At Last, Some Progress #162
By Hank Silverberg
The news over the last year has been depressing. The pandemic, the nasty election, the insurrection combined with continued unemployment for millions and hunger for thousands was enough to sour the mood, even for people with a positive view on life.
This past week may have finally turned that trend around for many of us.
The vaccination is finally getting into the arms of
But there are warning signs on the horizon. The decision by many states, including a big one, Texas, to ease mask mandates and other pandemic restrictions has been criticized by infectious disease experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, and labeled premature.
Fauci Decries Governors Easing COVID Restrictions: ‘Risky To Say It’s Over’ | Talking Points Memo
Others, like famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, probably offered their thoughts in a more undiplomatic way.
But Congress has given us some help. Or I should say, Democrats in Congress have given us some hope. They have passed a $1.9 trillion package that will not just provide more money for vaccinations, but will also help the average American and many small businesses get back on their feet.
Much has been said about this Bill. Not a single Republican in the House or Senate voted for it.
Let's take a close look at just what is in the American Rescue Plan which President Biden will happily sign. Note that none of these are "radical" or "socialist," though there's no doubt the package is expensive.
1) Stimulus checks of $1400 for every person with a social security number who makes less than $75,000 a year ($150,000 per couple). Despite Republican rhetoric, no illegal immigrants will qualify since they don't file taxes or contribute to or collect Social Security. If you don't have the history of paying or collecting, they don't have a place to send the check.
2) Federal unemployment benefits of $300 a week would be extended to September 6th. It would also extend a previously approved increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps) to the same date.
3) $3 billion will go to strengthen the nutritional program for women with young children (WIC).
4) $128.6 billion to help reopen schools safely.
5) $350 billion to aid local and state governments to recover expenses of handling pandemic issues.
6) $25 billion to aid restaurants and other food and drinking establishments.
7) $19 billion in emergency rental assistance (this would help both tenants and landlords).
8) $7.25 billion in a Paycheck Protection Loan program that would help small businesses and their employees.
9) Expanded federal funds totaling $66.5 billion for Covid programs like pandemic response at community health centers, manufacturing the vaccines and related medical products, and expanding the public health care workforce.
American Rescue Plan: What's in the House’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan - The Washington Post
Despite Republican rhetoric, these are all items impacted or connected to the pandemic.
The proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour was dropped from the Bill. It's likely to come up again at a later date.
The President has called the Senate vote on this Bill "one more giant step" in delivering his promises to help move the country out of the pandemic and into prosperity once again. And Mr. Biden seems to have broad support for his work so far.
A new ABC/Ipsos poll shows two thirds of all Americans (68%) approve Biden's approach to the pandemic, with 56% indicating that the mask mandates are being lifted too quickly. But Republicans are not so sure. Only 25% say the same thing about mandates.
So all of this indicates that 2021 will be much better than 2020. But we must be vigilant and cautious. The latest predictions are that we may all be vaccinated before the end of May. Such predictions have not panned out in the past, so even if you do get the shots, continue to wear your mask and follow social distancing until things seem more certain. As of Friday (3/7) about 23% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Gulf Streaming:
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| (The Gulf Stream, Fl State Univ) |
A new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience says the current is weakening.
A press releases says they have used data collected since 2004, and what's known as "proxy data" based on ship logs, ice cores, ocean sediments and corals collected over time to reconstruct the pattern dating back to 400 AD (about the time the Roman Empire was collapsing). It indicates the stream is now at its weakest strength in a thousand years. The Gulf Stream keeps temperatures warmer during the winter and helps regulate extreme heat in the summer.
Stefan Rahmstorf, a scientist from the Potsdam Institute of Climate Research, says the first decline in the Gulf Stream occurred at the end of a natural event, the "Little Ice Age" in 1850. But by 1950 it was in decline again with no global reason other than the impact of the Industrial Revolution and the internal combustion engine. Rahmstorf says if all continues as it is, without some mediation, the Gulf Stream system could weaken by an additional 45% by 2100. That would put it close to a tipping point of rapidly rising sea levels on the U.S. east coast and more extreme and intense weather events in Europe.
Along with that would come a rise in extreme heat waves and a decrease in summer rainfall. We have already seen some impact of the Gulf Stream weakening with melting Greenland ice sheets. You don't have to be a scientist to figure out what that means for human lifestyle. Some experts say we have about a decade to turn back the impact of global warming, or Earth will be a very uncomfortable place to live.
Update: ERA Dead?
Another blow for the long proposed Equal Rights Amendment. It was first passed by Congress in 1972.
The amendment simply reads:
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex."
In context it doesn't sound that controversial. But it has been for decades.
The ERA never reached the 38 states needed to ratify it to become part of the U.S. Constitution, even with an extension of the deadline until 1982.
In the last few years three more states, Nevada, Virginia and Illinois, finally approved the amendment, but those who have opposed it for decades took the issue to federal court. They argued that the deadline had passed. In addition, several of the 35 states which had ratified the ERA before the 1982 deadline have since withdrawn approval.
This past week, Federal District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras agreed with the opposition, ruling that the three states approved the amendment long after the extended deadline and their votes were not viable.
Virginia's Attorney General, Mark Herring, who was among those arguing the case for the ERA, says they are considering options, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. To those of us who came of age in the 1970's when women's rights were upfront and personal, this seems like a long nightmare rerun.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Finally this week, instead of the usual "dumbest" quote of the week I will give you the "best" quote of the week. It comes from President Biden. He was talking about the pandemic, and made reference to Texas and other states which are rolling back some of their Covid-19 restrictions:
"The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime everything's fine, take off your mask - forget it. It still matters."
(Your Comments and suggestions are welcome)
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