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COVID-2019 in America, effect on politics and economy

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  • an informative primer on how to deal with the exponential quality of COVID.

    https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coron...e-be9337092b56
    There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

    Comment


    • Originally posted by Double Edge View Post
      Trump seems to agree. Take away the corporate added names like choloro and hydroxy and you are left with plain old quinine, for malaria : )

      Quinine rocks. My quarantine ended yesterday, but now the entire country is in one. Bummer.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by astralis View Post
        an informative primer on how to deal with the exponential quality of COVID.

        https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coron...e-be9337092b56
        Loved his previous one

        Comment


        • Originally posted by TopHatter View Post
          Would love to know why JLTVs are being railroaded through my hometown in the NW suburbs of Chicago.

          https://www.facebook.com/1183766336/...481294650/?d=n

          Don't see this every day up there, that's for damn sure.
          They're manufactured by the Oshkosh Corporation in Oshkosh, WI, which is 175 miles NNW of Chicago.

          Probably just a recently finished order being fulfilled. If they were being sent to a military base anywhere south or east of Chicago, they'd go through Chicago.
          "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

          Comment


          • Originally posted by GVChamp View Post
            Our factory considers itself critical, so, still going to work! People are pretty peeved. We are not actually critical.
            Wife works in a hospital. Wife specifically works in a hospital that sounds like it is getting geared up specifically to handle COVID. Given the sheer amount of PPE shortage, I am a bit concerned.

            Baby gets put in Day Care with a bunch of other babies. This Day Care is considered critical because it's right next to a hospital that is almost definitely a center for COVID. Good times.

            Reallllly hope this gets under control.
            In Oregon the order mandates that dental offices remain shut till June 15th. Three months, no cash flow, bills, can't wait to see how many never re-open as some will go under. I don't know what the governor was thinking about that one. Granted this will probably go on for more months that some think since flattening the curve doesn't change the total cases it only stretches it out so it is more manageable. That being the case then the collateral damage among small businesses could be huge especially ancillary health care providers.

            Comment


            • Coronavirus pandemic: Trump can't even play a president on TV. America, we're on our own.

              President Donald Trump had a dramatic change in demeanor early this week regarding the coronavirus pandemic, much to the surprise of his critics and members of the White House press corps. He seemed calm, reasonable and properly presidential, and warned that the crisis could run to August or longer. He dismissed questions about the impact on Wall Street by correctly stating that the way to rescue the economy was to defeat the virus. He comforted the nation until, just as abruptly, he flipped again.

              Trump is back to making a mockery of daily briefings and fostering confusion among Americans at a time when they are desperate for straight talk. As the nation struggles with an unpredictable pandemic it shouldn’t have to endure an unpredictable president.

              Following Trump’s briefing Friday that included a bizarre outburst at NBC’s Peter Alexander, John King of CNN called the president’s words “bulls—t” and "reprehensible." Jonathan Karl from ABC said it was "outrageous to use the presidential bully pulpit to bully" Alexander.

              New platform and total Trump control

              Trump’s public posture is an elaborate contrivance, as we’ve known all along. The best the nation could hope for as the health crisis deepened was that Trump would stay out of the way — allowing capable experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci to handle critical communications, while the president practiced happy talk about “miracles.”

              Trump summed up his priorities March 14 by proudly quoting his staff: “Sir, you just set a new record in the history of the stock market!” The next day, as Italy reported a gruesome spike in fatalities and U.S. governors moved to take drastic steps to control social interaction, Trump told the nation: “Relax. We’re doing great. It will all pass.” He seemed giddy over the Fed’s action on interest rates, saying, “I would think there are a lot of people on Wall Street who are very happy!”

              Then, as things got worse and the stock market tumbled, Trump had to change course. He decided to become the face of daily White House briefings, shoving Vice President Mike Pence to the side. The calculation was clear: With the 2020 presidential campaign frozen in place — and with the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, off the air and removed from view — Trump had a new platform that he alone could control. On that stage he would play the part of a true leader.

              For a few days it seemed to be working. Trump took questions for over an hour each day — in a briefing room that his administration had all but boarded up. He listened patiently as some reporters badgered him with what were, frankly, unreasonable questions such as, “How long will the crisis last?” and “When will schools reopen?” Moreover, he seemed willing to allow experts to have their say. An ABC News/Ipsos poll showed his approval rating on handling the crisis was rising.

              Briefings as daily soap opera

              But Trump couldn’t avoid being Trump. He took to calling COVID-19 “the Chinese virus.” He so intimidated his coronavirus team that each member was compelled to lavish praise on the president, with Pence so driven that he sounded like the warm-up act at a campaign rally.

              The briefings have become a daily soap opera, with the president providing a dangerous mix of faulty assumptions, personal hunches and outright distortions.

              On March 19, Trump enthused about drugs that could be repurposed to treat COVID-19. Medical experts immediately warned that data was sketchy and lengthy trials would be needed. But the following day Trump picked up where he left off, expressing his belief that a fast treatment could be at hand.

