Author: webuiltitblog

What kind of country are we living in anyway?  In response to that question, most of you would likely look at me as if I were crazy and declare instinctively “a democracy” or “a republic.”  Until the last two months I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly.  I believe we have been since the founding of the republic, and for the most part, we still are.  However, I maintain in the last few months we have entered a slippery slope toward autocracy and socialism.  We have willingly forfeited many of our constitutional rights.  If you doubt me, that is your right, but read on as I present my case.

For the past three months or so, due to the advent of the CV pandemic and its threat to our health, our political leaders have imposed various draconian restrictions on how we should be living our lives.  Some of these impinge on freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution, that we thought of as sacrosanct just a few months ago.

Most Americans have dutifully complied with the guidance of these political leaders and the medical professionals that they have assured us will guide us through the crisis.   We have willingly agreed to work from home or, in some cases, not at all, shut down small businesses that, in some cases, have been in our families for generations, confined ourselves to our homes (cute term – “shelter in place”), worn masks and gloves in public, refrained from visiting our families and close friends, delayed serious medical procedures that were deemed “non-essential,” avoided group gatherings and followed social distancing guidelines.

We were told these dictates were temporary and necessary in order to “flatten the curve” of CV cases and avoid overwhelming our hospitals.  Don’t worry, we were told, soon we would defeat this virus and things would return to normal.

Okay, we have complied, often at great sacrifice to our personal liberties, personal health and economic wellbeing.  Many businesses, large and small, have been damaged irreparably; millions of jobs have disappeared, in some cases permanently; and unemployment numbers are approaching levels not seen since the Great Depression 90 years ago.  Remember, just three months ago we were in the midst of arguably the best economy ever.

We have suffered through this on the basis of sometimes questionable science.  For the most part, we have sacrificed willingly, simply because we were told to do so definitively  and authoritatively by “experts” whom we trusted knew what they were talking about.  Some scientific and political guidelines have been shifting for little or no reason.  Wear masks; don’t wear masks.  The virus will be a minor short-term inconvenience of limited scope.  No, wait, it is a life-threatening pandemic.  President Trump was a racist and a misogynist  for instituting travel bans; no, wait, he was wise to do so as he saved hundreds of thousands of American lives.  It is essential that you shelter in place; no, wait, perhaps you would better off being outside in the fresh air and sunshine.  In retrospect, we now see that no one was really sure how to proceed, not the medical experts, nor the politicians, and surely not the talking heads on tv.  Moreover, we were deceived by the Chinese.  They lied, obfuscated and exaggerated, and our health experts relied on this misinformation to our detriment.

At this point, we have seen considerable improvement, although not total victory.   Now, we are in a phase where we should be able to commence opening up the economy.  We have suffered enough and sacrificed enough, perhaps irrevocably.  In attempting to protect ourselves from the CV we have undermined, if not destroyed, our economic and social wellbeing.  Now, it is time to use some good old common sense.  For most industries we have seen that there are ways to open up safely and prudently.  We need to recapture our way of life before it disappears forever.

It has been agreed that the manner and timing of reopening should be left to each state’s individual governors.   Fair enough, after all, they are more knowledgeable of their respective state’s situation than the federal government.  A “one size fits all” approach would not work.

But what has happened?  The various governors have made some wise decisions and some unwise ones.  Some decisions have been so autocratic, arbitrary and heavy-handed that many view them as violations of the Bill of Rights.  Some decisions that were beneficial have been roundly criticized by commentators who know less than the average person.  In many cases they live and work in the NYC-DC bubble and have no idea what is going on in the rest of the country, nor do they care.  It’s easy for them to lecture us when they are safe and secure in their bubble and drawing a paycheck.  Keep that in mind as you watch them on tv.

Below please find a sampling of some decisions, both wise and unwise:

1. Georgia was the first state to reopen on April 25.  Many critics, including Stacey Abrams, who is still under the delusion that she is the state’s rightful governor, and commentator Chris Hayes, predicted disastrous results.  Hayes opined the resultant death toll in GA would be “blood on [Governor Brian Kemp’s] hands.”  That inane prediction failed to materialize.  GA’s reopening has been successful and is a model for other states to follow.
2.  FL reopened soon after GA.  Its governor, Ron DeSantis, was also roundly criticized for “jumping the gun.”  No-nothing talking heads on some cable tv stations (You know who they are.) predicted solemnly and definitively there would be “dire consequences.”  The number of cases would explode; many people would die.  In fact, the opposite has happened.  Hospitalizations, cases and deaths have held steady or declined.  Wisely, FL allocated a substantial portion of its resources to safeguard the most vulnerable, notably, the elderly.  The result, businesses have reopened without significant problems, and FL, the state with the highest number of elderly people, has had fewer than 2,000 nursing home deaths.  Compare that to NY, which, has suffered in excess of 5,000 such fatalities in just the last few weeks,  Furthermore, the overall number of cases and deaths has remained below the national average.  One would think that these successes would be greeted with positive reviews by the national media.  One would think that they would admit their predictions were wrong.  One would think they would be calling for other states to follow the GA-FL model.  But, nooooo!  In fact, one would have to search long and hard to find positive stories regarding GA’s and FL’s reopenings.  It’s almost as if most of the media wants us to fail.
3. NY governor Andrew Cuomo has talked a good game on tv, but his actions have been questionable, at best.  He has made many bad policy decisions, which I have discussed in previous blogs. His worst and, perhaps, the worst decision anyone has made during the entire pandemic, was to force nursing homes to accept CV patients from hospitals.  One does not have to be a genius or a medical professional to know not to do that.  All you need is a little common sense.  Predictably, some 5,000 elderly died in a few weeks as a result.  Cuomo’s response: “That’s life.  We did everything we could.”  On the positive side, Cuomo has disclosed he plans to reopen some counties, e. g. the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley and other upstate areas.
4.  PA has followed suit regarding transferring CV patients to nursing homes.  The state commissioner of health, however, has transferred her 95 year old mom out of the home she was in.  Apparently, it’s dangerous for her, but not for others.  PA Gov. Tom Wolfe has supported her decision.
5. Eric Garcetti, the mayor of LA, has extended the city’s lockdown through the end of July.  Mayor Garcetti is talking about maintaining it until a cure is found.  Of course, no one knows when that would be.  It could take years.  Meanwhile, his city is dying and not from the CV.  It is dying economically and socially.  Is he waiting for/expecting a federal bailout?  Good luck with that.  This decision is ill-advised on so many levels I would need a separate blog to do it justice.
6. MI’s governor Gretchen Whitmer plans to maintain the lockdown as long as she can.  She appears to be enjoying the arbitrary autocratic power it is giving her.  She doesn’t seem to grasp or care that her arbitrary and autocratic decisions are trampling on the Constitution and 250 years of precedent.  For example, one cannot mow his own lawn.  How is that a health hazard?   Also, a barber who defied her order had his license revoked.  Moreover, one is not permitted to protest her policies even peacefully.  If anyone does, he  or she is denounced as a racist or a misogynist.  At the moment, MI is not being governed in accordance with the Bill of Rights?   It would not surprise me if there were a revolt.
7. In TX a beauty shop owner who defied the lockdown orders because she “wanted to feed her kids” and enable her employees to earn some money was hauled into court.  According to the moronic presiding judge she compounded her “crime” by refusing to apologize to him for her “selfish” behavior whereupon she was jailed.
8.  The WA state government is tracking many people who venture outside, where they go and with whom.
9. I could name many more inane, ill-advised examples of autocracy, but time and space do not permit it.

