Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has lifted all of the state’s remaining COVID rules, including wearing masks, saying the state is no longer in a state of emergency.
I want to congratulate Republican DeSantis for having the courage and intestinal fortitude to eliminate all COVID-19 emergency measures, including the mandatory wearing of masks, in the state of Florida.
I also want to congratulate Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who never shut down the state of South Dakota’s economy nor imposed a mandatory wearing of masks because of COVID-19 in March of 2020.
It seems incredulous that with all we now know about COVID-19, Hawai‘i is still living and quaking in fear of a virus that is no more lethal than the common flu each year.
I’m not a nay-sayer who says COVID-19 doesn’t exist, or that the virus doesn’t pose lifelong medical maladies for some who are infected. The risk of dying or suffering the effects of COVID-19 are less and/or comparable with the many flu viruses that plague our county, state and country each year. As FDR famously said in his first inaugural address, March 4, 1933, the “only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Hawai‘i Gov. David Ige and Mayor Derek Kawakami, along with Hawai‘i’s other mayors, Senate and House of Representatives, should follow DeSantis’ lead in reopening the economy of Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i totally, including the wearing of masks.
Very few are wearing the proper mask or wearing them properly. Unless the proper mask is worn and people wear the mask properly at ALL times, then wearing them is nothing more than an effort with no effect. In fact, it’s detrimental to wear a mask for commonly-known health reasons. Wearing a mask decreases oxygen intake and increases carbon dioxide intake.
Snope reported this being true: “Breathing in excessive carbon dioxide is dangerous for the body. Some people with preexisting respiratory illnesses may face health issues with prolonged use of tight-fitting masks, such as respirators.”
Scientific research shows a mask cannot possibly have an effect on preventing COVID-19 from spreading if someone isn’t wearing only a proper mask (not some Gucci design that is chique), and is not at all times wearing the proper mask correctly. A proper mask must be cleaned or replaced daily, no touching or moving the mask around on the face, etc. If the proper mask is not worn and maintained correctly while being worn, then the mask simply becomes SYMBOLISM. Symbolism doesn’t prevent any virus or disease.
Governor Ige and Mayor Kawakami, common sense, the CDC and science, dictates that you reopen the economy of Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i, allowing people’s lives to return to normal, not a “new normal.” I implore you to follow Gov. DeSantis’ lead.
Let us go back to work without COVID-19 emergency measures, discontinue the mandatory wearing of masks and cease with the consideration of relegating people to a third-class citizenship because they are not vaccinated. BTW, I have been vaccinated, if you’re wondering, but I still have to wear a mask? Why? If the vaccination truly performs as Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson &Johnson/Janssen and the CDC (with the FDA Good Housekeeping Seal of Emergency Approval) say it does, preventing me from being infected and infecting others with COVID-19, then why do I have to continue to wear a mask?
It’s completely illogical. What’s the point in being vaccinated? Concerns over COVID-19 variants? This fruitless rush to worry over every virus and disease that may or may not come along isn’t normal. There’s always some risk in everything we do. Are we going to continue wearing a mask for the rest of our lives to prevent us from possibly being sick? It’s all so ridiculous, unscientific and illogical.
My opinion is in complete uniformity with what is stated by the CDC, scientific fact and simple common sense. You don’t quarantine the healthy with the sick. You can’t pick and choose some businesses to be closed and others to remain open.
You don’t close or inhibit places of worship from their First Amendment right to assemble and worship as they have in the past; taking communion (Holy Eucharist for those who are Catholic), being able to sing without wearing a mask, normal social gathering, etc.
You don’t prevent people from lawfully assembling to protest the government’s unlawful COVID-19 mandates (a mandate isn’t a law and cannot be legally enforced). According to the U.S. Constitution and the Hawai‘i Constitution, you cannot quarantine and arrest people because they choose not to adhere to nor follow Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 mandates. If a person isn’t proven to be sick, then to quarantine and/or arrest a citizen is in direct violation of both U.S. and Hawai‘i constitutions.
