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OPINION
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Fauquier Times | April 22, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reflections on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day Writer enthusiastically endorses emissions? Telecommuting has become Heather Sutphin for town council As we approach the 50th anniversa-
ry of Earth Day, it is a time for reflection on where we are at this point in history. Earth Day began with 10% of the U.S. population holding demonstrations for a cleaner environment. This brought awareness of environmentalism to mainstream America. Now 50 years later, we are finding the coronavirus is giving an awareness of cracks in various aspects of our society – health care, social inequalities and environmental factors. While there appears to be no direct link between global warming and coronavirus, there are contributing factors. A loss of habitat for species means more human/ wild animal interactions, where people can acquire novel diseases. More extreme weather events provide outlets for disease outbreaks. People living in polluted environments have a lowered ability to fight pathogens. As most of us are engaging in stayat-home orders, we can ask ourselves, “What can we take from this experience to aid us in going forward to benefit our environment?” Here are a few thoughts to consider: With travel being reduced dramatically, we have seen incredible air quality improvements. Would we be willing to eliminate a portion of our own trips per year to assist with carbon
normal during this time. It is a viable option, and can it function if appropriate infrastructure is put in place? Would this work for one or two days a week for many of us? Food production is currently inflexible and vulnerable. A strong local food economy is better able to adjust production, processing and delivery to meet changing demands. There has been a renewed interest in “victory gardens,” which reduce pressure on public food supplies. There are parallels between the existential threats of coronavirus and climate change. Both require behaviors on an individual level to combat the crisis. Social distancing is making a major difference in the virus spread. Our behavior, both individually and globally, will determine the impacts of climate change as we go forward. Coronavirus will have a peak, but the emissions that are overheating the planet continue on an upward trajectory. If the coronavirus has any lesson for humanity, it may be that we as a global society can come together to address an existential crisis when the threat is clear and pressing. How we respond this Earth Day and beyond will show us what we have learned?
BARBARA COCHRAN Fauquier Climate Change Group
A native of Fauquier County, Heather Sutphin is an excellent and capable candidate for the Ward 1 Town Council seat. Heather exemplifies fairness and a genuine concern for her community and will work tirelessly for balance in these ever-changing times for Warrenton. She is trustworthy, honest and will bring an open-minded approach and embrace this position with the enthusiasm it deserves.
SYLVIA MCDEVITT Catlett
Early voting, just in time As we all know, the coronavirus has touched many facets of our lives. We are all more cautious right now, with most of us practicing safe social distancing. There’s one area of concern that I’m glad our legislature, along with the governor have addressed -- “no excuse” early voting. We have joined 38 other states in offering early voting, and from my perspective, we’ve done so just in time. Our new law will go into effect with the 2020 presidential election, this November. Thank heaven, we will not need to go through the debacle we recently witnessed in Wisconsin. We have several months to ensure all voters are educated on the deadline, process and proper procedures. While we can be hopeful, none of us know for sure what the status of COVID-19 will be this fall. Early voting ensures all of us can safely participate in our democratic process. As Americans, that’s something we can all celebrate. Thanks to Gov. [Ralph] Northam and the Virginia legislature for passing this important legislation.
Facing down COVID-19 and reopening the economy The (federal) administration is correct in realizing the necessity of reopening America’s economy; but only after mass testing is implemented and the results so justify. Regrettably, positive forward movement has been impeded by a national “spin-policy” laced with rosy announcements from the task-force podium. These sessions tip to the political, destroy credibility, and do not instill confidence. What is needed is an honest self-assessment in the hope that past successes and failures will better inform us on contemplated future actions … including when to reopen the economy. This administration was woefully under-prepared to deal with the pandemic, tried to mitigate the threat by minimizing its potential, delayed a proactive response; and finally, when it realized the jeopardy, transferred its responsibilities to the states in light of its failure at initial national mobilization. We now need to make up for lost time and can ill afford another round of indecisiveness and ineptitude. It is not too late to implement many aspects of a best practices model. We should learn from those countries that are successfully containing the virus while still maintaining their economies. They saw the threat coming and they answered with preparation, resources and medical science. South Korea is a good comparative example to us with similar challenges and a similar time line, but with dramatically different results. We must leave all medical determinations and protocols to the medical community and the
I have known Heather for over 15 years, both personally and in business. She is dedicated, an experienced public servant for the good of her community and devoted to the best interests for the Town of Warrenton. I am happy to endorse my friend, Heather Sutphin, for this position.
Centers for Disease Control. They are doing a commendable job on the front lines of our defense and have developed mitigating medical strategies. But, despite their best efforts, we remain uncertain about many aspects of the pandemic and its actual scope within the U.S. We need more data to effectively plan a twofold strategy that meets both our medical and economic needs. The United States’ first priority must, of course, be public health; but, with our economy a close second. The virus medically attacks the population; while, the only apparent defense, “social distancing,” economically attacks the population. We must deal with both attacks concurrently. We start by gaining more scientific data through a process of mass testing, tracking and quarantine. Insights gleaned will aid toward mitigation while assisting us with predictability and modeling. Not everyone needs to be tested, but testing should take a tiered approach based upon need and national priorities. We have already started testing protocols with our health care workers, first responders and those expressing symptoms. They should be followed by the next tier, comprised of the “high risk” vulnerable, then the next tier comprised of essential workers, i.e. those who are essential to keep the country running, then the next tier, anyone else who feels the need to be tested. Testing in the millions will allow us to determine who has the virus (symptomatic and asymptomatic), who does not; and, importantly, who has had it and whose antibodies appear to have successfully defeated it.
MAX N. HALL Marshall
Those who have warded off the virus and have developed proven immunity and those who don't have it are the labor force we need to reopen our base economy and gradually lead us to a full economic recovery. Those who are high risk will need to follow CDC guidelines, including social distancing until an effective treatment protocol is established and a safe, efficacious and effective vaccine is discovered. Reopening the economy should only start after the first wave of the pandemic is under control. There is a balance at play here. If we continue the current policies with an "overabundance of caution," we run the probable risk of turning a recession into a depression. And, if we reopen the economy prematurely without adequate mass testing, we will risk more American lives and could even do more harm to the economy in the succeeding waves. In the absence of sufficient scientific data, we should lean toward caution and protect our citizens. The key is widespread testing to determine when the crisis is safely under control and who can willingly return to work with minimal risk. If we can take this systematic approach, then the economy can cautiously reopen in stages before the first wave of COVID-19 has completely passed. We can then put into place an aggressive action plan to prepare for a second wave of COVID-19 or any other future pandemic threat that will surely come. Stay safe.
DON BACHMANN Marshall
