President Donald Trump is seeking to block billions of dollars for coronavirus testing and contact tracing in the pending coronavirus relief bill. His rationale is his belief that fewer tests will result in fewer cases, and thus he will have a better chance of being reelected if he can show that the number of coronavirus cases is going down.
The problem with Trump’s rationale is that without testing and contact tracing, there is no way for states and local officials to know where hotspots are located, so as to give them time to focus medical resources to areas that need attention.
Trump’s imprudent effort is like a dictator who is in a war and knows the exact number and location of enemy troops amassing on his country’s border but refuses to tell his generals or his countrymen because he will look bad.
With apologies to Winston Churchill: “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing — after they’ve tried everything else,” unless Trump is president.