66 Comments
Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

This is a question that actually needs a 3rd option; concrete measures taken by our govt. That addresses the need for income and relief from debt. I feel this either- or thinking leaves out what many other countries have done to mitigate economic damage. They have imposed a variety of debt freezing and direct monetary payment to citizens. Why with so many models around the world, does the US and most of the media not question why this is not happening here?

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author

Thanks for presenting a third option!

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Lol, you are welcome. I do not think its a novel idea and I do not take credit for it at all. I think we need a loud voice asking why it must be this way or that!

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I think the answer to that question is the president: he doesn't want help, doesn't want to copy any other country, doesn't want or trust any advice from anyone. His personality and character (or lack of it) determine our fate.

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The power to make this happen doesn't sit with the president. The legislature could accomplish this entirely without him, not that they will. A general strike could accomplish this.

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you mean Congress? yes, Congress could but not this Congress. hell, there have been a half dozen opportunities, conservatively, to use Article 25 and that's not an option either. i wish there were a history of a general strike in the US, but there really isn't.

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founding

The 25th Amendment removal of the POTUS has to be initiated by the VP and supported be 2/3 of the cabinet and the President Pro-Tem of the Senate (this year that’s Chuck Grassley). Trump’s cabinet is largely “acting” and so unable to participate in any 25th Amendment action. It’s simply not up to Congress.

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Stop. They are sending out billions to people and small businesses and doing a good job fighting the virus.

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I have been thinking about that. Debt freeze/moratorium doesn't do anyone any good. Who wants to still be paying a lease long after they moved out? That's a lot of debt hanging over peoples heads. I think it just needs to be forgiven/written off. Encourage it by giving a dollar for dollar tax credit off your taxes. For those who feel the need to bury someone, make them declare the debt fully on their taxes as income regardless of if it can be collected.

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Those are stop gaps but at some point the world economy collapses and there is much more death.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

As much as I miss pedicures and Botox, I am not going anywhere. You can open things back up but you can't make people go out. So restaurants can open but maybe no one will show up??

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author

I like you, Nanc.

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As long as they practice good distancing and wear masks it should be as safe as going to the supermarket.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

in texas, it's ALWAYS big business b4 human life, with the GOP in charge. always has been, along with the has been politicians.

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So vote them out! 🙂

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going blue as fast as i can & bringing the rest along.

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halfway done in Congress

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It’s the economy stu- NO it’s not. I really do not understand this push to reopen the economy while at the same time Trump refuses to help the states. Why doesn’t he help the states to reopen the economy more quickly? And what harms the big bad blue states - who have the largest economies which aid the welfare southern states - hurts everyone. It’s so stupid I can hardly stand it. AND what the hell with the feds taking the PPE etc the states have ordered? Is that malicious or ineptitude?

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I am livid Amee. My inbox is flooded daily about very sick nursing colleagues in CA and around US and the world. Some of their agony were dying co-workers with small children. These are my colleagues in their late 40s, some friends ranging from 25-40, few are retirable age within 50-65. These are healthcare workers who for years better pay, but because they can do 2-3 jobs as nurses they can earn as much which put them in the middle income class: without incentives from colleges/universities reg subsidies etcs ...they work hard yet under appreciated, under compensated. Now this covid19 - what happens after this? Show them how much they are valued after these daily thank you hour is over. Will all this just for the moment? What is it for people who won’t wear masks, who wants to freely do what they want and be their narcissistic selves? The lives of healthcare workers and frontliners are nothing to them. These jerks & co-jerks leaders won’t feel it until someone close to them, family members or they themselves suffer and get beaten down by it.

Yes, I am upset, I am mad. This is my bitch moment in behalf of my colleagues. Sorry and thank you for allowing me to pour my frustrations out.

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AnonymousApr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Amy!! Take a look at how many healthcare workers have died from Covid. Can't find any reliable data/articles. But every nurse/doctor seems to know someone who has died.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I saw this quote in an IG post by Outside Magazine about the protests demanding states reopen businesses: "One the one hand, the Constitution guarantees the right to free assembly and free speech. On the other hand, as they say, Nature bats last." Nature - the virus - will decide whether these governors' instant gratification-motivated decisions are wise or not. I'm betting on the virus. The costs of their decisions should become evident in the next two weeks or so.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Love the irony in the quote "Nature bats last" vis a vis COVID-19; impulsivity will cost lives.

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like i said, i cannot take any credit for that since it was in an IG post by Outside Magazine, but i do think it works well

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This just proves that B.Sanders is correct in that we need a federal healthcare system that would give a total federal response without 51 different opinions and as many different directions, and until that happens this will continue to be the out come everytime history repeats it's self. I am glad dr trump's medical education was finally over ridden by intelligence and NIH advised not to use the meds that he been selling along with Dr Oz and Rudy, these meds failed in a VA test of 361 patients wonder how many actually died and will no longer need care, so vets keep giving survived war but died in a bad drug test...

