THE PLAGUE

President Trump is fond of referring to the Covid-19 pandemic as the plague during his marathon press conferences and in tweets.  Like many of his science related pronouncements, this is a misstatement. Plague is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium.  Covid-19 is a novel coronavirus.

If the President’s intent is to frighten citizens, using the term plague is certainly more ominous than infectious disease.  The black plague killed 50 million people in the 14th century, or 60 per cent of Europe's entire population. In biblical terms the ten plagues that struck Egypt and the seven described in Revelation are onerous enough to convince many of us to stay at home for a month or two.

To “be plagued” is defined as to vex, harass, trouble or torment. I find it ironic that Trump would employ this description to describe our pandemic when he has daily plagued the foundational institutions and accepted norms of our constitutional democratic republic.  When it comes to honoring the rule of law and filling the role of a modern president in representing all the people he serves, Trump has been the “plaguer in chief.”

Trump’s use of the word plague is but a symptom of the ill-conceived plan he is following to handle the greatest crisis of his presidency.  In keeping with his claims that he is smarter than the generals, the diplomats, the intelligence specialists and the scientists, the solutions to the pandemic had to be uniquely his alone.  Moreover, Trump’s mindset guarantees that his approach favors short-term political goals rather than sound medical or economic ones.  This led to a cascade of missteps that have threatened his presidency more than the Mueller Report or the impeachment proceedings.

His first plan was to protect the economy and keep the numbers of reported infections down by limiting testing and to dismiss the pandemic as a hoax. Next was the attempt to close the borders, while thousands of our own citizens hurried home from Asia and Europe with coronavirus in their systems.  He followed this by blaming the outbreak on the Chinese, the World Health Organization and states with Democratic governors.

According to Trump, at all times any action taken by the White House was “the best.” Trump has insisted that the governors who received uneven doles of federal aid praise him for his ideas and solutions.  Any media attempt to question a task force policy or Trump statement was dismissed as partisan politics.  Finally, Trump began improvising from the White House press room and proposed untested and quack cures for the disease. He was looking to take personal credit, if his controversial theories proved useful.  In addition the medical community roundly criticized him and his presidential bully-pulpit was reduced to a laughingstock.

For years Trump has been able to control his political base by convincing them that his version of the truth was of a higher value than the media’s fact-checked truth.  Now his version of the truth is often at odds with his own task force and scientists.  Moreover, during the crisis he has often changed his position one hundred eighty degrees from day to day, leaving his supporters to wonder what policy represents the party line.

What is amazing about the President’s approach to the pandemic is that other elected officials around the world, both democratic and authoritarian, have used the crisis to demonstrate leadership, consolidate power and silence criticism of past behaviors. In our country, New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo has become a symbol of a steady hand guiding citizens through this medical and economic tsunami. His daily press conferences have become must watch television for a country of shut-ins and his political capital has soared.  Before the pandemic Cuomo was considered an old school, charmless power broker, despised by progressives and tolerated by everyone else.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has used the pandemic to strengthen his hold on the world’s largest democracy.  In his bid to make India a “Hindu first” country, Muslims and members of the lowest castes have been accused of being super spreaders of the virus.  Taking advantage of the chaos and fear, Modi has used the police and army to enforce the lockdown.  His government has utilized archaic laws against sedition to arrest and silence its critics, including members of the press.

The story is the same in numerous illiberal democracies and authoritarian regimes.   Other right leaning leaders, like the president, who depend on populist supporters to stay in power, have found ways to seize the moment and become more entrenched.     

Somehow, the President squandered his opportunity to bring the country together against a common nemesis. With this opportunity to demonstrate leadership, he should now be the odds on favorite to win the upcoming election.  Instead, his lack of empathy, self-serving statements and dangerous medical suggestions to overcome the disease are flattening his popularity curve faster than the disease curve itself.

I recently revisited Albert Camus’s classic novel The Plague as part of my reading while staying in place.  The book depicts the trials of ordinary citizens in the costal African city of Oran during a new infestation of the bubonic plague.  In the background of a wonderful allegorical story is the development of Camus’s philosophy of “ordinary heroism.” Camus describes the citizens of Oran, who insist on a “dedication to ordinary life”, through a thousand acts of decency and respect for each other. The doctors, nurses, mail carriers, and even the bureaucrats demonstrate heroism as ordinary citizens, not through acts of super human greatness.

As I read the novel and considered the American experience over the past weeks, ordinary heroism seemed the perfect description of what we are most proud of as citizens. We have witnessed millions of heroes from the hospitals, to the grocery stores, to mass transit all doing what they are trained to do, with great risk to themselves, bringing out the best in humanity.

