Started by rustywalker42 · · 👁 54 views · 2K replies
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hollowviper said:So, what now? I suppose we can expect the criteria to be completely inconsistent from one state to another. It clearly all comes down to whatever the local officials decide to do.
Jerry Robinson56 said:Then there is the matter of the actual number of cases; one really ought to exercise some intellectual rigor instead of being purely self-interested.
The criteria remain identical... yet the outcomes vary wildly, do they not?
Matthew Jackson2 said:Look, there are actually people whose entire job description is to hunt down and penalize those ten specific individuals...
...they’re just too preoccupied scanning passes to actually get anything done.
Regarding these passes, the sheer volume being issued is staggering, and frankly, it highlights how much of a failure this whole measure has been. Sure, maybe they caught a few fools breaking quarantine, but you have to wonder if they could have snagged way more if the police weren't stuck monitoring thousands of checkpoints all across the country.
And don't even get me started on the technology we already have at our disposal. They have those vans equipped with automatic license plate readers that trigger alerts to patrols—it would have been incredibly easy to use that same tech to specifically target vehicles belonging to people under isolation orders or their family members. If they hadn't botched everything with that cowardly attempt at a last-minute legislative pivot, they could have easily utilized mobile phone data for surveillance instead.
Furthermore, since the ultimate goal here is supposedly to reduce travel, the most efficient way to achieve that is simply to create congestion. In a roundabout way, these passes end up doing exactly that—you can bet a lot more people would just skip the trip if they knew they’d be stuck sitting in a massive line. Now, considering that outdoor construction isn't banned and most major American cities typically postpone huge infrastructure projects until they have less impact on daily life, traffic would have plummeted if they had just kicked off those projects now. We might have had to spend more upfront, sure, but that money would have pumped directly back into the economy, and the investment would pay itself off once everything is back up and running with better connectivity.
In the meantime, the police could actually be out doing their real jobs instead of wasting their lives at stationary checkpoints.
Matthew Jackson2 said:Look, there are actually people whose entire job description is to hunt down and penalize those ten specific individuals...
...they’re just too preoccupied scanning passes to actually get anything done.
Regarding these passes, the sheer volume being issued is staggering, and frankly, it highlights how much of a failure this whole measure has been. Sure, maybe they caught a few fools breaking quarantine, but you have to wonder if they could have snagged way more if the police weren't stuck monitoring thousands of checkpoints all across the country.
And don't even get me started on the technology we already have at our disposal. They have those vans equipped with automatic license plate readers that trigger alerts to patrols—it would have been incredibly easy to use that same tech to specifically target vehicles belonging to people under isolation orders or their family members. If they hadn't botched everything with that cowardly attempt at a last-minute legislative pivot, they could have easily utilized mobile phone data for surveillance instead.
Furthermore, since the ultimate goal here is supposedly to reduce travel, the most efficient way to achieve that is simply to create congestion. In a roundabout way, these passes end up doing exactly that—you can bet a lot more people would just skip the trip if they knew they’d be stuck sitting in a massive line. Now, considering that outdoor construction isn't banned and most major American cities typically postpone huge infrastructure projects until they have less impact on daily life, traffic would have plummeted if they had just kicked off those projects now. We might have had to spend more upfront, sure, but that money would have pumped directly back into the economy, and the investment would pay itself off once everything is back up and running with better connectivity.
In the meantime, the police could actually be out doing their real jobs instead of wasting their lives at stationary checkpoints.
Alexander Thompson said:So you mean like how travel restrictions applied to both Chicago and a tiny town in rural Illinois? I mean, sure, the "criterion" is technically the same (city/township), but the actual situations are worlds apart, don't you think?
stormybadger8 said:Way to go. Bravo. 🙂
Go ahead. Prove that banning travel between a small town of 2,000, a mid-sized suburb of 8,000, and a little town of 3,000 actually accomplished anything. I'm waiting.
They issued 12,000 permits across towns A, B, and C. Just great. 😵
And then there’s the local precinct. They flat-out refused to handle the measure because the towns they cover—Town A, Town B, and Town C—can't stop bickering long enough to agree on anything. Typical.