CONCLUSION

I believe we can and should be more aggressive in opening up the country.  In most businesses we can and must find a way to reopen before we suffer permanent damage.   For example, many restaurants can open with social distancing and/or outside seating.  I believe patrons would even consent to having their temperature taken upon entrance as an added precaution.  Open Table estimates that 25% of restaurants are in danger of closing permanently.

Airlines could refrain from selling the middle seat and/or operate at less than full capacity.

Retailers could limit the number of patrons at one time, like supermarkets are doing.  Retailers are in dire straits.  “USA Today” reported that retail sales declined 16% in April, and further declines can be expected.

Movie theatres could limit sales to 25% capacity.  Most of the time the theatres are only partially filled anyway.

There are many more examples.  We need to figure out how to accommodate spectator sports, schools, and group gatherings such as graduation ceremonies, weddings, and bar mitzvahs.  People are inventive and smart.  We could do it in most cases.  The fans really want to be able to watch their sports teams.  The owners are in favor, and most players want to play.

According to the latest ABC poll 70% of parents are presently not willing to send their kids to school.  That is not good.  Virtual education is not as good as the real thing.  We need to find a way to return kids to school safely.

The Dems’ response to the Pandemic has been curious and ill-advised.  First, they took a few weeks staycation.  Now they have proposed a wildly partisan “rescue plan.”  It is some 1,500 pages of the far left’s wish list.  I have not read it.  Probably, no one will, which is likely what Pelosi wants.  Remember what she said regarding the Obamacare bill?  “You have to pass it to see what’s in it?”  That seems to be the case with this bill.

Anyway the major points are as follows:

1. A $1,200 cash payment for illegal aliens.
2. Complete amnesty for illegals.
3. Broadening the definition of “essential” jobs to include virtually all jobs.
4. Expand the definition of “guest workers” to include many additional categories.
5. Release prisoners convicted of all but the most serious crimes.
6. Loans for lobbyists.
7. Repeal the limits for deducting state taxes.
8. Expand voting by mail. (Many suspect there’s too much voting fraud as it is.)
9. And my favorite, a $1 trillion bailout to be paid to those states that are in financial straits.  So, citizens of fiscally responsible, well-run states pay for other states’ profligacy.

Sense a trend?  Everything is beneficial to illegal aliens, socialism, and special interests.  Nothing is a real CV-related benefit.  It will probably pass the House, but, thankfully, it has no chance of passing the Senate and no chance of being signed by Mr. Trump.  I don’t even see how any red-state Dem Reps could vote for it.

Why even bother to propose it?  Are they trying to lose the 2020 election?

As illustrated above, we are losing many of our constitutional rights, and our capitalist, free enterprise economic system is in jeopardy.  Our way of life is being transformed before our very eyes.  Like I said at the outset, what kind of country are we living in anyway?  At the present rate, soon you will not recognize it.

Many people, especially youngsters, know Jerry Stiller as the prickly, crotchety Frank Costanza, father of George, on “Seinfeld,” (He popularized the faux holiday, ” ‘Festivus’ ” for the rest of us.”) and/or Arthur Spooner, Kevin James’ father-in-law on “King of Queens.”  (While recruiting Jerry for the role James told him he “needed him in order to have a successful show.”)  Those roles were very popular, but, in reality Stiller enjoyed a 60-year career in tv, movies, on the stage, and as an author. His primary talent was as a comedian, most notably in partnership with his wife of over 60 years, comedienne Anne Meara. He considered himself merely a “decent” actor.

Gerald Isaac Stiller was born on June 8, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest of four children.  His mother and his paternal grandparents were polish immigrants.  His father was a bus driver.  He grew up in Williamsburg and East New York in Brooklyn and the lower East Side of Manhattan.

Upon graduation from Syracuse University he studied drama at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, NY.  At one point, he hooked up with Gene Saks and Jack Klugman in a production of “Front and Center” produced by John Houseman.  Houseman was so impressed with their talent that he called them “the best trio of Shakespearian clowns that I have ever seen on any stage.”

Perhaps, the key moment in Jerry’s life and career was a chance meeting with actress-comedienne Anne Meara in 1953.  They met in an agent’s office.  Jerry took her out for coffee, which was all he could afford at the time, and the rest, as they say, is history.  They married the next year, and the marriage lasted until Meara’s death in 2015.  A sixty-one-year marriage is a real rarity in Hollywood.  The couple had two children, Ben and Amy, both of which are actors.

At Jerry’s suggestion the two formed a comedy team, “Stiller and Meara.”  Meara gave Stiller full credit for the idea.  “He always thought I would be a great comedy partner.  [I] had never thought of [it].”  By 1961 they were headlining in nightclubs, and by 1962 they were big stars.  In one review, “The NY Times” characterized them as a “national phenomenon.”  They appeared frequently on tv variety shows, such as “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which was the holy grail at that time.

They broke up the act in 1970, but they continued to work.  For example, they did a series of radio commercials for products such as “Blue Nun” wine; and they did a series of comedy sketches on tv.  Then, in 1986 they had their own tv show, “The Stiller and Meara Show.”

During all this time Jerry was extremely active, performing on the stage, on tv and in movies.  His first stage production was “The Golden Apple” in 1954 in which he played the mayor.  He performed in over a dozen productions through 1997.  He appeared in over 60 tv shows from 1956 through 2016, usually guest shots on sitcoms or variety shows.  He appeared in a series of tv commercials for Nike in which he portrayed the ghost of former Green Bay Packers Head Coach, Vince Lombardi.  Finally, he appeared in some 40 movies, as both an actor and a “voiceover,” between 1970 (“Lovers and Other Strangers,” an uncredited role) and 2016 (“Zoolander 2”).  In addition, he authored a memoir titled, “Married to Laughter: A Love Story Featuring Anne Meara” and the foreword to a book titled “Festivus: A Holiday for the Rest of Us.”

Jerry was nominated for three awards: A Primetime Emmy (for “Seinfeld”), a Grammy (Best Spoken Word Album), and a Screen Actors Guild Award (“Hairspray”).  Furthermore, in 2007 he and Anne were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jerry passed away on May 11, 2020 from natural causes at the age of 92.  Rest in peace Jerry.  You entertained us for 60 some years, and you will be sorely missed.

