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Post by smsmith on Apr 17, 2020 6:24:58 GMT -6
I had been pretty much "on board" with most of the decisions that have been made. However, I'm really starting to feel that this is becoming political, and that bothers me. It’s been political from the start. Trump shut off China. They said he was racist. He shut off Europe. Said he was racist. Then the virus takes hold and they say he didn’t act soon enough. All while the fake impeachment was going on. Then they delay the stimulus and pack it full of extras including $6500 a year raises for themselves. I guess everything is always political in D.C. What I meant is that the response to the virus early on seemed to make sense in a bi-partisan way. The whole "flattening the curve" made/makes sense. However, I think we've flattened it already. Continuing the stay at home rules for another 6 weeks (or more, who knows) seems to be politically motivated to me.
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Post by Satchmo on Apr 17, 2020 6:25:51 GMT -6
Usually, I have a good gut to rely on. I simply don't know what to think. Learned today that we had three folks in our gated community (8000 peeps) that have had covid. All have recovered that I know of. This is "unofficial" sources. The "Official" sources say no cases in our hood....and 17 just outside our community in Goodyear AZ. Those numbers are not too scary.......but the rate at what it can spread is huge. Many folks with compromised lungs will not survive a bout of this disease. I have a number of friend and acquaintances that fill that bill. I worry about them. Still....most business and our economy is on the line. I have doubts my wife could survive this disease...she's had a heart valve replaced. But at some point....something is gonna get you. Difficult choices to make. I hope our leaders make good decisions. No good answers at present.....IMO. Another week may provide a clearer path? Stay healthy.....dont get old. I had been pretty much "on board" with most of the decisions that have been made. However, I'm really starting to feel that this is becoming political, and that bothers me. Yep! The natives are getting restless!
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Post by nhmountains on Apr 17, 2020 6:31:32 GMT -6
It’s been political from the start. Trump shut off China. They said he was racist. He shut off Europe. Said he was racist. Then the virus takes hold and they say he didn’t act soon enough. All while the fake impeachment was going on. Then they delay the stimulus and pack it full of extras including $6500 a year raises for themselves. I guess everything is always political in D.C. What I meant is that the response to the virus early on seemed to make sense in a bi-partisan way. The whole "flattening the curve" made/makes sense. However, I think we've flattened it already. Continuing the stay at home rules for another 6 weeks (or more, who knows) seems to be politically motivated to me. Don’t forget that many of Congress had already sold their stocks just before they announcement and pounced back in on the companies that would benefit.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 17, 2020 6:36:50 GMT -6
I had been pretty much "on board" with most of the decisions that have been made. However, I'm really starting to feel that this is becoming political, and that bothers me. It’s been political from the start. Trump shut off China. They said he was racist. He shut off Europe. Said he was racist. Then the virus takes hold and they say he didn’t act soon enough. All while the fake impeachment was going on. Then they delay the stimulus and pack it full of extras including $6500 a year raises for themselves. I live about half way between two regional centers, Brainerd and St Cloud. My neighbors mom went into the St Cloud hospital with breathing problems and they are waiting for C19 test results. The hospital said they have not had one c19 case in their facility. I hear there are more cases in the Brainerd area. Maybe Lee can expand on this. Lots of things probably not getting done in the hospital with no cases.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 17, 2020 6:39:33 GMT -6
I tagged some of you on a Facebook post from Paul Gazelka, leader of our state senate. He has some good ideas for opening up our businesses. Tagged Stu, Brooks, Tom, and Jerry.
Maybe someone can post the link.
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Post by smsmith on Apr 17, 2020 6:40:41 GMT -6
I guess everything is always political in D.C. What I meant is that the response to the virus early on seemed to make sense in a bi-partisan way. The whole "flattening the curve" made/makes sense. However, I think we've flattened it already. Continuing the stay at home rules for another 6 weeks (or more, who knows) seems to be politically motivated to me. Don’t forget that many of Congress had already sold their stocks just before they announcement and pounced back in on the companies that would benefit. Politicians are crooks. I have no delusions on that. However, when the NCAA forgoes a billion plus $$$ on the Final Four, the NBA gives up who knows how much, the NHL does the same, college football looks at possibly canceling a season or shortening it (huge money), the NFL is talking about a shortened season (billions at risk)...I don't think the virus is a "hoax".