BTW, I’ve been unemployed since March 18, 2020. Why? I’m employed in tourism/transportation, and without tourism, Hawai‘i is in “deep kimchee.” Government’s role is to protect the people, not run their lives. The purpose of government is to serve the people, not the people serving the government.
Signed, unemployed.
•••
Steve Yoder is a resident of Wailua Homesteads.
Just Stop It
Steve Yoder…I am sure Florida needs van drivers
99.7% survival rate……wait for it……and now we have a vaccine.
“Just Stop it”……aka “I can’t think for myself. I need the Government to tell me what to do”. SMH.
AMEN! Way past time to move on… We all know the situation…we all know the risks…time for good ol’ “personal accountability” to rule once again. You don’t feel well?….then don’t go out and be around people. You don’t want to be in a large group at a concert or sporting event or restaurant or bar where there are NO masks (because they’re not needed)?…then don’t go. You go and then you get sick…you knew what you were doing in the first place (just like we all have for years and years and years).
Very well said Steve…and I hope you’re able to get back to work soon!
We deserve the government we allow. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states that when government ceases to serve the people it is the duty of the governed to alter or abolish it. I suggest that time has long sense passed. The freedoms we enjoy as Americans where bought and paid for with the blood of patriots. Each and every one reading this today must do a gut check. Do we still possess the will to live our lives as we see fit? The courage to stand up and fight back. The land of the free and home of the brave is more then the last verse of our national anthem. It is a great honor and responsibility each of us must cherish or risk loosing. The mask is a tool of control. We have been repeatedly lied to. Our sense of duty has been willfully manipulated and use against us. No more mask we are Americans for God’s sake, not sheep.
What every American should be thinking of is slowing and stopping Covid so that the entire nation can get back to normal activities of daily living and working.
Florida is a mess, and the Republican Gov. is more interested in his back pocket and votes, ignoring the seriousness of the pandemic ( which is world wide ).
If Kauai could get the population vaccinated, and require visitors to do the same, and follow the Common Sense
ideas of wearing masks when required, and not joining in mass gatherings and washing hands, and using hand sanitizer spray, as a team we could overcome Covid, and
be able to live normal lives. Note the word TEAM.
The suggestion of opening everything up and ignoring the educated and rational health professionals is to doom all of us to being overwhelmed by covid. It will never end.
It is vital to get the covid vaccine. And it is simple and easy and only takes a couple of minutes. There is no pain involved. Erica and I have received the vaccine injections, Moderna for me, and Phizer for Erica ( retired M.D.)
We , out of true respect for others, still follow the rules for wearing a mask when required even tho we have had the vaccine.
It is vital for all of us to work together to slow and stop Covid.
It will not happen unless we follow the health professionals intelligent recommendations.
This is fact and not political babble. I am a veteran and volunteered to serve this nation, and I use the VA Health Care System…before I can be taken care of by the M.D’s or Technician Specialists , I have to get a covid test at the VA.
Simple, I drive up to the outdoor test area. get a nose swab, and on my way. Max has been about 5 minutes. Then a couple of days later, I go back for the major appointment.
We do not need to have our health professionals contract covid and have it rum rampant thru the hospital. Nor do we need to run rampant in our neighbor hoods, or homes.
In summary, if we listen to those who want to flat open everything up, there will be huge spikes in cases, more sick people, and some deaths, and everything will be totally shut down permanently.
We were Kauai Kamahaina for 10 years, after visiting for 13 years. Now reside in Dana Point, Ca.
We truly love Kauai and the people and our Garden Island friends. We will be be back on island in September for a month. And, yes we will have to have our covid test prior to winging across the pond. No biggie, drive up at Wallgreens and get the nose swab and gone. Also, when on island, we will respect and follow the procedures required by the shop owners and the authorities.
That is aloha.
Well said, Thank you.
DJ, what comes to mind while reading your response is….. a box of rocks. Get it?
Even CNN disagrees with you. I had to stop reading after that.
To quote the far left leaning “The Atlantic”:
I started reporting this essay with a clear thesis: Florida is having a moment. To the extent that winning a pandemic is possible, Florida seemed to be winning the pandemic.
