WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL?

The European Union has managed to coral the virus and is about to open their borders on Aug 1, without having to quarantine for two weeks. The EU has threatened not to allow any travelers from the United States. In a LA times article this week, Thomas Jaeger a political scientist at Cologne University said, “People are completely shocked by the way the United States has mishandled the crisis. The one nation they thought they could always rely on for leadership and help isn’t even able to help itself. ”

Donald Trump’s response was to threaten to place tariffs on 30 European products. After China ate his lunch on tariffs and we are still paying for his ineptitude he is at it again. This man does not learn. 

The Chinese debacle on tariffs caused electronics from China to cost more without a lower cost substitute and U.S. buyers paid the toll. The tariffs the Chinese used were targeted to create the most damage. They put tariffs on U.S. soybeans and whiskey. Soybeans are a worldwide commodity and are price sensitive due to its market size. With China having alternate sources for both products we lose market share from the largest importer. The fallout was paying farmers a larger bailout than the auto industry in 2008 and they paid it back and weren’t given the money.  For an economist he should have learned about fungibility of goods.

Is he about to do the same thing with the European Union? For what? To spread our misery to others and potentially kill them?  The EU is being given a choice, a choice which has morbid consequences and is a choice between public health and the economy. This choice has been orchestrated by Trump. 

Trump, the same dotard that has pushed away the public health experts and pushed for the economy to prematurely open.  The results can now be seen in both Texas where they were the first to open, and Florida where there is current spike in cases.

By ignoring his medical advisors he is putting everyone at risk.  Trump’s example of no mask and no social distancing has been politicized and when travelers go to the EU will they comply?  The EU has something to think about.  At least the EU is thinking about the health of their citizens.

Holding super spreader event with a crowd of younger dotards in training that can be asymptomatic in a state where there are high concentrations of retirement communities and the elderly is wise? 

The problem Trump has is this: he thinks by ignoring the crisis it will go away. By concentrating on the economy the public health crisis is exploding. Trump’s mantra on testing  is, if you test you have more cases so don’t test and it will go away. Trump said testing should be slowed down so the numbers would not be as big. With Trump it’s all in the optics. 

When Trump said he wanted to slow down testing he was correct. The fewer the cases the more likely the EU will open their doors to our roving Covid-19 carriers. This week he announced his administration was closing down federally funded testing sites. Without testing there is no control of where the spread is and where it is going so preparations can be made.

This planning can save lives, however we know opening the economy and the optics are the only things this president sees. It’s likely that the EU will allow Chinese and Cuban citizens in. The countries that currently have the worst outcomes in their response to the virus are the autocratic countries that ignored the initial signs and delayed any response. They are Russia, Brazil (where the president wantonly ignored warnings) and the United States, where Trump did the same.

 The EU finds it incredible that a superpower with its wealth and scientific acumen, cannot emulate countries like New Zealand that all but eradiated the virus. Even Greece which has both economic and  social woes, has managed to wage a successful battle against the virus, so why not the  U.S.? One word—TRUMP! 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when asked about the EU decision to be made he stressed cooperation.  This request rings hallow since Trump in the Oval office announced out of the blue a ban on European travelers in March without any diplomatic cooperation. Is Trump attempting to save our tourist industry at the expense of European lives?