"Is America too *** to deal with the coronavirus?" Topic

America's public health experts are working hard to map out a plan to combat the coronavirus in America. And there are indeed many proposals — from academic centers, from think tanks, and from the government.

While the plans differ, nearly all of them rely on some combination of surveillance, mass testing, isolation, and contact tracing. Many of them point to countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Germany as examples of how to intelligently respond to the pandemic.

But what if the successful strategies in those countries just won't work in America?

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Considering that … Should we be surprised?

Vox thinks we should give up our liberties to fight germs. I'm shocked.

Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Ben also said " An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

Anyway, down here we are pretty much back to normal, except for the tourist industry. State borders are still closed, but 40 days since our last case in the state.

There is a spike in Victoria -- 40 new cases today. But that pales compared to the 40,000 new cases in the US. And the economy, while in recession, is primed to roar back. Because chaos in competing countries has led to price increases for our main exports.

Australia isnt less freedom loving than the US -- but it does trust its governments, and its governments (both state and federal) have been effective in their response.

Libertarianism is now a banned word??? Freedom of speech seems to have acquired a very strange redefinition!

The saving grace for the US is that It seems the public is concluding that any group that hates government that much, shouldn't be allowed to run it!

ut that pales compared to the 40,000 new cases in the US

Well any numbers here will have to be taken with a grain of salt since they cannot be trusted.

The goal here is to over-hype this and spread Fear & Panic.

All about gaining more Power & Control.

I remember when Mithmee, all those months ago, stated the number of cases was a LOT higher than the reported numbers.

What has not been discussed enough is why there was not rampant outbreaks in China.

It's not because Wuhan was quarantined – they were still letting them fly out to the rest of the world (where it spread) but I presume those returning were allowed back in the country.

Hey Bob…we're still waiting on you to come back to the Blue Fez and explain how your prediction on Nov 7th 2016 was so horribly wrong, and made you look foolish the following day…
Maybe you can explain to us also, why you decided to "disappear" the next day…lol…

Americans who talk about liberty and freedom should read their own authors
"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated"
― Thomas Paine, The Crisis

What I don't understand is how all the "defenders of liberty" get so upset when someone else decides that they will wear a facemask.

Are they not at liberty to make that decision for themselves?

It seems bizarre that the so-called "defenders of liberty" can't see the contradiction in their own behaviour.

Who is upset at anyone who decides to wear a face mask?

That comment just seems like the type of comments that gave rise to the whole TFL episode; an attack.

From this side of the pond, it seems that they're getting upset at the idea of being ordered to wear a face mask rather than making up their own mind on the subject, right?

And let's not raise the TFL episode, especially not on a board as yet unaffected by the spat – the guys ‘over there' have moved on at least a week ago – back to discussing Wargames rules, first games, new figures , can you imagine it?

More important, where's Mithmee? Gone very quiet, I genuinely hope he hasn't got ‘the bug' – however much I disagree with his stated opinions, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

And let's not raise the TFL episode, especially not on a board as yet unaffected by the spat

It is exactly that kind of commenting that has given the whole forum a bad name. Especially the Science Plus Board, apparently.

Derek Hodges was rather vocal about it being the Science Board when I asked on their FB page regarding the whole cancel issue.

Anyway, good to see that the POTUS has decided to surrender his liberties at last:

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