When this life-altering episode is behind us I hope I continue to remember the plague.  Not the President’s image of fire and brimstone that he has sought to conquer through his own individual efforts, like a modern day Moses.  I want to remember Camus and his beautiful missive that reminds me that it takes an entire population of heroes fighting for normalcy to conquer a disease that threatens all of us with equal indiscrimination.

In the words of Mother Teresa: “Small things done with great love will change the world.” 

A ROAD TRIP TO LOOK FORWARD TO

At some point domestic travel will be permitted by governors across the country.  Many of us will be looking for a diversion after months of staying at home.  The more adventurous may be ready for a road trip to the South where the tourists will be fewer due to the hangover fear of a resurgence of Covid-19.  However, gas will remain inexpensive and lodging/restaurants will be offering deals not seen in decades. (We usually employ Groupon Travel or Trivago to land a good deal on brand name motels). 

This journey will outline one of our favorites; a round trip excursion to Asheville, North Carolina; Savannah Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; and a small Bed and Breakfast in Grassy Creek North Carolina, before returning to Washington. Travelers looking for some beach time or excellent Golf could easily add a stay at Hilton Head Island.

The key to this trip was breaking up long drives into manageable legs with great scenery. An 8 AM start will easily get you to Asheville by 4 PM with plenty of time to enjoy the famous Sky Line Drive.  In recent years Asheville has been transformed into an upscale retirement destination.  This has not diminished the charm of the arts and crafts community and excellent restaurants in downtown Asheville.

The major attraction in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate. Biltmore House, the main residence, is a Chateauesque-style mansion built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States, at 178,926 square feet (135,280 square feet of living area).  Still owned by George Vanderbilt’s descendants, it remains one of the most prominent examples of Gilded Age mansions.  While the tour of the main floor is excellent, we especially enjoyed the separate opportunity to explore the upper floors and roof top statuary.

As of this writing, the Biltmore is closed, but attractions in the South appear to be opening up quicker than those in the Northern States.  My guess is that a July/August excursion will be within the Covid-19 safety guidelines.

The next leg of our journey was a pleasant five hours of drive time, out of the mountains of North Carolina into the low country of South Carolina, arriving at Savannah, Georgia.  We stayed in one of the many motels, directly off the interstate.

Savannah is a designed walking town, ideal for leisurely strolls through the numerous squares.  It is full of horse drawn carriages, antebellum architecture and oak trees covered with Spanish moss.  Highlights include a visit to the historic district with its old homes (Owens –Thomas House, Andrew Low House) and museums (Telfair Academy Complex, Modern Art Museum).  There is also the city market, historic churches and cemeteries. 

We were treated to some memorable dining experiences such as an eatery specializing in wild game including buffalo, kangaroo and alligator.  Before leaving, we purchased some outstanding wedding gifts from the numerous specialty shops along the Savannah River.

Moving on from Savannah you need to decide whether to take a short detour to Hilton Head, perhaps to lunch in Harbor Town, before landing in Charleston South Carolina, a mere two hours away.  In recent years Charleston has become the number one travel destination in America and one of the top in the World.  The history, restaurants, nearby beaches and Southern charm all combine to pull in millions of visitors each year.

We have visited Charleston on several occassions and our accommodations have varied depending on the trip.  For a weeklong stay we rented a condo at the beach on the Isle of Palms. For this shorter visit we stayed in one of the numerous motels in North Charleston, directly off the interstate.

If you are a first time visitor, Charleston deserves a 3-4 day stay. Activities  include a walking tour of the historical district; a boat ride on the harbor including a stop at Fort Sumter; and a tour of several historical homes.  One could easily spend a day purchasing mementos and gifts at the historic downtown city market and numerous specialty shops throughout the shopping district.  Daylong excursions outside of Charleston are popular, especially to one or two of the well-preserved historical plantation complexes.

Charleston has a restaurant scene that rivals urban areas ten times its size.  Hopefully the establishments will be able to reopen in all their glory when the guidelines permit.  Everything from traditional southern cooking to French cuisine is represented. Two of our favorites are the internationally famous, locally food sourced, “Husk” and well named “SNOB” (Slightly North of Broad).

Completing the circle back to Washington deserves to be broken up into two segments to cut the long drive in half and to prolong the enjoyment. There are many destinations from which to choose.  Our recommendation is an out of the way bed and breakfast (The River House) on the north fork of the New River near West Jefferson in the northwest corner of North Carolina.  Your travel time passing through over the moon scenery will be five hours.

The establishment features a gourmet chef and many rooms are out buildings behind the main farm house.  On site was a world class porcelain studio and gallery which drained the last dollars from our wallets.  The artist features pieces made from Belgium lace and imported clays unlike any work we had ever seen.  A tour of West Jefferson provided an afternoon of entertainment including a magnificent train display at the courthouse and numerous antique stores.

