“Maybe I’m Amazed” is the title of a superb song by Beatle, Paul McCartney. It’s an appropriate theme for this blogpost as I offer some thoughts about what Covid-19 is doing to the country. Ironically, not all of it is bad.

First the salutary aspect. At a time of polarized government, social and political foolishness, and an extremely dangerous health crisis, most Americans have practiced an overt, obviously sincere effort to help each other through the pandemic’s turmoil. Health Care workers, delivery men and women, and those who work in “Essential businesses,” (e.g. grocery and drugstores, food production and distribution, etc.)  should all be singled out. On a daily basis, as I walk my dogs through the neighborhood, even people I don’t know, ask—usually from a safe distance—“How are you doing?” In other ways too, there is a general attempt to bring comity to American life. The theme is “We are in this together.” Hopefully, these attitudes remain, and even strengthen, in the days ahead.

But there is another side to all this, and here too, “maybe I’m amazed,” or, should I say, “I can’t believe,” the enmity, nastiness, and misbegotten behavior of some people. The tacit leadership of this brutish effort stems largely from Washington, D.C. and some (thankfully few), of our nation’s politicians, scattered throughout the country. It is evil, and the movement is being subtly conducted by Donald Trump. As he sees his poll numbers decline, and fears for his own re-election, he seems to have orchestrated an effort to rally his base, manipulate his political and social allies, and confuse the American people about the pandemic and the dangerous environment of fear he is fostering. When one looks back at other American crises, and the leadership they evoked, the break from the past is truly amazing.

Abraham Lincoln, throughout our worst crisis, the Civil War, sought to lead the nation by  trying to tell the American people the truth. He rendered solace when needed and, most of all, tried to unify the nation at appropriate opportunities.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, assuming office in 1933, as the country was in the midst of its worst economic crisis, also tried to render the truth, and provide comfort and relief to the American people. Overarching, were bold policies, soaring rhetoric and action. He led and we engaged, as a people and as a nation.

John F. Kennedy, relatively new to office in 1962, surrounded himself with a national security “brain trust” as he successfully managed the Cuban Missile Crisis. To have failed here might have meant nuclear destruction and 60-100 million Americans killed.

George W. Bush, when facing 9/11, displayed an ability to comfort Americans, yet displayed an inability to create a disparate decision-making process that would avoid many of the Cold War-like mistakes that had led to Vietnam. Iraq became the Soviet Union (and/or China) in policymakers’ eyes, invasion against the wrong enemy resulted and, still today, we are enmeshed in the consequences of that failure of rationality over stereotypical Cold War behavior.

History reveals that even when they were mistaken, these crises Presidents primarily acted on what they believed was best for the country.  Can anyone truthfully say that about how Donald Trump has, and continues to, behave?

Trump’s mismanagement stemmed from the first days of the administration. Many of his fellow Republicans (along with countless others), cited his “lack of temperament” and insufficient knowledge to be President. He was a “failed” real estate mogul who became a Reality TV star. He was the stereotypical “used-car salesman.” That is not a recipe or resume for a successful leader. Please remember that as we vote in November.