Unraveling of America? Is the decline of our "empire" a given at this point?

[highfigh]

1) But, with fewer people commuting, there may have been fewer car accident/pedestrian deaths, which might reduce the differential. Has there been an increase in suicides because of the impact on mental health. A change in homicide rates? Those numbers would all have to be taken into account, I would think.

2) I don't think it's fair to dump all the blame in the US on Trump, as there have been failures on the part of the individual states, responsible federal agencies, as well as the populace at large. There have been failures on the part of many country's governments, including Canada's.

3) We were also slow to implement masking. Federal and provincial emergency stockpiles of N95 masks that were created after the SARS outbreak in 2002/03 expired on the shelf. Although Canada has done a better job in reducing the spread than the US, other countries, such as New Zealand and South Korea, have done better.

4) Canada was slower to ban travel from China than the US, because - I believe - it was seen as simplistic and racist. We restricted travel from the US last of all, despite the fact that the vast majority of our COVID cases originated from...the US.

Point 1)-
homicide and suicide are up by a large %, more or less depending on location. I listen to a police scanner app, especially when I hear more sirens and gunshots than usual, and it's not only suicide & homicide, overdoses, domestic violence and disorderly conduct calls are far more frequent. The rioting didn't help, either. Crime in the areas surrounding Milwaukee has skyrocketed and we have had several deaths from people in stolen cars who ran from the Police. Many times, I hear the chases terminated and they still run. Some chases are for minor problems but some are for violent criminals who were released pending trial. I heard one call about four shots fired and another call a few minutes later, for a single shot. The second call was for a Milwaukee Police officer who committed suicide in a suburban park.

Point 2)-
I don't think enough blame is put on people. I see masks missing, not covering the nose, not covering the mouth and those useless gaiters and handkerchiefs every day. Parties and gatherings with large crowds of unmasked people are becoming more common and now, Florida has opened the state, so people will drop their guard and expose themselves to this without a second thought. For that matter, I'm not sure a first thought will occur.

Point 3)-
During the last term, the US stockpile of PPE were used and not replenished before the election- why didn't they order more?

Point 4)-
Wanting to avoid being seen as racist and simplistic is a good reason to kill people?

This kind of contagion is one reason I don't like extremely high population density.

 

[highfigh]

Here is a Ted Talk by Bill Gates warning of such an event in 2015 (the video is 8-1/2 minutes, but my point is made in the first minute:

The next outbreak? We're not ready

In 2014, the world avoided a global outbreak of Ebola, thanks to thousands of selfless health workers -- plus, frankly, some very good luck. In hindsight, we know what we should have done better. So, now's the time, Bill Gates suggests, to put all our good ideas into practice, from scenario...

www.ted.com

And, indeed, Obama set up a response team in 2016 as a response to concerns about Ebola!

Wouldn't it be cool if someone who saw this coming and has a shitload of money had talked to others with a shitload of money and bought a huge quantity of PPEs between 2015 and 2019?

 

[Irvrobinson]

I don't think enough blame is put on people. I see masks missing, not covering the nose, not covering the mouth and those useless gaiters and handkerchiefs every day. Parties and gatherings with large crowds of unmasked people are becoming more common and now, Florida has opened the state, so people will drop their guard and expose themselves to this without a second thought. For that matter, I'm not sure a first thought will occur.

This behavior drives me nuts, especially at the gym. Almost all of the transgressors are male, usually the old and fat variety, just as often the young and dumb jock variety. Noses sticking out are the most frequent stupidities, though just hanging them from one ear when they think no one is looking is common. The young men I ask to pull their masks up generally do so without complaint, but I did have one old fat guy with huge gut offer to settle things outside at the gym. I chuckled in response, and he wasn't impressed.

 

[highfigh]

Check out Sweden in that link and the two neighbors, Norway and Finland.
Sweden didn't do much of anything except perhaps notify the population.
Well, here you go:
US 633/mil
Sweden- 581/million
Norway- 50/mil
Finland- 62/mil

They are certainly equals in healthcare, density, and others.

India, huge population and areas of density: 70/ mil
Brazil, didn't do much for the citizens : 666/mil

Again with Sweden....

What underlying medical issues exist among the people in these countries? How do the differences in diet factor into this?

 

[highfigh]

This behavior drives me nuts, especially at the gym. Almost all of the transgressors are male, usually the old and fat variety, just as often the young and dumb jock variety. Noses sticking out are the most frequent stupidities, though just hanging them from one ear when they think no one is looking is common. The young men I ask to pull their masks up generally do so without complaint, but I did have one old fat guy with huge gut offer to settle things outside at the gym. I chuckled in response, and he wasn't impressed.

You could have made him chase you and wear him down with your cat-like reflexes but NOOOOOOO! You had to chuckle and let it go......

 

[TankTop5]

When collective rights usurp individual rights the end is near.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Point 4)-
Wanting to avoid being seen as racist and simplistic is a good reason to kill people?

This kind of contagion is one reason I don't like extremely high population density.

As I stated, the overwhelming majority of our cases originated in the US - just a handful from China. On top of not wanting to appear racist and simplistic, it didn't make practical sense at the time.

 

[Irvrobinson]

When collective rights usurp individual rights the end is near.

Collective rights usurp individual rights all day long every day. Hunting seasons, speed limits, TSA agents, the IRS, required vaccination records to attend public schools, military drafts. This must mean the end is here for you.

 

[TankTop5]

Collective rights usurp individual rights all day long every day. Hunting seasons, speed limits, TSA agents, the IRS, required vaccination records to attend public schools, military drafts. This must mean the end is here for you.

False equivalent but you’ve bought the lie so the argument is moot.

 

[Irvrobinson]

False equivalent but you’ve bought the lie so the argument is moot.

