US needs a stronger public health system. Reinstate the pandemic task force.

By Staff

Updated March 17, 2020 1:59 PM

Family nurse practitioner Schquthia Peacock prepares to do a nasal swab to test a patient for coronavirus in the parking lot at Preston Medical Associates i n Cary, NC on Tuesday. Patients who show symptoms of coronavirus are asked to wait in their cars for testing. Scott Sharpe SSHARPE@NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Let pandemic be a wake-up call

The COVID-19 pandemic should be a wake-up call for America. Lessons learned include the need for a stronger public health system to coordinate such events. A hodgepodge of private health and insurance companies cannot do this. We need to re-institute the pandemic task force that was recently dismantled.

Also, it is time we all agree to make sure everyone has affordable health care so as not to have untreated people spreading disease. Health professionals and scientists, not politicians, should be the ones disseminating health information. This pandemic can be a force to unify our country in addressing our health care issues.

Dr. Vince Keipper, Concord

Trump, his team, doing a great job

Kevin Siers’ latest cartoon, depicting President Trump showing “I don’t take responsibility at all,” is a take on a recent press conference where the president was asked whether he would take responsibility for slow response to the coronavirus. I think the president and his team have done an outstanding job of trying to get ahead of a very fast-paced global outbreak. It’s time for this country to unite under these circumstances, not try to appoint blame and point fingers.

Thomas Stott, Waxhaw

I want facts, not predictions

President Trump’s news conferences promise “soon, very soon (fill in the blank) will happen. It’s never been done before. We have the greatest people blah, blah, blah.“ This is followed by Vice President Mike Pence lauding Trump for his great leadership. Please just give us facts, not promises and predictions that this administration has failed to deliver on in this crisis and has little idea of its consequences and outcomes.

Kent Rhodes, Charlotte

Return to concept of common good

The inability for this country to adequately respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, despite having three weeks advance notice after the Chinese government apparatus officially acknowledged a health care crisis, is directly reflective of the societal changes within the last 40 years.

We celebrate dogmatic ideology above demonstrating intelligence. We celebrate and reward greed above generosity. We exalt the conquering individual who crushes all opposition above promoting the concept of community. We exalt social media mindless drivel over respectful discourse.

As our media outlets and politicians politicize the recent panic runs for toilet paper, the American people would be wise to return to the concept of the “common good” which has all but disappeared in this country.

John Michsalski, Gastonia

It’s time for Sanders to step aside

With Joe Biden leading in electoral votes, Sen. Bernie Sanders should do the right thing for the party and the country and bow out the race, and let the Democratic Party concentrate on winning the 2020 election. But I am afraid Sanders is going to let hubris override commonsense.

Do us all a favor, Bernie, drop out of the race. And angle for a job in the administration.

If Biden wins the nomination, I would urge him to make Elizabeth Warren his running mate.

Augie Beasley, Charlotte

How to revamp election process

Our electoral system creates democratic inequality. Sen. Cory Booker’s, Sen. Kamala Harris’, and Gov. Deval Patrick’s campaigns ended when they were not supported financially. During the 2016 election, 400 families gave half the funding - the “funding elite.”

There’s the nominating primary where vote generation by special interest groups and party establishment is critical. And, the election where about 80% of the Congressional districts are not at risk of changing party - no competition for your vote. A Princeton study showed the funding elite have a 70% chance of getting their policies enacted, special interest groups a 60% chance, and voter sentiment has no Impact.

“We the People” must have public campaign funding, nonpartisan political boundaries, voting access and term limits.

Don Schonder, Charlotte

The Brits could handle that job

About that Hawthorne Bridge delay... Last year my sweetie and I took a vacation in Weymouth on the south coast of England. On a commercial street, a repair crew arrived after the shops closed. They removed and replaced the surface of the road by the following morning. Instead of using a Spanish company, like we did on the I-77 toll lanes, maybe we should call the Brits? Yeah, I’m a Limey!

Chris Jackson, Matthews

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This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 1:21 PM.