Below please find an outline of the significant historical events that occurred in the month of May:

May 1 – Since ancient times, a day for festivals celebrating the arrival of the Spring season. Today, many socialist countries celebrate May Day on May 1 as a holiday to celebrate workers.
May 1, 1707 – Scotland was combined with England and Wales to form Great Britain. The later addition of Northern Ireland formed the UK.
May 1, 1960 – An American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Russia on the eve of a summit between President Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev. The incident caused the cancellation of the summit and increased Cold War tensions between the two countries.
May 2, 2011 – US Special Forces located and killed Osama bin Laden at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
May 4, 1494 – Christopher Columbus, still seeking the Northwest Passage, discovered the island of Jamaica.
May 4, 1970 – Ohio National Guard troops fired into a student demonstration at Kent State University killing four students.
May 5 – Mexican holiday celebrating Mexican forces’ defeat of a numerically superior French invasion force in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
May 5, 1865 – Celebration of Decoration Day honoring soldiers killed in the Civil War. Eventually, morphed into Memorial Day.
May 5, 1961 – Astronaut Alan Shepard completed a 15 minute suborbital flight, thus becoming the first American to fly in space.
May 6, 1937 – The German blimp, Hindenburg, burst into flames killing 36 of its 97 passengers.
May 7, 1915 – The shocking sinking of the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, by a German U-boat hastened the US’s entry into WWI on the side of the Allies.
May 7, 1954 – The French surrendered at Dien Bien Phu, ending their colonial presence in Indo-China. Eventually, this event led to the US’s ill-advised involvement in Vietnam.
May 8, 1942 – The Battle of the Coral Sea, which historians consider to be the turning point of WWII in the Pacific, commenced. US naval forces defeated Japan for the first time and began their inexorable march toward the Japanese mainland.
May 10, 1869 – The Union Pacific and Central Railroads joined at Promontory Point, UT (symbolized by driving a golden spike into the roadbed), creating the Transcontinental Railroad, which linked the entire US.
May 10, 1994 – Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa, bringing an official end to Apartheid.
May 12, 1949 – Russia ended its blockade of West Berlin.
May 14, 1607 – The first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown, VA.
May 14, 1804 – The Lewis and Clark expedition of the northwest, which lasted some 18 months and covered some 6,000 miles, departed St. Louis.
May 14, 1796 – English Dr. Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine. He coined the term, vaccination, to describe his method of injecting a weakened version of the disease into a healthy person, who would then fight off the disease and develop an immunity.
May 14, 1948 – The State of Israel declared its independence.
May 15, 1972 – While campaigning for the presidency, George Wallace was shot and paralyzed from the waist down.
May 17, 1792 – Some two dozen brokers and merchants began meeting under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street to buy and sell stocks and bonds. Eventually, this led to the establishment of the NY Stock Exchange.
May 17, 1875 – The initial running of the Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.
May 17, 1954 – The Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, Brown vs. The Board of Education (Topeka, KS), ruled that school segregation based on race was unconstitutional.
May 20, 1927 – Aviator, Charles Lindberg took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island for the first solo non-stop flight between NY and Europe (landing in Paris).
May 20, 1932 – Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1937, while attempting to fly across the Pacific Ocean, she was lost at sea, and her fate remains shrouded in mystery to this day.
May 21, 1881 – Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
May 22, 1947 – Congress approved the Truman Doctrine, which provided foreign aid to Greece and Turkey, which was necessary to prevent the spread of communism in that region.
May 24, 1844 – Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph, transmitted the first telegram (“What hath God wrought?”).
May 26, 1940 – Great Britain commenced the evacuation of its army trapped at Dunkirk.
May 27, 1937 – The Golden Gate Bridge opened in San Francisco.
May 30, 1783 – The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to be published in the US on a daily basis.
May 30, 1922 – The Lincoln Memorial, designed by architect Henry Bacon, was dedicated in Washington, D. C.
May 31, 1889 – The infamous Johnstown Flood of 1889 killed some 2,300 persons.

Birthdays – Niccolo Machiavelli – 5/3/1469; Golda Meir – 5/3/1898; Karl Marx – 5/5/1818; Sigmund Freud – 5/6/1856; Harry S. Truman (33rd President) – 5/8/1884; Israel Isidore Beilin (aka Irving Berlin – song writer) – 5/11/1888; Florence Nightingale – 5/12/1820; Gabriel Fahrenheit (physicist) – 5/14/1686; Nguyen That Thanh (aka Ho Chi Minh – 5/19/1890; Malcolm Little (aka Malcolm X) – 5/19/1925; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes creator) – 5/22/1859; Laurence Olivier – 5/22/1907; Ralph Waldo Emerson – 5/25/1803; Al Jolson- 5/26/1886; Wild Bill Hickok – 5/27/1837; Hubert Humphrey – 5/27/1911; Jim Thorpe – 5/28/1888; Patrick Henry – 5/29/1736; John Fitzgerald Kennedy 35th President) – 5/29/1917; Walt Whitman – 5/31/1819.

Today, Sunday, May 10, most Americans will celebrate Mother’s Day.  MD is celebrated all over the world in some form.  Different countries have their own way of celebrating the day and even celebrate on different dates.  Some countries have replicated the US traditions – hallmark [or email (tacky)] card, flowers, chocolates, and family gatherings; others have incorporated it into other holidays honoring women or mothers; and in still others, a combination of the two has evolved.

Restauranteurs claim that MD is their busiest day of the year.  Obviously, this year’s shelter-in-place guidelines will deal a serious blow to the restaurant industry, although  ABC News reports that some restaurants will be offering promotions and discounts in an attempt to attract business, in most cases take-out.  In a normal year, mothers would enjoy a well-deserved day off from cooking. And why not? (On the other hand, on Father’s Day the restaurants are relatively empty as many fathers are put to work barbecuing.

In the US MD was first celebrated in 1908 when a lady named Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother.  Ms. Jarvis had been campaigning for the country to recognize a day to honor mothers since 1905 when her mother had passed away.  In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed an official proclamation establishing the second Sunday in May as MD.  It was to be a day to honor mothers and the concept of motherhood and their contributions to society.

Eventually, Ms. Jarvis became disillusioned with the commercialization of the holiday.  By the 1920’s the greeting card, retail, candy and flower industries were marketing their products aggressively to take advantage of the holiday.  Jarvis strongly advocated that people should demonstrate their love and respect for their mothers through personalized, handwritten letters instead.  Being a person of action she organized protests and threatened boycotts of these industries.  At one point, she was arrested for disturbing the peace at a candy manufacturers’ convention.

Despite her efforts, commercialization of the day has continued to grow.  Americans, in particular, tend to demonstrate their love in tangible, material ways through the giving of gifts.  Today, MD is one of the biggest days for the sale of flowers, candy and greeting cards.  Normally, the amount of the average MD gift and the total spent increases every year.  According to Wikipedia last year Americans spent an average of just under $200 on their mothers for the holiday, about the same as the prior year. The overall total was slightly in excess of $20 billion.  It is difficult to estimate this year’s totals because of the effects of the CV, notably the shelter-in-place guidelines and 20+ million unemployed.  But, we do love our mothers, so many families will likely try to make it as special an occasion as possible.  We shall see.  In addition, MD is the third-biggest day for church attendance behind Christmas Eve and Easter.

