Post by RSM789 on Mar 18, 2020 13:11:19 GMT -8
Although this thread references the Coronavirus, I am separating it from the current virus thread because I want to focus on the political reaction to the virus and the ramifications of those reactions.
President Trump has spent the last 3 years deftly avoiding or barging through various political traps set by the Democrats. With his response to the coronavirus, I believe he has stepped right into the middle of one that it has the potential to cost him the 2020 election.
The current reaction of basically shutting down the country is going to put us into a recession and create economic havoc, a situation that will take months if not years to recover from. This is exactly what the Democrats needed in order for Grandpa Joe to have a chance in November. Worse, no matter the outcome with the virus over the next few months, the Democrats will claim Trumps plan (to basically follow the CDC recommendations) was wrong. If we end up with more dead than anticipated, the dems will focus on that, saying that Trump didn't do enough to protect American citizens. At the same time, if the death toll is kept tamped down, the Democrat response will be that Trump over reacted, that he trashed the economy and created a recession by being incompetent and panicking. He has put himself into a no win situation
What bothers me is that the current response is indeed wrong. The CDC is focused directly on stopping the virus and gives no mind to the economic consequences of its recommendations or their effect on civil liberties. It is analogous to cops wanting no citizens to own guns - such a scenario would make the cops jobs easier but but would wreak havoc on the lives of the citizens. You need the CDC's input to solve the problem, but going all-in on their solution is wrong.
The correct solution is one that I believe one or two countries in Europe have decided to follow. First, strongly recommend a complete self quarantine of people who are in the most vulnerable groups (elderly, smokers, compromised immune system). This could include some constraints on visitors to senior living areas or things similar, but the concept is to separate the most vulnerable from the rest of society. Second, keep the public aware of the spread of the virus (where & how much), keep reminding them of basic good hygiene and recommend those with the symptoms stay at home and not visit the hospital unless it is life or death. Last, have the rest of the population go about their business with no restrictions. Yes, some people will get sick and the virus will spread among those bodies are most capable of fighting it, but that will happen as well under our current plan eventually.
The result of the solution I propose would have been a small dip in the economy, but for the most part, no economic difference for most people. There would be attention focused on the most vulnerable while we also allowed society to create a herd immunity over time. It allows a systematic response to the virus at a fraction of the economic cost.
I hope Trumps choice doesn't cost him the election, but I have a bad feeling it might.
President Trump has spent the last 3 years deftly avoiding or barging through various political traps set by the Democrats. With his response to the coronavirus, I believe he has stepped right into the middle of one that it has the potential to cost him the 2020 election.
The current reaction of basically shutting down the country is going to put us into a recession and create economic havoc, a situation that will take months if not years to recover from. This is exactly what the Democrats needed in order for Grandpa Joe to have a chance in November. Worse, no matter the outcome with the virus over the next few months, the Democrats will claim Trumps plan (to basically follow the CDC recommendations) was wrong. If we end up with more dead than anticipated, the dems will focus on that, saying that Trump didn't do enough to protect American citizens. At the same time, if the death toll is kept tamped down, the Democrat response will be that Trump over reacted, that he trashed the economy and created a recession by being incompetent and panicking. He has put himself into a no win situation
What bothers me is that the current response is indeed wrong. The CDC is focused directly on stopping the virus and gives no mind to the economic consequences of its recommendations or their effect on civil liberties. It is analogous to cops wanting no citizens to own guns - such a scenario would make the cops jobs easier but but would wreak havoc on the lives of the citizens. You need the CDC's input to solve the problem, but going all-in on their solution is wrong.
The correct solution is one that I believe one or two countries in Europe have decided to follow. First, strongly recommend a complete self quarantine of people who are in the most vulnerable groups (elderly, smokers, compromised immune system). This could include some constraints on visitors to senior living areas or things similar, but the concept is to separate the most vulnerable from the rest of society. Second, keep the public aware of the spread of the virus (where & how much), keep reminding them of basic good hygiene and recommend those with the symptoms stay at home and not visit the hospital unless it is life or death. Last, have the rest of the population go about their business with no restrictions. Yes, some people will get sick and the virus will spread among those bodies are most capable of fighting it, but that will happen as well under our current plan eventually.
The result of the solution I propose would have been a small dip in the economy, but for the most part, no economic difference for most people. There would be attention focused on the most vulnerable while we also allowed society to create a herd immunity over time. It allows a systematic response to the virus at a fraction of the economic cost.
I hope Trumps choice doesn't cost him the election, but I have a bad feeling it might.
