EPIC MILESTONE

[UNI88]

I can't really think of anyone who's looked good so far through this, it's been an epic failure and has really shone a light on how poor some facets of our government and society are at this point - Trump has been a train wreck through this, Congress has at the best looked inept and out of touch, at worst they've looked just downright incompetent, governors have been a mixed bag, and the media has been so lost down the rabbit hole of gotcha journalism that it's hard to find any US news source that's consistently reliable from day to day. Since we're looking at Trump or Biden for the next 4 years or their VP if they can't make it through the 4 years, I'm not really optimistic that much will change.

I think Dr Fauci and Dr Birx, have done a great job keeping the country from Panicking after listening to the media and Trump. The mitigation has worked and states are opening up for business. Stock market is strong. It's a matter of time before the unemployment numbers start going down.

The unemployment numbers aren't going to start going down unless we're opening things back up. If we don't they're going to keep going up and it could spiral out of control and it will take years to get them back down. I'm not advocating for throwing caution to the wind, but we need to use common sense and carefully open things back up. Nursing homes and similar will need to stay locked down and those most at risk will need to voluntarily continue to shelter-in-place.

[Gil Dobie]

I think Dr Fauci and Dr Birx, have done a great job keeping the country from Panicking after listening to the media and Trump. The mitigation has worked and states are opening up for business. Stock market is strong. It's a matter of time before the unemployment numbers start going down.

The unemployment numbers aren't going to start going down unless we're opening things back up. If we don't they're going to keep going up and it could spiral out of control and it will take years to get them back down. I'm not advocating for throwing caution to the wind, but we need to use common sense and carefully open things back up. Nursing homes and similar will need to stay locked down and those most at risk will need to voluntarily continue to shelter-in-place.

I see we pretty much agree. Time and numbers are relative to each person. Remdesivir is looking very promising for a treatment.

[AZGrizFan]

This is one of those problems where each side has a few valid points
I really don't feel like I have a grasp on what the right answer is - because I kinda agree with both sides

Nobody knows that the right answer is yet but it's probably not being too cautious or throwing caution to the wind. We need to find the right balance.

I know, but you won't listen to me.

[89Hen]

Obviously they will go down, but I don't think they will come close to pre-panic, sorry pandemic, numbers. I think a lot of companies are finding out how unessential a lot of their employees are.

lower-middle management will take a beating
as upped middle management seeks to create some distance between themselves and the mob

[CID1990]

It’d be nice if we don’t print and throw trillions in free money to corporations, etc over the next couple years to “stimulate” employment

But we will... Congresscritters will climb over each other to get their names on any cash from the sky bill that they can get their hands on

It’s all they know how to do and requires little though, effort or creativity

[GannonFan]

It’d be nice if we don’t print and throw trillions in free money to corporations, etc over the next couple years to “stimulate” employment

But we will... Congresscritters will climb over each other to get their names on any cash from the sky bill that they can get their hands on

It’s all they know how to do and requires little though, effort or creativity

I agree, for all of Trump's failings during this crisis, what makes it worse is that Congress looks rudderless and without concern on how to actually function. I heard a good blip on NPR today as I was coming to work - I missed the first part of it but it talked about how in Congress these days the actual power over what gets legislated is really in the hands of a few senior people in each house of Congress - the newer faces and the newly elected don't really get a lot of say or influence. As a result, the only way for newer members to make any noise is to do that, be noisy. It's why we end up electing more people that are good at soundbites but maybe not so good actually crafting legislation. I've never been one in the past for term limits but I've come full circle as of late. I'm all in favor of maxing Congresspeople at 10 years (so 5 elections) and maxing Senators at 18 years (so 3 elections). That's more than enough time to make a difference and maybe even too much time, but I'm willing to err a little on the long as we get started with this. You could still have a person spend 28 years in government if they go from one house to the next, but I'd hope that wouldn't be too common.