That's exactly what's happening in my town. It’s a total circus, honestly. 🤦
Talking nonsense about how they used those kinds of measures in China, Korea, or wherever else... please.
First off, they don't have 600 municipalities for a population of 3.5 million. And they definitely don't have ten cops on duty who are supposed to be monitoring forty different routes between Town A, Town B, and Town C. Give me a break.
Only a genius Secretary could dream up this kind of stupidity. Clearly, they haven't spent a single second dealing with how things actually work on the ground. Real life? Never heard of it.
Look, given how things actually look on the ground, calling this a "measure" is a joke. No sane person would even call it that. It isn't one.
At the end of the day, it’s basically just a glorified wish list—completely unrealistic and impossible to control.
In a perfect world, that measure would have done the exact same thing as "stay at home." But let’s be real—it actually backfired because it just pissed everyone off.
It’s basically the same thing, except this whole mess actually cost a fortune. Between developing the apps, server costs, toner, printers, security stamps, and all that nonsense for making passes... it was just a massive waste of money.
Of course. And let's not forget the massive pile of nerves belonging to everyone tasked with issuing, processing, and micromanaging those damn permits.
At the end of the day, it all just boils down to whether people actually have the decency to follow the #StayHome order or not. Pure willpower. That's it.
stormybadger8 said:Way to go. Bravo. 🙂
Go ahead. Prove that banning travel between a small town of 2,000, a mid-sized suburb of 8,000, and a little town of 3,000 actually accomplished anything. I'm waiting.
They issued 12,000 permits across towns A, B, and C. Just great. 😵
And then there’s the local precinct. They flat-out refused to handle the measure because the towns they cover—Town A, Town B, and Town C—can't stop bickering long enough to agree on anything. Typical.
That's exactly what's happening in my town. It’s a total circus, honestly. 🤦
Talking nonsense about how they used those kinds of measures in China, Korea, or wherever else... please.
First off, they don't have 600 municipalities for a population of 3.5 million. And they definitely don't have ten cops on duty who are supposed to be monitoring forty different routes between Town A, Town B, and Town C. Give me a break.
Only a genius Secretary could dream up this kind of stupidity. Clearly, they haven't spent a single second dealing with how things actually work on the ground. Real life? Never heard of it.
Look, given how things actually look on the ground, calling this a "measure" is a joke. No sane person would even call it that. It isn't one.
At the end of the day, it’s basically just a glorified wish list—completely unrealistic and impossible to control.
In a perfect world, that measure would have done the exact same thing as "stay at home." But let’s be real—it actually backfired because it just pissed everyone off.
It’s basically the same thing, except this whole mess actually cost a fortune. Between developing the apps, server costs, toner, printers, security stamps, and all that nonsense for making passes... it was just a massive waste of money.
Of course. And let's not forget the massive pile of nerves belonging to everyone tasked with issuing, processing, and micromanaging those damn permits.
At the end of the day, it all just boils down to whether people actually have the decency to follow the #StayHome order or not. Pure willpower. That's it.
stormybadger8 said:Way to go. Bravo. 🙂
Go ahead. Prove that banning travel between a small town of 2,000, a mid-sized suburb of 8,000, and a little town of 3,000 actually accomplished anything. I'm waiting.
They issued 12,000 permits across towns A, B, and C. Just great. 😵
And then there’s the local precinct. They flat-out refused to handle the measure because the towns they cover—Town A, Town B, and Town C—can't stop bickering long enough to agree on anything. Typical.
That's exactly what's happening in my town. It’s a total circus, honestly. 🤦
Talking nonsense about how they used those kinds of measures in China, Korea, or wherever else... please.
First off, they don't have 600 municipalities for a population of 3.5 million. And they definitely don't have ten cops on duty who are supposed to be monitoring forty different routes between Town A, Town B, and Town C. Give me a break.
Only a genius Secretary could dream up this kind of stupidity. Clearly, they haven't spent a single second dealing with how things actually work on the ground. Real life? Never heard of it.
Look, given how things actually look on the ground, calling this a "measure" is a joke. No sane person would even call it that. It isn't one.
