White House downplays COVID-19 messaging to open business faster

Administration's efforts to minimize talk of COVID-19 don't minimize its effects.

Read the whole story

 

[dorkbert]

I worry Trump will try to downplay or hide the daily case reports...

There will be nothing to hide... if testing is... restricted limited due to... artificial shortage.

 

[jarvis]

I truly hope Trump and company get this virus. I really do. And I won't be hoping for any type of recovery. Useless lump of orange flesh.

 

[balthazarr]

Serious questions to anyone that supports the current administration, and Trump in particular - HOW? WHY?

Seriously. How can you support someone so callously willing to sacrifice lives for the sake of the economy? The economy is basically an artificial construct that can be resurrected/restructured/repaired - death is pretty permanent.

Why do you support him?

The US system seems so callous and inhumane compared to any other developed nation.

For example, in Australia, the government is providing a wage subsidy of $1,500 every two weeks to businesses for 6 months to keep their employees employed, amongst many other initiatives and assistance available. EDIT: The $1,500 is per employee, not per business.

The US has provided, what, a single $1,200 (has that started flowing yet, or are they still waiting for Trump to hand-sign each cheque as they come off the printer?).

 

[Ozy]

Serious questions to anyone that supports the current administration, and Trump in particular - HOW? WHY?

Seriously. How can you support someone so callously willing to sacrifice lives for the sake of the economy? The economy is basically an artificial construct that can be resurrected/restructured/repaired - death is pretty permanent.

Why do you support him?

The US system seems so callous and inhumane compared to any other developed nation.

For example, in Australia, the government is providing a wage subsidy of $1,500 every two weeks to businesses for 6 months to keep their employees employed, amongst many other initiatives and assistance available.

The US has provided, what, a single $1,200 (has that started flowing yet, or are they still waiting for Trump to hand-sign each cheque as they come off the printer?).

Well, to be fair they did push out money for small businesses to help with their payroll during the pandemic, though I guess it did get co-opted by large businesses due to lack of oversight.

But hey, it's the thought that counts, right?

 

[dorkbert]

Well, to be fair they did push out money for small businesses to help with their payroll during the pandemic, though I guess it did get co-opted by large businesses due to lack elimination of oversight.

FIFY.

 

[donfelipe]

Biden, Mr nothing will change - Mr low enthusiasm candidate, will depress the vote, not because people like myself won't vote for him, but because people that tried to signal to you in 2016 that the status quo isn't good enough won't bother to turn out for him

Huh, I coulda have sworn more people turned out for Biden in the primaries, just like they did for Hillary in 2016. The number of people you say "tried to signal" others was not more than the number of people who voted for Biden. I'm plenty upset about it, but to keep trotting out this lazy canard that more people want someone else when the election blatantly says otherwise makes you look more willfully ignorant than stupid.

What do you want people to admit? Biden is a less than ideal candidate? If anyone could singularly choose the person to be president, I doubt they'd choose him. But then again it is about the collective agreement on a candidate, not what I, you, or any one person wants. It's the whole "a camel is a horse designed by committee" thing, except for some reason you think it was ever possible to have that horse.

 

[Fancy Internet Person]

Serious questions to anyone that supports the current administration, and Trump in particular - HOW? WHY?

Seriously. How can you support someone so callously willing to sacrifice lives for the sake of the economy? The economy is basically an artificial construct that can be resurrected/restructured/repaired - death is pretty permanent.

Why do you support him?

The US system seems so callous and inhumane compared to any other developed nation.

For example, in Australia, the government is providing a wage subsidy of $1,500 every two weeks to businesses for 6 months to keep their employees employed, amongst many other initiatives and assistance available.

The US has provided, what, a single $1,200 (has that started flowing yet, or are they still waiting for Trump to hand-sign each cheque as they come off the printer?).

“The salient fact of American politics is that there are fifty to seventy million voters each of whom will volunteer to live, with his family, in a cardboard box under an overpass, and cook sparrows on an old curtain rod, if someone would only guarantee that the black, gay, Hispanic, liberal, whatever, in the next box over doesn’t even have a curtain rod, or a sparrow to put on it.”

