FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Aug 16

Postal Service Is More Than Just Delivering Mail

by bcurry

In many rural American and Canadian communities in particular the only contact with the federal government is the local post office. People rely on the postal service to deliver their old age security cheques, medical prescriptions and devices, food stamps, and now mail-in ballots for the next American elections.  Rural community offices serve as a gathering point and source of stability, employment and a critical link to the rest of the world.  Up to now, American experts and employees believed that the Postal Service was still capable of operating as usual. However, under the Trump administration all that has changed with blatantly obvious cutbacks to the postal service under the new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Republican megadonor to President Trump. Incidentally, he has no previous experience at all with any postal service. The President has argued that the purpose of Mr. DeJoy’s appointment is to make the postal service great once again — a recurring theme.

Among claims being made by employees and citizens are that postal boxes have been removed from certain key locations, mail-sorting machines were removed from processing centers, drivers are being sent out according to set schedules whether or not all of the morning’s mail is ready for them, and increasingly limits have been placed on working overtime or overtime has been eliminated. Today, citizens are complaining more about increasing delays in the receipt of mail and packages than had been the case a few months ago. This apparently is not just about the fact that the service is already short on staff because of quarantines and the coronavirus outbreak.

Instead, what it is about is the fact that the President does not want the states to rely on mail-in ballots for the election and continues to argue that, without substantive evidence of any kind, mail-in ballots lead to fraud. While nearly a quarter of Americans voted absentee or by mail in 2016, millions more are expected to mail their ballots this year because of the coronavirus crisis.  Polls have shown that two-thirds of Democratic supporters intent to vote by mail due to the pandemic compared to one-third of Republican supporters.  This could offer an advantage to Trump should there be serious delays in the receipt of mail-in ballots. Due to the recent cuts in service, the Postal Service has already warned states that it may not be able to meet their deadlines for delivering last-minute ballots.

Yes, as in Canada, the U.S. postal service has to adapt to the realities of a new era driven by major technological advances and competing delivery services. However, is this the right time to be making major changes when so many citizens, especially vulnerable persons, are even more dependent than ever on essential mail deliveries because of isolation due to the pandemic?  Or is this just another political ploy by a desperate Trump administration in advance of the upcoming elections?  Do the administration’s actions justify hurting millions of Americans, especially those in rural communities?  Perhaps there is significant danger in this tactic where many of Trump’s rural supporters may become disillusioned and either not vote altogether or vote for Democratic candidates.  Hopefully, Congress will look into the matter more closely.  Time will tell.

Coronavirus Federal Government Presidential Election 2020 US

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Aug 10

Starting in the early nineties, Americans have been divided over what is objective journalism

by bcurry

Today, where does the average American get their daily news from? Why are they dependent on one or two sources more than ever before?  Are they interested in “objective journalism” or simply seeking out opinions that confirm their biases — known as “confirmation bias”?

Today we know that people get their news from various media sources: including traditional print media such as newspapers, television and talk radio, and increasingly over internet media such as that found on Facebook and Google. These internet and non-print sources have especially hurt print newspapers.  The verifying evidence is certainly there:

  • The loss of classified ads to non-print sources has hurt newspaper advertising revenue, which dropped from $63.5 billion to $23 billion from 2000 to 2013, according to the Brookings Institution.
  • According to PewResearchCenter, by 2016 the newspaper industry’s ad revenue was nearly a third of what it was a decade before, falling to US$18 billion from US$49 billion.
  • Moreover, subscriber and advertiser revenue for traditional print journalism has been in free fall, and many think it started when newspapers offered content online for free.
  • In 1990, daily and weekly newspaper publishers employed about 455,000 people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By January 2016, that number had fallen to 173,000.

In the 1990s, publishing online became easy, which led to a surge of independent digital publications that produced original content while also re-reporting news from other outlets with a little bit of analysis added. This transformation has greatly affected mainstream media sources in particular.

As for television, many people are still tuning in to certain news outlets that tend to confirm their views. In June and July of this year for example, it was reported that Fox News was the highest-rated television channel in the prime-time hours of 8 to 11 p.m. Not just on cable. Not just among news networks. All of television.  Fox News ratings demonstrate the size and resilience of America’s audience for pro-Trump opinion, and the loyalty of Fox News viewers who shrug off the numerous controversies that routinely swirl around the network. Whatever news source one watches, the reality is that the press has more often than not been openly biased in one way or another.  Although actual journalists are taught to be objective, the fact of the matter is that their interpretation of the news will most often be viewed as being biased by individuals with preconceived political and social perspectives.

