OK, so this is a bit of a rant

Just to remind everyone that the ones that have some measure of control over your lives don't have your best interests at heart. Case in point is the re-opening of cities/states/territories in the middle of a pandemic. Now I freely admit that I am old and probably set in my ways, like not taking anyone's word for anything. Beyond that, the idea of suffocating to death does not excite me any, and I am in the age range that this critter likes to target. Our fearless leader (the Donald) released a set of guidelines for states and cities to follow a couple of weeks ago. I read them and to my surprise, they are brilliant. Obviously written by someone that knows what they are talking about.

The problem is that those guidelines are being completely ignored by local politicians, and even The Donald himself. Here in Oklahoma, our cases are growing by an average of 90 per day. Not a lot, but more than last week or last month, but that hasn't stopped the governor or mayors from swinging open the doors to bars, spas, gyms, and all manner of places for people to get nice and close. It just shows me in stark terms that the people that we chose to protect our interests don't give a damn about you, me, your new puppy, or even their own families. As long as they see a way to get re-elected, they will say or do whatever it takes.

So my message to everyone that reads this little rant is: You have to take care of yourselves. No one is going to do that for you. Be smart, and be safe. Pay more attention to your local news sources than national ones. Listen to the people that actually are experts in their field instead of those that play experts in front of a camera. Ok, I think I'm done now, and I may feel better, but it might just be lunch.

--- Jem

HotShoe said:

Be smart, and be safe. Pay more attention to your local news sources than national ones. Listen to the people that actually are experts in their field instead of those that play experts in front of a camera.

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Amen

Nice to read you again.
Also northern Italy where I live has been struck hard.
Now they are slowly reducing some of the stricter measures which they put in place. I also think it's still too early.
Stay safe.

A short consideration about experts. Unfortunately there are no experts. It's a new thing (although similar to others they experienced in the past). They, the experts, have to learn it the hard way, day by day.
I wholeheartedly agree with @HotShoe : try to be informed, then use your own mind to make your family and yourself safe, the most you can.

HotShoe said:

completely ignored by local politicians, and even The Donald himself.

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return the favour -> COMPLETELY IGNORE THEM IN NOVEMBER. Our nightly viewing of "Did he REALLY say That" (so tragic its a comedy) shows how arrogance idiocy and republican nationalist politics mix quite well - true those republican governors in the 8 states that just didn't get it in the first place must be the most self serving B's on earth. They've really managed to plunge America in to the 4th world.

Oh, wasn't one of the first things Tintin did to cut the funding to the Centers for Disease Control -> back then? As is asked where is that organisation in all this!

Ah just a rant on someone else's behalf. Tintin Trump offered his "help" to our president (I hope he got told to "go away" we don't want your kind of help, thanks").

Tintin Its too hard for you get out the kitchen.

agree with @udg : No experts on this one, well are there ever any? Except for After the fact?

Unfortunately the experts recommendations are always related / interpreted by politicians, and we all know what they are like with words. My main income has been from playing in a band for 20 years+ I am not expecting to earn anything from that until the middle of next year. Even if the UK lock-down is relaxed enough before then I don't think I'd risk it, unless a proven vaccine is found. I am just outside of the 'at risk' category at 60, but as I haven't had the need to see a GP for 15 years, who knows what underlying health conditions I could have. I saw a meme on facebook that said any relaxing of restrictions doesn't mean that the virus is beaten, it means we have room in the ICU for more patients. I'm afraid that is the way I see it too and plan to stay locked down for the foreseeable future.

Hello @HotShoe / Jem -> here's an addition to "The Rant", and kind of proof of the power that underlies all those politicians (apparently especially in America) wielded by the Lobby Groups associated with Big Business (probably also behind the OPEN America campaign). Its also proof of the "what's in it for me" and if it hurts business then I don't want to know about it Tintin Trump is engrained and embedded in - the frankly my dear I only listen to businessmen arrogance - what American people, people anywhere?

Although formulas have been greatly improved over the years, no formula can fully replace the immunological benefits of mother's milk. In the summer of 2018, the administration of President Donald Trump provoked dismay among many health authorities by opposing an international resolution to encourage breastfeeding, and reportedly threatended Ecuador, the sponsor of the initiative, with trade sanctions if it didn't change its position. Cynics pointed out that the infant formula industry, which is whorth $70 billion a year, may have had a hand in determinining the US position. A US Health and Human Services spokesperson denied that that was the case and said that America was merely "fighting to protect women's abilities to make the best choice for the nutrition of their babies and to make sure that they were not denied access to formula" - something the resolution wouldn't have done anyway. (pp 301-392 The Body - Bill Bryson)

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I don't believe those were cynics and Bryson is just keeping himself out of 'legal' reprisal. What is quoted there is bizarrely lacking in rational thinking.