Prioritizing tribal fealty over prolonging lives

At a recent town hall meeting, while discussing planned Republican budget cuts, Sen. Joni Ernst (R- Iowa) responded to a constituent’s calling out, “People are going to die!” with a patronizing remark: “We all are going to die.” The next day she “apologized” by stating that she’s glad she didn’t also have to point out that there is no tooth fairy. In attempting to “own the libs,” she revealed her deficiency as a leader.

Common sense dictates that the constituent’s full intent was to convey that people are going to die “sooner than they otherwise would have due to your governing choices.” Of course, that’s a mouthful, so Ernst disingenuously took advantage of how to interpret the implied context.

Arguably, the point of good government is to create conditions where people may live longer and healthier lives than they would have without said government.

Ernst’s proclamations that eligible Medicaid recipients will not be affected by planned massive budget cuts are not convincing. Her dismissive response indicates she prioritizes tribal fealty over prolonging people’s lives and therefore does not prioritize the goals of good government.

— Barry Barrows, Louisville