As I stated, MD is celebrated in many countries in different ways and at different dates. For example:

1. The most common date is the second Sunday in May, which is May 10 this year. Besides the US, some of the countries that celebrate it on this date are Canada, Italy the Peoples Republic of China and Turkey.

2. Some countries, such as the UK, Ireland and Nigeria, celebrate it on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The UK incorporated it into a previously existing holiday called “Mothering Sunday.”  ”Mothering Sunday” dates from the 16th Century.

3. Many Arab countries, such as Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia celebrate it on the vernal equinox (March 19 in 2020).

4. Russia used to celebrate MD on March 8 in conjunction with International Women’s Day, but in 1998 the date was changed, by law, to the last Sunday in November.

5. Bolivia celebrates it on May 27, which is the date of an historically significant battle in which women played a key role.

6. Since 1950 France has celebrated MD on the fourth Sunday in May, except when the date conflicts with Pentecost in which case it is delayed to the next Sunday.

7. Hindus celebrate MD on the new moon day in the month of Baisakh (April/May).

CONCLUSION

Some of you may have noted that I spelled MD as Mother’s Day. This was not an error. The official holiday is spelled in the singular tense. According to Ms. Jarvis the day is intended to honor “the best mother who ever lived, yours.”

MD is one of the few truly internationally-recognized holidays.  One of the charming features of the day is the variety of ways and dates on which it is celebrated.  This is derived from the differences in customs and cultures around the world.

One thing is certain now and will remain so prospectively: on this day the mother/wife is truly in charge.  Men, this year, with all the problems caused by the CV, it is particularly important to honor the special woman in your life.  As you plan this year’s MD, remember the adage “happy wife, happy life.”

Finally, men, all together now, let’s repeat the two-word mantra for a successful marriage:

“YES, DEAR!”

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has been receiving much praise for his handling of the CV in NY. In particular, his daily press briefings have been very popular. He comes off as calm, reasoned and knowledgeable. For many viewers stuck at home these briefings have become “must see tv.” Most of the media loves him. Some people have begun touting him as a possibility to replace Biden as the Dem presidential candidate, or, alternatively, as someone to watch for in 2024. In a nutshell, he has been “riding high.”

However, there is another side of Cuomo’s of which the public is not aware, or, perhaps has forgotten. So as not to be accused of political bias I will refrain from rehashing his various past political stances with which I disagree. For purposes of this blog I will focus on his handling of the CV. Let’s begin with some facts, which are pesky little things not easily explained away or “spun” by spokespersons who could sell ice to the Eskimos.

1. As I write this blog, according to Wikipedia, the entire US has reported some 1.3 million cases of CV and suffered some 76,600 fatalities. Any death is a tragedy and unacceptable, but, the good news is those are far below most previous estimates. As a whole, the US has done well in combatting the CV, at least medically.
2. On the other hand, NYS has reported approximately 327,000 cases and 21,000 fatalities. This is terrible. For some perspective, the number of cases is approximately 2 1/2 times that of the second-highest state, NJ, and about equal to the sum of the next highest four states – NJ, MA, IL and CA. Even worse, the state’s total fatalities are also about 2 1/2 times those of the second highest state and well over twice the total of the next four highest states. These are cold hard facts. One can easily verify them at any one of several websites that track and publish them. I will discuss possible reasons later.
3. President Trump declared a travel ban with respect to persons entering the US from China on January 30 and followed up with one regarding persons traveling from Europe a few days later. You may recall that he was widely and viciously criticized, particularly with respect to the China ban. Some of the non-X-rated criticisms were “xenophobic,” “racist,” and fear-mongering.” Cuomo and his sidekick, NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio, were among the critics. What was Cuomo doing at the time to combat the CV? From 1/25 – 2/9 he and De Blasio were busy promoting NYC’s Chinese New Year celebrations. They were encouraging people to visit the city. They were telling NYC residents to get out and “live life,” take the subways, trains and buses, go to the restaurants in Chinatown, watch the parade, soak up the festive atmosphere, and bragging how “tough” New Yorkers were. Virus? What virus? They viewed it as less of a threat than the flu. Eventually, Cuomo became aware of the devastating nature of the CV and enacted appropriate mitigating procedures, but much of the damage was already done. Throughout March, Cuomo continued to underestimate the CV. At one point, he told ABC News, “We are fully coordinated, and we are fully mobilized, and we are fully prepared to deal with [the CV].” Finally, on March 31 he seemed to fully grasp the situation, saying, as quoted by ABC News, “We underestimated the virus. It’s more powerful…more dangerous than we expected.”
4. Like many states NY was woefully unprepared to battle a pandemic. It was short of virtually everything – hospital beds, various PPE, and emergency funds. Cuomo had wasted the state’s emergency funds on ill-advised New Green Deal projects, which had gone bankrupt. Fortunately, the federal government stepped up. It provided tremendous help, such as PPEs and, most significantly, it built a virtual hospital from scratch in the Javits Center and refitted and provided a hospital ship, the “USNS Comfort.” Each state governor was supposed to be primarily responsible for fighting the virus in his or her state. The feds were only supposed to provide assistance and guidance where needed.
5. In March Cuomo claimed NY was short of healthcare workers. To alleviate the situation he appealed to other states to come to NY to help out. According to the “Wall Street Journal” approximately 21,000 persons responded. They didn’t have to do that; they did so out of a profound sense of duty to provide aid to those who desperately needed it. They provided much-needed assistance under dangerous conditions. I and many others consider them “heroes.” Many of them contracted the virus. What did Cuomo do? How did he treat those “heroes” who had risked their lives and had literally saved the lives of many NYers? He informed them they would be assessed NYS taxes on the income they earned in NY. That is a perfect example of the old saying, “no good deed goes unpunished.” Technically, that may be in accordance with NYS tax law, but there has to be a way to grant an exception under the circumstances. As reported in the “Wall Street Journal” they were heroes [one day] and pawns [in a tax controversy the next]. I don’t have the words to describe how underhanded, mean-spirited, and unconscionable that is, even for a politician. It is another pesky fact that cannot be “spun” away.
6. And, now we come to the most egregious of all, the nursing home scandal. Because this reflects badly on Cuomo I believe it has been underreported, and some of you who do not watch Fox News may not even be aware of it. Briefly, from the outset of the Pandemic there has been virtually universal agreement among medical personnel, politicians and the general public that the most vulnerable among us are the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Everyone has agreed that one of the primary goals is to protect them from the CV. Early on, Cuomo cited the problems Washington State had encountered with a couple of its nursing homes, characterizing it as a “cautionary tale of how the virus could rip through [them] if not properly addressed.” Despite that example, on March 25 Cuomo ordered NY nursing homes to accept elderly patients who were infected with CV. As reported in “Metro” he called it an “ethical” and a “legal” obligation. Many, if not most, of the managers of these facilities complained they were not equipped to deal with these patients. They did not have the necessary PPE; their staff was not adequately trained; and the healthy patients already in their care were elderly and vulnerable. Cuomo replied “it’s not our job” to provide PPE to nursing homes, implying they should acquire them on their own. Reaction was swift. A spokesperson for the NYS State Facilities Association denoted that “nursing homes, and assisted living providers and their residents have not been treated as a top priority for assistance with staffing, PPE shortages, and COVID-19 testing. CEO Stephen Hanse warned that the CV would spread through these facilities “like fire through dry grass.” Senator John Flanagan told “Politico” “we know that allowing COVID into a nursing home is an invitation for it to spread, and we need to take necessary steps to protect residents.” Cuomo refused to change his directive, despite the fact that, according to the “NY Times,” at the time the USNS Comfort, which had been deployed to NYC specifically to care for CV patients, had some 980 empty beds. Predictably, since March 25 approximately 5,000 residents of nursing homes have died from the CV. I have yet to hear a rational, reasonable explanation for this directive. I don’t believe there is one, especially not to those who have lost a loved one as a result. In my opinion, Cuomo truly has “blood on his hands.” People have been demanding an independent investigation. We’ll see what happens.

