Filed under: Big Tech, Bureaucracy, Capitalism, Conservatism, Coronavirus, Democrat Corruption, Economics, Election 2020, Freedom, Health Care, History, Media Bias, Politics, Progressivism, Socialism, The United States | Tags: Big Tech, Covid-19 Coronavirus, The Election
The days close to an election get a little wild. Everyone is panicking. at least slightly, and frightened that the opposition will possibly win, so it’s getting nasty out there. Congress has called Big Tech in before them to have a little discussion about their interference in the election which has gone far beyond what is allowed or permissible. Or if the laws don’t control what they have done, Congress may have to fix the laws, which is completely within their power. Twitter is, of course the biggest offender, but the others are not far behind.
Corporations used to understand their role, but Big Tech has been called “masters of the universe” in jest so often that they may have come to believe it, to assume that their “fact-checkers” have some validity, or that their interference is fine because all their employees agree with them anyway. Congress does not agree, and if they need to fix the laws, Congress will do just that. Corporations used to have a clear idea of their role, which was to cooperate and stay out of it.
Democrats biggest claim is that Donald Trump is somehow responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, responsible for all the deaths, and it is all clearly his fault. So There! Au contraire. Back when the Chinese virus first arrived and we first began to understand what we might be in for, Dr. Deborah Birx who was adviser to the president along with Dr. Anthony Fauci said that if we were very fortunate and very lucky, we might have only somewhere around 200,000 deaths over the course of the disease. We are at 231,000 today, so perhaps we have done pretty well, while regretting every loss.
Democrats are now preparing to impeach Amy Comey Barrett. They don’t know what for yet, but they’ll find something. Which shows not how much they dislike the immensely competent and capable new justice of the Supreme Court, but that they do not understand the purpose of the Supreme Court and view it as a partisan organization, which they must control along with everything else. Their drive for control of the economy is insatiable, so perhaps the Bidens are not the only ones prospering from their time in public office.
I’m beginning to think we should change the qualifications to run for public office which should be adjusted a little more, and require some greater understanding of American history and contemporary economics. Kamala Harris’s husband, Douglas Emhoff, remarked that his wife was going to be the President of the United States, so apparently they don’t think Joe Biden is going to make it through a full term either.
Be sure to vote, only once each, please. And take it very seriously, for it is a very serious matter.
ADDENDUM: One would think that businesses would understand that probably half of their customers would belong to the opposite party, and wouldn’t approve of being lectured to or their expressing their party line.
Filed under: Bureaucracy, Coronavirus, Crime, Democrat Corruption, Domestic Policy, Economy, Intelligence, Law, News, Police, Politics, Regulation | Tags: A Lack of Clear Thinking, Covid-19 Coronavirus, Worms in the Brain
They have apparently been lying to us about the effects of COVID-19. It is a subtle virus that attacks the brain and makes its victims unable to think clearly, or even to think at all. John Tierney addresses the question in City Journal.
How would our leaders get through this pandemic without “the science”?
It’s never been obvious just what “the science” is, or why anyone would speak of science as a single truth, but the role it plays is quite clear. It’s the modern equivalent of the Oracle of Delphi, that mysterious font of guidance that Greek leaders consulted during wars and other crises. However foolish or sensible the advice may be, the oracle gives leaders an excuse to duck responsibility for decisions—and their consequences.
Why, for instance, was the upstate New York economy shut down for more than two months, despite the small number of cases of Covid-19 in rural counties? Why, as some offices and barber shops and other upstate businesses were finally about to reopen at the end of May, did Governor Andrew Cuomo infuriate local officials by suddenly announcing that this decision could not be made by them—or even by himself?
Victor Davis Hanson addresses it directly in 10 Rules For Postmodern Rioting. Directly. All is not as it seems. Posturing, The media too. they advise the rioters to avoid over-burning or torching too many buildings. Are the torched shops and stolen property designed to show us that we need more gun control?
Systemic racism goes on and on in spite of the generations of Democrat control of Minneapolis. Is it fair for Democrats to claim that Republicans or Conservatives are racist or racially insensitive without taking any blame for their share of the problem? In Chicago there were 18 murders in 24 hours in the most violent day in 60 years. 900 murders per year were common in the early 1990s, but this weekend was something special. In Minneapolis, the City Council President suggested that if you call the cops when your garage is broken into, you are a White Supremacist. It’s clear that there is a deluge of worms in the brain, must be Covid. Can no one think clearly anymore?
Here’s another: Nicole Hannah-Jones who created the infamous “1619 Project” for the New York Times, that creates a new and laughable history of the nation’s founding as a slave nation. If slavery is central to the founding of the nation, there is no hope, no hope at all. Senator Tom Cotton was invited to submit an op-ed, which he did to suggest that sending in the National Guard to protect American citizens with federal authority when local law enforcement needs support.