At the end of the day, it’s basically just a glorified wish list—completely unrealistic and impossible to control.
In a perfect world, that measure would have done the exact same thing as "stay at home." But let’s be real—it actually backfired because it just pissed everyone off.
It’s basically the same thing, except this whole mess actually cost a fortune. Between developing the apps, server costs, toner, printers, security stamps, and all that nonsense for making passes... it was just a massive waste of money.
Of course. And let's not forget the massive pile of nerves belonging to everyone tasked with issuing, processing, and micromanaging those damn permits.
At the end of the day, it all just boils down to whether people actually have the decency to follow the #StayHome order or not. Pure willpower. That's it.
stormybadger8 said:Way to go. Bravo. 🙂
Go ahead. Prove that banning travel between a small town of 2,000, a mid-sized suburb of 8,000, and a little town of 3,000 actually accomplished anything. I'm waiting.
They issued 12,000 permits across towns A, B, and C. Just great. 😵
And then there’s the local precinct. They flat-out refused to handle the measure because the towns they cover—Town A, Town B, and Town C—can't stop bickering long enough to agree on anything. Typical.
That's exactly what's happening in my town. It’s a total circus, honestly. 🤦
Talking nonsense about how they used those kinds of measures in China, Korea, or wherever else... please.
First off, they don't have 600 municipalities for a population of 3.5 million. And they definitely don't have ten cops on duty who are supposed to be monitoring forty different routes between Town A, Town B, and Town C. Give me a break.
Only a genius Secretary could dream up this kind of stupidity. Clearly, they haven't spent a single second dealing with how things actually work on the ground. Real life? Never heard of it.
Look, given how things actually look on the ground, calling this a "measure" is a joke. No sane person would even call it that. It isn't one.
At the end of the day, it’s basically just a glorified wish list—completely unrealistic and impossible to control.
In a perfect world, that measure would have done the exact same thing as "stay at home." But let’s be real—it actually backfired because it just pissed everyone off.
It’s basically the same thing, except this whole mess actually cost a fortune. Between developing the apps, server costs, toner, printers, security stamps, and all that nonsense for making passes... it was just a massive waste of money.
Of course. And let's not forget the massive pile of nerves belonging to everyone tasked with issuing, processing, and micromanaging those damn permits.
At the end of the day, it all just boils down to whether people actually have the decency to follow the #StayHome order or not. Pure willpower. That's it.
stormybadger8 said:Way to go. Bravo. 🙂
Go ahead. Prove that banning travel between a small town of 2,000, a mid-sized suburb of 8,000, and a little town of 3,000 actually accomplished anything. I'm waiting.
They issued 12,000 permits across towns A, B, and C. Just great. 😵
And then there’s the local precinct. They flat-out refused to handle the measure because the towns they cover—Town A, Town B, and Town C—can't stop bickering long enough to agree on anything. Typical.
That's exactly what's happening in my town. It’s a total circus, honestly. 🤦
Talking nonsense about how they used those kinds of measures in China, Korea, or wherever else... please.
First off, they don't have 600 municipalities for a population of 3.5 million. And they definitely don't have ten cops on duty who are supposed to be monitoring forty different routes between Town A, Town B, and Town C. Give me a break.
Only a genius Secretary could dream up this kind of stupidity. Clearly, they haven't spent a single second dealing with how things actually work on the ground. Real life? Never heard of it.
Look, given how things actually look on the ground, calling this a "measure" is a joke. No sane person would even call it that. It isn't one.
At the end of the day, it’s basically just a glorified wish list—completely unrealistic and impossible to control.
In a perfect world, that measure would have done the exact same thing as "stay at home." But let’s be real—it actually backfired because it just pissed everyone off.
It’s basically the same thing, except this whole mess actually cost a fortune. Between developing the apps, server costs, toner, printers, security stamps, and all that nonsense for making passes... it was just a massive waste of money.
Of course. And let's not forget the massive pile of nerves belonging to everyone tasked with issuing, processing, and micromanaging those damn permits.
At the end of the day, it all just boils down to whether people actually have the decency to follow the #StayHome order or not. Pure willpower. That's it.
