Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Business As Usual: Is That Really The Way To Go?

It's time to Break It Down!

So, a certain Senator from Kentucky chose to be tested for COVID-19 last week, reportedly March 16th. After testing, Senator Rand Paul opted not to self-quarantine. He chose not to because, as he said:

“I did not quarantine while awaiting a coronavirus test because I did not meet the criteria for quarantine. In fact, I did not meet the current criteria for even being tested, much less quarantined.

I have not had an encounter with anyone that health officials recommended quarantining or testing.

I took the test because my wife and I had traveled extensively during the weeks prior to COVID-19 social distancing practices, and I am at a higher risk for serious complications from the virus due to having part of my lung removed seven months ago.

I did attend Louisville’s Speed Art Museum charity ball on March 7. Unlike the other Kentucky government officials there, I had zero contact or proximity with either of the two individuals who later announced they were positive for COVID-19. The event was a large affair of hundreds of people spread throughout the museum.”

As a consequence, between the time he was tested, and getting his test result, the Senator continued to cast votes on the Senate floor. He made a speech, met and lunched with other GOP senators, worked out in Senate gym and was spotted in the Senate swimming pool. After learning Paul was infected, two senators self-quarantined, a Virginia golf club cleaned and disinfected its facilities, and fellow members of Congress were furious that Paul didn't act more responsibly.

Given all the caveats the Senator provided to qualify his actions as standard acceptable behavior, it’s a wonder he even chose to be tested. Moreover, given that he did, and as difficult as tests allegedly were to come by for normal, non-celebrity officials, with all those reasons not to be concerned, it might even beg the question why he was able to get a test. But, as a couple of my favorite video comedians are fond of saying, “that’s irrelevant.” I digress. The point is, this situation highlights the fact that, as I told an ardent Trump supporter, and in this case it an avid Rand Paul advocate, either the Senator is disbelieving of the scientific evidence regarding the potential impact of catching and sharing the virus, or he didn’t care. Perhaps both. I don’t know whether either or both apply, but if it’s neither, he opted for an exceptionally peculiar way to demonstrate it during these times, which I think most would agree, are by no means normal.

Earlier in the month, Senator Paul distinguished himself by being the only senator to vote against a bipartisan $8.3 billion bill intended to help fight the outbreak, which included money for states and local communities to fight the virus as well as funds for public agencies to invest in vaccines, tests and treatments. Last week, he was one of eight senators to vote against the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The legislation expanded paid sick leave, provided for free testing, and enabled recipients to receive additional food and unemployment assistance.
  
The Senator had been a critic of his fellow Senators for leaning on “spending” to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, as he advocated for alternative plans. Of course, Senator Paul is no stranger to going it alone. He is the scion of Ron Paul, long time Republican, 10-year Libertarian, a former Texas Congressman, who was also known to be dogmatic and unyielding, and has flatly suggested, and I quote:

People should ask themselves whether this coronavirus “pandemic” could be a big hoax, with the actual danger of the disease massively exaggerated by those who seek to profit – financially or politically – from the ensuing panic.

Rand Paul is the first Senator to test positive for the virus. There are those who see irony in this, due to the fact he voted twice against Coronavirus relief bills. Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said after Paul’s announcement, he would be self-quarantining, since he sat next to Paul “for extended periods in recent days.”

When the Senator released a statement Monday afternoon, defending his actions, some believed it carried an even greater sense of irony. In addition to the comments noted earlier, after saying he thought it “was highly unlikely” he would test positive, he went on to add:

“Perhaps it is too much to ask that we simply have compassion for our fellow Americans who are sick or fearful of becoming so," he said. "Thousands of people want testing. Many, like David Newman of The Walking Dead, are sick with flu symptoms and are being denied testing. This makes no sense."

Given his own actions, that statement sounds somewhat devoid of self-awareness. So much so that perhaps we should wonderBusiness As Usual: Is That Really the Way to GO?”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Trump's 180 Degrees Conversion: And His Total Compulsively Reflexive Denial

It's time to Break It Down!

Slowly, surely, inexorably! Months ago, I established that three-word sobriquet at my personal working title for the period of history that we will one day deem to have been the Trump era. Yes, it’s a longer title, but it is also inordinately more descriptive. Precisely, of what is it illustrative, you may ask? 