Indeed, the overall opinions of American journalists have worsened in recent years, as reflected in a general trend of public animosity toward journalists that bubbled up during the 2016 presidential campaign. Ivy Kaplan of the Globe Post writes, “A climate of hatred and hostility towards journalists in the United States has become significantly worse,” pointing to a sobering Reporters Without Borders report in 2018 that rated the U.S. as the sixth-most-lethal place in the world to practice journalism. Studies have found that that Republicans in particular don’t like or trust the news media.  In Canada, the same can be said about conservatives who often refer to the “liberal media” in condescending terms.

“Objective journalism” appears to depend on the preconceptions of those who interpret the news. Journalism is not just about uncovering the facts and reporting on one’s findings, it is also about how the journalist presents them.  Failure to appreciate this reality can mean the collapse of a news source if there is no longer a receptive audience.  In this age of ready access and instant media sources, people want a quick and dirty accounting and interpretation of events in some easy to access presentation.  The decline of traditional print media is just one obvious victim of this phenomenon.

Social Media US

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Aug 9

Should You Send Your Child Back to School in the U.S.? — Probably Not!

by bcurry

With over 5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and almost 165,000 related fatalities in the U.S., the nation now stands out statistically as the leading country for the consequences of the disease. What is most alarming however is the increasing number of younger people, including children, who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been hospitalized.  To date, of the millions of cases reported in the U.S., about 265,000 were in children 17 and under — almost 5%. Unlike what President Trump asserts, children are not “virtually immune” to the virus.

Indeed, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 570 kids who tested positive were diagnosed with a rare condition, which CDC calls multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Ten of the children died as a result of the condition. What is more troubling, the CDC reported that Hispanic children were hospitalized at a rate eight times higher than white kids, and Black children were hospitalized at a rate five times higher. Some of this is attributable to children living in poverty and a lack of access to regular health-care. To date, the experts have concluded that genetics appears to have nothing to do with why some racial and ethnic groups are more likely to be infected by the virus, get seriously sick from it or die from it.

What does this all mean for the average American family? Simply put, with thousands of new confirmed cases being reported daily in the several states from California to Florida, the thought that communities are ready to send kids back to school is scary. To date, where kids have started high school for example, coronavirus outbreaks have occurred all too often.  Anecdotal evidence shared through social media has displayed a lack of physical distancing being practiced by students and school staff, no masks being worn and inappropriate group activities being carried out.  Coronavirus-related problems have also popped up in kids’ summer camps, again raising red flags.

Let us not forget that while kids are considered generally less likely to have serious symptoms when they’re infected, they can in turn transmit the coronavirus within the community at large. In some cases, transmission can occur with respect to vulnerable populations, whether at home or within the community. Given the science to date and resulting studies, Americans should pause about opening schools until the overall number of community cases begin to decline and the so-called curve is flattened. More resources have to be provided urgently to implement the necessary precautions and health-care, particularly in poorer school districts. Yes, it is certainly desirable from a mental health and socialization perspective to have children back in schools. However, community leaders should understand that they are potentially talking about putting children in unsafe situations.

Coronavirus Education in U.S. US

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Jul 23

Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Gamble Gone Very Wrong

by bcurry

Imagine living in an urban setting and witnessing people being dragged off the streets and driven away by uniformed agents who can’t be identified. Almost sounds like Nazi Germany or today’s communist China. Well, this is what recently happened in Portland, Oregon, where federal agents, including several from Homeland Security, were employed in a kind of protest crackdown. Next, President Trump, joined by Attorney General William Barr, announced a plan to send federal agents to the Democratic-run cities of Chicago and Albuquerque to crack down on violent crime. All of this grand gesture appears to be part of an escalation of his “law and order” theme heading into the final months before the presidential election.  How convenient!

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for one rejected the use of federal agents for the kind of protest crackdown seen in Portland, saying such actions were deemed unconstitutional, an infringement on peoples’ liberties and would be met with legal action. Like other mayors around the country, she does not want to see authoritarian, unnecessary and unaccountable military-style ‘crackdowns.  Instead, as in the past, local police forces are quite willing to have the help of the federal law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, to work alongside them when needed in resolving outstanding criminal cases, including homicides.  Unlike the national guard units in each state, most federal law enforcement agents are not adequately trained and equipped to deal with protesters as witnessed in Portland. Even the use of the national guard is seen as a last resort under certain conditions.

One has to ask, with everything going on in the U.S. including a pandemic and protests against police shootings of unarmed civilians, why the President would launch such an far-fetched initiative at this time?  In two words: ‘political tactics’.  Trump is down in the polls by double-digit numbers in his bid to be re-elected.  Extreme desperation has set in, especially now that the on-going battle against the coronavirus is in wretched straits.  As for the President’s actions, let us remember what Lord Acton once declared: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  He also stated: “Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.”

