COVID-2019 in America, effect on politics and economy

[TopHatter]

How does boot taste?

I assume that you're inferring that I'm a government bootlicker or similar, is that correct?

Live people who disagree with government action showed up to these protests

Yeah, no shit, that's exactly the problem. Oddly enough, plenty of them are wearing surgical masks and the like.
Why don't they prove how fearless they are and take them off while they're busy blocking medical personnel from trying to do their fucking job?

I personally know people who are pissed off over the various shutdown orders and want changes to those orders. Those arent Russian bots or top secret activists.

Once again, no shit, so do I. The article never said they were Russian bots but might as well make shit up while you're doing your latest drive-by, right?

Top secret activists? More like dumbshit activists because they clearly can't keep their activism a secret.

The "use claims of disinformation to silence our opponents" crowd are, as always, pathetic and seem to always parrot policy positions of the establishment elites. It's almost like they are inauthentic...

It's almost like these anti-government, anti-science types always want to show up in bullshit tacticool gear to demonstrate how the gubmint can't push THEM around!

[troung]

I assume that you're inferring that I'm a government bootlicker or similar, is that correct?

The writer and their so called experts :)

It's almost like these anti-government, anti-science types always want to show up in bullshit tacticool gear to demonstrate how the gubmint can't push THEM around!

We have government action which has had negative effects for millions being protested by the effected. The rubes, how dare they.

Once again, no shit, so do I. The article never said they were Russian bots but might as well make shit up while you're doing your latest drive-by, right?

Give it a week. We can't just have people who have a difference of opinion be "misinformed' by just the evil GOP or drumpf.

Yeah, no shit, that's exactly the problem. Oddly enough, plenty of them are wearing surgical masks and the like.
Why don't they prove how fearless they are and take them off while they're busy blocking medical personnel from trying to do their fucking job?

Can't complain that they all didn't run around with SARs masks and then complain that a bunch did.

[JRT]

[ATTACH]48523[/ATTACH]

Is that a mall-cop convention?

[JRT]

Most Americans get their health insurance through their employer. If you are laid off/unemployed you often lose your health insurance...which if you end up with COVID 19 could mean your family is ruined financially.

The same insurance coverage can be continued under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). The separated ex-employee pays full plan cost plus an administrative surcharge which was 2% of plan cost last time I looked into it (for someone else, not for myself). So someone would pay 102% plan cost with no gap in coverage or change in coverage, and the plan cost is the group rate negotiated by the employer.

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra

https://www.healthcare.gov/unemployed/cobra-coverage/

[Double Edge]

Three brothers appear to be behind online network of far-right gun owners calling for protests

A trio of far-right, pro-gun provocateurs is behind some of the largest Facebook groups calling for anti-quarantine protests across the country, offering the latest illustration that some seemingly organic demonstrations are being engineered by a network of conservative activists.

The Facebook groups target Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and they appear to be the work of Ben Dorr, the political director of a group called Minnesota Gun Rights, and his siblings Christopher and Aaron. By Sunday, the groups had more than 200,000 members combined, and they continued to expand quickly, days after President Donald Trump endorsed such protests by suggesting citizens should "liberate" their states.

The online activity implies that opposition to the restrictions is more widespread than polling suggests. Nearly 70 per cent of Republicans said they supported a national stay-home order, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. Ninety-five per cent of Democrats backed such a measure in the survey.

The Facebook groups have become digital hubs for the same sort of misinformation spouted in recent days at state capitols – from comparing the virus to the flu to questioning the intentions of scientists working on a vaccine.

Facebook said Sunday that it did not plan to take action to remove the groups or events, partly because states have not outlawed them. Organisers also have called for "drive-in" protests, in keeping with recommendations that people keep a short distance between one another. In other cases, involving protests planned for states such as New Jersey and California, the company has removed that content, Facebook said.

"Unless government prohibits the event during this time, we allow it to be organised on Facebook. For this same reason, events that defy government's guidance on social distancing aren't allowed on Facebook," said Andy Stone, a spokesman for the company.

None of the Dorr brothers responded to calls and emails Sunday.

