PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Alan Klein]

Every positive result is a small step when it comes to the testing volume, but a giant leap in the eradication of the virus.

It's also creating a lot of stress.  I went for a covid antibody test because my wife visited her 97 year old mother in her assisted living care residence a few days before a regular weekly test showed her mom positive.  So we all were worried sick about her mother and that we might be getting Covid from her. Her mom was transferred to an isolated wing of the residence house like a criminal in solitary. Fortunately, it turned out that the test was a false positive.  But that didn't allay the fear for us all for about four days or so before a second test showed her mom was actually negative. 

Not sure how all that we went through was a giant leap in the eradication of the virus.

[Chris Kern]

Every positive result is a small step when it comes to the testing volume, but a giant leap in the eradication of the virus.

Testing can indeed be "a giant leap in the eradication of the virus" if every positive result is followed up with competent contact tracing and the subsequent quarantine of exposed individuals, something most of the states in this country are unable to do at this time because of the high rate of infection and a shortage of trained personnel.  It's still important to continue to test in order to collect information about the current rate of infection, but for us in the United States, I suspect the primary current benefit is to help medical personnel prepare for the future demand for hospital facilities.

[BobShaw]

Testing can indeed be "a giant leap in the eradication of the virus" if every positive result is followed up with competent contact tracing and the subsequent quarantine of exposed individuals, something most of the states in this country are unable to do at this time because of the high rate of infection and a shortage of trained personnel.

Contract tracing certainly requires some skills but they should be in place by now. As for quarantining individuals, in Australia we are using the military supporting police for that. We did use contractors but they were worse than useless. They actually were spreading the virus. Perhaps whoever controls your military could do something? Oh, sorry, forgot. (:-)

[Alan Klein]

Contract tracing certainly requires some skills but they should be in place by now. As for quarantining individuals, in Australia we are using the military supporting police for that. We did use contractors but they were worse than useless. They actually were spreading the virus. Perhaps whoever controls your military could do something? Oh, sorry, forgot. (:-)

Most of our American military is overseas protecting Europeans, South Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australians and other foreigners.  Should we bring them back home and let you guys fend for yourself?   

[BobShaw]

Most of our American military is overseas protecting Europeans, South Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australians and other foreigners.  Should we bring them back home and let you guys fend for yourself?

Well thanks for WW 1 and 2.  Better late than never as they say.
But what military campaigns have been won in the last 70 years?
Vietnam, Iraq 1, Iraq 2, Afganistan have hardly been things we needed to get into.

[Robert Roaldi]

Most of our American military is overseas protecting Europeans, South Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australians and other foreigners.  Should we bring them back home and let you guys fend for yourself?

It's an experiment worth trying, I'd say.

[Robert Roaldi]

Trump's latest vaccine prediction, April, https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/18/trump-coronavirus-vaccine-april-417835.

What happened to the September vaccine (or was it October or November, I can't remember) ?  I thought he was a guy that made things happen? Gee, I fell for what he said again, stupid me.  (Hint, no I didn't). Maybe the vaccine developers are deliberately holding back to make him look bad?  Yeeaahh, that's it.

Which reminds me, where's that wall? Is it submerged in the swamp he buried?

You'll have to forgive me the sarcasm, it's simply impossible to take this reality TV show bullshit seriously. By the time you've discounted the Trump hyperbole, there's nothing left except hot air.

[PeterAit]

It's an experiment worth trying, I'd say.

And Trump *is* bringing them back home--some at least. Which I think is often a good idea.

[Alan Klein]

Well thanks for WW 1 and 2.  Better late than never as they say.
But what military campaigns have been won in the last 70 years?
Vietnam, Iraq 1, Iraq 2, Afganistan have hardly been things we needed to get into.

Afghanistan, yes, because of bin Laden and 9-11.  His act projected from Afghanistan where he was based needed a military response.  Whether we needed to stay that long is another matter. The others, probably not.  You left out Korea which would be under Kim if not for us and others.  But you're not counting the wars we may have prevented because of America's presence.  Would Western Europe have remained out of the Soviet orbit if we weren't there? Would Taiwan be free today? 

[Alan Klein]

And Trump *is* bringing them back home--some at least. Which I think is often a good idea.

See, we agree again.