Worm in the brain, or just a kind of rot affecting the critical faculties? And what do we do to help the people recover?
Filed under: Bureaucracy, China, Coronavirus, Domestic Policy, Economy, Politics, Regulation, The United States, Unemployment | Tags: Covid-19 Coronavirus, Protests and Repression, The Nation's Governors
Independence is a tradition in America, The people don’t really like being ordered around, and a number of governors are getting more than a little officious. The people understand the pandemic, and the need for care and avoidance, and wearing masks, but we are seeing examples of whole cities being shut down, with no one allowed to enter or leave and that goes way too far.
Since our officials are elected from the general population, their skill at good management is not always in evidence when they are elected and is sometimes utterly missing. President Trump correctly turned the management of the states over to the governors of their own state, and some have done all right, most have gone too far, fearful of not doing enough. The most urgent problem is that many Americans have lost their jobs, and are finding it difficult to cope. And many of those who might be employed have had their workplace closed. Food bank use is way up.
Protests are breaking out, sometimes spontaneous, often organized, and it may get worse. People want to go back to work. Our governor here in Washington State has just extended his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order through May 31. He may allow some retail curbside purchases, car washes, (Swell, and I really, really need my hair cut) but I will be allowed to wash the car. More details to come. Pet grooming may be allowed, but not for people. can you tell that I am getting a little testy?
California’s governor Gavin Newsom has been very busy closing beaches, and as the weather is getting warmer, that’s not going over well. Orange County is bitterly protesting the closure of their beaches. They have had a very low death rate, with a higher population in the county than that of many states. Most of the people who live in Orange County live there because of the beaches.
In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo has shut down the schools for the rest of the year. There will undoubtedly be no summer camps available. Parents will have to find new amusement or tasks for their kids.
New York was fearful of running out of hospital space, and the President sent the Hospital Ship Comfort , but it never was needed at all, though the arrival was prompt and spectacular. They also, I believe. built a military hospital tent in a park, which was also never used. Better to have unused supplies, than sick people needing unavailable beds.
The nation’s governors have no experience of pandemics, nor of preparing for them, or administering them. Next time around, we will be better prepared. Are they not telling us that there will be a second round this next winter? There is so much that we do not know, but we are learning fast. I hope they are keeping good records of our successes as well as our failures.
Filed under: Bureaucracy, Education, Health Care, Politics | Tags: Covid-19 Coronavirus, Governor Jay Inslee, Western WA School Closure
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has ordered school closure in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties beginning next Tuesday, March 17 and to remain closed until April 24.
Many employers have encouraged workers to work from home, so perhaps this won’t be such a burden, but many employers have not, and for those folks it’s a problem of possibly leaving children home alone. So parents have several days to figure out how to manage. Good luck to you.
Confirmed cases have increased to 270 (from 234 yesterday) with one additional death reported.
Filed under: Bureaucracy, Capitalism, Economics, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Immigration, Law, The United States | Tags: Covid-19 Coronavirus, Protecting Yourself., Super Tuesday
image: artist unknown. via powerline
We have had a second death from Covid-19 Coronavirus, also from the same facility in Kirkland, Washington. Here is the Washington State Department of Health website but use it only if you need it, it’s apt to be busy. Here’s information for the public from Representative Adam Smith:
The public can take everyday actions to protect themselves and help prevent the spread of the virus:
Practice excellent personal hygiene habits, including hand washing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
Stay home when sick.
Do not go to the emergency room unless essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first. Stay informed from reliable sources. Information is changing frequently. Check Public Health Seattle & King County, Washington State Department of Health, and the CDC for updated information.
On the political front, Amy Klobuchar has quit the presidential race, and endorsed Joe Biden. I don’t think Elizabeth Warren has formally withdrawn, but I keep hoping. She was lined up with Bernie Sanders, but went after him strongly at the last debate. Pete Buttigieg has also endorsed Joe Biden.
Tomorrow is what is called Super Tuesday, when a whole bunch of states have their primaries on the same day. 14 states have signed up: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. California is, they say, representative of the primary electorate of the Democrat party, Texas is similar, as the second most populous state, with a large Latinx ) a new and somewhat offensive designation) population.
Chris Matthews has apparently left CNN*. And welcome to the month of March.
Greta Thunberg had an occasion in Bristol in the United Kingdom last week, urging British schoolchildren to skip school on Friday to protest global warming. About 15,000 people are believed to have attended Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate rally. It was raining briskly, and the heavy rain turned the grass into mud, making a colossal mess of the rally. The BBC reported that “Ms. Thunberg has been presented as a sort of expert on the environment by alleged adults in the international Press” which covers it nicely.
* Chris Matthews has retired.
ADDENDUM: The Coronavirus death toll here in Washington State has reached 6, all connected to the Senior Care facility in Kirkland. There has been one death in New York.
American Elephants 