Op-Ed

Op-Ed: The Pandemic Deniers Could Kill Us by J.E. Dean

March 30, 2020 by J.E. Dean Leave a Comment

One would think that the small army of pandemic deniers would start thinning as the number of cases and deaths rise. It’s not happening. Some of us, including here on the Eastern Shore, see the problem as a combination of overreaction and disastrous policy decisions. Covid-19 is not terribly different than a bad year of the “regular flu,” they say. And, had misguided politicians not shut down the economy, life would be continuing largely as it did before, especially in places like Talbot and Kent counties, where the number of coronavirus cases has been relatively small.

Much to my horror, both as a senior and as someone with an impaired immunity system, some are purposely ignoring directives on social distancing and other steps intended to stop the spread of contagion. It is likely that if restaurants were open, pandemic deniers would be eating out, partying, and otherwise socializing as they did before the crisis. And if some of these deniers get a cold, it’s likely that they won’t take special efforts to avoid infecting others.

Such behavior, in the current environment, is criminal, or at least it should be. Ignoring proven means of preventing the spread of the virus is the same thing as purposely passing it on to others. Depending on your demographic, that could mean creating a risk as high as 1 in 10 of killing someone.

Fortunately, political leaders are taking steps to enforce the behaviors that should have been enthusiastically embraced by all of us. One hopes that it won’t be necessary to arrest or jail anyone, but most likely it will be. Unfortunately, the number of violators stopped by enforcement will likely be dwarfed by the number who ignore the directives and are not caught. It’s inconceivable that all “banned” birthday parties, social distancing violations, unwashed hands, and other “violations” will be stopped.

So, what to do? First, in addition to supporting efforts to contain, treat, and stop the pandemic, learn what the “rules” are and follow them. The Spy, CDC, and dozens of other media outlets provide easy access to details. Second, when a neighbor or friend violates the “rules,” say something. For example, earlier this week, I ran into neighbors while walking my dog. The neighbors, suffering from the same cabin-fever afflicting many of us, immediately walked very close to me. The husband stuck out his hand to shake mine, smiling while he did it. “Good to see you, John,” he said, “How are you holding up?” I instinctively started to extend my hand but immediately thought better of it and took a quick three steps back. “I’m social distancing,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m trying to get used to the new world.”

Fortunately, my neighbors were not offended. They both politely laughed. The wife even said, “You can’t be too safe.” I smiled back and commented, “I’m looking for all this to be behind us.” The friends nodded and we both went our separate ways.

My statement, that I’m looking forward to the end of the crisis, is obviously true. Unfortunately, I believe we are on the front-end of the crisis. I expect worldwide cases of infection to top one million in the immediate future and three million by the end of April. I also expect the death toll to continue to rise, not only in cities, but also in rural areas. I understand that when the virus hits poorer parts of the world, the rates of death will skyrocket proportionately to the lack of available medical care.

I hope not to personally become one of the statistics, but it’s not really in my control. Governor Hogan, on March 29th commented, “I think that in two weeks, around Easter, we’re going to be looking at lot more like New York.” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the same day, suggested that the U.S. could see as many as 200,000 deaths. My hope is that the pandemic deniers wake up.

If I am surrounded by even a few reckless, thoughtless, selfish, misguided, stupid people, my odds of infection increase. That is why I am angry at the deniers. You should be too. And, if you examine your behavior and see that you are part of the problem, please act now. You’re putting countless others at risk.

J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He is a former counsel to the House Committee on Education and Labor. For more than 30 years, he advised clients on federal education and social service policy.

Op-Ed: Increase Physical Distance without Increasing Social Distance by David Foster

March 27, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

Don’t get me wrong. I fully understand the importance of maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet or more from anyone outside our household. My quarrel is with the term Social Distance. The term social normally refers to the organization and interactions within a society, including verbal, telephonic, email, text, etc. and this is hardly the time when we want to decrease that kind of interaction much less increase social isolation within our communities.

Long before we heard of Covid-19, there was already an epidemic of loneliness in our country, particularly among the elderly. Loneliness has a well-documented physical as well as psychological dimension. Did you know that loneliness has an equivalent impact on morbidity and mortality of 15 cigarettes per day?