Jerry Robinson56 said:Turn off the engine and actually use your brain for once...
Travel restrictions have been an established concept since the days of the early American colonies.
Do you have a link?
It should be obvious to you that there is no alternative—it is either quarantine or nothing (and a quarantine offers a wide array of measures; it isn't necessarily "total").
Your inability to comprehend this only confirms the stupidity, though certainly not the kind you are implying... It is the classic affliction of intelligent people who fail to realize that others exist who are even more capable, and the unbearable arrogance of their own assumptions ...
Quite the opposite; I am referring to the sheer incompetence of the local residents who were unable to come to an agreement.
Perhaps you could actually step up and assist your local municipality once you identify the core issue. But then again, complaining from the sidelines is certainly the path of least resistance, isn't it?
It relies on conscience and moral awareness... a fact you seem to have grasped. But tell me, how would you handle those lacking a conscience? I would personally suggest rehab for the senseless, and perhaps some serious re-education for the unprincipled.
It is a far cry from a civilized society when people must be taught to value their responsibilities only upon their return...
What is your approach?
Though, I suspect many would remain dissatisfied with such solutions, wouldn't they?
P.S. Attempting to manufacture things with a 3D printer is a significantly greater folly... surely you haven't missed that?
Alexander Thompson said:So, they basically told everyone in Miami to just stay inside their houses—and then asked travelers coming from some sketchy parts of the country to just... self-isolate? I mean, I guess—but there had to be smarter ways to handle this than that, right?
Jerry Robinson56 said:🤣 Don't delude yourself; of course they exist, it’s just a matter of catching them before it's too late...
You haven't the slightest inkling of the scale of such an undertaking. Even if we were all perfectly disciplined and "on the grid," it wouldn't matter.
Authorities don't bother with sanctions when these fools commit blatant crimes or acts of violence repeatedly.
Passes are merely a necessary evil, a transitional phase. Try to grasp the fundamental logic behind localized containment.
Jerry Robinson56 said:🤣 Don't delude yourself; of course they exist, it’s just a matter of catching them before it's too late...
You haven't the slightest inkling of the scale of such an undertaking. Even if we were all perfectly disciplined and "on the grid," it wouldn't matter.
Authorities don't bother with sanctions when these fools commit blatant crimes or acts of violence repeatedly.
Passes are merely a necessary evil, a transitional phase. Try to grasp the fundamental logic behind localized containment.
Matthew Jackson2 said:So, essentially, our primary issue is a broken system, rather than the behavior of the public itself.
The epidemiologists over in Canada called this exact same measure unnecessary and excessive. Yet here we are, with our own officials digging their heels in to maintain it, even though it’s clearly insane. To date, a third of the adult population already holds a pass, and these little political cliques are starting to cluster together because they've realized the whole thing isn't sustainable. It's just that nobody has the guts to stand up and tell the Emperor he's wearing no clothes.
Matthew Jackson2 said:So, essentially, our primary issue is a broken system, rather than the behavior of the public itself.
The epidemiologists over in Canada called this exact same measure unnecessary and excessive. Yet here we are, with our own officials digging their heels in to maintain it, even though it’s clearly insane. To date, a third of the adult population already holds a pass, and these little political cliques are starting to cluster together because they've realized the whole thing isn't sustainable. It's just that nobody has the guts to stand up and tell the Emperor he's wearing no clothes.
Matthew Jackson2 said:So, essentially, our primary issue is a broken system, rather than the behavior of the public itself.
The epidemiologists over in Canada called this exact same measure unnecessary and excessive. Yet here we are, with our own officials digging their heels in to maintain it, even though it’s clearly insane. To date, a third of the adult population already holds a pass, and these little political cliques are starting to cluster together because they've realized the whole thing isn't sustainable. It's just that nobody has the guts to stand up and tell the Emperor he's wearing no clothes.
Anthony Jackson2 said:The fact that COVID managed to infiltrate nursing homes and care facilities—hitting the most vulnerable head-on—is proof enough that the task force completely missed the mark with their strategy and focus. On top of that, they burned through an absurd amount of time and resources on these pointless measures, all for absolutely nothing.
