CDN/US Covid-related political discussion

[Remius]

So the majority seem to believe the experts over the politicians. And those wanting to reopen haven’t proven that it’s  safe yet.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Hesitancy shouldn't be a shock.  Observers have noted that people started self-imposing safety measures before most official measures began, and have predicted that people will continue imposing safety measures after official measures are lifted.  Neither Trump nor any other politician can actually open the economy any more than they closed it, because the real power to open and close rests with the "invisible hand".

 

[Remius]

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-52553829

White House considers disbanding the Corona Virus Task Force.

 

[FJAG]

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-52553829

White House considers disbanding the Corona Virus Task Force.

Whaaaaat? So no second wave down south?

Not sure if this is a  op: or a  :brickwall:. Think it's more a  :brickwall:

 

[Remius]

Whaaaaat? So no second wave down south?

Not sure if this is a  op: or a  :brickwall:. Think it's more a  :brickwall:

Why bother? They haven’t set a threshold for the amount of deaths they are willing to accept. So why waste the effort.  Open the economy and just let nature take it’s course.

 

[mariomike]

Why bother? They haven’t set a threshold for the amount of deaths they are willing to accept. So why waste the effort.  Open the economy and just let nature take it’s course.

Wonder when the rallies will be back on?

So the majority seem to believe the experts over the politicians. And those wanting to reopen haven’t proven that it’s  safe yet.

I'll believe doctors over the medical opinions of these guys, ( attached )

NYC residents would prefer that dead bodies are moved in the middle of the night so they can pretend that the Coronavirus is not killing scores of people.
https://nypost.com/2020/05/05/bodies-being-moved-in-broad-daylight-at-makeshift-nyc-coronavirus-morgue/

 

[kkwd]

Contrary to popular belief Canadian provinces and US states have plans for safe reopening. This shows the government trusting the citizens to do the right thing and be safe. Give people credit, they will do what is required. Don't take the actions of the few during protests as an indication that everything is going to go to hell.

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/canada-covid-19-and-provincial-97224/

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/us/states-reopen-coronavirus-trnd/

Indiana offers free PPE to small businesses for safe opening.
https://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/state-launches-ppe-marketplace-for-businesses-reopening/article_166879a2-8f0d-11ea-be6d-63a1c0e71ae4.html

 

[mariomike]

Regarding classifying Covid-19 fatalities as Line of Duty Deaths ( LODD ).
https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/05/05/de-blasio-administration-lays-out-opposition-to-line-of-duty-benefits-amid-push-at-federal-level-1282447

They want to expand a program administered by the ( US ) Justice Department to provide death benefits to the survivors of first responders killed in the line of duty.

The Detectives Endowment Association is pushing for state legislation that would classify Abear a line-of-duty death, granting his wife health benefits and his salary for life.

 

[OceanBonfire]

AP Exclusive: US shelves detailed guide to reopening country

A document created by the nation’s top disease investigators with step-by-step advice to local authorities on how and when to reopen restaurants and other public places during the still-raging outbreak has been shelved by the Trump administration.

The 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team, titled “Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework,” was researched and written to help faith leaders, business owners, educators and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.

It was supposed to be published last Friday, but agency scientists were told the guidance “would never see the light of day,” according to a CDC official. The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The AP obtained a copy from a second federal official who was not authorized to release it. The guidance was described in AP stories last week, prior to the White House decision to shelve it.

The Trump administration has been closely controlling the release of guidance and information during the pandemic spurred by a new coronavirus that scientists are still trying to understand, with the president himself leading freewheeling daily briefings until last week.

Traditionally, it’s been the CDC’s role to give the public and local officials guidance and science-based information during public health crises. During this one, however, the CDC has not had a regular, pandemic-related news briefing in nearly two months. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has been a member of the White House coronavirus task force, but largely absent from public appearances.

The dearth of real-time, public information from the nation’s experts has struck many current and former government health officials as dangerous.

...


https://globalnews.ca/news/6914946/coronavirus-trump-cdc-reopening-guide/

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/ap-exclusive-admin-shelves-cdc-guide-reopening-country-70548872

https://apnews.com/7a00d5fba3249e573d2ead4bd323a4d4

 

[Remius]

https://www.businessinsider.com/valet-to-president-trump-navy-member-tests-positive-for-covid-19-2020-5

A valet to the POTUS has tested positive for the invisible enemy.

