PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Alan Klein]

As a Trump hater (I admit it) I have to say that there are somethings about him that still mystify me. Did he really believe that his administration would be blamed for a pandemic? Is that why he down-played it? I believe that if he'd jumped up and told the truth (we now know that he understood the dangers of the pandemic early on, probably in February) and that if he'd ordered nationwide masks, he not only would have saved a lot of lives and eased the economic crisis, but he'd probably be hailed as a hero for doing that. And it would have been so easy -- he had all the scientific advice right there. It wouldn't have taken any additional energy at all. Nobody would have blamed him -- on the contrary, they'd see that he was doing all that he could. Instead, he chose to bullshit us. Is he really that stupid?

We had a lot of restrictions here in New Mexico (we're now having a surge after the re-opening of schools) but most businesses are functioning, albeit at a lower level than normal. My wife and I grocery shop, go out for newspapers on Sunday, go to dog food and office supply stores, I make an occasional stop at a book store. I go to physical therapy for my broken arm and I have a doctor's appointment this week. Those places are limiting occupancy and limiting contact, some check your temperature and all require masks -- and I haven't gotten covid-19 nor do I feel especially threatened as I wait for a vaccine. If Trump had led a two-pronged attack on the virus, a medical side and a business side, if the government had worked hard at laying out guidelines for businesses while enforcing social distancing and masking, he'd be a hero instead of a goat.

I can only conclude that he really is that stupid and we will be well rid of him.   

Trump closed travel from China to the USA at the end of January which was very early.  Meanwhile Biden called him xenophobic for doing it and other Democrats called him racist.  So not only was he ahead of them in positive action, it seems they were the ones to play politics first.

[Alan Klein]

But surely we expect the USA to be a leader against the virus...not being compared to countries that have a lot less financial, medical and research resources.

It ain't over until the fat lady sings.

[Alan Klein]

It really isn't very hard, even without resorting to silliness.

I wear a mask when I go out. I don't like it; it's uncomfortable and my glasses mist up. So if I have the option of staying at home and not going out, I'll take it. If lots of people opt to stay at home and not go to cinemas (if any are open) or shops, or anywhere else that relies on customers' presence to make money, then they'll make less money and the economy suffers. "Compulsory" shopping, for food and other essentials, won't be too badly affected. "Voluntary" shopping, for clothes, or shoes or the like, will. When masks are no longer required, that area of the economy will come back into demand, but it may be too late.

Jeremy

I have the same problems.  Plus, my nose stuffs up, runs, and I can't breathe.  Now I see why some people wear the mask over their mouth only.  Yesterday, my wife and I went walking in the woods on a wide, asphalt trail.  She wears a mask.  I keep mine in my shirt pocket. When someone approaches I put it on until they pass.  The worst part was when we nearly got run over by a pretty teenage girl flying by from  behind us on her skateboard. She wasn't wearing a mask.  But I don't think she'll survive a crash anyway.

[Alan Klein]

Right on cue ...

That must be why the economies of countries like Hong Kong and Korea where people habitually wear masks are in such bad shape.

That may be true.  But it raises the question.  Why do the flu, covid, and all these other nasty diseases always come from Asia?

[Peter McLennan]

Trump closed travel from China to the USA at the end of January which was very early.

A frequently-reported falsehood that doesn’t account for the reported forty-thousand-odd relatives and others who avoided the ban and travelled from China to the USA anyway.

[Paulo Bizarro]

That may be true.  But it raises the question.  Why do the flu, covid, and all these other nasty diseases always come from Asia?

I thought only China were to blame. POTUS said so.

[chez]

Trump closed travel from China to the USA at the end of January which was very early.  Meanwhile Biden called him xenophobic for doing it and other Democrats called him racist.  So not only was he ahead of them in positive action, it seems they were the ones to play politics first.

But Trump did diddly squat to test, isolate and track the infected Americans as they came home. He did nothing at all as these infected Americans spread the virus to every corner in the US...leaving it now out of control as there still is lacking tracking and isolation throughout the US. Sure he can take credit for closing the borders...but in the same sentence, he needs to take full responsibility for totally botching any kind of coordinated action against the virus...other than relying on magic to make the virus go away.

[chez]

It ain't over until the fat lady sings.

Yes...and the US is right up there in daily deaths with the other poorer, should we even say 3rd world countries.

[Alan Klein]

I thought only China were to blame. POTUS said so.

I didn't want to be called racist or a xenophobe.

[jeremyrh]

...other than relying on magic to make the virus go away.

