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THREAD -- Cowardly Senators vs. Common Sense
Nov. 18, 2020: Two things are happening at once:
1) Vaccines are on their way.
2) A horrific and deadly spike is happening as we speak.
This is awful, and hard, but the solution isn't hard.
It's common sense.
1/
Nov. 18, 2020: Two things are happening at once:
1) Vaccines are on their way.
2) A horrific and deadly spike is happening as we speak.
This is awful, and hard, but the solution isn't hard.
It's common sense.
1/
To save as many lives as possible from what will otherwise be a humanitarian catastrophe, we need a bridge.
And the foundation of that bridge is to limit interactions as intensely as tolerable until the vaccine arrives
And that goes way beyond curfews and masks.
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And the foundation of that bridge is to limit interactions as intensely as tolerable until the vaccine arrives
And that goes way beyond curfews and masks.
2/
But in a world of politics, the problem is defining "tolerable."
What is tolerable? Economically tolerable in particular?
And that's where the Senate's appalling inaction matters so damn much.
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What is tolerable? Economically tolerable in particular?
And that's where the Senate's appalling inaction matters so damn much.
3/
If there were a new round of major public support for workers, families, small businesses and local governments, the kind that would keep these folks and entities afloat for several months, the tougher measures needed to keep us truly safe would in fact be "tolerable"
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But in the absence of robust public support, most Govs will remain unwilling to impose the tougher measures needed to reduce the loss of life in any meaningful way.
We saw that in DeWine's announcement, which clearly won't slow things down much, if at all.
"Balance" = death
5/
We saw that in DeWine's announcement, which clearly won't slow things down much, if at all.
"Balance" = death
5/
DeWine won't go further until things are clearly much worse, which means that Ohioans are going to die as a result.
Now the House has passed the type of public support we need.
But McConnell, Portman and the Senate? They're too busy rushing through judges, a Justice and..
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Now the House has passed the type of public support we need.
But McConnell, Portman and the Senate? They're too busy rushing through judges, a Justice and..
6/
..an unqualified Fed nominee to do the work of finalizing a robust enough package that will provide the bridge we need
Their inaction is creating lose-lose decisions all over the country, including in Ohio, where leaders are paralyzed choosing between lives versus jobs lost.
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Their inaction is creating lose-lose decisions all over the country, including in Ohio, where leaders are paralyzed choosing between lives versus jobs lost.
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And the truth is we will lose both as a result. Most needlessly.
So the true villain at the moment is Senator McConnell, and cowardly lemmings like Portman.
Think about it: if 3 Senators were to break with McConnell and say, it's time to pass robust public support that..
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So the true villain at the moment is Senator McConnell, and cowardly lemmings like Portman.
Think about it: if 3 Senators were to break with McConnell and say, it's time to pass robust public support that..
8/
...would provide the bridge to keep everything going until vaccines are ready, that would allow much tougher, science-driven measures to be imposed by Governors, and untold lives, jobs AND businesses would be saved.
And unlike the Spring, they can take this step...
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And unlike the Spring, they can take this step...
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...knowing that the end of this is coming due to progress with vaccines.
So:
1) we have vaccines coming
2) we need to build a bridge for a few months
3) the House has built half of it
10/
So:
1) we have vaccines coming
2) we need to build a bridge for a few months
3) the House has built half of it
10/
If the Senate fails to do its part, it will be one of the deadliest acts of political cowardice in American history.
And Portman, McConnell & co. should spend the rest of their lives having to answer for the 10,000s of needless deaths--or more--their inaction caused.
END
And Portman, McConnell & co. should spend the rest of their lives having to answer for the 10,000s of needless deaths--or more--their inaction caused.
END
