Oh the Irony! (Observation from an X-gener)

I've been seeing several "boomers" in my newsfeed posting this the last few days:

Now, while I sympathize with the fact that those over 60 are more at risk with the recent coronavirus, I see some irony with the particular people in my feed who have posted this. You see, these very people, not that long ago, had made posts AGAINST all of the Democratic plans to help make sure more Americans have health insurance! These are the same "over 60" people who I've seen argue over and over that if millennials want health insurance, they should simply get better jobs (which, many know, is not as easy as it sounds). BUT NOW, they are pleading with the younger generations to stop being so flippant about the coronavirus, because these "healthier" millennials may carry it and get them sick...and if they get sick, they may die!

Here is some truth, though. It isn't that millennials are really healthier...it may not even be that the virus is not affecting them. As a matter of fact, with so many under 60 having no insurance, or carrying insurance with such a high deductible that it is like not having insurance, it is very likely the number of "infected" is much higher in this country than anyone thinks! The thing is, because this virus in most younger people is pretty much like a flu, these folks aren't rushing to the doctor and getting tested...they can't afford it! Many of them may not even be able to afford taking off of work (and note that the GOP Senate yesterday refused to pass an emergency 14 day mandatory sick leave)! If they do take off work, instead of going to the doctor and being tested, they are downing NyQuil and binge-watching Netflix in bed until they feel alive again, because that is all they can afford to do. So, while I don't think the younger generations should take risks that will get the older generations sick, I do ask the "over 60" crowd to seriously consider your criticism of the younger with regards to health insurance, and realize that if we make it easier for them to stay healthy, that will help them to help keep you healthy!

Here is what I've gathered with relation to the coronavirus

Sifting through all of the stuff flying around the internet, I've been able to figure out that the coronavirus is really not any more serious than a chest cold...that we have all had at some point in our lives. The difference, NO ONE has developed an immunity, so it is likely that anyone who comes in contact with it will be ill...in most cases nothing severe, and something that will pass just like any cold or flu virus.

The issue is for people who already are in a position where their health is compromised, as is the case with the flu or any other cold virus, as well. These people can develop more serious conditions such as bronchitis or pneumonia. From someone who has asthma her whole life, I can understand this.

What I can't understand is the panic!!! What I also don't understand is the fear mongering by the media, making the coronavirus seem like something so deadly that if you get it, you WILL die! That is basically the message they are sending out! This is why everyone is freaking the fuck out! The best thing we can all do is basically what we should be doing all along. We should be taking care of our health...eating healthy, exercising, etc...keeping our bodies as able to fight viruses as it can be for our age. Getting older doesn't mean that you have to be frail and get sick easy. I know two people, as a matter of fact, who are knocking on the door of 80, and neither are slowed down in any way! One still goes to the gym every day, while the other goes on daily hikes. Both eat a healthy diet, and continue to live very productive lives!

We also need to be self aware. If we are ill, we should limit our presence in public. I know when I'm sick, you won't catch me dragging myself out! I may go to the doctor if I'm bad enough, and at worse, the drug store to pick up my prescriptions from said doctor visit. With the ability to get groceries and any thing else delivered, I don't have to leave the house for anything else until I'm well, and no longer contagious. I wash my hands, if I happen to cough or sneeze in public...typically just due to allergies...I cover my stuff up.

I also don't invade the personal space of others. Sick or not, there is NO reason to be right up on someone in a line or something where they feel crowded. It is common courtesy to allow people to have their personal space (something people obviously forget about). If you aren't my partner, you shouldn't be so close that you are touching me or I can feel you breathing on me.

Really, people need to calm the fuck down! Use some common sense. Remember, this thing hasn't even killed any children! Also, there have probably been thousands of more cases of this virus than have been reported, because they are only testing under certain conditions. It is likely that some had some very mild cold symptoms, dealt with it like any other cold or flu, and got over it without the world even knowing.

Put it into perspective...

