View Full Version : What One Thing Would You Change About The Staus Quo?
gimmethesimplelife
4-26-20, 5:13pm
I'll start - thanks to the shakeup the pandemic is causing the one thing I'd like to change in the US? Living wages for all. Perhaps the wealthy can flee to another nation state should this be too much for them to deal with? After the pandemic I'd be glad to offer such people parting coffee and donuts at an airport before their departing flight - kind of along the lines that I wish I could have offered coffee and donuts to Vietnam Era draft dodgers in Canada. We'll see how this plays out but I'm thinking with all the deficiencies of ALL worldwide countries laid bare by the coronavirus, likely there will be agitation/activism for a greater share of the pie once we can reassemble. Rob
I would like to see the extremist Right/Left come toward center and actually run this country for the people. ALL of the people-not the top 2%.
I think Reagan-who was a centrist, would be appalled at the state of the "parties" in our country. We are not great...we are the laughing stock of the 1st world:(
I would introduce universal health care. Wait until 120 days past the first Covid hospitalizations when the medical bill collectors start hounding unemployed Americans. $1200.00 won't go far.
frugal-one
4-26-20, 6:56pm
I would like to see the extremist Right/Left come toward center and actually run this country for the people. ALL of the people-not the top 2%.
I think Reagan-who was a centrist, would be appalled at the state of the "parties" in our country. We are not great...we are the laughing stock of the 1st world:(
I am getting trump jokes from my Canadian and German friends. trump is a baffoon and it is not hard to find things to make fun of.
I am getting trump jokes from my Canadian and German friends. trump is a baffoon and it is not hard to find things to make fun of.
Most of my family is in the Netherlands. They thought his election was a joke over there. A cousin actually messaged me asking if it was true.:(
Fintan O'Toole, in the Irish Times wrote an article entitled
THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT.
He posits that the status quo in the U.S. may have changed pretty much for good.
Fintan O'Toole, in the Irish Times wrote an article entitled
THE WORLD HAS LOVED, HATED AND ENVIED THE U.S. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PITY IT.
He posits that the status quo in the U.S. may have changed pretty much for good.
The status quo in the US changes pretty much for good on a daily basis. I see that as a good thing.
happystuff
4-27-20, 10:47am
Universal Healthcare.
catherine
4-27-20, 11:09am
Since universal healthcare has already been mentioned, I'll offer up sweeping changes in agri-business policy.
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more ofcus on critical thinking skills.
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more ofcus on critical thinking skills.
YES!
I'd like to see an end to pay for play politics, and a shortened campaign season.
Ditto on bae's proposal.
iris lilies
4-27-20, 11:58am
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more ofcus on critical thinking skills.
There’s a cadre of keyboard yakkers giving a physician a hard time over on Mr. Money mustache. The physician is treating Covid 19 patients with that malaria drug.
He is scientifically trained, a practitioner in the field, risking his own health and safety. It’s not an argument I would touch but the keyboard warriors don’t have those inhibitions because SCIENCE.
There’s a cadre of keyboard yakkers giving a physician a hard time over on Mr. Money mustache. The physician is treating Covid 19 patients with that malaria drug.
He is scientifically trained, a practitioner in the field, risking his own health and safety. It’s not an argument I would touch but the keyboard warriors don’t have those inhibitions because SCIENCE.
One gets the impression that if Trump had pooh-poohed that particular drug rather than mentioning it hopefully, we’d be hearing about all the blood he had on his hands for not promoting it.
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more ofcus on critical thinking skills.
I’d like people to be smarter too. Starting with me.
critical thinking skills
Critical thinking seems to be in short supply the last decade or so. I would like to see a strong return of the middle class. Perhaps returning some jobs to the Americas would help with that. I would also like to see massive changes in healthcare and agriculture. I would like to see elected fed officials have term limits-very tired of seeing the same old faces with their rhetoric. We need some fresh ideas and energy in this country.
