Perhaps most tragic of all is that these politicians are deeply misleading the public. I read an account about code enforcement officers in Key West over the weekend.

They are struggling to enforce mask wearing in crowds of tourists, trying to enforce basic norms that will allow the economy to run and keep virus transmission to a minimum.

But they’re not succeeding very well because people are angry to the point of being violently angry about being asked to wear masks.

What really struck me reading the article is how many of them outright claim that information about the virus and mask wearing is deceptive.

In doing so, they are only emulating their political leaders, who could have changed things dramatically by setting better examples and getting better information to people.

So while I see a certain schadenfreude possible when leaders become ill, and while I recognize the tragedy when they die, I’m most concerned about a daily ongoing tragedy. We deserve better leadership.