Showing posts with label pandemic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pandemic. Show all posts
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Sunday, July 25, 2021
Friday, July 23, 2021
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Midweek Reading
Changes that Would Make a Difference in the Biden AdministrationThe stock market is overvalued, according to almost every measure dating to 1950The stock market’s strength tells us less about the true state of the economy than at almost any other time over the last five decadesIf Wisconsin's Legislature were a business, Republicans would've already been firedTRUMP IS TERRIFIED ABOUT GOING TO PRISON AFTER LOSING THE ELECTION, AS HE SHOULD BEData show these US industries have the most recession proof jobsThe NFL rewards men who put their hands on womenRepublican senator ‘personally benefited from tax change he sought’ (Ron Johnson is a piece of shit)Science Denial and COVID Conspiracy Theories
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Weekend Reading
Yes, Wisconsin legislators haven’t passed a bill in 6 monthsFace masks: what the data sayWe Must Save Democracy From ConspiraciesDonald Trump: Biden Better Take COVID-19 More Seriously or He Might Get It and Infect a Bunch of People
Why Wisconsin's largest business group endorses mask-wearing campaign while opposing Evers' mandate (because they're assholes)
Friday, September 25, 2020
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Midweek Reading
The real cost of Amazon
How Many Fewer Cops With A 10% Cut?
Republicans fought for local control over virus restrictions, now they’re fighting that local control
Why venture capital doesn’t build the things we really need
Oil And Gas Pipelines Look Like Increasingly Risky Bets
Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks’ controversial charter school McConnell's Wife's Family Business Appears on Trump Admin's List of Companies That Received Most PPP Money The Study That Debunks Most Anti-Abortion Arguments
How Many Fewer Cops With A 10% Cut?
Republicans fought for local control over virus restrictions, now they’re fighting that local control
Why venture capital doesn’t build the things we really need
Oil And Gas Pipelines Look Like Increasingly Risky Bets
Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks’ controversial charter school McConnell's Wife's Family Business Appears on Trump Admin's List of Companies That Received Most PPP Money The Study That Debunks Most Anti-Abortion Arguments
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Bad Cops & The Insufferably Woke
Times are tough. Really tough. Donald Trump is our so-called leader. A pandemic is sweeping the globe. Unemployment has exploded. America's inability to address racism and inequality is, again, on display.
Social media has been full of hashtags and finger-pointing. The righteous woke folk, cohorts of the cancel culture, are again calling for purity among the herd, while virtue-signaling their own superiority.
Most recently, in Milwaukee, the dust-up has been over Mayor Tom Barrett, on a Thursday, announcing that bars and restaurants could open to 25% capacity, on a Friday.
Complaints of this announcement ranged from a lack of notice, being a distraction, being political, to ... well, things really just went off the rails. This seems typical of liberals - the urge to eat their own. The immediate issue here would seem to be racism and/or police brutality. Yet somehow this has veered off into when and how restaurants should open up, how they're notified about such, the guidelines, how the mayor is a meanie, being a distraction or not, and so many other rabbit holes.
It became clear this was, again, another case of the self-superior types (and they all seem to be white) patting themselves on the back while, in essence, going after what would appear to be their allies because of a perceived lack of purity.
Lack of Notice
Many complaints were about the lack of notice regarding the reopening and their inability, thus, to prepare for such. But nothing said your bar or restaurant has to reopen right now. The mayor just gave notice that bars and restaurants could open at 25% capacity. After being closed for over two months (or just having curbside pick-up) one would think this would be good news for struggling bars and restaurants.
And, what exactly would have been the right amount of notice? How should this notice have been given? Is it a week? Two weeks? Was the mayor supposed to call each and every bar and restaurant owner to notify and or discuss.
If you don't want to open, don't. But know that you can when you want to and you are ready.
Guidelines
Another complaint was a perceived lack of guidelines for reopening. Yet guidelines for how we all interact during the pandemic have been spelled out, repeatedly, by the CDC, the WHO, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Department of Health and the City of Milwaukee Health Department, to name a few. Wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, wash your hands a lot, disinfect surfaces a lot, etc.
