Telling It Like It Is

THE ENTERPRISE—CLEARING UP THE UNCERTAINTIES—EXCEPT WHEN LIFE WILL GO ON...IN A VERY DIFFERENT, "NEW NORMAL”

 

WHY DO S. KOREA, VIETNAM, TAIWAN & SINGAPORE HAVE SO FEW COVID-19 CASES AND EVEN FEWER DEATHS?

Because they were prepared and went into action instantly (in Dec. when the first info on this “Novel Coronavirus” started leaking out.) Asian nations: South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Singapore, suffered terribly from the past years MERS & SARs virus outbreaks. It taught them a brutal and yet vitally important lesson about being ready, and taking immediate action on new virus outbreaks.  FYI: Taiwan tried to sound the alarm in Dec. about a new “pneumonia-like” virus originating in Wuhan, China, but its voice was drowned out by China’s false denials. This article from The Week explains it quite well…I urge you to read it carefully... and share it.

 

Download South Korea’s coronavirus success

 

TRUMP’S DEFENSIVENESS ABOUT HOW FAST AND DECISIVELY HE ACTED IS ROOTED IN TWO FACTS

1) He explains, over and over, that in late Jan. the US had not yet seen the virus cases, and the death, that came rapidly in the past 60 days. It was misled by China’s lies and deception.

2) The American democracy with its divisions of government power, and liberal media bias, plus the USA’s emphasis on individual and states’ rights, inhibits taking rapid, and Draconian actions.

When Trump realized the mess he was facing, he did take Draconian actions faster than most Presidents would have dared.

 

TRUMP’S  CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE IS DOING IT’S JOB (and without his gratuitous self-compliments.)

These “experts” Fauci, Birx, et. al., deserve a lot of credit. If you have watched the Briefings (daily) several things most viewers conclude—President Trump needs to quit patting himself on the back, over and over. What the US has done really is amazing—albeit sooner would have been better. Trump also needs to quit making excuses for why his rapid, decisive actions—which were a very good idea—were not started sooner.  He started taking dramatic action, but due to America’s political polarization and biased anti-Trump media, and our powerful “individual/states rights,” the USA didn’t—and couldn’t—move as fast, or definitively as necessary. (Or as Asian countries who had felt the pain of such outbreaks, and were prepared to act.)

 

AS I WRITE THIS, WE ARE APPROACHING A VERY TOUGH, POSSIBLY “LOSE-LOSE” DECISION POINT

Victor Davis Hansen is a very bright fellow. He outlines the decision our country is facing, and how tenuous it will be for President Trump, the Medical Team, and the Governors who face the daunting task of translating broad generalities into concrete action steps—when life and death consequences can result.  There is no right or wrong decision. Just a tradeoff of risk vs. reward, and uncertainty (virus continues or worsens) and certainty (economy can’t stay as is, but how to “restart” it locale by locale, slowly, carefully). A scary new side effect of Covid-19 seems to be neurological damage, and it’s uncertain whether this is temporary or longer lasting.

 

Download We are approaching COVID-19 gut-check time - Opinion - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus OH

 

MOVING THE SHUTDOWN/RESTART GOAL POSTS AND POLITICIZING ANY OUTCOME?

Donald Trump is benefiting (somewhat) from his front and center prominence (too much of it, typical Trumpian bluster), but for decisive leadership on blocking entry to the US (from China & Europe), and for actually listening to Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx and others. No matter what happens with the “reopening” you can expect some additional virus cases and deaths. Americans are not good at following rules they don’t like, or agree with—even if it makes them sick or kills them!

 

THE BLAME GAME—THE DEMOCRATS' SPECIALTY

You can bet that the unconscionable Pelosi/Schumer duo will try to blame Trump for any and all of this—and also blame him if he doesn’t get the country reopened too. It will be either too soon or too late, and cause additional virus outbreaks and deaths. Those will all be his fault—even though his actions save many, many more Americans. Perfect doesn’t exist. Lose-lose is the way the Dems will play it because he’s IN and they are OUT. This will be one more way to get Trump out of office—blaming him for everything that doesn’t work out “perfectly.”  Sad but true. The Democrats led by Pelosi and Schumer are irresponsible, relentless, malevolent, and have the “advantage” of having no better ideas except to vilify Trump and the Republicans for anything and everything that happens. 

 

IS “SLEEPY JOE” JUST SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF AGING?

