Thread by @ASlavitt

COVID Update December 18: We got here not just because Trump did nothing but also because he asked nothing.

Biden plans to change that. 1/

Trump had no concerns letting us get to a place where thousands of day are dying. He had no understanding, no interest, and desire to prevent the pandemic from overwhelming the country. 2/

But doing nothing is not his only crime. Before there was a vaccine, and even now, our best medicine is how we communicate, how much we can unite, and our willingness to sacrifice a little to save a lot. 3/

It’s a moment that calls for a leader willing to recognize the moment.

And the public has shown again and again the willingness to unite behind a common threat if asked. If called upon. 4/

Lincoln, FDR, JFK, and Churchill knew how to speak to a nation at a time of crisis and a time of opportunity. Even lesser leaders like W had the sense to know that at times of crisis people want to contribute. Want to unite. And will support their the leader who calls on them.5/

And if Trump had shown an ounce of empathy, compassion, competence, effort, commitment, or a thought for anyone but himself, he would have gained politically as he tried to help. 6/

But that’s not him. His instinct was to do the office. Run, hide, cower, pretend it wasn’t happening, be put upon. Whine. Lie. Deflect. As things got worse and worse. 7/

Asked to do nothing, people fractured. Seeing them fractured, Trump pounced to divide further. Laugh at the virus. Scorn the scientists. Be the smartest person in the room when you’re really the dumbest. 8/

But we will not get through this without giving up something.

The question is only what we will give up. And who. 9/

Everybody gives 1%, we can save 100%.

Give nothing, get nothing.

That’s the choice. 10/

A mask. Respect for one another. Protection of essential workers. Support for bar owners. A puncture in the arm. Postponing a party or holidays a year.

I don’t discount any of these sacrifices, but compared to a human life, it doesn’t even feel like 1%. 11/

We’ve all known we have to give some to save the lives of others. And many have. But not because they were called to. Because that’s how they are.

For everyone else, an unknown person’s life meant less than living without some convenience. 12/

It’s hard to give something up. And it’s hard to sustain. Knowing many others will doing it and it will amount to something makes it easier.

And that’s a role for leadership. 13/

Joe Biden will not just give something. He will ask something in return. He will try to re/establish the fading gift of sacrifice.

Why do I say it’s a gift. Because doing something is easier than doing nothing. 14/

I asked Fauci today why we are so bad at this. Because we are divided he said. Unspoken, not only was there no effort to unite us, there was effort to divide us further. 15/

It’s not a surprise that Trump doesn’t understand sacrifice. That he thinks something comes for nothing. It is his life story. #BoneSpurs 16/

But the entitled family is leaving. Uday and Qusay are leaving. They are decamping to wreak whatever lazy havoc they can. 17/

Welcome to an era where something will be asked of us. When we will see again the country is built by all of us. When human lives will be accounted for as a cost of doing nothing. When we will ask something but give something. 18/

It’s time for the pretenders who believe appealing to our basest instincts for cheap applause is leadership to get out of the way. 19/

Whether we are up to it we will see, but for once we will called to step up.

End/