To the editor: The concept that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been put forth on the U.S. Well being and Human Companies secretary to repair our damaged healthcare system couldn’t be farther from the reality. The gaggle of billionaires who surrounded President Trump at his inauguration signaled that we’re coming into a brand new period, and certainly it’s one among wanton greed. (“Senators challenge Robert Kennedy Jr. on vaccines in confirmation hearing as health secretary,” Jan. 29)
Kennedy shouldn’t be right here to reform our healthcare system. Quite, as with the remainder of Trump’s Cupboard nominees, he’s right here to run interference because the president pursues his precise objectives of self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment, largely by way of abuse of the presidency.
Even when Kennedy really did goal to impact Reinhart’s pie-in-the-sky concepts on populist public well being, he would get nowhere quick. He can be feckless, working on this new Gilded Age of concentrated wealth and with a public so weak and decadent, few would have an urge for food for serving to others, a lot much less for healthful meals.
Johnny Thompson, M.D., San Diego
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To the editor: Whereas criticism of Kennedy is usually warranted, his accomplishments deserve recognition as nicely. As co-founder of Waterkeeper Alliance, the place I function a trustee, Kennedy constructed it into the world’s largest clear water group, working in 47 international locations and serving to clear hundreds of thousands of sq. miles of waterways.
I’ve labored with him for greater than 20 years and witnessed his fearless confrontation of company polluters and authorities companies. This environmental advocacy has made waters extra swimmable, drinkable and fishable.
Kennedy has overtly acknowledged his previous struggles, together with substance abuse, which he overcame whereas serving to others do the identical. Although I disagree with a few of his statements, Kennedy’s report of difficult particular pursuits resembling Large Meals and Large Pharma and his fights towards company air pollution should be a part of a extra balanced evaluation.
Tom Gegax, La Jolla
