Sy Barnes

Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida issued a stay-at-home order for the entire state on Wednesday as it grapples with a rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.

The order goes into effect Thursday at midnight and will last for at least 30 days, DeSantis said at Wednesday’s “briefing that the order would limit movement within the state. Unless residents are pursuing “essential” services or activities they should stay indoors.”

The Governor had been previously criticized for refusing to implement statewide social distancing guidelines, particularly as beach-goers and students on spring break continued to gather in large groups. He was the one to refuse to close the state beaches and also was late shutting down schools and nonessential businesses.

Too little too late Governor. An article at NBC said Florida has the fifth most cases of any state in the U.S. reporting nearly 7,000 coronavirus cases and 87 deaths, according to the state health department.

As much as I want to write about this late-blooming Governor. All of our problems go straight to Trump. This President waited until he implementing 15-day social distancing guidelines starting on March 15. But another problem remained: Public health officials did not know how many people had the virus. And when it did, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention originally made a faulty test, putting the United States even more behind the curve.

DeSantis is just another puppet from Trump who only cares about himself and not the people he is supposed to protect. This is just another way for him to get re-elected once more. What has the world gone to? Who can we trust and depend on?

Sources:

Clark, D. (2020, April 1). Florida governor issues stay-at-home order after weeks of resistance. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/florida-governor-issues-stay-home-order-after-weeks-resistance-n1174146

Governor Issues Stay-at-Home Order. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Governor-Issues-Stay-at-Home-Order.aspx

The late arrival White House response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said Monday that she is “very worried about every city in the United States” and projects 100,000 to 200,000 American deaths as a best-case scenario.

An article from NBC quoted Birx who said “the projections by Dr. Anthony Fauci that U.S. deaths could range from 1.6 million to 2.2 million is a worst-case scenario if the country did “nothing” to contain the outbreak, but said even “if we do things almost perfectly,” she still predicts up to 200,000 U.S. deaths.

The question that needs to be asked is did we do this right? Why didn’t our government protect us? What could have prevented this outbreak from happening? The one thing I hate about making this outbreak political is that everyone points fingers first before they find a solution.

First off, there is no evidence of an uptick in domestic travel, but foreign tourism to the United States is projected to keep declining through the next few months, with the potential to inflict even more harm to the American economy. Even Trump’s favorite metric, the stock market, had its worst week since the 2008 financial crisis last month. The global economy has also taken a massive hit in recent weeks.

Most businesses are not prepared medically and financially to deal with a mass outbreak; our government is currently taking austerity measures and our hospital. Our schools are currently struggling to conserve money and our teachers and administrators face more salary cuts. If the school and the government cannot even pay the current staff, the schools and the government are not financially ready for the coronavirus.

An article written by the New York Times said, “All in all, I do not think people are taking this as seriously as it is. If the mortality rate is 2% and a school has 1000 people, then about 20 people will die due to the coronavirus. Over the broad spectrum, if 2% of everyone on Earth dies (world population of 8 billion), then 160,000,000 160 million people will die.”

What are the upcoming stages for us during these hard times? Stay tuned…

Sources:

Network, T. L. (2020, March 5). What Students Are Saying About the Coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/learning/what-students-are-saying-about-the-coronavirus.html

Kesslen, B. (2020, March 30). Dr. Birx predicts up to 200,000 U.S. coronavirus deaths ‘if we do things almost perfectly’. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dr-deborah-birx-predicts-200-000-deaths-if-we-do-n1171876

What is happening? Why is it happening?

In the last two days, San Francisco has been on a lockdown that has no definite end. The city is surrounded by shelter-in-place restrictions. (Ingram) said, On Tuesday, “San Francisco force millions of people to stay home and stay put except for essential needs like groceries and medications which is quite particular regarding their stands to this virus.”

This city is taking the most extreme measure nationwide. This inspired New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in considering the same actions taken in San Francisco. San Francisco bans any activities like drinking bars, no hair cuts and outdoor exercise. All restaurants in San Francisco only do takeout and delivery. I bet gym trainers are so excited about this.

However, what makes this story so interesting is the connections with our cases like in the past. In 2009, the swine flu emerged in the United States which was traced to virus pig farms in Mexico. Experts warned again and again that a longer game planned was needed. Like most Americans, we ignored their warning. Let’s move onto the panic in 2014 when Ebola tore through West Africa. After President Obama established the emergency fund to improve to help high-risk, low-income countries. Although, they contain the outbreak the office was disbanded which led to the virus to emerge in the Republic of Congo.

