"Of all the hardships a person has to face, none is more punishing than
the simple act of waiting." from; A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled
Hosseini.
So many people around the world spent Easter without family and friends,
myself included. For those of you who are religious, perhaps this was even
harder, as this is Christianity's holiest of holy days. It is the affirmation of
life over death. Church services in most of America were canceled or
televised. not the same. Perhaps you partook in one of the drive-up Masses,
again, no Easter bonnet required. Did you see the sun rise?
It was also Passover season, the day of remembrance, when families gather
together, telling the story of how the angel of death passed over the homes
of the faithful. From the youngest to the oldest, they eat the same meal
their people have eaten for centuries. And remembering to set a place at
the table for Elijah. The gatherings this year took place over Skype and
if Elijah came to the door, you couldn't let him in.
And in Islam the feast of Eid Al-Adha, marking the beginning of the Hajj.
Saudi Arabia was forced to cancel travel and accommodations for those
coming to Mecca. For those who planned this for years, it is a fateful blow.
As the Quran says all people of faith must make the pilgrimage once in
their lifetime. It is one of the five pillars. What happens if that time never
comes again?
I remember Easter when I was a child. In our house, there were only two
times a year when we got new shoes, Easter and back to school. Easter
was more exciting because the shoes were a bit dressier, church, wedding
and funeral shoes they were. I always wanted a pair of patent leather Mary
Janes with a silver buckle. Never got 'em, mama said they weren't practical.
But at least the Easter shoes weren't the oxblood oxfords we wore to school.
My older sister always got a new dress, I got her refurbished dress from last
Easter. Every year mama had to sew a ruffle on the hem, even though I was
five years younger, I was four inches taller. My brother, being the only boy,
got a new shirt and new trousers and a bow tie to set it all off. Mama would
take down the hat box and fluff, and poke, and punch until she was sure our
hats would serve for another year. I'm sure we made quite a sight, all of us
marching off to church.
There were no baskets from the Easter Bunny at our house, I don't know why.
If the bunny ever did show up, papa would have shot him and mama would have
made hassenpfeffer out of him. We did have a huge basket of food that was
blessed the day before; there were colored eggs, ham, kielbasa, pierogi, and s
lamb made out of butter. One thing that never ceased to amaze me; mama left
a basket with green plastic grass and filled with colored eggs out on the dining
table for days until they were all eaten, and no one got food poison.
I remembered too, Easter with my children. The two boys always got new slacks
and sport coats and new shoes, real shoes not athletic shoes, that always started a
big argument. But the little princess, she got a beautiful dress, a new bonnet, and
Mary Janes, black patent leather with a silver buckle, like she cared. Mama was
right, they aren't practical. They scuffed something terrible and had to be polished
with Vaseline every Saturday. The new dress went across the street to the neighbor's
daughter in three months, and the shoes didn't last until July. The boys shoes only
made it to prom senior year and then into the donation bag.
Funny the things you think of sitting alone eating re-heated tuna casserole for
Easter dinner. This is day 36 of my isolation, and there is really no end in
sight. But Saturday two friends stopped by, not together you understand as
that would be verboten. But with each one, I chatted over the railing on my
patio, mindful of the six-foot rule. We laughed at how ridiculous the situation
was, and then swallowed a tear or two. Later in the afternoon, I drove out to
see another friend, we laughed and talked in her front yard until it got too
cold to carry on. She went in alone and I drove home alone. But with all three
there were virtual hugs and blown kisses. Not much but it would have to do
for now.
At noon on Sunday, Andrea Bocelli gave a performance at the Milan Cathedral.
The Cathedral was empty, it was just he and the organist, but he was singing to
the world. At the end, Bocelli walked outside and sang Amazing Grace. While
he sang all four verses, we were shown live shots of major cities; London, Rome,
Paris, New York. The streets were devoid of people, no cars, no bicycles, nothing.
It was like they dropped the bomb and all the buildings were saved, but where
were the people? It was incredibly sad in a way, it only made me feel more alone.
We cannot begin to know how long this will take, no one has ever experienced this
before. I know it will be longer for people like me, my age and other conditions
will keep me isolated longer, perhaps until they have a vaccine. But I ask myself,
if this is the new normal, if I must give up my friends, my freedom, do I wish to
live like this? Life must have some value, otherwise it is just existence. How long
can someone live on memories? Have we entered the Twilight Zone between life
and death?
I'm just sayin'
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Thursday, April 9, 2020
With Friends Like This...
America and Canada share the world's longest undefended border,
and have been allies, in good times and bad, for over two-hundred
years. It wasn't always that way, few people remember their history
lesson recounting the 1813 invasion by 13,000 American troops that
invaded York the capitol of the Canada territory, now Toronto. They
sacked and burned the city. In retaliation, Canadian troops invaded
the United States, and sacked Washington D.C. and burned the
White House. But let us leave bygones be bygones.
Today, at the western end of the U.S./ Canadian border, straddling
that exact border, between the cities of Blain WA. and Surrey BC,
and over looking the Pacific Ocean, there is a monument called the
Peace Arch. It was dedicated in September of 1921. On the American
side of the Arch, is the inscription: "Children of a common mother".
And on the Canadian side, is the inscription: "Brethren living together
in unity". There are huge metal gates in the center of the Arch, on the
gates are the inscriptions: "May these gates never be closed" and 1814
Open one-hundred years 1914".
At the other side of the continent, some 3100 miles away is another border
marker between St. Stephen NB and Calais ME. On that marker it reads:
"This unfortified boundary line should quicken the remembrance of the
more than a century old friendship between countries. A lesson of peace
to all nations."
There are some of you, like me, who remember when travel between our
two countries was uninhibited. Oh, you stopped at the crossing and the
smiling gentleman asked a few simple questions and then sent you on your
way. But the hysteria of 9/11 changed all that. The United States became
suspicious of everyone and the Commission that was formed after 9/11 said
we had to protect our borders. So, as of 2004, anyone entering the United
States from Canada or Mexico must have a valid passport. In retaliation,
Mexico and Canada demanded the same from the U.S.
Did we forget that it was Canada that accepted over 200 planes with over
6500 passengers that were diverted from landing in America after 9/11? It
Canadians who opened their homes and their hearts, Canadians who
showed those stranded travelers the true meaning of compassion. They
housed them, fed them and sent them home with hugs.
Good fences make good neighbors - as reiterated by Robert Frost in the
Mending Wall - became Americas watch word, and soon to be a reality
on our southern border, but I digress. It is one thing to be leery of
strangers but quite another to be fearful of your neighbor. And there is
one man in particular whose is fostering such suspicions, Peter Navarro.
Mr. Navarro, who is President Trumps trade advisor is well known, but
not well liked in Canada. After a meeting there, several diplomats were said
to have wished Mr. Navarro would be '...sent off to Peru". Though what they
had against Peru is not known. But rather than having their wishes granted,
Navarro, an ultra-protectionist, has gained stature and influence with the
President. Because of his reputation on Trumps team of advisors, he
remains Canadas public enemy number one.
Mr. Navarro - the driving force behind Trumps 'America First' policies - has,
along with his major trade responsibilities, been appointed policy coordinator
for the Defense Production Act. His recent hostile act was using his defense
authority to try and prevent 3M Corporation from exporting protective masks
to Canada for it's fight against the coronavirus. The issue was resolved
following bitter complaints from Canada.
