Nurses across the country, including here in Santa Monica, at St. John’s Hospital, have been protesting dire shortages of masks and other basic PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic that has pushed the nation’s profit-driven healthcare system to the breaking point. Yet Trump’s response is for an aerial salute to those on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus, with the Air Force’s Thunderbirds flyover in Southern California, Friday.
The Blue Angel and Thunderbird planes cost at least $18 million each, and an estimated $60,000 in fuel is burned to fly a squadron for one hour.
Wouldn’t that money would be far better spent on personal protective equipment (PPE) for nurses and staff on the frontlines of the coronavirus battle.
Andrew Liberman
Santa Monica
