Covid-19

[YFIB]

Re: Covid-19

This just isn’t true. It seems as if there's nothing the government can do now, that it’s just up to the human population, but we got to this place through massive, deliberate incompetence and blundering, and not just over the last two months.

DHS and the NSA both had teams specifically devoted to disease security, monitoring outbreaks worldwide, coordinating information from other agencies so there could be early, coherent responses. Trump fired both teams two years ago. The CDC's global disease budget was slashed, severely reducing its scope. Basically, the whole structure that was supposed to provide reliable, early information was dismantled.

But then, Trump doesn’t believe in actual information provided by experts. He believes that facts are political, so whatever suits his political needs has to be true. He has no credibility, because he’s been blatantly making stuff up for three years.

In this case, Trump spent weeks pretending that this wasn’t a real problem for the US. Because the stock market crashed, he treated the whole thing as a political attack on him, so he needed to minimize it. He started out lying about it on a daily basis, and he’s still doing it. One thing that means is that the public isn’t getting clear, reliable information, which leads to panicked people buying all the toilet paper available.

All those "human population" things we're being told to do now, we should have been told to do weeks ago, but that would have required Trump to take the disease seriously, judge information accurately, and deliver that information credibly. That’s one thing a leader can do.

And then there’s the testing. If the government's response teams had been left intact, we might have gotten a testing program ramped up much earlier (as other countries did). That would have helped us know the true scope of the disease, identify sick people, quarantine them or at least enable them to get early treatment, and generally respond realistically. But Trump wanted there to be only 15 cases, so he didn’t want expanded testing.

He continues to spread all sorts of lies. Testing is available to anyone who wants! Only symptomatic people can spread the disease! Our response is perfect! His denial of facts that do not favor him is putting our lives at risk. Thank goodness for Anthony Fauci, because no one believes a word Trump says.

Well said. There's really not a question that Trump's actions have been harmful to the effort against the virus. The only question now is how rapidly the case numbers are going to increase as widespread testing finally comes online, and how much the belated efforts at the state level will be to stemming the spread of the virus.

[hardrain]

Re: Covid-19

This is the problem with lumping the media into one big ball and label it “the enemy”. Cable “news” is anything but. It is entertainment aimed largely at partisan audiences. This is also why we t is important to support print media.

I certainly agree that cable news is anything but...that was my original point ...and yes...I prefer to get info from non TV media...but even then it is discerning...we need FDR and Truman now....

[hardrain]

Re: Covid-19

My school district is closed until April 10. I still have to go to work though as an “emergency worker.” Not sure why though.

Wow...I wonder what for...I am a high school teacher. We were told to stay home and not grade anything...probably because they are working on not paying us...But I have 40 10-page essays to grade...I will do so.

[JL25and3]

I certainly agree that cable news is anything but...that was what my original point was...and yes...I prefer to get info from non TV media...but even then it is discerning...we need FDR and Truman now....

Agreed, though I’d settle for someone who’s minimally responsible and credible. But it’s not a media problem if they’re reasonably accurate in reporting the bullfeces being spewed by Fearless Leader.

[hardrain]

Re: Covid-19

Our district also encouraged us to "not participate in any social media"....talk about Big Brother...

[fredgmuggs]

Re: Covid-19

My Governor suggested folks who might not want to go out to restaurants right now might want to purchase gift certificates from their favorite places to help keep those places going during a difficult time for the industry. I thought that sounded like a good suggestion.

[fredgmuggs]

Re: Covid-19

I heard Chris Wallace the other day say during these White Press conferences the only person he pays attention to is Dr. Fauci. He appreciates Fauci talking to him like an adult without trying spin the facts.

[Tyler Durden]

Re: Covid-19

My Governor suggested folks who might not want to go out to restaurants right now might want to purchase gift certificates from their favorite places to help keep those places going during a difficult time for the industry. I thought that sounded like a good suggestion.

It's also a good time for restaurant owners to embrace curbside pickup and takeout delivery if they haven't already.

A couple locally owned restaurants near me have announced new partnerships with Door Dash, and these are places that have largely resisted tech trends as part of their folksy charm.

This virus is dragging many businesses into the 21st century.

[Texsahara]

Re: Covid-19

Good post from JL on the Trump failures. This op-ed breaks down how he tried to downplay and cover up the seriousness month by month. This was an absolute epic failure. Trump has blood on his hands.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/o....co/npFp6bBzRY

[fredgmuggs]

Re: Covid-19

Good post from JL on the Trump failures. This op-ed breaks down how he tried to downplay and cover up the seriousness month by month. This was an absolute epic failure. Trump has blood on his hands.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/o....co/npFp6bBzRY

Tex, relax. We're doing great. It all will pass.

[YankeePride1967]

Re: Covid-19

It's also a good time for restaurant owners to embrace curbside pickup and takeout delivery if they haven't already.

A couple locally owned restaurants near me have announced new partnerships with Door Dash, and these are places that have largely resisted tech trends as part of their folksy charm.

This virus is dragging many businesses into the 21st century.

Some locally are. Also many who never have, have now begun delivering

[Texsahara]

Tex, relax. We're doing great. It all will pass.

So you're saying I'm too emotional? :p

[RhodyYanksFan]

Re: Covid-19

There. Is. Always. A. Tweet.

[The_Man_With_No_Plan]

Re: Covid-19

This just isn’t true. It seems as if there's nothing the government can do now, that it’s just up to the human population, but we got to this place through massive, deliberate incompetence and blundering, and not just over the last two months.

DHS and the NSA both had teams specifically devoted to disease security, monitoring outbreaks worldwide, coordinating information from other agencies so there could be early, coherent responses. Trump fired both teams two years ago. The CDC's global disease budget was slashed, severely reducing its scope. Basically, the whole structure that was supposed to provide reliable, early information was dismantled.

But then, Trump doesn’t believe in actual information provided by experts. He believes that facts are political, so whatever suits his political needs has to be true. He has no credibility, because he’s been blatantly making stuff up for three years.

In this case, Trump spent weeks pretending that this wasn’t a real problem for the US. Because the stock market crashed, he treated the whole thing as a political attack on him, so he needed to minimize it. He started out lying about it on a daily basis, and he’s still doing it. One thing that means is that the public isn’t getting clear, reliable information, which leads to panicked people buying all the toilet paper available.

All those "human population" things we're being told to do now, we should have been told to do weeks ago, but that would have required Trump to take the disease seriously, judge information accurately, and deliver that information credibly. That’s one thing a leader can do.

And then there’s the testing. If the government's response teams had been left intact, we might have gotten a testing program ramped up much earlier (as other countries did). That would have helped us know the true scope of the disease, identify sick people, quarantine them or at least enable them to get early treatment, and generally respond realistically. But Trump wanted there to be only 15 cases, so he didn’t want expanded testing.

He continues to spread all sorts of lies. Testing is available to anyone who wants! Only symptomatic people can spread the disease! Our response is perfect! His denial of facts that do not favor him is putting our lives at risk. Thank goodness for Anthony Fauci, because no one believes a word Trump says.

But then why is your outrage not the same for China's government? Or Italy's government? Or Spain's government? One country isn't going to prevent a global pandemic from happening, so we're either all responsible, or no one is responsible. That's where I'm not following your point. It seems to lack consistency, and that lack of consistency seems to only apply to Donald Trump.

[The_Man_With_No_Plan]

Re: Covid-19

There. Is. Always. A. Tweet.

This would have been a perfect response to that question. Very disappointing that he didn't own it.