Musk commented on Twitter: “If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen (sp) on how Tesla is treated in the future.” He threatened to move his operations out of California.
Political failure
Most experts believe that the volume of testing for Covid-19 infection and antibodies in the US is still too low. Other countries are testing at higher rates and at a rate far lower than experts suggest is needed.
Meanwhile, the president continues to spread lies and sow confusion about how to respond to the pandemic. He is now openly attacking the value of testing without any basis in fact or science. He also falsely claims that (1) the US tests more than other countries, and (2) the only reason US infection number is so high is due to the false assertion that the US is testing at a very high rate. Because millions of Americans believe the president and not the experts, public confusion and discord on this point is likely increasing.
As shown below, data as of May 9 indicates that cumulative infections continues to rise at a nearly straight line rate, suggesting that lockdowns are not slowing the rate of new cases. Instead, despite lockdowns the data seems to be showing that new infections have been accumulating at a rather steady rate since the 2nd half of March. The curve my be flattened, but is it isn't sufficient to stop a relentless increase in infections.
Given the constant lies and disinformation about the pandemic and the increasing social damage that is causing, one has to ask if the lockdowns can reasonably be sustained or if they even can save America from developing herd immunity the old fashioned way. The president has been able to almost completely neutralize expert opinion right from the start. Early on, he simply ignored advice to do something about the pandemic and started making false statements that experts and/or facts directly contradict. The president backed by a relentless barrage of dark free speech, has been able to negate science, facts and expert opinion among an apparently growing number of Americans, maybe as much as 45% of the adult population.
What it looks like to me
My analysis of the data and relevant facts is indicates that we are in a situation where:1. Before lockdowns are relaxed, states will not be able to do enough testing for months or maybe at any point in time after that
2. Many or most states will open up knowing that they cannot sufficiently test their residents, while falsely claiming they can reopen safely
3. The rate of new infections is likely to increase, maybe to the point that the health care systems in at least some states are overwhelmed
4. The president will continue to mischaracterize and politicize the situation to deflect from his incompetence and the true nature of the situation we are in
5. The economic damage is now so severe that there probably is no practical choice but to start relaxing lockdowns now and hope for the best
6. There will probably be 1-2 million deaths by July of 2021, maybe several million more
7. Americans will be significantly to severely polarized over the pandemic; the president's supporters will claim he did a good to excellent job, but his critics, backed by facts and expert opinion, will claim he mostly to completely failed to respond competently, honestly or in the public interest
Given the president's incompetent response and corrupt, self-serving behavior, America is probably now between a rock and a hard place with no good option. We will have to go through a very bad experience with the pandemic. Significant pain and death is likely to last at least until July of 2021.
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