Wisconsinites Against Excessive Quarantine was created Wednesday by Ben Dorr. His brother Christopher is the creator of Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine, as well as Ohioans Against Excessive Quarantine. A third brother, Aaron, is the creator of New Yorkers Against Excessive Quarantine.

The online coordination offered additional clues about how the protest activity is spreading nationwide, capturing the imagination of the president and of Fox News even though it represents the views of a small minority of Americans. Trump himself tied the protests to gun rights – a major cause for the Dorr brothers – in telling Virginians that the Second Amendment was "under siege" as he urged them to "liberate" the state.

Opposition to restriction is more widespread than polling suggests ? let's take a look

Free Pennsylvania From Excessive Quarantine smallest at 2,235 members

Ohioans Against Excessive Quarantine ~15k members

New Yorkers Against Excessive Quarantine ~25k members

Wisconsinites Against Excessive Quarantine the largest at 102k members

Whether opposition to restriction is more widespread means membership of these groups should increase over the coming days.

All groups are private so can't read anything without joining.

[TopHatter]

The writer and their so called experts :)

Wow...quite a leap of imagination there. Hope you did some stretching beforehand.

We have government action which has had negative effects for millions being protested by the effected. The rubes, how dare they.

There's a once-in-a-century pandemic sweeping the country with a body count that's making 9/11 look like a skinned knee and a semi-literate anti-science cockwomble in the Oval Office literally encouraging people to take up arms against the government....and the only thing that currently can halt its spread is people NOT going out in public as much as possible. The idiots, how dare they.

Give it a week. We can't just have people who have a difference of opinion be "misinformed' by just the evil GOP or drumpf.

Ok but that still doesn't change what's in that article. Which didn't say anything about Russian bots. Keep leaping though, it's fun to watch.

Drumpf? Oh you mean this dumbshit?

"This is a very brilliant enemy. You know, it’s a brilliant enemy. They develop drugs like the antibiotics. You see it. Antibiotics used to solve every problem. Now one of the biggest problems the world has is the germ has gotten so brilliant that the antibiotic can’t keep up with it. And they're constantly trying to come up with a new – people go to a hospital and they catch – they go for a heart operation – that's no problem, but they end up dying from – from problems. You know the problems I'm talking about. There's a whole genius to it. We’re fighting – not only is it hidden, but it’s very smart. Okay? It’s invisible and it’s hidden, but it’s – it’s very smart.”

I'd point out that antibiotics don't do diddly shit against viruses like COVID-19 and never have, but I doubt that Trump would know (or care about) the difference.

Can't complain that they all didn't run around with SARs masks and then complain that a bunch did.

Totally missed the point, but that's ok too.

[troung]

Wow...quite a leap of imagination there. Hope you did some stretching beforehand.

Individuals and entities who peddle in "people who disagree with their elites are victims of wicked disinformation" warrant quotes around their status as experts. There is always some clown out there who runs a BS organization with a twitter account with almost no engagement prepared to chirp as instructed.

There's a once-in-a-century pandemic sweeping the country with a body count that's making 9/11 look like a skinned knee and a semi-literate anti-science cockwomble in the Oval Office literally encouraging people to take up arms against the government....and the only thing that currently can halt its spread is people NOT going out in public as much as possible. The idiots, how dare they.

The Orange Emperor did not "literally encourage people to take up arms" it was expressing support for people who after a month and a half of this are getting fed up with perceived government overreach, want changes to how these forced shutdowns are done, are ticked off over the petty nature of some restrictions, and/or want to get back to work taking the China Flu into account. There was a clear context. I know people who are not on team Trump (sad as that is) who want these orders changed so they may get back to work, nurses who have had their hours slashed, part time workers let go, retail workers who are stuck at home, personal trainers and barbers who are not allowed to work, strippers who are not making that paper.

The sane reaction probably would have been a shrug, lighthearted jest or two, and acknowledging their right to protest: the teeth gnashing outrage over people protesting actions of the political elite and the declaration that opposition to government action is based on "disinformation" campaigns is something far, far worse.

Ok but that still doesn't change what's in that article. Which didn't say anything about Russian bots. Keep leaping though, it's fun to watch.

Give it time, the media will claim protests and general opposition to perceived government overreach is really based on Russian interference.

