Cable news channels have been running talk about the coronavirus continuously. This is the best example of “yellow journalism.” It was William Randolph Hearst who propelled America into the Spanish American War.
Blind panic has definitely taken control Southern California. Costco warehouses have had a run on their water and toilet paper supplies. My local store had no bottles water, no toilet paper and no paper towels. NONE! It was not just my local outlet. News media reported that Costco’s stores throughout the Los Angeles area were experiencing the same phenomena.
There is no doubt that corona virus is a frightening disease but Americans are becoming paranoid. As of the latest information the national deaths from this disease is 17. Of course every life matters but the numbers are too small to call this situation anything more than a serious problem.
The sky is not falling. Reasonable precautions will probably contain this disease. There is no doubt that Donald Trump has added to the confusion. Trump calling the governor of Washington State a snake, accusing the World Health Organization of dispensing inaccurate facts about the outbreak, and suggesting that those with the disease could be safe going to work only adds to the chaos.
What is needed today is a calming voice. Too bad the president has not taken on the assignment. Neither of the leading Democratic candidates have not taken on the opportunity for one reason. They don’t want to help the president. They want him to drown in the panic.
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