did have the means to regulate their own comfort and at the same time accommodate their differences, it might save the marriage. The problem in standoff’s like that is that people get so angry, they begin building up stories and rationales in their minds that justify their feelings. That makes attempts to meet in the middle feel like weakness or even personal defeat.

In situations of marital discord, establishing good will is critical in resolving conflict and preserving a marriage. It works pretty much the same way in a democracy. Good will is where accommodation begins, not in the courts. 

Pray for good will. 

Columnist George Merrill is an Episcopal Church priest and pastoral psychotherapist. A writer and photographer, he’s authored two books on spirituality: Reflections: Psychological and Spiritual Images of the Heart and The Bay of the Mother of God: A Yankee Discovers the Chesapeake Bay. He is a native New Yorker, previously directing counseling services in Hartford, Connecticut, and in Baltimore. George’s essays, some award winning, have appeared in regional magazines and are broadcast twice monthly on Delmarva Public Radio.

 

Political pundits claimed that Hillary Clinton lost the election because of her comments about “deplorables.” Specifically, Hillary said that half of Trump’s supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables” characterized by “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic” views. Trump capitalized on that theme during the final month before the 2016 election. He made it clear that Hillary didn’t care about a huge segment of America. Instead she found them “deplorable.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about that word. The fact is many “deplorable” things are going on in America right now. Perhaps some would call these occurrences by another name. But if we are honest, we would own up to this reality. Let’s just review some items on that list of deplorable actions. 

First, make no mistake about it. It is deplorable to separate children from their parents at the border and put them in cages. It just is. The fact that 545 children cannot be rejoined with their parents is an unconscionable dereliction of duty on the part of the United States. Some of these children were babies when they were separated and have been without their parents for more than two years.

Second, it is deplorable to speak about women in misogynistic terms. Comments made recently about Kamala Harris are beyond the pale. Disagreeing with her political views is one thing. Personal comments about her are quite something else. Recently, posts have questioned whether she’s really an American citizen and qualified to run for President. Some question whether a Jamaican and an Indian qualifies as being Black. Others claim that she slept her way to the top. Still others question her competence, including the President of the United States, who also has called Harris a monster. He seems to have a major problem with powerful women whom he does not control. 

Third, the hate groups on both sides—Antifa, the Proud Boys and others– are deplorable. Inciting violence and stoking hatred is never a good idea. In fact, it is a deplorable way to act. It is the opposite of what John Lewis would call “good trouble.” Rather it is bad trouble that should have no place in our society.  

Fourth, Trump jumped all over Biden’s comments about curtailing the oil industry during the last debate. He attempted to stoke the “Biden will tank the economy” fires, claiming that Biden would cause mass unemployment in states like Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. To my way of thinking, it’s deplorable if we don’t make efforts as a nation to reduce pollution and create new ways to get the job done using renewable energy. It’s deplorable that we worry only about short-term optics and not the future of our environment. Why is the United States government continuing to subsidize fossil fuels at all? Already oil companies see the writing on the wall, and the smart ones are taking steps to migrate in that direction. To not do so, is short-sighted and demonstrates a clear lack of concern for future generations. 

Fifth, it’s deplorable to care about no one—not even yourself–during a pandemic and refuse to comply with recommended CDC guidelines. It’s been proven, without a doubt, that motorcycle rallies, political rallies, campus bar hopping, and massive beach parties are super-spreader events. Shortly after each of these activities major COVID spikes have occurred.  By being cavalier about your own behavior, you can spread the virus to others who may be much more vulnerable than you.     

Sixth, it’s deplorable that we have not progressed further in implementing reasonable gun control legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of criminals and those suffering with mental illnesses. It is possible to do so and still protect second amendment rights. Because of the lack of vision and leadership on this issue, thousands of innocent people have died.  

Finally, it’s “deplorable” for politicians to capitalize on the prejudices or lack of understanding of some voters by playing on these deficiencies to their own benefit. Examples of this strategy include such statements as; Mexicans are taking your jobs. They are rapists. Democrats want to turn America into a Socialist country.  It will be like Venezuela, etc.   

Maya Angelou once said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” 

We know that separating children from their parents is wrong. We know that making sexist, racist, and homophobic comments is wrong. We know that continuing to pollute our environment and not taking proper remediation efforts is wrong. We know that putting other people’s health in jeopardy is wrong. We know that allowing dangerous people to own firearms is wrong. And we know that feeding on people’s prejudices solely for our own benefit is wrong.