Despite criticism from liberals for its laissez-faire approach to COVID-19, Florida has been “booming,” according to CNN, and the state’s success is “a vindication for their policies.”
Too bad today isn’t the National Day of Prayer, Steve, because if it were, I’d be praying that the Lord would give you a brain.
Well said, sir! As Benjamin Franklin once said: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
Go live in Florida then, your problem solved
Sooooo, um, like, when do you think we should stop this scamdemic???? …….When there are zero positive tests??…….Never going to happen.
~3% of total deaths in the USA are attributed to influenza and pneumonia. “LET’S SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING and start sending out the checks! Everyone gets FREE money forever!” FFS.
I am very thankful for the rules and plan our Mayor has for Kauai. Yes we should wear our masks correctly. So odd that some folks still say that Covid disease is just like the flu- I just don’t understand their logic on that one.
Oh Steve, you actually could have made a reasonable argument for relaxing safety practices if you had just stuck strictly to what the CDC has said. When you say things like, “it’s no more lethal than the flu”, and we all know that over 500,000 people have died of covid in the last year, while annual flu deaths rarely top 20,000, or that wearing a mask is dangerous, well, that makes you look like a fool who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Next time you want to convince people to agree with your argument, just stick to the facts from the experts at the CDC. Save all the bs lies. Those of us who don’t watch fox news have no patience for such lies.
The main reason we are in lock down is because of idiots like you who don’t believe in science! Move to Florida with all your whacked friends, quit making political statements on this platform or you will be banned for life!
Your belief in science is akin to religious zealots who believe in the ‘end times’. Your well funded buddies who claim to be scientists also promote theories like the existence of 54 genders and global warming. Stop with the threats and insults, fish..it makes you look childish and detracts from your emotional rant.
Second paragraph on Snopes:
What’s False
However, people wearing cloth or surgical masks are in little to no danger of breathing in unhealthy amounts of carbon dioxide.
This whole “Voice” is filled with a continual stream of misinformation meant to gaslight those who don’t keep up with current information or reinforce misinformation for those who want to believe it.
When you print things in a newspaper, you have a responsibility to get your facts right.
If you catch covid and are not vaccinated, in the US you are about 30 times more likely to die than if you had caught the flu. From Snopes on the subject: “Johns Hopkins University of Medicine reports that the U.S. is among the 20 countries most affected by the virus and has a mortality rate of 3.4%. By comparison, flu infections over the last decade have resulted in a mortality rate hovering around .1%.”
As to your erroneous belief that masks do nothing to prevent the spread of illness, you should put up or shut up: next time you go in for major surgery, please ask your surgeon and staff not to wear a mask. Just do it, I dare you! After all, you wouldn’t want them to be uncomfortable while they operate.
Flu and pneumonia – 3% mortality rate.
And wait for it…….even with a vaccine for the flu…….and the tens of thousands of deaths each year…….wait for it……….less than half of the population gets the flu vaccine. Each. And. Every. Year.
Jim the mortality rate of 3.4% is a fake number because it’s based on 3.4% of REPORTED cases, not actual cases! The most recent studies estimate that over 80 million Americans have contracted the virus with the vast majority not even knowing it! That makes the rate of mortality .007. Hardly worth shutting down the world for.
Deaths per 100,000 residents –
Florida: 166
South Dakota: 223
Hawaii: 34
Source: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/us-coronavirus-deaths-by-state-july-1.html
Seems most people miss the point… hospital capacity. There are only so many beds… despite the low death rate (overall) the hospitalization has been the biggest concern. if health care is overwhelmed and those w/out covid have a medical emergencies of some sort… most of you chirping about the perceived overreach would be howling from the hill tops… Understand the facts, the logical… i get it, its just easier complain… anyone younger than 60 has a hard time understanding sacrifice.
Uh yeah Steve, I’ve not heard of one person who has died from breathing their own carbon dioxide while wearing their mask…In fact the Chinese have been doing it for years after the SARS outbreak years ago…Why are they not all dead…you are complaining about fear mongering when here you are doing it yourself…And downplaying the seriousness of a disease that causes brain and health issues in 30 percent of people who get Covid…Especially the younger generation? Just because it hasn’t affected YOU yet…
Are you watching Fox News all day Steve? You gotta do your own research man, you can’t just rely on MSM talking points. Please dig deeper and tell us something really mind blowing.
