Coronavirus thread

[Florestan]

About everything. Elected they will always show a political bias, often at the expense of minorities. With a ceremonial head of state, the very existence of this independent office means an important check & balance, the hallmark of any democracy. Non-political heads of state are often a watchdog for the rule of law & civil rights, opposite the 'democratically elected' head of government who often makes a show of them. Hungarian president Orbán would be better off with such an independent institution above him, as would most of his colleagues. Being elected is not a virtue per se: Hitler was elected and even more popular since then (at the expense of billions he robbed from tiny minorities he put in concentration camps) and so was Mussolini. The latter had at least to reckon - a bit - with the Pope, the former with no-one. Many "elected" heads of state were responsible for the worst atrocities in human history.

This.

Mussolini was never elected, though, he came to power by a semi-coup.

[Kaga2]

Hitler was never elected head of state. That was done some time after his *appointment* as chancellor, through legislative action. Hindenburg was head of state until his death. No election was held to replace him.

[JBS]

Why? What's wrong with an elected head of state?

The problem with HRH  I want to focus on for the moment is this. Her ideas and opinions get the oxygen of publicity, as if they count for something special because of who she is.

Her Majesty can at least claim the experience of living through WWII, and putting perspective on the current situation.

[drogulus]

     Can We Really Develop a Safe, Effective Coronavirus Vaccine?

We need to rigorously test the dozens of vaccine candidates in the running to find one that works, and that will take some serious funding. On average, it may cost $25,000 or more per participant to put a vaccine through clinical trials. It may also take tens of thousands of participants to ensure that a vaccine candidate is effective and safe. That means it would cost upwards of $250 million just to recruit people for a single vaccine candidate. Multiply that $250 million by 10—the minimum number of vaccines, in my view, that must reach this stage—in addition to the costs of research and developing a manufacturing process, and the sum total could be somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 billion.

Her Majesty can at least claim the experience of living through WWII, and putting perspective on the current situation.

     So did the Duke of Windsor.

     Democratic forms must be supported by the populace on an "if you can keep it" basis. People put the substance of self government into the forms designed for that purpose.

[ritter]

About everything. Elected they will always show a political bias, often at the expense of minorities. With a ceremonial head of state, the very existence of this independent office means an important check & balance, the hallmark of any democracy. Non-political heads of state are often a watchdog for the rule of law & civil rights, opposite the 'democratically elected' head of government who often makes a show of them. Hungarian president Orbán would be better off with such an independent institution above him, as would most of his colleagues. Being elected is not a virtue per se: Hitler was elected and even more popular since then (at the expense of billions he robbed from tiny minorities he put in concentration camps) and so was Mussolini. The latter had at least to reckon - a bit - with the Pope, the former with no-one. Many "elected" heads of state were responsible for the worst atrocities in human history.

Even the US of A would be better off with a parliamentary system & spread responsibilities at the head of the state. 

Well, let's not idealise things (and, for the record, I'm a staunch supporter of modern parliamentary monarchies). Monarchies are only as strong and as valuable as the political systems they operate in. If not, ask the Greeks (after the military coup), the Italians (after the fall of Mussolini and the end of WWII) or the Spanish (Alfonso XIII fatal mistake in accepting the Primo de Rivera dictatorship in the twenties). The monarch may be an arbiter, but he or she has virtually no room of manoeuvre, because if he or she actively and publicly exercises that role of arbiter, then he or she will be engaging in politics (which would be self-defeating). Basically , the only step a monarch could take to express his or her position is to threaten abdication, which would be such a bombshell that it would force politicians to re-evaluate their positions. Baudoin of the Belgians did the feat of abdicating and then coming back when the abortion law was passed, and Constantine II of Greece should have abdicated when the military took over (and ultimately the monarchy collapsed as a result of him not having done so). So, the role of a modern monarch is almost like one more symbol (the flag, the anthem...) representing the continuity of the State and its institutions, but one they citizens (no longer subjects)  can relate to and probably respect because of the experience, international exposure and recognition, etc. of the monarch.

Power brokering and forcing meetings etc. behind the scenes is, of course, another matter (and probably, a very valuable one). Very few politicians would refuse a meeting with the monarch if summoned to the palace.

So, ¡viva el Rey! 

[Mandryka]

Has the King of the Netherlands, and the King of Belgium been given the opportunity to address their people about COVID? I just wonder if all monarchies are conceived of in the same way as the British.

[Karl Henning]

This doctor in the video interview emphatically says  a lot of serious patients are "in their fifties or younger".

I cannot help but notice that there is a growing debate in some areas (like the Netherlands) that we should not sacrifice the economy to save the octogenarian population.

This is a false narrative, and it just goes to show how deeply we've sunk after imbibing a toxic mix of neo-liberalism and evolutionary-bio kitsch.

Ugh. That nonsense one expects from a Texan ....

[Karl Henning]

The survival of the fittest.
The survival of the wealthiest.
The survival of the most cunning.

Let's put them in a shelter with Dr. Merkwürdigliebe.

We must not allow a Mine-Shaft Gap!!!

