Seventy five years ago, World War II in Europe ended with the German surrender, although it was not officially announced to the world until the next day, which, coincidentally, was new President Harry Truman’s 61st birthday, only in office for 26 days, upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945.
It is true that the war against Japan did not end until after the atomic bomb was used in August 1945, with surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. But the dire threat of Adolf Hitler was over on May 7, 1945.
Now, 75 years later, America is in the worst crisis since World War II, with 33 million people out of 155 million employed before the CoronaVirus Pandemic hit, now unemployed, and many losing their homes, having no food to eat, many in mortal health danger, and we have a President and administration sitting by and doing nothing, only interested in reelection.
And on this day, 75,000 Americans have died in about two months, more than the Vietnam War or the Korean War, and each day now, about as many are died on Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 1941) or September 11, 2001!
Trump and his cronies in the Republican Party seem to live in an alternate world, where one can kick around the population and yet think they are going to be given power again, to do ever more damage to the American people.
The only way that Trump can be reelected is by foreign government collusion; state governments who promote illegal gerrymandering; and state government purging the voter rolls, promoting voter suppression by other tactics, including fewer voting locations and dates, and denying felons who have completed their debt to society the right to vote as in Florida and a few other states.
The Republicans know that they cannot win honestly, and that the future of their party is dim, but they will engage in any form of corruption to promote nativism, racism, Islamophobia, and gay bashing.
The Democrats have a massive job on their hands to insure a truly fair election, including voting by mail for those who wish to use that method of voting, for any reason!
Trump continues his war against science and national public health. His latest attack on the health of the American people is a decision to block the release of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for reopening the nation following Coronavirus shutdowns. The guidelines contain recommendations for safely reopening schools, restaurants, churches, summer camps, and other business establishments closed because of the Corona pandemic.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/5/7/1943489/-The-C-D-C-Document-Trump-Does-Not-Want-Americans-to-See?utm_campaign=recent
Cheat! It’s all IMPOUTUS knows how to do, his whole life. Don’t like the result? Hide’em. It’s no wonder we’ve never seen those tax returns.
Donnie blocked at least two officials from testifying before the House (evil Democrats there, you know), is hiding this report, is hiding the transcript of his phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, is hiding his tax returns and business records, is firing any Inspector General who dares to investigate anything or even disagree with him, is hiding how PPE and medical equipment are being distributed, and has refused to comply with most Congressional subpoenas for information and testimony on a host of issues. Hmmm, seems to be a pattern here. That’s a slogan Dems and the Lincoln Project could use, “What’s he hiding?â€
This is why Democratic Governors need to make it clear to everyone that the Trump administration has been the single biggest impediment to successfully dealing with the pandemic in a way that minimizes loss of life. I was glad to see that Andrew Cuomo was brutally honest today and said that Trump was pushing for opening things up because he cares only about the election and not about saving lives. That needs to be repeated over and over again the same way Trump pounds his messages in to the political atmosphere.
Will they ever get it through their thick heads that America won’t “open up†in the way it needs to until the people truly believe its safe? All the polls show the vast majority of us won’t resume pre-Covid activities without a lot more information, and for most of us, what Trump says doesn’t qualify as information. When they hide what should be a relatively authoritative evaluation of what it takes, it only slows down the return to normalcy.
A National Day of Reason
Besides being the day before World War II ended in Europe, May 7th is also America’s “National Day of Prayer.”
At this point in its history, what this country needs more than a National Day of Prayer is a National Day of Reason.
According to The Center for Inquiry: “‘The National Day of Reason’ resolution (H.Res. 947) that was introduced on May 1, 2020 by members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus (CFC) supports the designation of May 7 as a National Day of Reason, and it encourages us to apply reason, critical thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry to improving the welfare of humanity.
