Pointing Fingers

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In times like these, it is so easy to point fingers at those we think responsible for the spread and the devastation caused by the coronavirus. A close friend of mine likes to point out "when you point a finger of blame at someone, you must be careful because at the same time you point outward, there are three fingers pointing right back at you." The Democrats point their finger at our President and list all the shortcomings the man has presented over his three-years in office. He is an easy target. After all, he is in the position of Leader of this country. But I would point out, the shortage of supplies goes well before this administration. The lack of upkeep on what was there also predates this administration. But isn't that what it means to be President? As the leader, you hold the ultimate responsibility for what happens next regardless of how the situation started. Unsurprisingly, the Republicans, are rallying around the President as they did during the impeachment and would have us believe all the blame falls on China and their behavior in covering up the initial outbreak of the virus. Misdirection by the GOP in order to keep someone's re-elction hopes alive? Where is the leadership to get us to the end of the current situation? Sitting here as an armchair quarterback, it seems a simple matter of looking at who said what and when. I mean all that information is out there and freely available for the asking. If one only takes the time to ask. (I know that is asking too much for some who would rather trust what they hear rather than verify the statements.) Yet, is it right to even worry about blame while we are in the middle of record unemployment? Of people getting seriously ill and the government running out of supplies? Does it matter how history will treat our leaders in the future when people are dying every three minutes in NYC? In truth, the ultimate fall guy isn't all that important. What is important is the here and now. What I see is a lack of coherent leadership to get us to the end of the disaster. What I see in Washington is someone who is more concerned in self image than in resolving the disaster in the quickest and most humane way. I see someone who is reluctant to do the things that absolutely need to be done. Only enacting certain things when he is brow beaten into it. Maybe I am a bit jaded at this point. I certainly am trying to keep an open mind and see all sides of this mess. And yes I do see that we are going to be paying for the economic disaster that is growing in the background over the next decade. Many businesses who are closed today under government orders will never reopen. Not all of them will be small mom and pop shops. There will be massive issues with dealing with the unemployed and putting them back into the work force. However, those days are in the future, and while people should already be working on solutions, the bottom line is we need to get to the end of this pandemic first. To get there we need a real leader. Someone who can bring the people together not push them apart because they are not appreciative enough. Edit: Photo is mine (so is the mage)