[Karl Henning]

Ya know, as a proud American, if we had anybody else in the Oval Office, I would be ready to dig out the ole Federalist Papers and argue this point until the cows come home.

The situation being what it is, I'm going to refill my coffee and go back to the morning paper.... 

I raise a mug of coffee to you, friend!

[ritter]

Has the King of the Netherlands, and the King of Belgium been given the opportunity to address their people about COVID? I just wonder if all monarchies are conceived of in the same way as the British.

The King of Spain did (early on—March 19th) to a generally positive reaction among the people, across the political spectrum (except, of course, for the Catalan separatists—but they wouod have reacted the same way if it had been the President of a hypothetical Spanish republic who had spoken).

[Christo]

Has the King of the Netherlands .. been given the opportunity to address their people about COVID? I just wonder if all monarchies are conceived of in the same way as the British.

The King is entitled to decide it on his own and yes, he did, a week ago. The "monarchy" - the Netherlands is better defined as a republic with a hereditary, symbolic head of state - functions roughly comparable to the British, though Sweden makes a better comparison.

[vandermolen]

Why? What's wrong with an elected head of state?

The problem with HRH  I want to focus on for the moment is this. Her ideas and opinions get the oxygen of publicity, as if they count for something special because of who she is.

Like President Putin?

I do not entirely disagree with your second point but she has been broadcasting to the British people since 1940 and exemplifies a sense of duty and service. That has to count for something I think.

[drogulus]

     Undocumented workers among those hit first — and worst — by the coronavirus shutdown

     We've never needed them more.

[JBS]

     Undocumented workers among those hit first — and worst — by the coronavirus shutdown[

     We've never needed them more.

One thing I have to see, and am surprised I haven't seen it yet: someone from the Right complaining that undocumented workers are getting treated (for COVID19) instead of Real Amerikans.

[André]

Her Majesty can at least claim the experience of living through WWII, and putting perspective on the current situation.

A perspective born of long experience.

« The address was a brief but stirring tutorial in leadership (...) Leadership separate from politics », quips the Washington Post:


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/06/with-britain-crisis-queen-elizabeth-breaks-her-usual-silence/

[pjme]

Has the King of the Netherlands, and the King of Belgium been given the opportunity to address their people about COVID? I just wonder if all monarchies are conceived of in the same way as the British.

This is how Philip did it. He never was a really fluent speaker nor a charismatic person.

https://www.youtube.com/v/0aCA3M1BybI

[ritter]

I imagine he gave the speech in the three official languages, Peter?

Of course, there's also the King of Thailand , who has taken a rather different attitude: https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-luxury-hotel-thailand-king-rama-isolating-coronavirus-bavaria-germany-2020-4?IR=T

[Que]

I imagine he gave the speech in the three official languages, Peter?

Of course, there's also the King of Thailand , who has taken a rather different attitude: https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-luxury-hotel-thailand-king-rama-isolating-coronavirus-bavaria-germany-2020-4?IR=T

One has to feel sorry with the Thai, after the long reign of the reverred Bhumibol they're now stuck with a brainless playboy....

Back on topic.... Good news from the Netherlands:

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/04/hospital-admissions-continue-to-fall-as-dutch-ramp-up-corona-testing/

Q

[pjme]

I imagine he gave the speech in the three official languages, Peter?

Of course, there's also the King of Thailand , who has taken a rather different attitude: https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-luxury-hotel-thailand-king-rama-isolating-coronavirus-bavaria-germany-2020-4?IR=T

No, only French and Flemish. Our German speaking community is (probably) considered too small for (even) more linguistic brouhaha.
Philip's Flemish isn't that bad (almost no accent), but he speaks French more fluently.
Too bad he is such a colourless, stiff, humourless figure. Otoh, one could say, that it is a blessing that he doesn't try to be funny or a flamboyant orator.
And, Queen Mathilde has had an immensely good influence on his behaviour. She's rather cool.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German-speaking_Community_of_Belgium

[ritter]

No, only French and Flemish. Our German speaking community is (probably) considered too small for (even) more linguistic brouhaha.
Philip's Flemish isn't that bad (almost no accent), but he speaks French more fluently.
Too bad he is such a colourless, stiff, humourless figure. Fortunately, one could say, that he doesn't try to be a flamboyant orator.
And, Queen Mathilde has had an immensely good influence on his behaviour. She's rather cool.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German-speaking_Community_of_Belgium

Thanks. Most interesting.

...
Back on topic.... Good news from the Netherlands:

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/04/hospital-admissions-continue-to-fall-as-dutch-ramp-up-corona-testing/
...

Good news indeed. Also in Spain, the number of new (confirmed) infections and of deceased has decreased over the past three days, meaning that the health system is under less strain.

The flip side is that the good weather and the upcoming Easter holidays are prompting some to be less disciplined and respectful of the stay-at-home regulations. The police seems to have prevented almost all attempts of city dwellers to drive to their second homes on the coast or in the country, but we've seen bizarre things like some inhabitants of small towns staging makeshift processions (which are a big thing during the Holy Week in most of Spain). These processions, in any case, were caricatures of the real thing snd immediately dissolved by the police (and all participants subject to hefty fines).