Iow: We will hurt/kill people and you can watch.

 

[CraigJ ✅]

I'm so tired of this narrative that Trump is bulletproof. Yes, his presidency is norm breaking, but he's not a warlock, and he can't actually bend reality. His base is a minority that doesn't have the numbers. We're entering at the very least a serious recession. Economic collapse doesn't get you reelected.

He won election on essentially a fluke and a technicality. His approval numbers have been shit. The rally around the flag poll bump he got? Was historically minor compared to any other remotely similar incident (see W after 9/11 for instance). The country as a whole doesn't like him. And right now what they really want is good leadership in a crisis, which Trump wouldn't know how to do if he tried.

The polls have him losing to Biden. Biden, the candidate that nobody is excited about but who could potentially deliver the Senate by being more moderate. That would be huge.

If you're a progressive or believe in science the realistic path to positive change in things you care about is way more likely with Biden and a Democratic Senate than Bernie and a GOP Senate. The whole package matters more than the President.

Is anything certain? Fuck no. People better get their asses to the polls (by which I mean probably mail that envelope from home). But let's lose this mopey Eeyore attitude. Biden doesn't excite me either, but I'm voting for him, and so are a shit ton of other people who might not be excited either. And if he really can help flip the Senate? I'm excited.

Presidents aren't kings or godmakers. Trump might wish otherwise, but it remains true. A competent government doesn't need a magical savior to run it all, someone who can simply appoint competent people, listen to the experts, and have Congress back them up will make up for a ton of issues.

Find that positive energy if you want change, complaining and assuming the worst just encourages defeat.

If Biden wins it will be because of Trump massively fucking up, not because he's increasing turnout or motivating people himself. He won't deliver the Senate or any of that nonsense, if the Dems win the Senate with Biden then they could win it with any warm body.

And then we'll have Biden as a warm body in the oval office; a majority of warm democratic bodies in the house; and a majority of democratic warm bodies in the senate.

This sounds like a win.

Sure, until you consider the country could actually achieve more good with several other candidates. Biden is a terrible candidate. He's Kerry 2004, and might end up the same way, with a country fucked over by the illusion that electability is something that can be decided without already having had the general election.

Grow up, unless you're actually 12.

I don't look forward to hearing from people like you about how it's my fault other people chose a bad general election candidate when we're facing four more years of Trump, but I have a sinking feeling it's coming.

I repeat: Grow up, go to the polling place and pull the lever for Biden. It's actually that easy. Biden isn't my first choice. In fact, in 30+ years I've NEVER been able to cast a vote for my first choice in any general election, and rarely in a primary.

SO FUCKING WHAT?

Democracy is compromise.

Don't be a whiny little bitch, and tell your friends to not be whiny little bitches. On election day vote for the person who is literally orders of magnitude better that the Citrus Shitstain. I don't see how anyone who dislikes Trump in the slightest cannot see the logic in this course of action. And again, it really is just that easy and just that simple.

I repeat: Grow up. Behave like an adult.

 

[CraigJ ✅]

I don't look forward to hearing from people like you about how it's my fault other people chose a bad general election candidate when we're facing four more years of Trump, but I have a sinking feeling it's coming.

So carrying Putin's water it is I guess.

"This guy can clearly see Biden is a bad candidate and isn't afraid to say it... he must be a Russian bot."

Maybe. What you are doing is carrying Trump's water for him. Is he paying you to do that?

 

[PhredDaKat]

i made poopy

The level of political dialog here is amazing.

I wish I could find a site with a similar level of technical and technological coverage as here, that’s not at the same time staffed and the forums frequented by Antifa sympathizers.

Please just go away then.

 

[Nalyd]

I'm 61 and have been somewhat politically aware for a bit more than three decades.

Can someone older than me speak to how our current White House leadership compares to others in years past. Has it EVER been this feckless?

No snark intended.