[CID1990]

It’d be nice if we don’t print and throw trillions in free money to corporations, etc over the next couple years to “stimulate” employment

But we will... Congresscritters will climb over each other to get their names on any cash from the sky bill that they can get their hands on

It’s all they know how to do and requires little though, effort or creativity

I agree, for all of Trump's failings during this crisis, what makes it worse is that Congress looks rudderless and without concern on how to actually function. I heard a good blip on NPR today as I was coming to work - I missed the first part of it but it talked about how in Congress these days the actual power over what gets legislated is really in the hands of a few senior people in each house of Congress - the newer faces and the newly elected don't really get a lot of say or influence. As a result, the only way for newer members to make any noise is to do that, be noisy. It's why we end up electing more people that are good at soundbites but maybe not so good actually crafting legislation. I've never been one in the past for term limits but I've come full circle as of late. I'm all in favor of maxing Congresspeople at 10 years (so 5 elections) and maxing Senators at 18 years (so 3 elections). That's more than enough time to make a difference and maybe even too much time, but I'm willing to err a little on the long as we get started with this. You could still have a person spend 28 years in government if they go from one house to the next, but I'd hope that wouldn't be too common.

They DON’T know how to function anymore Ganny... that’s the point!

Congress has abrogated every major authority they EVER had to the executive.

Wanna know why? Because it is easier to go back to Peoria and blame everything on the President (Buttrumps) than to take ownership of a floor vote

So,

We get wars without Congressional declarations

Appropriations without deliberations

Refusals to review or check the “pen and phone”

Congress is a collection of ineffectual cunts and if they were all eaten by wild dogs tomorrow (please!) we could replace them with garbage collectors from Albuquerque and nobody would fucking notice

[GannonFan]

I agree, for all of Trump's failings during this crisis, what makes it worse is that Congress looks rudderless and without concern on how to actually function. I heard a good blip on NPR today as I was coming to work - I missed the first part of it but it talked about how in Congress these days the actual power over what gets legislated is really in the hands of a few senior people in each house of Congress - the newer faces and the newly elected don't really get a lot of say or influence. As a result, the only way for newer members to make any noise is to do that, be noisy. It's why we end up electing more people that are good at soundbites but maybe not so good actually crafting legislation. I've never been one in the past for term limits but I've come full circle as of late. I'm all in favor of maxing Congresspeople at 10 years (so 5 elections) and maxing Senators at 18 years (so 3 elections). That's more than enough time to make a difference and maybe even too much time, but I'm willing to err a little on the long as we get started with this. You could still have a person spend 28 years in government if they go from one house to the next, but I'd hope that wouldn't be too common.

They DON’T know how to function anymore Ganny... that’s the point!

Congress has abrogated every major authority they EVER had to the executive.

Wanna know why? Because it is easier to go back to Peoria and blame everything on the President (Buttrumps) than to take ownership of a floor vote

So,

We get wars without Congressional declarations

Appropriations without deliberations

Refusals to review or check the “pen and phone”

Congress is a collection of ineffectual cunts and if they were all eaten by wild dogs tomorrow (please!) we could replace them with garbage collectors from Albuquerque and nobody would fucking notice

Yup, that's on full display now, assuming they show up. And it's both houses, Dems and GOP'ers. It's like an old person Twitter mob these days.

[UNI88]

I agree, for all of Trump's failings during this crisis, what makes it worse is that Congress looks rudderless and without concern on how to actually function. I heard a good blip on NPR today as I was coming to work - I missed the first part of it but it talked about how in Congress these days the actual power over what gets legislated is really in the hands of a few senior people in each house of Congress - the newer faces and the newly elected don't really get a lot of say or influence. As a result, the only way for newer members to make any noise is to do that, be noisy. It's why we end up electing more people that are good at soundbites but maybe not so good actually crafting legislation. I've never been one in the past for term limits but I've come full circle as of late. I'm all in favor of maxing Congresspeople at 10 years (so 5 elections) and maxing Senators at 18 years (so 3 elections). That's more than enough time to make a difference and maybe even too much time, but I'm willing to err a little on the long as we get started with this. You could still have a person spend 28 years in government if they go from one house to the next, but I'd hope that wouldn't be too common.

They DON’T know how to function anymore Ganny... that’s the point!

Congress has abrogated every major authority they EVER had to the executive.

Wanna know why? Because it is easier to go back to Peoria and blame everything on the President (Buttrumps) than to take ownership of a floor vote

So,

We get wars without Congressional declarations

Appropriations without deliberations

Refusals to review or check the “pen and phone”

Congress is a collection of ineffectual cunts and if they were all eaten by wild dogs tomorrow (please!) we could replace them with garbage collectors from Albuquerque and nobody would fucking notice

C'mon CID, I don't think that's true. If we replaced Congress with garbage collectors from Albuquerque, Congress would likely become more effective.