Jerry Robinson56 said:Please suggest something... I haven't been following the situation "over there" could you provide a link. I suspect you might have conflated two different things, or perhaps I wasn't clear enough... quarantine protocols have been established since the days of the early American colonies 😁 though even the British had their own isolated outposts back then.
Limiting movement within the home is a sound approach.
Jerry Robinson56 said:I wouldn't go that far... your premises are flawed. It wasn't possible to freeze the situation in place; at best, one could only attempt to move toward a state of heightened vigilance. When you are dealing with incompetent bureaucrats and opportunists, such as that individual from Chicago, you simply cannot expect to rely on those tasked with implementation. For instance, they didn't even have a functioning computer in the facility... which is perfectly consistent with that idiot's track record.
The virus is everywhere around us; the only variables are the viral load, the duration of the virus's lifespan, and the strength of one's immune system. If it doesn't reach the lungs, it isn't nearly as dangerous.
Naturally, there is always the possibility of exaggeration... that things aren't quite as dire as presented. However, I find myself disinclined to believe that.
Jesse Hughes6 said:You missed the point entirely.
The guy was trying to explain that back during the era of those maritime republics, it wasn't the locals being quarantined, but the foreigners coming in.
You’re just way too caught up in your own theories to catch the slight hint of irony in his message.
The virus isn't just floating around us.
A virus lives inside an infected person.
Jesse Hughes6 said:You missed the point entirely.
The guy was trying to explain that back during the era of those maritime republics, it wasn't the locals being quarantined, but the foreigners coming in.
You’re just way too caught up in your own theories to catch the slight hint of irony in his message.
The virus isn't just floating around us.
A virus lives inside an infected person.
Jerry Robinson56 said:One ought to exercise caution when making such sweeping declarations... do you actually possess a solution, or perhaps an alternative worth considering?
It has been common knowledge for quite some time that the system is broken. However, they have no leverage and remain far too lenient. In my estimation, what they are currently attempting is adequate enough.
The current circumstances would necessitate rigorous measures—measures that are not only unpopular but inherently inhumane. The solitary error made was beginning this process far too late.
They could have utilized a venue like Madison Square Garden to confine those who refuse to follow established protocols without a compelling reason. One might also suggest placing the local mayor in isolation so he stops polluting the atmosphere during this period.
If one does not adhere strictly to the agreement, there will inevitably be collateral damage.
You may be a person of conscience and awareness, but others certainly are not... and so you suffer the consequences.
It is a layered issue if you are referring to the passes.
The central task force can only make broad decisions, yet as you can see, the country remains fragmented; certain regions reach agreements, others do not, some follow recommendations while others sweep them under the rug, and even religious institutions are reacting in panic, calling upon their congregants...
It is essential that life proceeds and that basic necessities are met. This situation points toward something deeper: the inherent unsustainability of the capitalist model of exploitation.
Jerry Robinson56 said:One ought to exercise caution when making such sweeping declarations... do you actually possess a solution, or perhaps an alternative worth considering?
It has been common knowledge for quite some time that the system is broken. However, they have no leverage and remain far too lenient. In my estimation, what they are currently attempting is adequate enough.
The current circumstances would necessitate rigorous measures—measures that are not only unpopular but inherently inhumane. The solitary error made was beginning this process far too late.
They could have utilized a venue like Madison Square Garden to confine those who refuse to follow established protocols without a compelling reason. One might also suggest placing the local mayor in isolation so he stops polluting the atmosphere during this period.
If one does not adhere strictly to the agreement, there will inevitably be collateral damage.
You may be a person of conscience and awareness, but others certainly are not... and so you suffer the consequences.
It is a layered issue if you are referring to the passes.
The central task force can only make broad decisions, yet as you can see, the country remains fragmented; certain regions reach agreements, others do not, some follow recommendations while others sweep them under the rug, and even religious institutions are reacting in panic, calling upon their congregants...
It is essential that life proceeds and that basic necessities are met. This situation points toward something deeper: the inherent unsustainability of the capitalist model of exploitation.
Jerry Robinson56 said:One ought to exercise caution when making such sweeping declarations... do you actually possess a solution, or perhaps an alternative worth considering?
