Amy Acton shepherded us through COVID
Re "Ohio's COVID response in focus," Sep. 15: In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared an "infodemic" as rampant disinformation from politicians, influencers and social media negatively impacted public health efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, one's political ideology often determined one's willingness to comply with face mask guidance or get vaccinated. Six years later, public health efforts that saved countless lives are being politicized yet again.
Ultracrepidarians and those prone to the Dunning-Kruger effect, such as Dispatch columnist Phillip Derrow, love to second-guess any expert and weave conspiracies into their rationale.
Many people seem to have forgotten the chaos of the early stages of the pandemic. Public health experts such as Dr. Amy Acton were doing their best with the information available at the time and changed recommendations as evidence evolved.
If we want an accurate assessment of Acton's role in helping Ohio stay as safe as possible, let's turn to history and not rely on political ads.
Here's what Gov. Mike DeWine said the day she resigned due to increasing threats against her and her family: "Her knowledge, compassion and determination have set an example for all of us, and Dr. Acton's extraordinary bedside manner and wise counsel have helped us all get through this pandemic."
David Stukus, New Albany
An endorsement of Ramaswamy isn't a prescription from doctors
The Ohio State Medical Association’s endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy isn’t surprising. But the name carries an authority that deserves scrutiny: An endorsement from a physicians’ organization is not a medical opinion about what’s best for Ohioans.
Since 2020, they’ve endorsed 14 Democrats and 25 Republicans. That’s a clear Republican lean, and calling it “bipartisan” doesn’t put it beyond criticism.
This endorsement simply reflects a powerful professional organization protecting its members’ financial interests. Fair enough. Then let’s call it that. Don’t dress it up as a prescription for a healthier Ohio.
What’s good for physicians’ bottom lines isn’t automatically good for patients struggling to afford an appointment, fill a prescription or keep their insurance.
I don’t have a lobbyist. Neither do most Ohioans. We have medical bills, rising costs and the right to ask whose interests these endorsements actually serve.
Ohio deserves leadership that puts our health ahead of someone else’s wealth.
Zachary Branstool, Columbus
Vivek Ramaswamy wants to rewrite reality
Is candidate Vivek Ramaswamy not already embarrassed by his ad blaming Amy Acton for "shutting down" Ohio, having been rebuked by Gov. Mike DeWine, who says that she acted only upon his direction and did the right thing?
And by his now-known-to-be-deceptive ad featuring a woman on the Republican State Central Committee blaming Acton for her mother's isolation in a nursing home, when it turns out the mother resided in Kentucky, never in Ohio?
But now Ramaswamy is up to continued factless ads talking about how poorly Ohio has fared during Acton's term as governor. Wait, she was never governor of Ohio, not even lieutenant governor! How can Ramaswamy expect us to vote for a man who doesn't even know that his opponent is not the governor?
If he wants to blame problems in Ohio on anyone, it is the Republicans, not the Democrats, who have controlled the Ohio Legislature and the governor's office for many years. He has no ethics, just more deceptive lies.
Robert Fathman, Dublin
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Amy Acton got Ohio through COVID. Ramaswamy's lies can't change that | Letters
