Trump VS COVID-19 Threat

[Half-Life]

I am not living with fear staying home. I am not living in fear knowing that my kids are not going to school in order to stay safe.

I would be more fearful if school went back prematurely, despite health experts recommendations, because I would know that the risk the my family would get sick and someone might possibly die just shot up exponentially.

Half-life's argument is upside down.

Health experts always heir on the extreme side of caution, though. Kind of like that rule "no swimming for an hour after you've eaten." Sure it makes sense if you have a 3 course meal. But, say you eat a bag of chips...then you would maybe wait about 5 mins and jump in. But, let's say you eat a sunflower seed. Then you would just jump right in.

 

[crazyfingers]

I can only read Half-Life's posts when someone else quotes him by the way.

 

[bilby]

Here's what's going to happen if Trump ends the shutdown after 15 days.

The ones who are still scared to death of the virus will stay home and live in fear for a while. They have the right to do this. The rest of us will go about our daily lives again. If we get it, we get it. Such is life. I'd personally rather take a chance than live in fear. It would be like someone who is afraid to drive their car because they are terrified of getting into an accident. They can live in fear while others drive their cars whizzing right past their house.

Seems pretty simple to me.

Your problem (okay, one of your almost infinite number of problems) is your belief that people who follow the recommendations of the science/medical people and stay home, are doing it out of fear. Most of us are doing it because it's a fucking good idea. I don't wear a seatbelt out of fear; I do it because that, too, is a fucking good idea. So feel free to whiz right past my house, and swap spit with all of the other "fearless" idiots.

It might be a good idea, but all you have to do is wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If my eye itches, I pull my shirt collar up and rub my eye with the inside of my shirt. As long as you wash your hands often, you will be OK in large groups. I recommend washing every 2 hours.

Why would you imagine that any sensible person gives a flying fuck what you recommend?

You have repeatedly and clearly demonstrated your incompetence to make any kind of recommendations.

If you had the slightest intelligence, you would be listening to, and conforming with, the recommendations of epidemiologists, virologists, and puic health authorities; Not making uninformed recommendations of your own.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I am not living with fear staying home. I am not living in fear knowing that my kids are not going to school in order to stay safe.

I would be more fearful if school went back prematurely, despite health experts recommendations, because I would know that the risk the my family would get sick and someone might possibly die just shot up exponentially.

Half-life's argument is upside down.

Health experts always heir on the extreme side of caution, though. Kind of like that rule "no swimming for an hour after you've eaten." Sure it makes sense if you have a 3 course meal. But, say you eat a bag of chips...then you would maybe wait about 5 mins and jump in. But, let's say you eat a sunflower seed. Then you would just jump right in.

you know that's not an actual medical opinion, right? Just something people came up withnto control their kids at the beach?

So, you are comparing the medical advice of ALL THE FUCKING EPIDEMIOLOGISTS THAT EXIST to 'an hour after eating.'

This is like dismissing surgical-room sterility rules based on 'the ten second rule' on dropped food.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Here's what's going to happen if Trump ends the shutdown after 15 days.

The ones who are still scared to death of the virus will stay home and live in fear for a while. They have the right to do this. The rest of us will go about our daily lives again. If we get it, we get it. Such is life. I'd personally rather take a chance than live in fear. It would be like someone who is afraid to drive their car because they are terrified of getting into an accident. They can live in fear while others drive their cars whizzing right past their house.

Seems pretty simple to me.

Your problem (okay, one of your almost infinite number of problems) is your belief that people who follow the recommendations of the science/medical people and stay home, are doing it out of fear. Most of us are doing it because it's a fucking good idea. I don't wear a seatbelt out of fear; I do it because that, too, is a fucking good idea. So feel free to whiz right past my house, and swap spit with all of the other "fearless" idiots.

It might be a good idea, but all you have to do is wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If my eye itches, I pull my shirt collar up and rub my eye with the inside of my shirt. As long as you wash your hands often, you will be OK in large groups. I recommend washing every 2 hours.

I recommend you go to the clue store and see if they have something in your size.

 

[ZiprHead]

I can only read Half-Life's posts when someone else quotes him by the way.

You're not missing much.

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[Patooka]

This isn't very reassuring

The World Health Organisation says the United States could become the global epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. But during a Fox News virtual town hall, US President Donald Trump said the country "wants to be back at work". "I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter," he said. Easter Sunday is just over two weeks away, April 12. "Wouldn't it be great to have all of the churches full," Mr Trump said in a subsequent interview. "You'll have packed churches all over our country."

