Letters

In the midst of all the current chaos in our country, my grandson entered the world. His arrival gave us a welcome respite of joy, peace and thanksgiving.

He was born healthy, blessed to have enjoyed quality affordable prenatal care. Thankfully, one of his parents still has a job and will be able to provide health care for him through employer-sponsored health insurance.

But that is not the reality for so many Americans.

Today, I awoke once again to the awful reality that over 200,000 Americans have died, millions have lost jobs, businesses have been shuttered, education disrupted, and economic growth shattered because of a pandemic that could and should have been better managed by the federal government.

I awoke to a president who favors his own ego over the expertise of scientists. A president who will further erode our health insurance and take away coverage for pre-existing conditions at a critical time when COVID-19 is striking our most vulnerable populations.

Don’t be led astray by his announcement of an executive order to preserve coverage for pre-existing conditions. It is a ruse to distract, as the administration continues its lawsuit to overturn Obamacare. And don’t be fooled by his announcement that he has a better health care proposal that he is about to unveil. He doesn’t.

I awoke to a president who mocks the disabled, demeans women, incites racism, demonizes our immigrants, throws children in cages, separates families, refers to our men and women in the service as “losers and suckers,” calls global warming a hoax even as more Americans die from worsening hurricanes and fires, and threatens the very foundation of our democratic republic by questioning the legitimacy of our elections without just cause.

Where are the defenders of our Constitution? They are certainly not to be found in the leadership of the GOP, where Republican enablers continue to defend the president blindly in hopes of saving their jobs, putting their own self-interests over that of the country.

But this is no longer a partisan political issue. We are in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis, and a Trump coup would be the final nail in the coffin of our once revered and respected democracy.

So put your party hats aside and just be patriotic Americans. Cast your votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Let’s restore faith in our institutions. Let’s save our planet and our lives.

We can fight over specific policies later.

Andrea Klausner, Esq.

Second Vice Chair

Southampton Democratic Committee