# ...from the President of the United States: WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 23, 2020, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078 "2020-03-23T05:48:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/61 "2020-03-23T19:05:22Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Jeez, no wonder he’s getting so antsy. It’s probably more about not getting to do his rallies. He seems to feed off those. The more he has to appear sober and somber and try to follow a script or speak in measured tones, the more he itches to just start on rants about “nasty” reporters and crazy Democrats and whatever. It has to come out or he’ll lose his last marble. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/62 "2020-03-23T19:15:16Z")
> [@SayTwo](#): > > That’s what you think it means, a bad stock market? Gosh, what a narrow (and telling) perspective. 104 posts over 15 years and you waste it on this shit? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/63 "2020-03-23T19:18:11Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > 104 posts over 15 years and you waste it on this shit? SayTwo should change his name to SayNothing. Forgot to add, “Har! Har!” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/64 "2020-03-23T19:19:53Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > IF we had competent leadership something like that statement could be acceptable. Public health actions SHOULD be adjusted based on changing information. Ramp up or down in response to quality data assuming you have it and qualified experts are analyzing it and advising on the nationally coordinated adjustments. > > Unfortunately that is not what we have. > [@SayTwo](#): > > You can dislike the messenger all you want, and you can reasonably disagree on what the implications of such an approach would be, but it’s hard to objectively argue against the message itself. Something about a house and a mouse, I once heard… Your post is refuted by the post right before yours. It’s not that I don’t like the messenger, I don’t trust the messenger. He’s said innumerable stupid things about this issue already. From claiming that it would be over in a flash, that it was overblown by his political opponents, that he’s done a great job of leading us… I don’t believe he is capable of weighing the impact of his decisions to make a reasoned choice. He’s just going to pick something, he’s not REALLY going to understand the implications, so this “message” is meaningless because it depends on having an understanding of the scope of the COVID pandemic and the far reaching implications of social distancing, and he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/65 "2020-03-23T19:37:51Z")
The second part isn’t bad. It’s basically what every other world leader has been saying - we take measures now, we reassess whether to continue those measures, later. (Since they’re based on scientific recommendations, the answer is likely going to be ‘yes, we will’, at least for the next several months.) The problem is the first line. It tells us that he’s biased against whatever helps contain the outbreak (ie: the cure), if it’s inconvenient. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/66 "2020-03-23T19:49:01Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > What’s happening here is obvious. Trump doesn’t want to focus on the crisis any more. His attention span is less than that of my 3 year old grandson. Everyday he has to stand up there and say something, and he’s getting tired of it. This is the one agenda he can’t control. He can’t turn coverage to anything else. My youngest daughter keeps getting tired of hearing about “the virus” (that’s what she calls it) and wants to be able to go to parks and hang out with friends. But she’s 5 years old so she has an excuse. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/67 "2020-03-23T19:58:49Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I think he’s pissed off that he has to stand behind a podium every day and pretend to be on top of this, instead of out playing golf. If only he had some kind of assistant that could take his place at that podium, maybe on a regular schedule, say, every day, and inform the press corps of the latest news and developments from the White House. That assistant could also answer questions, even. Maybe give him or her some important-sounding title, like Press Secretary or something. Yeah, you’re right, that’s just crazy talk on my part. Mea culpa, ever’body. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/68 "2020-03-23T20:20:54Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I think his _rallies_ are what he really misses, all those adoring crowds of Trumpists who believe he’s wonderful. Someone pointed out the other day that the daily pressers started up just after the rallies had to be canceled. I was thinking the the day that somebody ought to show him the clip of LBJ saying, “I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President,” pointing out how high his approval rating rose after the announcement and _then_ suggesting he could then run for president again in January. That way he could do what he loves best – speaking at rallies in front of his fan base – and avoid doing what he hated, actually _being_ President. He would piss and moan about how the Deep State robbed him of his legacy, the MAGAts would eat it up with a spoon, and the rest of us could get on with our lives. He could become the Harold Stassen for the 21st century. > [@Skypist](#): > > He seems to think the stock market is a better indicator of his chances for re-election than the welfare of Americans during a deadly virus outbreak. He’s not entirely wrong. “500,000 dead but my 401K’s doing great!” ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/69 "2020-03-23T20:22:16Z")
if it looks like he might lose to Biden I think the party will find a way to get rid of him ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/70 "2020-03-23T20:23:51Z")