But that is not the last of it. Navarro recently drafted an executive order that
allows him to use national security to limit imports of foreign medicines, raw
material, and vaccines. This is reminiscent of what happened a few years ago
when he used the same security rational to justify imposing tariffs on Canadian
steel and aluminum. It was Navarro who backed Trump on his withdrawal from
NAFTA. Navarro, like Trump, could care less about any historical special
relationship with Canada.
It is the same Navarro who is now advocating the used of the anti-malaria drug,
hydroxychloroquine, and has been denounced by Dr. Fauci, Director of the National
Institute of Infectious Diseases. It was Navarro who was behind the stationing of
troops near the Canadian border, which has now been discarded. It was Navarro
who went on Fox News after the 2018 G7 Summit in Quebec to say of Justin
Trudeau; "...there is a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in
bad-faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump."
Despite all this rancor, Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has maintained his
composure, though he has been asked by many how he will hit back at Trump.
Trudeau has repeatedly rejected the idea of retaliation. He understands that
disrupting global supply chains will harm everyone. The masks that the United
States withheld from Canada are made with a special wood pulp mix that comes
from a mill in Nanaimo BC, not 120 miles from the Peace Arch.
What Navarro and Trump do not realize is that there are nearly 1600 nurses who
live in Windsor Ont. and they cross the border everyday to work in hospitals in
Detroit, MI. Detroit is an epicenter of a massive outbreak of Covid-19. Detroit
has recorded almost as many deaths from the virus as all of Canada. For example,
at Henry Ford Hospital, 40 percent of the nurses are Canadians. Without them
the hospital could not function. These brave health-care workers are risking their
lives and the safety of their families, to help a neighbor in need. Why? Because
that is what good neighbors do.
I'm just sayin'
and have been allies, in good times and bad, for over two-hundred
years. It wasn't always that way, few people remember their history
lesson recounting the 1813 invasion by 13,000 American troops that
invaded York the capitol of the Canada territory, now Toronto. They
sacked and burned the city. In retaliation, Canadian troops invaded
the United States, and sacked Washington D.C. and burned the
White House. But let us leave bygones be bygones.
Today, at the western end of the U.S./ Canadian border, straddling
that exact border, between the cities of Blain WA. and Surrey BC,
and over looking the Pacific Ocean, there is a monument called the
Peace Arch. It was dedicated in September of 1921. On the American
side of the Arch, is the inscription: "Children of a common mother".
And on the Canadian side, is the inscription: "Brethren living together
in unity". There are huge metal gates in the center of the Arch, on the
gates are the inscriptions: "May these gates never be closed" and 1814
Open one-hundred years 1914".
At the other side of the continent, some 3100 miles away is another border
marker between St. Stephen NB and Calais ME. On that marker it reads:
"This unfortified boundary line should quicken the remembrance of the
more than a century old friendship between countries. A lesson of peace
to all nations."
There are some of you, like me, who remember when travel between our
two countries was uninhibited. Oh, you stopped at the crossing and the
smiling gentleman asked a few simple questions and then sent you on your
way. But the hysteria of 9/11 changed all that. The United States became
suspicious of everyone and the Commission that was formed after 9/11 said
we had to protect our borders. So, as of 2004, anyone entering the United
States from Canada or Mexico must have a valid passport. In retaliation,
Mexico and Canada demanded the same from the U.S.
Did we forget that it was Canada that accepted over 200 planes with over
6500 passengers that were diverted from landing in America after 9/11? It
Canadians who opened their homes and their hearts, Canadians who
showed those stranded travelers the true meaning of compassion. They
housed them, fed them and sent them home with hugs.
Good fences make good neighbors - as reiterated by Robert Frost in the
Mending Wall - became Americas watch word, and soon to be a reality
on our southern border, but I digress. It is one thing to be leery of
strangers but quite another to be fearful of your neighbor. And there is
one man in particular whose is fostering such suspicions, Peter Navarro.
Mr. Navarro, who is President Trumps trade advisor is well known, but
not well liked in Canada. After a meeting there, several diplomats were said
to have wished Mr. Navarro would be '...sent off to Peru". Though what they
had against Peru is not known. But rather than having their wishes granted,
Navarro, an ultra-protectionist, has gained stature and influence with the
President. Because of his reputation on Trumps team of advisors, he
remains Canadas public enemy number one.
Mr. Navarro - the driving force behind Trumps 'America First' policies - has,
along with his major trade responsibilities, been appointed policy coordinator
for the Defense Production Act. His recent hostile act was using his defense
authority to try and prevent 3M Corporation from exporting protective masks
to Canada for it's fight against the coronavirus. The issue was resolved
following bitter complaints from Canada.
But that is not the last of it. Navarro recently drafted an executive order that
allows him to use national security to limit imports of foreign medicines, raw
material, and vaccines. This is reminiscent of what happened a few years ago
when he used the same security rational to justify imposing tariffs on Canadian
steel and aluminum. It was Navarro who backed Trump on his withdrawal from
NAFTA. Navarro, like Trump, could care less about any historical special
relationship with Canada.
It is the same Navarro who is now advocating the used of the anti-malaria drug,
hydroxychloroquine, and has been denounced by Dr. Fauci, Director of the National
Institute of Infectious Diseases. It was Navarro who was behind the stationing of
troops near the Canadian border, which has now been discarded. It was Navarro
who went on Fox News after the 2018 G7 Summit in Quebec to say of Justin
Trudeau; "...there is a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in
bad-faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump."
Despite all this rancor, Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has maintained his
composure, though he has been asked by many how he will hit back at Trump.
Trudeau has repeatedly rejected the idea of retaliation. He understands that
disrupting global supply chains will harm everyone. The masks that the United
States withheld from Canada are made with a special wood pulp mix that comes
from a mill in Nanaimo BC, not 120 miles from the Peace Arch.
What Navarro and Trump do not realize is that there are nearly 1600 nurses who
live in Windsor Ont. and they cross the border everyday to work in hospitals in
Detroit, MI. Detroit is an epicenter of a massive outbreak of Covid-19. Detroit
has recorded almost as many deaths from the virus as all of Canada. For example,
at Henry Ford Hospital, 40 percent of the nurses are Canadians. Without them
the hospital could not function. These brave health-care workers are risking their
lives and the safety of their families, to help a neighbor in need. Why? Because
that is what good neighbors do.