We need to recognize that Cabin Fever, prolonged isolation inside, also has real physical and psychological consequences. Last week we asked our county public health officer if there was anything wrong with people in Chestertown going outside for walks or bike rides. The answer was unequivocal: as long as they maintain a physical separation of 6 feet or more, he actually encouraged people to get outside.

The next few weeks and months are going to be tough. If we want to get through this with minimal adverse impacts, please listen to the health experts: wash your hands, maintain a physical separation of 6 feet or more, exercise outside, and call or write someone who needs to hear from you.

David Foster is the Ward One councilman for the Town of Chestertown

Report from Annapolis 2020 Final Report by Laura Price

March 26, 2020 by Laura Price Leave a Comment

What happened during the final few rushed days in Annapolis? Amidst the Coronavirus crisis that we are experiencing and shut downs all around us, the Legislature’s 2020 session came to an abrupt end three weeks early. There was an urgency to pass bills that were deemed priorities, despite the economic catastrophe that is taking place. It didn’t seem to matter what impact financially some of these bills would have on the public. Pass tax increases, they did, and pass the expensive education bill, they did.

While the sweeping sales tax bill that would have added sales tax to nearly all services was defeated, a “luxury” sales tax bill did pass. As did the “Google” digital advertising tax, the digital download tax and the tobacco tax. These were all identified as ways to pay for a small portion of the most expensive legislation of all, the Kirwan Blueprint Education bill.

However, the use for some of these taxes has already been changed. The first year of the “download” tax will be used to deal with the Covid 19 response. The tax revenue from the tobacco tax will now be used to settle a lawsuit with the historically black colleges. And the digital tax will be likely be challenged in court because it conflicts with the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause and the International Tax Freedom Act.

Point being, we have known all session long, that these new taxes would never come close to paying for the State share of Kirwan and we counties have definitely known that it didn’t pay for ANY of the local share.

Last minute amendments were added to the Kirwan bill to supposedly make lawmakers more “comfortable” with its passage. Spreadsheets were updated and numbers kept changing during the past several weeks, somewhat reducing the local share. There were two that I previously discussed that unfortunately ended up being merged onto one sheet of paper. One was the “local relief” to give counties such as Prince George’s and Baltimore City, along with jurisdictions like Caroline, Dorchester and Somerset additional State aid. The other was to fix a double counting of the “floor formulas,” which means that no matter the supposed wealth of your county, 15% of the base and 40% of an “at promise” student is funded by the State. This amendment corrected a mathematical error when the bill was written. Included counties were Anne Arundel, Kent, Talbot, Worcester and a few others .

As I wrote before, the two amendments got merged and was titled “Local Relief.” As the Senate was going into its final voting passage on Monday, one more set of figures came out for the Local and State shares. The final numbers ended up being higher for the County share. Part of this must be due to other amendments pushing implementation dates for certain aspects of the bill sooner than the original phase in. But there is an oddity that I can’t figure out yet. Most of the seven counties whose technical fix was being corrected, changed dramatically. I cannot yet explain what caused the changes but will be inquiring, as it just doesn’t seem logical since it has no “wealth formula” attached to it.

The other major amendment was the “trigger” provision offered on the floor by Senate majority leader, Nancy King. It reads:
Beginning December 1, 2020, and each December 1 thereafter, if the December General Fund estimate in the December Board of Revenue Estimates report is more than 7.5% below the March General Fund estimate in the March Board of Revenue Estimates report of that year, per pupil increases in major education aid required under this Act shall be limited to the rate of inflation, as defined in § 5–201(h) of the Education Article as enacted by this Act”.

The Board of Revenue Estimates consists of the Comptroller, the Treasurer and the Secretary of Budget and Tax. They update their revenue projection in March. This amendment states that if on December 1, the revenues are down by more than 7.5%, education increases will be limited to the rate of inflation. With current revenue estimates about $18 billion, the revenues would have to drop by $1.4 billion. That is an enormous number, bigger than even what is considered a recession. On the surface, this appears to be a safety net, but the likelihood of this occurring more than once is pretty slim.

Here’s why. Let’s say you project $100 in March. In December, revenues are $92.50 or less, the trigger provision kicks in. The following year in March, one would assume that a responsible budget projection should be similar to your actual number. For an example, the estimate comes in at $90. That means that the following December, actual revenues would have to project to be $83 or less. The reality is, that this trigger may only happen once. Even though it would be evaluated each December, it is unlikely to happen in successive years. Meaning the full force of Kirwan implementation and massive spending increases would occur even without a recovery in our economy. Many of the legislators took comfort in this provision, however I do not.