Infections in the US have reached nearly 50,000, with more than 600 deaths — more than 100 of them on Monday. Public health experts have warned Mr Trump's plan would be a mistake. Government guidelines currently say Americans should not gather in groups larger than 10, and should avoid dining out in restaurants or bars. But hard-hit states including New York and California have gone further and enacted their own home-lockdown orders.

This is today. This story is from today. The message just isn't going through.

 

[Elixir]

This isn't very reassuring

The World Health Organisation says the United States could become the global epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. But during a Fox News virtual town hall, US President Donald Trump said the country "wants to be back at work". "I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter," he said. Easter Sunday is just over two weeks away, April 12. "Wouldn't it be great to have all of the churches full," Mr Trump said in a subsequent interview. "You'll have packed churches all over our country."

Infections in the US have reached nearly 50,000, with more than 600 deaths — more than 100 of them on Monday. Public health experts have warned Mr Trump's plan would be a mistake. Government guidelines currently say Americans should not gather in groups larger than 10, and should avoid dining out in restaurants or bars. But hard-hit states including New York and California have gone further and enacted their own home-lockdown orders.

This is today. This story is from today. The message just isn't going through.

Welcome to the Trump Eugenics Program, an all-too-real reality show coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Feel free to pick up some Covfefe in the lobby, and please ignore the rotting pile of bodies by the door on your way out.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

This isn't very reassuring

The World Health Organisation says the United States could become the global epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. But during a Fox News virtual town hall, US President Donald Trump said the country "wants to be back at work". "I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter," he said. Easter Sunday is just over two weeks away, April 12. "Wouldn't it be great to have all of the churches full," Mr Trump said in a subsequent interview. "You'll have packed churches all over our country."

Infections in the US have reached nearly 50,000, with more than 600 deaths — more than 100 of them on Monday. Public health experts have warned Mr Trump's plan would be a mistake. Government guidelines currently say Americans should not gather in groups larger than 10, and should avoid dining out in restaurants or bars. But hard-hit states including New York and California have gone further and enacted their own home-lockdown orders.

This is today. This story is from today. The message just isn't going through.

Welcome to the Trump Eugenics Program, an all-too-real reality show coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Feel free to pick up some Covfefe in the lobby, and please ignore the rotting pile of bodies by the door on your way out.

This is almost like the death panels that idiot Republicans (sorry, redundant) kept insisting was part of Obamacare.

 

[blastula]

heh

 

[lpetrich]

(((Rep. Nadler))) on Twitter: "NYC isn't NYC without our non-profit museums. But if we want our museums to survive COVID-19, we need to protect them NOW. That's why I led the NYC Congressional delegation with @RepMaloney in calling for $4 billion in emergency funds to equip museums to outlast this pandemic. https://t.co/cRfMpTgEWR" / Twitter - signed by

Carolyn Maloney NY-12, Jerrold Nadler NY-10, Nydia M. Velazquez NY-07, Yvette D. Clarke NY-09, Grace Meng NY-06, Gregory W. Meeks NY-05, Adriano Espaillat NY-13, Eliot L. Engel NY-16, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez NY-14, Hakeem S. Jeffries NY-08

AOC's signature is more carefully written these days

Claims that 700,000 people are employed by museums nationwide - that $4 billion is a nationwide number, and not just for NYC. A lot of people were outraged at it, though they misunderstood it as NYC-only.

 

[lpetrich]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "The developments of this Senate relief bill are concerning.
We are hearing lots of vague statements, but not a single member of Congress has seen actual bill text.
It seems to give a *HALF TRILLION DOLLARS* away to big corporations, w/ few worker protections.
Half a trillion." / Twitter

Zach Williams on Twitter: ""We took care of the rent issue here in NY" says Cuomo. Activists might disagree ..." / Twitter
then
Sen. Mike Gianaris on Twitter: "This is false.
Postponing evictions while allowing rent obligations to continue to accumulate only creates a bigger housing crisis in 3 months https://t.co/fTA3ZzxwVB" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Dozens of people, both workers& the incarcerated, have tested positive for COVID-19 on Rikers.
Many are forcibly cramped into close quarters. They do not have reliable access to soap or sanitizer. This is a humanitarian crisis.
Decarceral action must become an urgent priority. https://t.co/IDbNN3etew" / Twitter
noting
Scott Hechinger on Twitter: "PLEASE READ: Conditions on Rikers are unimaginably bad. My colleague has spoken to a few people trapped inside. What they told her is horrifying. Unless @NYGovCuomo, @NYCMayor, & all DAs do something ASAP, we're looking at mass death. What they're reporting:" / Twitter

The beginning of a long Twitter thread on Rikers Island conditions.

