Rethug Reps Call On Carney To ‘Restart Our Economy Now’
All 15 of ’em. I counted. They sent a letter to the Governor (presumably they didn’t collaborate on the letter in person) claiming that somehow the shutdown is causing more health problems. Because, well let me quote from the letter:
“The heightened anxiety created by the loss of jobs and incomes will inevitably lead to spikes in stress-related problems, such as heart attacks, substance abuse, suicides, and depression.”
They didn’t mention less car crashes, less homicides, less work-related accidents and, of course, deaths that were prevented by prudent prevention of the pandemic, because they don’t fit the meme.
Yes, Mike Ramone who, come to think of it has a couple of dawgs in this hunt, signed the letter. As did Mike Smith, who has been hailed by some as bipartisan. As did noted realtor Kevin Hensley. They’re every bit as bad as their Lower Slower counterparts. Did I forget to mention that every single Sussex Rethug representative signed the letter despite the fact that Sussex is a Covid hot spot? Every single one.
Governor Carney is insisting on a consistent decline in cases before relaxing some standards. The Rethugs hate this because, wait for it, more testing will discover more cases:
“Your administration has prioritized increased testing, especially in hot spot areas,” the letter reads. “This will lead to the discovery of more cases. This is a flawed metric on which to base the recovery since a higher case rate is a function of expanded detection, not an increased threat to public health.”
This simply must have been written by the Caesar Rodney Institute. Carried to its illogical extreme, the argument seems to be that increased testing will yield more positives (true), but more positives don’t represent an increased threat to public health (false). Failing to test and address more positives is a proven threat to public health. You need to identify those who are positive and take the proper steps to protect them and the public.
You really should read the letter in its entirety. These Rethugs have got nothing.
This has been part of the Trump narrative from the beginning, they know more testing equals more confirmed cases and greater cause for alarm. Their answer is to “open up” the state and let the chips fall where they may, is this a serious position or just something designed to make the news? As noted all the downstate Republicans signed on, Georgetown hot spot or not.
No, this is not a serious position and these are not serious elected officials. Which is my point. They are substituting Rethug talking points for actually doing anything.
BTW, if I’m Stephanie Barry, I blister Ramone’s ass, starting right now. I don’t think the greater Newark area is in line with the western Sussex yahoos on this one. He’s an idiot, an unethical idiot at that.
I wonder how Kim Williams sleeps at night sending out co-campaign mailers with those “reasonable” Republicans.
How many depends do you think Joe uses in a day?
The same number as you, fascist.
NIce coming from a socialist pig.
Anarcho-syndicalist, fascist boy. Do some research in between your goose-stepping.
Um, or trump.
If so, Trump’s would be size XXXXL.
Voters in those upstate districts hate that they’re not collecting rents on their beach properties.
If it reads like Caesar Rodney and smells like Caesar Rodney than it probably is a proclamation of death issued by Caesar Rodney. Here is a copy of the Caesar Rodney issuance that was forwarded to me.
CRI Logo
Caesar Rodney Institute’s Center for Health Policy
FOR RELEASE:
April 30, 2020
RE: CRI Policy Position on COVID-19
Looking at the worst-case scenario is our human default mechanism when faced with a new threat. Human nature boasts a powerful survival instinct. Our domestic policy started with that instinct when COVID-19 first presented itself.
With little actual knowledge or data on this virus, the country braced for dire outcomes. Early models estimated tens of millions of infections with one of every ten of those infections ending in death.
The President, Governors, and health organizations in response, planned for the worst possible outcome and instituted some rather draconian measures to stem the spread of the virus. With the limited knowledge at the time, their decisions were prudent to ensure that our hospitals were not overwhelmed by those needing treatment.
Although there are still many unknowns with COVID-19, we have learned a few things. We know now that:
The virus is, in fact, very contagious. Multiple recent scientific investigations estimate 15 to 20 times more people have or have had the virus than are showing up through testing. (A large California study indicates most people infected were unaware they had it.)
The mortality rate, once thought to be between 3% to 10% of those infected, is actually somewhere between 0.03% to 0.08%. This rate is comparable to a bad seasonal flu.
Hospitals in Delaware are busy treating severe cases but are not currently overwhelmed. Only about 13 % of available ICU beds are filled with COVID-19 patients. Non ICU beds are operating at about 16% of capacity. Hospitals are running well below capacity because of the dangerous cancellation of elective surgeries and a big reduction in emergency room volume due to fewer traffic accidents and fear of catching the virus.