              That’s when reporter Peter Alexander spoke up and hell broke loose. Alexander wondered if Trump was trying too hard to put a “positive spin” on the situation. “What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?” Alexander asked. Trump’s reply: “I say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I say. I think it’s a very nasty question.”

              It got worse as Trump as defended himself and lambasted “Con-cast,” referring to Comcast, NBC’s parent.

              The nation deserves better. Trump has a unique opportunity to at least play the part of a responsible leader even if it’s against his true nature. He could enhance his re-election prospects just by being humble and presidential.

              Turns out he can’t do either. America, we’re on our own. All we can expect from the Trump administration is a growing infodemic.
              _____________
              “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

              Comment


              • That press conference really cracked me up. Alexander threw him a softball with which any politician would have hit out of the park. Even Nixon, a sociopath is his own right, wouldn't have whiffed at this one. Pence didn't whiff.

                I can just see a commercial during the election showing just this clip and just how presidential Trump isn't. His true believers will dismiss it but that small minority who tipped some states his way, by taking a flyer on him, won't be so easily swayed this time.

                Comment


                • Trump says ...

                  What did the President know, and when did he know it?
                  --Howard Baker, 1973

                  Jan 22. Trump says US has coronavirus ‘totally under control,’ (The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...-under-control)

                  Jan 22. Trump says U.S. prepared for Wuhan coronavirus, trusts China to be transparent (Washington Times: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...oronavirus-tr/)

                  Feb 24. Trump says coronavirus ‘under control,’ stocks look ‘very good.’ (NY Post: https://nypost.com/2020/02/24/trump-...oks-very-good/)

                  Feb 25. Trump says coronavirus under control’ in US, problem going to ‘go away’. (ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trum...ry?id=69198905)

                  Feb 26. Trump says US ‘very ready’ for virus;’ Pence to lead response, (Fox 2 Detroit: https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/tru...-lead-response)

                  Feb 27. Trump says coronavirus will ‘disappear’ eventually. (CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/27/p...ear/index.html)

                  Feb 27. Trump says coronavirus spread not inevitable’. (The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...evitable-video)

                  Feb 28. Trump says the coronavirus is Democrats ‘new hoax’ (CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/28/trum...-new-hoax.html)

                  Feb 29. Trump Says the Coronavirus Is No Big Deal. (Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/politics...ay-on-message/)

                  Mar 2. Trump says it’s safe to hold rallies amid coronabirus outbreak. (The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...virus-outbreak)

                  Mar 4. Donald Trump Says Coronavirus Outbreak Has ‘Positive Impact,’ Blames Testing Delays On Obama Administration, (Inquisitr: https://www.inquisitr.com/5924930/do...-impact-obama/)

                  Mar 5. As CDC Says ‘Do Not Go to Work,’ Trump Says Thousands With Coronavirus Could Go to Work and Get Better,’ (Common Dreams: https://www.commondreams.org/news/20...o-work-and-get)

                  Mar 6. Donald Trump casually suggests the World Health Organisation’s official coronavirus death rate is a ‘false number,’ (News.com.au: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/he...1e12cb64b50d74)

                  Mar 6. Trump: 'Anybody who wants a test gets a test’ after Pence says US can’t meet coronavirus testing demand, (CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/06/trum...ronavirus.html)

                  Mar 6. Trump says coronavirus unforeseen problem … out of nowhere’, (The Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...here-1.4195588)

                  Mar 6. President Donald Trump says he’s getting his information on coronavirus from Fox News, (Media Matters for America: https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-...virus-fox-news)

                  Well, that actually explains a lot …



                  Mar 9. Trump says oil-price war, ‘fake’ coronavirus news reason for market drop. (Market Watch: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tr...rop-2020-03-09)

                  Mar 10. Trump says coronavirus crisis is ‘really working out,’ (Metro: https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/10/donal...ppen-12378462/)

                  Mar 10. Trump says coronavirus ‘will go away’ and urges Americans to ‘just stay calm,’ (CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-s...lm-2020-03-10/)

                  Mar 13. Donald Trump says asking him about disbanding the White House pandemic office is a ‘nasty question’ (Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/coronav...andemic-office)

                  Mar 18. Coronavirus: Trump says it may be ‘the story of life’ that well-connected get testing first, (NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...eighs-n1162971)
                  Trust me?
                  I'm an economist!

                  Comment


                  • does anyone, anyone here think things would have been such a clusterf*ck in the United States if HRC was President now?
                    There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      does anyone, anyone here think things would have been such a clusterf*ck in the United States if HRC was President now?
                      Or, if Moscow Mitch had done his constitutional duty?
                      Trust me?
                      I'm an economist!

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by astralis View Post
                        does anyone, anyone here think things would have been such a clusterf*ck in the United States if HRC was President now?
                        When he closed the border to Europe they protested. Now Europe is doing the same. So Trump was right on that one just as he was with China.