I'm just sayin'
Monday, April 6, 2020
SOS - Call All Boats
Captain D.J. Trump here: Captain's log - HMS Titanic
April 2, 1912 - went to see my new boat...it is huge, hugely, huge
I mean it is bigly big...biggest boat to sail ever...and new, it's brand
new...no one has ever seen a boat like this...you could get lost in
there...I mean BIG
April 4, 1912 - my boat is coming to Southampton, this thing...this
thing was made in Ireland...I'd feel better if it was made in Scotland,
my mother from Scotland, did I tell you that...good golf courses too,
I may look into buying one...but I'm sure those guys...those guys...
they know ships...they know good whiskey too
April 6, 1912 - Met the crew...what a bunch of guys...take a bow
guys...terrific guys, really great...they have a lot of nice things to
say about me too...doncha fellas...we're going to get along great,
they're a great bunch...stand up guys, take a bow
April 7, 1912 - This guy...I don't know, this guy's up top all
time...I don't know...he's got charts...I mean he's got charts
everywhere...big charts, the biggest, I don't know from these
charts...I'm a really smart guy, really intelligent, smart...
my uncle...my uncle he was in the navy...people say DJ,
they call me DJ, DJ you know more than these charts...a
lot more...I mean I have a feeling in my gut
April 8, 1912 - you know this boat...this ship, they call it a
ship...what do I know...is almost 900 feet long...that's what,
three football fields...not your football, my football...Red
Grange...you know Red Grange...he'd have a hell of a time
on this boat, ah ship...but I got people...people on this boat,
ah ship...they are top-shelf...the top...they don't get any bigger
and do you know why...because this is the best...that's why
they're here...I have the best...class, real class
April 9, 1912 - the guy with the charts...he's back with the
charts...he's talking icebergs...the only ice around here...
I tell him is in the drinks...there's always ice in the ocean
I tell him that...we should lock him below, huh...yea, lock
him up, lock him up...got a call from White Star...the are
the top you know...the number one...they said watch for the
ice...I'm on top of it
April 10, 1912 - off we go...we're shipping off...I'm up top
the chart guy, we got him locked up...gotta look smart...
no hat, can't wear a hat...this captain doesn't need a hat...
I spent 2 hours getting the hair just right...too windy out
here...these guys really know their stuff...these are top-notch
guys...I picked them myself...do I know how to pick'em...
people say that, DJ, they call me DJ, that DJ he can really
pick a crew...except for that chart guy...always with the
icebergs
April 11, 1912 - just two other stops to pick up more
passengers...I don't know these people...these people they
came across the border...they might be swimming across
I don't know...they don't speak English...the might be
murderers, thieves, rapists even...you don't know these days,
these days you have to be careful...watch everybody, they're
riff-raff
April 12, 1912 - took a stroll around the place today...you
can't believe these other folks...these folks know the best
when they see it...they say DJ, they call me DJ, I say call
me Captain...this boat, ah ship, has class...you can tell class
not too bad for an Irish boat
April 13, 1912 - the radioman, there's a radioman here.. is
that the best or what...the radioman says to me...excuse me
here...do you know I can call New York...New York from the
boat, ah ship...I can call Delmonico and get a table...anyway
the radioman tells me there are icebergs...hoax...people are
seeing icebergs, hoax....people are always seeing icebergs...
do you know we cruise at 39 knots, that's what again, I don't
know 40-45 miles an hour...how fast can an iceberg go
April 14, 1912 - damn, it's cold here, and I can't wear a hat,
no hat...it took me 3 hours to get this hair right...too much
wind, always the damn wind...took a walk around, not out-
side too damn cold outside...nice people...no riff-raff, the
riff-raff are all below...probably warmer there though...
we're ahead of schedule...should have waited to call
Delmonico...pretty dark outside can't see a thing...almost
twelve bells...what's with the bells, huh...just say midnight
what the hell was that noise, big noise, the biggest...what's
with the boat, ah ship, oh who cares boat, ship, ship, boat..
the boat stopped...we hit what...so what's a little ice...back
the boat up...what water...this boat can't sink...this is the best,
the best..I only pick the best
April 15, 1912 - what's with the boat, why is it tilting...water,
well start the damn pumps...do I have to do everything...we
have the best pumps here, number one pumps...only the best!
lifeboats, I suppose we can get the lifeboats...who does the
lifeboats...I hired some guy who does lifeboats...hey, that's a
hell of a band, catchy tune, what's the name of that tune...not
too good for dancing tho...I got this...what do you mean do
I take responsibility...no, I don't take responsibility...I didn't
build the boat...Andrews and those Irishmen they built the
boat..where the hell is he....where are the lifeboats...what do
you mean they're all gone...who counted those boats, he's fired,
no riff-raff up here...well all I have to say is if we saved 700
people, we did a hell of a job...great job...great job, everybody
stand up...everybody take a bow
I'm just sayin'.
April 2, 1912 - went to see my new boat...it is huge, hugely, huge
I mean it is bigly big...biggest boat to sail ever...and new, it's brand
new...no one has ever seen a boat like this...you could get lost in
there...I mean BIG
April 4, 1912 - my boat is coming to Southampton, this thing...this
thing was made in Ireland...I'd feel better if it was made in Scotland,
my mother from Scotland, did I tell you that...good golf courses too,
I may look into buying one...but I'm sure those guys...those guys...
they know ships...they know good whiskey too
April 6, 1912 - Met the crew...what a bunch of guys...take a bow
guys...terrific guys, really great...they have a lot of nice things to
say about me too...doncha fellas...we're going to get along great,
they're a great bunch...stand up guys, take a bow
April 7, 1912 - This guy...I don't know, this guy's up top all
time...I don't know...he's got charts...I mean he's got charts
everywhere...big charts, the biggest, I don't know from these
charts...I'm a really smart guy, really intelligent, smart...
my uncle...my uncle he was in the navy...people say DJ,
they call me DJ, DJ you know more than these charts...a
lot more...I mean I have a feeling in my gut
April 8, 1912 - you know this boat...this ship, they call it a
ship...what do I know...is almost 900 feet long...that's what,
three football fields...not your football, my football...Red
Grange...you know Red Grange...he'd have a hell of a time
on this boat, ah ship...but I got people...people on this boat,
ah ship...they are top-shelf...the top...they don't get any bigger
and do you know why...because this is the best...that's why
they're here...I have the best...class, real class
April 9, 1912 - the guy with the charts...he's back with the
charts...he's talking icebergs...the only ice around here...
I tell him is in the drinks...there's always ice in the ocean
I tell him that...we should lock him below, huh...yea, lock
him up, lock him up...got a call from White Star...the are
the top you know...the number one...they said watch for the
ice...I'm on top of it
April 10, 1912 - off we go...we're shipping off...I'm up top
the chart guy, we got him locked up...gotta look smart...
no hat, can't wear a hat...this captain doesn't need a hat...
I spent 2 hours getting the hair just right...too windy out
here...these guys really know their stuff...these are top-notch
guys...I picked them myself...do I know how to pick'em...
people say that, DJ, they call me DJ, that DJ he can really
pick a crew...except for that chart guy...always with the
icebergs
April 11, 1912 - just two other stops to pick up more
passengers...I don't know these people...these people they
came across the border...they might be swimming across
I don't know...they don't speak English...the might be
murderers, thieves, rapists even...you don't know these days,
these days you have to be careful...watch everybody, they're
riff-raff
April 12, 1912 - took a stroll around the place today...you
can't believe these other folks...these folks know the best
when they see it...they say DJ, they call me DJ, I say call
me Captain...this boat, ah ship, has class...you can tell class
not too bad for an Irish boat
April 13, 1912 - the radioman, there's a radioman here.. is
that the best or what...the radioman says to me...excuse me
here...do you know I can call New York...New York from the
boat, ah ship...I can call Delmonico and get a table...anyway
the radioman tells me there are icebergs...hoax...people are
seeing icebergs, hoax....people are always seeing icebergs...
