All things political. Coronavirus Edition. (1 Viewer)

[Maxp]

I fear we are really going to be in a bad place due to the obvious cuts to the federal agencies that deal with infectious disease, but also the negative effect the Affordable Care act has had on non urban hospitals. Our front line defenses are ineffectual and our ability to treat the populous is probably at an all time low. Factor in the cost of healthcare and I can see our system crashing. What do you think about the politics of this virus?

 

[J-DONK]

Bernie Sanders Says It Is 'Nauseating' to See Corporations Praise Frontline Workers as 'Heroes' While Refusing to Pay Them More | Common Dreams

"I personally get really sick and tired of turning on the TV and seeing these companies run these ads, 'Thank you heroes and heroines, but of course we're not going to pay you any more money.'"

www.google.com

All of these companies with their "heartfelt" tributes to Frontline workers yet will cut them off like the McDonald's ceo did, get out of here with that. Pay them more, value them more, treat them as humans not as replaceable parts, then you can air your thanks with a straight face.

I've heard for years that CEO's are paid so much because they are truly worth that much more then a minimum wage employee. That they bring that much more productive, and value to the company. Where are our paragons of capitalism to save us now? That's right they are all hiding in mega-mansions, while their employees risk their lives. This entire situation has exposed the risk of not having a strong social safety net, and who in our economy is truly irreplaceable.

 

[Heathen]

I've heard for years that CEO's are paid so much because they are truly worth that much more then a minimum wage employee. That they bring that much more productive, and value to the company. Where are our paragons of capitalism to save us now? That's right they are all hiding in mega-mansions, while their employees risk their lives. This entire situation has exposed the risk of not having a strong social safety net, and who in our economy is truly irreplaceable.

Exactly. We like to pride ourselves for being successful for our military might and being an entrepreneurial powerhouse...which is all great until something like a pandemic strikes which uncovers the ugly truth about the majority of America, which is that this government has very little in times of crises for the struggling middle class. Folks have bought into the lies that politicians are working on their behalf, all while the same folks chip away at the ability for their constituents to get by during the stormy days.

Well, the stormy days are here. And it's getting uglier by the day. This isn't some doomsday scenario or cynical view, it's observable by anyone who sees the majority of the country working harder for less and those at the very top pulling in more. The data is there. Common sense to most. Those who champion the 'less government!' narrative will plead for help. And help they should receive. Just as someone with an injury is not denied service at the hospital for lack of payment, so should our greatest asset, the working people of this country, not be given the fullest economic assistance during time of widespread, depression-level hardship.

It's times like these that we either become the house of cards that continues the predicted collapse, or embrace structural change that will allow us to persevere. I believe in this country and think we can change for the better and get through this, but not without addressing the festering wound that is this country's purposeful negligence of what keeps it afloat.

I wish for the best, but fear the worst.

 

[The moose]

I've heard for years that CEO's are paid so much because they are truly worth that much more then a minimum wage employee. That they bring that much more productive, and value to the company. Where are our paragons of capitalism to save us now? That's right they are all hiding in mega-mansions, while their employees risk their lives. This entire situation has exposed the risk of not having a strong social safety net, and who in our economy is truly irreplaceable.

Yeah the CEO pay has just gotten out of control. In 65 CEOs made twenty times what the normal American employee did. Now we are at over three hundred times. Median american income in 65 was 6,900 bucks to 31k now that is 4.5 times compared to 280.

That really needs to be pulled back in.

That is the real reason the stock market only effects so few Americans.

 

[JimEverett]

Jim, that article you linked does not support the premise that all who have tested positive for covid-19 are automatically having covid-19 put as the cause of death on the death certificate.

"We currently do have some deaths that are being reported that are clearly from other causes. We have about 5 deaths less than 5 deaths that we know of that are related to obvious other causes. In this case, they are from gunshot wounds," Hutchison said.

Those cases are currently included in the state's COVID-19 death count, Hutchison said. But the number will be adjusted.

The below section is a little further down in the article...
There are approximately 20-30 other death cases that are harder to definitely rule out, Hutchison added. The cases do not have COVID-19 listed on the person's death certificate as a cause of death, but the certificates list other things like Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

And a little further down...
Not included in the state’s COVID-19 death count is approximately 3,000 cases where the person’s death certificate indicated symptoms similar to COVID-19, but it’s not clear if COVID-19 actually played a role in the person’s death, Hutchison said.

"We suspect that we are actually more likely to be undercounting deaths than overcounting them," Hutchison told reporters.

The state’s current COVID-19 death count includes anyone that’s tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.

 

[Dragon]

Important thing to remember when we talk about numbers. There is always a human being, a family and a story behind each and every one of them

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

 

[The moose]

That is it I am ordering some clippers.

A second hairstylist potentially exposed 56 clients to Covid-19, officials say | CNN

Two Missouri hairstylists potentially exposed 140 clients to coronavirus when they worked for up to eight days this month while symptomatic, health officials said.

www.cnn.com

The potential for community spread is still exceptionally real.

 

[surada]

That is it I am ordering some clippers.

A second hairstylist potentially exposed 56 clients to Covid-19, officials say | CNN

Two Missouri hairstylists potentially exposed 140 clients to coronavirus when they worked for up to eight days this month while symptomatic, health officials said.

www.cnn.com

The potential for community spread is still exceptionally real.

North Carolina had a big spike on Friday.. their biggest so far with 1100 new cases in 24 hours. I hope everyone will continue to take precautions.