Here we are again the SARS-CoV-2 made the leap from animals to humans. (Bergen) said, “The cycle has now continued to infect more than 83,000 people across more than 50 countries. Nearly 3,000 people have died.” It’s unclear how bad things might get this time around, the disease caused by this new virus appears to be between seven and 20 times more deadly than seasonal flu. The question is why have we been ignoring the signs? We could have contained the virus but in some cases, things don’t get real until they hit home. Where do we go from here? The scary part about it the world may never know.

Sources:

Ingram, D. (2020, March 19). ‘Everything is out of our control’: San Francisco eases into lockdown. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/everything-out-our-control-san-francisco-eases-lockdown-n1163376

Bergen, P. (2020, March 19). Americans are going to demand to know why US wasn’t prepared for this pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/opinions/coronavirus-commission-investigation-opinion-bergen/index.html

The Democratic House of Legislation has delayed a meeting for establishing a bill to install free testing for the coronavirus on Thursday. This bill will include free coronavirus testing paid sick leave, food aid, and unemployment benefits. This bill will strengthen unemployment insurance as a response to the worsening outbreak’s economic impact on people across the United States.

18 million without health care, potentially infected and passing it on. Their lack of health care can affect all of us. This is not a serious policy for the richest nation in the world in the 21st century. It’s time to cover everybody in this country. Sanders and Warren were the only ones willing to do it. Too bad voters can’t see it and corporate media are selling us, Biden, instead.

The national healthcare issue has been around for decades. It’s not just a Bernie or Warren issue. If ever there was a time to pound this issue home, it’s now. One president tried to improve healthcare, and that was Obama. We need Congress to quit playing games and finish what Obama started!

We need to be prepared for what’s next. In reality, the world governments need to be prepared to print money, impose martial law, and deal with inflation later. Solutions that some might consider “for the short term” actually are for the long term. If we let the economy collapse now, it’ll stay collapsed later. Further, we need to put a moratorium on foreclosures and banks calling in small business loans. If this turns into the transference of wealth situation the fallout will be incredible.

Sources:

KevinWilliamB. (2020, March 12). House Democrats’ coronavirus bill delayed as GOP pushes to include Trump proposals. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-house-republicans-come-out-against-bill-ahead-of-vote.html

House Democrats introduce multi-billion dollar coronavirus package. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/11/nancy-pelosi-coronavirus-stimulus-package-125564

Daniel Eggers, an 18-year-old transgender high school student living in the state of Alabama. He began taking testosterone two years ago, following a lifetime of depression and suicidal actions. NBC News said, “He found it difficult to make friends at school and struggled with an eating disorder, but since transitioning, he said he feels like a new person. ”

There’s a lot of different reasons why this story is so important in our culture.
One has been the suicide rate is 3.5 times higher for trans kids who don’t have acceptance from their parents. The legislation of Alabama has been strongly opposed by civil rights groups and medical experts who treat trans youth in the state. In press releases following the bill’s passage, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama said the proposal “runs counter to medical science, prevailing standards for the treatment of transgender youth, and basic human dignity,” and the Human Rights Campaign called it a “license to discriminate against transgender and nonbinary Alabamians.”

A person shouldn’t have to prove who they are to you by their personal, private body for you to respect them for who they are. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and I know most people do want to try and understand, so I’m trying to break things down, build bridges, and provide access so we all get the education and help we need. We don’t have to understand people to love and accept them, but it does help. What trans people are asking is for a little respect. And yes, that includes equal rights.

Although legislation similar to Alabama’s trans health care bill has been unsuccessfully introduced in other states this year, including South Dakota and Idaho, LGBTQ advocates in Alabama are worried about the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act will become law. (Vondracek) from said, “Transgender families in Alabama say they aren’t sure what will happen if Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signs either of these bills. “.A lot of other people don’t have that capability, so they just have to stay in these awful, abusive environments that are dangerous for their mental and physical health. This bill is not going to do anything about it.”