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

They need to start placing coffins on his doorstep

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Yes, they do. My 86 year old mother lives in GA with my sister, who has been allowed from home. I checked yesterday and there were over 18,000 active cases. I’m just overwhelmed with emotions.

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He would have them removed or step over them. He has not even addressed, except in passing, the pain of the 40K deaths.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Fauci said, “The virus sets the timeline.” Full Stop.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

The population of GA before the census and after...?

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founding
Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

As Fauci said, “The virus sets the timeline.”

FL has opened some beaches for “activity only.” It has 27,000+ cases, up 5,000 from Friday. The GA governor claimed he just learned asymptomatic people could infect others two weeks ago. Now he’s pushing to open.

Personally, as my hair grows out of control, I will not set foot into public spaces without a mask for the rest of the year at least. MN is on lockdown through May 4 and we “only” have 2,000+ cases. Because we heeded the orders early and we’re used to self-isolating in the winter! 😜

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

The economy isn't going to just bounce back to what it was before. And when there's a resurgence in infections and deaths due to re-opening too soon, that will hurt the economy even more. This is the time when government should support its people. It should have measures in place so people don't starve to death or lose their homes. Support people until those that aren't working right now can safely get back to work. To me, this is the part about government providing for the commonwealth of its people.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

The infuriating thing is that it shouldn't be an either/or. If we had a coordinated federal response and earlier action, we would be at a place where we could reasonably re-open and have testing in place. There isn't much point in opening the economy if people are too scared to go anywhere, and if we don't have testing and mitigation in place then people should be scared to go out. However, I do think one thing that not enough people are talking about in these conversations is the mental health and preventative health impacts of prolonged lockdown. So it's not just peoples health v. the economy, we could be taking eventual time off of people's lives by keeping them in lockdown for a prolonged period. NOT arguing we reopen irresponsibly (looking at you GA) but just that it's a more nuanced discussion than if you aren't for keeping lockdown going through the summer you don't care about people dying.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

A collateral damage from opening early: as you say, people who are uncertain about going out in public will not go BUT the ones who don't care will and that means places that are open are going to be filled with people who may not believe the virus is a true threat, may not trust the government at all, and some of whom may well be carriers with no symptoms. These people will accelerate the infection's spread and may lead to an immediate second wave that may bury the local economies for months more.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

The people who were attending the 're-open protests' remind me of children who just don't listen to or acknowledge news/facts that they don't like. Facts are difficult for some to digest. Accepting facts even if you don't like the message shows maturity.

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The worst part is that these aholes are pawns of the (Betsy) Devos & Koch family industries. They're Libertarians who despise government "interference", i.e. help for citizens like Medicare, social security, ACA. They want these rubes back at their minimum wage jobs making $$$$ for them.

I'm pretty sure there's another angle to their machinations, like making the Governor's look bad, and re-lecting (God-Forbid) tRump, but I can't see it yet.

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So true. They're having a tantrum like a 2 yo. No one likes being confined home, but most of us have put on our big kid pants.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I’m in Texas. I live in a Skoolie (rv) & was kicked out of 3 state parks when Abbot was trying to figure out what to do. The issue I saw at the parks were not the full timers like me who got caught on the road, but instead the weekend warriors & families wanting to get out of the house. He could have designated a couple of parks (as could all of the govs) where travelers could have gone to quarantine, but instead they shut down & kicked out. A fellow traveler & I found an inexpensive RV park that would accept us & we have been self isolating here. Not so the rest of the area. It is pretty scary that especially businesses that have intimate contact w/clients would put their employees at risk- but more importantly is the mindset of the people who think- still- that this pandemic is not real. Hoping to be able to leave in early May. I’m in a California state of mind-

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Good luck to you. I would like to buy a RV when I retire.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

From a rather distant vantage point in the UK, this sounds pretty dangerous

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he is dangerous, period.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

So many thoughts.. they re-open and in 3 weeks have surges that exceed their healthcare systems. The staff -RNs et al. With surges and deaths- then who does the care taking? Salons open; so J's beauty has 8 workers. Opens and in 2 weeks 2 workers sick. 2 weeks later the remaining 6 workers and owner are sick, plus several customers. In 1 month J's is closed permanently due to deaths / loss of revenue. Also, when J's opens J loses any access.to supports. Their employees are now all rehired and required to work. So they have to choose not going or getting sick. Now of the 7 workers, we'll say 3 ended up In hospital, 1 in ICU. Guess who is now facing bankruptcy due to medical bills.

Lastly, while there is a good survival rate I've read several articles that indicates the date covid does is extensive, and includes pulmonary, liver -nephrotic, and neurological.

So you may survive but need dialysis, oxygen, or be slower in your though to action function for ? length of time.