[CID1990]

They DON’T know how to function anymore Ganny... that’s the point!

Congress has abrogated every major authority they EVER had to the executive.

Wanna know why? Because it is easier to go back to Peoria and blame everything on the President (Buttrumps) than to take ownership of a floor vote

So,

We get wars without Congressional declarations

Appropriations without deliberations

Refusals to review or check the “pen and phone”

Congress is a collection of ineffectual cunts and if they were all eaten by wild dogs tomorrow (please!) we could replace them with garbage collectors from Albuquerque and nobody would fucking notice

Yup, that's on full display now, assuming they show up. And it's both houses, Dems and GOP'ers. It's like an old person Twitter mob these days.

It’s the whole festering rotten lot of them

You know who could fix it?

A President with historical knowledge of how this shitshow is supposed to work.

Only the Executive can yield back power granted by Congress.

That’s why I think an Amash presidency would be YUGELY beneficial

Even though most Americans are totes cool with an imperial President as long as he is from “their” party

Which is why I’m heading offshore upon retirement. I’m just too sensitive to cunts

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

A friend in Virginia (Roanoke) passed away from it last night.

Fukc you all.

A friend of mine died in a car wreck last night.

Fuck you all

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

A friend in Virginia (Roanoke) passed away from it last night.

Fukc you all.

Sorry to hear. I've had several friends die in car accidents.

Me too

[Ivytalk]

It’d be nice if we don’t print and throw trillions in free money to corporations, etc over the next couple years to “stimulate” employment

But we will... Congresscritters will climb over each other to get their names on any cash from the sky bill that they can get their hands on

It’s all they know how to do and requires little though, effort or creativity

I agree, for all of Trump's failings during this crisis, what makes it worse is that Congress looks rudderless and without concern on how to actually function. I heard a good blip on NPR today as I was coming to work - I missed the first part of it but it talked about how in Congress these days the actual power over what gets legislated is really in the hands of a few senior people in each house of Congress - the newer faces and the newly elected don't really get a lot of say or influence. As a result, the only way for newer members to make any noise is to do that, be noisy. It's why we end up electing more people that are good at soundbites but maybe not so good actually crafting legislation. I've never been one in the past for term limits but I've come full circle as of late. I'm all in favor of maxing Congresspeople at 10 years (so 5 elections) and maxing Senators at 18 years (so 3 elections). That's more than enough time to make a difference and maybe even too much time, but I'm willing to err a little on the long as we get started with this. You could still have a person spend 28 years in government if they go from one house to the next, but I'd hope that wouldn't be too common.

Chapter 58

“In which GannonFan Discovers the Seniority System”

[GannonFan]

I agree, for all of Trump's failings during this crisis, what makes it worse is that Congress looks rudderless and without concern on how to actually function. I heard a good blip on NPR today as I was coming to work - I missed the first part of it but it talked about how in Congress these days the actual power over what gets legislated is really in the hands of a few senior people in each house of Congress - the newer faces and the newly elected don't really get a lot of say or influence. As a result, the only way for newer members to make any noise is to do that, be noisy. It's why we end up electing more people that are good at soundbites but maybe not so good actually crafting legislation. I've never been one in the past for term limits but I've come full circle as of late. I'm all in favor of maxing Congresspeople at 10 years (so 5 elections) and maxing Senators at 18 years (so 3 elections). That's more than enough time to make a difference and maybe even too much time, but I'm willing to err a little on the long as we get started with this. You could still have a person spend 28 years in government if they go from one house to the next, but I'd hope that wouldn't be too common.

Chapter 58

“In which GannonFan Discovers the Seniority System”

Chapter 59

"In which GannonFan Discovers the Prevalence of Dementia and Decreased Ability to Reason in Older People"

Heck, I didn't even through in an idea to cap members of Congress by age. I was going to through in there that you can't be elected to a position where you'd be 75 or older before the end of your term, but I thought I'd leave that up to the voters.

[Ivytalk]

Chapter 58

“In which GannonFan Discovers the Seniority System”

Chapter 59

"In which GannonFan Discovers the Prevalence of Dementia and Decreased Ability to Reason in Older People"

Heck, I didn't even through in an idea to cap members of Congress by age. I was going to through in there that you can't be elected to a position where you'd be 75 or older before the end of your term, but I thought I'd leave that up to the voters.

