(05-18-2020, 07:40 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: It seems that the 2020 election is becoming a referendum on whether we need a scientific response to the virus, with lives considered more important than dollars.
That, all in all, will be the decision. Solving COVID-19 will allow a return to normality in economic life as well as much else, at least for survivors that it does not cripple. It will take a cooperative populace that protects itself from contracting and spreading a dangerous disease, excellent work by our medical researchers, sacrifices already underway by people who do necessary work, and the innovative responses of Big Business that allow the economic activity that makes our economy tick -- again. It will take cooperation among people who may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum -- but that is how we defeated the demonic powers intent upon enslaving the world eighty years ago. Can we do this again? The big difference is that Donald Trump is as unfit for the role of President as FDR was perfectly suited to it. Three out of four is better than what we might have had a few years ago. Maybe it is closer to three and a half, referring to some state and local governments doing their jobs and doing those well.
Quote:It is pretty much recognized that Trump is off. He’s narcissistic, sexist, selfish, shuns checks and balances, elitist, shuns long term military alliances, swampy, flirts with Russia and is in general off.
Yes, he is Dreadful Donald, Trashy Trump, and a Judas Iscariot to American democracy. He is the sick combination of elitist and vulgar.
Quote:That does not bother the elites or the sexists. As long as the elites get to keep their big bucks, as long as the sexists can keep some pretense of superiority, they will let the other ‘minor’ flaws go. These are not the only factors. It is possible as well to fall into the unraveling dream of small government and lower taxes, of discarding any science that tells you something you don’t like, to ignore something that forces you to spend money if you acknowledge it.
Demographic trends suggest that the economic elites will have a difficult time in their effort to buy the political process. The people behind the Tea Party would be wise to tell their supporters to go home rather than risk contracting and spreading COVID-19. Yes, the sentiments are much the same between the "open up!" protesters and the loudmouths who disparaged Barack Obama. Note well that we who despise Trump do our protesting virtually. We might have some courage, but we see nothing heroic in facing a dangerous respiratory disease that can kill us -- and if it doesn't kill us, it can do us lasting harm that can shorten our lives.
Still --
Hey, hey, Donald Trump! How many bodies will we need to dump!
Quote:But these factors are enough to make a difference in a time where the White House swings back and forth between parties.
The White House rarely changes possession by a Party after one term by that Party. The last two times that that happened were 1980 and 1932. It could be that bad for Trump -- but a 270-268 defeat of Trump will be legally adequate for us to get new leadership at the apex of American power.
Quote:But the American People do value lives over dollars. This is why the governors who are following strict scientific isolation policies get high approval ratings, while Trump and the other open-it-up-regardless folk get low approval ratings. It is why the strategy of making the economy look better is faltering.
Exactly. How much money will it take you to get a potentially-lethal case of cancer? Heck, combat seems safer than COVID-19. Most of us are disgusted at the body count. Yes, we hate the likes of serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Gacy and mass killers like Timothy McVeigh. Some of us were around to be appalled at the assassinations of Jerzy Popielusko and Benigno Aquino.
Quote:All this seems clear enough. In spite of attempts by those who want to kill grandma to misunderstand the numbers, the People want to keep grandma alive. The people are not being fooled, and do not like being lied to.
Few people want to "kill grandma". Someone else's grandma might be expendable to them... it may be a surprise to you, but just because I am entering old age at 64 does not mean that I am becoming any wiser than I ever was. I am not ready for the role of being the one to give sage advice to people who need it. I have my problems, and I still need such advice!
Quote:The question becomes if this issue causes people to favor the other side. Do people want to keep grandma alive in spite of an elite’s losing a few extra millions, or a racist keeping less of his supposed superiority. Will small government people understand that keeping grandma alive will cost money, and be willing to pay for it.
We put life above money lest we be scum. I hate despots, dictators, and gangsters. I have no problem with my state treating armed robbery as if it were attempted murder (Michigan, life with no parole for 25 years) ... well, because every armed robbery involves a potential murder, the penalty fits.
Quote:It looks like enough true Americans are ready to embrace the science.
That pattern has been the norm except in some subcultures.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.