"The inability of so much of the public to remember what Trump was saying just a month ago suggests that, in addition to the coronavirus crisis, we’re also experiencing a national amnesia pandemic." - Bret Stephens, NY Times
"The Enlightenment is actually on trial now in the U.S. And whether truths, facts and objectivity matter. What we are seeing is a partisan pandemic, and this shouldn't be." - John Meacham, this morning on 'Morning Joe', MSNBC
"The Trump administration's response to the coronavirus has been defined by incompetence and deceit from the beginning. While they claim to be focused on the crisis at hand they have also been using the last month to pursue all kinds of ideological and policy vendettas." - Chris Hayes, Wednesday night 'All In', referring to what Trump and his cabal are doing while we're preoccupied with COVID-19 - and their goofy happy talk.
"The idea that the number of people infected in all these (rural) places won't be the same as we're seeing in other places defies logic. The virus will spread. It might go a little bit more slowly in a rural area than it does in a dense city, but it's coming to a town near you." Dr. Ashish Jha, Harvard University, last night on 'All In'
"Trump says we’ve got plenty of tests available, when we don’t. He declares that Google is building a comprehensive drive-thru testing website, when it isn’t. He sends a Navy hospital ship to New York and it proves little more than an excuse for a campaign commercial, arriving and sitting almost empty in the Hudson. A New York hospital executive calls it a joke. ....Every aspect of Trump’s crisis management has been annexed by his psychopathology. As Americans die, he boasts about his television ratings" - Jennifer Senior, 'This Is What Happens When A Narcissist Runs A Crisis', NY Times, 4/5
Watching the ABC News Wednesday evening it was appalling to learn of the death threats made against the indefatigable Anthony Fauci. But that tells you all you need to know concerning the parallel disaster of the ongoing "INFOdemic'. In the case of Dr. Fauci, assorted trolls from right wing blogs like "Gateway Pundit" and others decided to try to make an example of him. Why? Because in a serious time of national emergency and health crisis he had the cojones to correct the clown and buffoon spewing lies and misinformation - often downplaying the virus - even calling it a "hoax" for the first two weeks. (Trump apologists like Kim Strassel - WSJ today, p A15- insist Trump never said that and Joe Biden is lying about it, but hold strain. Trump originally did bellow that on a FOX n' Friends appearance then altered it during a presser to claim "I meant the Democrats are using this as a hoax against me!") Nice try, Swine, but more of us are onto your deceptions!
After that, anyone with half a brain could see Trump's briefings at the White House on COVID-19 have been a daily circus of lies and misinformation, and right when the public, in a time of crisis, deserves the simple, unvarnished truth. Making it worse, too many media outlets insist on broadcasting it live, which merely reinforces the bilge coming out while it elevates Trump's profile to a quasi-leader, or as he calls himself, a "wartime president". Of course, he's been nothing of the sort, only a yellow bellied coward who still believes as author Michael Lewis ( 'The Fifth Risk') told Chris Hayes on 'All In' Wednesday night that "storytelling can make up for lack of honesty". What it's done thus far is bumped Trump's approval numbers up a bit but that is only temporary and will crater when people - even in Trumpie red states- see the body bags piling up because their great hero Dotard didn't do squat to prepare. Worse he lied, making them believe they'd have critical supplies, when he didn't do jack shit. All an act, a performance, like on his Apprentice TV show.
Another aspect is the media - mostly corporate mainstream - still insist on sending political reporters, who focus the questions on Trump rather than Fauci and his sidekick, WH coordinator Deborah Birx. This misdirection results in outlandish ideas like a quarantine on New York, and ending social isolation by Easter. In other words, by giving this asshole the chance to grandstand he blows out brain farts by the score - which the reporters then studiously write up to regurgitate later on the evening news. Instead, they ought to be assiduously ripping each claim apart.
This is also why many believe the press should instead send medical reporters, who will ask medical experts fact-based questions about the coronavirus—and what the government is doing to contain it.
It isn't difficult to see that in this information cesspool - much of it emanating from a "leadership" that ought to be straight up with its citizens- we have to be much much smarter as information consumers. The sad fact is we are not, else Trump's poll approval numbers would be plummeting, not rising. Part of that is a state of national amnesia (or perhaps suspension of disbelief, skepticism). In the case of the former too many are mesmerized by his daily snake oil salesman act and can't recall what Trump has said or claimed from one week to the next. Hence, when a poll or survey is asked of us, they forget how many outright lies the orange maggot has already unleashed. See, e.g.