Totally missed the point, but that's ok too.

Didn't miss a thing )))

[astralis]

The Orange Emperor did not "literally encourage people to take up arms" it was expressing support for people who after a month and a half of this are getting fed up with perceived government overreach, want changes to how these forced shutdowns are done, are ticked off over the petty nature of some restrictions, and/or want to get back to work taking the China Flu into account.

telling protestors to liberate certain states and "save your great 2nd Amendment" sure sounds just like support for people who after a month and a half of this are getting fed up with perceived government overreach alright.

the states that he told the protesters to "liberate" don't even pass the benchmarks for re-opening that his own Administration set. not the states' benchmarks, -his own-.

[troung]

telling protestors to liberate certain states and "save your great 2nd Amendment" sure sounds just like support for people who after a month and a half of this are getting fed up with perceived government overreach alright.

The Virginia democrat governor signed anti Second Amendment laws while this was going on, so timing wise it was kind of a twofer. People are worried over government assault on the Second Amendment, and then we have perceived governmental overreach regarding shut down orders. Combine that with the timing of releasing his plan to reopen the country. Trump's tweet reflected that feeling, not a call to forcibly take Richmond from the carpetbaggers and scalawags.

[snapper]

How does boot taste?

Live people who disagree with government action showed up to these protests. I personally know people who are pissed off over the various shutdown orders and want changes to those orders. Those arent Russian bots or top secret activists.

The "use claims of disinformation to silence our opponents" crowd are, as always, pathetic and seem to always parrot policy positions of the establishment elites. It's almost like they are inauthentic...

Would you support anti lockdown protests in Muscovy?

[troung]

Protest away

[snapper]

Protest away

Oh dear... encouraging lockdown protests in Moscow is an arrestable offence.

[troung]

A gotcha so weak and frail it could host a CNN show.

This isn't Russia and this isnt Europe.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/federal...perations/amp/

White House details how agencies should call back federal employees, resume ‘normal’ operations
Nicole Ogrysko
4 hours ago


(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Agencies have new guidelines now from the Trump administration, which detail how, consistent with local conditions, they should gradually begin to reopen federal offices and call their employees back from mandatory telework programs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidance, which acting Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and acting Office of Personnel Management Director Michael Rigas released Monday afternoon, gives agency leaders a framework to make these decisions.

The framework mirrors the national guidelines the White House released late last week, which charged individual states with meeting certain “gating criteria” before reopening the local economy in phases.

“The federal government has a critical role to assist and lead the national recovery,” Vought and Rigas said. “This guidance provides the framework for agencies to take immediate actions to begin adjusting their operating status for a controllable, steady return to normal operations, and align agency operations through the “gating period” and the three-phase framework in the national guidelines. Federal government-wide operating decisions will be informed by states’ phasing assessments and conditions, but implemented at the direction of agency heads or as delegated by the agency head.”


The guidance describes a tricky balancing act for agency heads, who must weigh the conditions, testing and hospital capacity within the states and counties where they reside — as well as status for all states and regions where the organization operates.

Insight by LookingGlass: Find out the status of cyber threat info sharing in this exclusive ebook.

These state and regional assessments will serve as a starting point for agencies. But they must also consider school and childcare closures, mass transit availability, parking availability, facility requirements and their missions.

Operating plans may even differ depending on individual positions or missions within the agency.

“Mitigation measures for an office worker will likely look much different than the measures for those who perform their jobs in a non-office setting and would result in potentially different operational phasing and mitigation decisions even within a single geographic location,” the guidance reads.

Agencies should coordinate their decisions for reopening regional federal offices with OPM and OMB, Vought and Rigas said.

OPM may, for example, coordinate a response for the national capital region, as it has done for snow and severe weather days in the area. But as 85% of the federal workforce resides outside of the Washington metropolitan region, there will likely will be a wide variety of reopening plans and operating status updates that may differ depending on location, mission and agency.

And because each agency may take a different approach to reopening in each state, departments must post their operating statuses for each facility on their websites, the guidance said.

Check our coronavirus resource to see telework updates and other federal responses to the pandemic.

OPM will keep a compilation of this information on its own website.