My 98 year old grandmother says she can't recall a worse President in her lifetime.

Yeah, I asked my dad who was born during WWII and as an adult went through all the craziness of the 60s, Nixon, Reagan and Iran Contra... he said this is worse. Oh yeah, and this conversation was a year ago, well before the virus forced the hand of these a-holes.

(how does an asshole have hands, you ask? well it turns out they are veeeery tiny and just... nasty).

 

[giuliop]

The economy does not run on human sacrifice.

It runs on (largely) consumer spending.

Ah! But what about the ancient Aztecs!? More blood for the blood god!

I’m afraid they’ve recently changed their diet:

 

[dorkbert]

He's gonna need a bigger boat.

Bigger boat? As in Titanic-ish size?

That's fine, the melting ice caps can provide an iceberg of appropriate size.

 

[Oldmanalex]

Well, Lisa Simpson is clearly conducting a nationwide "Bart and the Electrified Cupcake" experiment. Sadly, this is going to slaughter maybe 100,00 extra people. As it will be even sadder (to me) if I am among them, I am not about to go out and do my bit to bring the economy back strongly for the reelection campaign, while culling the herd of shop assistants and waitstaff earning around the minimum wage.

 

[CraigJ ✅]

I'm 61 and have been somewhat politically aware for a bit more than three decades.

Can someone older than me speak to how our current White House leadership compares to others in years past. Has it EVER been this feckless?

No snark intended.

My 98 year old grandmother says she can't recall a worse President in her lifetime.

Yeah, I asked my dad who was born during WWII and as an adult went through all the craziness of the 60s, Nixon, Reagan and Iran Contra... he said this is worse. Oh yeah, and this conversation was a year ago, well before the virus forced the hand of these a-holes.

(how does an asshole have hands, you ask? well it turns out they are veeeery tiny and just... nasty).

These assholes are such assholes that their assholes have assholes. It's assholes all the way down.

 

[freaq]

Be careful what you wish for, it might just be granted (soon)

 

[Oldmanalex]

I literally cannot smash my head into my desk any harder without causing damage to both head and desk.

I understand the economy is hurting but is it really that bad for the Pres to put aside innocent lives in his quest to save it?

This will not save the economy.

The economy does not run on human sacrifice.

It runs on (largely) consumer spending.

As long as each trip to the store carries a risk of hospitalization and death, consumer spending will not return to 2019 levels.

To save the economy, control the pandemic.

This is an act of stochastic human sacrifice. It is the victory of looking tough/callous over even self interested practical politics.

Unfortunately, the moron has failed in his bid to line up two objects in the correct order. Cart and horse. The cart always knew it was looking at a horse's ass. Now a few more of us know. What is more, as you rightly point out, the human sacrifice will actually impede the economy. As not too many of us wish to be one of the sacrificial herd.

 

[dorkbert]

This guy is going to get sooooo re-elected.

Sadly, half the country is indeed that dumb.

 

[linnen]

Don't be a whiny little bitch baby, and tell your friends to not be whiny little bitchesbaby. On election day vote for the person who is literally orders of magnitude better that the Citrus Shitstain. I don't see how anyone who dislikes Trump in the slightest cannot see the logic in this course of action. And again, it really is just that easy and just that simple.

I repeat: Grow up. Behave like an adult.

Actually bitches are a lot more fun than his crowd.

#BossBitchFightChallenge

 

[crazedgironemo]

At least three staffers who work directly with Trump or Vice President Mike Pence have tested positive for the disease in the past 24 hours, including Trump's valet and Pence spokesperson Katie Miller, who is also married to White House adviser Stephen Miller.

I don't know why this is a big deal.

Now, this is just my hunch, but based on and lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this, because a lot of people will have this and it is very mild. They will get better very rapidly, they don’t even see a doctor or call doctor. We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work, some of them go to work, but they get better.

I hope you get the reference in the above paragraph....

