Disrespect for expertise is hurting the nation

I appreciated recent commentaries in the Daily Herald, one by Keith Peterson about the tragic demise of our Fulbright programs and the other by Susan Estrich about No Kings.

My wife and I have really benefited from my two terms as a Fulbright Specialist followed by a request from that program to serve them by helping vet applications for entry into this unique program. It seems clear that the Trump administration is anti-expertise and anti-academics. That is so shortsighted, especially for Trump’s goals of making American Great Again.

We need experts in various fields. That has been one of the great strengths of our nation and it has been seriously mishandled.

But, if one examines who he has appointed to key positions it seems apparent that he doesn’t care about having people with serious expertise. His one criterion has been absolute loyalty to him, not to our Constitution and laws. That isn’t healthy for him and our nation. The appointees have to agree with him that the 2020 election was stolen, without evidence to support that allegation. He has, therefore, no one around him that can dare tell him when he’s wrong.

No leader — and I was one — would ever seek that as the sole criteria for appointments. Already our key institutions are suffering. My wife and I know of a person who is highly placed in our health care world and that person has had to endure severe cutbacks in their areas of health care expertise. People will die early as a result.

Arthur Pitz

Elmhurst