AP FACT CHECK: Trump's misfires on virus death rates, tests
In the case of the latter cognitive impairments too many Americans sit spellbound - gulping down what he spews out with hopeful eyes- but failing to process it's all a big act. There isn't a damned bit of truth or substance to any of it. He invents garbage on the fly, like vaccines "will be ready in weeks", or he will "use the defense production act" - then just lets it sit like an odious vapor. After which it all dissolves and there is still nothing to address the national crisis including medical workers crying and begging for help. And what does the illustrious traitor do? He calls them and their state governors "complainers" for demanding he step up to the mark and act the part of the big shot leader he professes.
The best thing is for people to just stop watching this charade. That's because it isn't about helping people, only about Trump''s passing BS off as fact to secure his re-election. And you don't even have to watch it to see what Anthony Fauci says or opines. He is on almost nonstop in various venues and even if you miss him in real time you can Google Youtube segments where he speaks on one or other aspect of the pandemic.
In her WSJ article 'How To Avoid The Infodemic', March 23, p. B4, Nicole Nguyen has good solid advice for information seekers to negotiate the online info universe without being mindfucked at every turn. The recommendations include:
1)Focus on factual information from official channels
That means focusing on facts from official sources, like the Centers for Disease Control. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) is also a solid source, and btw, one can find extensive material from each of these in reputable news sites, including The Financial Times and New York Times. The Wall Street Journal is also excellent, provided you ignore the op-ed pages. (CDC also has a mobile app which delivers the real time info right to our phone).
2) Avoid private social media sites:
These include Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. They are to be avoided because there's little or no oversight on what they churn out or what their denizens share. (Some of whom actually obtain misinformation from dreg sites like 8chan, 4chan or Gateway Pundit then share it). Why take such precautions? Because as Ms. Nguyen notes, the more people are exposed to a falsehood, the more likely they are to accept it. Just as exposure to a huge COVID-19 viral load can destroy one's lungs, these mind viruses can destroy the brain, it's critical thinking capacity. This is also why it's advisable to stop watching Trump and his phony, pretend briefings - which are really propaganda performances. They are designed to try to enhance his re-election chances, not provide relevant policy updates or information to help distraught citizens.. Proof? What he is doing beneath the surface to wreck our lives, while he diverts with his officious blather on TV. (See below for examples.)
3) Look up which outlets covered the news.
Before sharing any information, do a quick search to see if reputable outlets reported the same thing (e.g. NY Times, Financial Times etc.) This is the advice of Jon Keegan, an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University School of Journalism. Keegan suggests using GroundNews, an app and website that shows how many outlets covered top stories at a glance. Most importantly, look at the sources names in the outlets' reports. If multiple reports link to the same questionable story - instead of citing primary courses- then be skeptical.
And, of course, it goes without saying that if you feel deluged by any sources - or stressed by the news- feel free to bail out. Don't click on a headline or blog post that may stress you further. (I also get this, which may be why blog readership appears to dive for several COVID-19 posts in a row, showing followers may have reached their 'saturation' points. This is also why I try to scatter other subjects in between, i.e. like recent ones on entropy and humanist challenges to Xtianity).
3) Look up which outlets covered the news.
Before sharing any information, do a quick search to see if reputable outlets reported the same thing (e.g. NY Times, Financial Times etc.) This is the advice of Jon Keegan, an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University School of Journalism. Keegan suggests using GroundNews, an app and website that shows how many outlets covered top stories at a glance. Most importantly, look at the sources names in the outlets' reports. If multiple reports link to the same questionable story - instead of citing primary courses- then be skeptical.
And, of course, it goes without saying that if you feel deluged by any sources - or stressed by the news- feel free to bail out. Don't click on a headline or blog post that may stress you further. (I also get this, which may be why blog readership appears to dive for several COVID-19 posts in a row, showing followers may have reached their 'saturation' points. This is also why I try to scatter other subjects in between, i.e. like recent ones on entropy and humanist challenges to Xtianity).
4) Pause before you share anything.
Use your logical, critical thinking faculties and ask if it really make sense. If a source or video is provided, then watch it to see if the information given makes logical sense and especially if external support for any claims is provided. Are there journal citations, newspaper citations? If so, from where?
My take is the same as that of Prof. Claire Wardis of the Harvard Berkman Klein Center, quoted in the piece:
"If people stopped sharing entirely and just relied on official sources we'd be better off. It's like washing hands. We have to get into new habits about only what we know."
In this sense, we are being responsible information users and patrons and avoiding the spread of mind viruses, which can be almost as debilitating and destructive to one's cognitive ability as the COVID-19 is to the physical body.