“H.Res. 947 acknowledges the philosophical Age of Enlightenment in driving human progress and in inspiring the drafters of our Constitution. In contrast to the National Day of Prayer, which encourages elected officials to unconstitutionally make policy based on their faith, the National Day of Reason invites us to join in our commitment to improving human welfare through honest inquiry. Together let’s rejoice in our ability to craft policy from evidence that we can examine regardless of our personal beliefs.” [https://centerforinquiry.org/alerts/tell-your-representative-to-cosponsor-the-national-day-of-reason/]
The Resolution states:
“Whereas the application of reason has been the essential precondition for humanity’s extraordinary scientific, medical, technological, and social progress since the modern Enlightenment;
“Whereas reason provides vital hope today for confronting the environmental crises of our day, including the civilizational emergency of climate change, and for cultivating the rule of law, democratic institutions, justice, and peace among nations;
“Whereas irrationality, magical thinking, and superstition have undermined the national effort to combat the COVID–19 pandemic, and reason is fundamental to creating an effective coordinated response to beat the virus involving the Federal Government, the States, and the scientific and medical communities;
“Whereas America’s Founders insisted upon the primacy of reason and knowledge in public life, and drafted the Constitution to prevent official establishment of religion and to protect freedom of thought, speech, and inquiry in civil society;
“Whereas James Madison, author of the First Amendment and fourth President of the United States, stated that ‘The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty’, and ‘Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives’; and
“Whereas, May 7, 2020, would be an appropriate date to designate as a “National Day of Reasonâ€: Now, therefore, be it “Resolved, … .”
I urge all Americans to contact Your Congresspersons Young [and Senators, while You’re at it] and direct them to support this Resolution, and to explain why You support it.
As Sinclair Lewis once put it: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
Jeffrey G Moebus
Master Sergeant, US Army [Retired[
Sitka, Alaska
Jeffrey, I am very happy to state that you and I, and I think, other readers of this blog, will agree on this posting, one hundred percent!
I salute you on this entry! Thanks!
Thank You, Professor; i appreciate that.
My guess is that if You and i couldn’t agree on that, then we would probably never agree on anything; least of all how to go about discovering the “Truth” about and the “Reality” of anything.
Particularly as regards economics and politics in theory, practice, and in history, and as regards history in methodology.
Speaking of reason, too bad we can’t have President Spock, someone intelligent, instead of the orange doofus we have now.
The virus is in the White House. One of Pence’s staffers has now tested positive. Maybe it will scare Dump and Pence enough that they will finally understand how the rest of us in the country are feeling.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/politics/vice-president-mike-pence-staff-member-coronavirus/index.html
CNN is saying this staffer is Pence’s press secretary and she is Stephen Miller’s wife.
Virginia may be going into phase one of reopening next weekend.
Guidelines for phase one:
During Phase One, both teleworking and wearing face coverings remains strongly encouraged.
Also, the 10-person limit on gatherings will also remain in effect in Phase One.
Beaches
Currently, they are open for only exercise and fishing. This will not change in Phase One.
Child Care
Currently, they are open for working families. This will not change in Phase One.
Entertainment and Amusement
Currently, these facilities are closed. This will not change in Phase One.
Non-essential Retail
Currently, these businesses are allowed to be open with a 10-person limit. In Phase One, they can be open with 50% capacity.
Overnight Summer Camps
Currently, these facilities are closed. This will not change in Phase One.
Personal Grooming
Currently, these businesses are closed. In Phase One, personal grooming will be available, by appointment only with strict social distancing required. Face coverings will also be required.
Places of Worship
Currently, they are limited to drive-in services and a 10-person limit. In Phase One, they will be able to have services with a 50% indoor capacity.
Private Campgrounds
Currently these are closed. In Phase One, private campgrounds will reopen.
Restaurant and Beverage Services
Currently, restaurants are open for takeout and delivery only. In Phase One, takeout and delivery will continue; however, outdoor seating will be allowed open at 50% capacity.
Schools
Currently, schools are closed. This will not change in Phase One.
State Parks
Currently, these are open for day-use only. In Phase One, they will remain open for day-use and in some places, overnight-use will be allowed.
It doesn’t matter how many times a person is tested for Covid 19 they can still get the virus. I’m not sure how quickly after infection the test can detect Covid 19. But we’ve got 2 different people in the White House in the last 24 hours who tested positive so there’s probably a lot more people there that have the virus (since nobody wants to anger Trump by wearing a mask). Sooner or later Pence and/or Trump will run out of luck and get the virus. Pence will probably survive it but I’m not sure 73 year old overweight Trump will.
Thoughts and prayers to her but not to the vile, Nazi, piece of s— white supremacist she’s married to.
The rest of us second that, Leia.
I have to agree on your thoughts, all of you, on Stephen Miller, a trashy hate monger who deserves divine punishment!
And I think Trump is in danger with his poor health, mental and physical, and his refusal to be responsible on the Pandemic!
Our county’s Board of Supervisors are all Republicans. They want to have less restrictions than what the Governor is proposing.
I think the Governor’s restrictions are perfectly reasonable. It’s best to start off cautious, as he’s proposing to do.