 

[Jarnhamar]

https://globalnews.ca/news/6916481/canada-taiwan-mask-donation/

Coronavirus: Champagne dodges naming Taiwan when pressed to thank nation for mask donation
When China donated medical supplies to help Canada in battling the coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne turned to Twitter to thank the country directly.

But after the small island nation of Taiwan did the same, Champagne did not post about the donation on his Twitter account and when pressed to thank the nation directly on Thursday, would not say its name.

“Will the minister now do the right thing and on behalf of Canadians, recognize the generosity of Taiwan and thank its government for that timely donation?” asked Conservative MP Ed Fast.

Champagne said lots of countries have done the same thing, and would not name Taiwan.

“Canada is grateful to all who have given supplies to Canada. This is a common endeavour,” he said.




Tai-who? Sorry you're breaking up can't heeeeeeear you.

 

[MarkOttawa]

Start of a post:

Trump and der Untergang der Vereinigten Staaten–Can the Chicoms under Xi Fill the Void?


(“Der Untergang der Vereinigten Staaten” means “The Decline [or Downfall] of the United States", see here for my inspiration.)

Further to this Nov. 1, 2016 post,

Der Untergang des Abendlandes, Trump v. Clinton Section

The Globe and Mail’s Margaret Wente puts matters most succinctly:

“…the world’s most powerful nation has become a laughingstock – overcome by groping scandals, e-mail leaks…America’s allies are appalled, and its enemies can scarcely believe their luck. Demagogues and authoritarians around the globe are crowing about the obvious deficiencies of democracy…”

the estimable Anne Applebaum (tweets here) now follows on with a piece at The Atlantic...
https://mark3ds.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/trump-and-der-untergang-der-vereinigten-staaten-can-the-chicoms-under-xi-fill-the-void/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[LittleBlackDevil]

“…the world’s most powerful nation has become a laughingstock – overcome by groping scandals, e-mail leaks…America’s allies are appalled, and its enemies can scarcely believe their luck. Demagogues and authoritarians around the globe are crowing about the obvious deficiencies of democracy…”

Not sure Canada is any better. We have groping scandals of our own (even if they are not given the same media attention), and blackface scandal, not to mention rushed OIC's that unintentionally ban Facebook groups, airlift guns, and practically all shotguns.

I'm sure that many other democracies are in similar shape. That's the way politics seem to be done these days -- lots of muckraking -- and social media makes it all the easier to do politics that way. A lot of this stuff no doubt happened in the old days just it was kept quiet back then. As I'm sure it is kept quiet in places like China which does not have media that is free to discuss the shortcomings of its leaders.

Not saying it's right. I'd like politics to be much cleaner and our leaders to be much better, but I think this is simply the reality of the current situation. And I think that reality also keeps good people out of politics making it a vicious cycle. I know several people who I think would make admirable cabinet ministers, MPs, etc. but they want no part of that.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Coronavirus: Trudeau thanks Taiwan directly for ‘generous’ mask donation
https://globalnews.ca/news/6921046/justin-trudeau-taiwan-mask-donation/

“Your foreign minister wouldn’t thank the country by name. Will you?” asked a journalist.

“I’m happy to thank Taiwan for its generous donation,” Trudeau responded.

I must say, well played!

 

[MilEME09]

Coronavirus: Trudeau thanks Taiwan directly for ‘generous’ mask donation
https://globalnews.ca/news/6921046/justin-trudeau-taiwan-mask-donation/


I must say, well played!

Can't wait to hear China say the comments target them and go against the one China policy

 

[Remius]

Coronavirus: Trudeau thanks Taiwan directly for ‘generous’ mask donation
https://globalnews.ca/news/6921046/justin-trudeau-taiwan-mask-donation/


I must say, well played!

Get ahead of the problem.  Story goes away.

Well played indeed.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Get ahead of the problem.  Story goes away.

Well played indeed.

Reminds me of being told to let the OC tell the course that they have the week-end off.

 

[dimsum]

Get ahead of the problem.  Story goes away.

Well played indeed.

Also, it's the PM, not the Foreign Minister, saying it.  Definitely stings for cultures that are more hierarchical.

 

[mariomike]

https://www.businessinsider.com/valet-to-president-trump-navy-member-tests-positive-for-covid-19-2020-5

A valet to the POTUS has tested positive for the invisible enemy.

8 May 2020

US Vice-President Mike Pence's aide tests positive for coronavirus

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52595700

 

[Remius]

Both are being tested daily now apparently.

They’ve come a long way since this was first declared as a hoax.