Donald Trump Presidential Election 2020 US US Politics

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Jul 19

To Go to School or Not to Go?

by bcurry

As we approach the beginning of another school year, there are still a lot of questions about the health and safety of staff and students during the pandemic. At this time the pros and cons are pretty evenly divided.  There are those who want to delay the return and continue home schooling.  There are those, possibly a majority of parents, who want their children to attend school five days a week.  Then there are those who support a modified school week, perhaps with students going two days a week, and doing on-line learning during the other two days.  Schools would do deep cleaning during the fifth day.  Transportation to and from the schools will have to be reviewed and restrictions implemented to protect school-bus drivers and commuting students alike.

Then one has the psychologists who believe that children should return to full school weeks with the applicable safety measures in place in the classroom and on the school grounds. This would include physical distancing (e.g. desks 6 feet apart) and teachers wearing personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, gloves, hand sanitizers).  The psychologists argue that being in school will improve a child’s mental health and socialization.  Educators also now believe that on-learning learning is no substitute for classroom instruction, as demonstrated by their experience during the last few months.

Next, we have the working parents who want to return to work and have no child-care alternatives available, particularly in light of the cost and lack of appropriate child-care nationally. If any further reopening of the economy is to effectively proceed, working parents need to have their children in school for five days at least.  In addition, children with special needs have greatly been affected by the lost of in-school services and learning assistance.  Most parents cannot afford to provide private assistance to children with learning disabilities.

Finally, there are the concerns of associations representing teachers and staff in the schools. All are concerned that sufficient health and safety measure will be in place, including much needed PPE and physical distancing measures. In order to implement such measures effectively, some teachers’ unions are proposing that additional teachers and staff be hired.  Those teachers with underlying health issues may even refuse to return to school, despite applicable preventative measures being implemented.  This reluctance is especially understandable if the coronavirus infection rates do not level off as was hoped by public health officials.

There is little time left for school authorities to decide one way or another about reopening the schools. Pressures are emerging from everywhere and the issues are complicated, especially in anticipation of a potential second wave of COVID-19 in the fall.  Local, county, state and provincial school authorities will soon have to disclose their final decisions in order to allow parents and students to prepare for the reopening.  Simply stating that schools should be reopened is not enough!

Canada Coronavirus COVID-19 Education Education in U.S. US

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Jul 15

What’s the Priority – Reopening Bars or Preventing the Spread of COVID-19?

by bcurry

The city of Montreal was and continues to be a hotspot when it comes to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada. Nevertheless, Quebec provincial officials decided to go ahead and allow the reopening of bars in the Montreal area. Well, needless-to-say, the result was reports of possible serious outbreaks at a handful of bars in the Montreal area. So serious that public health officials called on thousands of young adults to get checked out if they’ve been to a Montreal area bar in the past month. Of course, with the increase in testing, officials found more cases of coronavirus among bar employees and patrons — this despite inadequate testing capacity in Montreal. What does the province do? It doesn’t shut them down. Instead, the province announced new regulations for bars, including earlier closing times and decreased capacity. In addition, bars are included in Quebec’s mandatory mask regulations which go into effect only on July 18th.

So let’s look at the U.S. where the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing particularly in the southern states where bars remained open for sometime, most notably in Florida and Texas. In addition, both states are especially seeing cases skyrocketing among young people.  Some healthcare professionals have called crowded indoor bar scenes across the country the perfect breeding grounds for the virus. After all, despite putting in place some preventative measures, it is still quite difficult to have people maintain physical distancing when a good deal of alcohol is being consumed. As a result and in light of an obvious emergency, state authorities had no choice but to close indoor bars and nightclubs for a second time across Florida and Texas.

This brings us back to the initial question as to whether reopening bars and nightclubs is a priority versus taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19? It would appear that the answer is a no-brainer.  Not only can the patrons and employees become more readily infected, many of those who are young can suffer serious health consequences.  Just ask the Italian health experts who now have warned that the virus is a systemic infection that affects all the organs of the body — not, as was previously thought, just a respiratory disease. Increasingly, younger people are being hospitalized in Canada and the U.S. as a result of the virus. Italian studies have identified psychosis, insomnia, kidney disease, spinal infections, strokes, chronic tiredness and mobility issues in former coronavirus patients, even some who were asymptomatic. The doctors further warn that some victims may never recover from the illness and that all age groups are vulnerable. The warnings come amid growing concerns in northern Italy that a second wave of the virus could be imminent.