ApatheticNoMore
4-27-20, 1:58pm
Yea I don't think things are ignorance. I think they are evil. Cheers. Tell me how much science education would it take for people NEVER EVER EVER to vote for Trump again, how many times do we need to play this "give the fascist power" game and "let's see how it turn out this time". People knew Trump was a profoundly selfish corrupt man with a likely personality disorder going in, that he would only care about himself, and lo and behold.
I could make a wish list of ideal policies, but really what would be the point.
frugal-one
4-27-20, 2:11pm
The status quo in the US changes pretty much for good on a daily basis. I see that as a good thing.
How?
frugal-one
4-27-20, 2:13pm
One gets the impression that if Trump had pooh-poohed that particular drug rather than mentioning it hopefully, we’d be hearing about all the blood he had on his hands for not promoting it.
The smart thing trump should do is keep his mouth shut. He is not a doctor or has any medical training. Let those who know what they are talking about promote what is good medicine.
How?
We rock back and forth between left and right, fear and complacency, prosperous and less so, on a constant basis. Voters are fickle, alliances shift, markets fluctuate all the time. What is a constant is that with every new technology, politician, pathogen or fad some hack pundit will portentously pronounce that this is a seismic change or perhaps existential threat. Trump is a ripple on the ocean, not some tsunami that will sweep everything away.
The smart thing trump should do is keep his mouth shut. He is not a doctor or has any medical training. Let those who know what they are talking about promote what is good medicine.
That is wise advice. And even “those who know what they are talking about” don’t seem to be speaking with one voice on the best strategy to preserve as many lives as possible, minimize the damage to the economy and preserve our traditional liberties.
gimmethesimplelife
4-27-20, 5:18pm
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more ofcus on critical thinking skills.YES! THIS! Rob
Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."
Pence has this down. He stands in the background nodding sympathetically at bad corona statistics while Trump blathers on.
frugal-one
4-27-20, 8:37pm
We rock back and forth between left and right, fear and complacency, prosperous and less so, on a constant basis. Voters are fickle, alliances shift, markets fluctuate all the time. What is a constant is that with every new technology, politician, pathogen or fad some hack pundit will portentously pronounce that this is a seismic change or perhaps existential threat. Trump is a ripple on the ocean, not some tsunami that will sweep everything away.
GOOBBLYDYGOOK. ... how is that good?
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more ofcus on critical thinking skills.
I discovered on the news today that there are conspiracy groups who blame 5G technology for the spread of CV-19. And so are destroying 5G communication towers in some place in Europe. My immediate thought was almost exactly that.
ApatheticNoMore
4-27-20, 9:18pm
The UK also handled it badly, do they also need more math and science education? I think they need to dump right wing governments. (Oz is the exception there, it's extremely right wing, and practices straight out anti-science denialism when it comes to climate change, the fires were a disaster they were warned of and did the opposite of prepare for, but they handled Covid pretty well). It's all a contradiction. But Covid doesn't really threaten their industries like admitting climate change does.
The 5g people probably have very little power, nutty though they might be, if they don't have powerful backers it won't matter. But as for actual people that have actual power: does anyone think almost anyone on the Trump administration including sir orange himself, Kuchner etc., went to some underfunded public schools with low test scores? Unfortunate as such schools might be, I don't think that's what we're looking at.
We rock back and forth between left and right, fear and complacency, prosperous and less so, on a constant basis. Voters are fickle, alliances shift, markets fluctuate all the time. What is a constant is that with every new technology, politician, pathogen or fad some hack pundit will portentously pronounce that this is a seismic change or perhaps existential threat. Trump is a ripple on the ocean, not some tsunami that will sweep everything away.
I wish I had your optimism. And I doubt the families of the 56,000+ and counting people dead from covid-19 share your optimism either. In just two months that's already more dead people than we lost in the entire Vietnam war. That war ended LBJ's political career. If this pandemic, and trump's pathetic handling of it, doesn't end Trump's then I guess we deserve however many dead people we end up with.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand they have almost ended the covid problem, and in South Korea they never had to do a major lockdown to keep it under control. The US, on the other hand, is likely to see the numbers keep rising, and the economy keep getting hammered, because "freedom".
