Biden COVID-19 adviser floats plan to pay for national lockdown lasting up to six weeks
By: Dominick Mastrangelo (The Hill)
See how money is central to science? We can do great things if we can only force the public pay for those great things.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A top health adviser to President-elect Joe Biden suggested that the nation is well-positioned financially to withstand a lockdown of more than a month in an effort to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
"When you look at the personal savings rate in this country, it's now gone from about 8 percent to over 22 percent. We have a big pool of money out there that we could borrow. The historic low interest rates by the federal government, we could pay for a package right now to cover all of the wages, lost wages for individual workers, for our losses to small companies to medium sized companies, for city states, county governments. We could do all of that," said Michael Osterholm during a live event this week with Yahoo News.
Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said there are varying ideas in terms of public perception of "what a lockdown is all about."
"If we did that, then we could lock down for four to six weeks," he said. "And if we did that, we could drive the numbers down, like they've done in Asia, like they did in New Zealand and Australia. And then, we could really watch ourselves, cruising into the vaccine availability in the first and second quarter of next year, and bringing back the economy long before that."
Biden, who was projected as the winner of the 2020 presidential election on Saturday, has vowed to end the coronavirus pandemic and promised to "listen to the scientists" to get it under control.
On Monday, the former vice president unveiled his own coronavirus task force.
"Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts," Biden said.
President Trump and his supporters have been critical of so-called lockdown measures, statewide stay-at-home orders meant to curb the spread of the virus.
With a second wave of infections sweeping across the nation, Biden has implored every American to wear a mask and practice social distancing, calling it "patriotic" to do so.
Trump, meanwhile, has boasted about his response to the virus and during the final days of the campaign told supporters the country was "round the corner" and the pandemic would soon disappear.
Pfizer this week revealed it had developed a vaccine candidate that is more than 90 percent effective and is seeking FDA approval in the coming weeks.
"First of all, be prepared to hit the ground running on Jan. 20," Osterholm said. "And No. 2, in the meantime, even though not in control of the government, as such, what can we pull together and share with the states and cities out there that have often been left to their own devices, in terms of trying to respond to this pandemic so that in fact, that that kind of information and support can be there."
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The Biden administration won't hit the ground running. On Jan. 20th they'll have their hands out: gimme, gimme, gimme. Just think of the children. Look at all the money out there that the Biden administration can take.
What effect do you see a possible loss of the Senate to Dems would mean?
You bite your tongue Drak! Dems having all three? That would be bad for people like me, "mmmkay."
If Democrats prevail in both Georgia Senate elections that will place Kamala Harris in a difficult position. Harris doesn't want the Vice Presidency to be the end of her political career.
So, a tied Senate forces Harris to be a little more conservative. A lot of what Democrats have planned to do will be watered down. Democrats will support Joe Biden using executive orders to avoid Democratic legislators being held accountable. Redistricting won't provide Democrats the advantage they had hoped so incumbent Democrats will be more vulnerable 2022.
Nancy Pelosi won't be able to drag feet to get those big spending packages. And the political risks are too great for Joe Biden or Kamala Harris to just rubber stamp whatever House Democrats want. IMO Democrats will begin talking about PAYGO and fiscal responsibility early in Biden's administration.
Sorry : ) It is kind of a scary thought, isn't it?
I see what you're saying, but wasn't she selected as Biden's VP because she would appeal to the more radical left? That is a tough position to be in but there is only so much 'moderation' her base will stand for, I think.
Yeah but being the tie breaking vote in the Senate is far more visible to the public than what happens during those backroom horse trades to get support for executive orders.
Democrats are going to legislate more conservatively but will push Biden to the left in those backroom deals. We'll see if the Democratic left wing will settle for political fluff and participation awards. The Resistance is still intact.
What makes you think Biden will be pushed left? How do you know this? If the Democrats are smart, they'll approach things more conservatively than they normally might do. That will be the best way to gradually effect change rather than freaking everyone out, especially conservatives, with something more drastic or extreme. It will also help make their position more stable over time, which can benefit them later. But then, we will have to wait and see how things play out.
The "purpose" of the VP is to appeal to certain voting blocks. A VP cam make or break a campaign bid. Pence appealed to the more conservative and/or evangelical elements. So he was a good pick for Trump (regardless of his actual ability to govern). On the flip side, back when John McCain made his bid for the presidency, it can be argued Sarah Palin was largely the reason he lost.
You would think so, but try telling that to AOC's squad and the many on the left that support them. While Biden supports a lot of things I do not, I hope that he will try to be more middle of the road, consensus minded.
While I resist a lot of what the left wants, I don't consider myself the "resistance" in the manner the left did with Trump. The left never gave Trump a shred of chance and I don't want to be like that. If Biden does something I can support, I will support it.
That said, I kind of hope the Dems go off the rails a bit as I think it will make it easier for conservatives and centrists in 22 and 24.
So you're only assuming Biden will be pushed. While Biden tends to be a more "middle of the road" type, we simply have no way of knowing for sure which way, if any, he might veer.
Trump had chances. He simply blew them. Especially where Covid is concerned. Then he played the blame game.
I think you mean that I assume that Biden will allow himself to be pushed. That isn't what I said. Biden is already being pushed. That is inarguable. What I hope for is that he will resist it.
How so?
Biden''s election was the will of the people.
What is it you think AOC and her squad is attempting to do?
Biden's election was the will of approximately half of the people.
Trump's election in 2016 was the will of less than half of the people, and not even a plurality.
A little more than half, which is enough.
I don't follow AOC. Nor do I really care. They can all join hands and sing Kumbiya for all I care. I'm more interested in how Biden proceeds from here.
That's fine, but it doesn't negate the point that Biden is already receiving pressure.
