I have some really good friends in the teaching profession, one of whom (talking with the Eng. Lit. dept. to check if my use of whom was correct) is a biology teacher. The scientific process consists of 5 basic steps: 1) identify a problem: 2) research: 3) hypothesis: 4) experiment: 5) conclusion. One of the things she said was if a student ever used the word ‘hunch,’ she would not only give them a failing grade immediately but give a personal lecture emphasizing that science is based on fact. Well now that I have brought back your high school and college biology trauma, I will get to my point. We are all either panicked, looking for answers, or just plain confused about the current coronavirus (Covid-19) scare.
With one of the most potentially important health risks to hit the world since the H1N1 virus (Swine flu) the President told the citizens of the U.S. and by default the world, that he has a “hunch.” Countering scientific methodology used by the World Health Organization (WHO) Mr. Trump told Fox News entertainment host Sean Hannity, “Now, this is just my hunch, but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people who do this because a lot of people will have this and it's very mild. They'll get better very rapidly. They don't even see a doctor.” Once your head stops throbbing from trying to deconstruct his rambling statement, you remember this supposition comes from the same White House that’s said at least a million test kits would have been available today.
The thing lots of Democrats have warned against for three years has finally come to our shores, a problem that could become a crisis with improper leadership. Sure, the President has flexed ineffectual muscle by granting photo opportunities posing with N. Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and receiving in return, the status quo. His overtures to Vladimir Putin, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and allowing the Turkish President, Erdoğan to allegedly direct his Turkish security detail to physically abuse protesting American residents and citizens, satisfying his totalitarian sweet tooth have resulted in lowering the respect of America around the world. Mr. Trump excites his throngs of rally goers with chants and insulting eighth- grade humor. The media indulges his traveling freak show with coverage, not because it is informative but for the reason that it garners ratings; everyone likes a clown.
All his past behavior was fodder for Bill Maher’s Friday night show and writer’s room gold for Trevor Noah and Steve Carell. The problem now is that people on United States soil are in danger of dying by the hundreds or thousands if the wrong steps are taken. Tweets, midnight calls to the White House from Rush Limbaugh or subservient Republicans will not stop a virus. Since February 26th when Mr. Trump said that only 15 cases were tracked in the U.S. and “within a couple days [it is] going to be down to close to zero.” that number has increased sixfold as of noon today.
The President is quick to admonish those who would make this a political issue but when faced with questions that the President cannot answer his defenders go to their tried and true strategy, OBAMA did it. Misinformation and obvious efforts to avoid the appearance of incompetence will not keep us safe, those efforts are only meant to protect Donald Trump. You cannot beat science with a hunch.
Vote in 2020 for Change.