Pandemic not the time for partisan politics

Now is not the time to be petty. When lives are at stake, it makes sense to put aside partisan differences and focus on the real enemy. That is why it is disheartening that President Donald Trump has chosen to punish the state of Michigan and its democratic Governor. Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding to the state over its decision to promote absentee voting. Of course how people are allowed to vote has nothing to do with surviving the coronavirus pandemic, or deal with historic flooding which hit the state this week. Those are the types of things that the federal government historically provides money to deal with. But Trump says because Michigan chose to send absentee voting applications to every registered voter in that state, the federal government should withhold funding. He claims the decision to send the applications was illegal, and suggests absentee voting increases voter fraud. There is no evidence that is true. In fact, voter fraud of any sort remains rare. And Trump himself cast his ballot absentee so he must not be too worried about fraud. Wisconsin is also considering providing absentee ballots to every registered voter. Would Trump threaten to withhold federal funding to fight the pandemic to Wisconsin if it chooses to send the applications to its voters? Funding to fight an enemy such as the coronavirus should be based solely on the need, not on partisan politics.