At the end of the day, the passing of this and other legislation that costs our citizens dearly, in the face of this unprecedented health and economic crisis is irresponsible.

Laura Price is 2nd Vice President on the Executive Board of Directors of MACo, Chair of Budget and Tax, Talbot’s legislative liaison and member of the Talbot County Council.

Op-Ed: Our Community and Covid-19 by Dr. Michael Fisher

March 25, 2020 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

As our region and our country endure the dangerous COVID-19 outbreak, we must accept radical changes. Americans do not like to be told what to do, but we must now accept measures that are outside of normal times. Historically, health care systems are challenged in terms of personnel, equipment, costs and space; our local health care system is no diﬀerent. We are anxious, even frightened for our personal health and that of our loved ones. People are dying, and we are wondering when it will hit closer to home. But there are things you can do to help and we all have a role to play.

Our nation’s top doctors have developed guidelines to limit spread, and we must follow them. Every contact has the potential to spread the virus because it is diﬃcult to identify those infected when so many are without symptoms. Forwarded emails and re-tweets show how quickly one submission can be sent to 10 people, who each share it with 10 more, and so on. It’s called “going viral” — and that is what is happening with COVID-19. The spread becomes exponential very quickly.

Stay home. Keep your distance, except to help a neighbor, attend a blood drive, shop for food or go to the pharmacy. In those cases, keep your distance. Wash your hands frequently. Soap and water are better than hand sanitizer so if you can, wash.

Our hospitals and health departments have mobilized task forces and are anticipating needs in the event of a surge in cases. Our Governor has imposed serious emergency measures statewide. COVID-19 is highly contagious, so families may not be able to be at the bedside as we are accustomed to, in normal times, when loved ones are hospitalized. Now, visitors put others at risk and also use up gowns, gloves and masks needed for the protection of our doctors, nurses and other staff providing patient care.

As I write this, 10 percent of Italy’s COVID-19 patients are health care workers. We cannot afford to lose so many from the ranks of our own health care providers, who are dealing with fear and anxiety but also exhaustion. Please exercise patience in your interactions with our local health care system.

Hospitals need to conserve precious resources such as ventilators and other vital equipment, and despite our medical advances in the U.S., we lack adequate stockpiles. It is too late to assign blame; however, we all need to anticipate what happens if we or one of our family becomes very ill.

Now is the time for family discussion and for making and documenting decisions regarding end-of-life choices. This is true for all, but especially for anyone with serious underlying chronic medical conditions, advanced age or intractable disease. Don’t wait until a medical event forces a trip to the Emergency Room under high-stress and emotional circumstances that will make clear, rational thinking difficult; you can find the “Maryland Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment” form online at marylandmolst.org.

Protocols exist to make tough decisions who receives advanced intensive care and who receive supportive, palliative care; we pray we will not need them. These are rapid and grave circumstances for some, despite the fact that many will recover. Yes, COVID-19 is more likely to overwhelm the elderly and frail, but anyone of any age can get it, can infect others, and also become dangerously ill.

Pandemics have happened before and history shows that many may succumb. Nonetheless, here on the Shore, we have an incredibly generous and connected population, and together we can pull through. This will end, and we will see the development of treatments and vaccines. We will mobilize for future pandemics based on our experience with COVID-19. Be strong and grateful for the blessings around us, and pray for mercy in this horrible time. And please, be part of the solution rather than part of the massive problem we face in the days ahead.

Michael J. Fisher is a retired physician who practiced for over 30 years in Easton and the Mid-Shore.

Letter to Editor: Move, Breath and find Balance

March 23, 2020 by Letter to Editor Leave a Comment

Tips to manage a change in routine:

#1. MOVE! Everyone loves a Netflix binge but, humans are meant to move. So… take a few extra trips up and down your staircase if you have one, stand up and walk laps around your home every hour, or add a set of squats to your daily pattern. If you are currently participating in an exercise regimen or are considering a new workout remember DO NO HARM! Muscle strengthening does create a delayed onset of soreness which should only last about 24-36 hours diminishing with time. You should not feel acute pain (sharp precise) during an exercise. Pain is our body’s alarm system warning possible injury.