As a nation, we know better and we should do better. We can set an example. We can be a beacon of hope. We can push reset and try again.

Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement, she has focused on writing, music, reading, travel, gardening and nature.  

“Of course,” we say, yet the massive polarization and divide in America are based on loyalty to personality and attraction to policies and promises….not core ideals. When the majority of Americans vote according to their sacred beliefs, our country gets sound leadership, and the United States becomes more united. Because our nation is a rare democracy founded upon shared ideals which most Americans try to live by. Our founding principles like freedom, justice for all, honesty, and commitment to the common good are America’s soul.

How do you confirm that your core values are driving your vote? Here are a few easy tests to confirm that answer. Bring to mind the person who most profoundly shaped your character during your formative years. For many, that “ most influential person” is a parent, a teacher or coach, or maybe a close friend or another family member. We all have someone who helped shape our core beliefs and behavior as we grew up.

Picture that person who had the greatest impact on you. And then write down the most important core principles they lived by—the ones you most admired. Perhaps you identified with their honesty, kindness, or decency. Or you were impressed that they were inventive, sly, or rebellious. Or it was their open, trusting, and respectful nature you deeply admired.
All that matters is that you pick the traits that you most admired. Jot them down.

Growing up, my hero was Milton Hershey, the chocolate magnate, who saved my life and the lives of countless orphans. As best I can, I have tried to emulate his core values of:

HONESTY, RESPECT ( for all ), and SERVICE above self.

These are now my aspirational ideals. I use them to pick my friends, my priorities, and presidents.

Back to your core values list. Are you applying them as a critical screen to pick our next president and congressional leaders? Sure, other factors like policies, programs, and promises make a difference. But nothing drives behavior like a leader’s core values… Just as it does for us. We all know that politicians can and do say just about anything. But what they stand for and how they treat people, that is driven by who they fundamentally are.

Self-assessment #2. When we pick our “ Greatest Presidents Ever,” we tend to heavily weigh their character. What they stood for, not just what they said and did. What core traits do you most admire in your “ Best President Ever”? More importantly, are you requiring these character strengths of our national leaders in this election?

And a final reality check of one’s core values. What sacred principles and behaviors do you want your children and grandchildren to embrace? The “Shadow of the Leader” tends to be cast further and deeper than we ever suspect. And children are especially susceptible to the behavior modeled by our national leaders. It can influence their lives forever.

So, for your family, community, and your country, what cherished values are you voting from and for in this vital election? Your voice and vote matter more than ever! And character counts. Our shared and sacred values are America’s soul. And all are at risk.

Johnny O’Brien is President Emeritus of the Milton Hershey School and founder and CEO of Renaissance Leadership, Inc. He lives in Easton, Maryland. 

Land protection creates great value in any community. Whether preserving a farm, a coastal habitat, or land for a park, the impact affects all layers of our society. The benefits are found in our food systems, the natural environment that surrounds us, and the public places we create for people. 

By creating more places for people, whether for recreation, transportation, or outdoor dining, we create opportunities to foster deeper connections to our lands and communities. We empower local businesses, foster healthy lifestyles, and build an overall better quality of life during a time when all three are desperately needed.

This October has been designated Walktober by the Maryland Department of Transportation and other partnering agencies. During this month they are encouraging towns to become more walkable as the and other agencies like AARP, America Walks, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Department of Health, and Department of Natural Resources all recognize the many benefits walkability brings to any community. Here’s what we can do. 

In Incremental Approach

Incremental steps can make these projects easy and inexpensive to implement. Tactical Urbanism, or demonstration projects, is a bottom up method for residents to test designs and locations for outdoor seating, new bike lanes/sidewalks, or parklets. If the testing works, towns can raise money to create a permanent solution, building upon a foundation that starts with prioritizing people in the placemaking process. 

However, if they do not create the desired effects, they can be easily dismantled. To avoid pitfalls, it is critical to evaluate potential scenarios for positive and negative outcomes, and to include key stakeholders in the process. Open Street efforts should foster a collaborative relationship between Main Street and Downtown Associations, Public Safety and Public Health Officials, and others who are affected by street closures.

We’ve Done This Before

For most towns this is not a new concept. Consider how our Eastern Shore towns transform for events like the Tea Party Festival in Chestertown, the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, and regular First Friday events. Streets become pedestrian malls, allowing people to move freely and safely to shops, restaurants, and attractions. Local citizens and tourists have the opportunity to discover new businesses, get their steps in, and simply enjoy being outside.

