You would think that maybe what would be the deciding factor in the scenario I wrote would be that NO ONE would believe it's ok for Congress to choose someone who is not one of the two candidates.....

I'm a Constitutionalist so I look at anything that violates the Constitution as instantly wrong legally and morally. Of course in that particular case there's only one remedy listed in the Constitution....

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"The White House abruptly ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending coronavirus tests for many people exposed to covid-19 infections, alarming health experts.

The CDC used to advise a test for anyone who had been within six feet of an infected person for 15 minutest or more, but now writes on its website "you do not necessarily need a test" unless you show symptons.

Experts fear the change will lead to more infections because symptomless carriers can still spread the disease, and without tests those outbreaks could spread undetected."

Above excerpt is taken from The Washington Post's daily Coronavirus Updates.

Personally, i've been using the LA county's free testing program to test myself whenever i've been to a different locale or just been out of town.

The test is free and easy to take, and I get the results back in 2 days.

I don't know if this latest change from the white house will impact my ability to register for a test without showing any symptoms.

But if the registration requirement becomes more difficult, ie, you need to show symptoms or even a doctor's note before getting the testing kit, then I'll know this is the result of the Republican led government turning the pandemic into a political weapon and pushing aside the public good for it's own political gains.

WAPO gets worse and worse. The "journalists" simply can not resist simply reporting the news without adding their personal slant to it.

I heard this news earlier. Could have positive or negative results. The data has been so inaccurate and misleading depending on who is collecting it, reporting it, or interpreting it that this change makes virtually no difference except to further political positions one way or another.

This is what happens when science becomes debatable. We can thank the "merchants of doubt," social media, SJW's, money in politics, and America's horrible education system for virtually all of these problems. The chickens are coming home to roost.

Don't discount the news even if it's from the Washington's Post.

If this new move from the WH impacts the citizen's ability to get free covid testing, then it impacts our daily lives negatively.

Unlike Trump, I believe in more testing. It's the only guide we have right now to determine whether we can pay a visit to our family elders, or to any close friends/ relatives.

Making the bare minimum efforts so we know on paper we're healthy and without virus is the very least we can do to help out one another.

On top of all the other guidelines, of course.

^I don't disagree. Uniform free testing for all at any time would be the ideal situation. But, for different reasons in different situations, is not always feasible. Cost, long lines, long wait times for results, different testing kits/methodologies, supply, etc.

I am just over the Left vs. Right debate and everyone pretending both sides aren't two faces of the same monster. We, the majority citizens are the ones suffering and shouldering the burdens of their mind-numbing b*tching at each other. I don't care the issue, neither side will agree to compromise on anything, guns, police violence, abortion, government spending, welfare reform, campaign reform, education reform, etc. The public majority has said it wants action in these areas. They don't get anything done and it's starting to cause festering wounds throughout the country.

Perhaps it's time to update our legislative system.

"Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E. The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. ... When a new law was proposed, all the citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on it."

Instead of voting for a local representative to represent us and make policy on our behalf, maybe we should have a more active role in shaping the policies ourselves.

The problem with any system ultimately is the people running them. Sooner or later the temptations of power begets corruption and corruption begets deterioration of the system and thus the quality of our lives.

The term: "Superspreader" is coined after people who attend events such as indoor parties, indoor mass gatherings, church prayers, etc while carrying the virus unknowingly. These people will typically infect dozens or more per event.

All the more reason to make testing programs easily available for the general public and advertise testing campaigns nationally.

Trump's refusal to do so is going to go down in history as one of the main reason this pandemic refuses to go away in the us.

As the Fed. Govt. works now I don't see anything significant changes happening for many years. The exception might be when we have a President with the same party the majority in both the Senate and House. That would have to stay that way for several Presidential terms and if the other party ever got control the standard procedure now is to reverse everything that was done.

Term limits and having the House and Senate health and retirement benefits the same as 'regular' citizens would help a lot but I think that's a pipe dream.

I agree.

Some are scared of that sort of thing happening. Rightly so. But frankly, after the lack of any progress on the national debt, the deficit, or any of the areas I mentioned above... I'm ready to see some changes. If they aren't good, we can reassess in 2 years, and then again in 4 years. But the average citizen's place in the country has been getting worse under both parties when power was shared between the 3 branches of government.

Rolling back previous policy progress has been the MO for sure. But, if the change is good enough it's harder to roll back. See the ACA. Lower class and lower middle class (including Republican voters) were able to afford insurance again (or ever?) and so the ACA has been very hard to replace. It's not a perfect situation as I don't think private insurance companies should have to cover pre-existing conditions. That's not insurance anymore. Like calling to insure your home after it's burned to the ground. But maybe a public and private option? I don't know, I'm no expert. All I know is that affordable health care (paid in taxes) should be available to all.

But I digress, I realize the thread is specifically about Trump, and it is convenient to blame him. But we live in a country of diverse peoples. The reason for the pandemic being what it is here is primarily the health care system, then the people. We have young people who don't listen to anything (I didn't keep up to date on current events before 30, unless it was 9/11 or something of the like), we have protests of all sorts going on all over the country, we've had a slew of disasters and have a few going on right now (good luck to those around Beaumont and the Sabine River tonight), the SJW folk berating everyone else, and we have the "masks infringe on my freedoms" people. Diversity is what makes this country great, but you take the good with the bad. We aren't all going to agree.

What it comes down to is that Americans have forgotten to value the person next to them as a fellow American. Instead, they are a competitor. We're a selfish bunch of a$$holes who want the greatest slice of the proverbial pie as possible. Whether it be through government handouts or shady business practices. You see it on the roads everyday, the grocery store, in government, etc.

I just want my 1 or 2 acres in the country so I can leave the crazy people to do their thing.

I agree.

We do live in a diverse country though I think at this juncture we are far more polar opposites on almost every issue. Diversity is now embroiled in which political party one favors and intensified as voting in the house and senate are strictly by party lines. Trump exploits the countries differences as life threatening and he is the only one that can fix it. And his followers must do anything and everything to protect his position.

Further, Trump demands total support of all republicans or face his wrath. That behavior incites his followers to be more radical as Trump's way becomes the norm of the party. Unfortunately that behavior is viewed as acceptable by some of the democratic leadership and citizens alike. Finding common ground doesn't start until the shooting stops. What I see is as a constantly escalating cold war.

I don't think the health system failed as much as it was a lack of supplies and equipment to do their job. Trump would not follow the CDC recommendations about what to do to get the virus under control. Even if my opinion is totally wrong Trump is still at fault. The buck stops with him. That's the job he swore an oath to do. He is responsible for what was or wasn't done from the first time he was briefed about the COVID 19 threat. If the health system is/was failing it is his to fix.

On another subject--what about Ohio steel mill and American Airlines layoffs after receiving funds not to do so. Ohio steel mill says business never got better. AA says if they get more funds they won't have to do the layoffs. I wonder if senior executives will get bonuses.