#2. BREATHE! Breath is very powerful and often under-utilized. Do not hold your breath with exertion. Also consider taking time to improve your air flow with this easy exercise: 1. place your hands on your belly, take a deep breath and watch your hands move outward. 2. Place your hands on the sides of your ribs, breathe deeply and feel your lungs expand as your hands move laterally. See if you can inhale and hold the breath just a bit longer before exhaling. Notice the change in air flow and the calming effect.

#3. BALANCE! We all need balance in our lives. But, this recommendation is aimed directly at our center of gravity. You can improve your balance with specific activities which is a good idea for everyone. Try this: Stand near the kitchen sink or a sturdy chair to hold onto if needed. Attempt to stand on one foot. Make this more challenging by increasing time or adding motion. Can you brush your teeth standing on one foot? Can you stand on a pillow or uneven surface on one foot?

#4. BE FRIENDLY! Recruit a friend to commit to a daily exercise workout. Or even just one exercise: the dreaded wall sit, or squats, lunges, sit-stands, whatever you decide. Call each other, facetime or text and support each other with your daily challenge. Add more reps, make goals, and watch as you and your friend progress.

No doubt, these are tricky times. If you have any questions about an exercise routine you are already using or thinking of starting a new routine, I will be happy to consult. I can send exercises to your email or recommend some Apps. Call my office or shoot me an email:

You are still in control to be happy, stay healthy and feel better!!

Katy Weddell
Chesapeake Physical Therapy peakept@gmail.com)

Op-Ed: Something to Fear in Addition to Fear Itself by J.E. Dean

March 21, 2020 by J.E. Dean 1 Comment

Pictures of neighbors buying their 96th role of Cottonelle bathroom tissue offer clear evidence that many of us are fearing fear itself. And try buying a bottle of Purell hand sanitizer without surrendering to legalized theft on eBay or elsewhere. Other examples could be given, but, unfortunately, suggestions to “Stay Calm and Carry On” won’t hack it this time. We’re in deep trouble. There is a lot in addition to fear, well, to fear.

The virus is spreading like wildfire. Death counts are rising. And if you are in a high-risk category, you better take protective cover if you want to survive the year. Many dire predictions of CDC experts are proving on the mark. Among these are predictions of an overwhelmed healthcare system and that a vaccine may not be available for many months.

Is this situation hopeless? The answer is no. Political leaders across the country are being bold in implementing steps to contain the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve” with the intent of reducing the possibility of worst-case scenarios. Congress and the Trump administration, with the lessons of both the Great Depression and the Great Recession in mind, are acting now to minimize economic pain for those of us with little buffer between feeding our families and true crisis. By the time you read this, many of these measures will have been enacted and some of them implemented.

Awareness of the gravity of the situation is a first step to surviving it. The second step is to accept that we are all in this together. By “all of us” I mean not only our neighbors here, but all our fellow residents in North America and the rest of the world. This crisis is not about a crashed stock market or millions of retail and hospitality workers (among others) losing their jobs, or even about preventing the pandemic from killing millions of us. Instead it is about action—personal, societal and global.

Most of us already know that we must wash our hands, practice social distancing, and familiarize ourselves with the symptoms of coronavirus. Advice is a click away at www.cdc.gov. What some of us don’t know yet is that the ability to prevent the worst-case scenarios is within our own power. Simply put, if we accept what we need to fear but don’t over-react to it, we will get through this crisis.

The Spy and other media outlets are letting us know what is going on. Suggestions on how to survive a “shelter in place” order, which yet may be coming to the Eastern Shore, are part of the solution. Using advice on how to reduce risk and avoid infecting others requires staying sane and reacting to what is real while ignoring what’s not.

The next few months (or longer) will lead us into unchartered territory. Restoring normalcy once the immediate crisis ends, will take longer. There is a new normalcy coming, but, as of mid-March, we don’t yet know what it is. Change is coming. There will be challenges but, with them, opportunities.

Plight of an Extrovert by Howard Freedlander

March 20, 2020 by Howard Freedlander 1 Comment

Isolation imposed by common sense and government directives strikes at the core of this unrepentant extrovert. I am coping uneasily with the lack of social contact.

Coronavirus is forcing all of us to imprison ourselves in solitary confinement. We are being asked/directed to consider the common good, to avoid spreading this invisible, insidious medical pest that is wreaking worldwide havoc.

