Look at this photo. Elbow to elbow. Count the masks. How is this set up not irresponsible high-risk intentional COVID spread? It’s beyond negligence. This outbreak in the tRump administration looks like it goes back to the Rose Garden announcement of Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court. Many who were there are now suffering from COVID. Whose idea was this set up with zero distancing (except to the stage, 12-15 feet there), who let these folks come in without masks on, who let this shitshow go forward? This is beyond irresponsible, it’s intentional disregard for science and for every person there (and why on earth would anyone participate in this during a pandemic?). Responsibility goes a long way, and irresponsibility is spreading far and wide. At least seven present now have confirmed COVID, how many more? How many more were infected by those now testing positive? How many will die? How many will “recover” but suffer long term impacts?

This is on tRump and his minions, and now, literally he, and they, are paying the price. But so many more were infected. Everyone in this administration shares some responsibility for letting this occur. Trump’s disregard for science and the pandemic has come home to roost.

“Thoughts and prayers.”

Scrutiny on Rose Garden event after Kellyanne Conway and other guests test positive for Covid

Trump sets off multi-state Covid tracing crisis

Utterly irresponsible:

Minnesota Republicans fly Delta home from D.C. after COVID-19 exposure

Reps. Stauber, Emmer and Hagedorn appear to have violated airline policy. 

And oh, the irony…

Prominent Minnesota Republicans in quarantine, seeking COVID-19 tests after Trump visit

Minnesota business executive Stanley Hubbard, a frequent GOP donor, said he skipped the fundraiser. “It’s foolish to go out with strangers right now. We don’t do it,” he said.

https://www.startribune.com/prominent-minnesota-republicans-in-quarantine-from-trump-visit/572611852

JUST WEAR THE DAMN MASK!

How stupid can they be? Well, we’re seeing that in technicolor.

Last of the trips for 2020, last of TWO, that’s it, just two this year! Thanks, COVID!

Mirror Lake State Park books up as soon as sites are reservable, and when the parks opened up again, this was the only time “our” site in the Cliffwood loop was open. Weather was great, cool but not cold. But we did hit more parks than Mirror Lake. Usually when here, we head to Madison, do some visiting, but everything’s closed, so we instead went to the state parks that were close. Good weather until we went to Devil’s Lake State Park, and the wind blew and rain came crashing down just after we got there:

And the next day, went to Rocky Arbor State Park. We’d been there before, once in summer and the bugs were so bad, couldn’t stick around. This late in the fall it was just right, sunny and NO BUGS, though the park was closed. We parked at the gate and hiked up the hill to the campground, wanted to check it out, and yes, you can find a rocky arbor or two here:

The campground is HUGE, and apparently VERY busy in the summer. Doesn’t really appeal to me because it’s so near the highway, lots of road noise, more than Mirror Lake!

Most of the sites are large and spaced well with foliage between sites, and these big sites are more common in Wisconsin than Minnesota.

From the campground, we headed down to the boggy part, down the stairs to the buggy part, and they were GONE!

Are you depending on Social Security to be there for you when you retire? Are you, a family member, friend, receiving Social Security disability payments? Pay attention, because Social Security has been defunded, “temporarily,” and tRump wants to make it permanent. What would that mean to you?

You can find tRump’s Memorandum and Guidance for defunding Social Security here:

Friday – Defunding Soc Sec – U.S. Treasury Guidance for Payroll Tax Deduction

My Letter to the Editor was published in the Red Wing Republican Eagle a couple weeks ago, forgot to put it up here!

When I’m 65…

Yeah, there’s a song, but that was last year. This year, yeah, boomer, I’m 65, and must enroll in Medicare. Nope, not happy about this at all. So much isn’t covered, basic things like glasses, hearing aids, what is covered is only 80% covered, and there’s an annual deductible. Insurance companies flood my mailbox wanting to take my money to cover the gaps. Neither party supports single-payer health care. They’re beholden to the insurance companies.

And approaching 65, consider Social Security. Most of us will need it. Based on the numbers, I’ll hold off collecting for a few years to have a higher payout. But with the defunding of Social Security last week, Social Security will be broke long before I drop dead!

Defunding Social Security? Yes, the “payroll tax cut.” Do you understand what this means? As someone who’s paid in, and as someone with grey hair, I’m horrified!

Cutting the “payroll tax” that funds Social Security means that the money funding Social Security would no longer be paid by employees and employers into the Social Security trust. That “payroll tax cut” means Social Security withholding would end. Social Security will be drained – all outgo and no income.

Enacted at the end of July, it allows, but does not require, employers to not withhold Social Security “payroll tax” from your check. If employers don’t withhold it from your check, they also do not have to pay their half, because withholding triggers employer payments. Again, Social Security would be all outgo and no income. How’ll that work for us? It won’t.

This “payroll tax cut” is in effect through year end. Missed “payroll tax” payments would be made up starting 2021, though how it happens isn’t explained. Many employers aren’t happy about this, because it’s an accounting hassle, and recouping those Social Security payments not made, by whatever scheme, would be a significant expense for employers and employees. A permanent cut has been proposed. Just NO!

Defund Social Security? We’ve paid in all our working lives. I’ve paid in since my Department of Agriculture summer job at 15. How many years have you paid in? Will you need Social Security? I sure will.

Yes, it’s an “entitlement.” We’re entitled to receive the benefits after we’ve paid in for so long. Cut the “payroll tax?” Defund Social Security? NO! You’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands!

Carol A. Overland, Red Wing

Last night’s vigil in Red Wing: