Letter to My Government Representatives

As our country endures quarantine during this pandemic of the COVID-19, I have paid attention to the issue of not enough medical equipment and proper preparation of the various States to handle such a crisis. I am not surprised since it is human nature to focus only on emergencies as they happen. Very few States prepared themselves for a pandemic. Look how long it took for various States to accept, enact, and prepare for incidents of mass shootings in public places and schools, longer than necessary. I would implore you and your staff to explore the idea of crafting a federal law that shifts the burden of preparedness onto the State governments with a caveat that the federal government will be the back up to each State as necessary for the next pandemic. Specific requirements should be established based on population size on what medical equipment needs stockpiling in each State. Types of material, in general, should be categorized for worst-case scenarios. Supply chains need identification. Transportation identified. Hospitals enlarged and staffed or at least have an emergency call up protocols from retired medical staff that are mandatory. All of this should be established based on the size and population of the State. If each State can function on its own, this relieves the burden on other States. There should be a signed agreement between the States to help each other, if possible. The financial end of this suggestion will be a sticking point for most politicians as they try to determine how cost equates to life, figure it out!

I am delighted to hear the rumble of talk about the pharmaceutical companies’ production, manufacturing, and distribution of drugs being made right here in our country. I hope that comes to fruition. What I am talking about should be part of the infrastructure rebuilding effort. It should be included in any bid moving forward.

In a book, I read many years ago, and it scared the hell out of me, was a book called The Coming Plague, by Laurie Garrett, Penguin Books January 1996. Even though it did not address the Coronavirus we have been dealing with these last several months or MERS or SARS, it did describe the fragile existence of humanity versus viruses and bacteria. The thin line between us and germs is super narrow. If unprepared, we will face extinction. Also, a general guideline informing the public about being prepared for pandemics is necessary. I know there is a guideline for weather catastrophes, maybe one that can address specifics of an epidemic, i.e., how to make a mask out of material, vaccination records, best practices, how to make hand sanitizers, etc. This public panic over toilet paper is ridiculous as well as unnecessary. Humanity has been evacuating waste for longer then toilet paper has been around, what are the alternatives?

Let’s resolve these issues and make America stronger. ~ Henry