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Post by nhmountains on Apr 17, 2020 6:48:24 GMT -6
It’s been political from the start. Trump shut off China. They said he was racist. He shut off Europe. Said he was racist. Then the virus takes hold and they say he didn’t act soon enough. All while the fake impeachment was going on. Then they delay the stimulus and pack it full of extras including $6500 a year raises for themselves. I live about half way between two regional centers, Brainerd and St Cloud. My neighbors mom went into the St Cloud hospital with breathing problems and they are waiting for C19 test results. The hospital said they have not had one c19 case in their facility. I hear there are more cases in the Brainerd area. Maybe Lee can expand on this. Lots of things probably not getting done in the hospital with no cases. My step mother in-laws daughter is furloughed in Minneapolis as is her whole department. At our local hospital they’ve shut down all of the departments other than covid and emergency because there’s no patients coming in. Maybe Lee is still seeing them but, that’s not what I’m being told or hear about.
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Post by nhmountains on Apr 17, 2020 6:51:40 GMT -6
Don’t forget that many of Congress had already sold their stocks just before they announcement and pounced back in on the companies that would benefit. Politicians are crooks. I have no delusions on that. However, when the NCAA forgoes a billion plus $$$ on the Final Four, the NBA gives up who knows how much, the NHL does the same, college football looks at possibly canceling a season or shortening it (huge money), the NFL is talking about a shortened season (billions at risk)...I don't think the virus is a "hoax". Then we get back to whether a guy should make $30,000,000 a year for swinging a stick at a round ball or a tall guy jumping high and putting a ball through a hole verses a farmer plowing fields and putting food on our tables or truckers driving thousands of miles or a nurse taking care of a patient that’s on deaths doorstep.
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Post by Satchmo on Apr 17, 2020 6:57:34 GMT -6
Don’t forget that many of Congress had already sold their stocks just before they announcement and pounced back in on the companies that would benefit. Politicians are crooks. I have no delusions on that. However, when the NCAA forgoes a billion plus $$$ on the Final Four, the NBA gives up who knows how much, the NHL does the same, college football looks at possibly canceling a season or shortening it (huge money), the NFL is talking about a shortened season (billions at risk)...I don't think the virus is a "hoax". I think it’s only a joke to those who haven’t been touched by it. New York is still losing 700+ folks some days, and Best Buy just blew right past Stay at Home orders. They furloughed 51,000 for 3 months. There are some very smart people out there that are very aware of how serious this can get. At least the majority of MN does not have high density housing.
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Post by smsmith on Apr 17, 2020 6:58:44 GMT -6
Politicians are crooks. I have no delusions on that. However, when the NCAA forgoes a billion plus $$$ on the Final Four, the NBA gives up who knows how much, the NHL does the same, college football looks at possibly canceling a season or shortening it (huge money), the NFL is talking about a shortened season (billions at risk)...I don't think the virus is a "hoax". Then we get back to whether a guy should make $30,000,000 a year for swinging a stick at a round ball or a tall guy jumping high and putting a ball through a hole verses a farmer plowing fields and putting food on our tables or truckers driving thousands of miles or a nurse taking care of a patient that’s on deaths doorstep. They wouldn't make that much if nobody cared about what they do. I think CEO's and other high ranking business people salaries are ridiculous when compared to the average person (check out wage rate increases for big wigs vs. everybody else over the last 30 years), but that isn't really the discussion. As a former school teacher who never "made my age"...I know about being paid little in comparison to pro-athletes. Is that fair? Probably not. Is that how things currently work in our (sort of) capitalistic society? Yep
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Post by nhmountains on Apr 17, 2020 7:07:57 GMT -6
Keep in mind there were 450,000 hospitalizations from flu in the US in 2019 and 800,000 in 2018 with 60,000 deaths and the politicians didn’t bat an eye. We didn’t shut down the economy or close schools. Hardly a peep from the press and certainly no congressman over those numbers. They saw an opportunity to politicize this and it’s worked.
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Post by smsmith on Apr 17, 2020 7:12:33 GMT -6
K eep in mind there were 450,000 hospitalizations from flu in the US in 2019 and 800,000 in 2018 with 60,000 deaths and the politicians didn’t bat an eye. We didn’t shut down the economy or close schools. Hardly a peep from the press and certainly no congressman over those numbers. They saw an opportunity to politicize this and it’s worked. Yup, and those numbers are with herd immunity, available vaccines, and no government driven stay at home orders.