It has been common knowledge for quite some time that the system is broken. However, they have no leverage and remain far too lenient. In my estimation, what they are currently attempting is adequate enough.
The current circumstances would necessitate rigorous measures—measures that are not only unpopular but inherently inhumane. The solitary error made was beginning this process far too late.
They could have utilized a venue like Madison Square Garden to confine those who refuse to follow established protocols without a compelling reason. One might also suggest placing the local mayor in isolation so he stops polluting the atmosphere during this period.
If one does not adhere strictly to the agreement, there will inevitably be collateral damage.
You may be a person of conscience and awareness, but others certainly are not... and so you suffer the consequences.
It is a layered issue if you are referring to the passes.
The central task force can only make broad decisions, yet as you can see, the country remains fragmented; certain regions reach agreements, others do not, some follow recommendations while others sweep them under the rug, and even religious institutions are reacting in panic, calling upon their congregants...
It is essential that life proceeds and that basic necessities are met. This situation points toward something deeper: the inherent unsustainability of the capitalist model of exploitation.
Jerry Robinson56 said:One ought to exercise caution when making such sweeping declarations... do you actually possess a solution, or perhaps an alternative worth considering?
It has been common knowledge for quite some time that the system is broken. However, they have no leverage and remain far too lenient. In my estimation, what they are currently attempting is adequate enough.
The current circumstances would necessitate rigorous measures—measures that are not only unpopular but inherently inhumane. The solitary error made was beginning this process far too late.
They could have utilized a venue like Madison Square Garden to confine those who refuse to follow established protocols without a compelling reason. One might also suggest placing the local mayor in isolation so he stops polluting the atmosphere during this period.
If one does not adhere strictly to the agreement, there will inevitably be collateral damage.
You may be a person of conscience and awareness, but others certainly are not... and so you suffer the consequences.
It is a layered issue if you are referring to the passes.
The central task force can only make broad decisions, yet as you can see, the country remains fragmented; certain regions reach agreements, others do not, some follow recommendations while others sweep them under the rug, and even religious institutions are reacting in panic, calling upon their congregants...
It is essential that life proceeds and that basic necessities are met. This situation points toward something deeper: the inherent unsustainability of the capitalist model of exploitation.
wearywolf252 said:You have to admit, the geography makes a massive difference. You can't compare us to Canada, where the population is spread out relatively evenly across a compact area. Here, everything is lopsided. Half the people are clustered around the Greater New York area, then you’ve got all those coastal islands and the heavy traffic down in Florida. Then there’s the Midwest, which feels completely isolated from the rest, and places like the West Coast that were hit hard early on because of how connected they are to international hubs. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison.
Matthew Jackson2 said:I suppose I should tread carefully here, but you seem to be under the impression that I’m looking for an alternative—as if my only grievance is that I haven't provided a better way of doing things while simultaneously acknowledging they actually do a decent job. Honestly, I find myself at a complete loss for words; I truly have nothing to add to that particular line of reasoning.
Look, I consider myself a reasonable man—a level-headed individual who understands the need for order—but there comes a point where patience isn't just tested, it’s systematically dismantled. If I spend the first week being cooperative, then the second week trying to play by the rules, and by the third week I see the situation spiraling further into chaos while the restrictions only get more draconian and suffocating, what exactly am I supposed to do? At what precise moment am I expected to simply snap? I mean, I can sit here and be the only one following every single arbitrary mandate, but eventually, I’m going to reach a breaking point where I just want to yell, "To hell with all of you, I refuse to be the only sane person left in this circus." Maybe I won't be the one to lose my cool, but let’s be realistic: when things get this out of hand, at least ten percent of the population is going to hit that wall and finally push back. This whole thing has completely spun out of control.
The only other way this plays out is if people finally decide to stop waiting for permission and start taking matters into their own hands by carving out their own version of justice—and honestly, if that happens, this whole damn pandemic situation starts looking like a much smaller problem than what we're actually facing.