Bernie Sanders came across as sharper, and quicker thinking that BidenThe real tragedy is that Joe Biden is now the likely nominee, and he is even more ill-prepared to lead America than ever. Trump is the youngest of the three septuagenarians, and is also quick, but prone to his own unique kind of misspeaking—or filibustering on issues. Of the three, Biden most often looks like “a deer caught in the headlights” and “at a loss for words—or at least the right words. Is this who we really want leading the country? Never Trumpers will say he’s not suitable either, but amidst his bluster, he usually gets to a better outcome/policy, after a few iterations.

 

🤪GO SEE THIS LINK (Disclaimer—It’s someone’s try at an anti-Biden campaign ad!)  https://files.catbox.moe/o57xxa.mp4

 

I’ve tried to find “evaluations" of this video/ad on Snopes, TruthorFiction, and FactCheck.org to no avail. It’s hard to believe (and scary) IF it is all authentic. Yes, Trump may go on and on, but this is frightening...

 

DEFINE SUCCESS FIRST, PREEMPTIVELY...

The only solution for Trump, et. al. is to “define success” so firmly, clearly and rationally, that it is measured fairly and objectively, if achieved. Of course no politician (least of all Trump) wants to be pinned down to such hard measures—but those are his only “out’ on this one. Will he realize that? And do it? Time, and his future as president, will tell. 

 

ULTIMATELY...

The key to opening up America is to find a vaccine, and a range of treatments, then follow the discipline to keep workers healthy while on the job!

 

Download How to Keep Workers Healthy on the Job - WSJ

 

THE RACE FOR A VACCINE FOR COVID-19 IS UNDERWAY, IN THE ENTIRE USA AND GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

The likelihood of finding one, making sure it works, and eliminating the risk of deadly side effects takes time, and tests…on real people. Innovio, a San Diego based company, is starting human tests this week, but that is simply the first of multiple steps to find one that works and doesn’t do more harm than good. (FYI—Flu shots used widely now are often only 60-70% effective, depending on which strain of the Flu virus they are targeting). Read more from The Week.com:

 

Download The race for a vaccine

 

VOTING MY MAIL AND OTHER EASY TO DE-FRAUD METHODS

Years ago, when the Democrats ruled Illinois and Chicago where I was growing up, the motto was “Vote early and vote often!” Voter fraud was rampant. People literally rose from the dead to vote, more than once. Because no one in America has the wisdom and guts to insist on Secure Photo ID’s to record votes (because the poor minorities will be disenfranchised—although they figure out how to get their SNAP-Food Stamps and Welfare debit cards just fine!)  

 

THE CASE FOR VOTING PHOTO ID'S

In America you need a photo ID to drive, open accounts, check into hotels, board airplanes, see doctors, and countless other essentials of life—but not to Vote? Really? That’s just insane. One byproduct of this Pandemic is likely to be doing a lot more things digitally…so why not voting…or at least requiring an ID. If one was needed to get the huge coronavirus checks being issued, you can bet those poor, disenfranchised folks would figure out how to get a photo ID. (Obama gave most of them free cell phones already.)  Voting by mail should be easy and secure—but it’s too easy to get someone else to fill out your ballot application, and then fill it in with whoever they are "rewarded for choosing." (Democrats—always.) 

 

SPEAKING OF OBAMA—HE’S BAAACK…HERE’S ONE TO WORRY ABOUT—THE VP CHOICE

Don’t be surprised if the final choice is actually a “dark horse” (pun intended), and a female, because there are several from which to choose.  The scariest prospect is if old sleepy Joe Biden, who is clearly "not quite all there” makes the most dramatic choice to beat Trump and reclaim the White House for another 8 years: Michelle Obama! Scary? You bet. Possible? Why not? Biden recently joked about it! If Biden were to be elected, and followed his Obama-lite platform, America’s recovery will be as slow and stunted as the one following the financial “Depression” was. It took Trump’s action to get America growing again!

 

NOT RACISM: WHY ARE BLACKS HIT SO MUCH HARDER BY COVID-19? (CLUE, IT’S NOT TRUMP’S FAULT!)