Sources:

Lang, N. (2020, March 10). Alabama moves closer to transgender health care ban for minors. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/alabama-moves-closer-transgender-health-care-ban-minors-n1154791

Vondracek, C. (2020, March 8). Alabama bill would ban transgender surgery for teens. Retrieved from https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/8/alabama-republicans-seek-transgender-surgery-ban-t/

Senator Elizabeth Warren is ending her presidential campaign. It is unclear whether Warren will endorse another Democratic candidate for president. Unlike other candidates like Klobuchar and Bloomberg who is backing up Biden. It’s quite surprising this progressive fighter who was ready to take down this unjust system we have today called it quits.

Warren wowed crowds and her sharp intellect and clear stream of policy gain impact for Americans across the country. After a long polling rise over summer that continued into the fall, it was clear Warren’s message was catching on, and she rose to the front of the pack in some polls while avoiding conflict with rivals.

NBC said, “Her “Medicare for All” plan peel to college students around the country including myself.She responded by releasing a series of detailed financing mechanisms, followed by a plan to transition onto Medicare for All in the third year of her presidency, moving first to establish a “public option” in the first year.”

If you think about it Warren wasn’t helped by polls which that showed her faring worse than Sanders and Biden against Trump in key states like Michigan and Florida.

After finishing just fourth and third in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively, Warren followed that up in the Charleston, South Carolina debate the following week, arguing that she’d be more “effective” at passing a progressive agenda because, unlike Sanders, she sweats the details of policy and process.

Since leaving the race Warren has left an inspiring impact in everyone hearts. It’s sad to see her end her presidential campaign. Hopefully, this won’t be the last we hear from Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Sources

Vitali, A., & Kapur, S. (2020, March 5). Elizabeth Warren ends presidential run. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/elizabeth-warren-ends-presidential-run-n1150436

Elizabeth Warren drops out of presidential race. (2020, March 5). Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-05/elizabeth-warren-will-drop-out-of-presidential-race

After Buttigieg, exit from the presidential race. It is now becoming a two-person race between Former Vice President moderate Joe Biden and progressive populist Bernie Sanders. This Super Tuesday will decide which one has the votes and popular campaign to win and go against the evil of evils Donald Trump. This the biggest day on the primary calendar. (Schultz, M.) said, “It all goes down to 14 states — Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Vermont

However, we need to analyze this democratic primary before we jump-start any decisions on who will win. The endorsements have been pouring in for the former vice president after his major victory in South Carolina three days ago. Saturday’s vote rejuvenated the former vice president’s campaign and which ed two moderate rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar to drop out and endorse him. Now it’s up to Biden to take advantage. Biden must capitalize on this victory and must push forward if he wants to beat Bernie.

Now let’s turn the table Sanders bodes well in rich states like California and Texas. Which are rich states and Bernie gains a lot of support from both? Bernie needs to take the Latino vote from each state. Once he has them behind his campaign. He has a big chance to take Biden out.

This is also good news for Biden. We all know that black support is crucial for any candidate to win the Presidential election. (Baseballot) said, “Biden is the only candidate that won 61 percent of African American voters in Alabama, Arkansas and North Carolina.” The black vote has been a major role in one get’s the nomination and Presidential election. History is on Biden’s side but let’s how will Biden handle this pre-advantage. Will he sink or swim?

Sources:

Schultz, M. (2020, March 3). Super Tuesday’s hot congressional races: Sessions, Issa and more mount comeback bids. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/super-tuesdays-hot-congressional-races-sessions-issa-and-more-mount-comeback-bids

Baseballot. (2020, March 3). Our Final Forecast For Super Tuesday Shows Biden’s Surge – And Lots Of Uncertainty. Retrieved from https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/our-final-forecast-for-super-tuesday-shows-bidens-surge-and-lots-of-uncertainty/

By: Sy Barnes|February 27, 2020

Each day as the coronavirus has swept the world killing thousands of people. The U.S. government response to this ongoing outbreak wasn’t taken as a serious matter. Now the fight between President Trump and Democrats ranges on.

Sources from NBC reported that highest-profile confrontations have been the fight over funding to combat of the coronavirus. Trump requested $2.5 billion in funding from Congress for the coronavirus response, an amount that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said “was too little as he panned the Trump administration’s preparedness for a disease federal officials say may cause “severe” disruption to everyday life in the U.S.
This President has no plan or objective to deal with this global health crisis.

In an article by Wise, J wrote his comments about the comparisons between recent outbreaks. What’s so ironic about this ongoing policy is “$1.25 billion in new funding. For context, Congress appropriated more than 6 billion for the Pandemic Flu in 2006 and more than 7 billion in 2009 for the flu. ” His ideology when it comes to this health crisis is quite disgusting. President Trump puts a bandaid on every conflict that comes to the surface.

