LETTER: Stroebel should worry more about Covid victims than stocks

To Ozaukee Press:

In a press release last week, State Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) was critical of Covid-19 mitigation strategies implemented by Gov. Tony Evers and Health Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm concerning the impact of these actions on our state’s economy and civil liberties.  

Basically, Stroebel was saying that while it is sad people are sick and dying from this highly contagious virus, it is not as bad as early models predicted and not worth the economic toll and our inability to play golf, go to bars and restaurants or visit a state park.

I find public statements made by elected leaders like Stroebel, in the midst of a heated battle with the greatest public health challenges faced since polio, to be disingenuous, ignorant and even dangerous.   

Yesterday, due largely to poor planning, testing and strategic implementation by the president and our federal government, the number of Covid-19 related deaths in this country surpassed 22,000, more than any other country in the world.

Yes, Wisconsin’s early trends, due to the social distancing policies of Evers and Palm and medical interventions, are showing hope for beating projections, but Wisconsin is nowhere close to a “Lambau leap.” We still have way too many of our citizens getting sick and dying.

While Stroebel is unhappy sitting in his large home in the Town of Cedarburg watching the value of his stock portfolio (or “nest egg” as he called it in his press release) plummet, it doesn’t appear he has much concern for our most vulnerable and fragile, those with pre-existing medical conditions, people of color living in crowded inner-city conditions, the poor without health insurance, the elderly living in nursing homes or even our medical and support workers on the front line.   

I want Stroebel to know that there are many like me who are worried about their elderly parents isolated in their homes or care facilities, about the safety of our family and friends who work as medical professionals and who are fearful for our family, friends and neighbors living in Milwaukee where the virus is taking a terrible toll.  

I believe that right now it is critical to follow advice from epidemiologists and economists who are telling us to continue social distancing, get accurate testing data and get our doctors and nurses the best equipment and technology they need to treat the sick. Gaining the upper hand against this virus is what will enable our state economy to fully recover sooner, not sacrificing lives.

My advice to Stroebel would be to be to start working in a bipartisan fashion with the governor and his colleagues in the Legislature to use the best science and experience of others in the development of a strategic plan to lead us always forward.  

I would also suggest to Stroebel that instead of whining and taking cheap shots at our state leaders, he look at his recent investment statement, take a deep breath, give thanks for his blessings and for the fact that he lives in a special part of the wealthiest nation in the world, and then write checks to his church and local food pantry.

Clark Reinke
Plymouth