LYNDHURST, Ohio — President Donald Trump’s words have enormous power to unite or divide, fostering or eroding civility and public discourse. Unfortunately, his words thus far have served to create a more “Divided States of America.”
Consider a few of his actions in just his first week in office and the monumental impact these could have, even on issues of life and death.
President Trump’s first act was to start the process of dismantling the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) which, among other things, prevents insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. (Though no replacement was offered, the president promised to keep some of its more popular provisions.)
The ultimate repeal of Obamacare would affect some 20 million previously uninsured Americans who received expanded health coverage under Obamacare and who now face an uncertain future, with real life-and-death consequences. Will I be able to continue my chemotherapy regimen? Will my diabetic child receive the care she needs to grow into a healthy adult? And so on.
A second telling act occurred just two days after millions joined the Women’s March on Washington in the nation’s capital and throughout the world, when President Trump reinstated the “gag rule” that blocks American foreign aid to health care providers that offer abortion counseling. And he went further, expanding such restrictions to include global health assistance.
Will this mean a return to back-alley abortions and to severely limited health care, resulting in more unwanted pregnancies and potentially dire consequences for women and their families worldwide?
With the signing of these executive orders, President Trump has presumably satisfied his base, but in my opinion he has tragically failed to “do the right thing” for the entire nation. These are actions that not only speak louder than words but that also foretell untold human suffering.
Barb Sones, a lifelong Clevelander, taught English in the Cleveland School District then, in retirement, joined the local League of Women Voters, of which she was president for about eight years. She helps edit husband Bill Sones’ “Strange But True” column.
About this project: As part of an effort to bring a greater diversity of voices to bear on timely issues, Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are reaching out to 18 published letter writers every few weeks — five who appeared from their letters to be conservatives, five liberals, and eight who wrote in apparently neutral ways about issues. For this installment, we asked for brief commentaries either on Trump’s words versus his actions or on the $140 million Quicken Loans Arena upgrades in Cleveland. Eleven of the 18 said they would write; all had submitted their essays as of Tuesday morning. We also received a Trump essay mailed in by one person we’d reached out to in the prior round, for 12 essays in all — two on the arena upgrades, which we posted separately, and 10 on President Trump. Several of the letter writers whom we contacted did not wish to write on either topic and asked us to reach out to them with another set of questions as the project continues, which we will do.
Questions or comments? Contact Elizabeth Sullivan at esullivan@cleveland.com
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