While lockdown has slowed the pace of the viral contagion, its ability to spread continues and eventually everyone will be exposed. As much as 15% of California’s population is infected despite severe lockdowns. A sewer system study in New Castle County also estimated 15% of residents have had the virus or about 84,000 people compared to about 1,717 confirmed cases and 65 deaths.
Using the updated infection estimates for New Castle, the mortality rate for our most populous county is approximately 0.08% which is not unusual.
Though there are outliers, the vast majority of fatal cases occur in the elderly and those with pre-existing health issues. Nursing homes account for 61% of deaths in Delaware. Of the recently reported cumulative 144 deaths in Delaware, all but 3 were 65 years or older.
Studies in Italy and the US show that nearly 98% of fatalities involve individuals with prior non-COVID-19 related health conditions such as hospitalizations for: heart problems, high blood pressure, pulmonary issues, and diabetes.
Consistency in how we measure this epidemic is critical. To date, the state has changed how it measures confirmed cases three times.
New testing measures are available that supply results in a day or minutes rather than many days. While the faster diagnosis is important for treatment and isolation, it also creates an artificial spike in newly confirmed cases.
An overview of all data would indicate Delaware cases peaked around April 22. The new testing regime essentially starts a new data set and will need to be analyzed separately, the spike is not indicative of new cases, merely more timely results.
So what does that mean?
In short, the virus does spread rapidly. There is a high probability that we will all contract it regardless of government mandated isolation. The good news is that there is much less chance of dying from it than previously believed. Our hospitals have the capacity to treat critical cases.
The elderly, people in nursing homes, and those with health issues are at high risk. Measures, such as continuing to limit contact to protect these high risk groups should be taken. These precautions should be taken for most viruses including influenza.
Those of us without existing health problems need to remain cautious, but reasonably so. We must hold ourselves personally responsible for our health and the health of the community. We must do the following:
Wash hands while singing the ABC song – twice.
Stay home if you are sick – even a little bit.
Covering your mouth when you sneeze.
Respect personal space when out in public.
Clean surfaces with disinfectants.
Make sure we are caring for our immune systems by eating healthy and getting enough rest.
Our ability to practice these measures will stem the tide and help us avoid future government controls. Prudence, not fear, must rule here.
The initial response, though understandable, is no longer the proper response. It is widely said that the battle plan changes the moment the first shot is fired. Isn’t it high time to change the battle plan? Our actions must be swift as businesses fail and families suffer.
Government assistance has yet to materialize for most. Tens of thousands of people and hundreds of businesses have yet to receive unemployment or economic assistance and many may never see a nickel of what was promised to them.
If we continue down the current path without easing business and school lockdowns, we only guarantee dire economic consequences that will lead to far more pain and suffering in the end.
(References available upon request)
Co-Authors: David T. Stevenson, CRI Policy Director
Matt Lenzini-CRI Vice Chair
Dr. Christopher Casscells, Policy Director
Contributors: John Toedtman-Executive Director
Dr. John Stapleford-CRI Chair
The Caesar Rodney Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan public policy research organization that promotes and advocates for individual choice, free markets, and limited government in the state of Delaware.
Our mailing address is:
420 Corporate Blvd
Newark, DE . 19702
Caesar Rodney Institute | 420 Corporate Blvd, Newark, DE 19702
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Just to point out the most glaring inaccuracy, deaths from Covid-19 already exceed those of a “bad seasonal flu.” The fact is that we simply don’t know the death rate.
Also, the assumption that “everybody” will be exposed to the virus simply isn’t true. A continued lockdown in which we get the transmission rate below 1.0 would lead to the virus dying out before that point. CRI doesn’t mention this option, for reasons that should be obvious.
GHOUL:
An evil spirit or phantom, especially one supposed to rob graves and “feed on dead bodies”
Now the “Grand Old Party” in Delaware has decided to embrace its true identity as the “Ghouls Of Pandemonium”. Their caucus letter enunciates a callous disregard for the health and safety of all Delawareans. In some morally twisted display of homage to the Chamber of Commerce and the corporatist demigods of the “Delaware Way” they have decided to make a unified choice putting the welfare of businesses over the lives of people. There are few things as certain as “death and taxes.” Businesses can succeed or fail (even in the best of times) and businesses can and will recover from the economic brutality of these times and open their doors tomorrow, but that Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, Son or Daughter is not going to be climbing out of that coffin tomorrow or ever. So let the “Ghouls” have at the flesh and bones of the masses. Let’s cull the herd of the elderly and the poor.
“Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown” (or Delaware, or Georgia or Florida or Sweden)
Representative Kowalko