Trumping Around

DR. DONALD j. TRUMP, who always seems to know what's best for the American people and invariably acts in what he considers their best interest, now says that, for the health and safety of the country, we should continue to shelter in place and social distancing through, oh, say, April 30. Not long ago he had indicated that we must all do the opposite, must get up, out, and around, reopen business as usual, and restart the collapsing economy, by Easter. It is always to prevent an idiot from behaving idiotically the second time; the first time serves as a warning. Trump, obviously temperamentally incapable of acknowledging the simple, obvious fact that it is the Covid 19 virus, and not he which will determine our future economic behavior, has complied an impressive resume' of idiocy during his interminable three plus years as president. At first he accused the Democrats of perpetrating a viral hoax, then suggested that nobody need do anything about it, because the problem would simply vanish with the advent of warm weather. Then in apparent racist frustration, he starting calling it "the Chinese virus", until somebody with some sense put a stop to the slander. Then, he had a brilliant idea, suggesting that the best way to stop the newly mutated virus was for everybody to get a flu shot. As the situation became more dire, Trump's insanity grew ever more evident, in accordance with his usual pattern of behavior. Yesterday he accused hospitals of hoarding ventilators, and accused doctors and nurses of hoarding face masks. Incredible, but true. We can apparently expect a black market on essential virus fighting medical equipment to emerge, with hospitals housing the stockpiles, and medical professionals hitting the streets, doing deals.We lay in a stockpile of popcorn and toilet paper, and await further amusement from our chief executive., the one who discovered windmill cancer, and whose historical research revealed that George Washington's army seized control of all airports during the Revolutionary War, and that Italy and the United States have had warm relations since the days when the Caesars ruled Rome. The promising thing is that the Angel Soft company plans to keep the rolls rolling off the assembly line, and to restock the shelves soon, so that we can all, once again, be privy to toilet paper. No shit.