Can bars and nightclubs be considered as essential services when compared to grocery stores and pharmacies? In order to make the reopening of businesses as safe as possible, the authorities are going to have to make some tough but necessary decisions as to which businesses should remain open or reopen taking into consideration the rate of confirmed cases and hospitalizations. Priorities have to be set based on the health and safety concerns for the general population, which in itself has important economic consequences. In my opinion, keeping bars and nightclubs in business should be the least of our concerns and should be reflected in current and future state or provincial policies.

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Jul 10

As COVID-19 Cases Rise — Let’s Just Not Release the Statistics!

by bcurry

With currently over 3 million confirmed cases and over 135,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., the highest among Western industrialized countries, one cannot deny that the incidence of coronavirus outbreaks is at alarming levels. There are records being broken every day, the most recent indicating that the U.S. had over 60,000 new confirmed cases in one day. A major increase of cases has hit Florida, including in Volusia County, a stretch of central Florida coastline that includes Daytona Beach and other popular destinations. Overnight on July 9th, Florida reported a record-breaking 120 new coronavirus deaths.  Mike Chitwood, the sheriff of Volusia County, has been gathering COVID-19 statistical updates for the county provided by the state’s Department of Health. As the chief law enforcement official in Volusia County, he believed it was his responsibility to provide more transparency, while guarding the privacy of individual cases. Such information was deemed especially helpful to first responders, including police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel dealing with the outbreak.

Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has been criticized for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. This ambitious 41-year-old, who apparently some believe will run for president in 2024, is a pal and ally of President Trump. However, DeSantis has consistently received among the lowest approval ratings of any state governor in the nation for his coronavirus response. The narrative of DeSantis has been that Florida was defeating the disease — a narrative that is now in tatters. It appears that earlier in the week state health officials informed Sheriff Chitwood’s office that they would no longer provide him or any other county-level officials with COVID-19 data updates for Volusia County.

It was obvious to Sheriff Chitwood that the “statewide directive” against any further sharing of such data was an attempt to hide the numbers from the public. Even with the data, he believed that the numbers provided weren’t always completely accurate. However, two days after the Sheriff announced that the state had abruptly cut him off from data about local cases of coronavirus infections, state health authorities reversed their course by agreeing to continue providing the information. The reversal was no doubt the result of public disclosure in the wake of social media outrage and irate attention from media outlets.

Such withholding of coronavirus-related data is reprehensible and inexcusable! The authorities have an obligation to inform the public of health risks in their community so that they can take the appropriate precautions.  Transparency on the part of health authorities is essential to dealing with the pandemic, and should never be influenced by political considerations as was described in the above case.  In Canada, COVID-19 statistics are daily released by the Public Health Agency of Canada and is reported daily on media outlets.  Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer of Canada is in close contact with provincial and territorial Chief Medical Officers of Health to ensure that any cases of COVID-19 occurring in Canada continue to be rapidly identified and managed in order to protect the health of Canadians. Any attempt at political interference by local, provincial or federal authorities would be met with strong condemnation.  Whether good or bad, citizens and local officials have the right to know what is happening as a result of this pandemic.

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Jul 7

One Word for What’s Going on in the States: “Nuts”

by bcurry

The U.S. has just passed 130,000 Covid-19 related deaths, while the President claims that 99 percent of those infected don’t have to be concerned. Now, you have the 43-year-old rap star Kanye West announcing via Twitter on the Fourth of July that he is plans to run in the 2020 election for U.S. president. Great, now one has one nut job aspiring to replace the current nut job.  Obviously, he can’t run for either of the two existing parties. However, unfortunately there is technically a way that West could still run for president. He would have to register as an independent candidate.  This would depend on where he wanted to run, as deadlines for those intending to run in several states have already passed with the remainder closing registrations by August.  Like many, I can only hope that this is a PR stunt or some form of joke à la comedian Pat Paulsen who ran satirical campaigns for President of the United States between 1968 and 1996.

What’s happening in the States is no longer a laughing matter. The issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement are no laughing matter.  The record daily counts of positive coronavirus cases are no laughing matter.  The increasing violence and shootings in American cities are no laughing matter.  While the relevant statistics are a concern, the impact on individual Americans, particularly on those marginalized and vulnerable citizens, is even more of a concern.  The inability of the national government to provide real leadership in light of the realities of the afflictions, including the pandemic, affecting the society is of grave concern.  Instead, the President is perpetuating policies of division in order to placate what’s left of his supporters in order to somehow get re-elected — no matter what the consequences.

