Showing posts with label US Elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Elections. Show all posts

10 January 2021

Pandemic surge

Factors around the world conspired to cause a surge in coronavirus transmission in the final weeks of 2020.  In the US, the US elections and corresponding rallies were followed by the Thanksgiving holiday with noncompliant holidaymakers and Trumpers travelling to all corners of the country.  Last week, on the 6th of January when the electoral college met to count the votes and confirm Joe Biden and Kamal Harris' election victory, Trump incited his supporters to storm the Capitol and riot in protest. The country is in a very serious situation, and I'm afraid that like Pandora's Box the evil will not be suppressed this time. How very sad to watch the world's oldest democracy decline. I suppose that's how the Roman Empire went down. 

That was followed by Christmas and New Year celebrations around the world, fueled by virus variants in the UK and SA with enhanced transmissibility. That caused a massive surge in cases in the UK and Ireland as well as throughout Europe. Even the Pope's personal doctor died of complications of Covid. Meanwhile, the bells rang in Brexit as it took its final toll even with a deal. So long and enjoy all the fish. 

The world has surpassed 90 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and almost 2 million dead. In Ireland, I think our peak was reached on January 8 at 8227 cases. That makes sense as it is 7 days after New Year's parties and ocean swims that turned out to be superspreaders events. Even Westport, which has had little prevalence, has now experienced a surge. We know of multiple cases personally. Lockdown should mean that the transmission will slow from yesterday on, but it's in the community and its not going away. 

Meanwhile, two vaccines have been approved in the EU -- Pfizer's and Moderna's -- both mRNA vaccines. We won't be among those immunised early on. I can't believe we'll get it before the end of March in this country as they are quite slow to roll it out. I am weary of the fear and anxiety. But I will take maximum precautions even after immunization and into the summer months. 


COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Last updated: January 10, 2021, 11:36 GMT

Coronavirus Cases:

90,173,303

Deaths:

1,936,554

Recovered:

64,572,624

25 November 2020

Uncommon sense




Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire. 

The people of the United States of America have shown this year that they have some sense. They have elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and VP to be inaugurated in January. Record numbers of people voted this year. Perhaps Trump, who will go down as the worst President in American history, will be best known as the man who mobilised Americans to vote in droves during a pandemic. No more apathy. It was a clear and decisive margin of more than 6 million in the popular vote and a clear win of the electoral vote (306-232). Moreover, almost 154 million voters turned out -- that's almost half the population of the US. More than 100 million votes were cast early either by mail or in person as states took into account safety during the pandemic. 

The people showed uncommon sense in choosing a decent and honourable man and a woman of colour both of whom speak in full sentences and make all the sense in the world. Biden had a birthday after the election and he will take office as the oldest President in history at the age of 78. Kamala will make history as the first female VP, and the highest-ranking woman of colour. Finally, girls everywhere will be able to see themselves in important governing roles. Another first will be that President-Elect Biden's wife Jill is a PhD and Dr. Biden plans to continue to teach. We should call her Dr FLOTUS. The Second Gentleman, as VPE Harris' husband Doug Emhoff is to be known, is Jewish. There has never before been a SGOTUS and never has a spouse of POTUS or VPOTUS been Jewish. 

The US has the most cases of coronavirus infection in the world at nearly 13 million and more than 264,000 deaths. Trump tried to overturn the election results and was shut down by the courts, Guiliani made a fool of himself with melting hair colour and bizarre conspiracy theories. And still, they have extraordinary support. But they lost. 

I believe that Biden-Harris and all the smart people they are bringing in can heal and unite. But it's not going to be easy. It is so refreshing to hear people say reasonable things. It feels like integrity is returning to the People's House. 

Thanks be to God and the American people for restoring some order in the world. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all. 


I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing. -Socrates

Turnout statistics
ElectionVoting eligible population (VEP)% Turnout of VEP
2008229,945,00057.1%
2012235,248,00054.9%
2016230,931,92159.2%
2020239,247,18266.4% - 72.1%