 

[CraigJ ✅]

At least three staffers who work directly with Trump or Vice President Mike Pence have tested positive for the disease in the past 24 hours, including Trump's valet and Pence spokesperson Katie Miller, who is also married to White House adviser Stephen Miller.

I don't know why this is a big deal.

Now, this is just my hunch, but based on and lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this, because a lot of people will have this and it is very mild. They will get better very rapidly, they don’t even see a doctor or call doctor. We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work, some of them go to work, but they get better.

I hope you get the reference in the above paragraph....

The real question is, how do they know the staffer was sick, and how do they know who that staffer has had contact with?

 

[KeyboardWeeb]

Unfortunately, I can see how this may play out.

1. Trump refuses to take responsibility for any negative consequences, (death, unemployment, budget deficit)
2. Trump put the blame for everything on everyone else - Obama, democrats, the Chinese, governors
3. The economy starts a very slow recovery in the month or so before the election. Trump claims credit, and says that everyone should praise him for his incredible leadership despite the "lame stream media", democrats, pundits, reporters
4. Gullible Trump voters buy it hook, line and sinker, and combined with voter suppression, Trump ekes out a win in the Electoral college

I have never wanted to be wrong so badly in my life

You forgot to include: Democrats eat their own. It's happening.

 

[jhvance]

"One 7/11 per day, but that doesn't matter because Democrats are mean to real Americans."

I think you mean 9/11.

Maybe one really crowded 7/11?

It's possible he/she might be a Brit, as they refer to the London bombings as "7/7" like we Americans refer to the New York attacks as "9/11" -- or possibly it was just a typo or a mental glitch.

 

[jhvance]

I have been telling my friends for weeks now that we are in the opening credits of a dystopian sci-fi move... Be safe my fellow Ars friends

That journey started in 2016...

That's episode III of the prequel.
Episode I set in 1980s, during the Reagan era.

I would have said the prequel began in the early 1950s with Nixon's elevation to Veep and placed a lot of power into the Bill Casey-Allen Dulles combo, which initiated a coup in Iran because the newly-elected government chose to nationalize Anglo-American Oil.

 

[dogwitch]

I'm 61 and have been somewhat politically aware for a bit more than three decades.

Can someone older than me speak to how our current White House leadership compares to others in years past. Has it EVER been this feckless?

No snark intended.

My 98 year old grandmother says she can't recall a worse President in her lifetime.

Yeah, I asked my dad who was born during WWII and as an adult went through all the craziness of the 60s, Nixon, Reagan and Iran Contra... he said this is worse. Oh yeah, and this conversation was a year ago, well before the virus forced the hand of these a-holes.

(how does an asshole have hands, you ask? well it turns out they are veeeery tiny and just... nasty).

my gram was born 1921.
she went thru a hell of a lot in her life time. when trump was running for office. she said to me . he will be a shit show . mark my words. also congress was corrupt to....
she was right(she past away last year)

 

[Torao]

I don't look forward to hearing from people like you about how it's my fault other people chose a bad general election candidate when we're facing four more years of Trump, but I have a sinking feeling it's coming.

So carrying Putin's water it is I guess.

"This guy can clearly see Biden is a bad candidate and isn't afraid to say it... he must be a Russian bot."

If he's such a bad candidate, what does that say about your candidate who lost to him? Biden wasn't among my first five choices, but he was the candidate the majority of Democratic primary voters wanted. Perhaps you might want to reconsider what you "clearly see".

 

[DarthSlack]

I don't look forward to hearing from people like you about how it's my fault other people chose a bad general election candidate when we're facing four more years of Trump, but I have a sinking feeling it's coming.

So carrying Putin's water it is I guess.

"This guy can clearly see Biden is a bad candidate and isn't afraid to say it... he must be a Russian bot."

You know what I can see? That you're so fucking full of yourself that you don't understand what's right in front of you. The things you want to see like decent health care? If Trump gets another 4 years you can kiss it goodbye.

Forever.