I don't think I would listen to Donald Trump's opinions on the coronavirus.. He's been very dismissive of the threat since February.

The following day, Trump made similar comments, although he didn’t specify the study. “And if you look at the one survey, the only bad survey, they were giving it to people that were in very bad shape. They were very old, almost dead,” he said. “It was a ‘Trump enemy’ statement.”


Excerpt:

Trump Misleads on Hydroxychloroquine, Again - FactCheck.org

In revealing that he's taking the drug to prevent COVID-19, the president distorted the facts.

www.factcheck.org

An hour later, in a cabinet meeting, Trump returned to the same topic, identifying the study as “a phony study put out by the VA.”

Trump, May 19: There was a false study done where they gave it to very sick people — extremely sick people, people that were ready to die. It was given by, obviously, not friends of the administration. And the study came out. The people were ready to die. Everybody was old, had bad problems with hearts, diabetes, and everything else you can imagine. So they gave it. So, immediately, when it came out, they gave a lot of false information, just so you understand.

 

[surada]

More than 95,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus.. maybe more. Now Trump is telling people they shouldn't vote by mail. His focus is not my focus. I think when this pandemic finally .. hopefully, subsides the pent up need will drive an expansive economy with or without Trump.

I think Trump is not particularly concerned about victims of the virus.. He's more focused on his rallies and campaign for reelection..

 

[gummbo]

When it comes to matters of health and well-being, the government is the last place you should be looking to

 

[surada]

When it comes to matters of health and well-being, the government is the last place you should be looking to

I think you can look to government to orchestrate the best response afforded by science. Look at Ebola.

On October 8, Duncan died of Ebola. The other three cases diagnosed in the United States as of October 2014 were: October 11, 2014, a nurse, Nina Pham, who had provided care to Duncan at the hospital. October 14, 2014, Amber Joy Vinson, another nurse who treated Duncan.

 

[samiam5211]

When it comes to matters of health and well-being, the government is the last place you should be looking to

If that is the case then is a reflection on all of us.

The government is whatever we make of it, if we allow others to make it into something bad, that is still on each of us collectively.

 

[gummbo]

I think you can look to government to orchestrate the best response afforded by science. Look at Ebola.

On October 8, Duncan died of Ebola. The other three cases diagnosed in the United States as of October 2014 were: October 11, 2014, a nurse, Nina Pham, who had provided care to Duncan at the hospital. October 14, 2014, Amber Joy Vinson, another nurse who treated Duncan.

True, we look the government to get the ball rolling but that’s it , Government and we the people must listen to the experts. We had a safety net put up by the previous administration and the first thing that he did when he came into power was Tear it down.And now he’s reaping what he sewed

 

[surada]

If that is the case then is a reflection on all of us.

The government is whatever we make of it, if we allow others to make it into something bad, that is still on each of us collectively.

If you mean because we elected Trump.. In that sense YES.

 

[surada]

True, we look the government to get the ball rolling but that’s it , Government and we the people must listen to the experts. We had a safety net put up by the previous administration and the first thing that he did when he came into power was Tear it down.And now he’s reaping what he sewed

Trump has been fighting the experts.. the doctors and epidemiologists since January. In the first two months he praised China's response and transparency to the skies.. Then he turned on the CDC and WHO and the Chinese. I am no fan of China, but epidemics don't care about borders or ethnicity.. We should have been on the ground helping China by mid January. That is the protocol laid out by President Bush in November 2005 and followed by Obama.

 

[The moose]

Trump has been fighting the experts.. the doctors and epidemiologists since January. In the first two months he praised China's response and transparency to the skies.. Then he turned on the CDC and WHO and the Chinese. I am no fan of China, but epidemics don't care about borders or ethnicity.. We should have been on the ground helping China by mid January. That is the protocol laid out by President Bush in November 2005 and followed by Obama.

Those are the facts in all of this.

The best thing bush ever did was get us ready for what we are dealing with right now and we completely drop the ball.

 

[Heathen]

Navajo Nation in portions of my state has been hit extremely hard by the disease. I have a friend who owns a distillery who brought thousands of gallons of disinfectant down to the area to help. They are now implementing a 57 hour lockdown.

Navajo Nation spends weekend on strict 57-hour lockdown as virus death toll rises

Even essential businesses must remain closed as the entire tribe enters a strict lockdown for Memorial Day weekend.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[surada]

I fear we are really going to be in a bad place due to the obvious cuts to the federal agencies that deal with infectious disease, but also the negative effect the Affordable Care act has had on non urban hospitals. Our front line defenses are ineffectual and our ability to treat the populous is probably at an all time low. Factor in the cost of healthcare and I can see out system crashing. What do you think about the politics of this virus?

The for profit hospital chains have been buying up an closing rural and small community hospitals since 1989.. They have no economies of scale.. The filled a niche, but they ALL lost money .. Australia has excellent healthcare and they have solve the problem of big distances between full service medical centers, but I think we don't have the will to do the same..

 

[gummbo]

Trump has been fighting the experts.. the doctors and epidemiologists since January. In the first two months he praised China's response and transparency to the skies.. Then he turned on the CDC and WHO and the Chinese. I am no fan of China, but epidemics don't care about borders or ethnicity.. We should have been on the ground helping China by mid January. That is the protocol laid out by President Bush in November 2005 and followed by Obama.

We can’t put the complete blame on Trump because he does surround himself with people of the same mindset, and when they’re all telling you that this is the way and this is the truth well then you tend to believe it.At least this was the case at the beginning of his presidency and the people that went against his mindset are no longer there.