cwericb

CORRECTION: "Trump ORDERS medical supply firm 3M to stop selling N95 respirators to Canada" Just shows how oblivious Trump is about Canada / US interaction.

"Trump asks medical supply firm 3M to stop selling N95 respirators to Canada" Nice neighbours.

"We are going to feel like idiots if we find out that 80% of the deaths could have been prevented if everybody simply wore makeshift cloth masks. I honestly think that this can actually be the case." Agreed

Cubs, if you have so little respect for members of CoBF and only have time for other Trump supporters you might want to consider going elsewhere where people might be more supportive of your views since you seem only receptive to those who hold you own views

"If acting like any other flu projects to 80k-160k deaths when all is said and done then I'd say it was blown way out of proportion." I think what people are missing is that this is not REPLACING the flu, it is in ADDITION to the flu deaths. And 80-160K deaths may not be a big deal to you, but when some of those deaths become you or yours then it is a different story.

I know what they'll say. It's what they always say: "Nobody could have predicted this." Have you been talking to Trump?

“...scaring the shit out of everyone will also just make matters worse..." The problem is that it tends to becomes necessary when a lot of people believe this is no big deal and like some posters, try to spread that kind of misinformation to the gullible. People probably should be scared.

“Yep, another Trump guy with his "This is like the flu take". Thank you!” Yes I have noticed that several of the members of “The Trump Can Do No Wrong Cult” have jumped into this conversation to support Trump and his delusional ideas. This “flu” will be all over by Easter, etc, etc. I don’t know if they really don’t understand how serious Covid-19 can get or if they have just drunk the Kool Aid to the extent they have become just as delusional as their cult leader. But it certainly is not helpful to under estimate the effects of this pandemic or to demean those taking realistic steps to stop its spread. And by the way, it is a “pandemic” despite what Mr. Grannis may believe. I wonder what these people will say as the numbers increase?

I believe Northbridge does - but not 100% sure.

Here is a fine example of how a dysfunctional government is fighting Covid-19... WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday he has asked Vice President Mike Pence not to call governors he says have not been "appreciative" enough of his efforts on coronavirus – a group of critics that included a governor he referred to only by gender, "Don't call the woman in Michigan," Trump said at a press conference while discussing Pence's work as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Yup, that is how you pull together to fight a pandemic.

"Maybe Canada can go ask China for military support....." But unlike some other countries I don't believe Canada pissed off any other countries lately.

The supermarket was to open early for seniors and a long line had formed at the door. Suddenly a young man jumped into the front of the line whereupon an elderly lady beat him to the curb with her umbrella and the crowed cheered. The young man dusted himself off and again tried to get in front of the line but an old army vet beat him to the ground with his cane. Once again the young man picked himself an made his way to the door. As the croud prepared for another attack the young man said, “Folks if you don’t let me open the store no one is going to get their groceries.

And that from the master of exaggeration...

Ya can't make this stuff up..... (from today's news) “Trump called Rep. Thomas Massie a "third rate Grandstander" and claimed the Kentucky Republican "just wants the publicity" after threatening a roll-call vote, which would require members travel back to the US Capitol to vote in person.” “John Kerry also attacked Massie on Twitter, saying the congressman "tested positive for being an asshole" and that he must be "quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity." "Finally, something the president and I can agree on!"

Putting things in perspective; Total US deaths: March 13th 7 14 9 15 12 24th 225 25 247 26 268

" How are you gonna force people to stay in their homes? " "Chinese style lockdown in US is not practical. Lots of guns in the US.." Perhaps you answered your own question.

Short term pain for long term gain. Ignore this at your own peril. China seems to be able to control this with a population of 1.3 billion and the US with a population of just 300 million can't? The more time spent dithering around, the worse it will get.