I’m glad you inquired. It presents a graphically detailed summation of the stages through which much of the American citizenry must transport itself, before it sees clearly the metaphorical house of cards that is the Trump administration. 

According to the Washington Post Fact Checker, by the 1,095th day of Donald Trump’s administration, January 19, 2020, he had uttered 16,241 false or misleading claims. I have previously referenced Mr. Trump’s propensity to deal in non-truths, as cited by a number of fact-checking organizations. Said enterprises explain that they do not simply refer to each and every one of this extraordinary number of falsehoods as lies because they cannot rightfully discern that he intended to mislead, versus he simply doesn’t know any better. Rather than quibble, I’m OK with that. Even if one is described as having uttered false and misleading statements, the bottom line is the statements were other than truthful. I think the point is clear.

Last week I penned a post that I think most would agree was timely, speaking about the 
serious nature of COVID-19. I characterized it as, among other things, “a serious matter.” The Coronavirus is now in all 50 states. 

Since that time, the NBA halted its season, at least temporarily, most D-I athletic conferences scrapped their basketball tournaments, the NCAA cancelled March Madness, the start of Major League Baseball was delayed, along with a host of other sports world cancellations and suspensions. Moreover, a number of state and local governments have issued closures, and the Stock Market lost virtually all the gains made during the 3-plus years of the Trump Administration. But all of that pales in comparison to the tectonic plate shifting news that Donald Trump held a press conference Monday afternoon during which he acknowledged or conceded, with regard to COVID-19:

·      The situation is bad
·      The virus is not under control
·      The country might be heading into a recession
·      America may not get back to normal until mid-summer
·      We need to implement specific guidelines, including social distancing
·      Engage in schooling from home when possible
·      Avoid discretionary travel & eating in restaurants

In other words, you might say, he characterized it as “a serious matter.”

He had never, and I mean n-e-v-e-r before said any of those things publicly since the onset of the virus reaching our shores. His most decisive and noteworthy action related to the matter before Monday was imposing travel restrictions on China. So, what had he done to convey his lack of conviction that COVID-19 was an issue of critical importance and imminent danger? To tick off a few, from January through last week, he claimed repeatedly:

·      He had the virus under control
·      The number of cases would go down, not up
·      The virus might disappear, through a miracle, or something of the sort
·      The virus might vanish by April, with warmer weather
·      The media and Democrats were overhyping the situation
·      This is their new hoax
·      No, not at all (In response to an inquiry as to whether he was worried about a pandemic)

An old, but wisdom-laden bromide is “never look a gift horse in the mouth.” To wit, I’m happy to report the change in tenor in Trump’s posture. It was late, but it could have been never. Late is hella better than never. 

Undoubtedly, there are some, who, at the very least, wonder what on earth could prompt such a fundamental shift in posture and attitude by a such a big-brained stable genius of a guy who knows more than generals, meteorologists, scientists, Popes and Potentates? Combined! Well, through a lot of Trump watching, and a little bit of reading, I have a few ideas. CNN reported that officials and those close to Trump Monday and yesterday point to the following:

1.    Plummeting markets
2.    Economic data from China showing a devastating impact on growth
3.    New statistical models showing millions of Americans could die
4.    Private and public urging from his allies to adopt a more serious tone
5.    An about-face and new urgency from Jared Kushner
6.    At least 3 Mar-a-Lago guests having possibly spread the disease
7.    The influence and truth-telling of Dr. Anthony Fauci

On Tuesday Mr. Trump was asked about his change in tone. His response; predictable. He maintained his tone hadn’t changed much at all. In response to a query on the subject, he said:

"I mean, I have seen that, where people actually liked it. But I didn't feel different. I've always known, this is a real -- this is a real -- this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. All you had to do was look at other countries...no, I've always viewed it as very serious. It was no difference yesterday from days before. I feel the tone is similar, but some people said it wasn't."

