Cornoavirus is apparently infecting good Republicans with socialist notions. Governor Kristi Noem is encouraging low-income South Dakotans to go get some free health care:
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said South Dakotans without health insurance won’t have to pay for coronavirus tests.
“They have the ability to go through federally-approved providers in their communities, go through the protocols, and get tests free of charge,” Noem said at a press conference Thursday.
The governor encouraged South Dakotans to get more information on the virus at covid.sd.gov or by calling 1-800-997-2880 [Carter Woodiel, “Noem Says Uninsured Can Get Coronavirus Tests for Free,” KELO Radio, 2020.03.12].
Well, it’s not quite care, just the test to see how much more care folks may need, but it’s a start.
The Republican White House is also lurching toward some more socialism. Realizing Il Duce’s bumbling, market-deflating response to the current public health crisis could lose it some votes (if by no other means than by killing off older Trumpist voters), someone in the White House appears to be persuading Donald Trump to declare a national emergency (which, if Obama had done, would have been decried as a prelude to martial law and hauling opponents off to quarantine camps) to release over $42 billion in aid to the states to help pay for “emergency workers, medical tests, medical supplies, vaccinations, security for medical facilities, and more.”
Noem and Trump are both saying, “We’re from the government, and we’re here to help.” Reagan would say be scared…. but I say don’t be afraid of a community response to a community problem. Just hope the knuckleheads at the top stay out of the way and let scientists and health experts solve the problem. And then, after we’ve properly addressed this crisis, go vote for non-knuckleheads to replace our current flailing leaders… because this public health crisis shows the vital importance of having intelligent, caring leaders in charge of our state and nation.
Well, we finally figured it out, or how to play this. Republicans are for “Medicare for All” as long as you can prove to the GOP, that it could save their capitalistic system.
I expect the GOP will say that during (and after) this medical emergency is the wrong time to talk about health care — just like after a shooting is the wrong time to talk about gun control.
In other words, don’t let the reality of a situation get in the way of us advancing our rhetoric.
Roger Cornelius Memorial cartoon by Marty Two Bulls:
Accompanying comment:
“Madzdad the bard,
“I can only imagine the COVID-19 infection rate at a Trump rally. Right up there with chlamydia most likely.”
is.gd/4fRaWw
The deep state knows how to deal with this stuff – and the flakey crust on the surface does not.
Bungling Boob and his GOP Bozos have been brought to heel by the excellent and way smarter Madam Speaker Pelosi. Bungling Boob himself has agreed to freed COVID-19 tests for everyone. Moscow Mitch, the USA’s very own Hateful Hernia, isn’t certain he’ll agree with it and let the Senate pass it. Since that weasel doesn’t actually have a spine, I expect him to bow to the Magnificent Nancy as well.
Thank all the Powers That Be for the Exceptionally Smart and Extraordinarily Skilled Madam Speaker Pelosi. She owns Bungling Boob and his GOP Bozos.
Spain just announced lockdown of entire country.
Oops. Bob Newland is vacationing in Spain and trying to get home.