Bleach, man, you forgot the bleach.

[Alan Klein]

But Trump did diddly squat to test, isolate and track the infected Americans as they came home. He did nothing at all as these infected Americans spread the virus to every corner in the US...leaving it now out of control as there still is lacking tracking and isolation throughout the US. Sure he can take credit for closing the borders...but in the same sentence, he needs to take full responsibility for totally botching any kind of coordinated action against the virus...other than relying on magic to make the virus go away.

Curious you don't say anything about what Biden and the Democrats said when they called Trump a racist and xenophobic for shutting down China travel to the US.  It would have been twice as bad if we followed their ideas.

[Alan Klein]

Yes...and the US is right up there in daily deaths with the other poorer, should we even say 3rd world countries.

In Europe?

[chez]

In Europe?

Yes, there are many poor countries in Europe.

[Alan Klein]

Yes, there are many poor countries in Europe.

You mean like increases in Covid to poor countries like:

Meanwhile today, several European countries reported daily record-high case numbers. For example, the Czech Republic reported 9,544 cases, and pressure on hospitals has prompted health officials to forge working agreements with German hospitals, ask doctors to return from abroad, and make plans for field hospitals, Reuters reported. Other countries that reported record-high cases include Russia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy.

In the United Kingdom, government officials announced tighter measures for London that take effect at midnight tomorrow, Reuters reported. The alert level for the area has been raised from medium to high, and people can't meet with other households indoors and they have been asked to limit travel.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/covid-19-cases-climb-us-and-europe

[chez]

You mean like increases in Covid to poor countries like:

Meanwhile today, several European countries reported daily record-high case numbers. For example, the Czech Republic reported 9,544 cases, and pressure on hospitals has prompted health officials to forge working agreements with German hospitals, ask doctors to return from abroad, and make plans for field hospitals, Reuters reported. Other countries that reported record-high cases include Russia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy.

In the United Kingdom, government officials announced tighter measures for London that take effect at midnight tomorrow, Reuters reported. The alert level for the area has been raised from medium to high, and people can't meet with other households indoors and they have been asked to limit travel.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/covid-19-cases-climb-us-and-europe

The US is 10th in deaths per million people with countries like Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Andorra above them. With the infection rate on the rise in the US, I'm sure it won't improve on this death rate unless something is done to change things. If you look at Europe countries, they have a lower death rate.

[Alan Klein]

The US is 10th in deaths per million people with countries like Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Andorra above them. With the infection rate on the rise in the US, I'm sure it won't improve on this death rate unless something is done to change things. If you look at Europe countries, they have a lower death rate.

Another deflection for another of your erroneous posts.

[John Camp]

Trump closed travel from China to the USA at the end of January which was very early.  Meanwhile Biden called him xenophobic for doing it and other Democrats called him racist.  So not only was he ahead of them in positive action, it seems they were the ones to play politics first.

Maybe Biden called it xenophobic because he banned travel from China -- which Trump has been feuding with and wanted to punish -- but didn't ban travel from (white) Europe, which is where we got most heavily hit, and right in your neighborhood of NY and NJ. That qualified as xenophobia for me...if not outright bigotry.

[TechTalk]

That stems from our desire, as one MP put it, to make death illegal.

To my ears, that sounds like hyperbole raised to the level of absurdity.

[chez]

Another deflection for another of your erroneous posts.

How is that a deflection. USA has the most deaths and cases in the world...continues to have a death rate of around 1,000 per day and has a rising infection number per day. What exactly is being deflected here...you are trying to make Europe sound bad and like I said...many countries in Europe are not as wealthy as the USA, so comparing them to the USA does not make sense. Right now the USA is in a race with Brazil and India to see which country ends up with the most deaths from the virus...both countries not at the same wealth level as the US.

[Alan Klein]

Maybe Biden called it xenophobic because he banned travel from China -- which Trump has been feuding with and wanted to punish -- but didn't ban travel from (white) Europe, which is where we got most heavily hit, and right in your neighborhood of NY and NJ. That qualified as xenophobia for me...if not outright bigotry.

Please. The virus came from Wuhan, China so Trump shut China travel down first. That's logical not xenophobic.  Once it was obvious that the Chinese disease was coming in through the European back door especially to New York and the East Coast, Trump shut that down as well.  Biden was slower on the drawer than Trump and playing political games. But the media has twisted it around making it seem Trump didn't act at all. The question is not what your thinking is.  Of course, you will always think Trump is wrong.  The question is whether those making up their minds realize that most of the biased anti-Trump negative hype is just that.