CONCLUSION

As I said, some of the foregoing Cuomo errors and miscalculations can be” spun.” For example, it can be argued that the high death rate was primarily attributable to NYC’s unique situation as the most densely populated area in the country characterized by many people living literally “on top of one another.” In taxing the out-of-state rescue workers Cuomo can probably blame the NYS tax code, even though he could support a carve-out for them if he wanted to. His statement that NYS needs the money was lame. The paltry sum the state would collect would not begin to make a dent in its deficit.
Furthermore, a competent “spinner” can blame the federal government (and, by extension, President Trump) for failure to provide adequate warnings, guidance and equipment. Cuomo has done this, at times. His supporters, who hate the president anyway, would likely agree.

However, the nursing home scandal is the kind of story that resonates and lingers. I don’t know what Cuomo and his supporters can do or say to mitigate it. It can’t be fixed. All those innocent people are dead and will remain so. He can’t blame anyone else (not even President Trump). Because of it, I maintain that much of the bloom has come off the Cuomo rose. To his political enemies, I predict it will be the gift that keeps on giving. Let’s see if the media covers the story objectively.

I know.  I know.  Today is May 6.  Cinco de Mayo was yesterday, May 5.  But, with Joe Biden’s alleged sexual assault and the CV dominating the news it completely slipped my mind.  So, here it is one day late.  I hope and expect you will forgive my tardiness.

Every year on May 5, many of us eat tacos and enchiladas and drink tequila and margaritas in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.  Typically, most Americans have no idea of the significance of the holiday. They may assume that it is some religious festival or has something to do with Mexico’s independence from Spain. That would be wrong and wrong.

In 1861 France invaded Mexico. Napoleon III, the ruler of France at the time, correctly perceived that Mexico was “ripe for the picking.”  The Mexican-American War of 1846-48 had virtually bankrupted the country.  The US was distracted by its impending Civil War and thus, unable to oppose France in Mexico.  The other European powers, notably Spain and England, were not in the picture.

At first, the French, with their superior numbers, equipment and training, routed the Mexicans, but on May 5, 1862 the Mexicans surprisingly defeated the French decisively in a major battle near Puebla, halting their advance.  The Civil War ended in 1865, and, thereafter, the US was able to assist Mexico.  Eventually, the French needed their military assets at home to prepare to fight the Prussians [in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)], so they abandoned their plans to conquer Mexico and withdrew.

The battle at Puebla was significant for several reasons:

1. Though largely symbolic, this victory gave the Mexicans a much-needed infusion of patriotism and national pride.

2. Since then, no country in the Americas has been invaded successfully by a European country.

3. Most importantly for the US, many historians believe that France’s ultimate goal was to enable the South to break away from the North.  Mexico could have been used as a military base from which France could have funneled men and equipment to the Confederacy.  If they had not been defeated at Puebla, who knows how far north their army would have pushed and who knows what military and political pressure they would have brought to bear against the US.  It’s possible France could have ended up dominating the entire West Coast of present-day US.  Consequently, it can be posited that that victory helped preserve the Union.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated not only in Mexico, but also in many other countries. Cities in the US, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand and Japan hold festivals featuring Mexican music, food and drink and celebrating Mexican culture.

Technically, Cinco de Mayo, though recognized as a day of celebration throughout Mexico, is not a national holiday, although it is a holiday in the State of Puebla. Throughout the country, the public schools are closed and many towns hold parades or re-enactments of the battle of Puebla. It should be noted that Cinco de Mayo is NOT to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16.

Additionally, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in many areas of the US, particularly in locales where there is a sizeable Mexican population, such as Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Events include parades, festivals, mariachi bands, and parties.

CONCLUSION

Cinco de Mayo is supposed to be a joyous holiday, as it celebrates a heroic occasion. Many non-Mexicans also get into the spirit of the holiday and participate in the above celebrations. They dress in Mexican clothing, such as ponchos and sombreros, participate in parades, and patronize Mexican restaurants.  In recent years, some so-called pc police have objected to this, calling it mocking a culture and even racist (their favorite fallback criticism).  Some colleges, such as New Hampshire University, have attempted to restrict their students’ celebrations, even going so far as to ban using the name “Cinco de Mayo.”

Personally, I find these restrictive actions offensive and a violation of the First Amendment.  It’s not as if the celebrants painted offensive sayings or mocking cartoons. Wearing ponchos and sombreros and dancing the “Mexican Hat Dance” do not rise to the level of, say, anti-Semitic scribblings on walls, burning a cross on a lawn, or fire-bombing places of worship.  THOSE are offensive, or worse.  This merely strikes me as getting into the holiday spirit, not being mean-spirited.

Once again, the majority is being subjected to the tyranny of the vocal minority. Remember, approximately 80% of the tweets are posted by only 10% of the people, so don’t be fooled by the vocal minority. As an aside, I have to say that in my youth we would have dealt with the pc crowd differently. Rather than kowtow, we would have made it point to parade down main street wearing sombreros and ponchos dancing the Mexican hat dance. Times have sure changed, and not necessarily for the better.

As I delineated above, Cinco de Mayo is a great source of pride for people of Mexican descent, as well it should be.  It commemorates a significant military victory over a better-equipped, numerically superior force.  The victory held historical significance not only for Mexico but for the US as well and should be commemorated.

A potential fiscal crisis has been percolating for some time now.  Heretofore, it has been simmering just below the surface like an inactive volcano overdue to erupt.  It has been superseded by other more pressing matters, but I believe it is about to burst into the forefront.  It is the substantial differences in fiscal health among the various states.