With a car full of memories and purchases, the final leg of the journey home will be a leisurely six hours.  Let us hope that we will soon be out and about and able to travel.

COVID-19 CREATES A MODERN DAY SOPHIE’S CHOICE

The crisis management of coronavirus (COVID-19) has devolved into a debate between the scientists (more specifically the infectious disease experts and frontline physicians) and the economists (more specifically the conservative think tanks and leaders of corporate America).  The scientists have dedicated their professional careers to developing schemes to mitigate and control public health emergencies like the coronavirus.  The possibility of a total economic collapse was not on their radar. 

Conversely, the economists have spent a lifetime building economic models to maximize prosperity through market-based capitalism.  Shutting down all economic activity, to protect a vulnerable portion of the population, knowing that a deep recession would result, was never a consideration. 

Welcome to the newest incarnation of Sophie’s Choice: save lives or save the economy. As in the novel and Oscar winning movie, both results are desirable and the alternative is fraught with human suffering. Our initial reaction is rightly to save as many citizens as possible. However, no one knows the long-term economic hardships of an extended dislocation that requires paying people not to work.

Such a dilemma did not exist a hundred years ago, at the time of the flu pandemic of 1918. In the early 20^th century, the economists trumped the scientists because epidemiologists were in short supply.  The population was largely rural and agrarian.  In the U.S., about 28% of the population of 105 million became infected, and 500,000 to 675,000 died (0.48 to 0.64 percent of the population). Because the pandemic passed relatively quickly, there was little hysteria or media coverage and the economy suffered minimal damage.

 Some historians believe the most lasting effect of this pandemic was the substantial increase in the number of nurses entering the medical profession. Physician training alone proved inadequate in addressing the needs of large numbers of infected patients.

In hindsight, our modern day Sophie’s Choice could have been largely avoided. I have previously discussed the initial missteps of the Trump administration, which insured a disastrous outcome, and will not repeat them here. At this juncture, finger pointing at government’s failure to act appropriately is not helpful and should be left for the voters in the upcoming election.

The fast moving reality on the ground must now be addressed in a rational manner.  The first meaningful effort by the White House was a call for a lockdown that would last for 2 weeks, with a quick V-shaped economic recovery. Within days, the scientists had data from other countries and more testing from urban areas. They determined that the most positive outcome was a 2-3 month lockdown followed by a much slower U-shaped recovery.  

President Trump initially resisted the science and used his daily press conferences to push for a reopening of the economy on a rolling basis in areas less affected by the virus.  Over time, he has reluctantly come to accept the need for a longer lockdown in order to avoid mass fatalities.

It would be a mistake to not consider our Sophie’s choice between the science view of saving lives and the economist view of saving the economy in political terms.   Democratic states with highly vulnerable urban populations like New York and California rushed to lock down their populations.  Conversely, governors from less populated red states initially took little or no action to isolate their citizens. Liberty University, the private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, was the only large academic institution to welcome students back from spring break to the horror of local officials.

Traditionally, conservatives worry about massive governmental intervention and its long-term impact on the economy.  The pandemic has been no exception.  Many Republicans believe it is better to suffer some immediate casualties (It is only the flu.) rather than to risk the consequences of economic meltdown. 

On the other side of the political spectrum, those on the left are all in with the scientists.  Why wait to save lives? Moreover, shutting down the economy for an extended period has lead to government intervention in the form of a massive rescue plan and social safety net package.  Progressives know it is difficult to remove benefits that favor workers once they are in place. 

Helping the scientists to win the day over the economists has been the undeniable fact that hospitals and medical staff were unprepared for the onslaught of infected patients who require long ICU treatment on ventilators. Eventually, the President and the economists conceded that a more aggressive lockdown was necessary.  When the hospitals gain the upper hand, the economists will seek to shorten the lockdown and resume economic activity.

The nonpolitical response going forward would be a national effort to optimize public health while minimizing economic harm. This thinking often seems in short supply. To succeed, scientists and economists must get on the same page and be prepared to compromise on their life’s work to help the nation recover.  

There are two critical non-partisan governmental actions that now make sense. 

First, as we make our way through the lockdown period, there must be a national consensus on what economic activities are the most essential to getting the economy back on track.   

Second, we must assume that the virus will return later this year as other pandemics have done in the past.  This will require an “all in” testing, contact tracing and isolation program that can quickly be implemented across the country.

Our early missteps from January must not be repeated.  Following an initial recovery, the only way to avoid a return of Sophie’s choice will be to avoid a recurrence of widespread infection.  This must be the singular goal until a universal vaccine is developed.