blue in dc

June 1st, 2020 at 4:39 PM ^

So in this case, even though you seem to believe that the science supports opening things up,  you are upset that you feel the Governor Is basing her decision on a whim.  
 

Doesn’t that lead to an awkward position where the Governor can never move away from the shutdown because the change in policy can’t be based on a change in science, because you don’t think it was based on science to begin with?

You are aware that most states aren’t meeting the criteria that the Whitehouse set for reopening?

https://www.vox.com/2020/5/28/21270515/coronavirus-covid-reopen-economy-social-distancing-states-map-data

And from what I’ve seen very few states have defined clearly articulated, science based principles that they are using for the deviation.   

Blue_by_U

June 1st, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^

interpretation for the public policy-making spin doctor...for three months, the governor appointed to Michigan has used 'science and data' to drive her decisions. She has locked down the state of operations and delivered many contradictions through her 120+ orders along the way. She mentions treating this like a dial that must be carefully and thoughtfully turned up to control the spread and a second wave.

She opens two portions of the state at the cusp of a holiday weekend with the appearance she wanted to avoid direct backlash. She at several times mentioned the behavior of residents will determine the outcomes of openings and we must not treat this like a switch...and June 1. BOOM there goes the switch following a weekend of nationwide riots and destructive behaviors where pretty much everyone showed zero regards for social distancing or caring one iota about lockdowns because of angry protest, riots, looting, etc. The focus shifted from keeping everyone safe to the sudden lifting of restrictions in many areas once again with little clarity. How do you go from step 7 to a hybrid step 4-5? whatever...if her path is backed in 'science'...wholly shit this is a completely different science that must be written by the idiots who created new math...wtf....sorry doc...er...public policy guy.

blue in dc

June 1st, 2020 at 5:49 PM ^

I’m not talking about public policy.  You’ll notice I didn’t defend or attack any of the science.   I’m attacking the logic of disagreeing with the science that she used or didn’t use) to make her decisions, then being upset that she isn’t using science to make decisions that are what you’ve been arguing for all along.
 

if you thought she was wrong before, you should be happy now.   See mrunner73s internally consistent Comment below:

June 1st, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^

“At least Michigan isn't the last state to open up. I've been a big critic of the Gov but she did the right thing. As mentioned in a previous post, with all the rioting going on, she did the right thing. There's so much civil discourse going on. Let the people get back to work.”

It’s just not that hard.

Double-D

June 1st, 2020 at 6:39 PM ^

It has been no easy job for sure.  We had very little to go on and tons of reason to be afraid.  I’m pretty sure everyone would like a do over.  This story is not over by any means.  

It has been interesting to read stories coming from different countries around the world where researchers are saying there is evidence the virus is mutating to a less severe and less contagious form.  Let’s all hope for that. 

uncle leo

June 1st, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^

But gyms are still closed :( Blah!!!

I played basketball last night outside at a local school- place was PACKED. 

However, this is good. At least we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

boliver46

June 1st, 2020 at 3:07 PM ^

So...threats for months about our behavior...and now riots and destruction of major cities = Lifting Restrictions.

Makes sense.  LOL

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mickblue

June 1st, 2020 at 3:20 PM ^

I stopped paying attention to her weeks ago. I have been going out to dinner and shopping in Ohio often.  She lost me when she extended the lockdown the Friday before Memorial Day weekend at 6:00pm to avoid opposition. Very calculated and cowardly way to do it. She has been invisible since the rioting started. Probably up north in her boat.

uncle leo

June 1st, 2020 at 3:40 PM ^

The rioting literally started like 2 days ago. How can you say someone has been invisible in that tiny amount of time?

Say what you will about her (personally, I think she's had a few missteps but otherwise has done fine)- you cannot say she's invisible, she's definitely been very visible.

The Mad Hatter

June 1st, 2020 at 4:21 PM ^

That's where I am with her. Not great, not awful, but fine.

A month or so ago the trend lines for cases and deaths looked really bad in our state. It could have gotten way worse, but we're in a much better position now and heading in the right direction.

So I support her opening stuff up with an incremental approach.

uncle leo

June 1st, 2020 at 4:22 PM ^

Yep. We were quickly at the top of the scale, and that trend reversed rather quickly to her efforts.

For sure, she's had some mis-steps in all of this. But the people that are screaming for her to be voted out and talking about her like a dictator is absolutely fucking laughable.

Oh bummer. We've had to stop our normal boring ass lives for a few months to save lives. Tough shit. Watch some tv, play some video games, go bang your significant other and wait it out. I truly do feel bad for those who had to deal with the financial challenges, but that was not a Michigan thing; that's happened to everyone in the WORLD.

ijohnb

June 1st, 2020 at 4:30 PM ^

We were at the top of the scale to begin with because she did not postpone the primary when it was already clear that community spread was rampant.  She has spent the last two months cleaning up her own mess.  She literally opened up portions of the state before others so she could go on vacation.  She has not been fine.  She has been a shit show.

crg

June 1st, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^

As someone living at the MI-OH border, seeing the differences between Whitmer and DeWine orders over time - and their effects on real life - has been fascinating.  Different approaches (in some respects) yet just about all other factors being equal.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

June 1st, 2020 at 4:42 PM ^

I don't really care what the reason - this whole thing has brought to light that there's a law on the books that as of now allows the governor to declare an emergency, seize power to stop it, and not give it back until he or she feels like it.  Even Cynthia Stephens, who eventually upheld the law in her ruling, asked the counsel for the governor: who could stop her if she wanted to do that?

Imagine a state of emergency being declared over, say, excessive crime in the inner cities that just happen to be majority black, and a curfew lasting four years in order to curb that crime.  It's legal.  (If you don't think so, hopefully you can point to the wording in the EPGA that says so.)  Almost anything is legal as long as there's an "emergency," and the governor gets to declare when that begins and ends.  

Mitch Cumstein

June 1st, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^

One more question: are bottle/can returns opening? I read an article over the weekend that the state is sitting in $50M in back returns (I’m not that familiar with the mechanism of how the deposit is handled, so it could be that the grocers have the money?). 

Sambojangles

June 1st, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^

I thought the article said that can returns would start at limited capacity, and there may be a $25 per person per day limit on returns. A different article I read last week estimated 500 million cans ($50M) were held in Michigan, and the can operator said that it would be months to catch up.

I would suggest you donate your cans, I'm sure there is a local church or school group willing to return them for you. I always thought that donating cans was rather cruel (here is a hundred bucks, but you have to make some poor teenager stand in front of the machine at Meijer and feed them in one at a time) but if they're willing to do it, now is the time for it.