do you know we cruise at 39 knots, that's what again, I don't
know 40-45 miles an hour...how fast can an iceberg go
April 14, 1912 - damn, it's cold here, and I can't wear a hat,
no hat...it took me 3 hours to get this hair right...too much
wind, always the damn wind...took a walk around, not out-
side too damn cold outside...nice people...no riff-raff, the
riff-raff are all below...probably warmer there though...
we're ahead of schedule...should have waited to call
Delmonico...pretty dark outside can't see a thing...almost
twelve bells...what's with the bells, huh...just say midnight
what the hell was that noise, big noise, the biggest...what's
with the boat, ah ship, oh who cares boat, ship, ship, boat..
the boat stopped...we hit what...so what's a little ice...back
the boat up...what water...this boat can't sink...this is the best,
the best..I only pick the best
April 15, 1912 - what's with the boat, why is it tilting...water,
well start the damn pumps...do I have to do everything...we
have the best pumps here, number one pumps...only the best!
lifeboats, I suppose we can get the lifeboats...who does the
lifeboats...I hired some guy who does lifeboats...hey, that's a
hell of a band, catchy tune, what's the name of that tune...not
too good for dancing tho...I got this...what do you mean do
I take responsibility...no, I don't take responsibility...I didn't
build the boat...Andrews and those Irishmen they built the
boat..where the hell is he....where are the lifeboats...what do
you mean they're all gone...who counted those boats, he's fired,
no riff-raff up here...well all I have to say is if we saved 700
people, we did a hell of a job...great job...great job, everybody
stand up...everybody take a bow
I'm just sayin'.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
I'm Hungry Lets Eat Grandma
I'm hungry, let's eat grandma. Commas save lives.
The above is an example that shows how commas save lives. It's every
writer's favorite joke. But in this time of difficulty, there is another thing
that saves grandma's life. And we will look at it here, but first I would
like to share some statistics with you.
I used to live in Arkansas, in fact I lived there for twelve years. I made
lots of good friends there and still communicate with them via email, and
in the case of two, by snail mail. Internet access is still spotty in some
areas. As I am a true news junky, I still subscribe to the Arkansas State
Journal, all be it by computer these days. The Journal is the main paper
in Arkansas, and it comes out of the capitol, Little Rock.
There was an interesting article on the front page, Monday March 30th.
It gave the breakdown of Covid-19 cases in the state. I was amazed, the
figures show the opposite of what the experts were saying about the
pandemic. The figures from Arkansas were:
* Total number of cases - 473
* Total of cases of those under 18 - 17
* Total of cases of those 19-64 - 307
* Total of cases of 65+ - 149
People over the age of 65 accounted for only 3% of the cases of Covid-19.
There were no figures on the death rate, I'm sure that might tell a
different story.
In the middle of March, President Trump gave an interview to Fox News
where he said he would like to have the United States open for business
by Easter, April 12th, less than one month from then. Initially, Trump
got this idea from watching Fox News. When Larry Kudlow was being
interviewed he said , "We can't let the cure be worse than the problem."
And Tucker Carlson chimed in saying, "...we can't let the epidemiologists
run the country".
That morning Trump tweeted, WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE
THAN THE PROBLEM. And there are several truths to those statements:
no one knows how far-reaching the economic melt-down will be compared
to say, the flu; those affected are the elderly; and the economic costs of
social distancing may be too great, even in the short run. That may not be
entirely wrong, economic cost must be balanced against saving lives. How
many lives saved are worth the trillions of dollars of lost production, lost
jobs and human suffering brought on by social distancing? Or dare I ask,
how much is a human life worth?
That depends on who you ask, if you would say life was immeasurable,
you would know instinctively that was wrong, neither your life or anyone
else's. There are trade-offs that we deal with on a daily basis; car accidents
claim 39,000 lives a year and main hundreds more. Want to give up your
car? No, I didn't think so.
We know we cannot save everyone from dying of the coronavirus, but we
are trying to prevent a catastrophic loss of life. Social distancing is the
cure, and the cure is costly, but it appears to be working. Last month the
rate of increase of infection from Covid-19 was near 30% of new cases
per day, with social distancing it is down to 10% per day. That is
38,000 lives saved in Italy alone.
The world is facing a sever recession, if not a depression due to the economic
shut down across the globe. An economic collapse will surely cost lives,
though in different ways, But not halting the pandemic would also lead to
loss of production output. What is the trade-off?
There are actually people, a subset of economics, that assess these matters
of trade-offs, as ghoulish as this seems. We make trade-offs everyday, we
balance the cost verses the benefit. When we purchase insurance, we are
saying that what we are insuring is worth the price of the policy. If the cost
of insurance is x dollars, and the cost of our car is y dollars, then the value
of our car is x/y.
Decisions like these and other comparatives are consistent across a wide
range of things. So let us make the comparison of resuming production
verses shutting production down. First we must assign life a value, in
this case it is "value of statistical life". This is an economic value used
to quantify the benefit of avoiding fatality. The value includes such things
as: quality, expected lifetime remaining, and earning potential. The United
States Government assigned the "value of life" in 2018 at $10 million.
Using our equation, suppose the economic shut-down due to social distancing
reduces the death toll from the projected 2.2 million persons to a worse-case
scenario of only 120,000. That is a savings of $2-trillion, or close to the
$2.5-trillion GDP in 2019. I think grandma can breathe easy now, we have
her back.
I'm just sayin'.
The above is an example that shows how commas save lives. It's every
writer's favorite joke. But in this time of difficulty, there is another thing
that saves grandma's life. And we will look at it here, but first I would
like to share some statistics with you.
I used to live in Arkansas, in fact I lived there for twelve years. I made
lots of good friends there and still communicate with them via email, and
in the case of two, by snail mail. Internet access is still spotty in some
areas. As I am a true news junky, I still subscribe to the Arkansas State
Journal, all be it by computer these days. The Journal is the main paper
in Arkansas, and it comes out of the capitol, Little Rock.
There was an interesting article on the front page, Monday March 30th.
It gave the breakdown of Covid-19 cases in the state. I was amazed, the
figures show the opposite of what the experts were saying about the
pandemic. The figures from Arkansas were:
* Total number of cases - 473
* Total of cases of those under 18 - 17
* Total of cases of those 19-64 - 307
* Total of cases of 65+ - 149
People over the age of 65 accounted for only 3% of the cases of Covid-19.
There were no figures on the death rate, I'm sure that might tell a
different story.
In the middle of March, President Trump gave an interview to Fox News
where he said he would like to have the United States open for business
by Easter, April 12th, less than one month from then. Initially, Trump
got this idea from watching Fox News. When Larry Kudlow was being
interviewed he said , "We can't let the cure be worse than the problem."
And Tucker Carlson chimed in saying, "...we can't let the epidemiologists
run the country".
That morning Trump tweeted, WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE
THAN THE PROBLEM. And there are several truths to those statements:
no one knows how far-reaching the economic melt-down will be compared
to say, the flu; those affected are the elderly; and the economic costs of
social distancing may be too great, even in the short run. That may not be
entirely wrong, economic cost must be balanced against saving lives. How
many lives saved are worth the trillions of dollars of lost production, lost
jobs and human suffering brought on by social distancing? Or dare I ask,
how much is a human life worth?
