smackeddog wrote:

firefly wrote:I have to say I find this whole conversation really very sad. And also pretty nonsensical.

As mentioned above, noone is denying the vast efffect this virus has had on people. The deaths, the families torn apart, the havoc and the wide-reaching implications of overwhelming the healthcare system.

And then, because of the political setup of the United Sates, the conversation has now changed. If you want to be careful and not harm others by spreading a deadly virus, you're now a bad person. A socialist (like that overarching title should be seen as the worst thing in the world, its not). Anti-American (as if that means anything in reality in a country that's split to the extremes on a 60/40 blue/red divide).

Reading stories about stores not allowing people with masks into the store.

People taking to the streets with guns because somehow thats become a part of the Covid narrative.

Getting yelled at by people on social media because im a medic in the NHS and therefore Im "a part of the conspiracy".

Somehow the story is now one of liberty, freedom and anarchy. And somehow the experts, the public health professionals, the medics, the nurses, the academics, these are all the wrong ones "who dont understand the real problems or, even worse are a part of the problem".

And it boggles my mind. All of these measures are for the sake of saving lives. For the sake of ensuring that we dont spread the virus to people who will die from it. And people dont care. How can they not care??

I appreciate the fact that the economy needs to be woke up. That people need to get back to work. But, plain and simple, if they go back to work the way they were working before Covid, then people will die. Whats needed is a new approach, something that takes into account the horrific reality of the world we now share with a virus that couldnt give a **** what colour you vote.

Overwhelming evidence shows that social distancing brings the R number down. Overwhelming evidence shows that reducing the R number stops infections. Overwhelming evidence shows that the mortality rate from being infected by this virus is logarithmically worse than any seasonal virus or disease we have faced so far. Overwhelming evidence shows that even should you survive, the need for massive amounts of hospital care to get you through the infection will take space away from the usual sick patients who need healthcare intervention and therefore the knock-on effect of the virus is to kill more people with heart disease, cancer, chronic illness, COPD etc. Overwhelming evidence shows that washing hands stops infections. Overwhelming evidence shows that wearing masks, while not perfect, are a good tool to reduce the possibility of infections.

But somehow it has become un-American to care about other people. Un-American to want to keep people safe. Un-American to believe in overwhelming scientific concensus. Un-American to believe that your healthcare workers have your best interests at heart.

And BRIGGS I would honestly truly love to hear why you think America is the greatest country on earth. I love America. Ive lived there, worked there, loved there and plan on doing all those things again in the future. This blind ideal that its somehow "great" is myopic at best and, tbh, utterly hilarious to the rest of the world. At this stage in history, as far as a lot of the world can see, you really dont have much to be proud of.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_rankings_of_the_United_States

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5974516?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALhqKC6NZ4teQ5wTEC5Keolh94XvJtepr0erePp_sFPYMQYhUjrlcxyzaLYP8zsd-hXbYtqJ_Q-o6wibYzPUt_RtYzfuMbm8YTjR4DeQfmkoh9Ykd_-eVmH4-hAL4RRZmj1JkEXWE9u4MZI8YwNPIcCn0GChkODwshyQvEFUMvGV

General consensus has it that the only thing the United States ranks Number 1 in is violence and preparation for violence. Good job 👍

I find the "U-S-A! U-S-A!" mindset response to this situation truly maddening, it's like re-activated indoctrination left over from 'the war against terrorism' or the Cold War- people act like they're defying something sentient and rallying against 'traitors' who are siding with it. It's just truly bizarre. Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face.

However, reading some of the stories from the Spanish Flu epidemic, all of this bone-headed stupidity has happened before, I guess we've never really evolved or developed past the witch hunt mentality or the punishing heretics for thinking the earth was round.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

And authoritive society’s historically discredit science and intellects as it does not serve the purpose of control. Using religion is more effective.

Why try to end a pandemic when you can own the libs? These folks cant say they werent warned. Dont be surprised if a huge outbreak follows.

GustavBahler wrote:https://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2020/05/25/north-carolina-racing-fans-gather-in-large-crowds-at-local-racetrack-defying-governors-lockdown-orders/

Why try to end a pandemic when you can own the libs? These folks cant say they werent warned. Dont be surprised if a huge outbreak follows.

Blame China. Don't tell anyone the tariff's is a tax consumers pay and the money goes into the U.S Treasury. Its designed to level the playing field. Fact is many products are not produced here and thus can't be priced. Blame? The consumer. Greed? Lets not get to carried away, its the competitive market place. Americans are not better or any more deserving. Does china play fair? Nope. Do we have to do business there? Nope. Best way to handle it is a global alliance. How to not do it? Break up what harmony you had with global alliance's like Trump has done.
Blame Bill Gates. Misinformation becomes real.
Blame Immigrants. Dumb.
Blame the Jews. Trump has permitted this dialog. Not institutionally but he is permissive.
Blame minorities. See above.
Blame Obama. Convenient. Can't blame Hilleary.
Blame blame blame. Don't solve the problems but deflect them.