> [@tripthicket](#): > > If only he had some kind of assistant that could take his place at that podium, maybe on a regular schedule, say, every day, and inform the press corps of the latest news and developments from the White House. That assistant could also answer questions, even. Maybe give him or her some important-sounding title, like Press Secretary or something. Yeah, you’re right, that’s just crazy talk on my part. Mea culpa, ever’body. Perhaps they could combine this job with the Maytag Repairman, they’re equally busy (if you believe the old Maytag ads). It’s clear that this has exceeded Donald’s attention span. I predict in two weeks it’s going to be “States, you’re on your own!” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/71 "2020-03-23T20:44:38Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > It’s probably more about not getting to do his rallies. He seems to feed off those. The more he has to appear sober and somber and try to follow a script or speak in measured tones, the more he itches to just start on rants about “nasty” reporters and crazy Democrats and whatever. It has to come out or he’ll lose his last marble. The rallies are also used by his campaign to develop mailing lists and solicit donations. The demand for secret payouts to corporations is largely about funneling that money back into his campaign. He’s a TV personality. He thinks in terms of episodes and story lines. This one isn’t working out for him, he needs to move on to the next one. This crisis happened at one of the worst times possible for me, but the economy will recover. And the Democrats should stand their ground. Remember the Republicans deliberately held back the stimulus needed for full recovery from the 2008 crisis for EIGHT FUCKING YEARS. 6 months is nothing in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/72 "2020-03-23T20:53:44Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It’s clear that this has exceeded Donald’s attention span. I predict in two weeks it’s going to be “States, you’re on your own!” [They already are and the orange juvenile laughs about it!](https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-trump-outbid-states-on-medical-supplies-2020-3) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/73 "2020-03-23T20:54:46Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/politics/trump-coronavirus-15-days-social-distancing/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/politics/trump-coronavirus-15-days-social-distancing/index.html) > > Trump is tired of social isolation. > > He seems to think the stock market is a better indicator of his chances for re-election than the welfare of Americans during a deadly virus outbreak. He’s not wrong. Dead people can’t vote!\* \*Except Democrats, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/74 "2020-03-23T20:56:31Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > if it looks like he might lose to Biden I think the party will find a way to get rid of him Obviously he could, the party knows this. It’s whether or not they think he likely will, and then it’s a question about whether a swap now for a new candidate that hasn’t campaigned would do better than an incumbent. I think it’s too late in the process for them to swap horses with any chance of success and they know it. Also you can’t rely on polls. According to polls, Hillary should have won last election (and I mean electoral college not just popular vote) and she didn’t. The GOP will surely have that in mind as well. I think there’s a zero chance of the Republicans getting skittish and swapping out their candidate. If you want Trump out then he’s going to have to be voted out. I have hope he will be. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/75 "2020-03-23T21:09:42Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > What’s happening here is obvious. Trump doesn’t want to focus on the crisis any more. His attention span is less than that of my 3 year old grandson. Everyday he has to stand up there and say something, and he’s getting tired of it. This is the one agenda he can’t control. He can’t turn coverage to anything else. > > If he tells everyone they can come out now he can turn his attention to something else - that what he must be thinking. We all knew he was not up to the job but this is proving it. > > The best thing Trump could do for the country at this point is to fall over dead of a stroke or heart attack. Pence may be an asshole, but he can focus on something for more than a week. Or two days. Think positive! Trump could fall over dead of gravy _crushing Pence_. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/76 "2020-03-23T21:12:16Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > WTF is that even supposed to mean, “which way to go”? At the end of two weeks he’ll decide whether or not to make the cure worse than the disease? > > I guess if the country doesn’t kiss his butt enough in the next two weeks, he’ll make a decision to kill us all. Although he’s pretty much been doing that anyway so how can we tell the difference? He means that he’s going to tell everyone to forget saving grandma, the stock market is more important, “get back to work y’all lazy bums”. Trump needs the economy to be good, to win his re-election. Of course, his core voting base is older so he seems to be forgetting the flip side of the coin. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/77 "2020-03-23T21:28:56Z")
I expect we will end up with the worst of both options: both an out-of-control pandemic and a horrible economy. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/78 "2020-03-23T21:39:37Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I expect we will end up with the worst of both options: both an out-of-control pandemic and a horrible economy. That’s OK, as long as Fox News (and by extension Trump) find someone else to blame. That’s what’s important - who to blame. Right after “how do we make a profit from this?” ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/79 "2020-03-23T21:40:11Z")
The worst thing about all this is something **asahi** [noted above](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22205202&postcount=27). As bad as this is and is going to get, a potential silver lining would be the American people having an epiphany about their demagogue-loving, science-undermining, populism-run-amok ways and consciously deciding to expect more from themselves and their country going forward. But there is no realistic prospect of that happening. People will continue to cast blame in the wrong direction even as the president sells out their communities, their livelihoods and their very lives themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078/80 "2020-03-23T22:09:23Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > It’s like he doesn’t even realise he’s a near-80-year-old in bad shape He needs to show us how he’s fixed the problem by going to a treatment center and giving hugs to all the patients. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-president-of-the-united-states-we-cannot-let-the-cure-be-worse-than-the-problem-itself/850078.md?page=5)