Here is a data point:
Deaths from flu, 2018-9: 34,200
Deaths from COVID-19: 580,000.
what are you thinking Mr. Yoder?
Steve,
You’re entitled to your opinion about what the appropriate course for eliminating emergency measures is. But your statements that “the risk of dying or suffering from the effects of COVID-19 are less and/or comparable with the many flu viruses” is not accurate. And your statement that your “opinion is in complete uniformity with what is stated by the CDC, scientific fact and simple common sense” is also not accurate.
Medical facts should be gleaned from peer reviewed medical journals. Not sound bytes from the TV (FOX or CNBC).
The CDC published a morbidity and mortality weekly report on October 23, 2020 which looked at in-hospital deaths and risk for respiratory and non-respiratory complications in Veteran’s Health Administration hospitals. They found a 5 times greater risk of dying in the hospital from COVID than from influenza. A study out of France published in the Lancet on March 1, 2021 comparing 89,000 patients hospitalized with COVID and 46,000 patients hospitalized with influenza found a 2.9 times greater risk of death. In the same study, the flu was more likely to result in hospitalization of children, but in hospitalized patients younger than 5 years old, 2.5 times as many of the COVID patients required intensive care support. In a study out of Denmark looking at 1600 hospitalized patients and 6200 non-hospitalized patients, there was a threefold increase in death rate for hospitalized COVID patients compared with influenza patients, and a 5.5-6.9 fold increase in deaths among non-hospitalized patients (think unexpected deaths that didn’t make it to a hospital). They also found that compared with influenza patients there was an increased incidence of stroke, diabetes and kidney damage. A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal showed similar findings with a 3.5 times higher risk of death and a 1.5 times increase in ICU use and hospital length of stay versus influenza.
While you and I agree that an improperly worn mask is not effective, that doesn’t negate the effect of a properly worn mask. Any “equipment” is only as effective as its use – think seat belts. Your quote about tight fitting masks is about respirators. That’s not the equivalent of a mask designed to prevent droplet dispersion.
And let’s look at who you are congratulating. As of May 7, 2021, Hawaii has a death rate of 34 per 100,000 population. The lowest in the country! South Dakota has a death rate of 223 per 100,000, and Florida 166. Congratulation for what? 7 and 5 times the deaths?
As to you comment that you are “in complete uniformity with what is state by the CDC”, that is complete nonsense.
The general CDC guidelines from the CDC website scan be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. There are five points. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others. Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you. Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you. Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
The CDC guidelines for vaccinated people as of April 27, 2021 are: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to: Take precautions in indoor public settings like wearing a well-fitted mask. Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease. Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people from multiple households. Avoid indoor large-sized in-person gatherings
Another example of why it is fantastic for Kauai that this guy can not win an election not matter what position he runs for.
No one with a brain would trust Yoder with their dog. His character, or lack thereof, is pretty well known.
Remember when Steve Yoder lost his 2020 election by 45 points? Kauai didn’t want to hear from him then, and nothing has changed.
Move to Florida Steve!
Maybe you could recount ballots in your spare time.
Well stated Mr. Yoder, let people function by their own decisions.
Patrick H Flores, Wailua Houselots
First, I want to thank Mr Yoder for writing this opinion letter. It’s nice to see a true Republican ready to let all of us die – so businesses can make money. I want to thank him on behalf of the approximately 1600 people here in Hawaii who are ALIVE today specifically because we *didn’t* follow the advice of this Republican, Mr Yoder. You see, in Florida 35,000 people are dead from Covid and in Hawaii 436 people have died. Of course you have to factor in population which in Florida is 20 million and in Hawaii is 1.4 million. Well, Mr Yoder, that means Florida has a RATE of Covid that’s 8 times higher than Hawaii. If we had followed this advice over 20 people on Kauai ALONE would be dead today. So that is solid proof that you’re argument is wrong. It’s flawed. It’s not supported by data. I see a couple other things: you complaining that you’re unemployed. But I remember you repeatedly running for County Council and lost – that’s one reason you’re unemployed. I also remember seeing how you covered your lawn with big signs advertising yourself. You even left them up long after you lost. Maybe your ideas for our county were as poorly conceived as your ideas for taking the place where Covid rates are lowest and turning it into the nightmare that Florida has experienced? Usually I think it’s kinda worn out to say this, but for you I’ll make an exception. Move to Florida Mr Yoder. You’ll like it there.