We should prioritize space for people more often. Consider the positive outcomes from opening select streets on daily or weekly routines. One outcome is towns better serve and support the needs of their residents. Most citizens want a strong connection to their neighborhoods and businesses, but it is difficult to do that when we prioritize space for cars over people.

Pushing the Eastern Shore Open Streets Movement Forward

Eastern Shore towns like Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton and Easton have already started this process, working with business owners and volunteers in their respective communities to close streets to cars and creating places for people to dine out at a local restaurant or enjoy the open space, while maintaining safe distances. They see these changes as a way of supporting their local businesses and their residents. 

The temporary transformation of streets into places for people to walk and bike is well-suited to become a permanent practice and a different type of conservation – one that enhances public space for people without the requirements of a car. This is the method championed by groups like Tactical Urbanism, Better Block Foundation, Project for Public Spaces, AARP Livable Communities, and Strong Towns who advocate for building people friendly places (Placemaking) and doing so step by step. 

Whether these measures work or not, they should be tried and tested. This is Placemaking. Try what you think is best for your community. Get feedback, make changes. If it works, consider making it a part of your town’s unique fabric. 

Owen Bailey is the Town Projects manager of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is lives in Chestertown, Maryland.

Every school kid learns that Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492. That Norsemen had colonized parts of North America in the 10th century apparently was unknown in Europe at that time. 

Columbus successfully lobbied Spanish monarchs Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand II to finance his voyage west to the East Indies. The purpose was to facilitate trade by greatly shortening the travel distance to the Far East rather than sailing south around Africa, and then northeast.

On 3 August 1492, Columbus departed Palos de la Frontera on the southwestern corner of Spain on the carrack Santa Maria, accompanied by caravels Nina and Pinta. His first sailed southwest to the Canary Islands where his ships were restocked for the western voyage, leaving the port of San Sebastian de la Gomera on 6 September.

Columbus estimated his voyage would take about a month. This was based on his estimation that the circumference of Earth was about one half to three quarters of its actual size. By some accounts Columbus had convinced himself that Japan was only 3000 miles west of the Canaries. 

But what is the actual circumference of Earth? Amazingly, its true size had been calculated fifteen centuries earlier, so to that fascinating story I now turn. 

Eratosthenes of Cyrene (c.276-194 BCE) was chief librarian of the great Library of Alexandria in Egypt. He happened to read in one of the books (scrolls?) that on the day of the summer solstice (the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere), June 21, the sun shone directly down a deep well, and columns cast no shadows, in Syene (modern Aswan), 5000 stadia (approx. 500 miles) to the south.

This gave Eratosthenes an idea. Assuming the Earth was spherical, he could do an experiment by which he could calculate its circumference. 

Knowing that Alexandria was 5000 stadia in north of Syene, and that the sun was distant enough that its rays striking Earth were parallel all over, he figured that on the day of summer solstice, columns (or obelisks) in Alexandria should cast shadows.

So, on June 21 he measured the shadow of an obelisk at Alexandria and found it to be about seven degrees. See diagram:

From there it was a straightforward calculation. Since seven degrees was about 1/50th of the circumference of a circle, 5000 stadia should be 1/50th of Earth’s circumference. Fifty times 5000 then gave 250,000 stadia for Earth’s circumference. Eratosthenes published a figure of 252,000 stadia because that number is divisible by all whole numbers from 1 to 10 and would therefore make geographic calculations easier.

It turns out that Eratosthenes’ value of Earth’s meridian circumference is about one percent in error.

Back to Columbus. 

In the early morning of 12 October, after a journey lasting five weeks and one day, a lookout on the Pinta spotted land, an island which he named San Salvador (in the Bahamas).  The distance he had traveled from la Gomera to San Salvador was 7544 kilometers, or 4,073 nautical miles. 

Columbus must have felt pride that his estimated distance to Japan was not far off.

But Columbus was lucky. What if the Americas had not been in his way? On his average course and speed, it looks like he would have landed, after a voyage of eighteen weeks, in the Philippines, 26,400 kilometers (14,254 nautical miles) from la Gomera. 

If his destination had been five times more distant would Columbus and his intrepid sailors have become discouraged and turned back? Did they have provisions for four-and-a-half months? Fortunately for Columbus, his men (and us), that issue did not arise. 

There’s an old saying “It’s better to be lucky than good.” Christopher Columbus was both.

Bob Moores retired from Black & Decker/DeWalt in 1999 after 36 years. He was the Director of Cordless Product Development at the time. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University.

 

 

 

 

Think role model. Think dignity and respect. Think kindness and empathy. Think grace under pressure. Now think brazen disregard for others. Petulance, cruelty and downright meanness. Think disrespect and selfishness. Because, as a country, that’s where we are right now.

Let’s just briefly review a few activities that occurred over the last week or so. First, there was the super-spreader event on the White House lawn to introduce Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett in which almost no one wore masks or were socially distanced. 

Then we witnessed what was probably the worst debate in human history. It contained little or no deep policy discussions. Instead, we saw Trump interrupt incessantly, act like a belligerent child, show no appreciation or empathy for Beau Biden—either his service to the country or his struggle with the most deadly form of brain cancer–or empathy for Hunter Biden who struggled with addiction—a malady that affects almost every extended American family in some way—including Trump’s own brother.    

Then we learned that Trump and at least 14 members of the White House staff, as well as three Republican senators and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie contracted COVID allegedly at the White House Amy Coney Barrett event. Trump then headed to a fundraiser in New Jersey, even knowing that he had been exposed to COVID. 

Then we saw the President whisked away from the White House in a dramatic nine-minute helicopter ride to Walter Reed. Upon his arrival, he was whisked away to his own private floor. We are not talking private room here.  We are talking private floor with nine rooms known as Ward 71 with paneled office and conference rooms, a kitchen, dining room, bedrooms and more. 

Two days later we saw Trump take a joy ride with Secret Service men who risked their own lives driving him around Walter Reed so that he could wave to his ardent fans standing near the hospital. Before he left the hospital, he tweeted, “Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate your life.” 

Then we saw him once again whisked away by yet another dramatic helicopter ride back to the White House where he walked up to a White House balcony for his Eva Peron moment, waving good-bye to the helicopter after removing his mask and putting it in his pocket. Then maskless, an infected Trump re-entered the White House, now an infected building given that two housekeeping staff were tested positive who were not in close proximity to the President. That means that the White House itself is a petri dish for COVID. Several White House workers greeted the returning president.

Now think taxpayer dollars spent on this little foray.  Helicopter rides, dozens of armored cars, a cadre of doctors, all because Trump refused to follow the science and take appropriate precautions.

Then think about Trump’s tweet, “Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate you.” Tell that to the literally thousands of families who have had a loved one die alone in a hospital bed—maybe a ward.  They were unable to visit their family members. They were unable to say goodbye. Tell them not to let it dominate their lives. 

Let’s be clear. If we don’t let COVID dominate our lives right now, we as a country will never get better.  If we take appropriate actions, if we give this virus the respect it deserves, and take the recommended cautions, we can beat this. To act otherwise is irresponsible. End of story.

In Henry V, Shakespeare said, “I never heard so loud a voice issue from such an empty heart. It’s true what they say, “the empty vessel makes the greatest sound.”  This country may soon become that empty vessel unless we restore in quick order the virtues of kindness, empathy, grace, humility, and knowledge.  

To quote T.S. Eliot, The Hollow Men, “This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.”  

Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement from Deloitte, she has focused on writing, music, reading, travel, gardening and nature. 

 

It was a raucous debate. Sure it was a “High-energy performance” from a “Part angry bar-room debater.” Yes he was, “Bulldozing his way through the 90-minute debate.” Admittedly he was, “Shaking his head and scoffing pityingly.” He did keep, “Interrupting to attack.” He surely, “Let loose” and “Unleash(ed) his inner barroom brawler.” And, “His smile veered—yes—between amused and condescending.”

All true. Joe Biden’s debate performance with Paul Ryan in October of 2012, according to the actual quotes above, was all of these things…and the press loved it. “Joe Biden’s alpha-male display leaves Paul Ryan overwhelmed in VP debate,” The Guardian, 10/12/12. “Biden comes out swinging at debate,” Reuters, 10/11/12. “Joe Biden Looked Like a Deranged Bully in the Debate …”, US News 10/12/12…oops, how did that get in here?

Vice-President Biden made a few promises in the 2012 debate. On Benghazi he promised, “One, we will find and bring to justice the men who did this… And secondly, we will get to the bottom of it.” Hmmmm

He also said, about Afghanistan, “With 49 of our allies in Afghanistan, we’ve agreed on a gradual drawdown so we’re out of there by the year — in the year 2014… But we are leaving. We are leaving in 2014, period.” Really?

