FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

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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Aug 2

Ethics Scandal Hits Prime Minister of Canada Once Again — So What!

by bcurry

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in the headlines once again for a situation involving a potential conflict of interest. This time it has to do with a proposed contract to a supposedly non-profit organization called the WE Charity Foundation, run by two brothers: Craig and Marc Kielburger. The federal government initially awarded a sole-sourced contract for $19.5 million to WE Charity to administer a $912-million student grant program— meaning no requests for bids.  Post-secondary students could volunteer up to 500 hours to receive a grant up to $5,000 under the proposed new Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG). The problem is that the PM’s family has close ties to WE Charity with his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau hosting a podcast called WE Well-being.  Both Justin Trudeau and his wife have spoken at WE Days, as have the PM’s mother, Margaret Trudeau, and his brother, Alexandre Trudeau.  It was uncovered that Margaret Trudeau had been paid $250,000 for 28 appearances and Alexandre Trudeau had been paid $32,000 for eight appearances.  When the matter of awarding the contract for the CSSG came before Cabinet, neither Trudeau nor his Finance Minister Bill Morneau, whose family also had ties to the WE Charity, recused themselves from discussions about the contract.  A big mistake for which the PM has now often apologized even before Parliament, the House’s Finance Committee and Canadians in general.  Moreover, the CSSG contract to the WE Charity was withdrawn by the government as a result.

What makes matters worse is the fact that this is the third time that the PM’s actions have been investigated by the Ethics Commissioner. In the previous two cases, Trudeau was found to have broken federal ethics rules.  Neither decision was sufficient to force the PM to resign and install an acting PM.  Given that the opposition parties really don’t want to bring down the government at this time, in light of the pandemic and everything else, it is highly unlikely that Trudeau will resign and call an election.  This despite the fact that he has a minority government and requires opposition support to govern.  However, such scandals can eventually influence the electorate as people may not be ready to forgive the PM for his latest transgression.

Of course, the media loves such scandals and continue to uncover certain dirt with respect to the WE Charity itself, accusing Craig and Marc Kielburger of financially benefiting from the foundation, especially in its real estate holdings. As a result, the foundation is itself under close scrutiny for significant real estate holdings that received charitable status last year, the firing of half its workforce and the resignation of several Board of Directors members; including the former Chair, Michelle Douglas.  Indeed, it appears that new information about WE financial irregularities preceding the scandal had come to light of which the Prime Minister’s Office should have been aware.

What does all this mean? The PM’s popularity rating had risen due to the federal government’s fairly good handling and coordination of national policies and programs in response to the coronavirus pandemic.  However, recent polls show a slight decline in his popularity, but not enough to force Trudeau to resign or to dissolve Parliament.  No one, including the official opposition Conservatives, wants an election at this time or in the near future.  While any so-called scandal currently makes for good press and suggests incompetence, over time it usually dies out unless more serious revelations about political improprieties come to light.   There may be a shake-up in Cabinet such as moving the Finance Minister to another portfolio, but that’s about all.  In the meantime, the government must keep on governing in response to the pandemic, which in my view and that of most Canadians should be its priority.  The nation and the economy need a steady hand at the helm, even if it may be shaking right now.

Canada COVID-19 Justin Trudeau Political Scandals Uncategorized

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Jul 28

Don’t Complain About Federal Workers During This Pandemic

by bcurry

There has been no other time in history, except perhaps during the World War II, that the general public has had to rely so heavily on government services in both Canada and the U.S.  Yet, there are still people who will complain about public servants who are either working or off work due to COVID-19 and are continuing to receive their pay cheques.  However, reports are now coming out concerning the coronavirus risks associated with public sector employees providing front line services.  One recent Washington Post article noted that to date about 4,000 federal employees reported that they contracted the coronavirus at work — and 60 have died. The article refers to the work in particular of the Homeland Security, Justice, the U.S. Postal Service, the Bureau of Prisons, the Defence Department and Veterans Affairs. It also specified that Customs and Border Protection had a total of 1,590 cases among its 60,000 employees and eight deaths, while the 64,000-employee Transportation Security Administration recorded 1,315 cases and six deaths.

In Canada, with naturally a much smaller federal government work force (about 380,000), there were 455 reported cases of coronavirus disease as of July 22, 2020. Many of the reported cases can be attributed to front-line work in federal agencies such as the Canada Border Services Agency, the Correctional Service of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Transportation Agency. The numbers do not include the activities of Canada Post which is a separate crown corporation.  It appears that no deaths were attributed as a result of these reported cases.  With the gradual reopening of Service Canada Centres which provide the public with access to specific federal programs, the number of coronavirus-related cases could very well increase among federal workers, even with the additional precautions put in place.

In both countries, some federal employees were in a position to work from home following the closure of various federal offices and outlet services. In Canada, this is particularly true for certain key agencies such as the Revenue Canada Agency and Employment and Social Development Canada which provide pandemic-related assistance to the unemployed and businesses affected by the pandemic lockdown. In some cases, federal employees — roughly about one in four workers —were unable for various justifiable reasons to do their work from home or had family circumstances preventing them from doing their normal jobs. For this reason, the federal government offered them ‘extended paid leave’ which amounted to $439 million in the first eleven weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. As usual, there has been some public outcry from bodies such as right-wing Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

What those complaining forget is that in Canada, for example, seventy-five percent of federal public servants are still working in front-line operations or at home to provide much needed services to Canadians. As in the U.S., many government workers are actually placing themselves in situations where exposure to COVID-19 is a real risk. They are found in law enforcement, in food inspection, the postal service, at the borders, at airports and ports, in veterans’ hospitals/care facilities, and in the provision of consulate services to citizens abroad.  Interestingly, in both countries, concerns have been raised over the growing recalls of government employees from telework or leave even as infections and deaths are spiking in some regions.

It’s time that federal government workers be recognized for the many essential front-line services that they are providing during this pandemic, often at personal risks to their safety and health.

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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.”

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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!

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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?

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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.

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