And now, the good news. Apparently, enough Americans have now had enough piss scared out of them that they’re willing to save their own lives. From Bloomberg:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported almost 991,000 doses given nationwide. That’s more than double a low point of less than 400,000 reached in mid-July. Several states hit hardest by the recent surge in infections have reported increased vaccinations, including Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
And what state is the skunk at this particular garden party. Come on down, Ron DeSantis.
However, Florida, which broke a record for weekly cases on Friday, reported vaccinations falling week over week.
It looks as though the carrots have passed the peak of their efficiency and that the sticks have come out in force. On Wednesday, the president waved one over the heads of obstructionist governors like DeSantis and the ghoulish state legislatures that go along with them. He warned that, if governors retaliate against teachers and school boards who defy laws forbidding mask mandates, the federal government will pick up the teacher’s salaries. He threatened to withhold Medicare and Medicaid money from nursing homes that do not require staff members to get vaccinated. He said:
And that’s why today I’m directing the Secretary of Education, an educator himself, to take additional steps to protect our children. This includes using all of his oversight authorities and legal action, if appropriate, against governors who are trying to block and intimidate local school officials and educators. And as I said before, if you aren’t going to fight COVID-19, at least get out of the way of everyone else who’s trying.
That could be the national motto by Christmas. And ought to be.
Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston and has three children.
