Alan: Since statistics change over time, I do not know if the above statistic is still accurate. But it was accurate when I created the meme 10 days ago. BTW: If you have not seen the following Spanish Flu video on YouTube, it's well worthwhile.
New England Journal Of Medicine
April 6th, 2020
Dear Nation — A Series of Apologies on COVID-19
(What I’m sincerely hoping we’ll be hearing in an upcoming press conference, and soon.)
Dear Fellow Americans,
I’d like to take a brief moment in today’s press briefing to say something that is long overdue.
I’m sorry.
In a moment, I’ll cite the specifics of what I’ll be apologizing about.
But first, I want to acknowledge the sadness of this spring. I see our parks, fields, and forests coming alive with beautiful flowers and trees in bloom, but see none of the exciting vitality, diversity, and spirit that characterizes our great country.
Here in your nation’s capital, the cherry blossoms bear witness only to a sad silence. I imagine they are in mourning for the terrible losses already inflicted by this cruel virus. No doubt many of you have experienced losses yourself — I offer you my deepest, and most heartfelt condolences in your grief.
Now it’s time for me to apologize. By doing so now, I hope to chart a path forward so we can work together to end this devastating threat.
Let me apologize for dismantling programs put in place to deal with global infectious threats.
Acting like a reality TV host instead of a leader, I fired Tom Bossert — he was Homeland Security Adviser and coordinated the response to pandemics. I also let Tim Ziemer go — he was the head of global health security on the White House’s National Security Council. I then shut down the entire global health security unit.
Then Dr. Luciana Borio, the National Security Council’s director for medical and biodefense preparedness, left as well. Like Ziemer and Bossert, my administration never replaced these talented individuals — I confess these moves greatly weakened our ability to respond to infectious threats.
Dr. Borio tried to warn us in late January what was coming. I’m sorry for not heeding that warning.
I also apologize to the reporter who asked me about these actions, and I called her questions “nasty” — that was an inappropriate and disrespectful response. You were correct to challenge me on these moves, as have many others in these exchanges. Going forward, I promise to engage in productive dialogue with an understandably interested press corp.
I have repeatedly proposed funding cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where many positions also remain unfilled. I even did this after COVID-19 had already appeared in our country. I’m sorry about that.
In addition, I have taken away the CDC’s lead role in navigating and monitoring a response to the outbreak, silencing their regular briefs during infectious threats. The CDC workers are dedicated public health professionals who deserve our respect, and our thanks. They tried to issue a broad warning in late February, one we should have heeded.
Instead, I downplayed their warnings. I’m sorry to them, and to you, for this misdirection.
I apologize for all the times I’ve mentioned that media coverage of COVID-19 is politically motivated. Such comments only serve to drive us further apart at a time when we need to be working together.
In other words, from now on, no more of this:
I’m sorry for not accepting the WHO COVID-19 test when first offered to the United States, for not moving more quickly to remedy our initially flawed tests, and for the ongoing struggles you experience even today with testing.
I did not help matters by saying in mid-March that COVID-19 testing could be obtained easily by any doctor, and that the tests were perfect. This clearly misled the public, causing more confusion — I apologize for that.
I’m sorry for calling the virus that causes COVID-19, which is SARS-CoV-2, the “Chinese virus”. Such medically inaccurate comments only encourage racism.
I’m sorry for saying to those working at overrun and beleaguered hospitals that they are exaggerating their need for lifesaving equipment such as ventilators. To the Governor of New York, I admire the selfless leadership you are displaying as our country’s largest city grapples with this terrible health threat.
To those of you on the front lines, putting your health and your family’s health at risk to care for people with COVID-19, I apologize for not doing enough to protect you. Despite what you have heard from our administration thus far, the federal stockpile should be there for all of us.
I also am sorry for the patchwork system in place for distributing these materials, which does not appear to be equitable.
Moreover, I apologize for implying that we already have an effective treatment for COVID-19, when such statements need the support of carefully done clinical studies.