During the first Presidential debate of 2020, Biden said, “Here’s the deal. The fact is that everything he is saying so far is simply a lie.” Can that be accurate?

Here’s a perspective: Trump does make commitments…but he follows through. Want a partial list from Politifact?

Take no salary

Create private White House veterans hotline

Make no cuts to Social Security

Slash federal regulations

Place lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying for foreign government

Defund Planned Parenthood

Nominate someone from his list of justices to replace Antonin Scalia

Ensure funding for historic black colleges

End the defense sequester

Keep Guantanamo Bay Detention Center open

Move U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

Reverse Barack Obama’s Cuba policy

Cancel the Paris climate agreement

Ask countries we protect to pay more for joint defense

Increase veterans’ health care

Suspend immigration from terror-prone places

Limit legal immigration

Use U.S. steel for infrastructure projects

Stop TPP

Renegotiate NAFTA

Raise tariffs on goods imported into the U.S.

Save the Carrier plant in Indiana

Won’t say ‘Happy Holidays’

Create a 10-percent repatriation tax

Reverse Barack Obama’s 2016 gun executive order

Not bad for, “The worst president America has ever had.” Joe Biden, 9/29/2020

Steve Carns is a former executive with IBM Corporation and a twenty-five year resident of Talbot County. He lives in the town of Easton. 

Rather than watch the Presidential debate on Tuesday night, I should have gone to sleep at my normally early hour. Sleep would have come more easily.

If American democracy is intended to offer spirited, but civil conversation for the sake of the public, we witnessed something resembling a verbal school-yard brawl. It was unseemly, if not outright disgusting.

My views are mine. I couldn’t fathom prolonging my misery by listening to pundits tell me what I just saw. It was bad enough the first time.

President Trump was primed for a fight. Civil discussion of policy was a mere sideshow for him. He wanted to batter his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, through insults and derogatory comments delivered during constant interruptions.

Trump’s strategy was predicted: he sought to bait Biden into a temper tantrum. He wanted to spotlight what he considers Biden’s senility. 

What I saw was an alarming display of un-presidential behavior, something that I hoped I would never observe in real time. If it were calculated, as was likely the case, it makes the president’s performance seem even more disgraceful. Trump didn’t even pretend to be a statesman. He preferred to be a showman, misusing the dignity of a debate as a platform for hurling lies and recriminations.

For his part, Biden also engaged in mudslinging, calling the president a “fool,” a “clown” and the worst president in American history. While I would agree that Biden’s adjectives are alarmingly accurate, I never thought I would hear those words used in a nationally televised presidential debate.

Our country suffers not just from Covid-19 and sadly lacking, race-baiting leadership in the wobbly White House, but from loss of civility and respect. These two pillars of human character no longer seem to provide the glue that unites us despite all of our differences.

Our communities are sapped of strength and vibrancy when our social fabric is frayed by dissent and personal attacks. 

Democracy requires healthy disagreement. It must reconcile the views of many. Respectful dialogue is the fuel for a functional democracy.

What our country and the world saw on Tuesday night was a damaging affront to the social compact that underscores an effective democratic government. Insults poison the discourse and preclude compromise. Ugly, dysfunctional polarization results.

Our president feels no need to lead with character and consideration. Though he tried hard to avoid useless mudslinging, Biden also participated in the name-calling.

We are the victims of a political school-yard brawl. We watched the holy mess, set in our opinions. We witnessed what we wanted to witness. But we heard little substantive policy and thought by our top elected leader, who is a master of deception and distraction.

We deserve better. Far better.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.

Good citizenship requires we all take a careful look at who we want to represent us. An election is fast approaching. Let’s do that…and quickly.

Among the astounding recent coverage of clearly planned active dismantling of our election by over-riding legal votes and appointing new state electoral members in swing states who will be installed to only vote for Trump, are attempts and actual successes in rewriting guidance of the CDC and FDA. Andy’s name appeared again in a recent short Star Democrat article and he was interviewed by The Spy Wednesday as pre-election coverage later also offered to his opponent. Flip- flop and spin abounded.

Andy Harris is taunting all of us in District 1 and even the entire US. He and two of his longtime friends now comprise a recently formed Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for an experimental COVID-19 drug trial. Not a vaccine, thank goodness, or at least not yet. But more on that later. It so happens that the drug CEO sponsor is also their friend. This is entirely irregular. An elected official has never placed him or herself in such a role. Not even once. Being a clinician has nothing to do with this and there are many, many boarded critical care/ICU physicians who could fill the committee role. So too, biostatisticians. Real ones. In true form of the new Republican Party, this is a simple bold abuse by Harris of his elected position. He is counting on you to view it otherwise. A little information can help you decide.