Steve, you are uninformed, and ignorant in all you said!!! You are completely lead by the “Orange Man”. I feel sorry for you !!
Your opinion is noted. We get it….Orange Man bad. We know facts sting.
So when do we stop making masks mandatory BY THE GOVERNMENT?……or can we run our state like the profitable states? Oh wait, you just want your free stuff…..”Stay Closed Forever!” FFS.
Not surprising to hear this from a Republican. If you don’t fancy the rules and regulations then maybe go move somewhere that allows it and also had skyrocketing Covid cases/deaths. Keep in mind we’ve had the lowest rate of infection and deaths on Kauai compared to the nation for a specific reason.
“Florida ranks third in the nation for confirmed recent COVID hospital admissions for adults on a per-capita basis, behind only Michigan and Kentucky…” From today’s Miami Herald.
Florida is the last state in the country whose “lead” I’d follow on anything.
well-written, well-thought, and SPOT ON.
time to get on with life.
Everything you stated makes common sense. The only problem is you trying to persuade this government to use logic and common sense when they don’t know what those things are. All dem run states and cities are worse off then those using common sense approaches.
Plenty of tourists here man, places are hiring all over the island. Get yourself a job.
As I have lost a family member to this heinous disease, I find Mr. Yoder’s alt-right wing partisan comments reprehensible and uneducated. I would need an entire page to cover the misrepresented science in this article. Shame on you Steve.
Spoken like a true Republican.
So I guess Joe Biden did not win the election and there’s not a half a million people dead because of the virus.
I guess there are still not trailers full of dead bodies that have been sitting there for a year in downtown New York City.
If anybody thinks that we should follow Florida will they please get on a plane and move to Florida.
That kind of ignorance will make this thing last forever.
Get your shot wear your mask wash your hands don’t go to bars don’t go to restaurants eat outdoors drink outdoors.. the only reason this pandemic is still going on is because of ignorant people like you.
If you’re not into Florida please consider Brazil. I’m sure we can gather enough money to buy you a one-way ticket anywhere.
Sorry, they died “with COVID like symptoms”….no one is ever going to know how many died “because” of COVID. When you are morbidly obese or overweight (75% of US population) and over 77 (average life expectancy) years old, and die…..then I guess you burn the economy to the ground for a BS disease with a 99.7% survival rate. God help us if we ever have a real pandemic!
Annnnd, isn’t it ironic,,,don’t you think…………we have cured pneumonia and influenza…….zero deaths!!!! SMH.
Spoken like a true Republican. Also, let’s shed a little truth here, it doesn’t matter how many tourists you cram in here you will remain unemployed because your business is north shore and has been killed by the landslide, not the government.
Gee, that took a lot of effort, with a personal attack.
Let me guess….stay closed, wear masks forever, because you are on the Government Dole and don’t want to work?
It doesn’t matter how many truths are put in front of your eyes, you will never begin to think.
One has to ask, if these vaccines (which they are not-they are the latest gene therapy experiment by Big Pharma and you are the animal test group) are so effective, then why are fully “vaccinated” people still required to wear masks, anti-social distance, and refrain from large gatherings?
Who in Kauai cannot get the vaccine now if they want it? Anyone over 16 is now eligible! If people do not want to get the vaccine and prefer to be vulnerable, that’s their decision. Let them stay home and wear their mask. Don’t punish everyone for those who prefer to abstain. More than 60,000 does have been administered on Kauai not to mention residents who received the vaccine on the mainland. Time to open people – let’s get this going!
More malarkey from Steve. It’s always interesting how republicans throw out false facts. In recent years the worst influenza year was 2017-18 when influenza US deaths were in the range of 46K to 95K.