Mostly, I’m sorry for the lies, half-truths, impulsive attacks, and bullying I’ve been responsible for ever since this horrible pandemic spread around the world. At times I confess financial and market forces, along with politics, motivated my actions more than personal and public health. I deeply apologize for that.
Many, including myself, have said we’re at war right now. Indeed, some aspects of this struggle are similar to war, when all a nation’s resources must be mobilized against a common enemy.
But wars pit people against people, so the comparison doesn’t quite fit, especially in a time when human kindness and caring are so important. In the fight against this infection, it isn’t other people who are enemies — it’s the virus.
Let’s work together to fight it.
(This song was co-written by Adam Schlesinger, who died last week of COVID-19 at age 52.)
"Compendium Of Pax Posts About Coronavirus: Trump's Denial, Ineptitude And Mismanagement"
"Compendium Of Pax Posts About Conservative Stupidity, Ignorance And Denial"
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-exquisite-stupidity-of-trump_3.html
Is Ortega y Gasset The World's Most Important Modern Philosopher? (Most Discerning Prophet?)
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspo"It Makes Sense That Trump Is Planning A Coup, But Would First Cancel November Elections"
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/it-makes-sense-that-trump-is-planning.html
Borowitz Report: "Trump Practicing Distancing From All His Prior Statements About Coronavirus"
"With Millions Of American Lives On The Line, Trump Finally Agrees With The Experts"
"Trump's Astonishing Coronavirus Quackery Culminating In A Rare Encounter With Truth"
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/trumps-astonishing-coronavirus-quackery.html
Christian Pastor Who Thought COVID-19 Is Just "Mass Hysteria" Dies From Coronavirus
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/christian-pastor-who-thought-covid-19.html
Trump Moves Goalposts To Another Universe — Says 100K Deaths Would Be "A Very Good Job"
"Coronavirus Capitalism: Same As It Ever Was"
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/coronavirus-capitalism-same-as-it-ever.html
"N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo Just Gave THE BEST POSSIBLE Coronavirus Press Conference"
"Bill Gates Predicted The Coronavirus In His 2015 TED Talk"
"I Don't Take Responsibility At All!" Verbatim Trump "Coronavirus Quote"
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/i-dont-take-any-responsibility-at-all.html
"The Coronavirus Death Rate Is 60% Higher Than The Death Rate For Spanish Flu In 1918"
"Trump Sees The Coronavirus Crisis As Clearly As If His Eyes Were Open"
Trump's "Coronavirus Website" Is Non-Existent. He Just "Made It Up" For A Press Conference
The Borowitz Report: Fox To Address Coronavirus Crisis With Three-Part Series On Hunter Biden
Free, Online Documentary About The "Spanish" Flu Of 1918 (40 Minutes)
"Trump's Lies Are More Contagious Than..."
Coronavirus Pandemic: Trump Does Not Intend To Save The U.S. Economy. He Intends To Save...
According To Current Data, The Coronavirus Death Rate Is 60% Higher Than The Death Rate For The Spanish Flu Of 1918
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-coronavirus-death-rate-is-60-higher_25.html
Coronavirus, Trump Cultists, And The "Intellectual Elites"
A List Of Trump's Dimwittedly Destructive Medical And Public Health Policies Since Taking Office
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-list-of-trumps-stupid-medical-and.html
If You Had Bought Stocks At The Bottom Of Bush-Cheney's Great Recession, You Would Have Done Better Under Obama Than Trump.
And That's BEFORE The Coronavirus Collapse!
What Was The Dow Jones Average The Day Trump Took Office. And How Does It Compare?
More In-Your-Face Trump Lies: United States Growth Rate 1990 Through 2019 - And Predictions For Beyond
https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/03/united-states-growth-rate-1990-through.html
The Facts Are In: The Republican Party Is Terrible For Prosperity But Unparalleled At Economic Catastrophe
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-facts-are-in-republican-party-is.html
The Facts Are In: The Republican Party Is Terrible For Prosperity But Unparalleled At Economic Catastrophe
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-facts-are-in-republican-party-is.html
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-facts-are-in-republican-party-is.html
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