COVID-19 SURGES AS TRUMP ABANDONS THE FIGHT
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I am concerned about the recent surge of Covid-19 cases. Without national leadership, we have 50 states, DC, and the territories with their own plans. I urge you to call for a coordinated national response that will leverage the authority and resources of the federal government. Developing one will educate the public, highlight shortcomings, and give the next president a roadmap for rapid action.
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
For all Reps but Walden:
I am concerned about the recent surge of Covid-19 cases. Without national leadership, we have 50 states, DC, the territories and more localities with their own plans. We need a national strategy, one that leverages the authority and resources of the federal government. I urge you call for hearings to develop one, to hear from experts outside government, to educate the public, to forge coordinated federal actions, and to help the next president.
For Walden:
I want to thank you for your questioning at yesterday’s hearing. Still, I am concerned about the recent surge of Covidcases. This happens at a time when other countries are safely reopening. Trump has not provided a national strategy, so we have 50 states, DC, the territories and more localities with their own approach. We need a national strategy to fight Covid-19 and I urge you to call critics and experts to hearings to develop one, to educate the public, and to help prepare for the next wave.
CALL SUZANNE BONAMICI (OR-01)
CALL GREG WALDEN (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL KURT SCHRADER (OR-05)
ACTION THREE: SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY
Getting out the vote is critical – now more than ever. Organizing for the 2020 Election is VIRTUAL
- We host virtual letter writing events every Saturday and every fourth Tuesday – sign up at https://swingleft.org/group/indivisible-oregon
- Write letters to voters from home, whenever it’s convenient for you. Register with Vote Forward to get started at https://votefwd.org/
- Host your own virtual letter-writing party! Get started here: http://swingleft.org/p/virtual-letter-writing-party
With events happening faster than we can absorb them, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Find an issue you feel strongly about, explore it, and find a way to act on it. Umbrella organizations that might interest you include:
https://m4bl.org
https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org
BACKGROUND:
Covid-19 is exploding in dozens of states. Experts warn the next six months of Covid will be as bad, or worse, than the last six. By Election Day, the USA may past 200,000 deaths.
Now, the virus is slicing through the South and Southwest. More young people are developing Covid. This may account for a declining number of deaths. But these young people might infect more vulnerable populations. In that case, fatality rates will soar.
Public health experts abroad worry Trump has abandoned the Covid fight. He has:
- withheld $14 billion designated for testing and tracing.
- disparaged masks, which are the most effective anti-infection tool.
- organized indoor rallies, which are potential superspreading festivals.
Trump’s most lethal failure is failing to produce a comprehensive national Covid strategy. He passed that job to governors, they often passed it to mayors. The resulting patchwork leaves well-managed states vulnerable to a neighbor’s shortcomings.
Trump’s failure to develop a coordinated national strategy drawing on the resources of the federal government will kill thousands more, hobble the economy, exacerbate unemployment, and prolong the fight, even as other nations are opening.
Congress must hold hearings to develop an effective Covid strategy to guide states, and educate the public.
