Dear Mister President - March 26th, 2020

Just a note to say keep doing your best.  Though I’m sure you’re not perfect, more perfect than I for sure, but still human, keep on keeping on.  Your administration is caught in a terrible situation, that will require drastic measures.  Please support the Constitution first and foremost.  That will keep us in the best place moving forward.

Concerning states are trying to get you to nationally mobilize the National Guard:  Please stay the course, allowing the states to do that if they wish. States like Montana, Iowa, and others may not need that, where states like California will.  The previous policies on homeless and illegal migrants tip the scales against those states.  Let them do what they need to do.  Keep up with providing the overall vision. 

• In our country of 340- million, as of today:
• Known Infected: 68,440 with SARS-CoV 2 (Covid-19, the virus from China)
• Deaths: 994 (54 reporting regions, the 50 states plus 4 territories) (Source: CDC, US Cases Daily Update)

Even if we were to assume 10 times that many infections, that is still less than .02% of the US population. Even 100 times that is still about 2% of the population.  The fast action of closing the boarders was a good idea.  Could we have closed travel to Canada and Mexico, maybe, at least restricted that to trade goods?

To stop this we will need to close our borders completely.  Even states like California and New York ought to consider closing access to food and goods only.  Folks in Transportation need to be tested regardless of their health status to avoid spreading the diseases. 

Even migrant workers whose visas were canceled may need to be tested and then allowed to work.  If we do not plant for spring and summer, there can be no harvest in the fall. 

New York and Los Angles notwithstanding, our self sequester seems to have done its job, having slowed down the rise. People's lives are more important than the economy, but the economy can affect everybody’s life.  The stimulus being passed by the Congress is a pork ridden piece of garbage, but I am sure the socialists in the congress and senate will use the powers they have to force the garbage into the final bill.  I am not sure you will have a choice but to sign it.  The question is: Will the fanning of the flames contained in the bill, be outweighed by the other good stuff.  I would support a veto and make a big deal of what the problems are.  Pointing to each piece and who put it in the bill.  This should be an election year.  Use that!  Do a line-item veto, sending it back to be fixed.  Not sure that that is a wise choice, I know that I don’t know all the details. I do know my wife (who is the only one working) could see some reduction in hours.  Her company must stay solvent. But I am also sure we will be all right.  Others will not be so lucky. 

Thank you and your staff for their service.  They call you a fascist and then try to get you to use the military to foist a socialist agenda upon “We the People.”

I pray for you and our leaders daily.  Please serve to the best of your ability and with the spirit of our founding fathers in your mind. 

God Bless you, Donald J Trump, President of the United States of America.

Gregor A Hinckley
Citizen, United States of America
eMail: hinckley.gregor@gmail.com

Gregor - Back from the brink! From there and back again. A spiritual Hobbits journey.

SARS-CoV 2 and Personal Responsibility vs Government Oversite

As Americans, we should be looking at personal responsibility to solve this problem.  People keep yelling for more government control, but that can not work.  It is that simple.  

I would love to be able to use China as an example of what to do.  But we can’t believe what is being said from there.  So what other sources do we have? 

There was an article sent to me by an author (Dietmar Wehr) that I follow.  He has written some excellent Sci-Fi books.  Though some of his newer stuff as started contain sex and foul language. One does What they want to sell books.  

The article is called Corona Virus, the Hammer and the Dance. 

Though I am not a fan of the conclusions, there are some interesting things in the article.  It is long and technical.  So here is what I see that applies to me as an American.

The countries suffering the least are either – not reporting it because they are not technically able to, or they are sparsely populated.    As of his writing, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not have any reported cases in Botswana, Lesotho or Swaziland.  These examples I use because I have been there. It’s possible they do not have the means to report on this. But all of these countries are not as backward as some may think.  So if they have seen the virus, I would expect that the reporting would have happened.  The ods of a remote village, that nobody ever travels to internationally, is unlikely to be infected.  But capital cities, where the airport and business centers are, will get it most likely.  These countries have hospitals, many staffed by western doctors, and the ability to communicate.  

Social distancing works!  

Sparse countries have a lower infection rate.  So if we do our best to stay separated, if people who are sick self-quarantine immediately and we do not try to physically interact – You can avoid getting sick.  The idea that SARS-CoV 2 (Covid-19 or CV-19) is here to stay is a reality.  Just like the Swine, Spanish or Avian flu, these all still infect us over 100 years after the first outbreak.  Be smart and be voluntary.  

Why take the mask off?

Many people have surgical or dust masks, and some are worthless.  It is most important that you wear a mask to protect others, NOT yourself.  An N95 mask without a valve will capture 95% of the water droplets from your cough or sneeze.  If it has a valve, though more comfortable, it will not stop you from infecting others.  And that is what a mask is for.  Let the Medical/Emergency field have the masks.  You are better off breathing fresh air and getting out in the sun.  But at a safe distance from others.   

What other things not really mentioned?

Take care of your neighbors.

People who live within sight of your property, are your neighbors. The lone prepper or hermit has less chance of survival than the person who works in their community.  If you have not seen your neighbor check on them,  Just say hello thorough the door, if you have extra, share, if you are going on a supply run, offer to pick stuff up.  It is called common decency. 

People panic and horde – Don’t play. 

The current toilet paper shortages are a ridiculous sign.  There are people buying tons of it. Some of them will resell it at outrageous prices.  Don’t pay or Play!  Black markets happen when the supply is short.  They thrive because people use them.  If somebody has bought out a bunch of stuff to sell at higher prices, don’t play.  Businesses are free ration or set their prices. People ought to be allowed to buy what they want to. As a free society, it is your personal responsibility to not support bad behavior.  If people get stuck with 500 gallons of sanitizer or 1000 pounds of toilet paper, that is not your fault.  The supply lines will catch up. 

Having “Government” responsible for public action or health can only lead to tyranny.  There is no other path.  But a Representative Republic can work if “We the People” understand that I, as an individual, am responsible for my neighbor.  I have a responsibility to check on them and help them if needed. 

Be safe, keep your distance.  Defend your neighbor.  We can get through this. 

Gregor - Back from the brink! From there and back again. A spiritual Hobbits journey.