Milwaukee Releases Five Criteria To Open Up
5 Issues that Should Be Part of Efforts to Reform Policing in Local Communities
U.S. Police Shootings: Blacks Disproportionately Affected
Social media has been full of hashtags and finger-pointing. The righteous woke folk, cohorts of the cancel culture, are again calling for purity among the herd, while virtue-signaling their own superiority.
Most recently, in Milwaukee, the dust-up has been over Mayor Tom Barrett, on a Thursday, announcing that bars and restaurants could open to 25% capacity, on a Friday.
Complaints of this announcement ranged from a lack of notice, being a distraction, being political, to ... well, things really just went off the rails. This seems typical of liberals - the urge to eat their own. The immediate issue here would seem to be racism and/or police brutality. Yet somehow this has veered off into when and how restaurants should open up, how they're notified about such, the guidelines, how the mayor is a meanie, being a distraction or not, and so many other rabbit holes.
It became clear this was, again, another case of the self-superior types (and they all seem to be white) patting themselves on the back while, in essence, going after what would appear to be their allies because of a perceived lack of purity.
Lack of Notice
Many complaints were about the lack of notice regarding the reopening and their inability, thus, to prepare for such. But nothing said your bar or restaurant has to reopen right now. The mayor just gave notice that bars and restaurants could open at 25% capacity. After being closed for over two months (or just having curbside pick-up) one would think this would be good news for struggling bars and restaurants.
And, what exactly would have been the right amount of notice? How should this notice have been given? Is it a week? Two weeks? Was the mayor supposed to call each and every bar and restaurant owner to notify and or discuss.
If you don't want to open, don't. But know that you can when you want to and you are ready.
Guidelines
Another complaint was a perceived lack of guidelines for reopening. Yet guidelines for how we all interact during the pandemic have been spelled out, repeatedly, by the CDC, the WHO, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Department of Health and the City of Milwaukee Health Department, to name a few. Wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, wash your hands a lot, disinfect surfaces a lot, etc.
Milwaukee Releases Five Criteria To Open Up
Milwaukee outlines plan to re-open city
Distraction
Others complained this was a distraction - to allow bars and restaurants to open up now - during a time of protest for racial justice and police accountability. So, my question here is, are businesses to stay closed until we have complete racial harmony? What is the time frame?
Do some think people don't have the ability to walk and chew gum? People can't be focused on societal improvement ... and occasionally go out to eat?
So, let me get this straight, the George Floyd murder, at the hands of a piece of shit cop (and his shitty accomplices), has inflamed our better senses, but if we can suddenly dine out again, we'll forget about that? If that's the case, you're not as righteous, woke, or enlightened as you think you are.
Pushing for people to concentrate on one thought, or being able to only hold one idea at a time, doesn't make you a woke warrior, it makes you a baby. People can do more than one thing. If the fact that the mayor announcing a 25% capacity reopening for bars and restaurants has distracted you from the fact that America is, and has been, extremely racist and has a lot of work do, you're not woke, you're not an adult, you're just a squirrel distracted by any sudden noise or light.
And, it appears most of the recent distraction and other complaints about reopening are coming from white people. Which begs the question, where have you been? There's a long history of racism, oppression, segregation and inequality in America. It didn't just start in May 2020.
If you're so woke, let's look through all of your Twitter, Instagram and Facebook posts over the years and see how much time and effort you put forth in seeking racial equality and justice. Some of these same people were complaining of the lockdown not too long ago. Being closed, or being deemed non-essential, not being able to operate, that was un-American. The government, in trying to manage the pandemic, was overreaching and putting businesses at risk.
Seems to be a lot of bandwagon-jumpers with slogans and hashtags, pretending they've been part of the solution all along, and then criticizing, what would appear to be, their allies for not being as perfect as them, in their little fictionalized, sanitized, revisionist world.
