These are tumultuous times. The mounting infection and death rates from the Codiv-19 virus are surging every day to levels that few had anticipated. Reality seems also to have invaded President Trump’s vision as he has finally acknowledged that all his earlier hopes about a short and unimpressive virus were themselves both short and unimpressive. I haven’t tried to stay up with the latest numbers, but it appears that the medical experts are relying on worldwide summer temperatures to help beat down the virus’ potency sometime in the coming months giving them sorely-needed time in which to bring a vaccine and other longer-range counter measures to bear on the medical issues this virus has caused. Personally, I am growing tired of hearing about the multi-millions of medical supplies that are “on the way,” while first responders keep asking “where are they?”
The economic aftermath is more where my understanding lies. The Federal Reserve, backed by 400 Ph.D. economists, has predicted the number of U.S unemployed persons will reach 47.1 million, and the unemployment rate will top out at 32.1 percent. Those numbers portend that we will need to open the floodgates of both fiscal and monetary policy to defeat the economic impact of this virus. Congress and the Fed, to their credit, seem to be up for both sets of tasks. Interest rates are at all-time lows, new money is surging into the economy at unprecedented rates, and Congress’ passage of emergency legislation amounting to $2.2 trillion is a first wave to help residents everywhere. At least two more waves of legislative help are needed to which there is little opposition. The total bill is expected to cost about $6 trillion. 2020 is a year we will not soon forget.
The next administration in Washington will be handed a monumental task with three distinct fronts: The first will be in restoring confidence in the government at all levels; the second will be in helping to rebuild confidence in America’s free-enterprise system; and the third will be to help us all to find and use the confidence we have in ourselves. We will need highly qualified, highly dedicated persons at all levels of government beginning with the White House. The two persons that we elect to bring us together, and to help make us whole again, must have integrity, understanding, compassion and the resolve to act in our interests, not in theirs. Is there such a duo among us? I believe there is. We need both age and youth, vision and kindness, steeped in our heritage, driven with knowledge and understanding, and who will act honestly and with resolve.
My choices are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I think I just heard a heavenly choir sing “Amen.”
Nice choice, however, the racists in our country will re-affirm their support of Trump. The idea of running Biden was to give Republicans a Democrat they could trust, thus pull votes away from Trump. (Am I assuming all Republicans are racists? Maybe.) A Biden / Warren ticket may be possible, but both women know Biden's background (banking) (from Delaware, the land of corporate shenanigans) and neither are impressed. Still if Biden at the age of 80(?) passes, it may be the only chance for a woman to become president.
I agree with your summation of the situation. The virus and its nefarious spread is not something that we can easily predict, considering the countermeasures that we are applying or lacking in applying, regardless of who is right or wrong. It is all new territory and requires the best and the brightest, the most experienced, at the helm. Unfortunately, when it comes to the administration, we don't have it.
My choice has always been Elizabeth Warren. But you are right. What the country needs now is a calming voice of experience and a reflection of a changing of the guard in new blood. In that case your choice is probably what the Democratic Party will come up with whether or not there is a Democratic Convention.
Yesterday, Trump reestablished his war stance by declaring a redoubled, and expensive "war on drugs." He already had declared his war on Coronavirus. I think the strategy is to name himself as a president at war, and under the War Powers Act, declare himself commander and cancel the election until all of the war is over. Similar to what happened with FDR. I hope the American people wake up to this strategy and stop it in favor of a stay at home, mail-in election in the fall, if necessary.
A resounding endorsement well worth the penning. Without a doubt an improvement over what we have unfortunately, and through no real fault of our own, had to endure these past three years. Let's hope those who hold the true reins of our "democracy" are not the same fools that gave us this mess in the first place.
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My choice has always been Elizabeth Warren. But you are right. What the country needs now is a calming voice of experience and a reflection of a changing of the guard in new blood. In that case your choice is probably what the Democratic Party will come up with whether or not there is a Democratic Convention.
Yesterday, Trump reestablished his war stance by declaring a redoubled, and expensive "war on drugs." He already had declared his war on Coronavirus. I think the strategy is to name himself as a president at war, and under the War Powers Act, declare himself commander and cancel the election until all of the war is over. Similar to what happened with FDR. I hope the American people wake up to this strategy and stop it in favor of a stay at home, mail-in election in the fall, if necessary.
Ron
Rebecca