That depends on who you ask, if you would say life was immeasurable,
you would know instinctively that was wrong, neither your life or anyone
else's. There are trade-offs that we deal with on a daily basis; car accidents
claim 39,000 lives a year and main hundreds more. Want to give up your
car? No, I didn't think so.
We know we cannot save everyone from dying of the coronavirus, but we
are trying to prevent a catastrophic loss of life. Social distancing is the
cure, and the cure is costly, but it appears to be working. Last month the
rate of increase of infection from Covid-19 was near 30% of new cases
per day, with social distancing it is down to 10% per day. That is
38,000 lives saved in Italy alone.
The world is facing a sever recession, if not a depression due to the economic
shut down across the globe. An economic collapse will surely cost lives,
though in different ways, But not halting the pandemic would also lead to
loss of production output. What is the trade-off?
There are actually people, a subset of economics, that assess these matters
of trade-offs, as ghoulish as this seems. We make trade-offs everyday, we
balance the cost verses the benefit. When we purchase insurance, we are
saying that what we are insuring is worth the price of the policy. If the cost
of insurance is x dollars, and the cost of our car is y dollars, then the value
of our car is x/y.
Decisions like these and other comparatives are consistent across a wide
range of things. So let us make the comparison of resuming production
verses shutting production down. First we must assign life a value, in
this case it is "value of statistical life". This is an economic value used
to quantify the benefit of avoiding fatality. The value includes such things
as: quality, expected lifetime remaining, and earning potential. The United
States Government assigned the "value of life" in 2018 at $10 million.
Using our equation, suppose the economic shut-down due to social distancing
reduces the death toll from the projected 2.2 million persons to a worse-case
scenario of only 120,000. That is a savings of $2-trillion, or close to the
$2.5-trillion GDP in 2019. I think grandma can breathe easy now, we have
her back.
I'm just sayin'.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
The Time Has Come, the Walrus Said...
The time has come, the Walrus said,
to speak of many things.
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax
of cabbages and kings.
In this time of uncertainty, we are reaching out to friends and
family on a daily basis. "Are you OK? Yes, I am well." The
same question and answer over and over again. It is as if we
need that reassurance, it keeps us grounded. If they are alright,
and I am alright, then the world is alright. But the world is
not alright and I have no idea when it will be alright. And it is
that not knowing that is so unsettling.
From morning to evening everything changes; black is white,
left is right, day is night. I was to do this, now I shouldn't.
Take the test, no I mustn't. Stay at home, no go out to vote.
Wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands... I awake
in the morning to news that overnight things have gotten worse.
What is worse than terrible? I dread the daily count; how many
sick, how many died, where, how old?
Last week the emergency alarm went off on my phone. I raced
to pick it up with trembling hands. The message was that
Covid-19 was in my area and I should wash my hands. Where
is it? How far? How near? The five o'clock news said it was
to remind people to stay alert and wash their hands. Really?
Whose sick idea was that?
I can't help but think this is Mother Nature's revenge, it is as if
the Earth is saying, "I have had enough of you! You have
despoiled everything you touched. You have fouled the
water and the air. You have turned fertile land into desert.
Now I am through with you all.' It is as if the forces that be
are saying you must finally work together if you are to
survive. If this true, we have failed again. How can we expect
nations to work together when men hoard necessities that they
don't need just because they can.
The federal Government has announced that they have crafted
legislation to help the nation in this time of recession. As
incredulous as it may seem, both Houses of Congress have
voted to approve the bill and the President has signed it into
law. Gathered around the President were members of his party,
and only his party, even in times such as this partisanship raises
it's ugly head. The bill does very little to help the average
American individual, it is laden with more pork than an Oscar
Meyer processing plant. But we, that is those who are know to
the IRS, will receive a lump sum of $1200, and, I guess because
they don't eat as much, each child will receive $600.
That is wonderful as far as it goes, but it is a bandage on a
hemorrhage. To the people who need it the most, it is simply
a token, a breadcrumb to a starving man, a roll of paper towels
to stem a flood, an aspirin for a broken leg. I cannot imagine the
desperation of a family whose income is cut in half, dealing with
hungry children, children who once received breakfast and lunch
at their school. They now have to provide, per child, fourteen
additional meals a week , sixty more meals a month, on a food
budget that was stretched to the limit before.
I am in a comfortable position, I do not need the $1200 the government
will be sending me, neither do my friends, or my family. I am not
wealthy, nor are my friends but we live within our means because
we were lucky. We lived in a time of dedicated pensions, which now
provide us, along with social security, a livable income. I am going to
send my $1200 to my favorite charity, I ask you to do the same.
If you are able.
Today the party in power has found a new way to put the blame for the
coronavirus on the other party. Our much-admired smiling turtle-faced
Senate majority leader said the president was too distracted with his
impeachment to concentrate on the impending doom. Wow, there a
word we haven't heard in awhile, impeachment. Remember those good
old days when the news was all about impeachment, day and night,
24/7. We didn't know how good we had it.
And as long as we are in a political frame of mind, I have two things
to say; one, damn it Bernie give it up, it isn't about you, you egotstical
bastard, it's about the country, you know the country you claim to love
and want the best for. Well the best thing you can do is go back to the
Senate. And number two; Lizzie, get off the fence! If you want to see
anymore money from me you will endorse Joe Biden for president. Now
you are asking for more money for your Senate campaign. You will see
my cash when I see your endorsement. And by the way, Obama, how come
you didn't know my name when you were President but now I am your bestie?
I have read stories concerning the great need for counseling, it appears
psychologists and psychiatrist are in great demand at this time of home
quarantine. People, it has been less than a week, two weeks at the best!
If you are ready to go over the edge, perhaps you were standing too close
to the edge to begin with. The front-page story in my local paper reports
there is a marked increase in domestic violence since 'stay safe, stay inside'
it seems not everyone is taking that to heart. And they were predicting a rise
in the birth rate come January.
Well, I guess I have carried on long enough, in my defense I have too much
time to mull over the little problems of the day. Perhaps I should concentrate
on the bigger conundrums, such as string theory, or the singularity. If I
have any breakthoughs you will read about it right here.
I'm just sayin'
to speak of many things.
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax
of cabbages and kings.
In this time of uncertainty, we are reaching out to friends and
family on a daily basis. "Are you OK? Yes, I am well." The
same question and answer over and over again. It is as if we
need that reassurance, it keeps us grounded. If they are alright,
and I am alright, then the world is alright. But the world is
not alright and I have no idea when it will be alright. And it is
that not knowing that is so unsettling.
From morning to evening everything changes; black is white,
left is right, day is night. I was to do this, now I shouldn't.
Take the test, no I mustn't. Stay at home, no go out to vote.
Wash my hands, wash my hands, wash my hands... I awake
in the morning to news that overnight things have gotten worse.
What is worse than terrible? I dread the daily count; how many
sick, how many died, where, how old?
Last week the emergency alarm went off on my phone. I raced
to pick it up with trembling hands. The message was that
Covid-19 was in my area and I should wash my hands. Where
is it? How far? How near? The five o'clock news said it was
to remind people to stay alert and wash their hands. Really?
Whose sick idea was that?
I can't help but think this is Mother Nature's revenge, it is as if
the Earth is saying, "I have had enough of you! You have
despoiled everything you touched. You have fouled the
water and the air. You have turned fertile land into desert.
