Thank you for this. Great analysis like always. The only thing I can say is, “was it ever an emergency?” Based on prior “bad” flu years (where data is suspect as well as they need to pump those shots too) which weren’t ever PHEs. I would say no.
In retrospect, the original PHE declaration was an overreaction.
I am a little more forgiving of that one, because during that initial month of January the information coming out of China was contradictory and chaotic. It was then that the initial estimate of 20% of patients would be severe cases--an estimate that never materialized in reality.
Given what was known and not known at the time, the initial PHE declaration was justifiable. The renewals since then have been progressively unsupported by the data and unsupportable as an example of good public health policy.
With the midterm election coming up, making the politicians talk about ending the emergency so that it becomes an election issue would be a good start.
I read an article on one of the news sites yesterday about one of the reasons they can't end it. The emergency lowered, or removed, restrictions on food stamps and medicaid (and probably other programs) They estimated there's something like 20 or 25% extra in those programs right now that wouldn't qualify.
It also eliminated the rule that people had to work.
Ending the emergency would kick a lot of people off the programs during high inflation/recession.
So thinking politically. Extend it to October when a "wave" hits and then it's justified to extend it to Jan when a red wave takes over. Then end it and toss the hand grenade to the Republicans.
What's interesting is we're playing Obamas first term strategy again. Do a lot of crazy stuff in the first half (obamacare example) without giving a crap. Lose the midterms and go lame duck. Blame everything on a do nothing congress and rule by pen and paper. Win the next presidential on outrage against Republicans. /remindme 2 years
I just finished watching the 1978 remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. It seems like a metaphor for America in 2022.
The 1978 version always seemed to me to come up short against the original.
The original, of course, was one of the classic sci-fi commentaries on the Cold War and the McCarthyist counter-reaction.
If I were going to pick a movie metaphor for the present situation, it would be John Carpenter's 1982 remake of "The Thing"
Thank you for this. Great analysis like always. The only thing I can say is, “was it ever an emergency?” Based on prior “bad” flu years (where data is suspect as well as they need to pump those shots too) which weren’t ever PHEs. I would say no.
Thanks!
In retrospect, the original PHE declaration was an overreaction.
I am a little more forgiving of that one, because during that initial month of January the information coming out of China was contradictory and chaotic. It was then that the initial estimate of 20% of patients would be severe cases--an estimate that never materialized in reality.
https://newsletter.allfactsmatter.us/p/narrative-fail-were-missing-some
Given what was known and not known at the time, the initial PHE declaration was justifiable. The renewals since then have been progressively unsupported by the data and unsupportable as an example of good public health policy.
I have just simple question: Does people do something to stop this behavior?
I mean, do they call their politicians, do they discuss this publicly, do they form some opposition or they just sit and watch TV?
With the midterm election coming up, making the politicians talk about ending the emergency so that it becomes an election issue would be a good start.
No. It's not justified.
Also.
I notice Canadian officials use the term 'at least' too.
I'm convinced the two countries are coordinating their messaging to ram through a medical tyranny.
All this cash is just like crack, or actually more like ice.
You can actually get some useful work out of crackheads, but meth-heads, forget it.
I read an article on one of the news sites yesterday about one of the reasons they can't end it. The emergency lowered, or removed, restrictions on food stamps and medicaid (and probably other programs) They estimated there's something like 20 or 25% extra in those programs right now that wouldn't qualify.
It also eliminated the rule that people had to work.
Ending the emergency would kick a lot of people off the programs during high inflation/recession.
So thinking politically. Extend it to October when a "wave" hits and then it's justified to extend it to Jan when a red wave takes over. Then end it and toss the hand grenade to the Republicans.
Which would only confirm that this is NOT an actual emergency, but a political dodge.
Plausible. Very likely the case.
What's interesting is we're playing Obamas first term strategy again. Do a lot of crazy stuff in the first half (obamacare example) without giving a crap. Lose the midterms and go lame duck. Blame everything on a do nothing congress and rule by pen and paper. Win the next presidential on outrage against Republicans. /remindme 2 years