Americans are hurting for relief

In the spring of 1846, a group of pioneers lured by the promise of a better life outWest left Missouri. Bymid-October, the group had suffered floods, drought, sickness and homicide. After crossing a perilous desert and losing several oxen, the groupwas exhausted, but theworstwas yet to come. Trapped by snowfall in the SierraNevada, half the Donner Party died.

As theU.S. faces winter with coronavirus cases on the rise and an economic stimulus bill stalled in the Senate, our experience with this pandemic is beginning to resemble that of the Donner Party. Just aswe thoughtwe had gotten over theworst of it, theworst is yet to come. Without another stimulus package to families, some of the population may not be able to afford food or shelter this winter.

While the Donner Partywas cut off from relief by an impassable mountain range, Americans today are cut off by the cruelty and ineptitude of leaders who are denying economic aid and refusing to implement public health measures thatwould save thousands of lives. Millions of people have been left to their own devices even as they live in awealthy society.

Congress needs to pass a stimulus bill that includes direct payments to households, unemployment benefits, student debt relief, eviction moratoriums and more. Andwe the people need to vote out the inept leadership that steered us into these perilous circumstances in the first place.