Because in 4 years Trump and Moscow Mitch will have so packed the courts with brain-dead toadies that any law benefiting someone not a Trump donor will be declared unconstitutional. Voting for anyone other than a Republican will either be illegal or impossible. Women's rights will be entirely confined to being barefoot and pregnant. Evangelical religious education will be mandatory in public schools.

Science will be defunded.

Putin wants all of that because that means the US is in worse shape than Russia. The main Russian adversary has been removed from play. Putin gets to do exactly what he wants.

So yeah, you spouting off about how Biden isn't 10000000000000% perfect is helping that agenda. You may not be a Russian bot, but you are carrying their water for them.

So unless you want the Idiocracy to continue, sit down, shut the ever living fuck up about Biden and vote for Democrats. Everywhere, all the time.

 

[Deleted member 1]

...- Michael Pence becoming our interim president

I will admit, this does frighten me. Maybe we can get a two-fer on the COVID infection? (That does seem to be a good possibility)

OK, two-fer - but I want guaranteed delivery!! Picture Nancy Pelosi as interim president after the demise of Trump and Pence! OMG, the look on those conservative faces - sweet!!

 

[Biceps]

So let's be real blunt, here. South Korea, which had it's first recorded Covid-19 case on the same day as the USA, currently has 256 confirmed deaths from Covid-19. The USA currently has 77,000.

This is all due not just to incompetence in our leadership, but also due to disaster capitalists running our country. From PPE to tests to Chloroquine, the Kushner family is profiting, as are their conspirators. They are also trying to use this crisis to put the postal service out of business, so they can part it out to their friends - no doubt in closed-door, no bid sales. Their friends are also benefiting from the massive slush funds built into the bailout.

What we are all seeing, right now, is the largest case of disaster capitalism in all of history. The level of corruption in our leadership is only matched by its incompetence.

With all of the media's focus on "incompetence" there has been very little deep reporting on the active (and in many cases, illegal) pillaging that is happening at the same time. That really needs to change.

I think you are drawing a wrong conclusion? South Korea too is capitalist. As is Taiwan, another COVID-19 success story!

The problem isn't capitalism per se. It's having the wrong man at the helm. A man (man-child, to be precise) who surrounds himself with 'yes' men and women and empowers them in critical government positions. When the man calls something correctly, things can go well (like the economy and the stock market until February anyway). But when the man gets something all wrong (like a full-on pandemic) - disaster follows!

I think you may have missed my point. You are talking about incompetence in our leadership - which is undeniable, and is what the media has largely been reporting.

What I am talking about is the equally destructive and (unlike incompetence) intentional theft from taxpayers that is occurring at an historic scale, in parallel with, and often disguised by, the incompetence you are referring to.

 

[Deleted member 1]

So let's be real blunt, here. South Korea, which had it's first recorded Covid-19 case on the same day as the USA, currently has 256 confirmed deaths from Covid-19. The USA currently has 77,000.

This is all due not just to incompetence in our leadership, but also due to disaster capitalists running our country. From PPE to tests to Chloroquine, the Kushner family is profiting, as are their conspirators. They are also trying to use this crisis to put the postal service out of business, so they can part it out to their friends - no doubt in closed-door, no bid sales. Their friends are also benefiting from the massive slush funds built into the bailout.

What we are all seeing, right now, is the largest case of disaster capitalism in all of history. The level of corruption in our leadership is only matched by its incompetence.

With all of the media's focus on "incompetence" there has been very little deep reporting on the active (and in many cases, illegal) pillaging that is happening at the same time. That really needs to change.

I think you are drawing a wrong conclusion? South Korea too is capitalist. As is Taiwan, another COVID-19 success story!

The problem isn't capitalism per se. It's having the wrong man at the helm. A man (man-child, to be precise) who surrounds himself with 'yes' men and women and empowers them in critical government positions. When the man calls something correctly, things can go well (like the economy and the stock market until February anyway). But when the man gets something all wrong (like a full-on pandemic) - disaster follows!

I think you may have missed my point. You are talking about incompetence in our leadership - which is undeniable, and is what the media has largely been reporting.

