Editor:
Former President Eisenhower said, “Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.”
We are in difficult times and we are all looking for informed, responsible decision making. The public has spent years belittling scientists and their research; now we are begging them to come up with a virus fix as soon as possible.
When they make a recommendation that can cause the public discomfort, I believe they are using the best facts available to them at the time. When politicians make contradicting recommendations, I have to wonder what their motivation is: economics, re-election, campaign donations, publicity or public safety?
Other nations have found that quickly limiting the public’s interaction has saved lives. The U.S waited about two months before taking the virus seriously to make needed changes. Now we are, and will continue, to pay the price until an effective vaccine is developed. Vigilante type protestors seek to intimidate but they will not bear the responsibility if we relapse into another outbreak of infections. But elected officials will.
Shared sacrifice, a concept the U.S. had perfected during World War II, can get us through this pandemic if leaders lead.
Mark Patton
Wilton