The Mayor
A lot of vitriol has been throw at Mayor Barrett. He may not be perfect, but he sure as hell just seems to be trying to do the right thing. But let me get this straight, he alone is supposed to run a major city, try to manage the pandemic and solve racism?
Further, the mayor is not the police. Tom Barrett doesn't make the call for tear gas, rubber bullets or the use of force. Tom Barrett has called for officers to be fired and he has marched with the protesters. Tom Barrett took a pipe beating at State Fair to protect a baby and her grandmother. He is not some insensitive, racist, political apparatchik. He's doing his best to try to keep the city safe while trying to figure out how to move forward and right the wrongs. But there are no guidelines for this (at least not as many clear and concise guidelines as there are for operating your business during a pandemic); sometimes you have to figure it out as you go.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joins protesters in Wisconsin against police killing of George Floyd
The Police
I've long complained about the police. Not that they are all bad or that it's not a tough job. But their budgets take way too much money from municipalities, which could be used for economic development, training, education, small business loans, etc. Which could go a long way toward helping poverty and inequality.
Yet, there are a lot of bad police doing bad things and costing their municipalities millions of dollars for their criminality. They need better vetting, training and accountability. Our country needs a paradigm shift in how we look at and operate our policing and law enforcement.
Also, we just have too many police in too many communities. We need to focus on police serving and protecting rather than simply enforcing the law. Because their emphasis seems to be on the force part of enforcement.
In Closing
This country has a long way to go toward racial justice, fair pay, equal opportunity, health care as a right, giving voice to the voiceless, and numerous other issues where we sadly lag behind. So, by all means, peacefully protest, run for office, vote for candidates that will actually do something, join an advocacy or lobbying organization, or start a local group to focus on a particular issue. Focus on the issue(s), know your true enemy and don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
Proactive, Productive Ways to Help
Milwaukee Urban League using community roundtables to identify solutions to end injustice
4 Ideas That Could Begin to Reform the Criminal Justice System and Improve Police-Community RelationsDistraction
Others complained this was a distraction - to allow bars and restaurants to open up now - during a time of protest for racial justice and police accountability. So, my question here is, are businesses to stay closed until we have complete racial harmony? What is the time frame?
Do some think people don't have the ability to walk and chew gum? People can't be focused on societal improvement ... and occasionally go out to eat?
So, let me get this straight, the George Floyd murder, at the hands of a piece of shit cop (and his shitty accomplices), has inflamed our better senses, but if we can suddenly dine out again, we'll forget about that? If that's the case, you're not as righteous, woke, or enlightened as you think you are.
Pushing for people to concentrate on one thought, or being able to only hold one idea at a time, doesn't make you a woke warrior, it makes you a baby. People can do more than one thing. If the fact that the mayor announcing a 25% capacity reopening for bars and restaurants has distracted you from the fact that America is, and has been, extremely racist and has a lot of work do, you're not woke, you're not an adult, you're just a squirrel distracted by any sudden noise or light.
And, it appears most of the recent distraction and other complaints about reopening are coming from white people. Which begs the question, where have you been? There's a long history of racism, oppression, segregation and inequality in America. It didn't just start in May 2020.
If you're so woke, let's look through all of your Twitter, Instagram and Facebook posts over the years and see how much time and effort you put forth in seeking racial equality and justice. Some of these same people were complaining of the lockdown not too long ago. Being closed, or being deemed non-essential, not being able to operate, that was un-American. The government, in trying to manage the pandemic, was overreaching and putting businesses at risk.
Seems to be a lot of bandwagon-jumpers with slogans and hashtags, pretending they've been part of the solution all along, and then criticizing, what would appear to be, their allies for not being as perfect as them, in their little fictionalized, sanitized, revisionist world.
The Mayor
A lot of vitriol has been throw at Mayor Barrett. He may not be perfect, but he sure as hell just seems to be trying to do the right thing. But let me get this straight, he alone is supposed to run a major city, try to manage the pandemic and solve racism?