So far US deaths from C-19 are 594,059 though there was an article today stating that as many as twice that may not have been counted.
But lets go with the lower C-19 Us death rate of 594K.
Compared to influenza deaths 2017-18 of a max of 95K.
There have been at least 500,000 more covid deaths.
Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Test procedure, definitions, reporting, all doubtful in a BIG way.
The Election Virus has served its purpose, get vaxed and let liberty prevail!
Simple solution: Steve Yoder should move to Florida.
Amen Steve. Wish Gov. DeSantis ran Hawaii. Tired of liberal thinking politicians running our lives. Time for a change.
The latest studies have confirmed that nearly 80 million Americans have had Covid, and the vast majority of us didn’t even know we had it! Divide the total Covid deaths in the U.S. as of today 581,000 by the “actual” cases instead of the “reported” cases that the media uses, and you get .007%. Almost in line with the common flu. And remember, the Medical Corporations, their hospitals, and other care facilities, receive huge sums of money for a Covid death, and zero for any other cause of death reported. If you’re a 95 year old man with terminal cancer who dies, but you test positive for Covid, which cause of death would you report? Follow the money! Not worth shutting down the Country, ballooning the divorce rates, higher suicide rates,, destroying careers and jobs, and increasing obesity which is also killing tens of thousands of Americans every year. It is not worth the result! Is this so called “Pandemic” worth Politicians getting extreme power over your life? If a political government gains the power to tell you what to wear, how to breathe, how far you can stand from your brother, the direction of an aisle in a food store you’re allowed to walk, where you can fly, and whether you can go to church or not, we volunteer the loss of a massive amount of our Freedoms and Liberties. And for what? Only for what the Socialists and Communists ordered!
Nothing,
First, a little help with math. 581,000÷80,000,000 is 0.007. That is 0.7% or or 1 out of every 140 people.
Now some more help. How do studies confirm something without a confirmatory test? The studies you’re quoting may make an estimate, but they have not confirmed anything.
The medical industry gets paid by providing service. Not by the cause of death. Where did that idea come from?
The number of suicides in this country dropped from 47,511 in 2019, to 44,834 in 2020. There is no higher suicide rate. I don’t know about your other assumptions.
Wow that is a great example of excessive THC. What are you talking about?
Jim – Federal funds are released to hospitals and health care providers based on their total cases and death counts. A hospital that has 100 Covid deaths gets more money than a Hospital that claims 5. The TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS already stolen from tax payers to pay for this “Pandemic” hoax are apportioned based upon case counts and deaths. How can a so called Dr. not know that? Also, the 80 million is a projected amount based on studies. The conclusions of which said it was a conservative projection and could be twice that! Covid is here to stay. You are a fool for thinking shutting down the world is accomplishing a damn thing, other than make vaccine companies rich and impeding the accomplishment of real herd immunity that can only come from exposure and wellness. You kool aide drinkers are destroying America one stupid cause after another. If it isn’t climate change, or “racism”, ozone layer depletion, blah blah, your life is empty. Nothing to fret and bitch about? So a fake Pandemic will do the trick. All of which is opening the door for the Socialism for which you so desperately thirst. All the while, so naïve as to the hidden results and pain for everyone that direction provides!
Again, Math seems to be your challenge. Is your background in accounting or medicine?
The federal government spent 1.2 Trillion on health care in 2019. Of that 644 billion went to Medicare, 427 billion to Medicaid and Childrens Health insurance program, and 80 Billion to Veterans Medical care. Ok the CARES act may have made some payments to underserved hospitals to offset care, but it doesnt pay based on deaths. Can you cite the source (that is the federal program guidelines) to support that BS.
Your statement said 80M “confirmed”. My bad, I should have known that it was someone’s projection not a “confirmed” case count. Or someone to lazy to find out the source of their sound bytes.
And Nothing, if you looked at my tax return, you would understand that I am the posterchild of capitalism. But that doesn’t mean I cant be concerned about this world and those in it.
Jim, jim. You want a fact? here it is from factcheck.org, that liberal bastion of information I’m sure you rely most on.