Folks are freaking out about the coronavirus here in the US. You can't buy toilet paper, hand sanitizer, masks, rubbing alcohol, etc., because people are hoarding like it is the apocalypse. Did it spread quickly in China where it originated? Yes, it did. BUT, you have to put things into perspective.

1. China is about the same land mass as the United States.

2. China's population is approximately 1.4 billion people, which is about 1.1 billion FEWER people than the United States has.

China is way more densely populated than the US is, making it very easy for a virus to spread. It is highly doubtful it would spread at the same rate here. Even so, the number of people ill in China is a drop in the bucket compared to the total population. No, I'm not minimizing those affected by the virus, just pointing out that an individual's risk of getting the virus is much less than all the fear reporting is making it seem. You are more likely to get in a car accident. We know what we have to do to minimize our risk.

1. Wash your hands regularly, using warm water and soap, preferably an antibacterial soap.
2. Avoid unnecessary touching of strangers an acquaintances. Minimize hand shaking and such.
3. Don't touch outside surfaces in stores and such more than necessary.
4. Don't touch your face without first washing your hands, especially if you had been outside of our home.
5. If you feel ill, STAY HOME, unless leaving your home to go to the doctor. If you have the ability to have things delivered to you, do so.
6. Cover your coughs and sneezes.

This is all basic well-care that I personally do every flu season. Even though I have my vaccine, there are strains it may not cover, and the flu is constantly evolving, so I take precautions.

Bottom line...quit freaking the hell out like this is the end of the world!

Every time I think I want to try to move this blog out of a political direction...

...this administration again does something stupid!!

So now, we are going to put Pence...a man who does not believe in science...in charge of planning and such for the potential of the coronavirus spreading in the US! I guess he will simply organize some prayer meetings, and try to pray the virus away. Or better yet...he will organize prayer meetings to pray a "shield of protection" only over Trump followers, and that the virus take out all of his critics and people of color! Yeah, that seems more realistic!

They can't see it when it is right in front of them!

I remember several years ago. I was still married into a very conservative family. Sitting around on a Saturday afternoon, I would hear them talk about Obama. Things were said that Obama was ignoring the Constitution, that Obama would do all he could to stay in office, etc. There were many, many comparisons to Hitler!

Here we sit now under the Trump presidency. Just yesterday, he pardoned people who are big time white-collar criminals. Trump says over and over that he can do what he pleases, and makes claims of being this country's chief law enforcement official! We have a Senate that decided to not remove Trump from office before the impeachment articles were ever heard, and without considering any witnesses or evidence. Trump still has not released his tax records, AND he never put his interests into a trust and has regularly received profit through his interests from our government in violation of the Constitution's Emoluments Clause!

When I look at Trump presidency, especially as of late, I see an organized crime boss in charge of a large crime organization who happened to be elected to public office and is using said office to cater to his own interests, and that of criminals close to him! This man is EVERYTHING the conservatives said Obama was, and they can't see it when it slaps them in the face! How can they continue to follow him?

Do your homework!!!

I'm starting to get this feeling that the DNC were banking on Biden being the front-runner for the nomination. They were blindsided by Sanders taking the lead, and now they are scared that Sanders is too far left to be able to beat Trump. Though I think that thinking may be right, I'm hesitant to jump on the Bloomberg bandwagon!

I will stand behind whichever candidate gets the nomination, as I simply cannot and will not ever vote Trump. I'm pretty sure Satan himself would make a better President than Trump! I just urge you...before you head out to the Primaries....do your homework. Find out where the candidates stand on the issues, and KNOW what you are voting for! Make sure you can live with your vote.

Their withdrawal speaks volumes!

When all four federal prosecutors in the case of Roger Stone withdraw from the case when Attorney General Barr presents a lower recommended sentence after Trump criticizes the prosecutors' higher recommendation, THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES! There is a huge injustice going on in this country...where the POTUS can now DICTATE outcomes of criminal proceedings beyond his pardon power! I put emphasis on DICTATE, because if you cannot see we are heading into a dictatorship in this country, you have your head in the sand!