Further, the mayor is not the police. Tom Barrett doesn't make the call for tear gas, rubber bullets or the use of force. Tom Barrett has called for officers to be fired and he has marched with the protesters. Tom Barrett took a pipe beating at State Fair to protect a baby and her grandmother. He is not some insensitive, racist, political apparatchik. He's doing his best to try to keep the city safe while trying to figure out how to move forward and right the wrongs. But there are no guidelines for this (at least not as many clear and concise guidelines as there are for operating your business during a pandemic); sometimes you have to figure it out as you go.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joins protesters in Wisconsin against police killing of George Floyd
The Police
I've long complained about the police. Not that they are all bad or that it's not a tough job. But their budgets take way too much money from municipalities, which could be used for economic development, training, education, small business loans, etc. Which could go a long way toward helping poverty and inequality.
Yet, there are a lot of bad police doing bad things and costing their municipalities millions of dollars for their criminality. They need better vetting, training and accountability. Our country needs a paradigm shift in how we look at and operate our policing and law enforcement.
Also, we just have too many police in too many communities. We need to focus on police serving and protecting rather than simply enforcing the law. Because their emphasis seems to be on the force part of enforcement.
In Closing
This country has a long way to go toward racial justice, fair pay, equal opportunity, health care as a right, giving voice to the voiceless, and numerous other issues where we sadly lag behind. So, by all means, peacefully protest, run for office, vote for candidates that will actually do something, join an advocacy or lobbying organization, or start a local group to focus on a particular issue. Focus on the issue(s), know your true enemy and don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
Proactive, Productive Ways to Help
Milwaukee Urban League using community roundtables to identify solutions to end injustice
5 Issues that Should Be Part of Efforts to Reform Policing in Local Communities
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Midweek Reading
Bryan Adams apologises after 'bat eating' coronavirus rant
Rand Paul Tells Dr. Anthony Fauci He Should Have a Little “Humility"
Gov. Tony Evers: GOP Leaders 'Unconcerned' About Patchwork Of COVID-19 Response How the Coronavirus is Killing the Middle Class Trump calls coronavirus testing ‘overrated,’ claims U.S. would have ‘very few’ cases if no testing Politicians failed us. So it's up to citizens to protect Wisconsin We could stop the pandemic by July 4 if the government took these steps The Great Lakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and we’re not sure what will happen next The 12 deadliest viruses on Earth See which states still have increasing rates of COVID-19
Rand Paul Tells Dr. Anthony Fauci He Should Have a Little “Humility"
Gov. Tony Evers: GOP Leaders 'Unconcerned' About Patchwork Of COVID-19 Response How the Coronavirus is Killing the Middle Class Trump calls coronavirus testing ‘overrated,’ claims U.S. would have ‘very few’ cases if no testing Politicians failed us. So it's up to citizens to protect Wisconsin We could stop the pandemic by July 4 if the government took these steps The Great Lakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and we’re not sure what will happen next The 12 deadliest viruses on Earth See which states still have increasing rates of COVID-19
Monday, May 18, 2020
Conservative Chaos
Talk about a dereliction of duty. Conservatives at the Federal, State and Local level are acting irresponsibly, endangering people and completely ignoring common sense and good judgement.
Wisconsin's stay-at-home order has been overturned by the state Supreme Court; here's how people are responding
If some Americans won’t take COVID-19 seriously, they should agree not to be treated
Wisconsin's stay-at-home order has been overturned by the state Supreme Court; here's how people are responding
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down Wisconsin's stay-at-home order that closed businesses to limit spread of coronavirus
No. We cannot shut down parts of the economy and stay at home forever. But we are a large enough economy and have the expertise to figure this out. Another massive recession or thousands of deaths are not the only two choices. Leadership and decisive action are what's needed. Conservatives, thus far, have provided neither.
A proper Federal response would have been to take this seriously in January, start getting everyone tested, begin contact tracing, restrict travel and begin staying at home. At the same time, invoke the Defense Production Act to produce ventilators, masks, personal protective equipment and any other items the pandemic response team or medical professionals feel are necessary.