Some states are in serious financial straits.  In most cases, their difficulties predate the advent of the Coronavirus, but the unanticipated substantial expenses they have been forced to incur to fight it have exacerbated their financial situation.  Their only hope to attain solvency appears to be a federal bailout.  This may become a central issue in the next Rescue Plan, which Congress will likely address as soon as the House Dems return to DC from their “vacation.”

As denoted by “24/7 Wall St” the underlying causes have resulted from the poor management of prior and current administrations.  Some states have been profligate and poorly managed for many years.  They are now saddled with huge debt, primarily due to pensions owed to retired public and union employees.

According to “The Hill,” these states will be seeking an aggregate bailout of in excess of $500 billion.   For example, the unfunded liabilities of IL’s state pensions is an astronomical $137 billion.  I don’t see how it can ever meet that obligation on its own.  Declaring bankruptcy may be a realistic option, but, then, what will happen to the pensioners.

Another example is NY.  Its budget deficit for the coming year is estimated at $6.1 billion.  Moreover, its tax base is declining at an alarming rate as middle class and even upper class taxpayers have been relocating to states with lower or no state taxes.  These are just two examples of many.  Other states with a heavy burden of debt include NJ, MA, and Kentucky.

Naturally, the states in good financial condition are objecting to the idea of a bailout.  Some of these states are AK, SD and NE.  For the most part, the low debt states don’t mind reimbursing expenses related to the CV, as it is viewed as an unforeseen calamity, but they hold a dim view of a federal bailout for pre-existing debt.

Normally, Americans are generous and forgiving.  They don’t mind helping others who are in need through unforeseen circumstances, e.g. natural disasters.  But, they do object to helping others whose problems have been caused by their own profligacy.  They realize that any such funds will ultimately come out of their pocket.  They resent having to bail out the states that, in their view, have been poorly managed, while they were careful with their money.  Some even view it as a form of socialism, which is the “kiss of death.”

Before you criticize and scoff at that notion, consider the following two examples, which I feel illustrate the situation.

1.  Farmer A and Farmer B

Farmer A and Farmer B are neighbors.  All year long, Farmer A works his land diligently.  He spends long hours planting, tending and harvesting his crops.  He husbands his excess cash carefully for a “rainy day.”  Farmer B is not the least bit diligent.  He is lazy.  He spends much of his time “hanging out” or visiting friends in town.  He blithely borrows money to fund his extravagant lifestyle.  At the end of the year, Farmer A has a bumper crop and sells it at a good price.  He has a goodly surplus left to see him through the winter and deal with any unforeseen circumstances.  Farmer B’s crop is very poor.  He does not have enough to see him through the winter.  Moreover, he is heavily in debt, having spent lavishly without serious regard for the future.  What does he do?  He asks Farmer A to help him out.  Do you think Farmer A would be willing to give Farmer B some of his surplus crop and money?  Should he?

2.  Student A and Student B

Students A and B are in the same class at school.  They are both assigned a term paper due at the end of the year.   Student A diligently works on the paper during the year, forgoing parties and other social events.  He writes a really good paper.  Student B does little or no research.  He enjoys parties and social events throughout the year.  As the due date approaches he realizes he is in trouble.  He asks Student A to give him some of his research notes so he can write his paper.  Do you think Student A should help out Student B or not?  Would it be fair for him/her to do so?

CONCLUSION

In my view, these illustrations are similar to the above situations regarding the states.  Farmer B and Student B are akin to the profligate states I described above.  I do not think it is equitable or appropriate for the states illustrated by Farmer A and Student A to, in effect, pay for the misdeeds of the others.

I believe we should all be responsible for our own actions.  The US is not a socialist country.  Our nation’s economy has been and is based on capitalism, initiative, free enterprise, hard work, and self-determination.  I realize that some of you may disagree with me and think my reasoning is callous.  That is your right.  The issue is worth debating.  I welcome your thoughts.

At the end of the day, this issue is a potential powder keg.  As is often the case, the situation and its solution is far more complex than it appears.  How we deal with it will have a profound effect on our nation prospectively.

The Dems, their allies in the mainstream media, and various women’s groups, such as #MeToo and Planned Parenthood, among others, (collectively, the “Accusers”), are being hoisted on their own petard.   Collectively, these groups have strenuously and repeatedly maintained that in all “he said-she said” cases women are to be believed, no questions asked.  Regardless of the longstanding concept of due process, which is guaranteed to everyone by the Constitution, in their minds the man is always guilty.  My favorite quote was from Mazie Hirono, the nitwit Senator from Hawaii, who self-righteously intoned “I believe her [Ford]….  Men  need to shut up.'”

This was never more apparent than in the case of Ford v Kavanaugh.  I’m sure most of you recall how they hounded Kavanaugh and his family relentlessly for weeks despite the fact that Professor Ford’s case was weak.  They went so far as to track down his high school buddies and pore through his high school yearbook.  They accused him of participating in gang rapes.  Upon detailed investigation Ford’s accusations did not hold up.  She could not recall crucial details of the alleged attack, including where and when it occurred or who else was present.  Moreover, she had not reported the incident contemporaneously.  Finally, her supposed corroborating witnesses’ stories did not hold up either.

On the other hand, Reade has a far more believable case.  She does recall crucial details, quite graphically, such as when and where the incident occurred; she told various persons at the time; she filed a contemporaneous report, (although she has not yet produced a copy of it); and there is that haunting telephone call from her late mother to “Larry King Live.”  And, yet, the Accusers tried to ignore the story in the hope it would somehow disappear.  Incidentally, let’s not forget that Reade is a lifelong Dem and a Biden supporter, so there is no political bias involved.

Other than on Fox News the story got very little “play.”  For five weeks, from March 25 to April 30 Biden gave dozens of interviews.  He was not asked one question about Reade.  Not one!  The contrast is stunning.  The hypocrisy is apparent.  The same Accusers who tormented Kavanaugh have rushed to Biden’s defense.  In lock-step they have either stated they don’t believe Reade or have declined to comment.

Tobe Berkowitz, a BU professor who specializes in political communications told “The Hill” that there has been “a disparity” in the media coverage.  “The burden of proof [in the two cases] has not been the same.”  (That’s a really polite way to say the media has been biased and hypocritical.) President Trump and others have characterized it as a “double standard.”  Apparently, the new standard is to always believe women, unless the person accused is a Democrat.

Among the many prominent Dems who have rushed to Biden’s defense and praised his “integrity” regardless are Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Nancy Pelosi, and Amy Klobuchar.  Could the reason for their support be that each of them, except for Pelosi and perhaps Clinton, harbors hopes of being selected as Biden’s running mate?

The #MeToo, Emily’s List, and Planned Parenthood groups and other women’s organizations have been put into a very difficult position.  They have long claimed to support women, but they feel the pressure to stick by Biden.  The hypocrisy is obvious.  If they really were committed to supporting women they would be supporting Reade.   In my opinion, the integrity of these groups is taking a huge “hit.”  They are being exposed as phonies.