It is abundantly clear that yet another attribute of the astute information user is to be aware of diversions, and especially what the bad guys are doing to us while they baffle us with bullshit at each COVID-19 briefing. This is why Maddow often uses the axiom "Watch what they do not what they say."
How so? For example, over this two month span while Trump has had too many of us mesmerized by his happy talk, exaggerations and lies, the following have been done:
- They revoked the reservation status of a native American tribe for which Trump opposed a casino - to help with debt as many other tribes have.
- Trump has now given the green light to the Keystone pipeline. He issued a "permit" which now allows this project to move forward "without any further government review." (WSJ, yesterday, 'Keystone Pipeline To Be Built With Alberta's Help', p. B3) The deal is for 20 years and allows up to 830,000 of tar sands crude to be pumped per day, and through farmlands that could be devastated in a spill or other catastrophe.
- They are suspending the enforcement of a range of health and environmental laws.
- Trump has allowed son- in -law Jared Kushner to run a "middle man" operation to screw the states out of emergency medical supplies, and forcing them to bid against each other. Jared admitted in one FOX interview: "These national stockpile supplies are not for the states but for US." Who is 'us'? The Trump family and its extended racketeers, gangsters?? See e.g.
Opinion
- They are unilaterally rolling back fuel efficiency standards.for cars. ("Because that's going to keep sick people's lungs healthy when they're gasping for air.". - Chris Hayes' sarcastic response Wednesday night's All In)
-Trump's Department of Justice is currently in court suing to scrap the entirety of the Affordable Care Act.
- Trump announced in between his lies and accusations last night there will be no special open enrollment period for the ACA - denying access to exigent care for 28 million with no insurance and who may well get infected, or worse. Consequence? They may be left on the hook for $31,000 to $74,000 in medical bills depending on the severity of rhe disease and need for ICU, extended care.
When Pence was asked what Americans without access to the ACA could do, he had no answer. If you judge these vermin by their actions the take is simple: They genuinely do not care. You can go pound sand or scream at the sky as your loved ones die, for all they care.
Yes, folks, that is our great government at work in this crisis, a band of vipers, traitors and maggots - out to make things much worse while they are claiming to do "God's service" for you in this pandemic. Don't fucking bite! Be smarter than that!
See also:
"Thus far, COVID-19 has spent its wrath in places like New York, Seattle and Detroit. The storm is now coming to the farther reaches, to Fox News, to the doorstep of Trump’s most devout adherents, and it will be a horror when it happens."
"The sheer incompetence, or indifference, or even active malice toward those in domestic need by this most wretched of administrations should be more than shocking. It should call for the immediate impeachment and removal of Trump-Pence."
- Trump has now given the green light to the Keystone pipeline. He issued a "permit" which now allows this project to move forward "without any further government review." (WSJ, yesterday, 'Keystone Pipeline To Be Built With Alberta's Help', p. B3) The deal is for 20 years and allows up to 830,000 of tar sands crude to be pumped per day, and through farmlands that could be devastated in a spill or other catastrophe.
- They are suspending the enforcement of a range of health and environmental laws.
- Trump has allowed son- in -law Jared Kushner to run a "middle man" operation to screw the states out of emergency medical supplies, and forcing them to bid against each other. Jared admitted in one FOX interview: "These national stockpile supplies are not for the states but for US." Who is 'us'? The Trump family and its extended racketeers, gangsters?? See e.g.
And:
Opinion
- They are unilaterally rolling back fuel efficiency standards.for cars. ("Because that's going to keep sick people's lungs healthy when they're gasping for air.". - Chris Hayes' sarcastic response Wednesday night's All In)
-Trump's Department of Justice is currently in court suing to scrap the entirety of the Affordable Care Act.
- Trump announced in between his lies and accusations last night there will be no special open enrollment period for the ACA - denying access to exigent care for 28 million with no insurance and who may well get infected, or worse. Consequence? They may be left on the hook for $31,000 to $74,000 in medical bills depending on the severity of rhe disease and need for ICU, extended care.
When Pence was asked what Americans without access to the ACA could do, he had no answer. If you judge these vermin by their actions the take is simple: They genuinely do not care. You can go pound sand or scream at the sky as your loved ones die, for all they care.
Yes, folks, that is our great government at work in this crisis, a band of vipers, traitors and maggots - out to make things much worse while they are claiming to do "God's service" for you in this pandemic. Don't fucking bite! Be smarter than that!
See also:
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