 

[lpetrich]

Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) / Twitter --

PLEASE READ: Conditions on Rikers are unimaginably bad. My colleague has spoken to a few people trapped inside. What they told her is horrifying. Unless @NYGovCuomo, @NYCMayor, & all DAs do something ASAP, we're looking at mass death. What they're reporting:

People trapped on Rikers right now are sleeping close enough to reach out and touch the next person.

People trapped on Rikers right now are being served food on dirty food trays.

There is one toilet for every 29 people trapped on Rikers Island right now.

People jailed on Rikers right now who are asking to be tested are not getting tested.

While eating, people on Rikers are forced to sit four to a table. No possibility of social distancing while sleeping or eating.

Those serving the food on Rikers are not wearing masks (and, therefore, possibly contaminating the food).

The food also is coming in from other buildings increasing the likelihood of contamination.

After one of the people in their dorm tested positive for Coronavirus and was taken out, Rikers staff did not clean the general areas.

People are being housed with others with flu-like symptoms and there is no recourse.

When people ask to be transferred to correctional health services, they are being told that there aren't enough escorts.

Just spent the last hour talking to another colleague about Rikers conditions. "It is like a fucking slave ship. It makes me want to fucking cry. They can't even wash their hands. It is insane that this day & age we treat human beings this way. This is shameful."

We heard from our social worker colleagues today that videoconferences w/ the people we represent on Rikers have now been suspended indefinitely. Were not allowed on the island. The only way we had to communicate & access information on the inside is now gone. I'm really worried.

Right now, there are 5,294 people jailed on Rikers.

Mayor de Blasio today announced he agreed to release 75 people. He's looking at a list (we have no idea who is on this list) of a couple hundred.

Imagine the feeling you have these days when you go to the grocery store. I'm wearing gloves & a mask. Even then, I'm keeping my distance. Social distancing in jail is impossible. Sanitation is non-existent. No gloves. No mask. Just hundreds of people coughing on each other.

5,294 humans are locked up on Rikers already at extreme risk of contracting this deadly illness.
With no precautions whatsoever. Nearly guaranteed to be exposed.
And spreading that deadly illness to guards & other staff, who cycle in & out daily.
Our leaders are doing NOTHING.

While we are taking steps to prevent COVID-19 infection in our community to stay inside, social distance, and be vigilant with sanitization, these efforts will be worthless if we don’t act rapidly to prevent infection in Rikers.

 

[lpetrich]

Seven Congressional Leaders Join 450+ Progressive Organizations to Demand “People’s Bailout” in Response to Coronavirus Crisis | Common Dreams Newswire

WASHINGTON - Senator Ed Markey, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and Rep. Barbara Lee have joined more than three hundred progressive organizations, including Communications Workers of America, Blue Green Alliance, and SEIU across the country to launch a new “People’s Bailout” campaign to push Congress to focus on the needs of working people and address the urgent threat of climate change in any federal response to the coronavirus crisis.

noting
People's Bailout

1. Health is the top priority, for all people, with no exceptions.
2. Provide economic relief directly to the people.
3. Rescue workers and communities, not corporate executives.
4. Make a down payment on a regenerative economy, while preventing future crises.
5. Protect our democratic process while protecting each other.

China is trying to restart its economy after coronavirus without risking more lives - CNN

But the lockdown also brought activity in much of the world's second biggest economy to a standstill for weeks on end, and is likely to result in China's first contraction in decades. Analysts at Goldman Sachs recently forecast that China's GDP may fall by 9% in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period in 2019.

The Chinese government knows that its actions to contain the virus came at the expense of the country's economic health. Now authorities are trying to ensure that those consequences are short lived.

Coronavirus in China: Hubei Province Lockdown Eased After 2 Months - The New York Times

The Chinese province of Hubei, where the coronavirus pandemic began, will on Wednesday begin allowing most of its 60 million residents to leave, ending nearly two months of lockdown and sending a strong signal of the government’s confidence that its tough measures have worked to control the outbreak.

Wuhan, the provincial capital and the city hardest hit by the virus, will remain sealed off until April 8, though public transportation there will start running again, the government said.