Now I am through with you all.' It is as if the forces that be
are saying you must finally work together if you are to
survive. If this true, we have failed again. How can we expect
nations to work together when men hoard necessities that they
don't need just because they can.
The federal Government has announced that they have crafted
legislation to help the nation in this time of recession. As
incredulous as it may seem, both Houses of Congress have
voted to approve the bill and the President has signed it into
law. Gathered around the President were members of his party,
and only his party, even in times such as this partisanship raises
it's ugly head. The bill does very little to help the average
American individual, it is laden with more pork than an Oscar
Meyer processing plant. But we, that is those who are know to
the IRS, will receive a lump sum of $1200, and, I guess because
they don't eat as much, each child will receive $600.
That is wonderful as far as it goes, but it is a bandage on a
hemorrhage. To the people who need it the most, it is simply
a token, a breadcrumb to a starving man, a roll of paper towels
to stem a flood, an aspirin for a broken leg. I cannot imagine the
desperation of a family whose income is cut in half, dealing with
hungry children, children who once received breakfast and lunch
at their school. They now have to provide, per child, fourteen
additional meals a week , sixty more meals a month, on a food
budget that was stretched to the limit before.
I am in a comfortable position, I do not need the $1200 the government
will be sending me, neither do my friends, or my family. I am not
wealthy, nor are my friends but we live within our means because
we were lucky. We lived in a time of dedicated pensions, which now
provide us, along with social security, a livable income. I am going to
send my $1200 to my favorite charity, I ask you to do the same.
If you are able.
Today the party in power has found a new way to put the blame for the
coronavirus on the other party. Our much-admired smiling turtle-faced
Senate majority leader said the president was too distracted with his
impeachment to concentrate on the impending doom. Wow, there a
word we haven't heard in awhile, impeachment. Remember those good
old days when the news was all about impeachment, day and night,
24/7. We didn't know how good we had it.
And as long as we are in a political frame of mind, I have two things
to say; one, damn it Bernie give it up, it isn't about you, you egotstical
bastard, it's about the country, you know the country you claim to love
and want the best for. Well the best thing you can do is go back to the
Senate. And number two; Lizzie, get off the fence! If you want to see
anymore money from me you will endorse Joe Biden for president. Now
you are asking for more money for your Senate campaign. You will see
my cash when I see your endorsement. And by the way, Obama, how come
you didn't know my name when you were President but now I am your bestie?
I have read stories concerning the great need for counseling, it appears
psychologists and psychiatrist are in great demand at this time of home
quarantine. People, it has been less than a week, two weeks at the best!
If you are ready to go over the edge, perhaps you were standing too close
to the edge to begin with. The front-page story in my local paper reports
there is a marked increase in domestic violence since 'stay safe, stay inside'
it seems not everyone is taking that to heart. And they were predicting a rise
in the birth rate come January.
Well, I guess I have carried on long enough, in my defense I have too much
time to mull over the little problems of the day. Perhaps I should concentrate
on the bigger conundrums, such as string theory, or the singularity. If I
have any breakthoughs you will read about it right here.
I'm just sayin'
Saturday, March 28, 2020
In Times Like These...
It is in times like these that people step up and show what they
are made of, and you find it is the little things that matter most.
Today is the eighteenth day of my confinement. Oh, I get out and
walk everyday that it doesn't rain, and even if it isn't a down
pour, I manage 2-3 miles. I meet very few other hardy souls,
but when I do, we exchange nods or brief hellos as we observe
our 'social distancing' etiquette. Yesterday a gentleman actually
left the sidewalk and moved into the street. I don't know whether
he was ill, or he thought I was.
My neighbor in the condo down the hall, stopped by Wednesday
and said she was going to the store and did I need anything. What
a life saver! I was dangerously low on coffee, and I was dreading
going shopping. Even in good times I hate to shop. I considerate
a necessary evil. I usually wait until the very last and then I take
my list and brave the crowds. I divide my list into stores, and the
stores into items by store, and the items by location in the store.
OK, call me anal, I find shopping a huge waste of time. I have
friends who make a day of it, with lunch between shops. They
have learned never to ask me to go along on these excursions
after the first time, as I have a tendency to get whinny. So I will
meet them for lunch then we go our separate ways.
Shoe shopping is the worst. I would rather have a root canal
without anesthesia then go shoe shopping. I will admit I have
a hard-to-fit- foot. I wear a size ten, narrow - very narrow. My
husband used to say I would have been six-foot tall if they hadn't
folded so much of me under at the bottom. Athletic shoes are the
hardest to find in my size. It is as though all women athletes have
feet like Daisy Duck. So, when I find a pair of cross-trainers that
fit, I usually buy two pairs. Consequently, there are nine pairs of
athletic shoes in my closet and one pair of dress shoes - though
one pair of athletic shoes could be considered semi-dressy in a
pinch. Just not to a funeral.
Dear me, how did I go off on such a tangent? I began writing about
the kindness of people in times of crisis, and devolved into shoe
shopping. Let's see if we can get back to the matter at hand. I am
extremely grateful that I have a diverse group of friends. There are
class friends, they are of two separate interests; my writers group
and my religious studies group. And never the twain should meet.
I have been in each class for over eight years.
Then there is my Zumba group, we are no longer active in Zumba,
our leader having retired four years ago. But we still get together
twice a month for lunch and a gab session. And the pickleballers,
we play five days a week and have been known to top off a hard
game with a beer, or two at the local sports bar.
And last but not least, there are the mousekateers, we are an
exceptionally close group, bound by friendship and love. Over
the years we have lost three members, as those of us of that
certain age are wont to do. But we have taken in a new member,
one who needed us as much as we needed her. And the saddest
of all my friends, the ones who had to give up their homes and
move to a new place where the can receive a bit more help
getting on with life. It seems there are more of them every year.
These wretched times have forced all of us to isolate ourselves
for self-preservation. But thanks - and I never thought I would
say this - to the computer, we are still in daily contact with each
other. We check in early and late, counting off who is present
and who has not logged in yet. A late check-in will get you a
phone call. We email about the little things we are doing to
retain our sanity, exchange new photos of grandbabies, and
poems we've written to vent our frustrations, and jokes lots
of jokes. But one thing we are sure of, and that is none of us
are ready to throw in the towel.
Yeah, we have more years behind us than in front of us, but we
also have much to contribute to this world. Some of us remember
rationing after WWII, when you ate what your coupons allowed
and how creative mom got at the end of the month, making
dinner stretch with pasta and a can of soup. Then there were the
times when polio was rampant, we kids could not leave the safety
of our backyard; no playing with others, no park, no swimming
pool, no playground. The tumultuous Viet Nam War years, when
it seemed the country was coming apart at the seams, and the ugly
civil rights demonstrations. Watching in horror as human beings
were beaten like dogs. We lived through those times and came out
on the other side, stronger. And we can do this too.
Of course I want the best for my children and grandchildren. I
would sacrifice anything for them. But giving up is not what I
taught them. Their father and I taught them self-reliance and doing
with what you have and not with what you would like. What we
are going through is new to all of us, but if we learn from it, we
will all be stronger for it. My friends will tell you I am not a
hugger, it is the brunt of many a joke, but today I am reaching
out to all of you to give you a great big virtual hug, and I am
looking forward to the day I can do it face to face.