If the Secretary of Homeland Security can't guarantee that officers on the ground are actually following protocol, or if the Secretary of Health and Human Services can't ensure that an ER isn't turning away someone in desperate need of life-saving care, then we have reached a point where they’ve completely lost their grip on the very systems they claim to oversee. It’s a fundamental breakdown of leadership. In any other professional setting—and I mean really high-stakes environments like a major hospital administration or even a large corporate firm here in the States—you don't just sit by when things go sideways; you resign. You step down because the responsibility rests at the top. During a crisis, that internal accountability shouldn't just be a suggestion; it should be the absolute bedrock of how we function. When a failure occurs, the immediate supervisor has to act instantly. If they fail to act, their superior is obligated to step in and course-correct immediately. But if that entire chain of command remains paralyzed, if this systemic refusal to respond trickles all the way up to the Cabinet level, then the conversation is effectively over. At that stage, there is no longer a functioning government to debate with, because the leadership has essentially abdicated its duty.
I mean, sure, if you're talking about the islands, there's a certain logic to it—especially those spots that get completely cut off from the mainland when a massive storm rolls in off the coast—but honestly, everyone else in the region is just going to gravitate toward the four major medical hubs anyway.
Jerry Robinson56 said:Have you perhaps failed to consider that the true objective is the transfer of knowledge, rather than the mere movement of capital?
There is always a simpler path... and a more efficient one. One simply has to choose.
But I suppose we shall continue with this philosophical posturing.
Anthony Jackson2 said:The fact that COVID managed to infiltrate nursing homes and care facilities—hitting the most vulnerable head-on—is proof enough that the task force completely missed the mark with their strategy and focus. On top of that, they burned through an absurd amount of time and resources on these pointless measures, all for absolutely nothing.
Matthew Jackson2 said:I suppose I should tread carefully here, but you seem to be under the impression that I’m looking for an alternative—as if my only grievance is that I haven't provided a better way of doing things while simultaneously acknowledging they actually do a decent job. Honestly, I find myself at a complete loss for words; I truly have nothing to add to that particular line of reasoning.
Look, I consider myself a reasonable man—a level-headed individual who understands the need for order—but there comes a point where patience isn't just tested, it’s systematically dismantled. If I spend the first week being cooperative, then the second week trying to play by the rules, and by the third week I see the situation spiraling further into chaos while the restrictions only get more draconian and suffocating, what exactly am I supposed to do? At what precise moment am I expected to simply snap? I mean, I can sit here and be the only one following every single arbitrary mandate, but eventually, I’m going to reach a breaking point where I just want to yell, "To hell with all of you, I refuse to be the only sane person left in this circus." Maybe I won't be the one to lose my cool, but let’s be realistic: when things get this out of hand, at least ten percent of the population is going to hit that wall and finally push back. This whole thing has completely spun out of control.
The only other way this plays out is if people finally decide to stop waiting for permission and start taking matters into their own hands by carving out their own version of justice—and honestly, if that happens, this whole damn pandemic situation starts looking like a much smaller problem than what we're actually facing.
If the Secretary of Homeland Security can't guarantee that officers on the ground are actually following protocol, or if the Secretary of Health and Human Services can't ensure that an ER isn't turning away someone in desperate need of life-saving care, then we have reached a point where they’ve completely lost their grip on the very systems they claim to oversee. It’s a fundamental breakdown of leadership. In any other professional setting—and I mean really high-stakes environments like a major hospital administration or even a large corporate firm here in the States—you don't just sit by when things go sideways; you resign. You step down because the responsibility rests at the top. During a crisis, that internal accountability shouldn't just be a suggestion; it should be the absolute bedrock of how we function. When a failure occurs, the immediate supervisor has to act instantly. If they fail to act, their superior is obligated to step in and course-correct immediately. But if that entire chain of command remains paralyzed, if this systemic refusal to respond trickles all the way up to the Cabinet level, then the conversation is effectively over. At that stage, there is no longer a functioning government to debate with, because the leadership has essentially abdicated its duty.
I mean, sure, if you're talking about the islands, there's a certain logic to it—especially those spots that get completely cut off from the mainland when a massive storm rolls in off the coast—but honestly, everyone else in the region is just going to gravitate toward the four major medical hubs anyway.