So, what do the extroverts do under these peculiar circumstances and strictures? We can’t ignore the calls for self-distancing. That would be foolhardy, if not dangerous.

For introverts, our current self-isolation is a godsend, a signal to read or walk or cook or garden or meditate or sleep or complete crossword puzzles. The opportunities abound. Their desire for human interaction is limited.

What do we extroverts do to deal with seclusion and a sudden void of social contact? It’s a real conundrum that draws no pity from introverted spouses and friends.

We are on our own in this unpredictable world. Our choices are sadly few. Our self-esteem, fueled by others, is at stake.

This extrovert has a few strategies. He walks and talks to the dog—not even a bark, however, in response. He calls friends, even one in the United Kingdom; he was more than willing to talk, as we did for 42 minutes. Communication carries a cost. And I do what I’m doing now: claim dominion over my IPhone screen and email friends and family to assuage the loneliness.

Of course, not all of my contacts are extroverts. In fact, probably few are. Still, I prod along in cyberspace and communicate endlessly.

Should this communal sabbatical continue for months, then I may have to adjust my strategies. After all, I only have so many friends and family members. And they have only so much patience for pitifully needy extroverts.

One more thing: I can impose ever so gingerly on the kindness of Dave Wheelan, editor-publisher of the Spies, and seek digital space to offer some humor at a humorless time—or other commentary.

Please comment. I need the contact, even if virtual.

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.

Efforts to Ban Abortion Disregard Environmental Challenges

March 19, 2020 by Letter to Editor 1 Comment

Despite a majority of Americans’ support for women’s right to choose — a decision set by the Supreme Court nearly 50 years ago — attempts to diminish abortion rights for women remain relentless. A Pew Research report from 2019 found that upwards of 60% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

However, anti-abortion activists around the country have passed a variety of state laws making it increasingly difficult for women to end their pregnancies. One strategy has been to pursue state-wide, medically unnecessary, gestational bans. In other words, women would not be allowed to have abortions, a constitutional right, once their pregnancies have progressed to a certain length of time after their last menstrual periods. Bans have been proposed for as short a period as six weeks, often before women may even know they are pregnant.

Environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, have been involved in protecting women against these bans. Environmental groups focus their efforts on creating a world in which all humans can live in safe, healthy environments. Comprehensive reproductive health care is essential to that goal. Reproductive freedom is thus considered a basic human right.

Lack of control over the timing of childbearing interferes with an individual’s ability to pursue educational, economic, and social opportunities. Women without means are the victims in these scenarios and are less likely to have adequate resources to care for children once they are born; low-income people are also subject to living in areas with more environmental hazards (close to incinerators, coal plants, etc.).

In contrast, wealthy women have always been able to gain access to pregnancy termination services and will continue to do so regardless of increasing restrictions on abortion. In addition, those with means are able to raise their families in healthy, safe communities.There is growing recognition that environmental issues are inextricably linked to issues like gender and economic inequality. It is important that we reject intrusive measures that presume to understand the challenges others face. Instead, we must provide access to safe, legal and affordable family planning for all who seek it.

Reproductive justice, economic justice, and environmental justice are three inexplicably tied movements. The right to choose if, when, and how we become pregnant cannot be separated from the right to raise those families in healthy, safe environments and afford all the basic life necessities.

Susan Olsen, M.A., M.Ed.
Our Maryland
Mike Pretl Community Impact Fellow

Sydney Jacobs
Conservation Co-Chair
Maryland Sierra Club

Isabel Blalock, MPH
Field Director, Abortion Access Campaign
NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland

Op-Ed: Trump Lacks the Leadership Gene by Steve Parks

March 17, 2020 by Steve Parks 1 Comment

We’re not self-quarantining. We went supermarket-shopping last weekend. My wife and I will venture out for a half-hour walk once I finish writing this piece online. But we’re pretty much hunkering down.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, we spent parts of weekday mornings, after exercising at our Easton Club East clubhouse (now closed) or in YMCA’s pools, watching the news. Speaking for myself, I could only take so much. Most days I’d get so worked up about the president’s inane, often hateful tweets or egregious decisions that I’d have to restrain myself from throwing objects at the TV. At those times, I’d retreat to my man-cave and watch sports. It didn’t matter. Whatever was in season. Whatever I recorded the night before. But now, because of the pandemic, there are no sports to watch. (Kudos to commissioners who made those decisions, as much as I’m disappointed.) Now I bide my time writing, reading or watching movies ancient enough that every actor on screen is deceased.