What I am talking about is the equally destructive and (unlike incompetence) intentional theft from taxpayers that is occurring at an historic scale, in parallel with, and often disguised by, the incompetence you are referring to.

I see. The intentional theft comes with the territory when you have a dictator wannabe who cares only about his ego and his wealth. I had thought earlier that you were blaming capitalism itself.

 

[Biceps]

So let's be real blunt, here. South Korea, which had it's first recorded Covid-19 case on the same day as the USA, currently has 256 confirmed deaths from Covid-19. The USA currently has 77,000.

This is all due not just to incompetence in our leadership, but also due to disaster capitalists running our country. From PPE to tests to Chloroquine, the Kushner family is profiting, as are their conspirators. They are also trying to use this crisis to put the postal service out of business, so they can part it out to their friends - no doubt in closed-door, no bid sales. Their friends are also benefiting from the massive slush funds built into the bailout.

What we are all seeing, right now, is the largest case of disaster capitalism in all of history. The level of corruption in our leadership is only matched by its incompetence.

With all of the media's focus on "incompetence" there has been very little deep reporting on the active (and in many cases, illegal) pillaging that is happening at the same time. That really needs to change.

I think you are drawing a wrong conclusion? South Korea too is capitalist. As is Taiwan, another COVID-19 success story!

The problem isn't capitalism per se. It's having the wrong man at the helm. A man (man-child, to be precise) who surrounds himself with 'yes' men and women and empowers them in critical government positions. When the man calls something correctly, things can go well (like the economy and the stock market until February anyway). But when the man gets something all wrong (like a full-on pandemic) - disaster follows!

I think you may have missed my point. You are talking about incompetence in our leadership - which is undeniable, and is what the media has largely been reporting.

What I am talking about is the equally destructive and (unlike incompetence) intentional theft from taxpayers that is occurring at an historic scale, in parallel with, and often disguised by, the incompetence you are referring to.

I see. The intentional theft comes with the territory when you have a dictator wannabe who cares only about his ego and his wealth. I had thought earlier that you were blaming capitalism itself.

No, I have a degree in economics, and am in sales at the moment. I am pretty comfortable with capitalism. I also have a pretty good understanding of how capitalist systems, without proper oversight (the problem you are describing) end up corrupt, and turn into systems for fleecing the general populace in favor of whoever is in power.

What I am trying to point out is that incompetence can be used as a way to intentionally divert attention from overt corruption. This isn't all incompetence, there has been a concerted campaign over the past 3 years to weaken regulatory and watchdog agencies, to delete reams of scientific data, and to perverse economic incentives towards those who already have the greatest concentrations of wealth - that was all very much intentional.

If you look at the broad, comprehensive overviews coming out from the media that detail this entire chain of events, they all look at the incompetence of the administration - because "He's an idiot" is pretty easy to prove.

What is being ignored is Trump's legendary history as a con-man, a grifter, and that has allowed an historic amount of coordinated theft to occur that, once fully quantified, will prove to be the largest con to ever happen in human history.

EDIT: added two commas,,

 

[Dawnrazor]

I'm growing more and more pessimistic about about Biden's chances in the fall.

I'm so tired of this narrative that Trump is bulletproof. Yes, his presidency is norm breaking, but he's not a warlock, and he can't actually bend reality. His base is a minority that doesn't have the numbers. We're entering at the very least a serious recession. Economic collapse doesn't get you reelected.

He won election on essentially a fluke and a technicality. His approval numbers have been shit. The rally around the flag poll bump he got? Was historically minor compared to any other remotely similar incident (see W after 9/11 for instance). The country as a whole doesn't like him. And right now what they really want is good leadership in a crisis, which Trump wouldn't know how to do if he tried.

The polls have him losing to Biden. Biden, the candidate that nobody is excited about but who could potentially deliver the Senate by being more moderate. That would be huge.

If you're a progressive or believe in science the realistic path to positive change in things you care about is way more likely with Biden and a Democratic Senate than Bernie and a GOP Senate. The whole package matters more than the President.

