A Commentary on Our Government in the Scientific Journal Science.

[NNadir]

Science is one of the premier scientific journals.

The full text of this "in depth" commentary is here: United States strains to act as cases set record


It speaks for itself, but here's an excerpt:

The United States is first, and not in a good way. Last week, it set a grim record, surpassing all other nations in the reported number of people infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Officials had documented nearly 200,000 cases as Science went to press on 31 March; the death toll neared 4000. Even President Donald Trump—who just 1 month ago claimed the virus was “very much under control”—warned that the pandemic is about to get much worse.

To limit the damage, Trump on 29 March announced that federal recommendations to practice physical distancing would remain in place at least through the end of April, dropping his much-criticized push for a faster return to business as usual. In the meantime, officials across the nation are scrambling to find enough ventilators, protective gear, and supplies for hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients—or about to be (see graph, below right). Many state governors ratcheted up restrictions intended to slow the pandemic, imposing stay-at-home orders that some said could last into June.


Despite such actions, the U.S. pandemic response remains a work in progress—fragmented, chaotic, and plagued by contradictory messaging from political leaders. “We don't have a national plan,” says epidemiologist Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. “We are going from press conference to press conference and crisis to crisis … trying to understand our response...”

[SheltieLover]

1. K&R

[crickets]

2. "press conference to press conference and crisis to crisis..." K&R for visibility.

[GemDigger]

3. Kick

[procon]

4. There's no leadership at the top.

All we have is the untrustworthy Trump telling us about his gut hunches, his nutty conspiracy theories, and his contradictory statements and confusing mixed messages.

Everything Trump says is subject to change, and interpretation, often within the same news briefing. What he says one day will be replaced by something different on the next day. There is no national policy because we have Trump, a very impulsive, immature and insecure, small minded, petty and frightened little man who knows full well that he's out of his league.

[NNadir]

5. I can only imagine what the difference would have been if the will of the majority...

...had been accepted and President Hillary Clinton took office.

[procon]

6. Hear! Hear! nt