                        Yeah, i think HRC would have been worse if she went with the Euro way of keeping borders open until it was too late.

                        Trump has become a war time president now and will see this through.

                        Sleepy Joe is no competition. Cuomo seems the better candidate. Who knows maybe he might become one.

                        Only thing keeping Trump out of the WH this coming election is the virus.

                        It's Trump vs the virus now.

                        Originally posted by DOR View Post
                        What did the President know, and when did he know it?
                        --Howard Baker, 1973
                        Problem with this post is it deals with the superficial 'says'.

                        When are you people going to get that ?

                        Need to talk about 'does'. And then argue about that.

                        I'm interested in how America is handling this crisis not this incessant whining about C-in-C !

                        Stimulus packages and their expected effect. That big one trillion whopper expected in Phase 3.

                        Treasury propping up the stock market by purchasing index funds

                        All uncharted territory.

                        This is the DOING part.

                        More important than the virus is how liquidity will be managed in every country.

                        It's funny how people thought gold would be the safe harbour in times like these but the price of gold isn't rising its falling.

                        Keynes is coming back into fashion. It's ok to be Keynesian in these troubled times when the alternative is stark ie. a systemic collapse of the economy.

                        Our systems aren't geared up for shocks like these, a lot of adjusting to be done.
                        Last edited by Double Edge; 22 Mar 20,, 16:38.

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by Versus View Post
                          Quinine rocks. My quarantine ended yesterday, but now the entire country is in one. Bummer.
                          Well, the Americans don't make any. Not these days.

                          Bayer AG does and they say they will make enough for the world.

                          There is just one factory in the US making N95 masks in Dallas.

                          CDC updated their guidelines recently to say surgical masks are acceptable now and they mean for doctors treating covid patients.

                          Won't eliminate but limit the risk.
                          Last edited by Double Edge; 22 Mar 20,, 16:26.

                          Comment


                          • DE,

                            When he closed the border to Europe they protested. Now Europe is doing the same. So Trump was right on that one just as he was with China.

                            Yeah, i think HRC would have been worse if she went with the Euro way of keeping borders open until it was too late.
                            I notice the President's supporters glom on to this ONE thing...because it's basically the only thing he did.

                            why are nurses re-using PPE? why are doctors begging for ventilators and masks and even for people to stop hoarding food so they can buy something to feed their own families?

                            the protests were because those actions were by themselves ineffective. and that's been proven by events; the US is approximately 5-10 days behind Italy with no appreciable difference in rate of COVID growth.

                            Trump has become a war time president now and will see this through.
                            some wartime President, when -states- are begging him to use the Defense Production Act. some wartime President, when he uses his bully pulpit not to inform people, but to attack the media for being unfair, to attack his own State Department, and to promise life-saving drugs that our scientists themselves say are untested.

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                            the delusion of the Trump cult is a sight to behold.
                            Last edited by astralis; 22 Mar 20,, 17:35.
                            There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by astralis View Post
                              the protests were because those actions were by themselves ineffective. and that's been proven by events; the US is approximately 5-10 days behind Italy with no appreciable difference in rate of COVID growth.
                              Ok, first off. Quarrantine is the only way to prevent COVID-19 growth. Testing only detects infections, not prevent them. By the time you detect the infection is already too late. That person had already come into contact with others.

                              Even in NY state, the decision has come to restrict testing to those whose positive result would incur hospitalization. Anyone else goes home and ride it out in isolation whether they got COVID-19 or not.

                              The number of infected detection will skyrocket. There is zero doubt about that. And the cases of undetected will make that number look small. As heartless as this sound, the question is is the death rate manageable and for the moment, it is so. It is extremely so.
                              Last edited by Officer of Engineers; 22 Mar 20,, 18:38.
                              Chimo

                              Comment


                              • Ok, first off. Quarrantine is the only way to prevent COVID-19 growth. Testing only detects infections, not prevent them. By the time you detect the infection is already too late. That person had already come into contact with others.
                                not quite. i agree that quarantine is the only way to prevent growth. however, in South Korea, the massive testing allowed authorities to do targeted quarantines, and to track down people that the infected had been in contact with before-- thus minimizing the disruption.


                                Even in NY state, the decision has come to restrict testing to those whose positive result would incur hospitalization. Anyone else goes home and ride it out in isolation whether they got COVID-19 or not.
                                because it's too late in NY State now-- the numbers are too high to play the targeted quarantine game.

                                regardless, the President did not put in place preparations for either testing or quarantines. this morning he blamed the Illinois state governor when the governor asked for federal assistance in coordination the receipt of medical equipment!

                                The number of infected detection will skyrocket. There is zero doubt about that. And the cases of undetected will make that number look small. As heartless as this sound, the question is is the death rate manageable and for the moment, it is so. It is extremely so.
                                in the US and Canada...yes. Italy is getting very close to unmanageable, because they seem to have the more virulent form of COVID.
                                There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

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