Vitamin D is one of these lesser known vitamins that we get largely from sunlight.Many Americans are low in Vitamin D in northern climates because we get less direct rays of the sun. (I take a supplement on Dr. advice.) It turns out that darker skinned people have more melatonin which inhibits vitamin D production from sunlight, leaving a D-deficiency. There are other consequences, which you can read about in more detail here: 

 

Download Vitamin D and Coronavirus Disparities - WSJ

 

YES, THE WHO (World Health Organization) IS CROOKED. SO IS CHINA’S STATUS IN THE WTO (World Trade Organization) AS A “DEVELOPING COUNTRY” (compared to the USA)

Cutting funds to the WHO (USA’s $400MM vs. China’s paltry $44MM), hold the WTO’s feet to the fire about it’s misclassification of China’s for Most Favored Nation trade status with the USA, and cut discretionary funding ($7+B of the $20B the US puts into the UN ("Useless Nations?"). Its Human Rights Committee alone is a travesty. (Google who the members are.) 

It’s time for China to suffer the consequences of its selfish, foolish and ill-advised actions.

 

HERE NOW, COMING UP NEXT

—Oil prices are negative. There’s nowhere to store it or use it do instead of paying to by oil, oil producers must pay people to take it! Wow. Negative prices!

 

—Bankruptcies are coming…starting with retailers who have been limping along—large and small—but are unlikely to survive being shutdown. Some may make it, but again—in a very different, smaller form: JCPenney is top of the list to falter. Macy’s is in trouble, as are Neiman-Marcus, and maybe even Nordstrom. The list is much longer…and the uncertainties discussed above…will influence who makes it and who doesn’t.

 

—Tragic that big banks gave too much of the $300B+ PPP (payroll protection) money to their large clients who didn’t need it nearly as bad and the thousands of small businesses. Hopefully, the flagrantly bad decisions are coming to light and the money will be reallocated, along with the next tranche of $500B.

 

—How do Scandinavian countries pay for their generous government funded benefits that Bernie Sanders used as examples of what the USA should have—and what Biden is now choosing to support large parts. They, like most European countries levy a VAT (Value Added Tax). If you’ve travelled and shopped abroad, this is the big tax which you pay and then can save receipts and request refunds. Typical European VATs are 25%+/-…yes, that is 25% on top of the other taxes. The top total tax rates in such countries runs about 50-60%!  Welcome to Socialism-Lite.

 

—Finally…how do Restaurants and other similar US businesses get back into business? They had to lay off almost all of their workers, and some are staying alive on takeout and delivery…BUT…a big source of revenue and profit in such places are cocktails, wine and beer, and desserts…few of which are part of a typical takeout or delivery order.

 

OK…that’s it for now.

Wash your hands often. Wear your mask when you are out and about. And wonder, with me, how,  or if, or when we’ll ever see 100,000 people in a football stadium, or 20,000 at a concert or a hockey or basketball game or 40,000 in a baseball stadium. 

 

Answer: when a Coronavirus vaccine and a Covid-19 treatment are found with a means to distribute tens of millions of doses, really fast! And hope they last and work. Otherwise, the “new normal” wont’ be as much fun as we might hope.

 

Meanwhile, stay well, enjoy your family, find things to smile and feel good about, and above all, be kind to each other.

JOHN

 

 

IF you are emailing me on [email protected], I will be terminating that email 

Please email me on [email protected]

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Have you read ROCKETSHIPS & PARACHUTES ? 
It can change your life, and the lives of everyone you share it with.  https://tinyurl.com/mariottiR-P

 

THE ENTERPRISE--A TIME LIKE NO OTHER--AND HOW WE CAN SURVIVE AND SUCCEED

 

FIRST A PREVIEW: I DON’T KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THIS NEW VIRUS COVID19 THAN YOU CAN KNOW

The news coverage is everywhere. I have a simple way to sort out what to watch, read or listen to.  I simply tune out the “blamers” and political messages. The people who do this are not helping. They are trying to somehow capitalize on a time of tragedy, for ulterior motives. TUNE THEM OUT!

Download K. Strassel--Pols Face a Coronavirus Test - WSJ

IN A TIME LIKE THIS, I SUGGEST WE TURN TO PRAYER AND ASK FOR GOD’S DIVINE HELP…

TO GUIDE US, OUR FELLOW AMERICANS, OUR LEADERS… AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. 

 

Here’s a link to help you: https://live.life.church. TUNE THIS IN!

