I Am a Nobody…I’m the Expendable American - Tom Kenney

I Am a Nobody…I’m the Expendable American - Tom Kenney

As I sit here writing this letter 51 days into a government lockdown and quarantine necessitated by the worst global pandemic in over a hundred years, governors around the country are grappling with the decision of when to lift restrictions on their states and allow the workplaces, and thus the economy, to fully or partially open. I don’t envy any of them their awesome responsibilities in this regard.

But…

Make no mistake about these decisions, they are made by comparing the further damage to the economy (by waiting longer to attempt to get back to “normal”) against the certain loss of more lives to this virus by opening now - and determining which is more acceptable. I never thought I’d see the day that the United States of America would consider intentionally sacrificing tens of thousands of American lives to jump-start the economy, no matter how dire the circumstances, but here we are.

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While I accept the fact that we can’t wait to lift restrictions until there is zero chance of the virus spreading further, the decisions being made now to reopen certain states go against the advice of every healthcare professional and disease control expert in our country. Hell, it goes against the guidelines set forth by our own president and the government just weeks ago. I guess tens of thousands of deaths is an acceptable consequence for getting our lives back to “normal”. That is…depending on whose deaths they are.

You see, I am the expendable American…

 

I am a 65-year-old retired firefighter from a fairly large city in the northeast. I have COPD brought on by 35 years of sucking down smoke and other toxins while attempting to save the lives and property of my fellow citizens. I am in the high-risk group of people susceptible to fatal complications of COVID 19. I am also on a pension, meaning my days of actually contributing to society are mostly behind me. I am expendable. If my death allows the majority of Americans to be done with all these restrictions on their liberties many would say that’s the price we, as a society, have to pay. I merely ask you to look at your own families and loved ones and determine how many “expendable” Americans are important members of your life? Are they truly expendable to you?

 

They are the expendable Americans…

 

Don’t misunderstand; it’s not just the high-risk population who will pay the ultimate price for re-opening too soon. This virus has already shown how devastating it can be to young and healthy individuals as well. We don’t get to pick and choose who lives and who dies. We will lose old and young alike. Valuable members of our society and members considered to be social burdens by the whole.

I have no answer as to when is the best time to loosen the present restrictions. That decision is way above my pay grade. Personally I lean toward a more thoughtful and slower re-opening. This would ultimately result in fewer deaths. Many governors, and the President, would ask, “At what price to our economy?” I have no answer for that either. I do know that history ignored tends to repeat itself and that decisions made back in 1918 to keep businesses open during that pandemic led to more deaths in the second and third waves than in the first.

It’s funny how these decisions are being played out in a very partisan manner. 19 of the 23 states that have already lifted restrictions have Republican governors – their policymakers. 18 of the 21 states that are still closed have Democratic governors. Which ones are making the better choice? Only time will tell us.

Another observation about the current state of risk for citizens going forward is that the have-nots will be at greater peril. Those who are forced to go back to work as a result of not having enough money to pay their bills or put food on the table will be at greater risk. Those who live in neighborhoods that are more densely populated will be at greater risk. Those who can’t afford to have groceries and essentials delivered to their doors will be at greater risk. These people will be forced to return to their jobs once their employers open up or risk losing those jobs forever.

 

They are the expendable Americans…

 

Ironically these are not the people who make these life and death decisions. Those are made by those of us who are most protected and most sheltered from these consequences.

 

One of the biggest disappointments to me during this crisis is the lack of true leadership at the top. Our President has been woefully unprepared and unwilling to take full control of his responsibilities. He continually threatened to use the power of the Defense Production Act, which he did invoke, to force manufacturers to produce respirators and other testing supplies but he never did. He talked outlined loose federal guidelines to cope with the pandemic during his daily briefings but these guidelines seemed to change on a regular basis without the White House actually commanding these guidelines be followed. He left the specific decisions on what to implement and what to ignore squarely on the governor’s shoulders. It seems that he’s comfortable with suggesting that states open up for business but doesn’t want to put that responsibility on himself. That is not what we so desperately need during this public health crisis.

I hope that our governors proceed with caution and that all their decisions turn out to be what is best for our country in the long run. We are all in this together and we need to be considerate to others during this transition from lockdown to being fully open and past this pandemic. Our health and the health of our loved ones and neighbors depend on it.

 

I am the expendable American…are you?

 

Tom Kenney was a Captain for the Providence Fire Department. He is now retired.