Is anything certain? Fuck no. People better get their asses to the polls (by which I mean probably mail that envelope from home). But let's lose this mopey Eeyore attitude. Biden doesn't excite me either, but I'm voting for him, and so are a shit ton of other people who might not be excited either. And if he really can help flip the Senate? I'm excited.

Presidents aren't kings or godmakers. Trump might wish otherwise, but it remains true. A competent government doesn't need a magical savior to run it all, someone who can simply appoint competent people, listen to the experts, and have Congress back them up will make up for a ton of issues.

Find that positive energy if you want change, complaining and assuming the worst just encourages defeat.

If Biden wins it will be because of Trump massively fucking up, not because he's increasing turnout or motivating people himself. He won't deliver the Senate or any of that nonsense, if the Dems win the Senate with Biden then they could win it with any warm body.

And? Sanders was clearly unable to increase turnout.

Sanders might well have hurt the Democrats down ticket. His supporters may not have been willing to vote for mainstream Democrats in the other races. Biden's core supporters shouldn't have an issue with that.

 

[Ozy]

What is being ignored is Trump's legendary history as a con-man, a grifter, and that has allowed an historic amount of coordinated theft to occur that, once fully quantified, will prove to be the largest con to ever happen in human history.

EDIT: added two commas,,

It's not just Trump. Republican leadership in general sees this as a unique opportunity to get away with a whole bunch of shit, masked by the clown show that is the Trump administration.

 

[sura]

As someone who grew up under a true communist dictatorship, all this s**t sounds really, really familiar.

I remember fondly the days when someone would say that a certain politician or party were being dictators, and someone else would always comment something like "As someone who grew up under a true dictatorship, this is nothing like it, and you don't know what a real dictatorship is!" And it would give us a bit of perspective.

But now it's gotten so bad that people who grew up in those regimes are like "yeah, that's a fair comparison".

 

[TheAvatar]

I kinda understand (but don't agree with) wanting to open up the economy despite the dangers. What I don't understand all the people who claim its a hoax and or that people shouldn't (or shouldn't be forced to) wear masks and practice social distancing.

 

[jdale]

I kinda understand (but don't agree with) wanting to open up the economy despite the dangers. What I don't understand all the people who claim its a hoax and or that people shouldn't (or shouldn't be forced to) wear masks and practice social distancing.

Not to mention the people who are somehow so incensed by being "forced" to wear a mask as a loss of their freedom, that they respond by forcing others to not wear their own.


What it shows it that it has nothing to do with principles. It's just unwillingness to accept the world as it is, and a incoherent belief that if they can only force people to act normally and stop participating in the narrative, the disease will just go away.

 

[Biceps]

What is being ignored is Trump's legendary history as a con-man, a grifter, and that has allowed an historic amount of coordinated theft to occur that, once fully quantified, will prove to be the largest con to ever happen in human history.

EDIT: added two commas,,

It's not just Trump. Republican leadership in general sees this as a unique opportunity to get away with a whole bunch of shit, masked by the clown show that is the Trump administration.

Yes, exactly, that's my point. "Incompetence" is being used as a mask to excuse massive transfers of wealth from taxpayers to "Who knows??".

When we do finally (likely after it is too late to really do anything about it) get an accounting of who benefited from this crisis in extreme ways, we are going to find it was family and friends of Trump&Co, Kushner&Co. and Devos&Co.

It's sad and sick, and no one is reporting on it. If it were being reported in the way I described, some Arsian would have provided evidence to the counter by now.

 

[Deleted member 1]

As someone who grew up under a true communist dictatorship, all this s**t sounds really, really familiar.

I remember fondly the days when someone would say that a certain politician or party were being dictators, and someone else would always comment something like "As someone who grew up under a true dictatorship, this is nothing like it, and you don't know what a real dictatorship is!" And it would give us a bit of perspective.

But now it's gotten so bad that people who grew up in those regimes are like "yeah, that's a fair comparison".

Trump's only been at it for 3.5 years. Give him another term and then you'll really see!