Of course, when all is said and done, Trump is going to pardon his buddy Stone anyway!

And I will say it again...when it comes time, I do NOT see Trump leaving this office quietly! Things are getting dangerous, folks! Remember when the Right said that Obama would not give up the office? Obama never abused his power in the way Trump has, and this was said. Obama did not get clearance for his children and give them positions in the WH. Trump is setting his family up to take over rule of this country when he no longer can...after he forces changes that allow him to stay in office! If he loses the election this year, watch for him to call for a full investigation claiming voter fraud, and find a way to hold on to the office. If he wins the election (which we all hope will NOT happen), watch him try to come up a way to change the Constitutional provision that a single person cannot hold the presidency for more than two terms.

We are headed to dark times, folks!

Sadly, I don't think Sanders can beat Trump

As much as I can agree with a lot of Bernie's ideals and potential policies, I just don't see him beating Trump. In today's climate, if we are going to get Trump out of the WH, we need a candidate who is a bit more middle. Is that sacrificing that which I believe is good policy? Maybe, but right now, I'm more concerned about what is best for the country! We cannot survive another 4 years of Trump without irreparable damage! Now, the GOP is talking slashing Social Security and Medicare. Just this week, a Native American sacred burial ground was demolished to make room for the stupid border wall! National Park lands are being destroyed. Environmental policy reversed. Protections for pre-existing conditions being targeted. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class are screwed!

What we need is a candidate that is a little closer to middle that the independents and those to the right middle can get behind so that we can get Trump out of office! We also need to tip the balance in the Senate, and get McConnell out of the seat!

As much as I love what Bernie stands for, I think it is too much for right now. Who can beat Trump? Sadly, I think that person would be Biden, as much as I don't really like how wishy-washy he is on policy. However, I don't see Biden destroying the country like Trump, and could be the 4-year repreave we need to then get a candidate in office we need. Biden may be just enough to get the ball rolling on trying to reverse some of the damages done by policy, by putting back into place what Obama had. Biden is the kind of person who can ease relations with the other countries. We don't need a candidate who will enact drastic change at this point...we just need someone to start the healing. We must heal, first.

Double standards, much?!

Was reading today that GOP Senators want travel records for Hunter Biden during the time that his father was in office as VP. They want to see if he had an official detail, etc. to determine if US taxpayer dollars were used on Hunter's "business trips" in his dealing with the Ukraine and such.

Um...what about the Trump children? We already know for a fact that US taxpayer dollars have been spent on their "business trips" abroad!! It's okay if Trump's kids do it, but not okay if Hunter Biden did it?!

Note, I'm not saying it is okay either way. Regardless of if it was a Biden kid or a Trump kid, they should not be using tax dollars on their personal business trips! Just because "daddy" is in office doesn't mean that they have access to government coffers! What I am pointing out is the hypocrisy!! The Trump children have been using government resources right under the noses of the GOP for their personal dealings, and not a peep from the GOP. Yet, when it comes to trying to undermine the House impeachment (even AFTER acquitting Trump), they are all about finding out whether or not Hunter Biden traveled on the taxpayers' dime!

Coronavirus is NOT our biggest concern!

The coronavirus as of last count has killed 362 people since it has been discovered. In comparison for the same timeframe, influenza in the United States has killed over 2,000, for a total of over 10,000 killed so far this season!

While concern about the coronavirus and stopping it's spread is valid, people continue to ignore that which is the biggest danger right here at home. Folks going to work sick, going to grocery stores sick and coughing on all the food, etc. Nearly half of Americans will not get the flu vaccine, which can limit your risks of contracting the virus. The flu this year is set to exceed the number from a couple of years ago (one of the worst flu seasons in recorded history) of those infected and killed by the virus.

Yet, the population is freaking out over the coronavirus. What if they put the same energy in fighting the thing that has killed thousands of Americans in the past few months?!