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The Neanderthals

The governors of Texas and Mississippi have both scrapped their mask mandates and removed all business restrictions. That’s right, it is now ok for bars to open at full capacity.

I’ll give you just one guess to which party these two men belong.

Making this even more insane is that in both of these states, the number of new Covid-19 cases is increasing. In Texas, the number of cases increased by 27% in the last week alone. Even worse is Mississippi, which had the biggest jump in new cases in the country, at 62%. Why would either governor think that this is a good time to loosen restrictions? The only reason I can think of is that they want people to die while Biden is president, to cause problems and sabotage his fight against the pandemic.

In fact, the number of new cases in the US stayed about the same, so we can’t even say we are heading in the right direction. The number of new cases in the US is still averaging 65 thousand per day. That’s about the same number that we had at the worst of last summer’s peak.

Making this even more dangerous is that the number of new, more contagious variants of Covid-19 is on the rise. So even if everyone in the world gets vaccinated, if we don’t get the number of cases down to a small number, the more likely it is that we will never see the end of this pandemic.

Joe Biden said about the governors relaxing safety measures, “The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking.” After all, the Neanderthals went extinct 50,000 years ago.

© Dave Whamond
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14 Comments

  1. Ray wrote:

    Ah, the GQP . . .

    Friday, March 5, 2021 at 8:49 am | Permalink
  2. J wrote:

    I’ll feel a little more encouraged if we don’t see any of the utterly pointless backing off and apologizing for Biden’s entirely reasonable comment, the like of which has characterized spineless Democrats for far too long.

    Friday, March 5, 2021 at 11:26 am | Permalink
  3. Anonymous wrote:

    Please, if you want to hide in a basement, wear 2 masks and never see the sun, then by all means continue to do so.
    Stop spreading fear! Yes, 1.7% of those who contract Covid have died. That’s a shame, but I blame the them and the family members who brought it to them.
    The other 98.3% should not have to hide!
    Take care of and be mindful of those in danger, whether it be there own self neglect or bad luck.
    Keeping kids out of school and healthy people from work and normalcy is STUPID and more harmful then COVID.
    STOP spreading irrational fear.

    Friday, March 5, 2021 at 4:52 pm | Permalink
  4. notycoon22 wrote:

    You’re a brave person, Anon. 520,000 dead and I don’t get the sense that you really think it’s a shame. Had anyone close to you die from the disease? If not, you’re one of the few people in this country than can say that.

    Not only have more than 1/2 million died, but a significant number of folks who survived (about 30%) will have long term affects from the disease – even if they had a mild case.

    You suggest that those who feel combating Covid are living with irrational fear. I’ll agree with the fear part. That it’s irrational is irrational in an of itself. Oh, and I think the use of the word STUPID would be better applied to folks that have a serious lack of empathy such as yourself.

    Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 10:45 am | Permalink
  5. Notycoon22 wrote:

    And, IK, as to the comment Biden made about the governors of various Publican states being Neanderthals – I take serious umbrage. Virtually all of us with European roots have Neanderthal characteristics built into our DNA. To call folks such as Abbot a Neanderthal is an insult to those of us who take pride in our Neanderthal heritage. “>D

    Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 10:48 am | Permalink
  6. Iron Knee wrote:

    NoTycoon22, maybe our Neanderthal heritage is the source of the “Neanderthal thinking” that seems to be so prevalent lately. 🙂

    Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 11:34 am | Permalink
  7. PatriotSGT wrote:

    Nottycoon22, apologies for the Anon tag, was using my phone and it’s been a while since my last post. I didn’t mean to sound crass, and I do feel sorry for those afflicted severely. I’ve had 3 family members a friend and 2 co-workers whom have had the disease. All except the friend was a 60 up age and all were back to work in 2-3 weeks. Most of that time was waiting the obligatory 2 weeks after symptoms to take a test.
    As I said near the start of this pandemic the numbers are very similar to the flu in terms of morbidity. It’s just the transmission rate is higher.
    In my family, those at higher risk have sheltered in place, particularly my 93 yo mother in law whom has a myriad of higher risk d fee actors. She lives with us and we protect her. My 94 yo mother is in a retirement home and fortunately not one of Cuomo’s. She orders her food and they leave it at her door. Problem is she is alone, isolated and only recently allowed one visitor who has to be tested. She hasn’t seen much of her family in a year and it’s taken a terrible toll on her mental and physical health.
    Children are at a minimal risk, almost negligent and the toll on them is unmeasurable. We’re don’t need to protect them, but we can protect the teachers, but they don’t want to return. There will be consequences for our future generation.
    My daughter has been playing sports since last June continuously and never contracted Covid. She’s fortunate I can afford private school, where they figured out how to have a hybrid in person and virtual experience. The public schools where we live have not. In many of those schools kids are failing multiple classes and many will need to repeat a grade, because the teacher unions don’t want to go back until Covid is gone.
    This hysterical madness must be reduced and can, is we’re smart and brave enough.
    As to me personally, I have had much worse things try to kill me then Covid. From combat missions, stage 4 cancer, to a ruptured appendix. If Covid comes I’ll defeat that as well. Seems to be harder to catch then reported.
    My wife is a childcare provider and last April began caring for essential worker children. She still does that and has not had a single case. She just got her 2nd dose last week. I’ll take in when the line gets shorter so someone more scared can get it first.
    Nice to hear from you all again! I was declared essential from the start and been working the whole time, but I’ll try to drop by now and again.

    Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 1:43 pm | Permalink
  8. Iron Knee wrote:

    PatriotSgt, nice to hear from you again, and pleased you are doing relatively well. I look forward to you again challenging my preconceptions!

    Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 2:47 pm | Permalink
  9. PayriotSGT wrote:

    🙂

    Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 5:14 pm | Permalink
  10. Dan wrote:

    Talk to a nurse about COVID-19. I live with one. After wheeling her share of covid dead Veterans to the morgue she gets upset when she sees someone in public without a mask. She cried when hearing about lifting the restrictions in different states. Anyone who doesn’t take it seriously is a self centered piece of…

    Monday, March 8, 2021 at 10:47 am | Permalink
  11. Dan wrote:

    3 things.
    1.Wearing a mask in public is a small price to pay to stop this virus and it’s variants.
    2. My business insurance will no longer cover “communicable diseases”
    3. Patriots are those who fight for others who can not fight for themselves, otherwise they would be mercenaries.

    Monday, March 8, 2021 at 11:56 am | Permalink
  12. PatriotSGT wrote:

    Dan, I am sorry for your wife’s experiences, all too common. I also have some experience in hi stress medical work, and I know what’s it’s like, but we’ll leave that be for now.
    I do take the disease seriously and I always wear a mask when entering a public space. I’ll even correct those without one and grab a spare from the box I keep in my car. I don’t do it for me, but those who work in the stores or jobs that have to serve the public.
    The toll on our children and elderly from isolation is enormous. Teenage suicide is climbing. I haven’t seen elderly numbers, but suppose they are as well.
    We can open up safely. Individual responsibility is critical in doing that safely. We must move past lock down. We must get our kids back into the classrooms. Outside activities are safe, particularly for children and young adults. He’ll even older adults. I played in a senior softball league all summer and fall, with no mask. Aside from some senior injuries, no one got Covid. If one had someone they knew get it, they stayed home until they could get tested. Individual responsibility is the key along with Common sense and doing the right thing.
    Calling people names and pieces of S#%|, ain’t helping and ain’t going to change any opinions.

    Yes, 1.7% of those who contract Covid have died. But 98.3% did not. Equal to the flu.
    And that does not even capture those asymptomatic to mild cases that did not get into the count. So that 1.7 is actually lower.

    We can and we must get the kids back to school. The shut down culture needs to participate in and push for reopening, in a safe way. We can do both.

    Monday, March 8, 2021 at 1:45 pm | Permalink
  13. Dan wrote:

    PatSgt, I did not say S#%,… could be anything you want it to be, like garbage.
    Problem is, people are not responsible, they think because the Great Pumpkin down plays it, no big deal (I heard a report Trump’s condition was serious). What they don’t realize is if you get it, symptoms harsh or not, permanent damage has occurred, and these are pre-existing conditions should the ACA ever be repealed. So I guess we’re going with Darwin on this one. If their elders don’t lock the kids out then tough.

    Monday, March 8, 2021 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
  14. PatriotSGT wrote:

    Thanks Dan,we can have a conversation and talk things they. The problem will be in getting everyone else on board.
    As to the great pumpkin, I’ll reach and assume your speaking of Trump. True, remdesivir is a good drug to give to patients who are higher risk, now that it’s approved. Also,the plasma antibody treatment. It should be protocol to administer either upon contact with an “at risk” patient. My older sister in law got that treatment and she, like the pumpkin, was better in a week and back to work. But, they need to be given early to be effective.
    I agree about the individual responsibility, it’s a challenge, particularly after reading about spring breakers and border crossers. I don’t know what there thinking. I guess that’s the problem, they don’t.

    But we can do better for the kids. All the metrics are trending favorably. It’s time to make decisions for the lowest risk group to return to school. And get our seniors vaccinated so they can move out of isolation.

    Monday, March 8, 2021 at 6:46 pm | Permalink