I'm just sayin'.
are made of, and you find it is the little things that matter most.
Today is the eighteenth day of my confinement. Oh, I get out and
walk everyday that it doesn't rain, and even if it isn't a down
pour, I manage 2-3 miles. I meet very few other hardy souls,
but when I do, we exchange nods or brief hellos as we observe
our 'social distancing' etiquette. Yesterday a gentleman actually
left the sidewalk and moved into the street. I don't know whether
he was ill, or he thought I was.
My neighbor in the condo down the hall, stopped by Wednesday
and said she was going to the store and did I need anything. What
a life saver! I was dangerously low on coffee, and I was dreading
going shopping. Even in good times I hate to shop. I considerate
a necessary evil. I usually wait until the very last and then I take
my list and brave the crowds. I divide my list into stores, and the
stores into items by store, and the items by location in the store.
OK, call me anal, I find shopping a huge waste of time. I have
friends who make a day of it, with lunch between shops. They
have learned never to ask me to go along on these excursions
after the first time, as I have a tendency to get whinny. So I will
meet them for lunch then we go our separate ways.
Shoe shopping is the worst. I would rather have a root canal
without anesthesia then go shoe shopping. I will admit I have
a hard-to-fit- foot. I wear a size ten, narrow - very narrow. My
husband used to say I would have been six-foot tall if they hadn't
folded so much of me under at the bottom. Athletic shoes are the
hardest to find in my size. It is as though all women athletes have
feet like Daisy Duck. So, when I find a pair of cross-trainers that
fit, I usually buy two pairs. Consequently, there are nine pairs of
athletic shoes in my closet and one pair of dress shoes - though
one pair of athletic shoes could be considered semi-dressy in a
pinch. Just not to a funeral.
Dear me, how did I go off on such a tangent? I began writing about
the kindness of people in times of crisis, and devolved into shoe
shopping. Let's see if we can get back to the matter at hand. I am
extremely grateful that I have a diverse group of friends. There are
class friends, they are of two separate interests; my writers group
and my religious studies group. And never the twain should meet.
I have been in each class for over eight years.
Then there is my Zumba group, we are no longer active in Zumba,
our leader having retired four years ago. But we still get together
twice a month for lunch and a gab session. And the pickleballers,
we play five days a week and have been known to top off a hard
game with a beer, or two at the local sports bar.
And last but not least, there are the mousekateers, we are an
exceptionally close group, bound by friendship and love. Over
the years we have lost three members, as those of us of that
certain age are wont to do. But we have taken in a new member,
one who needed us as much as we needed her. And the saddest
of all my friends, the ones who had to give up their homes and
move to a new place where the can receive a bit more help
getting on with life. It seems there are more of them every year.
These wretched times have forced all of us to isolate ourselves
for self-preservation. But thanks - and I never thought I would
say this - to the computer, we are still in daily contact with each
other. We check in early and late, counting off who is present
and who has not logged in yet. A late check-in will get you a
phone call. We email about the little things we are doing to
retain our sanity, exchange new photos of grandbabies, and
poems we've written to vent our frustrations, and jokes lots
of jokes. But one thing we are sure of, and that is none of us
are ready to throw in the towel.
Yeah, we have more years behind us than in front of us, but we
also have much to contribute to this world. Some of us remember
rationing after WWII, when you ate what your coupons allowed
and how creative mom got at the end of the month, making
dinner stretch with pasta and a can of soup. Then there were the
times when polio was rampant, we kids could not leave the safety
of our backyard; no playing with others, no park, no swimming
pool, no playground. The tumultuous Viet Nam War years, when
it seemed the country was coming apart at the seams, and the ugly
civil rights demonstrations. Watching in horror as human beings
were beaten like dogs. We lived through those times and came out
on the other side, stronger. And we can do this too.
Of course I want the best for my children and grandchildren. I
would sacrifice anything for them. But giving up is not what I
taught them. Their father and I taught them self-reliance and doing
with what you have and not with what you would like. What we
are going through is new to all of us, but if we learn from it, we
will all be stronger for it. My friends will tell you I am not a
hugger, it is the brunt of many a joke, but today I am reaching
out to all of you to give you a great big virtual hug, and I am
looking forward to the day I can do it face to face.
I'm just sayin'.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Fiddling Around Whilst We Crash and Burn
I pride myself on one thing in writing my opinions on this
blog, and that is I try not to devolve into hysteria, no hair on
fire rants. There is enough of that, and you can find it on
hundreds of other blogs, both from the conservative side
and the liberal left. But I have been isolated at home for
fifteen days as of today. I do go outside and walk everyday
it doesn't rain. I am in constant contact with friends and
family thru the computer and phone. But I miss the social
interaction that come with face to face meetings. So, you
will excuse me if I go off on a tangent, I ask your forbearance
in advance.
Sociopath - a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme
antisocial attitudes and behavior, and lack of conscience.
This is a clinical definition, I am not a clinical psychiatrist,
I have not dabbled in psychiatry, ever, even a little bit. But
I am not a medical doctor and yet I could tell when my child
was ill enough to require the services of one. I am not a mechanic,
but I know when my car is not running as it should, I have to
take it to the shop to be repaired. If my roof is leaking, if my
furnace won't go on, if I burst a pipe and water is everywhere,
I know enough to diagnose the problem and call on someone
with the expertise to fix the problem. We are in desperate need
of intervention here.
In 1990, in an interview with Playboy Magazine, Donald Trump
told an interviewer, "Life is what you do while you are waiting
to die. You know, it is all a rather sad situation," Trump was
speaking of a pending bankruptcy he was facing; he was
$3.4 billion in debt.
The interviewer asked, "Life or death?"
Trump replied, "Both. We're here and we live our 60, 70, or 80
years and we're gone. You win, you win and in the end, it doesn't
matter a hell of a lot. But it's something to do - to keep you
interested."
These are the words of a man who cares for nothing or nobody,
a self-described fatalist. His remark after the 9/11 Trade Center
attack was that he now had the tallest building in Manhattan. It
was a lie of course but, it gave us a look into Trump's personality
even then. His reaction to the 2008 economic collapse, was one of
joy, thinking of its potential profit to him. He told Barbara Walters,
"When bad things come, then I'll get whatever I want."
In an interview with Fox news, as late as 2014, Trump was asked
about how America was doing in the recovery, he was ebullient.
He said, "You know what solves it?" speaking of the economy,
"When the economy crashes, when the country goes to total hell
and everything is a disaster. Then you'll have a, you know you'll
have riots to go back to where we used to be when we were great."
he said laughingly.
Donald Trump has no feeling for the everyman who is hurting.
He appears to be totally ignorant of suffering of any kind that
does not affect him personally. It is not that he doesn't care, it
is that he is incapable of caring. He has a striking disassociation
with the truth, he lies as easily as he breathes. He doesn't know what
is true because the truth has no value to him. In the face of over-
whelming contradicting facts, he continues to insist he, and only
he, is right.
Trump's Self-aggrandizement knows no limits, and he demands adulation
from those around him. He surrounds himself with sycophants who bow
and scrape or face dismissal. It is as though he needs this constant
idolization or he will begin to doubt himself. And this is the man who is
now in charge of the greatest test our country has ever faced. Greater
indeed than all the wars, save the Civil War, because we are fighting this
enemy on our own soil.