The pandemic can’t touch them.

But inevitably, we get back to news because it affects us all. What are the latest restrictions? What can we expect next? Then, there he is on TV spreading more misinformation—if not outright lies—babbling excuses, spreading blame to Democrats, journalists, presidential predecessors or anyone who utters a syllable of criticism.

In a Rose Garden press conference, reporters gathered on the lawn, side-by-side in rows of folding chairs, while a gaggle of scientists and politicians were arrayed, standing virtually shoulder-to-shoulder behind the president who, after declaring a state of emergency proceeded to undermine it with false assurances, then invited everyone behind him to speak. Each one adjusted by hand the microphone Trump had just released, each gripping the podium he’d clutched with both hands. Though one speaker awkwardly bumped elbows with the president, most shook his hand before returning to their places, reflexively touching their faces.

Everyone present knew the president had been exposed, briefly, to at least two people at a Mar-a-Lago party who tested positive for COVID-19.

Two reporters asked if the president accepted responsibility for the months-long delay in delivering testing kits to determine who does or does not have the virus. “No, I don’t take responsibility at all,” the president declared shamelessly, deflecting blame on the Obama administration, out of office more than three years. He dismissed a follow-up question as “nasty.” In 2018, the president and national security adviser John Bolton fired the pandemic team from the White House staff—appointed by President Obama. Trump has made it his mission to undue everything Obama did. Again, Trump refused to take responsibility. He turned to those behind him, asking if anyone knew who made that decision. “It wasn’t me,” he said, admitting twice in the same press conference that the buck stops anywhere but on his desk.

Before his national emergency declaration, the president all but dismissed the pandemic as a “hoax” blown out of proportion by Democrats and the news media, even Fox at times. The sad and dangerous side-effect is that Trump devotees believe him, literally repeating to reporters who ask them that the pandemic is a hoax created by Democratic “fake news”—as if live video feeds of empty streets in Italy, across Europe and now New York City, were staged to frighten us, to spook stock markets and undermine the president’s re-election. Trump has espoused all these “hoax” motives, each recorded for posterity on video. Somehow his most loyal supporters find space for denial.

While we’re entertaining preposterous conspiracy theories, how about this one? Trump refused the offer of the World Health Organization—he despises global organizations dominated by “experts”—to supply the United States with testing kits in January. Two months later, we’re still behind in delivering our own brand. Why might the president want to foster a delay? How about suppressing the number of Americans infected so the economy wouldn’t plunge into recession? I don’t actually believe the president is capable of sustaining such conspiratorial deception. But it’s no more implausible than a partisan pandemic hoax. Trump practically confessed his darkest wishes when he said he didn’t want Americans onboard a virus-infected cruise ship to disembark because it would add to bad USA numbers. Off-shore, they don’t count. And dead Americans can’t vote.

In case you haven’t noticed, Donald Trump lacks the empathy gene. He mocks widows of American heroes, Democratic and Republican. He doesn’t care about your suffering. He shuns leadership because he thinks leaving tough calls to others—such as a national lockdown—gives him room to scapegoat. It’s long been his modus-operandi, dating back to serial Atlantic City casino bankruptcies.

As I watched the news on Sunday, before switching to a 1941 film noir and later the Democratic debate, I was enraged to see what transpired at international airports across the U.S. Trump had announced cancellation of flights from Europe—without notifying Europeans. Americans returning from the continent were to be screened for the virus. To my horror, as it should be to anyone viewing these pictures, thousands of American citizens were packed like cattle, waiting hours to be screened, touching and breathing on each other all the while. Exponential viral exposure is inevitable. Meanwhile, at Disney World Sunday, thousands more spent hundreds of dollars to be COVID-19-exposed on the last night before the theme park closed for months. Donald said not to worry. So, they didn’t.

We once believed our presidents. We do so now at our peril.

“I don’t take responsibility at all.” Besides the empathy gene, Donald also lacks the leadership gene.

NOTE: As I finished this commentary Monday afternoon, President Trump suddenly got serious at a press conference, though he later tweeted snarky complaints about two governors and the New York Times. Trump has not yet earned the benefit of our doubt. But let’s hope he rises to the occasion, however belatedly.

Steve Parks is a retired New York journalist now living in Easton.

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