Also, this can't be a state-by-state decision. A pandemic needs a Federal, if not global, response. Due to the travel of people and goods, we need everyone operating by the same rules.
Safer-at-home order extended in Brown County after state Supreme Court overturns it
No. We cannot shut down parts of the economy and stay at home forever. But we are a large enough economy and have the expertise to figure this out. Another massive recession or thousands of deaths are not the only two choices. Leadership and decisive action are what's needed. Conservatives, thus far, have provided neither.
A proper Federal response would have been to take this seriously in January, start getting everyone tested, begin contact tracing, restrict travel and begin staying at home. At the same time, invoke the Defense Production Act to produce ventilators, masks, personal protective equipment and any other items the pandemic response team or medical professionals feel are necessary.
Also, this can't be a state-by-state decision. A pandemic needs a Federal, if not global, response. Due to the travel of people and goods, we need everyone operating by the same rules.
Safer-at-home order extended in Brown County after state Supreme Court overturns it
And, if you're not going to take this pandemic seriously, don't bother going to the hospital or taking the time of medical professionals if you're infected or experiencing symptoms. Since you think you know more than the actual infectious disease experts, you're on your own. Curl up in your MAGA hat, cling to your gun, and pray for relief. Ya know, thoughts and prayers.
If some Americans won’t take COVID-19 seriously, they should agree not to be treated
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Midweek Reading
States are opening up as their COVID-19 numbers rise
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roggensack blasted as 'elitist,' 'out of touch' for meatpacking remark
Just how contagious is COVID-19? This chart puts it in perspective.
Death of the office
“It’s a Huge Job”: The Only Way to Contain the Coronavirus Is by Contact Tracing
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roggensack blasted as 'elitist,' 'out of touch' for meatpacking remark
Just how contagious is COVID-19? This chart puts it in perspective.
Death of the office
“It’s a Huge Job”: The Only Way to Contain the Coronavirus Is by Contact Tracing
Friday, May 8, 2020
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Weekend Reading
The Politics of The Pandemic
Miscalculation at Every Level Left U.S. Unequipped to Fight Coronavirus
If Americans were healthier, we could have been better prepared for this pandemic
The wealthy face ‘one clear implication’ from the coronavirus, says man who led 2008 crisis restructuring efforts
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Is Going to Use Fox News Arguments to Undo the State’s COVID-19 Restrictions
Jared Kushner’s Young Consultant Army Was Clueless On Coronavirus
Meet the Shadowy Accountants Who Do Trump’s Taxes and Help Him Seem Richer Than He Is
Miscalculation at Every Level Left U.S. Unequipped to Fight Coronavirus
If Americans were healthier, we could have been better prepared for this pandemic
The wealthy face ‘one clear implication’ from the coronavirus, says man who led 2008 crisis restructuring efforts
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Is Going to Use Fox News Arguments to Undo the State’s COVID-19 Restrictions
Jared Kushner’s Young Consultant Army Was Clueless On Coronavirus
Meet the Shadowy Accountants Who Do Trump’s Taxes and Help Him Seem Richer Than He Is
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Coronavirus Is Much, Much Worse Than The Flu
The Daily Mail bluntly described the situation, Coronavirus has killed more Americans in one month than both flu and car accidents do in an entire YEAR.
As John McCormack noted:
Although there is still much we don’t know about the coronavirus, we know enough to say that it is far more dangerous and deadly than the flu. It took twelve months and 61 million infections for the H1N1 swine flu to kill 12,500 Americans in 2009–10. The Centers for Disease Control estimated that the seasonal flu killed 34,200 Americans during the 2018–19 flu season. In 2019, car crashes killed 38,800 Americans.
As for the new coronavirus? On March 20, the death toll in the United States was 225. By April 20, the coronavirus had killed more than 42,000 Americans.
Donald Trump, Republicans and the right-wing media have done such a disservice to this country by muddling this discussion with all their lies, misinformation and nonsense. This is the height of irresponsibility for those with a public platform. Turn off Fox News. Turn off Donald Trump. Listen to the experts.
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