These are my observations and opinions from my select news of the day.
ECONOMY REOPENING PROSPECTS – With the flattening of the virus curve, President Trump, with the advice of scientists, medical experts and state governors, has put forth his guidelines to provide states with a path for reopening businesses and putting people back to work so that the flattened curve of our economy can be reversed.
His guidelines are designed with the first priority of bringing the virus under control through the continued mitigation, practicing social distancing and proper hygiene measures. It is hoped that a great number of states will qualify to enter the first phase of Opening Up America Again, and restrictions will be eased where possible.
Though seemingly resigned to continue the mitigation effort at least until May 1, 2020, many are tiring of being shut-in, anxious to get back to work. Some have taken to the streets to protest in a number of states.
However, there’s evidence that people are willing to accept the risk with the lifting of restrictions, with increased testing. On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence declared that there are sufficient COVID-19 tests available for every state to enter Phase One of the guidelines.
Understandably, they want a modicum of confidence that if things begin to open, they won’t get the virus, and if they do, their hospital will have the equipment and capacity to care for them.
They know that businesses will be required to take health safety measures to protect employees, like distancing measures, space protection, and the availability of masks and hand-sanitizer.
“Mr. Trump’s timing is right,” states the Wall Street Journal, “because the American public is beginning to see the economic harm from lockdowns is also a disaster.
“Twenty million jobless in four weeks and food lines are a human tragedy. The longer the lockdowns the more long-term damage there will be in lost human and physical capital – and the weaker the recovery.”
As I previously written here, the Wall Street Journal believes, too, that “Americans want to defeat COVID-19 and they have shown they will sacrifice to do it, but they don’t want poverty to be the price they have to pay for victory.”
Recall that the president said early on that “We can’t have the cure be worse than the problem.”
IN FLORIDA, Lenny Curry, the mayor of Jacksonville, has opened his beaches during specified hours to those practicing distance guidelines.
IN TEXAS, the forward-thinking Gov. Greg Abbott, who has managed his state through floods and tornadoes, is expected to loosen surgery restrictions at medical facilities and open state parks next week. Provisions to tackle the virus have priority for space and supplies in the medical facilities. Those going to the parks will be required to practice the virus protection guidelines.
He announced that schools will remain closed through the remainder of the academic year.
Abbot has named a number of business leaders and lawmakers to his “statewide strike force” to review the lifting of other restrictions.
He noted that infections have begun to “level off” and the death toll, while tragic, “hasn’t come close to the early dire predictions.”
IN CALIFORNIA, as you would expect, Gov. Gavin Newsom believes he needs a task force of 80 – yes, eighty – members. Former Gov. Gray Davis, who was recalled for his utter incompetence, joins other former governors Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the task force. Failed presidential candidate Tom Steyer, is another notable joining the task force.
Look for California and New York to be among the last states to comply with the guidelines to enable reopening.
PONDER THIS – After watching Apology Joe Biden stutter through a recent appearance on CNN and his virtual townhall, can you imagine how he could possibly give Americans any confidence in how he would handle the virus crisis?
The Obama-Biden administration left the federal government’s emergency disease protection cupboard bare, requiring President Trump to utilize the defense production act to cause ventilators to be produced.
With President Trump’s business instincts, he cut red tape and waived regulatory rules to hasten the approval of drugs and medical equipment. Companies in the private sector stepped forward to expedite testing devices, masks and other supplies.
How about Hillary? Are you kidding?
HISTORY RECORDS April 18, 1942 as the day Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle led a flight of 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers in an attack on the Japanese mainland after taking off from the deck of the carrier Hornet. I had the pleasure of meeting him during his appearance at an event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the first “Blind Flight,” on September 24, 1979.
LAUGH-OF-THE-DAY – The Hate-Trump Club mission statement, a tongue-in-cheek satirical piece by Patricia McCarthy in American Thinker will give you a laugh or two …CLICK HERE.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
