In it together, like it or not
Hello from the home office, where most of you will be reading this today. I sincerely hope that everyone is well and that your families are, too.
Interesting how much has changed since I last posted on our current pandemic that we're all facing and responding to with social distancing and working from home and no school and shortages of odd items like toilet paper. And not so much for the better, either.
I'd like to repeat my compliments to two governors, Andy Beshear of my home state of Kentucky, and Andrew Cuomo of New York. Both appear to be doing a very good job of frankly and forthrightly speaking to the current state of affairs in their respective states. Kentucky has not been as hard hit as more populous states, but I fear that our time is coming.
As for New York and Governor Cuomo, they're on the brink of even more problems. And they don't have the resources necessary to address the pandemic as fully as they would like.
Which brings me to my next thought....
What in the world is the White House doing?
FEMA just became involved, but they really have not made a big impact yet. The Army Corps of Engineers has been engaged in New York and some other localities to repurpose large spaces (like convention centers) into temporary hospitals.
Private companies are stepping up to commit to making ventilators and masks, but the Defense Production Act allows the federal government to draft more manufacturers to make what's needed. The President has signed an order putting this act into effect, but prefers to allow manufacturers to come forward voluntarily. And the blame game continues, who should have ordered what and from whom and at what price. And who's being "nice" to the President apparently is part of the equation, too, including the media, whose pointed questions are frequently labelled as "nasty."
This isn't helpful.
I read this morning that DuPont is going to be shipping several hundred thousand hazmat suits to the U.S. from a Chinese subsidiary weekly for the foreseeable future. Glad they volunteered, but if they make something that's so desperately needed, why weren't they asked?
Then we have Congress, which appeared to be doing the right thing until various Senators inserted certain additional riders and conditions into the most recent relief legislation that delayed its passage into law. After the deal was announced a group of Republican Senators objected to some of the bill's language, saying it gave people incentive to not work and to receive the unemployment compensation that the bill guarantees.
No time for politics, but that apparently doesn't stop some.
For my part, I'm working from home, we're staying in except for some exercise and yard work and the occasional trip out to pick up groceries (at least what is in stock) or an infrequent carryout meal from a restaurant (yes, we participated in the Great American Takeout recently to support a favorite restaurant).
Be well. This won't be over for a while.
Interesting how much has changed since I last posted on our current pandemic that we're all facing and responding to with social distancing and working from home and no school and shortages of odd items like toilet paper. And not so much for the better, either.
I'd like to repeat my compliments to two governors, Andy Beshear of my home state of Kentucky, and Andrew Cuomo of New York. Both appear to be doing a very good job of frankly and forthrightly speaking to the current state of affairs in their respective states. Kentucky has not been as hard hit as more populous states, but I fear that our time is coming.
As for New York and Governor Cuomo, they're on the brink of even more problems. And they don't have the resources necessary to address the pandemic as fully as they would like.
Which brings me to my next thought....
What in the world is the White House doing?
FEMA just became involved, but they really have not made a big impact yet. The Army Corps of Engineers has been engaged in New York and some other localities to repurpose large spaces (like convention centers) into temporary hospitals.
Private companies are stepping up to commit to making ventilators and masks, but the Defense Production Act allows the federal government to draft more manufacturers to make what's needed. The President has signed an order putting this act into effect, but prefers to allow manufacturers to come forward voluntarily. And the blame game continues, who should have ordered what and from whom and at what price. And who's being "nice" to the President apparently is part of the equation, too, including the media, whose pointed questions are frequently labelled as "nasty."
This isn't helpful.
I read this morning that DuPont is going to be shipping several hundred thousand hazmat suits to the U.S. from a Chinese subsidiary weekly for the foreseeable future. Glad they volunteered, but if they make something that's so desperately needed, why weren't they asked?
Then we have Congress, which appeared to be doing the right thing until various Senators inserted certain additional riders and conditions into the most recent relief legislation that delayed its passage into law. After the deal was announced a group of Republican Senators objected to some of the bill's language, saying it gave people incentive to not work and to receive the unemployment compensation that the bill guarantees.
No time for politics, but that apparently doesn't stop some.
For my part, I'm working from home, we're staying in except for some exercise and yard work and the occasional trip out to pick up groceries (at least what is in stock) or an infrequent carryout meal from a restaurant (yes, we participated in the Great American Takeout recently to support a favorite restaurant).
Be well. This won't be over for a while.
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