Wuhan's population is 11 million, a little less than Los Angeles's metro-area population, 13 million, and that's roughly the metro-area population of London and Paris.

 

[lpetrich]

Liz Cheney on Twitter: "There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including our doctors and nurses, lay dying because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus. https://t.co/AchwfXtuLi" / Twitter

She's Dick Cheney's daughter and Rep WY-01. Finally some decency.

Coronavirus: Liz Cheney, Lindsey Graham warn against easing guidelines

Lindsey Graham on Twitter: "Try running an economy with major hospitals overflowing, doctors and nurses forced to stop treating some because they can’t help all, and every moment of gut-wrenching medical chaos being played out in our living rooms, on TV, on social media, and shown all around the world." / Twitter
then
Lindsey Graham on Twitter: "There is no functioning economy unless we control the virus." / Twitter

News, A Timeline of Lies & Virus Naming Provenance (Again) | Jonathan MS Pearce
noting
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Get the latest information from the CDC about COVID-19. CDC -- in the early weeks, pResident tRump denied that it was anything worth worrying about - he once called the prospect of the virus being a pandemic a "hoax", even if not the virus itself.

JMSP also mentions a symptom of otherwise asymptomatic cases: anosmia, losing one's sense of smell.

 

[blastula]

It's not like the ecomony and everyone will go back to business as usual anyway.

 

[lpetrich]

Andrew Lawrence on Twitter: "Tx Lt Gov Dan Patrick says grandparents would be willing to die to save the economy for their grandchildren https://t.co/wC3Ngvtsbj" / Twitter -- in an interview with Tucker Carlson

Coronavirus in India: Modi Orders Total Lockdown of 21 Days - The New York Times

NEW DELHI — India’s prime minister ordered all 1.3 billion people in the country to stay inside their homes for three weeks starting Wednesday — the biggest and most severe action undertaken anywhere to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

“There will be a total ban of coming out of your homes,” the prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced on television Tuesday night, giving Indians less than four hours’ notice before the order took effect at 12:01 a.m.

“Every state, every district, every lane, every village will be under lockdown,” Mr. Modi said.

India’s coronavirus lockdown and looming crisis, explained - Vox

That would be a challenge for any country, but for India it’s particularly devastating. Public health care in the country is poor. Private health care is expensive. About a quarter of the population is illiterate and thus may not be as aware of the danger. And a massive citizenry makes social distancing nearly impossible — a big issue when around 100 million people in the country are over the age of 60.

UK wakes up to virtual coronavirus lockdown, as PM Johnson declares 'moment of national emergency' - ABC News

Johnson declared that the new measures were necessary to “protect the NHS's [National Health Service’s] ability to cope - and save more lives,” as he announced that across the U.K. the public could only leave the house for one form of daily exercise and essential shopping, while gatherings of more than two people have been banned. All shops selling non-essential goods, churches, playgrounds and libraries were also shuttered.

Sweden takes softer approach on coronavirus lockdown than European neighbors | Fox News

Sweden has recommended its citizens work from home (if they’re able) and practice social distancing. Gatherings that exceed 500 people have been banned – compared with the ban on gatherings of more than two people in the U.K. and Germany.

The government has also advised secondary schools and universities to close and conduct lectures online. Bars and restaurants, meanwhile, are allowed to stay open.

Gig economy workers need help or coronavirus lockdown won't work - CNN

 

[lpetrich]

“Sore Winners”: Centring Humanism, not Atheism, amid Pandemic | M. L. Clark

This is depressing. Very depressing. Amanda Marcotte may well be right, but it suggests the possibility of big trouble between young and old.
Amanda Marcotte on Twitter: "I don’t want people to die. But liberals are not helping by pressuring young people to give up jobs, savings and hope of a brighter future as if it’s a sacrifice they should make without complaint or any expectation of repayment, just because it’s the right thing to do." / Twitter

I don’t want people to die. But liberals are not helping by pressuring young people to give up jobs, savings and hope of a brighter future as if it’s a sacrifice they should make without complaint or any expectation of repayment, just because it’s the right thing to do.

The conversation should solely be framed as this, “We are asking young people to give up a lot, and to save mostly older people. So how are we going to pay them back? What sacrifice will be demanded to make them whole?"

I appreciate how people want to seem moral and righteous. But I want to underline the “contract” part of “social contract”. It is not justice to make young people give up their futures. We need to repay them, with interest.