“It is true, however, that the government will pay more to hospitals for COVID-19 cases in two senses: By paying an additional 20% on top of traditional Medicare rates for COVID-19 patients during the public health emergency, and by reimbursing hospitals for treating the uninsured patients with the disease (at that enhanced Medicare rate).
Ka-ching!
Hard to believe statements require confirmation of data.
Once upon a time last year there was a man in the White House who did everything possible to downplay COVID-19. He didn’t wear a mask, he held large mask-less rallies, ignored science, never offered condolences to family & friends of the deceased, and spoke poorly about Dr. Fauci – an American physician-scientist and immunologist who serves as the Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the chief medical advisor to all Presidents since Regan.
This man temporarily banned flights from China and considered that a yuge accomplishment he repeated over, and over as his followers cheered gleefully. THAT was his contribution to help control the spread of COVID-19 in this Country. Meanwhile in reality land, millions around the world have and still are dying, with many survivors suffering long term medical issues.
Now? We have a Country divided because of this man. Millions still believing (like you) that this highly contagious virus is nothing more than a flu. They repeat dated stats from early 2020 about death rates. They spew false information from some hack on YouTube that mask wearing decreases oxygen intake (even though Dr’s, RNs, and techs around the world have been wearing them for over a century.) And, many of them refer to those of us who DO follow science as ‘sheep’ while they continue promoting every bit of nonsense that man said > who BTW has NO medical credentials.
Mic drop.
Yes totally agree! Who’s the real sheep now? Us common sense people who follow science or those who believe a has-been Cheeto man who’s proven himself as a pathological liar? I must say the level of idiocracy in the belief of some these recent conspiracies is mind-boggling!
Hey Steve: Where were you on January 6, 2021? Florida will welcome you.
8 new Covid cases today per the Hono star advertiser, 90 active Kauai cases.
This is not problem to Steve Yoder and the other 7 republicans we have on Kauai. It’s also not a problem to all those yammering to get Kauai all opened up. Who cares if unSafe Travels brings in more cases allowing more community spread as long as we have gridlocked traffic on the roads and those low paying jobs are back.
Many of us are vaccinated but some still are not. Some through no fault of their own.
My goodness! It’s a snowflake snow storm in Hawaii. Who knew? (We all do)
Math is scary, I get it. But we understand why you are not the biggest fan of numbers. I’ll break it down in three fun sections! Let’s begin:
– – – – – – – SECTION 1)
Influenza (“the flu”) Deaths in the USA by Year (est.):
2010-2011 – – – 37,000
2011-2012 – – – 12,000
2012-2013 – – – 43,000
2013-2014 – – – 38,000
2014-2015 – – – 51,000
2015-2016 – – – 23,000
2016-2017 – – – 38,000
2017-2018 – – – 61,000
2018-2019 – – – 34,000
2019-2020 – – – 22,000
(Average: 35,900 Dead Americans per Year)
SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 Deaths in the USA in a Year:
Mar 2020 – Mar 2021 – – – 527,225
(And as of May 7th, that’s up to: 594,794 Dead Americans total… so far)
Steve, I know numbers are hard, but can you tell us, which viral invader has killed more Americans; the flu or COVID-19?
35,900 … or … 527,225 (594,794 as of today)
– – – – – – – SECTION 2)
Steve, you want Kauai to follow Florida’s and South Dakota’s deadly examples? Florida, really? The state that ranks #1 in the country for most new COVID-19 deaths right now? The state that is on the verge of losing business contracts with tourism and cruise companies because of their reckless and deadly public health policies? Let’s compare:
SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 Total Deaths:
Florida – – – 35,644
S. Dakota – – – 1,980
Hawaii – – – 486
(Kauai) – – – 2
Want to compare rates adjusted for population? Okie dokie:
SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19 Deaths per 100K:
Florida – – – 166
S. Dakota – – – 224
Hawaii – – – 34
(Kauai) – – – 3
Steve, are you volunteering yourself and your family to be among the first of the 666X increase (~200 Kauai residents) to be killed by COVID-19 with your public health proposal? Or would you prefer us essential workers, or the medical professionals, or the kupuna, or the sick, etc. to be first in line to be sacrificed for your plan?
