Roger Bate’s op-ed (“A pandemic treaty will double down on all the bad ideas from COVID-19,” Feb. 2) makes a number of inaccurate claims about the pandemic accord now being negotiated by the World Health Organization’s member states. One of the most blatant is that WHO will “push health ministers” to ratify the accord at the World Health Assembly in May and make it binding on all member states — a claim that reveals a profound misunderstanding of WHO and the accord process.
The accord process was initiated by governments and is being negotiated by governments. It will be agreed to — or not — by governments. This process is entirely led by governments; its fate is in their hands and theirs alone. Indeed, the accord process is an expression of government sovereignty, not an attack on it.
WHO’s mandate, as codified in its constitution, which member states including the United States ratified, is to be the “the directing and co-ordinating authority on international health work.” The 194 countries that constitute the organization determine WHO’s policies, approve its budget and determine its priorities. WHO is precisely what its member states want it to be — no more and no less.
WHO relies on countries to abide by their obligations to report outbreaks, share information and cooperate in the response to public health emergencies. But WHO has no authority to compel them to do so. It conducts surveillance; sounds the alarm when diseases emerge; provides evidence-based guidance, recommendations and advice; and assists countries — but only upon their request. WHO has no power “to initiate lockdowns and mandates for masks, testing and vaccines.”
And nothing in the proposed accord would change this. Also false is the assertion that fighting misinformation, often harmful to public health, equates to “clamping down on free speech.” Similarly, it is incorrect to allege that WHO is able to “shut down debate” on vaccines, or any other matter, as Bate states.
The global response to COVID-19, despite years of preparedness exercises, was poor. The world was not prepared for the emergence of a highly transmissible, deadly infectious disease. But as bad as COVID-19 was and remains, it is not the 1918 influenza, when coffins were in such short supply in parts of the U.S. that bodies were stacked like cordwood.
If we are to protect future generations from another 1918-like influenza pandemic, we must learn the lessons of COVID-19. One of them surely is that we need a better approach to the international public health system — one that anticipates events, demands transparency, guarantees equity and incentivizes cooperation.
— Stewart Simonson, WHO representative at the United Nations, New York
Pritzker’s repeal of grocery tax
In his proposed budget for 2024-25, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is proposing to eliminate the 1% state sales tax on food. The governor and the legislature did this before, on a temporary basis, when they were all running for election in 2022. This time, however, the repeal will be permanent — except.
As is normal with Illinois government, there is always an “except.” When the state got rid of this tax temporarily in 2022-23, the state made up the revenue that local governments lost because of the suspension. The state did this because the money from this tax goes to local government.
This time, however, Pritzker isn’t proposing to make up the money local governments won’t get. Which means that, unless local governments can cut their spending, they’ll have to raise their taxes or fees to make up for the money they won’t be getting from this tax.
In other words, Pritzker is trying to claim credit for cutting taxes when he is really just repealing a tax whose revenues go to another level of government. If the tax is repealed, local governments are going to have to replace the money by raising their other taxes.
Does he really think the people of Illinois are that dumb?
— Patrick J. Allen, River Forest
Illinois should end estate tax
Gov. J.B. Pritzker predicts a $900 million deficit unless corrective action is taken. A good start would be to end the exodus of our residents migrating to estate tax-free states.
According to a recent Internal Revenue Service study, in 2021 alone, some 105,000 people escaped Illinois, taking with them $10.9 billion (that’s right, billion) in adjusted gross income. At our 4.95% tax rate, that income alone would generate nearly $540 million, more than the current estate tax. That would be year after year, unlike an estate tax assessed once.
Not one state bordering Illinois has an estate tax. Most states have abandoned the death tax.
Time to get on board.
— James A. Rapp, Quincy, Illinois
Iris Martinez’s use of race card
So, now Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez cuts to what she hopes will be a winning strategy for her — the race card. In her letter to the editor (“Faithful service to the public,” Feb.. 22), she says, “Make no mistake. This race is about an oil heiress buying an office now held by a woman of color. We deserve public servants and equal representation, not millionaires looking for titles.”
That Martinez would stoop to race baiting reflects her desperation, not any depth of conviction about her own record as clerk of the Circuit Court. On that issue alone, she is not qualified to continue in her job, as pointed out by the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement of Mariyana Spyropoulos (“We endorse Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court clerk,” Feb. 19).
And on the issue of “equal representation,” I guess Martinez must have forgotten who holds all of the senior elected and appointed positions of leadership in Chicago and Cook County — the Chicago mayor, police superintendent and fire chief and the Cook County Board president, state’s attorney, presiding judge of the Circuit Court, etc.
— Kevin Garvey, Chicago
One approach for Alabamans
Regarding the state Supreme Court ruling in Alabama that frozen embryos can be considered children: Perhaps everyone who lives in Alabama who has frozen embryos should claim each one on their Alabama state taxes as a deduction. I’m sure that would sort the matter out quite quickly.
— Nancy Fregeau, Kankakee, Illinois
Verisimilitude is unfortunate
After seeing “Oppenheimer,” I am struck by a ridiculous irony. The director presumably tried to be accurate in how he presented the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s — with almost every person smoking in most scenes.
The main character is very conflicted about the potential for tens of millions of lost lives in a nuclear weapon exchange. Yet, I would venture to guess that tens of millions have already lost their lives since that time — to tobacco, including J. Robert Oppenheimer.
— Susan Haley, Oak Brook
Visit by Brownie was a treat
On Wednesday, a Brownie rang our doorbell selling Girl Scout cookies. Her mom stood on the sidewalk keeping an eye on her while pulling along the wagon of cookies.
What a wonderful experience. We had a chance to meet an enthusiastic girl who was willing to walk from door to door to support her troop. Her mom backed up her efforts and her commitment to Scouting by giving up her time to accompany her for her safety. We had a chance to make an acquaintance with both the little girl and her mom while I remembered my experiences 60 years ago when I was the little girl going door to door.
The $6 box of Thin Mints was an additional treat.
— Mary Ann McGinley, Wilmette
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