John,

In this time of crisis, we must all come together and declare―young, old, disabled, rich, poor: No one gets left behind.

This past week has made me sick to my stomach. As Americans shelter in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, pundits and politicians have called for Americans to return to work to prop up an economy that we shut down very intentionally, for public health. The most sickening part? Minimizing the deaths of the elderly.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick was the focus this week, when he said on Fox News that grandparents would happily die to restart the American economy for their grandchildren.

But Fox News has been pushing this for weeks. On March 10th, host Ed Henry said to Florida Senator Rick Scott, “There have been 18 cases of COVID-19, two people, sadly, have died, but both of those residents were elderly and had traveled internationally, so when you hear the context, it's not quite as scary.”

Social Security Works is fighting to protect seniors from these cruel proposals that put Wall Street greed ahead of public health! Chip in $7 today to protect seniors!

This suggestion―that the pandemic will only affect the old and the weak, so it’s no big deal―is borne of the same corrosive, narcissistic ideology that has led the right-wing to push to cut the social insurance programs that we rely on. We’re a society, and we have a responsibility to look out for each other.

It’s ‘only’ the elderly until it’s your family member that gets sick. It’s never ‘only’ your mother. It’s never ‘only’ you.

Here’s the truth: Even if this suggestion weren’t morally repugnant, it’s utterly ignorant of the facts.

We can’t return to “normal” economic activity until COVID-19 is under control. Any attempt to return to business amid the pandemic amounts to mass murder, just as sure as denying ventilators to hospitals does.

Social Security Works is fighting to protect seniors and protect our Social Security system in this time of crisis. Right now, that means fighting for a public health response to a public health problem, not a Wall Street bailout that will cost lives. If you can, please rush a $7 donation today!

Thanks,

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works