All this may represent the last straw, given that the President continues to ignore the advice and concerns of his own advisors and leading experts. As an extreme narcissist, Trump is unable to admit that he had made mistakes and that his decisions have resulted in unintended consequences, both within the U.S. and elsewhere. There is an old adage that you get what you voted for.  That definitely applies in this case a hundred times over.  Perhaps, Trump should secretly elope to Russia into the welcoming arms of his friend Vladimir Putin, another extreme narcissist. However, I’m not too sure that the First Lady, Melania Trump, would join him?

Coronavirus Donald Trump Presidential Election 2020 US US Politics

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Jul 2

Lack of Affordable Daycare as a Major Obstacle for Return to Work

by bcurry

It’s no real surprise that analysts view that the lack of affordable, reliable and quality daycare will be a serious issue when more people return to work during the next few months. This is a societal issue already and will be even more of a concern during the pandemic.  Now, one has to add in the additional safeguards that daycare centres and providers will have to have in place to prevent any outbreak of coronavirus cases among staff and children.  With the gradual reopening of small businesses, many owners and their employees have already highlighted that those with young children believe that the return to normal will take longer because of a shortage of affordable childcare.

In addition, the need for daily childcare is further complicated by the fact that early indications are that schools may have to rotate the school days to accommodate physical distancing requirements. There will be fewer school days available, with on-line learning at home making up the difference.  This means that families will have to provide for childcare when their children are not in school during the week.  It’s not everyone that can rely on immediate family for assistance during this period.  For many low income parents, working only a couple of days a week and caring for children on the other days may not be feasible.  Near or below the poverty line, they need full-time work in order to provide for the necessities in an era of increasing housing and food costs.

There are huge implications for women in particular, especially low income single mothers, who risk being edged out of the workplace. There hasn’t been enough recognition for the struggle that women and single parents are facing right now with the reopening of businesses.  Governments at all levels need to recognize their struggle and provide support to families.  This situation appears to be an ideal time for society to reevaluate the availability of affordable childcare and the need for a real national childcare strategy.  After all, what could be more important than provisions to ensure the safety, health and socialization of our children.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Reopening the Economy

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Jun 27

Could COVID-19 be the Harbinger to the Decline of the American Empire

by bcurry

This past week, over half of U.S. states reported record-breaking breakouts of coronavirus cases. According to a New York Times database, Friday June 26 was the third day in a row that the country set a daily record during the pandemic. The stock market responded badly, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.4 percent, especially in light of Governor Greg Abbott of Texas placing the state’s reopening on pause. Other major hot spots included Florida, Arizona and California. On top of which, experts agree that the jump in cases and hospitalizations did not represent a so-called “second wave”, but the increases were still part of the pandemic’s “first wave.”  Investors are right about their concerns that the virus continues to be a major threat to the economy — already quite frail.

According to a well-known expression, Rome’s emperor at the time, the decadent and unpopular Nero, “fiddled while Rome burned.” The expression has a double meaning: Not only did Nero play music while his people suffered, but he was an ineffectual leader in a time of crisis.  Although the expression is based on a historical myth, there is still some relevance to current events.  When the Great Fire of Rome broke out, Nero was at his villa at Antium, some 35 miles from Rome. Even as he immediately returned and began relief measures, people still didn’t trust Nero.  While enthusiastic Vice-President Mike Pence was briefing the American people on the current state of coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S., Donald Trump was probably golfing at his resort in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Much like Emperor Nero, Americans now have come to mistrust Trump.  Just look at the latest polls putting Joe Biden well ahead of Trump even in key electoral states.

Even in the face of the alarming news, the White House continued to praise its own efforts. Pence went on about how Washington had made truly remarkable progress in moving the nation forward. Meanwhile, the city and country continue to suffer and lead the world on the basis of per-capita infection rates.  With its current mortality rates, the U.S. is now projected to surpass 200,000 coronavirus deaths by the fall of this year. Hospitals in many counties are at full capacity due to the influx of patients with serious symptoms, including more younger people.

Other countries, including Canada, appear to have much better survived the first wave of this pandemic. Success in containing Covid-19 comes down to good national leadership and strategy, continuing cooperation between national and local health authorities, and support from each and every community and citizen.  These elements have been seriously lacking in the U.S. where chaos reigns and policies are all over the map. Many countries are now carefully preparing for a “second wave” outbreak, while the U.S. is floundering about in dealing with the “first wave”. Trump’s administration is still counting on some sort of sudden miracle, putting all its unrealistic hopes in a future vaccine.  In the meantime, he is fiddling while Washington burns and more Americans die.

Coronavirus US

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