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Post by Catscratch on Apr 17, 2020 8:05:10 GMT -6
Supposedly flattening the curve works to buy time... time to produce and gather material, research treatments, develop a workforce to deal with it. The virus WILL spread everywhere, the question is how fast it spreads and how prepared are at that time? Soooo, where are we at in this as far as producing materials and a health workforce to deal with it? Closing hospitals and manufactures certainly isn't getting us closer to dealing with this thing.
Sports pay vs food production pay: I was once told that people in poverty are always scared and afraid... THEY NEVER FEEL GOOD. When they happen to get money they spend it to feel good first, and IF there is anything left over they pay the bills. Conversely, middle-class people pay their bills when they get money, and IF there is anything left over they spend it on feeling good. Food in this country is a right. Don't have money to buy food and the gov gives it to you (that's been one of the big deals in education funding is how schools are going to continue to feed students while on lockdown). Healthcare is a right also. Healthcare for all. Won't afford health insurance? The government will charge working people more and give you an affordable discount. Point is people will gladly spend money to feel good but balk at spending it on necessities. Entertainment makes the big bucks.
I think "successful" politicians are mostly crooks. I personally know a former Representative. Good man, smart, cared, did a good job. He got beat out by a person who by all accounts is an idiot. She had great backing though, spent twice as much as he did on the campaign, and backed out of ever debate and town hall meeting that had been scheduled. They never once debated each other in public. She didn't win that election, the big money people who is using her as their puppet won that election. I know Reps are small beans, but I think it happens that way at all levels of politics.
The old saying is to never waste a tragedy, I think the new blueprint is to never waste an opportunity to fabricate fear in a possible tragedy. By that I'm not saying if this virus is being handled right or not, I'm not smart enough to know the specifics of this threat and what would happen if we did or didn't take certain precautions. Regardless, I'm confident in my view of the media and career politicians and the last 3 years have solidified my take on it.
Rant over.
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Post by leexrayshady on Apr 17, 2020 8:15:13 GMT -6
I live about half way between two regional centers, Brainerd and St Cloud. My neighbors mom went into the St Cloud hospital with breathing problems and they are waiting for C19 test results. The hospital said they have not had one c19 case in their facility. I hear there are more cases in the Brainerd area. Maybe Lee can expand on this. Lots of things probably not getting done in the hospital with no cases. My step mother in-laws daughter is furloughed in Minneapolis as is her whole department. At our local hospital they’ve shut down all of the departments other than covid and emergency because there’s no patients coming in. Maybe Lee is still seeing them but, that’s not what I’m being told or hear about. I believe we are up to 6 positive cases at our facility, we have shut down 2 outreach clinics all elective surgeries and screening exams, as a front line employee Im pretty protected as far as my job goes but you never know. Our facility is not planning on returning to normalcy till September. Our Radiologist group, some of the highest paid doctors around just took out a loan from the SBA to cover their own payroll. Luckily we have a very fiscally responsible facility. I get frustrated with people who are in tons of debt, who may have lost a job or may yet loose a job spend frivolously what should be a life line to get them through. This is a nation changing event things will not go back to the way they were for a very long time if ever. its time for the strong to survive and the weak to perish, we as a nation just need to decide if that is the economy or people.
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Post by kl9 on Apr 17, 2020 8:45:06 GMT -6
My step mother in-laws daughter is furloughed in Minneapolis as is her whole department. At our local hospital they’ve shut down all of the departments other than covid and emergency because there’s no patients coming in. Maybe Lee is still seeing them but, that’s not what I’m being told or hear about. I believe we are up to 6 positive cases at our facility, we have shut down 2 outreach clinics all elective surgeries and screening exams, as a front line employee Im pretty protected as far as my job goes but you never know. Our facility is not planning on returning to normalcy till September. Our Radiologist group, some of the highest paid doctors around just took out a loan from the SBA to cover their own payroll. Luckily we have a very fiscally responsible facility. I get frustrated with people who are in tons of debt, who may have lost a job or may yet loose a job spend frivolously what should be a life line to get them through. This is a nation changing event things will not go back to the way they were for a very long time if ever. its time for the strong to survive and the weak to perish, we as a nation just need to decide if that is the economy or people. Normalcy in September? That seems outlandish. How does the organization expect it and its employees to sustain? Mayo Rochester is starting operating again as are the hospitals in lax (not 100% of procedures). I don’t understand how people think we can just shut down and weather the storm, it’s just not feasible.
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