2020 US General Election Thread IX: One Month and Counting

[Nobel Hobos 2]

He can't. He doesn't have the authority. Biden himself said this.

A shame, really. I've been arguing that the US needs a stronger central government for some time now, and I feel this is one case where it really could help.

It wouldn't be until January anyway.

To be cynical, Democrats might not do much at all. With a vaccine (hopefully) being given out, and staying indoors a more popular option (due to winter), new infections will likely be on a downward trend, and deaths very low too.

A 2-week lockdown is intended to stamp the virus right out? Or at least reduce it to clusters that can be tracked and tested all around? I feel like the time for that has passed. It's a big imposition which would probably only "reset" virus levels, which would then come back up. And to achieve the level of success Australia or particulary New Zealand have had, it would need to be more widely obeyed than I think likely in the US. Being mostly one huge expanse of country with a big population works against it too: apparently US states can't close their borders, and in any case California has a bigger population than Australia and NZ combined.

[Picairn]

Woo! 500 pages already!

[San Lumen]

A shame, really. I've been arguing that the US needs a stronger central government for some time now, and I feel this is one case where it really could help.

It wouldn't be until January anyway.

To be cynical, Democrats might not do much at all. With a vaccine (hopefully) being given out, and staying indoors a more popular option (due to winter), new infections will likely be on a downward trend, and deaths very low too.

A 2-week lockdown is intended to stamp the virus right out? Or at least reduce it to clusters that can be tracked and tested all around? I feel like the time for that has passed. It's a big imposition which would probably only "reset" virus levels, which would then come back up. And to achieve the level of success Australia or particulary New Zealand have had, it would need to be more widely obeyed than I think likely in the US. Being mostly one huge expanse of country with a big population works against it too: apparently US states can't close their borders, and in any case California has a bigger population than Australia and NZ combined.

correct states cannot close their borders.

The President doesnt have the authority to do a national lockdown and its unlikely congress does either. A full lockdown isnt going to help much. The longer you restrict business and the longer you do on and off lockdowns the less support and compliance your going to get.

[RiderSyl]

Until you realize that 50 states handling covid in 50 different ways means we are doomed to be stuck in the same first wave for ages.

Freedom is inherently unsafe.

"Give me liberty and give me death!"

[Kanadorika]

Until you realize that 50 states handling covid in 50 different ways means we are doomed to be stuck in the same first wave for ages.

Freedom is inherently unsafe.

What freedom? The freedom to get sick? This american extremist perception of freedom as being more important than the most basic well being of society is why Americans continue to suffer.

[Picairn]

"Give me liberty and give me death!"

Covid aims to please.

[San Lumen]

Freedom is inherently unsafe.

What freedom? The freedom to get sick? This american extremist perception of freedom as being more important than the most basic well being of society is why Americans continue to suffer.

and what do you suggest? All rights sighed away indefinitely? should the Floyd protests have all been broken up everywhere?

[Chan Island]

Oh hey, page 500.

[Picairn]

and what do you suggest? All rights sighed away indefinitely? should the Floyd protests have all been broken up everywhere?

Or... a mask mandate.

[San Lumen]

and what do you suggest? All rights sighed away indefinitely? should the Floyd protests have all been broken up everywhere?

Or... a mask mandate.

which the President doesnt have the authority to do plus I doubt Congress wants to enshrine makes into law.

[United States of Devonta]

New thread time?

[Kanadorika]

What freedom? The freedom to get sick? This american extremist perception of freedom as being more important than the most basic well being of society is why Americans continue to suffer.

and what do you suggest? All rights sighed away indefinitely? should the Floyd protests have all been broken up everywhere?

If we had more federal oversight into local police forces we wouldn't be in this Floyd mess in the first place ...

You can have a nationwide covid policy without degenerating into a totalitarian state. There are more options than "extreme freedom" and "tyranny"

[Arlenton]

Until you realize that 50 states handling covid in 50 different ways means we are doomed to be stuck in the same first wave for ages.

A pandemic should be treated as an invasion. The virus doesn't care which state or person it's gonna infect. With the federal government empowered to fight the pandemic same as fighting a war, we would handle the pandemic much better with a unified response.

Trump should have pushed for a "we are at war"-type response. Treat it as a foreign national security threat, with China to blame for the disease as well as for the economic toll. Institute a strict travel ban on Asia and institute a nationwide lockdown. I think he'd be in a much better position if he did.

The New York times articles about "Racist White people wearing masks in public" would be hilarious.

[San Lumen]

and what do you suggest? All rights sighed away indefinitely? should the Floyd protests have all been broken up everywhere?

If we had more federal oversight into local police forces we wouldn't be in this Floyd mess in the first place ...

You can have a nationwide covid policy without degenerating into a totalitarian state. There are more options than "extreme freedom" and "tyranny"

How can you have a nationwide policy when the president has neither the authority to issue a national mask mandate nor shutdown the country?

[Picairn]

which the President doesnt have the authority to do plus I doubt Congress wants to enshrine makes into law.

Congress definitely should. A mask mandate will lower the number of infected and deaths considerably.

[San Lumen]

which the President doesnt have the authority to do plus I doubt Congress wants to enshrine makes into law.

Congress definitely should. A mask mandate will lower the number of infected and deaths considerably.

So wearing masks should be made a law?

[Sanghyeok]

Five hundred, at last.
Another journey ends now.
She could close her eyes.

[Northern Davincia]

and what do you suggest? All rights sighed away indefinitely? should the Floyd protests have all been broken up everywhere?

If we had more federal oversight into local police forces we wouldn't be in this Floyd mess in the first place ...

You can have a nationwide covid policy without degenerating into a totalitarian state. There are more options than "extreme freedom" and "tyranny"

No, the choice is binary. I have opted for extreme freedom.

[Picairn]

So wearing masks should be made a law?

Yes. You seem to forget that laws can be repealed too.

[San Lumen]

So wearing masks should be made a law?

Yes. You seem to forget that laws can be repealed too.

I doubt congress would pass such a law. no state has done it.

[Picairn]

I doubt congress would pass such a law.

As I said, it should because of the benefits.

[The Black Forrest]

Until you realize that 50 states handling covid in 50 different ways means we are doomed to be stuck in the same first wave for ages.

Freedom is inherently unsafe.

Freedom can also be extremely stupid. Which is why you need the Rule of Law and laws for special events like a pandemic.

[Kanadorika]

If we had more federal oversight into local police forces we wouldn't be in this Floyd mess in the first place ...

You can have a nationwide covid policy without degenerating into a totalitarian state. There are more options than "extreme freedom" and "tyranny"

How can you have a nationwide policy when the president has neither the authority to issue a national mask mandate nor shutdown the country?

We do have a Congress you know. Congress has historically acted with much more power over domestic policy than they are now. The Patriot Act got passed over a threat much less real than covid with widespread support. Heaven forbid we have centralized policy with Covid though.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

If we had more federal oversight into local police forces we wouldn't be in this Floyd mess in the first place ...

You can have a nationwide covid policy without degenerating into a totalitarian state. There are more options than "extreme freedom" and "tyranny"

No, the choice is binary. I have opted for extreme freedom.

Well that's bull. You consent to be governed, and that's actually less freedom than you were born with.

[San Lumen]

How can you have a nationwide policy when the president has neither the authority to issue a national mask mandate nor shutdown the country?

We do have a Congress you know. Congress has historically acted with much more power over domestic policy than they are now. The Patriot Act got passed over a threat much less real than covid with widespread support. Heaven forbid we have done centralized policy with Covid though.

I dont think Congress has the authority to shut down the country nor are they likely to make masks a law.