A DSMB is meant to operate in complete separation from both the sponsor of a new product, as well as the FDA from whom– if all goes well- they will seek a license for market approval and use. The DSMB is in the middle as they deliberate. Their evaluations are meant to be held in complete privacy from the sponsor and the regulating Agency. When there is an adverse event among the trial patients, it is the DSMB that reviews the data and evaluates risk of the proposed drug if widely deployed. They determine safety of the human trial participants as the trial accrues, as well as evaluate trial progress towards its stated IND protocol efficacy goals. However, under emergency use review (EUA) there is a bit of difference from a full license review: i.e. the members get to decide if observed benefits outweigh risks, and sometimes parse this for subsets of users if a large enough trial has been designed, not that there are not risks.

Each DSMB is intended to have one biostatistician and additional MD clinical members, typically each of them an expert in a clinical area relating to the product. In this case, in addition to no MD member being an infectious disease expert or pulmonologist, or intensive care expert (albeit there is crossover for some but not all anesthesiologist boards), there is also, and importantly, no biostatistician. No one on this very small DSMB has actual credentials which indicate they could calculate a required sample size for a rule they will support, determine an error margin or use sequential analysis to construct a mathematical boundary for stopping rules of safety or futility if their lives depended on it…. but yours and mine just might.

And don’t forget the lives of the people who will first be enrolled in these trials. More on that too because in addition to a very small, randomized trial with patient consent for the drug under review by this DSMB, there is a less obvious ongoing one for expanded use when circumstance will most likely delimit any truly informed consent under critically exigent conditions. Luckily having been used for years in the EU for erectile dysfunction, the drug probably won’t cause serious harm if patients are very closely monitored, nor perhaps ever get licensed for its new putative indication, but that is definitely not the point.

Back to facts. This Board lacks independence as well as the usual requisite skills. Andy should never have accepted or possibly even promoted his own membership on it. He brushes aside recent Politico criticism saying: “they don’t like Republicans.” A laughably easy excuse, but in this case, Politico surely has a point!  He was dismissive of its contents, but there’s much more to know. You may want to pause here and read this short article before proceeding.

Andy Harris’ membership on any DSMB is a complete travesty as a show of gray ethics. It does not matter that he is “donating” his service (one wonders what that might actually consist of).No elected Congressman or Senator has ever tried to play such a role and never so boldly as to do so while also being a sitting member on a congressional subcommittee which has budget approval for aspects of the FDA! And just how did his CEO friend bring this 50 year essentially dormant product with only animal and in vitro evidence for this newer indication back to life as a listing in the FDA CoronaVirus Technology Accelerator Program? That’s a good question begging investigation of Harris’ subcommittee work for another day. But the drug also has expanded access, has changed its trial primary endpoint just recently after an early ‘look’ at the data (which has sample size and statistical ramifications that I hope the FDA reviewers will later evaluate), and could actually be utilized with no consent in certain situations. I hope this does not happen to you or me…because in one write-up the drug sponsor states it has already been previously used in “certain ICUs where it was felt to have benefit”. Previously used? Where? With consent? Whose? “Felt” to have benefit? Improperly tested hydroxychloroquine comes similarly immediately to mind, or convalescent plasma which had an encouraging sound, or zinc and all manner of other hopeful elixirs for COVID-19 disease.

But let’s examine the fact that Harris does not have the credentialed expertise needed to play the biostatistician that he claims as his dual role on the committee. How do I know? In addition to actually being one and having participated in domestic and international DSMBs which have always REQUIRED one fully credentialed biostatistician, designed, taught and analyzed 100s of clinical trials, actually have regulated biologic products via carefully vetted re-analyses of sponsor-provided trial data when employed by the FDA, Andy himself has told us so.

Years after his MD training, he enrolled in a shortened program designed for MDs to enhance their business skills of health and healthcare and remarks that he has been involved in papers that contained statistics. That’s it. He entered a program with coursework that was not in-depth statistics nor biostatistics and trial design, much less trial analysis. Of course it included business and investment models in medicine, and coursework centered on program goals of health policy and health finance and management. This was the MHS program – not to be confused with a substantially quantitative track of the longer MPH program, and certainly not that of a PhD, ScD or DrPH. Grants and articles mentioned, with appended authorships, are likewise no simple proof of his own quantitative expertise and applications. Nor just enrolling patients (“being involved in”) clinical trials along the way or appearing at an IRB (institutional review board). Andy is a part-time MD. Let’s leave it at that.