Even house speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “completely inadequate”. Trump administration’s bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak is a mess. As president, he needs to lead a competent administration prepared to combat outbreaks—because our public health, economy, and national security depend on it.

Sources:

Olson, T. (2020, February 27). Coronavirus gets political: Trump, Dems exchange barbs as US prepares for potential crisis. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coronavirus-gets-political-trump-dems-exchange-barbs-as-u-s-prepares-for-potential-crisis

Wise, J. (2020, February 27). Ex-Obama health adviser calls Trump comments on coronavirus response ‘incoherent’. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/484895-ex-obama-health-adviser-calls-trump-comments-on-coronavirus-response-incoherent

By: Sy Barnes|February 27, 2020

Sources from NBC quoted Biden during his interview on “Today” show with Craig Melvin said, “Americans aren’t looking for a revolution,” As these daunting days past until the Democratic primary Former Vice President Joe Biden is challenging Bernie Sanders on his vision of a national revolution.

Biden went on stating during his interview, “They’re looking for progress. They’re looking for, ‘Tell me how you’re going to help me with my health care. Tell me you’ll make me safer,'” Biden added. Biden has done the impossible before as Vice President. However, his campaign hasn’t been receiving any good media coverage.

What voters need to realize the same thing happen to Obama back in 2008. In the first three contests of Democratic primary Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada — voter turnout was less than it was in 2008 when Obama was challenging Hillary Clinton.

We as American voters need to look in the past to create a better future. We can’t be hypocritical and forget the past elections. This situation isn’t new to us, we have done it before. The fact that the Democratic party still is choosing Iowa and New Hampshire as their primary states is ridiculous.

Although Sanders, who’s running second to Biden in the Palmetto State in some poll, is Biden’s biggest competition. Sanders, in my opinion, has a good chance of winning reason said, during Sanders’s interview in North Charleston he said, “Joe, you can’t do it when you have voted for terrible trade policies … (and) strongly supported the war in Iraq.’ Joe is a friend of mine and a decent guy, but that is not the voting record or the history that is going to excite people, bring them into the political process and beat Trump.” called him out during a rally in North Charleston on Wednesday.”

Americans’ best hope to appeal Donald Trump’s mistakes will have to be Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders on both tickets. I don’t agree with back and forth between the two. The Democratic party just needs a strong leader who can beat Trump. Those two fit the bill.

Sources:

Gregorian, D. (2020, February 27). Joe Biden on Sanders: Americans ‘aren’t looking for revolution’. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/joe-biden-sanders-americans-aren-t-looking-revolution-n1143681

Poll: Biden crushing Sanders in South Carolina. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/27/poll-joe-biden-big-lead-south-carolina-117839

Sy Barnes| February 20, 2020

A back and forth fight between Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren. With arrows flying in all directions and fights breaking out among the candidates on matters of healthcare and comments about women were quite entertaining.
The debate looked choreographed from head to toe. Mike faces a lot of criticism from his rivals. It was the most contentious evening of the nine faces offs so far, coming three days before the candidates face the most diverse voting electorate.
NBC News analysis wrote an article about the debate, saying “it was most aggressive and most of the hits came to Bloomberg.
Mike Bloomberg’s greatest downfall in this debate was his “stop and frisk strategy policy. He stated, ” I’ve sat, I’ve apologized, I’ve asked for forgiveness.” Pressed on why he hasn’t released his tax returns, he said “it just takes a long time” because of his extensive business dealings and “I can’t just go to Turbo Tax.”
Elizabeth Warren lit Bloomberg over past sexist remarks and nondisclosure agreements with women, declaring, “America takes a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.” The question is how far will she go after this election.
Joe Biden, the former vice president, faced a new test in a more diverse state after strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, urged Americans not to let Sanders and Bloomberg become the only two choices, saying the senator wants to “burn this party down” and the billionaire wants to “buy this party out.”
More to this story will come. We just have to wait and see what outcome will this presidential race has.

Sources:

Kapur, S. (2020, February 20). Who won the Democratic debate in Las Vegas? Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/who-won-democratic-debate-las-vegas-n1139561

Cillizza, C. (2020, February 20). Chris Cillizza’s winners and losers from the 9th Democratic debate. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/19/politics/who-won-democratic-debate/index.html