I'm grateful I'm in California. I'm terrified that 1 other state residents will come here / this will push my Gov to open sooner than we should.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

It compounded horror

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I agree with another comment here that it's not a clean cut either/or. Ex: the UK is under lockdown and isn't seeing the levels of unemployment the US has. They're taking steps to help individuals and subsidise wages so people keep their jobs. Expensive to start but they're taking a longer view. Also, multi-millionaires don't seem to be at the front of the line for government money like in the US. Needless to say, UK folks aren't losing health insurance either. It's a complex problem for which we need the best minds, advised by the experts. We've got...

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trump first advertised 15 days of shutdown, then 30 days of shutdown-which we are halfway thru-and now he wants to open it up?? nobody i know is going to go out until there is much more testing. where are the tests?????

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trumputin is convinced that a poor economy will sink his election (I disagree b/c Russia will work hard to get him re-elected) so he's motivated solely by that perception.

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We must work even harder to get him OUT! We can't take another 4 years of this insanity! I think trumputin will sink himself though. Most people - at least 75% - hate him.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I compare opening up the state's to buying the first car model, computer, or sell phone as its introduced to the marketplace. You don't want to be the first purchaser until the bugs have been worked out.

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I’m paranoidly feeling that way about the first round of vaccinations too.

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Nothing Matters If You Don't Have Your Health

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Until there is a national testing program, for both the virus and it’s antibodies, Plus a robust contact and trace program in each state, any reopening, even soft, will result in more deaths.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

The virus WILL WIN if mitigation is ended too soon and we don’t have the testing we need.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Why rush it? I fear this will backfire. We will never know the actual count of this virus because tRump did not do a country lock down. There were 9 states that were/are business as usual. Testing is a joke. Now more openings. I understand we need money to pay bills, once again the government has let us down. He could've frozen all debt along with sending the $1200. But no, the CEOs might get all upset. Big deal, you can't buy stuff when you're dead! Open your "economy". I will not sit in a restaurant, movie theater, concert venue, sports venue til there is a vaccine.

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A few facts as I see them:

1) Dead people don't bother the Republicans. At all.

2) Stats show that the Coronavirus is killing dramatically higher numbers of minorities. That too doesn't bother Republicans. At all.

3) In the states that are rushing to reopen, the areas where the highest numbers of people are dying are generally "blue areas" in red states. That also doesn't bother Republicans. At all.

4) Do I think that the Republican leadership is so cold-blooded that it would willingly sacrifice lives of fellow Americans so as to help its election chances in November? Yeah, I do.

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I totally agree with everything you said. I'm only hoping that Dem minorities gave read the news and believe the stats. Maybe they've lost friends or loved ones. I hope they stay home & don't listen to their R Governors.

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Science or wishful thinking?

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I believe the situation in which we find ourselves is going exactly as planned by Trump and his handlers. People will continue to be at risk--both physically via the virus and economically via Trump & Co.'s squeeze--until we eject him from office. This is as clear an example of active treason, wannabe dictatorship, and the failure of our long-established norms as I can imagine. I hope we all survive it. Thank you for always keeping us informed and aware!

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Until we are getting upwards of a million tested per day easing restrictions is going to make what the virus has done so far look like a stroll in the park. Trump is between a rock and hard place and he’ll fuck this up worse then he already has by trying to make it all about the economy. November 3rd can’t get here soon enough.

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Early on it is the virus, but at some point the economy needs to take precedents. If our economy crashes it will cause a world crash and the loss of life form that will be much greater than died from the virus. Mass starvation alone would kill more and it takes an economy to help the sick and fight disease.

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

most of those seeking opening up aren't misguided. They are uninvolved, and they don't care who it kills

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Apr 21, 2020Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I’m lucky in that I get to work from home. I told my boss on Friday that he wouldn’t see me until the virus has been gone from my state for three months. He’s a die-hard Republican, so I don’t think he gets it. Which makes me start on a tangent. Why can’t people with intelligence understand the enormity of this virus, and, on the other hand lap up on every word that comes out of Trump’s mouth. I’m Caucasian, but didn’t see Republicans act this bad until Obama became president.

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Rethugs have always been bad, from Nixon on. They're just worse now, but the BS trickle piss down our backs economy came from Reagan. Along with ending the Fairness Doctrine which gave Faux entertainment license to lie their asses off. That's why 25% of this country has their heads up their asses. The same small but vocal minority that voted tRump and wants to reopen, not giving a damn about their fellow man (while waving the flag). Just like their narcissistic sociopath Dear Leader.

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a black president scared the shit out of white america

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sadly, yes, the white America that was lying in the weeds for decades and that was lifted out of them by an openly racist, likely eugenics lover trumputin

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Exactly. I'm white & I still ❤️ Obama.

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I firmly believe this is a set up to pat the president on the back to say that governors didn't follow the guidelines as publ8shed by the president and so he can start having rallies, as more networks and media outlets stop giving him live coverage of his propaganda briefings. I hope the American people wise up before more die, which doesn't appear to bother him in the least.

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i agree

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