But serving with only two other members, one also without DSMB experience, and one a biologist, and having long personal relationships with not only both of them but also the CEO of the product now re-named RLF-100, which was first registered in the EU as aviptadil for ED, should give one pause. Not because it might not help less severely affected COVID-19 patients suffering due to putative ACE-2 downregulation (though some pulmonologists debate this mechanism), but rather because for some reason it never received license approval in the US for the first indication, either.

Rewriting and overriding guidance for EUA, Emergency Use Authorization, is also chilling. That is because these fast track submissions now fall first under EUA. Without adequate expertise on their own, one can imagine that these three members will simply flip through the pages offered by LavinConsulting, LLC- the registered outside, contract research organization (CRO) who has worked for this drug sponsor in the past, and go on their merry way pushing things forward if the CRO report so suggests.

The CEO drug sponsor himself even seems to agree, having been quoted as saying this DSMB “really doesn’t have much to do”. When the health and safety of human beings is at stake, there should at least be an appearance of much to do. Clearly someone else is handing the detailed and otherwise time-consuming analyses and assessments that are apparently just to be passed along as conclusions of the DSMB. Even so, the DSMB needs to have the expertise to carefully review the generated pages, find any errors, obfuscations and/or exaggerations made by the drug company, and carefully evaluate the provided data and analyses. It is, however, very interesting that the CEO seems to already know or expect little committee oversight, and feels confident enough to state it publically. I suppose that’s just a typical way to energize investors and venture capitalists, but I find it chilling if true. And Andy is meanwhile also our Congressman.

So why is Harris even doing this?

Does he really think the people in his district, ours, will believe it is only because he is trying to help the pandemic situation and not just his friend’s drug review and later marketing and investment efforts? How exactly did they get fast track review status? It’s time to learn more. For now, we know Harris has disabused mask wearing and closure or stay-at-home orders as nonsense or over-reach, calling it a “cult of masks”. He then walked that back in a mumbled statement about what he really meant–how masks might have caused complacency as singular efforts. It is not as if he earlier supported them. And he fought to open Maryland business and allow congregating more widely while case counts of those specific weeks increased in Dorchester County and then regionally. But in his interview with The Spy he also pushed the ideas again, incorrectly saying counts and the epidemic were abating and saying churches were singled out. As if church services, choirs, rally rants aren’t proven super-spreader events. Every talking point a spin version of his earlier days, except retaining his wishes to commemorate the Confederate States of America by leaving the Talbot Boys statuary on public courthouse property.

And then of course a list of his other congressional votes: repeal (without a shred of documented replacement value) the ACA and effectively eliminate pre-existing condition coverage, do not expand Medicaid that would have saved Maryland huge healthcare dollars, keep government in extended lockdown the last year, be an active member of the Freedom Caucus, support coal while defending removal of clean air and water regulations, demean the State Dept abroad, instead vote to waste available appropriations to build the ridiculous, never-to-be-finished Wall …. perhaps his version of immigration ‘reform’.

And he calls himself a physician? Do no harm?

So far we know we have a climate and healthcare opponent, a COVID-19 mitigation denier now entering a last push for back-walking spin, and a non-biostatistician meeting the needs of his friends per a hopeful money-making drug, all while being our elected Congressman. How and why and to what end he has inserted himself into the approval process for our regulated drugs and therapeutics and perhaps even FDA oversight and appropriations per his congressional committees, deserves investigation.

Talbot County wisely did not support him last go ’round and it is time to enlighten the rest of our District. Harris has even rudely and boldly claimed he does not have to worry much about winning or campaigning for this election given his opponent’s newer entry and her smaller campaign war chest. His purported help for watermen and agriculture has been too little, too late to make any real difference; it’s not just about a few belatedly acquired special work visas, his support of changes to trade agreements could have hurt. His constituents absolutely DO deserve his close attention and congressional assistance….all of them!

Now he plans to provide window dressing for Trump in Denton this weekend and get his name and a photo in some media just ahead of the next election. They’ll certainly make quite a performance duo. Harris is an embarrassment. Skip the rally lies and unhinged delusionary content delivered as rousing superficial chants to energize a real cult. Get to the polls or an official dropbox early; use the mail only if you must. We need a true representative, one whose primary concern is our interests and needs, not those of his political party, the current President, his friends, or himself.

