Can we reopen safely?

This “soft reopen” effectively uses working class people as a control group

while not having to pay them unemployment.

– Ricky Cort

Grim ReOpen meme

Experts offer 7 ideas to beat COVID-19 and save the economy: 

1. Masks for all,
2. Accelerate vaccines on all fronts,
3. More and smarter testing,
4. Hire more contact tracers,
5. Halt household spread,
6. Let people go outside, and
7. Spend more money on coronavirus relief.

To date, Congress has passed 4 coronavirus relief packages:

Phase 1 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R 6074, Public Law No. 116-123 signed 6 March 2020) provided $8.3 billion to fund acquisition of medical supplies and develop treatments and vaccines.

Phase 2 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201, Public Law No.116-127 signed 18 March 2020) ensured the availability of free coronavirus testing, in addition to providing for paid leave under certain circumstances, and expanding food aid & unemployment insurance benefits during the outbreak.

Phase 3 – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748, Public Law No. 116-136 signed 27 March 2020) At a projected price tag of more than $2 trillion, this bill is perhaps the single most expensive piece of legislation approved by Congress. As a point of comparison, the amount exceeds the entire federal discretionary budget (which is everything except for the mandatory budget: Social Security, Medicare, and debt interest payments) for fiscal year 2020, which at $1.371 trillion is the largest in U.S. history. The only legislation that could arguably rival the "phase 3" coronavirus relief bill in terms of cost would be the bills that created Social Security and Medicare because of their aggregate cost over the long-term.

Phase 3.5 – Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266, Public Law No. 116-139 signed 24 April 2020) $484 billion to replenish small business loan program, reimburse healthcare providers, and scale up COVID-19 testing and tracing capacity.

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, appointed by Trump, has urged Congress to pass additional legislation to fund more economic stimulus measures. A recent Rasmussen poll found 82% of Democrats, 63% of Republicans and 71% of Independents support additional federal spending.

Though multiple bills have been introduced during the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, few have become law. The HEROES Act is the latest proposal from Democrats. It is expected to come up for vote in the House as early as Friday. Senate republicans have already vowed to block it while Trump and others called it dead on arrival.

HEROES Act

The Senate is not expected to consider another coronavirus relief bill until after their week long Memorial Day recess. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not see urgency for the Senate to take quick action on further stimulus measures though he strongly supports a bill to expand business liability protections. House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell disagree with McConnell. They believe delaying or refusing additional aid will be more expensive and more detrimental to the economy long term.

After pushing through controversial tax cuts in 2017, some elected republicans say they are hesitant to spend money due to concerns over debt and the deficit. 

Tax cuts are welfare for the wealthy. 

Trump claims democrats don't want the economy to improve before November because a weak economy will make him look bad and lose votes -- despite repeated attempts by democrats to propose economic stimulus bills. While Trump is fond of calling democrats the do nothing party, republicans have earned the moniker “republican'ts” through inaction and opposition. 

republican't cartoon

Had the US taken early action similar to South Korea, our economy might be in better shape by now, and thousands of lives could have been saved. 

 Tale of two countries: US and South Korea by the numbers 

Fox News Obamagate meme

Michael Flynn recap: Trump fired Flynn in February 2017 for lying about conversations he had with Russian ambassador in 2016. Flynn subsequently pleaded guilty in court December 2017. As sentencing approached in January 2020, Flynn asked to withdraw his guilty plea. DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the case May 2020. Case is currently on hold pending legal arguments while federal judge considers contempt and perjury charge against Flynn. Meanwhile Pence said he would be happy to welcome Flynn back into government. Trump is pushing theory that Obama knew in 2017 the investigation into Flynn was baseless but directed the FBI to carry on. Republicans continue to investigate origins of Russia probe. Barr said indictments could drop before November and that history will be written by the winners. Democrats claim republicans are trampling the rule of law to smear Obama and Biden prior to the election. While Trump argues that Obama, Biden and other democrat officials illegally investigated Flynn, Trump’s lawyers argued to Supreme Court that the president is above the law, immune from prosecution. Double standard? Rhetorical question; no need to answer.

