5310

Because, much as we might wish they weren’t, even major public health disasters have a political component…such as, when your chief executive is a complete incompetent.

5311

Is Fauci ill? Or has he corrected Trump in public one too many times, and is now muzzled?

5312

That is fair enough I suppose. Although if every topic is turned into a Trump thread that might crowd out the original intention of the topic.

5313

Because they’re inherently linked. The governments of each nation will have their responses to the crisis. China did things, Korea did things, Italy did things, we’re doing things, etc. A couple months ago you had the WHO and others warning of the dangers of the pandemic. Up until 10 days ago or so, Trump was insisting that this was a hoax, that we had 15 cases that were going down to 0, etc. Complete inaction.

Now the government is trying to figure out how to deal with the economic fallout. This also is inherently political in nature. It’s hard to talk about one without the other.

5314

Not my nation thank goodness.

5315

Don’t worry, it’s just because he was speaking. We can soon return to… “Here is a x% from x country, we are so screwed/boned/dead.”

5316

From the Bullwark and quoting here because it’s perfectly stated:

"“Trump didn’t cause the pandemic. What he did was squander America’s only advantage—a lag time during which to prepare for the crisis—thus encouraging the spread of the disease when it might have been contained. He has, in real and material ways, made this crisis worse.”

5317

I am wondering the same, he was last on TV on CNN yesterday correcting Trump lies as usual.

5318

It’s almost completely a political situation. You can’t divide a government response to something from government.

If the government handles it really well you can maybe pretend it didn’t happen, but when the government is literally shutting down everything? I mean, you’re going to talk about politics.

The only way to not talk about it is a clinical study of the virus itself. Which is interesting, but ultimately useless to most people when they’re concerned their kids aren’t going to school and that doctors say they don’t have enough equipment to keep themselves safe because, again, the government dropped the ball.

5319

Also, @Atolm, the reason there was a recent burst of discussion about Trump is that he was giving a press conference just now.

5320

In which no one was reassured.

5321

“Is chinese food a racist term because it originates in china?” That was a question that trump was asked at the presser.

5322

Posted without comment…

In the short term, this will be hugely damaging to businesses that rely on people coming together in large numbers: restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, gyms, hotels, theaters, cinemas, art galleries, shopping malls, craft fairs, museums, musicians and other performers, sporting venues (and sports teams), conference venues (and conference producers), cruise lines, airlines, public transportation, private schools, day-care centers. That’s to say nothing of the stresses on parents thrust into home-schooling their kids, people trying to care for elderly relatives without exposing them to the virus, people trapped in abusive relationships, and anyone without a financial cushion to deal with swings in income.

There’ll be some adaptation, of course: gyms could start selling home equipment and online training sessions, for example. We’ll see an explosion of new services in what’s already been dubbed the “shut-in economy.” One can also wax hopeful about the way some habits might change—less carbon-burning travel, more local supply chains, more walking and biking.

But the disruption to many, many businesses and livelihoods will be impossible to manage. And the shut-in lifestyle just isn’t sustainable for such long periods.

5323

In terms of politicians dealing with the virus it can be strewn as political. Everything else isn’t.

5324

Well, the guy is pushing 80. I sure hope I’m still around and looking that good at that age.

5325

Spanish flu

But yes he is doing it to provoke China. Not that I mind too much in that really.

5326

I strongly disagree.

5327


5328

Well if you live your life purely in terms of what dogma they appear on the political chart then you are a poorer person for it imo. Its a lonely hill to die on.

5329

While it is possible to be overly critical of a government that really is trying its best during a crisis, this is hardly one of those times.