Here is a comparison between the US and Canada's handling of Covid-19. Ottawa Citizen Cohen: Why Canada's response to COVID-19 is so different from that of the U.S. Andrew Cohen Comparing the character of nations is risky and imprecise. In the Age of Contagion, though, it offers a window into how the peoples of the world are coping. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have handled the crisis relatively well. We expect that of people we see as highly disciplined, motivated and organized. Italy is reeling from the contagion. Gregarious, unruly, passionate, creative, independent – this is how we see Italians. It suggests why they were slow to respond. Which brings us to the United States and Canada. As Miss Christie used to say in third-grade geography class, let us compare and contrast. In the United States, a country of 330 million, there were some 43,500 cases and 537 deaths as of early Tuesday. In New York City, the virus is surging. Parts of the country are in seclusion, others are not. There is no clear national strategy and no federal emergency. States are responding radically differently. In Washington, Congress struggles to forge an economic response. The president is erratic and unempathetic. He is widely disbelieved, skeptical of expertise and reluctant to accept responsibility. The media send mixed messages. Fox News, with the highest audience, once denied the pandemic, calling it “a hoax.” One host – before she was fired – claimed the coronavirus was a plot by the Democrats to re-impeach Donald Trump. The danger is that the medical system will be overwhelmed. On the tenth anniversary of Obamacare, universal health care remains contentious in the United States – undermined by the Republicans, who have tried repeatedly to abolish it, and repeatedly challenged in the courts. Canadians trust what their leaders are saying. In Canada, a country of 37 million, there were some 2,100 cases and 24 deaths as of early Tuesday. The system is holding, for now. Hospitals have enough masks and respirators, for now. The prime minister appears in public every day, alone, outside his residence. He speaks sensibly, with authority, without hyperbole. This has been his finest hour. Canadians trust him. They may not have voted for him – only about one-third did – but that doesn’t matter now. Nor do we question the competence of his ministers who are the other faces of the crisis – Chrystia Freeland, Marc Garneau, Patty Hajdu, Bill Blair. All are calm, competent and professional. This is what we want. The provincial premiers, most of whom are not Liberals, have lost their congenital instinct to attack Ottawa. Doug Ford, no admirer of Justin Trudeau, now praises his leadership. All provinces have declared states of emergency, and will not object if the national government does, too. If it must, it will – and we won’t complain. Opposition parties are not posturing. Andrew Scheer, who called Trudeau “a fraud” last autumn, says this is no time for politics. He is right. His fellow Conservatives, vying to succeed him, have put away their popguns. Some want the leadership vote scheduled for August delayed. Unlike in America, there is consensus in Canada. No one is saying that the aid package is inadequate, that the government is slow, that money unduly favours corporations. Jason Kenney is not talking about western alienation and the Bloc Québécois is not talking sovereignty. Canadians want only freedom from fear. Mercifully, we have no Fox News. Whatever the CBC’s flaws as national broadcaster, its reporting has been thorough and honest, under trying circumstances. Same with CTV and Radio Canada, and the country’s newspapers and websites. Why is our response different? It may be a case of identity. Americans celebrate independence, individualism, personal liberty. Many distrust government, resent politicians, court conspiracy and dismiss science. This wasn’t always so – the New Deal and the Great Society expanded the state – but it is now. Canadians accept big government, which is how we built the social welfare state. Two-thirds of us voted for progressives last year. We defer to authority. Yes, we’ve made real mistakes in the crisis. We didn’t secure airports fast enough or test early and widely enough. Too many are treating physical distancing as a snow day. If we ultimately do better in all this – it’s too early to know or crow – it’s not because we are morally superior. It is because we are smaller, organized, well-led, more united, more measured, more of a community. It’s a question of character.

"Viking's sarcasm went "whoosh" for this crowd... " Duh, should have known he was smarter than that. Apologies.

“FYI, still nowhere near (as in less than 10%) to cancer deaths. or cardio vascular deaths for that matter.” Realize you are trying to put things iin perspective, but in the long run it is kind of irrelevant isn’t it - especially to those who has it? But no sweat, I have it on good authority that this will all be over by Easter.

"Does Gates know anything about infectious diseases? Isn’t he just some tech billionaire? What a dummy!" Never really thought of Gates as a dummy. Italy and Spain were late to shut down and it hasn't worked out well for them. I would guess that the sooner you shut down, the sooner you will be able to open up again - but you need to stay in lock down until you can stop the spread of the virus or develop a vaccine. I'm certainly no expert, but it seems logical to me. Is it not better to be over cautious than not cautious enough?

Spain now disconnecting respirators from patients over 65 to give to younger people. Seniors being sedated so they don’t suffer. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0323/1124930-medics-on-the-frontline/ Spain has nearly 4,000 health workers infected with the coronavirus

“Am I not allowed to defend the President?” Remember when Trump said he could go out and shoot someone on 5th Ave and not lose a supporter? That’s Cubs - a diehard member of the Trump cult. For Cubs, Trump can do no wrong and everyone is against him. On the Political Board Cubs has defended every single goofy move Trump has made - and there has been soooo many. It was only a matter of time before some sort of serious situation would test the President’s judgement and expose him for the incompetent buffoon that he is. Neither Cubs or the President understand that people’s lives are far more important than a temporary economic disaster. Sorry Cubs, but your president is, and has been mentally ill and the examples are too numerous to list. The fact that Trump believes everything is going to be just honky-dory in a few weeks shows just how delusional he is. He is so far removed from reality that he is suggesting that restrictions should be EASED while the reality that the number of US diagnosed cases has increased in the last 24 hours. But of course this “very stable genius” knows more than the generals, the doctors, and - well - I guess everyone.

"Not for nothing, but I learned pretty quickly that one is significantly better off assuming that EVERY person they encounter in the financial industry is a total piece of shit. Ive now been in that biz(tangentially) for a while, and to this day, out of everyone Ive ever met, can count on one hand the number of people who would put people before dollars. It is what it is." YUP. However, my point was that there were people on the board defending Prem by saying that he wouldn't do anything shady. I argued that he most definitely did and this incident proved that Prem was being hypocritical with his "fair and friendly" BS. The court case proved that beyond question. So your point above is well taken.

True. The difference is that, according to Prem Watsa, the name Fairfax stands for “FAIR and FRIENDLY ACQUISITIONS”. The takeover of Fibrek was none of those. Furthermore, it was proved in court that the acquisition was far from fair and that the takeover price should have been $1.99 per share , not $1.00. That is a pretty good spread and more than a little hypocritical on Fairfax’s part. As a longtime shareholder of both Brookfield/Brookfield Properties and Fairfax I don’t ever remember Brookfield suggesting that their takeovers would be fair and friendly as they tried to screw you. That is the difference.