Opening up the economy

In a recent poll, 67% of respondents said they were against ending social distancing and reopening businesses.

51% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats said it was a bad idea.

I can't understand the partisan divide here. It's obvious to anyone with a brain that gathering in crowds spreads the virus and that social distancing works.

This is like asking people whether it's a good idea to drive without your seat belt fastened. Are 49% of Republicans that stupid?.Does their Trump-love fog their brains?

If these Republipigs manage to get people to congregate again, the pandemic will restart, and all our efforts--and all the deaths so far--will have been for nothing.

I don't know where the poll you refer to was taken. I checked other polls and found the numbers were much closer than what Kevin posted - true to form for Kevin.  Speaking for myself, since I was not asked by any poll, I agree that social distancing should continue. This virus is nothing to be taken lightly - those that do, whether they be Republican or Democrat, would be foolish not to continue social distancing. 

Its looking like May is going to be the target.      Governors are anticipating rampant testing will be available.

Lets hope they are right.

Not so fun fact - the next shoe to drop is  states and municipalities  quickly running out of cash.   The lifeblood of local governments:  sales tax, property tax, moving violations, tolls, gas tax....

   People aren't buying things right now...and they are also late with property tax payments..and they are not driving.   Cities and states cant print money like the Federal government so when they run out of cash cops, firefighters, and teachers dont get paid.

Probably a good bet when this is all over you'll see a jump in your local taxes to fill in the holes.

Kevin, of course you don't understand.  You don't understand self sufficiency.  You don't understand that business creats jobs.

I'm wasting my breath..........never mind.

Believe it or not its possible to want to reopen the economy AND want to responsibly contain the virus from becoming a full blown epidemic beyond the control of the medical community.    People who present it as one or the other are giving you a false choice (usually for political reasons).

The intelligent people at the Federal level are trying to construct a balanced path forward that addresses both objecives.   Unfortunately they are being countered by conspiracy theorists, trigger-happy militia retards, and the president himself.   "Fire Dr Fauci" is becoming their new slogan.    They prefer Dr Phil.  I prefer they all get COVID-19 and a first hand glimpse of the virus they compare to the common flu.

PJ, I'm not saying that more won't die when we reopen the economy.  It's simply the right thing to do.  Leadership matters, and keeping business closed is the easy, wrong, and mampy pamby way.

The economy does need to be reopened - it just needs to be done sensibly. Distancing guidelines will have to be adheared to, for if we don't there will be a rebounding of this virus, possibly cycle after cycle. There will be idiots ( and there are) who will ignore guidelines, stating their "rights" are being ignored. They are the stupid, the ignorant, the ones who will cause a rebound and possible cycling of this disease. They will cause the death of others. Look around - you know who they are, many of them post here. Stay away from them - let them reap the reward for their actions.

And you don't understand that stopping pandemic mitigation efforts creates death.

But what can we expect from you re common sense and social responsibility---you're a proud public smoker.

That's a dangerously stupid opinion. Keeping businesses closed is the HARD way. The easy way is to do nothing---like the nine dipwad governors who, yes, are all Republicans.

If saving as many lives as possible is "namby pamby," give me namby pamby. Jobs are replaceable. Lives are not.

The solution is testing. Workplaces can open back up when workers can be tested.

Unfortunately, we have the current pissing match between Trump and, well, everybody. He won't exercise his authority to ramp up test kit production, because he wants to make the provision of critical medical supplies, or the withholding thereof, as a reward or punishment for "loyalty."

I don't care about what the CDC did or didn't do. Trump is their boss if they fucked up, he fucked up. Period.

I also don't care if Fluffy Attack Dog Pence crows about 0.9% of the population having been tested.

So if Trump wants the economy opened up so badly, why isn't he pushing for more test kits?