Let's Give DeSantis the Bolsonaro Treatment

[Zorro]

Sovereign immunity can’t be a get-out-of-jail-free card for officials whose negligence, dereliction of duty and actions cost lives.

Now that a Brazilian Congressional panel has voted to recommend that President Jair Bolsonaro—whom Donald Trump has endorsed for re-election—should be charged with incitement to crime, violation of social rights, and crimes against humanity for his abysmal and lethal pandemic response, it is perhaps time that we considered similar charges against U.S. political leaders for their nonfeasance and negligent policies during the pandemic.

Too many elected officials here, most of them following the lead of former President Trump, have been playing fast and loose with the lives and well-being of their constituents. America is the only country with a higher death toll than Brazil—we’ve already exceeded 730,000 deaths, and are on track to lose another 30,000 lives by the end of November.

And many of these deaths were avoidable. A study by my center at Columbia University last year found that of the 217,000 deaths from COVID-19 at that point, fully 200,000 could have been avoided if we had simply emulated policies that countries like South Korea, Australia and Japan had been implementing. If only Trump had been honest with Americans regarding the dangers we faced. If only he wasn’t a deliberate purveyor of misinformation and anti-science nonsense. And if only he hadn’t promoted unproven or dangerous treatments with hydroxychloroquine or bleach injections for those who had become infected by the lethal SARS-CoV-2 virus…

Although Trump was voted out of office in 2020, state and local officials across the nation have picked up where he left off, embracing his legacy of misguided and negligent policies. What reading of political tea leaves allows a person to pursue or sustain higher office by shamelessly rejecting science-based strategies that could have—and still could—help control the pandemic and save lives?

https://www.thedailybeast.com/lets-give-desantis-the-bolsonaro-treatment

[genxlib]

1. Fat chance

We will be lucky if he doesn't get re-elected.

Hell, if we are not paying attention, he could end up as President.

I would settle for him just being out of office

[appalachiablue]

2. "The Fascist Brothers" there's a film prospect, on the dark side.