By  the way, where is the aforementioned Mazie?  Why hasn’t she come out in support of Reade?  Why hasn’t she told Biden to just “shut up?”   We know why.  She’s the biggest phony, the biggest hypocrite of all.

Another significant factor is that this is not Biden’s first incident of sexual harassment.  He has often been photographed as hugging, kissing, sniffing, and petting women (for example, then-Nevada assemblywoman Lucy Flores in 1994), earning the unflattering nickname of “handsy Joe.”  If you doubt this, just watch him mingle among a crowd.  He’s like that creepy old guy that women and young girls instinctively shy away from.  His actions are beyond innocent and friendly, especially in the current PC climate.  Moreover, his attitude toward and treatment of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearing in 1991 was rather callous.

After weeks of silence finally Biden addressed the matter in an interview.  Of course, he picked MSNBC.  I’m sure the hope was that he would be asked only “softball” questions.  No such luck.  To her credit, Mika Brzezinski did not give Biden a fluff interview.  She questioned him rigorously on the incident.  I think Biden did all right (at least he didn’t fumble, mumble and stumble like he often does) until Mika queried him about disclosing the content of his papers that are in the custody of the University of Delaware.  He did not have a good answer as to why those records should not be made available to the public.  The proper answer of an innocent man would have been something like, “go ahead and investigate.  I have nothing to hide.  I will be vindicated.”  Maybe, some enterprising reporter should interview Biden’s high school buddies or take a look at his high school yearbook.  Just kidding, or maybe not.

I suspect his reluctance is based on the fact that the papers contain personal conversations with foreign leaders that he would not want disclosed.  Perhaps, they contain further evidence of corruption that has nothing to do with the Reade case.  Joe is the likely Dem nominee for president.  Everything should be on the table.  The public has a right to know.  If this were about President Trump you can be sure there would be widespread demands to release all the information.

If Biden wants to put this issue to bed once and for all he will have to consent to the release of those papers, personal or not.

CONCLUSION

I am willing to grant Biden the presumption of innocence until and unless he has been proven guilty.  Hopefully, the matter will be investigated by an independent party, and the true facts will be disclosed to the public.

It will be interesting to observe how the media covers this matter prospectively.  Many if not most Americans do not believe we have an unbiased media in this country.  In my opinion, the media has been protecting Biden for years.  Truly, as I have blogged before, he is “the emperor with no clothes.”   This will be an opportunity for the media to “step up.”  Will it?  We’ll see.

It will be interesting to see the impact of this matter on the election.  What will the Dems and independents do?  In my opinion, even if it is determined that he is guilty there will still be many Dems who will still vote for him.  They hate Mr. Trump that much.  That is their right, but let’s not be hypocritical about it.

This is a story about two cases of alleged sexual assault and the radically different manner in which they are perceived by certain public figures and reported on by the media.  My point is that these cases are not and were not treated consistently.   I can understand that politicians would tend to exhibit a certain bias, but the media is supposed to be objective.  Our democracy depends on that objectivity.

Case #1 – Ford v Kavanaugh

Most of you are very familiar with this case and I blogged on it extensively at the time, so there is no need to repeat it in detail at this time.  Briefly, Christy Ford had accused Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.  She was hazy on the details, such as where and when the assault occurred, had not told anyone at the time, and the “witnesses” she produced were equally hazy on the details.  All in all, she was not credible.

Case # 2 – Reade v Biden

Tara Reade has accused former Senator and Vice President Joe Biden of sexual assault during her tenure as an aide in his office in 1993.  Her charges are very specific.  As reported by “Politico” and other sources, she claims he accosted her in a hallway, pushed her up against a wall, and “penetrated her with his fingers.”  She added that afterwards “the anger kind of emanated from him.  He pointed his finger in my face and said, ‘You’re nothing to me.  You’re nothing.’ ”  So, we have an alleged sexual assault compounded by verbal humiliation.

Full disclosure, Biden has denied the charges, but then again, so did Kavanaugh.  It didn’t matter to his critics.

Unlike Ford, Reade appears to be very credible.  According to multiple reports she told various people contemporaneously, including her mother, her brother, and a neighbor.  She filed a complaint with the Senate.  Her mother called “Larry King Live” during a segment on sexual assault, to report the attack, although she didn’t disclose either her name or her daughter’s.

Moreover, additional corroborating witnesses have emerged.  “Business Insider” reported that the neighbor, Lynda LaCasse, disclosed that Reade had told her of the incident, in detail, at the time it occurred.  Additionally, Lorraine Sanchez, who had worked with Reade in the office of a California state senator in the mid-90s, recalled that Reade had disclosed the sexual assault to her and also that she had been discharged afterward she reported it.

It should be noted that Reade is not some Trump supporter seeking to damage Biden for political purposes.  She describes herself as a “lifelong Democrat.”  But, she characterized Biden as a “sexual predator.”  She told Fox News, “I will not be smeared, dismissed or ignored.  I stand in truth, and I will keep speaking out.”

I think most objective persons would conclude that Reade has a far more credible case than Ford.  Yet, the media gave far more support and credence to Ford’s story than it is giving to Reade’s.

The media treated Ford’s accusations as fact.  Due process, which, as we all know, is a basic tenant of our Constitution, was ignored.  Kavanaugh was assumed to be guilty as charged.   He and his family were vilified mercilessly for weeks.  He was labeled a sexual predator and worse.  The media demanded he withdraw his nomination.   There were calls for his arrest and imprisonment.  Women’s groups, such as #MeToo, and various Democratic politicians, such as Senators, Mazie Hirono, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, to name a few, were demanding that women be “heard” and “believed.”  It was a virtual “lynch mob” or, as President Trump characterized it, a “witch hunt.”  In the end, there was not sufficient proof to the allegations, and Kavanaugh was confirmed.

By contrast, Biden has essentially been given a “pass” by the same people.  The media has largely ignored the story.  The same media people who vilified Kavanaugh have been silent or, worse, have defended Biden.  In all the interviews he has given since the story “broke,” I have not heard him be asked one question about it.  For the most part, only Fox News has been reporting on it consistently.  Those who do not watch Fox News probably know little or nothing about the assault.

Besides the media bias, consider the following:

1. Not one Democratic congressperson has gone on the record criticizing Biden.
2.  I am not aware of any prominent feminist leader going on the record in support of Reade.  What happened to the standard that women are to be heard and believed?
3. None of the various women who vilified Kavanaugh and have been rumored to be under consideration for vp – Klobuchar, Harris or Abrams – has come out in support of Reade.  When asked they have given a version of “no comment.”  What a surprise.  So much for their credibility, which, apparently, they are willing to sacrifice for the chance to be vp.  Due process, which was suspended in the Kavanaugh case, is back.
4.  In the midst of all this, Hillary Clinton has endorsed Biden’s candidacy.  This is the same Hillary Clinton who spent years, denigrating the character of her husband’s female victims of sexual assault, who was good friends with Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, and who as a defense attorney bragged about getting the rapist of a 12 year-old girl acquitted.  If I were Biden I would consider her endorsement to be  the “kiss of death.”  I would tell her, “thanks, but no thanks.”

