The heading of John Hood’s column last week (News + Record, March 26-April 1 edition) reads: “Virus response fits government role.” Make no mistake, help from our federal government has been dangerously lacking and lagging in its response! The “freedom” that Mr. Hood endlessly seeks to ensure his quest of autonomy from the government is one of the many reasons we are in our current situation. With Trump’s s-l-o-w response and initial disbelief in this worldwide threat, many people are at risk. Reducing CDC staff, namely the pandemic team, has put all of us in harm’s way.
Hood’s repeated refrain of the restrictions of “freedom of individuals to make their own choices about how to use their own resources to advance their own goals” speaks of his personal station in life: no money wants, secure housing, health care, and the luxury of pursuing his goals.
His belief that panic has led to the cancellation of public events and social distancing, and the injuring of our economy speaks volumes of his empathy for his fellow Americans. He speaks reassuringly of our state’s current financial status. Hood proudly says that the state has “more than $600 million in Medicaid reserves” among other assets. How did we amass this $600 million dollars? By denying healthcare to underprivileged citizens, good idea! How are these disadvantaged people to pursue the same rights that he holds so dear? They seek life’s basic needs, and most do not have medical care. Oh, they can get free testing for the virus, but will incur medical costs for its treatment.
So to Mr. Hood, I quote John Donne: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” Maybe an island would be better suited to Mr. Hood’s personal goals.