“By acting early and decisively, President Donald Trump has ensured the government remains open and essential services continue to be provided to the American public throughout the coronavirus emergency,” an OMB spokesman said in a statement to Federal News Network. “Now as conditions warrant across each state, federal agencies will be able to return operations to normal. This administration remains committed to serving the American public. Our federal workers have shown tremendous fortitude in keeping the U.S. strong.”

A gradual lift on telework in phases
It’s still up to agency heads to make their own decisions about telework moving forward, Vought and Rigas said, though they urged leaders to consider continually revising or tweaking their telework policies to reflect local conditions and mission needs.

All “high risk” federal employees who are eligible for telework should continue to work remotely — and may continue to do so through the gating period and at least the first two phases of the reopening framework.

“Until agencies have resumed normal operations and risk is minimal, all federal agencies are encouraged to maximize telework flexibilities to all eligible workers within those populations
that the CDC has identified as being at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19 and to CDC-identified special populations including pregnant women, regardless of location,” the guidance reads.

The framework then describes a “gating period” and three additional phases for instituting telework policies, again, based on geographic location.

Under the “gating period,” agencies should keep working under the current “maximum telework flexibility” operating status, which OMB implemented back on March 18. This period will give states, as well as the agencies, the time needed to determine whether it’s safe to gradually reopen parts of the local economy.

Once a state has finished its assessment, agencies may advance to phase one, where they should lift mandatory telework requirements. Agencies should encourage telework “wherever possible” in these regional areas, but it’s not required.

Agencies should lift maximum telework policies at phase two.

“In general, employees could potentially begin resuming normal telework arrangements in these areas,” the guidance reads. “Before requiring employees to resume normal telework arrangements on a widespread basis, agency leaders should assess employees’ needs, such as childcare and transportation. Agency leaders may also establish alternative service levels or work arrangements to reduce the number of individuals in an office to promote social distancing.”

The guidance for phase three doesn’t offer much detail, but it does suggest agencies may choose to enter into new work arrangements with their employees.

“Agencies may create cohorts or teams within an office and place the cohort or team on alternating schedules of five days in the office and 15 days of telework per month,” Vought and Rigas said. “Adoption of alternative arrangements such as rotating cohorts may enable additional flexibility for employees to resume normal operations, regardless of phasing status, while maintaining social distancing and reducing contact among work units.”

In addition, agencies should continue to grant weather and safety leave to high-risk employees, as well as those who can’t safely travel to their typical duty stations.

Agencies may, according to the guidance, continue to grant excused absences to federal employees if schools and day care centers stay closed, but only on a limited basis.

Federal employees may wear masks at the office
The OMB and OPM guidance also offers up some precautions agencies should take to protect federal employees who are at high risk for the coronavirus, as well as those over the age of 65.

Employees in good health and under the age of 65 may return the workplace, consistent with state and local guidelines.

“Employees may wear a face covering at all times while in the workplace,” the guidance reads. “Agencies can issue facemasks or may approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings.”

In addition, it’s up to each agency’s building mission to set screening procedures and social distancing standards.

Agencies may, for example, consider closing common areas or banning shared food in the office buildings. They should also ensure they have hand sanitizer, soap and toilet paper on hand, the guidance said.

They may also set screening procedures for both employees and visitors to federal facilities. Agencies may, for example, ask employees to take their own temperatures at home before coming to the office.

“These agency policies must include specific considerations for federal employees, contractors and visitors,” the guidance reads. “Agencies may consider purchasing facility screening services (including basic health screenings and temperature checks) now available on the GSA Schedule, subject to availability.”

And finally, the guidance advises agencies with customer-facing missions, including national parks, Social Security offices, Small Business Administration loan offices, Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and others, to make a special effort to resume normal operations.

“Agencies must prioritize capacity building for those services that are the most public-facing as well as those critical to implementing COVID-19 response efforts to help the nation’s recovery,” the guidance reads. “For those agencies with a customer-facing mission, agencies should determine how to prioritize reopening properties and facilities and provide increased public access to these facilities in a manner that is consistent with the national guidelines

[DOR]

What exactly is the Russian term for what the Chinese call a Wu Mao (pro-government troll)?

[snapper]

Free, not in prison yet.