Pamela Getson is a PhD biostatistician and former Director of the Statistical Core Group of Children’s Hospital while on Faculty at the George Washington University School of Medicine/Pediatrics. In addition to teaching and research, she designed and evaluated clinical trials, and later served as a senior math/biostat reviewer of data submitted in support of new biologic vaccines at the FDA/CBER. Now living on the shore permanently, she has resumed her love of sailing and nature.

What to do when you want to make a point but don’t have accurate information to backup your hypothesis? You spin the facts so that your point of view has credibility and others will get on whatever bandwagon you’re driving. Lately I’ve been amazed and disheartened by the amount and level of deception promoted in the media. Here are just a few cases in point from recent days.

Articles and newscasts abound suggesting subscribers ban, boycott or cancel subscriptions to Netflix because of its promotion of sex trafficking of young girls in its recent release called Cuties. A deeper look into Cuties shows that it is a cautionary tale for parents, urging them to understand how young girls grapple with issues of identity and power. In essence, the program seeks to explain how girls can be led astray and to understand the psychology involved therein. Certainly, one may question whether some more graphic scenes are appropriate or too explicit, but the underlying premise of the film has been completely skewed and misrepresented. It’s akin to banning or censoring Lolita or To Kill a Mockingbird because of discomfort with the subject manner. The irony here is that many who are encouraging the banning of Netflix are the same ones fighting for free speech and insisting that regulations requiring masks are taking away their rights. 

The next spin of the month involves articles claiming that COVID numbers have been enhanced to make the virus look as bad as possible to benefit Democrats. These articles claim that COVID numbers are exaggerated because people with heart conditions or cancer or some other condition would have died anyway, but their deaths have wrongly been assigned to the COVID bucket. Trump has retweeted QAnon articles that minimize the severity and extent of the virus. Doctors and scientists have refuted those claims, explaining that many citizens with comorbidity issues—say a heart condition, cancer, etc.—could have lived much longer lives even with that pre-existing condition had they not contracted the virus.  

Another spin involves rationalizing why or why not put forth a nomination for the Supreme Court only 40 some days before a presidential election. Republicans wouldn’t even hold hearings on Merrick Garland let alone vote when Obama had 11 months of his second term remaining. Now the very Republicans who said that pushing through a nominee in the final year before an election was an unconscionable practice—namely Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz– say it’s different now because there is a Republican president and a Republican senate. So, of course, we should ram through the next Justice appointment. Basically, the maxim is do whatever maximizes your power even if it is inconsistent with your previous statements said with the utmost conviction. 

Both Republicans and Democrats have been guilty of hypocrisy and inconsistency on this front, but the spin in the last 24 hours has been incredible. Apparently, the days when judicial appointments were apolitical are over. Confirmation is all but determined exclusively by whatever party is in power in the Senate. Yet another travesty of a sacred democratic process being destroyed by partisan politics. 

My next case in point is the various spins on the reasons for the increasing intensity and numbers of forest fires in California. Trump says it is because there is such poor forest management in California and, of course, blames liberal blue-state management (even though 58 percent of the forest land in California is federally owned which amounts to 33 million acres of forest). Here are the scientific facts as I understand them. Yes, it is true that most fires in California are started by human error. But it is also true that the reason fires are so intense and last so long is because of climate change. In recent years, California’s climate has gotten hotter and drier. That means there is less snowpack in the Sierras and less moisture in the vegetation. Such conditions make it easy for massive fires to ignite and quickly spread. The New York Times has reported that nine of the 10 largest fires in the state’s history have occurred in the past 10 years—also the 10 hottest years on record in California. According to National Geographic, the amount of land burned in fires across California is eight times higher than it was in the 1970’s. There are also extremely complicated studies of wind patterns that cause these fires to be more intense, also in part, related to climate change.

The speed on which Americans get on a particular bandwagon using false information to fortify their arguments is distressing and dangerous. Many articles have been published on the willingness of readers to believe whatever they read or hear by a source that tends to agree with their points of view. Most of us believe that others are being misled, but we know the truth. We all must be more self-aware and diligent in using reliable sources to gain accurate information.  

There is an old African proverb that goes “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” Bending facts to support your point of view is nothing new. But the amount and speed which false information hits the airways these days is. Each of us is responsible for seeking truth and nipping false information in the bud. Without such a commitment, we are doomed. 

Maria Grant served as Principal- in-charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement from Deloitte, she has focused on writing, reading, gardening, travel, and nature.