ApatheticNoMore
4-27-20, 10:58pm
The US, on the other hand, is likely to see the numbers keep rising, and the economy keep getting hammered, because "freedom".
+1
ToomuchStuff
4-28-20, 1:00am
I'd like to see an improvement in the quality of basic science and math education in the USA, along with some more focus on critical thinking skills.
And/or temperament. In my humble experience, there are those, who can think critically, UNTIL something hits an emotion button. Others, don't have the skill set at all.
That is wise advice. And even “those who know what they are talking about” don’t seem to be speaking with one voice on the best strategy to preserve as many lives as possible, minimize the damage to the economy and preserve our traditional liberties.
LOL. You want an epidemiologist, an economic advisor and a constitutional lawyer, to agree?
iris lilies
4-28-20, 8:21am
LOL. You want an epidemiologist, an economic advisor and a constitutional lawyer, to agree?
I know, not gonna happen.
I think the governors and other key leaders of jurisdictions have a tough job these days and have been earning their money, I dont envy them.
And/or temperament. In my humble experience, there are those, who can think critically, UNTIL something hits an emotion button. Others, don't have the skill set at all.
LOL. You want an epidemiologist, an economic advisor and a constitutional lawyer, to agree?
No, I just don’t think we need to treat the diktats from on high as the voice of God. The folks who would like to direct our lives are always claiming to speak with the authority of “the science”, when in fact they are just human beings making the best guesses they can. There is no safe time or best time to allow people out of their houses, there’s just a balancing of the various costs and risks. Treating an individual’s walk on the beach like a threat to civilization just makes a fetish of authority.
Personally, I think most people’s idea of critical thinking is a set of opinions that matches their own.
Personally, I think most people’s idea of critical thinking is a set of opinions that matches their own.
Critical thinking is the ability to discern the value and relevance of opinions as well as facts. More importantly, by definition it is the ability to detach from and challenge your own set of beliefs.
I like the 2nd of the 14 Mindfulness Trainings established by Zen Buddhist monk Thich Naht Hahn.
The Second Mindfulness Training: Non-Attachment to Views
Aware of the suffering created by attachment to views and wrong perceptions, we are determined to avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. We are committed to learning and practicing non-attachment to views and being open to others’ experiences and insights in order to benefit from the collective wisdom. We are aware that the knowledge we presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth. Insight is revealed through the practice of compassionate listening, deep looking, and letting go of notions rather than through the accumulation of intellectual knowledge. Truth is found in life, and we will observe life within and around us in every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.
Interesting discussion points TMS, Idahl and Cath. Good food for thought.
An individual's ability to think critically is independent of the life experience that informs them. This is even true in science, thank heavens. There will always be as many considered opinions as there are critical thinkers.
No, I just don’t think we need to treat the diktats from on high as the voice of God. The folks who would like to direct our lives are always claiming to speak with the authority of “the science”, when in fact they are just human beings making the best guesses they can. There is no safe time or best time to allow people out of their houses, there’s just a balancing of the various costs and risks. Treating an individual’s walk on the beach like a threat to civilization just makes a fetish of authority.
Personally, I think most people’s idea of critical thinking is a set of opinions that matches their own.
I agree. My governor today extended restrictions statewide despite no new cases in Berkshire County. It is a fetish of authority to restrict people at little to no risk, but the state is gerrymandered so a disproportionatre share of state legislators live in Boston or its immediate suburbs, and the mayor of Boston squawks, so one size fits all stays in place.
If I could change one thing about the status quo I would have the president and vice president model the behavior recommended by epidemiologists and other doctors for helping to minimize the spread of a pandemic.
Since neither of them is going to likely do anything else particularly useful in dealing with this that would seem to be the least they could do.
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