Obama Card meme above, blame game meme below 

  

In the spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:

• Alpacas frolic on a farm.
• Daniel Ratcliffe and other celebrities read Harry Potter at home.
• Woman wears funny costumes to entertain colleagues during online meetings.

Daily pandemic update:  

Brazil has become the sixth hardest hit country in the world after a daily record of 11,385 new cases and 749 new deaths. US authorities have accused China-linked hackers of breaking into organisations carrying out research into the coronavirus infection. The United Nations has predicted the coronavirus pandemic will shrink the world economy by 3.2 percent this year, the sharpest contraction since the Great Depression in the 1930s, pushing an estimated 34.3 million people into extreme poverty, mostly in Africa.  Aljazeera.com timeline

14 May 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
12:39 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	4,358,228	4,455,187	293,236	298,875	1,611,734	1,676,369
US	1,408,636	1,430,408	83,425	85,216	296,746	310,259
NY	348,655	350,848	27,175	27,290	58,730	59,217
CT	34,333	34,855	3,041	3,125	2,929	2,929
NC	15,623	16,351	600	625	9,115	9,115

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter. Son Reid lives in CT. I live in NC. 
Worldometers     Coronainusa     Starsexpress2020     https://ncov2019.live/

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 in the US.

In the news: 

• Breonna Taylor was murdered in her sleep by police serving search warrant at wrong address. 
• Church members impacted by coronavirus after church event urge others to be more cautious.
• Coronavirus cases and deaths in US are likely higher than reported; counts likely to be adjusted.
• FBI served NC Senator Richard Burr search warrant in investigation over stock trades, and confiscated his cell phone.
• FEMA canceled $55 million contract for N95 masks because Panthera repeatedly delayed fulfillment.
• FREE online course available to learn how to be a contact tracer.
• Howard Stern claimed Trump despises most MAGA voters.
• Jeff Bezos is poised to become world’s first trillionaire as #RIPcapitalism trends.
• #Masks4Farmworkers, NC Farmworker Health Program, and United Farm Workers provide assistance to farm workers and rural health care providers.
• MD family is frustrated after father tested positive again following recovery.
• Only Congress can change the date of the general election in November; not President Trump and not Jared Kushner.
• NC officials are reviewing church service restrictions after calls for clarification.
• NC produce farms reported multiple coronavirus infections, including Rudd Strawberry Farm in Guilford County.
• Paul Manafort was jailed for conspiring against the US and will serve the remainder of his sentence at home despite his prison not having a single case of COVID-19. Early release for Michael Cohen has stalled. Michael Tyson was jailed for an alleged parole violation and became the first inmate on Rikers Island to die of COVID-19.  #Inequality.
• Task force report shows coronavirus is spiking in heartland communities. 
• Trump said Fauci’s caution on school reopening is not acceptable. Republicans are split whether to follow Fauci or Trump. 
• US suspended protections for migrant kids and expelled hundreds amid pandemic.
• Washington DC extends stay-at-home order to June 8.
• WI Supreme Court struck down Gov Evers’ coronavirus stay-at-home order. 

  

Following Kenny Beck’s lead to share a few signs of hope:

• CT man received cheers from healthcare workers during discharge celebration.
• Masks were distributed to senior citizens during Winston Salem Mask the City Senior Day.
• Woman visits husband in the hospital, from the parking lot.

  

In my personal life…

Reid and I chatted Wednesday afternoon. Our Zoom internet connection was not stable so we ended up talking on the phone instead. He is taking a few more online classes to improve his web development skills before applying for jobs. Carol gave him a haircut. He and Lauren are considering a rural getaway for her birthday if they can find a remote airbnb listing not too far away from where they live.

I’m jonesing for a beach trip but don’t want to risk being around people so will continue to staycation at home for now.

I read that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is going to debut on Disney Plus July 3 so I created a July 2 calendar reminder for myself. Will likely sign up for 1 month and then cancel.

Yesterday I ate cereal for breakfast and the last leftover basil roll for lunch. Greg snacked a bit, then ordered pizza and chicken wings from Marco’s for dinner, plus brownies for dessert.