And what lie might that be?

 

[adk highlander]

I am not sure I would put exactly that way. Biden’s solution is with hind site in mind. Or let’s call it a lesson learned. We do one at my company regularly to improve future performance. I am not sure I would fault Trump for not having this system in place. No prior administrations had thought to do it. No experts in our government who specialize in this did either.

It is a stretch to say Trump should have envisioned this 3 years prior and a put system in place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So the task force he removed specifically started what we needed and he ignored it all was OK with you? So it is now hindsight to follow a plan that was given to him. You really need to stop drinking his coolaid.

 

[KEW]

So here what I found....no cuts took place.
...
Not to mention article clearly states that the reserves were not brought back during the Obama admin. They spent it on vaccines. So not really sure what we should believe.

Believe the truth!

There were no cuts during the Trump admin.
Trump tried to make cuts, but the Senate did not approve them!
So if you are championing Trump, he failed by intent, but was unable to get his wish!

"The reserves were not brought back during the Obama Admin" is a true statement, but it is misleading! As I explained before:

Obama tried to get budget increases to replenish those stores, but Tea Party Senators were entrenched in making sure no money went to Obama's concerns and they actually cut the budget instead!

So, there were cuts, but they pre-dated Trump (and certainly cannot be blamed on Trump).
Trump wanted to do the wrong thing, but was blocked.
Obama wanted to do the right thing, but was blocked.

 

[KEW]

Wouldn't it be cool if someone who saw this coming and has a shitload of money had talked to others with a shitload of money and bought a huge quantity of PPEs between 2015 and 2019?

That would be cool, but this is also kind of cool:

Announcing the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator

Mark Suzman announces the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, a partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard. The initiative aims to identify potential treatments for COVID-19, accelerate their development, and prepare for the manufacture of millions of doses...

www.gatesfoundation.org

 

[Jeff R.]

I would make the argument that a cut does not exclude a department from managing its priorities and accountability for performance. The government loves to say I did not get everything I asked for in my budget so I am absolved of ownership. This is a terrible reality all over the government and accountability is lacking, this is why I get frustrated.

I would love to see some meeting notes for the department on ways to prioritize their funds that explore lower sourcing plans for supplies, department head count, studies that need funding etc.... so they don’t fail at their job to protect the public.

In the real world most of us have to make these decisions frequently...personally I never get the budget increase I ask for each year and sometimes get cuts. In no way am I not accountable for results. I absolutely am and if I acted otherwise I would be spending time updating a resume.

I don’t buy it sorry. Whoever leads that department is accountable. They have some mighty big budget numbers . Well into the Billion dollar range if I recall. Numbers that make most Americans heads spin.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Swerd]

So, there were cuts, but they pre-dated Trump (and certainly cannot be blamed on Trump).
Trump wanted to do the wrong thing, but was blocked.
Obama wanted to do the right thing, but was blocked.

There clearly were cuts, deep cuts. And they were clearly caused by the GOP. All this was before Trump.

 

[Irvrobinson]

False equivalent but you’ve bought the lie so the argument is moot.

So, this is a secret lie? Is this possibly the virus-related lie, that all of the restrictions are in place only so the Democrats, now infiltrated with the woke progressives, can exert control over our lives and behaviors? That as soon as Trump is out of office the virus will miraculously cease to be a factor, businesses will re-open, but not churches? Biden will resign from his new office, Harris will become president, and the Bernie-Squad communist-socialist (or whatever) progressives will take over, eliminate private property, and redistribute wealth to the noble poor people who deserve it more than the people who created it? Got it.

 

[Trell]

So, this is a secret lie? Is this possibly the virus-related lie, that all of the restrictions are in place only so the Democrats, now infiltrated with the woke progressives, can exert control over our lives and behaviors? That as soon as Trump is out of office the virus will miraculously cease to be a factor, businesses will re-open, but not churches? Biden will resign from his new office, Harris will become president, and the Bernie-Squad communist-socialist (or whatever) progressives will take over, eliminate private property, and redistribute wealth to the noble poor people who deserve it more than the people who created it? Got it.

Funny, but I'm pretty sure that many believes exactly that. Perhaps not that surprising with QAnon's rising popularity.

 

[Jeff R.]

There clearly were cuts, deep cuts. And they were clearly caused by the GOP. All this was before Trump.

Deep Cuts Huh. Well what is this report from the government show.

Look at figure one. Shows specifically called out for the CDC strategic stockpile. Bar with the triangles. I’m not seeing anything out of line. Why were the stores not replaced in 2010 and 2011. One might think we bumped the budget to the highest in 18 years for that purpose. Even during Trump years 575MM is a solid number.

So I’m not buying what you are selling.

Public Health Preparedness Funding: Key Programs and Trends From 2001 to 2017 - PMC

Objectives. To evaluate trends in funding over the past 16 years for key federal public health preparedness and response programs at the US Department of Health and Human Services, to improve understanding of federal funding history in this area, ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[panteragstk]

So, this is a secret lie? Is this possibly the virus-related lie, that all of the restrictions are in place only so the Democrats, now infiltrated with the woke progressives, can exert control over our lives and behaviors? That as soon as Trump is out of office the virus will miraculously cease to be a factor, businesses will re-open, but not churches? Biden will resign from his new office, Harris will become president, and the Bernie-Squad communist-socialist (or whatever) progressives will take over, eliminate private property, and redistribute wealth to the noble poor people who deserve it more than the people who created it? Got it.

Like this? The video starts where Trevor talks about all the things the Democrats are supposedly going to do if we don't re-elect Trump.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm not concerned for the anti-vaxxers themselves. However, if they really have a death wish, there are faster ways to accomplish that.

...

And less painful.