The problem is, it’s a given that self interest and self preservation is tops for these folk; it’s pretty “obvious” (post Fauci “initially, I said masks weren’t necessary because I didn’t want them to run low for healthcare workers”) that “full disclosure” is not 100%.
Sure, there’s stupid behavior going on, but can you really 100% blame people for applying the “canary in the coal mine” rule when it comes to these mandates that the top politicians (and now another health official, Dr. Birx) themselves are selectively following?
It’s sad. In this case I put the dial closer to self interest than self preservation. Preservation would have dictated you take into account polls and voter interests, but not that you decide you don’t need to follow the rules you made. Self interest is just ego centered.
Out of all the people to screw up, I’m personally willing to give Fauci and Birx more passes than any political figure. AFAIK it’s the only really known case of either of them screwing up, and Newsome, Pelosi and co. have pages worth of screwups and a definite pattern of behavior.
If this was the 1918 pandemic, Dr. Birx would’ve not only refrained from going to that family gathering, she would’ve talked everyone in her family out of the gathering, period.
Not sure actually. I’m a history buff but definitely not a historian. We’re effectively at 1918 level # of deaths in the first year right now anyway.
Is your argument that we should expect perfection from our leaders? If so that’s fine I suppose, certainly democrat leaders have been bloody terrible, but how do you square that expectation with Trump’s behavior on “our” side?
My main point is that when people in power or people “with knowledge” lie in order to “lead” the public to behave a certain way, that is a slippery slope of no return. Now, I’m telling you the truth?..don’t do what I do, do what I say because that’s better for you? And then there’s shock at the reactions and behaviors?
I 100% ignore Trump’s words; he’s a sore loser and a big crybaby. BUT I do remember the incredulity, ridicule, and dismissal from everyone when he said there’d be a vaccine by the end of the year, no worries. Well, I’m not sure about the no worries part, but here we are with not one, but two vaccines.
Selectively citing first year totals now? Isn’t the death rate% a much more meaningful comparison than “totals”? Well, at least it’s not the more deaths than insert war of choice here theme. I’m pretty sure the worldwide death toll will not be reaching 50 million by the time it’s “over”. And, I’m pretty, pretty sure none of these politicians would be flaunting the “rules” if they were facing the 1918 strain rather than the almighty Covid.
Speaking of the 1918 pandemic, not to mention WWI:
That would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918, when tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers died in World War I and hundreds of thousands of Americans died in a flu pandemic. Deaths rose 46% that year, compared with 1917.
Perhaps. My gym is staffed sometimes, and key fob access other times. Sundays are key fob access. Maybe they should not allow members in without staff given the circumstances.
I went in yesterday (Monday), and mask compliance was 100% if we don’t count the people with their noses out. The staff was enforcing it, but they need to be there to do so.
Sure, I’ll agree with that. That said I tend to give people (who are not elected) more than a single chance when they have no prior pattern of such behavior (like Pelosi). Months ago I was saying that we massively screwed the pooch on the mask not needed/masks needed debacle, because you only get one chance to influence the public writ large positively before they turn on you. That screwup has directly led to many people refusing to use one and decry a communist blah blah blah.
It’s frustrating and anger inducing sure. But I would never in my craziest dreams put Fauci and Birx anywhere near the same bucket as Pelosi/Newsome/etc.
Sure I remember that too. I recall being skeptical myself and saying it would more likely be at least March ish before we could get one widely distributed (which may still end up the case depending on one’s definition of “wide distribution in the US”), but I also recall talking about the development progress of said vaccines.
My bigger point was if you’re going to say that we should be absolutely critical of anyone who has ever even once done something like “do as I say, not as I do” that is fine, but you should apply that to both sides of the aisle not just the democrats and Birx.
I personally would rather judge on a pattern of behavior, and Pelosi et al. have significant patterns like that where Birx really does not.
Nothing selective about it, it was a top of mind comparison. Yes, death rate is generally more meaningful than totals.
Agreed, our sanitary improvements and knowledge of viruses have improved almost infinitely over 1918. That wasn’t really my point.
Again not a professional historian but I don’t agree at all here. Politicians don’t change that much. And as loppar pointed out there were a lot of people doing the same thing we hear of people doing today.
The biggest “take-home” I took from the Documentary was that there will always, always be deniers and those living the reality of the situation as best they know how.
Imperfect, for sure…but doing the best they can with the knowledge they have.
Disgrace? It’s evil. Full disclosure: I can go without 600 dollars. My wife and I have not stopped working because of Covid. With that said, I don’t mind the idea of giving Americans who genuinely need money because they were unable to work or run their businesses because of government imposed restrictions, made for the greater good. I understand this money will add to our national debt but at least it’s for Americans in need, through no fault of their own.
What I cannot accept is the idea that Americans are going into debt to help other nations and that this is being done under the cover, hidden among thousands of pages, of a covid relief bill. I’m not against foreign aid but this is about the USA and covid. Any foreign aid should be a separate matter that gets judged separately with regard to its necessity. I would love for Trump to veto this piece of crap bill.
Why and how is it that the GOP is SO much better at hiding their bullshit in these huge Bills? No one in going to convince me that with the spineless nature of the current GOP that they have not buried some unrelated bullshit.
Kudos to the GOP for their ability to hide their crap better than the DEMS.