Tim O'Mara
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
The world's most prestigious medical journal, the New England Journal of Medicine, has publicly condemned the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. While not endorsing Joe Biden, the editors of the journal state Trump has "taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy." They go on to say the current administration has failed the American people and that "Instead of relying on expertise, the administration has turned to 'uninformed' opinion leaders and charlatans who obscure the truth"
This condemnation comes shortly after the Scientific American, another influential publication for people who believe in science, stated that " Trump's rejection of evidence and public health measures have been catastrophic."
To be clear, neither publication blames the Trump administration for the pandemic; they are both condemning the Trump administration's response to the pandemic. A response, the scientists at these two publications agree, that has led to many thousands more deaths than necessary by placing the economy over the health of their fellow Americans.
So while more Americans die each day from this deadly virus - and the number of infected continues to rise - Trump has publicly rejoiced in his tax cuts to the rich and a rising stock market. This begs the question: How much is a human life worth to our current president?