When voters said "what do you have to lose", vote Trump! Well, we lost a lot. The pandemic is not his doing, but our response is in part on him.
He goes after Democratic governors to help his reelection. He is doing it in NC today. Threatens to cancel Republican Convention. It was here to help Tom Tillis re-election. Gov. Cooper is also up for re-election. Trump wants to divide to suit his personal cause. Wash, rinse and repeat.

Blame China for bad masks that did not protect health care workers. Fact is FDA took $5500 to certify factories in china to manufacture. 60 were allowed, now only 14 are because they certified bad stuff. This is America. All talk and no substance.

Don't take my word for it or CNN or Fox. Read what comes out of his mouth, what he does, what he does not do. Then think for yourselves. You don't have to like Biden he is just a bridge to HOPE.

https://www.newsweek.com/texas-houston-coronavirus-rise-warning-beaches-bars-clubs-1506312

Texas Coronavirus Cases Rise as Houston Mayor Says 'We're Not Equipped' to Handle Projected Surge

In Harris County, where Houston is located, health service data shows there have been over 10,900 cases, the largest of any county in the state. But one new projection model suggested the region could see 2,000 daily new cases by June, KSAT reported.

"We're not equipped to handle that type of surge," Turner said. "We can take about 200 cases a day... with contact tracing and we're building up that program.

BRIGGS wrote:I really appreciate what I saw at Rocky neck state beach yesterday. It was a great atmosphere. Almost everyone that I saw wore a mask to the beach! Many people and we’re all spaced out there n a correct manner— very respectful and mindful of the rules by a large number of people. People celebrating the freedom that the troops before us died to give us. Many American flags out in display. It’s the meaning of America. People working together in the right way for the betterment of all! Seeing kids run around and enjoying life. Families enjoying each other’s company. And to have such social respect for each other it was incredible. So yes we can work within the rules of society to use our freedoms. And we will and we should. We will rise back as a nation by being smart and respectful. Now I saw pictures elsewhere in the us where social distancing was simply not followed. This is where the law must intervene. It won’t be perfect and we’ve all got to work for perfection for now to be safe. I’m not hiding in my basement abd I bet the fallen soldier is right there with me— he helped pave our way. He didn’t die for others to judge what’s right or wrong about our freedoms but rather thT we have the right to use them! Stay safe follow the guidelines and enjoy your summer. Let God be with us all!

MAGA inspired "Open up America" rally in North Carolina on Memmorial day was more about "First amendendment rights". They had a permit to hold it. Thing is they are being open Nobody wore masks. Person I know who covered it for TV said they wanted to control how it was covered. They had all a QNON women there all out there in her glory and they tried to NOT have the media cover it. Reporter was like "we are coving who is here and showing up". few wanted to be interviewed. While all taughting first amendment rights and hostile to media they very much wanted the coverage but not fair. Local news is not CNN or Fox. They cover what is happening. They are hostile to reporters. This person cannot interact or debate. They wanted to say "Would you rather us pack up and leave an not cover this?" Only about 100 folks showed up, some small local polititions up for election spoke. One was very specific and said he only wanted to say somthing about Memorial Day. Not everyone wants to politicize the virus. Trump does. Every day he divides us to serve his reelection agenda.

Briggs, glad you saw good respectful behavior. That makes me hopeful. I also recall your wife is a nurse and hope she is protected and safe. Its a valient profession we take for granted before this virus.
I also recall you supported Trump who in my opiinon has not exercised precaution and seen that our hospitals are protected. Flattening the curve was about getting up to speed to handle the worst case scenario for those health care workers. YOu don't sent troops to battle without proper equipment. Delfecting blame is not leadership.

BRIGGS wrote:I really appreciate what I saw at Rocky neck state beach yesterday. It was a great atmosphere. Almost everyone that I saw wore a mask to the beach! Many people and we’re all spaced out there n a correct manner— very respectful and mindful of the rules by a large number of people. People celebrating the freedom that the troops before us died to give us. Many American flags out in display. It’s the meaning of America. People working together in the right way for the betterment of all! Seeing kids run around and enjoying life. Families enjoying each other’s company. And to have such social respect for each other it was incredible. So yes we can work within the rules of society to use our freedoms. And we will and we should. We will rise back as a nation by being smart and respectful. Now I saw pictures elsewhere in the us where social distancing was simply not followed. This is where the law must intervene. It won’t be perfect and we’ve all got to work for perfection for now to be safe. I’m not hiding in my basement abd I bet the fallen soldier is right there with me— he helped pave our way. He didn’t die for others to judge what’s right or wrong about our freedoms but rather thT we have the right to use them! Stay safe follow the guidelines and enjoy your summer. Let God be with us all!

Have you been interviewing the ghosts of dead soldiers to ask each of them why exactly they died? I find it insulting to use dead people to justify your own actions, take ownership, don't ascribe motivations to people who can't correct you. Come on man, you can leave it at "I did this because I wanted to and think it's the right thing to do"

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https://twitter.com/wolfblitzer/status/1265328116748222467

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https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1263893286714040321