People’s fears about losing jobs, losing houses, and watching retirement savings disappear are not minor. And if we fail to take them seriously, they will start to listen to Trump and others who say we have to re-open the economy.

It’s absolutely mind-boggingly to me to see supposed progressives reply to this with contempt for the ordinary person’s desire to live anything but a mean, grasping life wondering if they will ever have any hope for a better future.

Most people, like it or not, are experiencing this as a major sacrifice so someone *else* can live. How about we start talking, now, about repayment, instead of about the nobility of sacrifice?

Anyway, that is my humble ask. Every time you feel the need to shame someone about worrying about their economic future, instead be generous to their fear. And turn that energy towards demanding that they be repaid, in full, for their sacrifice.

Another thing you can do is read up on how younger generations are already struggling. Perhaps after endlessly milking them, we should not be surprised they are tapped out.

Anyway, I’m thinking about not just being decent and kind to young people, but also strategically: A message of “you will give up your futures so others can live” is not a winning one. “We will fight like hell so you can be repaid for this sacrifice” is a winning one.

It's arguable that the NHS came into being because the British government, unlike some so-called "progressives" in my mentions, didn't see the people's sacrifice in WWII as something that should be offered in total selflessness. No, they realized the public should be repaid.

Telling young people they need to give endlessly with absolutely no hope of a future is how we got into this mess. Do better.

One more thought: It's not just young people. Imagine being in your 60s and thinking you were going to retire and that just went up in smoke. If your heart is only with old people (which, why), those folks deserve care, too.

Well, I can safely say I'll never forget how many liberals outed themselves to me today as people who think the values of economic justice and equality, much less demanding people be compensated fairly for their sacrifices, can be thrown out so casually.

"Tough" and "too bad" continue not to be sufficient answers from so-called liberals when people worry about losing income and homes. Thank god the Democrats in Congress see this, but that liberals on Twitter don't is mind-boggling.

"Tough" is not the answer when people say they are scared of losing a job, losing savings, losing a home. That so many liberals said otherwise is heartbreaking. It also makes me afraid that we're going to lose to Trump.

We need to have concrete answers for people who need to know how they're going to pay rent and bills. "Tough" is not an answer. "You want grandma to die" is not an answer. "Young people get sick, too" is not an answer. Shame that so many think otherwise.

 

[lpetrich]

About millennials being tapped out,
Millennials have just 3% of U.S. wealth — boomers at their age had 21% - CBS News

Millennials became the biggest U.S. generation this year, numbering some 73 million people. In terms of wealth, by contrast, they're still living in the shadow of previous generations.

Despite making up nearly a quarter of the population, millennials — defined as those born between 1981 and 1996 — own a scant 3% of the country's wealth, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. In comparison, when baby boomers were the age millennials are today (around 1989), they controlled 21% of all national wealth. Generation-X'ers at the same age (in 2004) held 6%.

And it's not simply that millennials aren't amassing much wealth — they're also sinking deeper into debt, carrying a disproportionately high 16% of the nation's liabilities, the Fed data show.

AM got this response:
Ida Bae Wells on Twitter: "@AmandaMarcotte The fact that you thought this was such a profoundly important point that you wrote an entire long thread is deeply, deeply disturbing. ..." / Twitter

The fact that you thought this was such a profoundly important point that you wrote an entire long thread is deeply, deeply disturbing. You have no idea what social contract means, but it certainly doesn’t mean sacrificing “the old” for the economic benefits of “the young.”

It also shows a profound lack of awareness about how many young Americans currently have no real economic future — have you ever looked at black youth unemployment and poverty rates? What, tell me, have you sacrificed for them? Lots of folks have *been* struggling.

Last, a 36-YEAR-OLD Brooklyn principal died from Coronavirus today. Get a grip on reality.

Also, so weird that you see shutting down institutions to save lives is a partisan, liberal issue.

Amanda Marcotte on Twitter: "@nhannahjones I don't think it should. It should mean that we should collectively make sure that young people are repaid their sacrifice, instead of just simply shaming them. And if we want to win this political argument, we better get to it." / Twitter

Ida Bae Wells on Twitter: "@AvarySince @AmandaMarcotte It’s funny because I am also hearing from older people who worked their entire lives only to have all of their investment savings disappear or to be laid off with no social safety net, as if only young people are facing economic sacrifices and calamity." / Twitter

Looking at AM's original tweets, who are these "liberals" supposed to be? I've seen a lot of right-wingers online insist that everybody be "self-reliant", whatever that might be.