CONCLUSION

Biden’s campaign and his supporters are hoping the story will just go away.  When they are not ignoring it they are issuing comments denying the “incident” occurred.  Some of them seized upon a NY Times story as an exoneration of Biden, but the Times issued a vehement denial.  In my opinion, it will not go away.  It is part of a pattern of his behavior.  He’s always been “handsy” around women, and don’t forget his treatment of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings.

Sooner or later, he is bound to be asked about it by an honest reporter or maybe by a debate moderator.  In my view, the lesser of two evils would be to meet this issue head on now, deal with it, respond to all aspects of it, and hope it runs its course by the Fall.  Issues like this don’t go away if they are ignored.

This just adds to Biden’s “baggage” as a candidate along with his memory lapses, confusion, and verbal blunders.  So far, Biden’s advisors have been able to sequester him from public scrutiny, but eventually he will have to venture out of his bubble and campaign.  At that point, I believe his poll numbers will decline.  The voting public is smarter and more intuitive than the Dems think and hope.  The Dems have a serious problem.  They are irrevocably committed to a damaged candidate who is akin to a ticking timebomb, and I think they know it.

Public support for rebooting the economy has been growing.  More and more people are desperate to return to work.  To them, feeding their families is beginning to take precedence over their fear of the virus.  They are tired of being confined to their homes.  According to JPMorgan Chase in the last four weeks 17 million persons have filed for unemployment benefits.  The current unemployment rate is 13%, and it will likely increase to 20%.  These are exceedingly grim numbers not seen since the Great Depression.

Congratulations to us!  For some two months we have diligently followed the guidelines of our political leaders, medical professionals and the president’s COVID-19 Task Force.  We have washed our hands assiduously, worn masks, gloves and other PPE, followed the social distancing guidelines, and stayed home except for emergencies.  We have endured long lines at the grocery store and voluntarily refrained from associating with friends and relatives.  We have postponed weddings, confirmations, bar mitzvahs, birthday and anniversary parties, and other social occasions.  We have sacrificed financially by closing our businesses and refraining from going to work.

After all this, we have flattened the curve, mitigated the effect of the pandemic.  In most areas, hospitalizations, cases and deaths are levelling off or declining.  The virus is not completely beaten yet, but the worst appears too be over.  Now, we are ready for the payoff.  Now we are ready to reopen the economy.  Now, we want to go back to work.  As President Trump has said, most Americans want to, need to work.  We are a nation of workers, not layabouts.

In the last week or so, many governors have announced plans to reopen their respective states’ economies.  I will briefly discuss some of those plans below.  Some in the media have criticized them for jumping the gun.  They maintain it is not safe yet.  They acknowledge we have flattened the curve, but they fear a resurgence.  A few have taken the position that we should wait until we have developed a workable vaccine, which will likely take over a year.

I disagree with those pundits.  I think that is a bit extreme. Another year of this and we will likely have no viable economy to reopen.

I say, the country is not a homogenous entity.  Some areas are densely populated; others are very rural.  Virtually every state has some large cities and some rural areas.  The CV has not affected all areas equally.  This is obvious to most of us who have been paying attention, but apparently not to many in the media.  Most of these media critics live in the densely-populated coastal areas.  They do not have any interest or knowledge of what goes on in the vast heartland.

One of the main reasons why President Trump has left the process of rebooting to the  governors was the realization that they know best what is appropriate for their respective states.  So, now, as many states begin to reboot we will be seeing some radically different approaches, which will be tailored to each individual state or area.  We should give these governors the benefit of the doubt, at least until and unless there are problems.

Below please find a few basic trends and specific examples based on news reports from Worldometer, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and, where indicated, my opinions.

1. As I write this, according to Worldometer, CBS and multiple other sources the US has reported about 990,000 cases and 56,000 deaths.  NY remains the state with the most cases (282,000) and fatalities (16,600).  By the time you read this those numbers will likely be higher.
2.  I mentioned the wide disparity of the effect of the CV.  In contrast to NY, Alaska, for example, has reported 341 cases and nine fatalities, Montana 449 and 14, and Wyoming 502 and seven.  So, one would not expect those states to follow the same timetable as NY and other densely populated states.
3. Every state that has announced a reopening plan has announced its intention of following (1) a phased-in approach similar to that suggested by the Task Force and (2)  different timetables for different areas of the state.  I think this is very sensible.  Dip your toe in the water; don’t jump in blindly.
4.  Note, some of the following specific plans may be subject to last minute changes.
5. Several neighboring states, which have overlapping economic interests and concerns, have decided to act in concert.  For example, NY, NJ, CT, RI and DE have formed one group, and CA, OR and WA another.  More may follow suit.
6.  Perhaps, the most aggressive state has been Georgia.  In recent days, it has authorized the re-opening of hair and nails salons, restaurants, movies theatres, in-person religious services, and even tattoo parlors.  Governor Brian Kemp has received widespread criticism for this plan, and many observers are waiting/hoping to see if it will backfire.  I say, he should know what is appropriate for his state, and someone had to be brave enough to be first.
7. Alaska is planning to re-open retail stores and dine-in service for restaurants, among others.
8.  Montana Governor Steve Bullock has issued a plan to resume religious services on April 26 and retail stores the next day.  If all goes well, restaurants, bars and breweries are expected to follow on May 4 with limited capacity.  Schools may re-open as early as May 7 at the discretion of local school boards.
9. In contrast, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo will be taking a more conservative approach.  He wants more testing, and he wants to see hospitalizations decline for 14 consecutive days.  NY is close to that now.  He is not planning to reopen anything until at last May 15 at which time there will be a monitored phased-in approach beginning with the more sparsely-populated upstate areas.  Businesses such as manufacturing and construction will be among the first.  If key health indicators continue to improve other businesses and areas will follow.  Schools, beaches and public swimming pools will be more problematic.  Cuomo said that areas such as NYC and LI are “more complicated.”  I would expect them to be reopened last, perhaps last in the whole country.  The whole process will require flexibility.

CONCLUSION

As I said, the country is on the cusp of being ready to reboot the economy.  It will be a gradual, phased-in process, which is the best approach.  It will vary by state and, within each state, by region according to their situation.  Everyone agrees that the health and safety of Americans is paramount.  At the same time, the longer the economy remains closed down the more difficult it will be to get it back to where it was.  Remember, we were enjoying the best economy in our lifetimes, if not ever.

The economy may need a boost to restart effectively.  Some people have been advocating another stimulus package.  I am concerned about the long-term effects of all the stimulus packages.  I am especially concerned about the idea, which has been floated by some Dems, to bail out some states that are in financial difficulty.  I don’t think it’s fair for states that have spent money carefully and wisely to have to bail out those that haven’t.

I would advocate a rollback of the payroll tax for, say, six months.  This would infuse cash into the economy immediately and would benefit both employers and employees.