 

As a lifelong Catholics, my wife and I became disillusioned, as more and more Catholic priests/clergy were revealed as behaving terribly. We actually “stumbled upon” another “Church”—Life Church — a non-denominational church, daughter Lisa found after she moved to Oklahoma (where Life Church began). It was started by pastor Craig Groeschel and his wife Amy 20 years ago. Life Church and Pastor Craig's weekly messages are very relevant and inspiring (and yes, based on passages from the Bible). Life Church reaches thousands in its (now) 34 campuses, (in the south central US) and streamed on line globally at https://live.life.church, to countless others with its streaming messages. His words, messages and delivery have increased my faith, given me valuable new perspectives on all aspects of life, and been memorable for the clarity with which he delivers them. He comes across like “Mr. Everyman,”—one of us, but reminding us of God’s power and goodness in easily understood and accepted messages—and that is something we all need—especially NOW!

 

Two revealing facts: 1) Life Church’s growth & campuses have grown "self-financed," and 2) Life Church welcomes everyone, in person or on-line. 

Life Church gives away its materials to any church that wants to use them. It has created an on-line Bible App, that has now been downloaded over 300 million times. It had about 3000 churches using its materials, when the COVID19 struck. It has invested to increase it’s available “reach” and now 20,000 churches are using Life Church resources. In a refreshing practice, Pastor Craig tells attendees, when the collection basket is passed around, if your need is desperate—take money out of it, instead of putting money into it.

 

A final point: I would never have believed I’d be sending this kind of message—but I am—because it is that important. I now understand from Life Church and Craig that “church” is not a building—it is in the hearts and minds of the people who believe in God’s power and goodness. 

That’s what we all need right now!

 

AT A FRIEND’S REQUEST IN MID-MARCH FOR A WRITTEN PIECE ON "GLOBAL SCENARIOS," ON BEHAVIOR IN THE CLUTCH OF FEAR, I WROTE THE FOLLOWING: THOUGHTS ON LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, and AS THE CORONAVIRUS CHANGES EVERYTHING

We are experiencing the Stages of Grief (re: Kubler-Ross) in this situation: shock & denial, pain & guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, reflection & loneliness as we await an upward turn.

Theologically, one could imagine God’s hand in sending the people of the world and certainly of the USA, a message: What’ really important?  Unite to work together against a common foe—instead of working at odds with each other over everything. Have faith and hope. Realize that prayer has a healing effect whether you believe it works or not. The penalty for failure is widespread illness, suffering and death.

Those of a more Darwinian mindset may view this a nature’s way of “thinning the herd,” where the oldest, weakest and least prepared—become ill and die. Natural selection does this in species of animals, plants, anything in a given ecosystem, to remove the weak, so the strongest can survive.

Socially, unity against a terrible foe is a powerful influence; unity of purpose, to stop the polarization and infighting, find consensus on directions, cooperation on actions, to a win-win outcome. Contain the spread; allow those who can recover to do so; treat the most seriously ill, realizing that most deaths come from other pre-existing or underlying weaknesses or conditions, (not the virus itself) rather its impact on the more fragile bodies—the old and infirm. Two steps are essential: mitigate the panic that inevitably occurs, but retain the intense concern (fear) needed to take urgent, Draconian actions.

Find and follow the Leadership of those who were selected and allied with those who know the most, and have the best ideas & plans. Use the vast intellectual resources in the USA, and pay attention to discoveries from abroad. In fact, many prior breakthroughs came by accident: Salk’s polio vaccine, the discovery of antibiotics like penicillin while researching agriculture, and many near misses that were refined to be hits.  Speed is essential. Leaders must have a plan, communicate it, take action to execute, measure progress, course correct, overcome obstacles, and gain consensus acceptance.

Recovery can come only when a cure and/or preventative vaccine has been found, and administered widely. Like weeds in a garden, caution must be exercised in the event of recurrences. The damage to the economies (USA, et. al.) can be irreversible if not given the right priority. Cancer chemotherapy offers a good metaphor: the drug intended to kill the cancer—the body’s cells gone wild—must be administered in carefully managed doses. Too much and the body (the economy) dies; too little and the remission doesn’t happen. The balancing act between stopping the spread of the disease (distancing, quarantines, shutdowns) without stopping too many life affirming activities (business, social gatherings, etc.) for too long is a huge challenge.

Only when people in societies believe that an effective remedy and/or prevention are accessible to all, will enough confidence and certainty exist for society and economies to recover and rebound. The largest challenge globally is the enormous differences between cultural, social and technical ability and countries’ will to work together against a virulent enemy. Most countries in the world are “less-developed” than the USA, Europe, and certain Asian countries (Japan, S. Korea, Singapore, etc.) Some are “Third World” countries who might, by their inaction, negligence and lack of resources—financial, technical and intellectual—sustain the virus inadvertently. This is a gigantic challenge, and will require aggressive help from government leaders and World Health Organizations to resolve.

