Since we currently have a President who wants to be the national cheerleader (his word) and focuses on ratings and praise rather than facts and plans, this BBC article pretty much explains why we are in the situation we are in rather than a still deadly but less so one. I do understand that there is no way this pandemic could have been avoided but it could have been mitigated. I'm mostly worried for what is ahead until a vaccine, massive testing and/or effective treatment is available.
Why we find it difficult to recognize a crisis
As a social scientist and former management consultant, I don't fall in the wishful thinking categories but rather in the let's be reasonably prepared and have a plan category.
We could have been like Taiwan or New Zealand! What do country's with the best coronavirus reponses have in common? Women leaders.
BTW, the book Pandemics and Society is very interesting reading so far. I'm still reading about the plague and not only are the facts about the massive outbreaks across centuries interesting but the types of responses of humans is too. If you read it just don't freak out that the bacteria is still present in rodents on every continent but Antarctica.
Good read today, Juhli. It's so frustrating to see a half dozen of my in-laws still in denial over the seriousness of the pandemic and defending every word Trump says.
ReplyDeleteThat is sad - hope they don't become ill!
DeleteAnd did you see that film ong with yesterday's press conference? Holy Moly
DeleteI've read about the film - can't stand to watch him at all at this point. He is so unhinged and so wrong.
DeleteAre you loving as much as I am that both the west and east coast governors have banded together and formed alliances to defend against the push from Wash DC? I have always been proud to be a native Californian, but never more so than now.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that what we experienced yesterday during our largely urban walk is what will be our new norm - masks were pulled up as we approached other people, everyone moved out of each others way, sometimes even into the street, gloves and masks in place as we picked up our to-go lunch order, social distancing by everyone at the park we stopped at to eat our lunch. It really wasn't that terrible, and if that is the months-to come situation, I can accept it with gratitude.
Yes, the coalitions of governors who will be driven by science not politics (as they said) is heartening but I am still distressed by the suffering of those ill, deaths, and terrible job loss and economic hardship. As we all are I'm sure. Personally, except for not being able to be with others our life is great though.
DeleteWe certainly are living in interesting times. Many thanks for the fascinating Forbes article! I'm certainly not surprised by the differing strategies...
ReplyDeleteGlad you found the article interesting.
DeleteI went for a walk a few days ago and was talking to an old friend. She seems to think this is just a government scare tactic. I often wonder where people get their ideas from.
ReplyDeleteLike you I think we are in for many waves of this pandemic until we can find a vaccine.
God bless.
Your friend's conclusion is incredibly scary for her and the rest of us. I hope she stays well despite that.
DeleteI am cheering on women leaders, too, except for the one in South Dakota and the one in Michigan who were polar opposites with their stay at home measures.
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