OK, now that I’ve stopped LMAOROTFLOL, I can continue. As I remind others all the time, we know who and what we are dealing with. It would be imprudent to expect otherwise. Indeed, this was simply another effort to spin those not paying attention, and, I suppose, reassure those who’s mantra is, “In Trump I Trust.” Either way, it’s a dense hot mass of bovine excrement. But you already know. Trump’s 180 Degrees Conversion: And His Total Compulsively Reflexive Denial!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:



https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2020/03/trumps-180-degrees-conversion-and-his.html

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Coronavirus: The Next Big Thing

It's time to Break It Down!

As I start this post it is with the purest intent to keep it brief. First of all because I am not a doctor, and certainly no expert on this or any other strain of virus. Second, because there is probably very little that I will say that you haven’t heard before.

Why then, am I writing about it, you might legitimately inquire? I’m writing about it because I think it’s an important topic, and if I can convey that to even one person, it will have been worth the effort.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is part of a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, the viruses typically result in respiratory tract infections. As a group, the viruses were discovered in the 1969’s, and include SARS and MERS, as examples. COVID-19, the currently active strain, was first identified in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019, after having been cited as the source of a pneumonia outbreak in the area.

Over the past three months, the Coronavirus, as its commonly called, has been identified in a number of countries outside China, including Japan, Italy, and most notably, for most of us, here in the United States. Yesterday, CNN medical experts upgraded the description of the virus to the level of pandemic.

Now, before going any further, take a deep breath. Characterizing the way the disease is spreading as a pandemic, does not mean you should expect to die. At least not from the Coronavirus. It does mean you should take appropriate precautions.

Here is a Wikipedia summary description of pandemic:

A pandemic (from Greek Ï€á¾¶Î½ pan "all" and δῆμος demos "people") is an epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or worldwide. A widespread endemicdisease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic. Further, flu pandemics generally exclude recurrences of seasonal flu. Throughout history, there have been a number of pandemics, such as smallpox and tuberculosis. One of the most devastating pandemics was the Black Death, which killed an estimated 75–200 million people in the 14th century. The only two current pandemics are HIV/AIDS and Coronavirus disease 2019. Other recent pandemics are the 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) and the 2009 flu pandemic (H1N1).

Note that pandemics have come and gone, and most of us who were alive at the time survived. Coronavirus should be no exception to that trend. At the outset, it’s important to know a few key elements regarding COVID-19. According to the White House Coronavirus Task Force:

·      Older people and people with chronic diseases are a higher risk
·      The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus
·      Wash your hands often
·      If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
·      Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
·      Avoid close contact with those who are sick
·      Put distance between yourself and other people
·      Stay home if you are sick
·      Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow
·      Throw used tissues in the trash
·      When washing hands do so for at least 20 seconds, preferably with soap and water
·      If you are sick, wear a face mask
·      You do not need a face mask if you are not sick, unless you are caring for someone who is sick
·      Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily
·      The principal symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath

There are people who believe, and others who claim to believe reaction to Coronavirus is overblown. My first thought in reaction to such bravado is prototypical mother wit; better safe than sorry. 

Case in point:

One day Congressman Matt Gaetz is mocking the hoopla over Coronavirus. The next thing I hear is that one of his constituents died from it. That was followed shortly by news of the Congressman self-quarantining himself, because of…you guessed it, COVID-19. It’s not for me to say whether The Honorable Mr. Gaetz was just too cute for his own good; I’ll let karma speak to that. What I was say is, in all you do, act responsibly, sensibly, and with restraint. It may be had to do, but more often than not, it inures to your favor.

So, business of all ilks, including airlines, sports franchises, conference planners, and houses of worship are devising special circumstance behaviors to deal with the fallout from this pandemic. Last week, Wall Street temporarily halted trading. Even Mr. Trump has formed a task force (referenced previously), so you know it’s got to be, for real, for real! We are at the point where nearly all the market gains for the entire year were wiped out in a matter of days. This is real, and it is serious.

I started this post by conceding that I am by no means an expert in this field, and/or on this subject. I certainly didn’t become one over the course of 2-3 pages. So, in conclusion, I invite you to seek the counsel of individuals versed on the matter before you stake out a course of action on the matter. Whatever you do, just remember I told you right here in this post”Coronavirus: The Next Big Thing!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2020/03/coronavirus-next-big-thing.html