Eichenthal: Accountability first, but also repair, vital for future of US
January 17, 2021 | by David Eichenthal
For the last year, the inability to mount an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the worst public policy failure of my lifetime, needlessly costing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and putting our economic security at risk. And, in the last two weeks, elected leaders have attacked our democracy's core tenet — that free and fair elections are the basis for a peaceful transition in power.
As a lawyer and having spent most of the last four decades working in and for government, I have always believed that public service is both a high calling and a trust. Our current crises are both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incoming Biden administration has a plan to address the pandemic by embracing basic public health measures such as mask mandates and effective public administration that will lead to 100 million vaccines in 100 days. Law enforcement is moving to hold accountable those engaged in the insurrection and Congress is acting to hold accountable those who incited it.
Accountability must come first. But in the long run, we need a pro-democracy agenda that repairs the breach that has torn apart our society and focuses on public education, national service and reducing poverty.