– – – – – – – SECTION 3)
Steve, I don’t know why TGI keeps publishing your misinformed diatribes, acting as your soap-box or personal blog, since you lost both your 2014 and 2020 political races when you asked if the people of Kauai wanted you to represent them; democracy worked. In fact, in 2014, you ran unopposed (being the only Republican choice), and got 1,892 votes. In 2020, when there actually was a choice in the Republican primary, you received only 615 votes. Those are not great showings in a district that represents 26,048 residents. On an island of 67,091 residents, that means you are getting headlining articles in our island’s main newspaper, when in 2020 only 00.9% of the people of Kauai voted for you when they had a choice, and only 04.2% of the people of Kauai when they were forced to vote the Republican ticket.
If you would stop being so selfishly offended and “victimized” at every little thing that makes you a little bit uncomfortable, and truly would like these public health policies to become unnecessary and come to an end, then use your Republican platform to encourage your fellow Republican party members to follow your example and get vaccinated! The quicker we reach herd-immunity, the quicker we starve out the virus, and throw it on the rubbish heap of history along side the many other diseases which vaccines have stopped, saving countless HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of lives! Protect your family. Do it for your self. Do it for local businesses. Vaccine technology has been around for around 225 years, and coronavirus-type vaccines have been around for almost 20 years, and these COVID-19 vaccines which have been shown to be 95% effective in every single study have already had 1.24 BILLION doses administered…
So, Steve, stop whining and get to work.
From a Feb 2018 TGI article (https://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/02/11/lifestyles/talk-story-steve-yoder/):
As a tour guide for over 20 years, Steve Yoder said, “if someone’s not laughing, they’re not listening,” so he works hard everyday to put smiles on visitors’ faces. “I enjoy talking to [people]. I like to tease them a lot. One thing I learned in selling timeshares is unless people are laughing, they’re not listening.”
Oh, don’t you worry uncle Steve… we’re laughing…
Steve
Your thoughts on opening the island based on science is realistic with over 60% of the population now vaccinated. the highest risk over 60 have been vaccinated now for months. i however disagree with your facts.
The facts are many of the people that have died are ages that are vulnerable. The facts are over hundred thousand or more died when states like New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, sent people to nursing homes and hid the truth. How many deaths were declared dead by Covid yet they had cancer, lung disease or old age.
Covid was all about destroying Trump. Now we must move on. For Kauai get a vaccination or live life with facts in hand.
As a independent voter I agreed with Mayor, and I agree with him now that its time to open up.
For Kauai its time to reevaluate status quo politics. Its time to better monitor how this this county spend nearly 90% of its budget on administration.
Next time you go in for surgery explain to the surgeon that you know that wearing a mask will damage him and not benefit you.. For good measure explain that you do not need all that sterile procedure stuff it is all a liberal lot to pad the hospital bill.
Yes, let’s follow the lead of the state that has had 2.2 million cases and 35k deaths. Let’s also not overlook 4,165 cases yesterday. Maybe if you like there rules you should think about relocating.
The fearful and the vulnerable should be vaccinated by now.
If aforementioned are still fearful and vulnerable, they should shelter in place.
Meanwhile give us additional treatments and facilities.
Jim,
Get your facts right.
Age 50, or younger, what’s the number? Do your homework.
There is ONE reason why the entire pandemic has been politicized and he no longer takes up space in the WH and does his tweeting, oh wait he’s been banned, now lives in Florida and has developed a cult following “like no one in history”, to quote the man himself. Walk away Steve, run away very fast.
How much courage and intestinal fortitude did DeSantis display when he signed a bill to make it harder, primarily for those leaning Democrat, to vote in the next election, even though Florida officials have stated that it was one of the fairest and well-run elections in state history. You’re high-fiving that authoritarian clown!?!?
BTW, ex-President Trump boasts how he closed this country to China. We were the 45 country to do so and after he lets in 1000’s of Chinese businessmen. And then he got secretly vaxed.