How democratic of you!

[JohnStOnge]

61,342 deaths in the USA (325 Million people)

225k worldwide (7.8 billion people)


What a fucking media driven joke.

I looked up the latest year's estimate of total deaths in the US. The latest available is 2017. The total number of deaths for 2017 was 2,813,503. That works out to 7,708 deaths per day.

The first date on which COVID-19 deaths reached 2,000 was April 7. Since then through yesterday there have been an average of 2098 COVID-19 deaths per day.

Let's just round the 2017 total deaths per day figure up to 8,000. That means that during April 7 through May 1 the number of COVID-19 deaths per day is 26% of what we'd normally expect in terms of deaths per day. And, BTW, we are talking about deaths that are known. When the final estimates come out, the deaths per day number is going to be higher.

Meanwhile, Russia shut down Moscow. The last time Russia (then the USSR) did something like that it was in response to smallpox during the early 1960s. Russia didn't shut down Moscow in 2020 because of the media.

I normally don't say personal things. But in this case I will make a general statement: If a person continues to go with this "it's no big deal" thing driven by the media narrative at this point, that person is a fool.

[SeattleGriz]

People deal with this scenario all the time. Chemo patients have to be quarantined all through treatment.

You don't hear them asking to shut down the country.

[mainejeff]

People deal with this scenario all the time. Chemo patients have to be quarantined all through treatment.

You don't hear them asking to shut down the country.

Cancer is easily spread to the rest of the population?

[grizzaholic]

People deal with this scenario all the time. Chemo patients have to be quarantined all through treatment.

You don't hear them asking to shut down the country.

Cancer is easily spread to the rest of the population?

Don't be dumb.

[mainejeff]

Cancer is easily spread to the rest of the population?

Don't be dumb.

I'm the one being dumb when he is comparing down the economy due to an an easily spread virus vs. cancer patients receiving chemo?

[grizzaholic]

Don't be dumb.

I'm the one being dumb when he is comparing down the economy due to an an easily spread virus vs. cancer patients receiving chemo?

Be smarter.

[SeattleGriz]

People deal with this scenario all the time. Chemo patients have to be quarantined all through treatment.

You don't hear them asking to shut down the country.

Cancer is easily spread to the rest of the population?

No, cancer patients are at risk of contracting life threatening illnesses due to suppressed immune systems.

If we are going to cry over susceptible people, let's include them all.

[89Hen]

I'm the one being dumb when he is comparing down the economy due to an an easily spread virus vs. cancer patients receiving chemo?

Be smarter.

Asking a tiger to change his stripes.

[Aho Old Guy]

People deal with this scenario all the time. Chemo patients have to be quarantined all through treatment.

You don't hear them asking to shut down the country.

I suspect some folks quarantine themselves, and tolerate side-effects passively. If the blood 'works' maintain minimums, there is likely no medical reason to 'self-quarantine.'

Some folks become psychologically distressed due to the side-effects --- that makes them feel uneasy. AND, since they had heard others describing the negative side-effects, it indirectly traumatizes them

Don't be dumb.

I'm the one being dumb when he is comparing down the economy due to an an easily spread virus vs. cancer patients receiving chemo?

Ding!
Chemo is in a controlled medical setting. An asymptomatic dunderhead (Patient 31 in S Korea?) can fook-over dozens if not hundreds ...

[SeattleGriz]

People deal with this scenario all the time. Chemo patients have to be quarantined all through treatment.

You don't hear them asking to shut down the country.

I suspect some folks quarantine themselves, and tolerate side-effects passively. If the blood 'works' maintain minimums, there is likely no medical reason to 'self-quarantine.'

Some folks become psychologically distressed due to the side-effects --- that makes them feel uneasy. AND, since they had heard others describing the negative side-effects, it indirectly traumatizes them

I'm the one being dumb when he is comparing down the economy due to an an easily spread virus vs. cancer patients receiving chemo?

Ding!
Chemo is in a controlled medical setting. An asymptomatic dunderhead (Patient 31 in S Korea?) can fook-over dozens if not hundreds ...

That's not what I said, nor was it my point. We already have people who are immunocompromised and they take precautions. Those who are susceptible to COVID can exercise the same caution while life goes on.