I hate the politics of this pandemic.

[bluedye33139]

I don't want to offend anyone, but I hate the politics of this pandemic. I hate the fact that our country is so broken down and divided that literally any positive piece of data instantly gets kicked into the political arena, where Republicans and Democrats find themselves responding in a partisan fashion.

It complicates our situation and makes it worse, I think. For instance, our economy needs to come back to life and we all need money and jobs and a revenue stream and stability. So we get pulled into the vortex in which Republicans act as if they own the economy and own the recovery, and some Democrats respond to that Republican perspective with statements that sometimes do appear to be wishing for a bad outcome.

I think this is poor strategy.

I personally think that Republicans should be allowed to own the pandemic, and Democrats in DC and throughout the nation should work to maintain good and healthy lives and healthy outlooks and to do everything that we can in our communities and states. but addressing Trump? Addressing his lunatic followers and their bizarre claims? I think it's a tactical error. They are insane, and when we get drawn into combat on their terms, we are having a lunatic conversation.

[Blues Heron]

1. can you give an example of this? what statement are you talking about

"Democrats respond to that Republican perspective with statements that sometimes do appear to be wishing for a bad outcome."

[JohnnyRingo]

2. It is frustrating.

Regardless the issue it seems both sides grab their own fact sheet. Both can't actually be 100% factual, and it leads me to question my own sources.

Imagine trying to ride a bicycle designed front & rear by different companies where one company was determined to keep the bike where it sits.

[Hoyt]

3. Completely agree. We don't need to criticize everything. It's perfectly obvious to anyone watching

that trump has handled this pitifully. Many of them don't care, but our constant criticism isn't going to change that.

Constructive criticism is OK -- like Biden saying he would like to reopen tomorrow if it were safe to do, but it's not.

We've got people bashing trump for sending supplies to China when they needed it more than us (and they have since, returned the favor). Now, they are yelling at him for withholding supplies to other countries. That hurts us.

While trump's Admin has made this much worse, sometimes we sound like GOPers blaming Obama for everything. trump didn't cause the Corona-virus, but he's blown the response.

I know it's difficult because trump is such a lying A-hole. I don't see how anyone can like him or respect him. Whatever, if this pandemic is resolved tomorrow, trump can't escape his poor management of the situation.

[2naSalit]

6. Indeed, the thousands of dead are still dead. ...nt

[NCDem47]

4. I was going to start a similar thread on this

I'm so over EVERYTHING being turned into a political/philosphical fight! I mean EVERYTHING. If an issue enters the national consciousness, it becomes a left-right battle, no matter how big or small.

We're loosing sight of protecting the country as a whole.

[fescuerescue]

5. I've started going to outside the US news sources for info on this.

All of ours, CNN, MSNBC, and of course Foxnews are shitty right now.

They all wrap the COVID19 news into a political wrapper, and offer more commentary on the politician talking about the issue, than the issue itself. It's all about which politician burned which politician about this response or that response.

That's fine and great when I want politics (which is often), but frustrating when I want news about the VIRUS.

[dawg]

7. I can't think of a single incident of a Democrat attempting to ...

politicize this or hope for a bad outcome.

It only became a political issue when the President declared it a hoax and fucked up the national response beyond all recognition.

And it's only proper, at this point, for Democrats and Never-Trumper Republicans to point out the obvious.

While is it true that all thinking people already realize how badly the Republicans have handled this, we need a *majority* to do so.