And we, as Americans, are facing this enemy without a general, because
our supposed leader is fighting another enemy. The president is more
concerned with the state of the stock market then the state of the virus
attacking us. Trump was told in January that there was a danger of the
virus - which was rampant in China - spreading world-wide and eventually
reaching America. He was told that as a country, we were woefully
unprepared for that eventuality. He dismissed that notion.
For months Trump did little to prepare, and in fact, played down the idea
that America could be affected by a 'Chinese Flu'. While the number of
cases increased exponentially and the death rates rose, Trump re-tweeted a
photo of himself playing the violin. This is who trump is, and who he has
always been. In times of crisis, we can rely on his apathy to human suffering.
Only when aides told him his cavalier attitude to the pandemic, might cost
him dearly in November, did he finally appear to take charge.
He takes to the airwaves almost daily now - surrounded by the nodding heads
of his closest allies who then take the mic to echo his sentiments - and gives forth
with exaggerations and misinformation, which must then be recanted by scientists
and medical professionals. But the damage has been done, those ardent Trump
believers discount any advice but that which was expressed by their dear leader.
And now, in the most dangerous of all pronouncements, Donald Trump has told
the nation it is time to get back to normal. Go to work, go to church, get out again!
The medical community, as a whole, has said this is the worst thing that we can do
at this time. The number of new cases of Covid-19 reflect the infection rate from
7 to 10 days ago. Assuming the rate of infection can double, triple or worse we are
looking at a ten-fold increases of new cases. Enough to cripple our ability to care
for those who are the sickest. And what about the other reasons for hospitalization?
Heart attacks, strokes, accidents, all of these need hospital care also. Who will do the
triage necessary to decide who lives and who dies?
Trump, who is a notorious germaphobe, who eschews human contact of any sort, is
unperturbed about the coronavirus, even though he is in the age group that is
considered more likely to die if infected. But then he considers himself untouchable,
he laughs this off the same way he laughed off his impeachment. One thing for certain
if the United States is to survive this attack, we need more than medical and economic
intervention, we need to get rid of the reason for the collapse in the first place.
I'm just sayin'.
blog, and that is I try not to devolve into hysteria, no hair on
fire rants. There is enough of that, and you can find it on
hundreds of other blogs, both from the conservative side
and the liberal left. But I have been isolated at home for
fifteen days as of today. I do go outside and walk everyday
it doesn't rain. I am in constant contact with friends and
family thru the computer and phone. But I miss the social
interaction that come with face to face meetings. So, you
will excuse me if I go off on a tangent, I ask your forbearance
in advance.
Sociopath - a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme
antisocial attitudes and behavior, and lack of conscience.
This is a clinical definition, I am not a clinical psychiatrist,
I have not dabbled in psychiatry, ever, even a little bit. But
I am not a medical doctor and yet I could tell when my child
was ill enough to require the services of one. I am not a mechanic,
but I know when my car is not running as it should, I have to
take it to the shop to be repaired. If my roof is leaking, if my
furnace won't go on, if I burst a pipe and water is everywhere,
I know enough to diagnose the problem and call on someone
with the expertise to fix the problem. We are in desperate need
of intervention here.
In 1990, in an interview with Playboy Magazine, Donald Trump
told an interviewer, "Life is what you do while you are waiting
to die. You know, it is all a rather sad situation," Trump was
speaking of a pending bankruptcy he was facing; he was
$3.4 billion in debt.
The interviewer asked, "Life or death?"
Trump replied, "Both. We're here and we live our 60, 70, or 80
years and we're gone. You win, you win and in the end, it doesn't
matter a hell of a lot. But it's something to do - to keep you
interested."
These are the words of a man who cares for nothing or nobody,
a self-described fatalist. His remark after the 9/11 Trade Center
attack was that he now had the tallest building in Manhattan. It
was a lie of course but, it gave us a look into Trump's personality
even then. His reaction to the 2008 economic collapse, was one of
joy, thinking of its potential profit to him. He told Barbara Walters,
"When bad things come, then I'll get whatever I want."
In an interview with Fox news, as late as 2014, Trump was asked
about how America was doing in the recovery, he was ebullient.
He said, "You know what solves it?" speaking of the economy,
"When the economy crashes, when the country goes to total hell
and everything is a disaster. Then you'll have a, you know you'll
have riots to go back to where we used to be when we were great."
he said laughingly.
Donald Trump has no feeling for the everyman who is hurting.
He appears to be totally ignorant of suffering of any kind that
does not affect him personally. It is not that he doesn't care, it
is that he is incapable of caring. He has a striking disassociation
with the truth, he lies as easily as he breathes. He doesn't know what
is true because the truth has no value to him. In the face of over-
whelming contradicting facts, he continues to insist he, and only
he, is right.
Trump's Self-aggrandizement knows no limits, and he demands adulation
from those around him. He surrounds himself with sycophants who bow
and scrape or face dismissal. It is as though he needs this constant
idolization or he will begin to doubt himself. And this is the man who is
now in charge of the greatest test our country has ever faced. Greater
indeed than all the wars, save the Civil War, because we are fighting this
enemy on our own soil.
And we, as Americans, are facing this enemy without a general, because
our supposed leader is fighting another enemy. The president is more
concerned with the state of the stock market then the state of the virus
attacking us. Trump was told in January that there was a danger of the
virus - which was rampant in China - spreading world-wide and eventually
reaching America. He was told that as a country, we were woefully
unprepared for that eventuality. He dismissed that notion.
For months Trump did little to prepare, and in fact, played down the idea
that America could be affected by a 'Chinese Flu'. While the number of
cases increased exponentially and the death rates rose, Trump re-tweeted a
photo of himself playing the violin. This is who trump is, and who he has
always been. In times of crisis, we can rely on his apathy to human suffering.
Only when aides told him his cavalier attitude to the pandemic, might cost
him dearly in November, did he finally appear to take charge.
He takes to the airwaves almost daily now - surrounded by the nodding heads
of his closest allies who then take the mic to echo his sentiments - and gives forth
with exaggerations and misinformation, which must then be recanted by scientists
and medical professionals. But the damage has been done, those ardent Trump
believers discount any advice but that which was expressed by their dear leader.
And now, in the most dangerous of all pronouncements, Donald Trump has told
the nation it is time to get back to normal. Go to work, go to church, get out again!
The medical community, as a whole, has said this is the worst thing that we can do
at this time. The number of new cases of Covid-19 reflect the infection rate from
7 to 10 days ago. Assuming the rate of infection can double, triple or worse we are
looking at a ten-fold increases of new cases. Enough to cripple our ability to care
for those who are the sickest. And what about the other reasons for hospitalization?
Heart attacks, strokes, accidents, all of these need hospital care also. Who will do the
triage necessary to decide who lives and who dies?
Trump, who is a notorious germaphobe, who eschews human contact of any sort, is
unperturbed about the coronavirus, even though he is in the age group that is
considered more likely to die if infected. But then he considers himself untouchable,
he laughs this off the same way he laughed off his impeachment. One thing for certain
if the United States is to survive this attack, we need more than medical and economic
intervention, we need to get rid of the reason for the collapse in the first place.
I'm just sayin'.
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