As am I. However, it would be a mistake to not care. I wonder how many didn't care about Hitler?
Enough to be the will of the people? Because that was the point, right? It doesn't seem rational to say that Biden represents the will of the people when nearly half opposed him.
He was elected by the majority, plain and simple.
And you know this how? Do you have some insight into Biden's administration?
You're comparing a politician to Hitler?
I am not disputing that so I don't understand why you persist with a non-sequitur. The issue is, does his election represent the will of the American people, as if they were some unified whole? It does not. It represents a little over 50% of the will of those who voted, not the American people.
No, I simply read the news.
Biden under pressure from the Left to erase student debt Far-left groups pressure Biden to pad his Cabinet with Reps. Tlaib, Jayapal Progressives unveil 2021 agenda to pressure BidenNo, I'm speaking of apathy.
The will of the people is represented by the majority as a whole. Of course not everyone is going to agree about it, as people will have different ideas about it. But majority rules. That was the point.
And is AOC part of Biden's administration? His cabinet?
I think it's safe to say people have generally not been apathetic about this election. Quite the opposite really.
Well, if you insist on thinking so, I can't stop you. But majority rules was not the point. The point was, it's stupid for politicians to claim they represent the will of the people when barely half the voters voted him in. If you recall, that was the point.
Seriously? Are you claiming that AOC, or anyone else, has to be part of his cabinet in order for Biden being pressured to be true?
I wasn't talking about people. I was speaking to your professed apathy toward AOC.
In a dismal fashion
It takes more than half to vote someone in in. Ergo, the majority. If more people don't think Biden represents the (majority) will of the people, then more should have voted against him.
You're the one claiming there's pressure on him from a specific source. If he's being "pressured," then it will probably come from multiple sources on either side of the political spectrum. AOC and her colleagues are a rather small source.
When she becomes President, then she'll get more attention from me. Until then, she is only a Congresswoman and one of many.
Compared to what Trump has taken?
I saw an article this morning saying that the drastic increase in cases can be [for the most part] narrowed down to gyms, restaurants, churches, and stores [using cell phone location data]. I don't know if it's true or not, but I don't go to any of those places... I only go to a local "mom n pop" grocery store, a local "mom n pop" pharmacy, the local "mom n pop" tobacco store, and a local "mom n pop" beer / liquor store.
That would be a reasonable assumption, as those places promote socialization and gathering of crowds-the perfect conditions for Covid to spread.
Agreed, and also probably why no one in my immediate family has been "stricken" either. **knocks on wood**
We're all pretty anti-people.
Being anti-social is a good trait to have right now.
Not necessarily anti-social... at least with people we know.
Is this the article?
These venues are high-risk areas for spreading the coronavirus, model suggests
Pay attention to the weasels. The article opens with " Restaurants, gyms and coffee shops rank high among locations where the coronavirus is most likely to spread outside the home . " (emphasis mine) Note that conclusion has been drawn from cell phone data obtained during the first wave when the public had not adjusted behavior to the pandemic.
We know the public had not adjusted behavior during the first wave of the pandemic. The situation has changed quite a bit over the last six months. That old data isn't relevant today; it's a meaningless conclusion for what is happening today. The prevalence of mask usage has increased from a reported 49 pct during the first wave to over 80 pct today. The CDC target for 'universal' use of masks is 85 pct.
Yep, the public was caught off guard and was unprepared for the first wave of the pandemic. That shouldn't be surprising. But what happened between April and June really doesn't apply to the current situation. Using the old data as justification for doing something now really is dishonest.
I'm not trying to be dishonest and you should know that already. However, what I'm viewing in my area [where another surge is occurring again despite our Governor's push for safety] is that people are not following recommended guidelines properly. I've seen first hand a large group of people hanging outside a bar, masks under their chins; people at "Drag Queen Bingo" that didn't seem very worried about being safe INSIDE a building with about 100 people. No social distancing, improperly wearing masks, and not really caring or concerning themselves with safety precautions. My former mother in law told me about her and her husband being at the gym and seeing similar things. So, why wouldn't it seem relevant when seeing these things first hand? While I can only speak for what's going on in my area, I have a hard time believing that it's not occurring elsewhere too.
I realize that. I'm pointing out that it is necessary to pay close attention to what is being reported. There are too many differences between May and November to allow direct comparison. Data from May might provide some insights into how to mitigate the pandemic in spring and early summer. But fall and early winter bring changes in behavior; people don't behave the same way during winter as they do during summer. Plus we now have the added complication of seasonal colds and flu.
What might have worked in May may not work at all in November.
I have not observed that in my area. People here are wearing masks and social distancing. And we are still experiencing a new surge in infections.
Likewise. 2 family members tested positive last week. They have been secluding themselves, distancing, masking, etc., since the spring. No family visits. Getting out only when they have appointments.
I'm beginning to believe that this is like the Walking Dead, when they realize that they all carry the pathogen.
Yep, it's like a zombie movie. World War Z.
As an aside, this is why, if I can avoid it, I stay away from the doctor's office, hospital. etc. I firmly believe that is where the 2 mentioned above got it. Meals and food have been delivered to their porch. "Visits" with family are held through technology. The outside ventures are essentially limited to the doctor and pharmacist. Pharmacy is a drive through.
My aunt caught it at the hospital she works in; she works in an office.
As long as is doesn't start turning people into WWZ zombies that run that fast! I'd be gone in a heartbeat! My stumpy little legs don't move very fast!
I have limited my trips to the bank once a month, Mom And Pop grocery, will go back to grocery delivery after I move, and the occasional trip to El Pollo Loco drive thru. There have been a few unavoidable trips, but I really limit them to something necessary.
a drop in the bucket compared to yearly corporate welfare expenditures.
Typical Democrat- always trying to take what isn't theirs.