One certainty: this Pandemic will create a “new normal,” nothing like what existed before. And, this is not the only such threat in existence. More are lurking out there. It is just the new one born of [the Chinese'] crude, ignorant practices, and lies about what was, what is, and what’s being done about it. We must learn that lesson, or this lesson will be repeated, painfully again and again.

Now let’s see if humanity can rise to this new challenge and work together, instead of at odds with each other, to save ourselves.

 

SHORT TAKES ON WHAT THIS ALL MEANS OR MIGHT MEAN

First: Two excellent columns that everyone must read:

Download KISSINGER-The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Forever Alter the World Order - WSJ

Download JIM SIMON Column: Time will reveal the legacy of COVID-19 - Opinion - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus OH

Second: Testing is vitally important but we are still learning what the tests mean, and how reliable they are. For a return to any kind of “normalcy,” even if far different than in our past, several things must be accomplished:

1) a set of quick, easily administered tests with proven accuracy—both positive (have been accurate) and negative (Negative tests seem to have only been accurate 70%+/- of the time!)

2) a vaccine that stops the virus a substantial part of the time (realizing that current annual flu shots are typically only 60%-80% effective, depending on which mutation of the flu they were designed to stop)

3) several treatment regimens and drugs to help seriously ill patients survive and recover (true anti-viral and “found drugs” like anti-malaria and anti-lupus)

4) a learning process about recurrence potential, seasonal variation, and potentially fatal COVID-19 sensitivity to worsening other pre-existing illnesses (pneumonia, diabetes, other heart & lung conditions).

AT TIMES THE BEST ADVICE COMES FROM SOMEONE YOU KNOW—UNEXPECTEDLY

Many of you may know I am an enthusiastic Rotarian and believe in its motto Service above self. Our club can’t meet normally, so we have chosen Zoom teleconferences to meet. The interaction is surprisingly welcome. Seeing the faces and hearing the voices of friends, fellow Rotarians, is somehow comforting. Another Rotarian is a professional in counseling and she shared a series of thoughts with us that left me hastily scribbling notes as fast as my pencil could move.  My apologies to her if my notes and over simplifications don’t convey her message as well as she did.

 

GOOD ADVICE:

1. Don’t feel so bad about yourself, there’s nothing wrong with you. What you're feeling is “normal” in a very "abnormal situation.”
2. Know the facts if you can, so you can have faith in them. That’s realistic and calming.
3. Be “grounded” in the present: use your senses (touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste) to connect you with familiar surroundings in your home (most of us in OH are under a Stay At Home order).Wash your hands well & often!
4. Get back to your body, and out of your mind. Physical activity helps; less time watching always-on TV coverage of COVID-19.
5. Find enjoyable “good” distractions: puzzles, books, music, gardening, art, taking walks, etc.
6. Don’t procrastinate: Prepare for the worst, "do what you can do"… and then "you will be ready.”
7. Find a “buddy” you can talk to, and who might give you advice or at least info. (you can use it or not!).
8. Accept that things are and will be different (e.g., telemedicine has been coming; now it’s here (”seeing" Dr. vs. talking to the Dr.)
9. Connect, connect, connect! Follow social distancing, but do what you can. We all need contact—even if not so physical.
10. Practice self-compassion. It’s OK to feel grief or sorry for yourself at times, but realize it comes and goes in “waves.”
11. Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep (you'll need more, anxiety uses energy), get exercise & routine movement, eat healthy, find good entertainment, “get outside”—daylight is good for you. “Hug each other, mentally if not physically—humans need some touch” 
12. Feel gratitude for what you/we all have. For fans of Neil Diamond, here’s a special coronavirus version of Sweet Caroline, he performed for us all, from home.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1-VWpXIwXk

 

OK…that’s enough for one dose of COVID-19 survival thoughts.

 

Stay well. Stay in touch. Stay positive. Pray…a lot!

 

Best

JOHN

 

PS: It’s a great time to clean house, and clean out the piles of stuff you should have already been rid of. Give usable stuff to needy people. Trash the rest. For me…finish the 2nd novel…successor to The Chinese Conspiracy.