[KLaban]

Guardian article.

Why Boris Johnson is constantly surprised when his government fails

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Most of our American military is overseas protecting Europeans, South Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australians and other foreigners.  Should we bring them back home and let you guys fend for yourself?

You are mistaken. They are here (in Europe) to defend the interests of the USA.

But that all has little to do with the topic of this thread, COVID-19 and the politics about it.

Last week's events and revelations in the USA, with the contradiction/denial of the CDC head Robert Redfield's statements, makes one wonder how long people will tolerate this idiocy.

White House-CDC tensions explode as Trump contradicts its leadership
Congressional testimony by health experts is overruled hours later by the president.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/09/white-house-cdc-tensions-explode-as-trump-contradicts-its-leadership/

In the wake of increasingly unhinged behavior from a President Trump-appointed communications director at the US Department of Health and Human Services, he and one of his key appointees have left their posts—one for two months, one permanently. But any hopes that science might resume being the main driver of US health policy were short-lived. Earlier in the day, CDC head Robert Redfield and other Health and Human Services officials testified before a Senate panel. By the evening, the president himself was calling his own CDC director mistaken about everything from mask use to the schedule of vaccine availability.

[Alan Klein]

You are mistaken. They are here (in Europe) to defend the interests of the USA.

But that all has little to do with the topic of this thread, COVID-19 and the politics about it.

Last week's events and revelations in the USA, with the contradiction/denial of the CDC head Robert Redfield's statements, makes one wonder how long people will tolerate this idiocy.

White House-CDC tensions explode as Trump contradicts its leadership
Congressional testimony by health experts is overruled hours later by the president.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/09/white-house-cdc-tensions-explode-as-trump-contradicts-its-leadership/

Both sides are using Covid for political gains because of the presidential election. 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Both sides are using Covid for political gains because of the presidential election.

I don't see how the current US administration uses COVID-19 to their advantage. They are making a mess of it, endangering the lives and health of citizens on both sides of the political spectrum. The more puzzling aspect of it is the tolerance to such a level of incompetence.

[degrub]

It is no different than any other religion based on hate of differences.
So what is so surprising ?

[Alan Klein]

I don't see how the current US administration uses COVID-19 to their advantage. They are making a mess of it, endangering the lives and health of citizens on both sides of the political spectrum. The more puzzling aspect of it is the tolerance to such a level of incompetence.

Well, Covid 19 hurt Trump and the republicans because the economy went down the tubes.  It was booming before the virus.  The only way Trump can salvage the election is if he convinces enough people he'll be better at restoring it than Biden.  Biden's game plan is to try to convince enough people Trump's incompetent with the virus.  So the question is which majority will win out.  Those more concerned about the virus or those more concerned about their jobs?

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Well, Covid 19 hurt Trump and the republicans because the economy went down the tubes.  It was booming before the virus.  The only way Trump can salvage the election is if he convinces enough people he'll be better at restoring it than Biden.  Biden's game plan is to try to convince enough people Trump's incompetent with the virus.  So the question is which majority will win out.  Those more concerned about the virus or those more concerned about their jobs?

It's not a case of either/or. The virus pandemic is both about health (or even death) AND the economy. The economy will suffer unless one gets a grip on the pandemic, which is currently expected 2nd or 3rd quarter 2021.

[Alan Klein]

It's not a case of either/or. The virus pandemic is both about health (or even death) AND the economy. The economy will suffer unless one gets a grip on the pandemic, which is currently expected 2nd or 3rd quarter 2021.

If you're out of work and can't pay your rent and your kid tells you he's hungry, you'll be more concerned about the economy and who can better get you a job. 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

If you're out of work and can't pay your rent and your kid tells you he's hungry, you'll be more concerned about the economy and who can better get you a job.

Then stop slowing down the reopening of the economy, by following the guidelines that reduce the reproduction of the virus. Most countries with a functioning government had that under control several months ago, and are now facing manageable localized outbreaks.

[Alan Klein]

Then stop slowing down the reopening of the economy, by following the guidelines that reduce the reproduction of the virus. Most countries with a functioning government had that under control several months ago, and are now facing manageable localized outbreaks.

Why are Britain Germany and France having troubles again?  Britain says they have to shut down the whole economy again.