Death – No Big Deal

Donald Trump wearing a suit and tie: Donald Trump: ‘I did more for the black community than anybody with a possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.’

Death is a fascinating subject, especially to someone who died over 2400 years ago. Been there, done that, still hang around my sewer.

Your COVID-19 Pandemic doesn’t compare to the Black Plague. During the historic plagues, it was advisable to avoid doctors, who were actually barbers. The best they had to offer was to cut open the veins of people who were already sick or injured to “let out the bad humours.”

Medical resources in your time are actually helpful, which makes every unnecessary death all the more egregious.

When I see so many unnecessary deaths; when I see unused resources; and when I see your president shrug it off as “They are dying. That’s true. And you — it is what it is.”

I truly don’t know what to say–and I’m rarely at a loss for words.

Those who were subjected to the Black Death had no options.

You have science and technology. You actually know what to do.

What the hell is going on with you, with your knowledge, and your resources?

You’re willing to settle for “They are dying. That’s true. And you — it is what it is,”

Maybe you deserve what’s happening.

Winning Is Based on Perspective

With the Coronavirus exceeding expectations–and fears–the view from Washington, DC is different from what most people see. Trump keeps telling everyone that things are great and that the only reason that the number of cases is so high is because of testing and testing should slow down. I propose a different approach.

If nature hands you a lemon–make margaritas. Increase testing. Capture every case. Roll up the numbers.

Washington could use the 3,524,895 cases and 138, 936 deaths to claim that “We’re Number One!”

Number One? We’re winning!

Open the schools and we just might declare a trifecta!

THEM and us

Henry VIII Tudor — Courtesy The New Yorker

If you ever doubted the huge divide between the elites and you commoners, I’m sure your doubts have, by now, been assuaged by the current administration. First, the President’s daughter and son-in-law demonstrated that they, unlike you, are not required to follow the rules.Virus? Schmirus. If they want to “drive” to New Jersey for Passover, they’re going to do so.

The reason I put “drive” in quotes is because I’m sure their trip was different than any you have taken. I’m sure they did not get everybody into a Prius and head north. More likely, they were driven in a government SUV by members of their Secret Service detail. It’s possible–if not likely–that there vehicle was the lead for a small caravan, with staff, sycophants, and others following.

There’s an old expression, “You think your shit doesn’t stink!” Mike Pence goes a step farther. His corporeal entity is apparently devoid of any harmful bacteria, viruses, or pathogens. The Mayo Clinic’s requirement that wearing a mask inside the building does not apply to him, because he gets “tested weekly for COVID-19.” Unfortunately, many pathogens are opportunistic and infect those who are compromised in other ways–such as by COVID-19. Many HIV-AIDS patients succumbed to tuberculosis, a disease that had been virtually eliminated in the US, until it could attack those with compromised immune systems.

Then there’s the Donald. If you haven’t figured out how he sees himself as above all others, you’ve obviously been in a coma for many years. I won’t give any examples because by the time I post this, he will have exceeded anything you could imagine.

Not So Easily Amused

Anthony S. Fauci, Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Jerome Adams standing in front of a building: U.S. President Trump speaks during a news conference on the coronavirus outbreak in Washington

Over the past millennia–I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly with regard to the actions of world leaders.

It’s hard to get my attention, much less make me sit up and take notice. Your president’s desire to prevent a cruise ship to dock and discharge its passengers for quarantine or medical care was so ho-hum. Considering ytour president’s track record, no big deal.

However, the US military and US intelligence agencies tend to pay attention as to how information is classified. Yes, there is a tendency to overclassify. This is due, in part, to the fact that while an individual item does not qualify for classification, the amalgem of several unclassified items can provide classified information. However, there is at least some effort to separate the information that should be disclosed from information that, for the good of the American people, should be kept secret.

Right now, your president is trying to classify information about the coronavirus that would be useful to healthcare professionals.

So, do you think his political success is more important than your life?