Ho hum (ho hyphen) is an exclamation expressing boredom, weariness, or contempt, according to Dictionary.com, while ho-hum (with hyphen) is an adjective meaning dull, boring or routine.
Exposing a hyphen for one usage versus another is a pretty ho-hum opening sentence, don’t you think?
Well, this column ought to be ho hum and ho-hum since it reflects our elected officials’ leadership during the latest surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Think Delta variant.)
While our state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs does a Tasmanian Devil whirling dervish routine to excite concerns, Gov. Tate Reeves and other elected officials perform Sleepy Time Possum routines. (Think Looney Tunes.)
“While governors in states with low vaccination rates like Alabama and Arkansas have been speaking up urging people to get vaccinated, Reeves has been mostly quiet,” reported Mississippi Today. Instead, he is yielding the stage to an ever more anxious Dobbs.
Of course, numbers speak for themselves and all are surging up.
New daily COVID cases neared 2,000 last week. They had dropped under 200 in the spring but started surging in July.
A month ago, confirmed COVID hospitalizations were less than 150. Last week they neared 800. ICU cases went from under 40 to over 200. Patients on ventilators went from a handful to over 100.
But numbers and more numbers are so ho-hum, aren’t they?
Because of such trends nationwide, the CDC issued new guidelines. In particular the CDC called for mandatory masks in all K-12 school settings regardless of vaccination status.
Zzzzz…huh? So, who pays attention to the CDC anymore?
With the Governor and other leaders silent, the decisions on what to do as schools open fell on local school boards and superintendents. As of last week, most were encouraging but not requiring masks, many citing outdated CDC guidelines. Only a few school districts had decided to require masks. Notably, districts in counties with low vaccination rates were generally pursuing the least restrictions.
“Our low vaccination rate is putting everyone at risk” – again Dobbs, not Reeves.
More ho-hum facts. Mississippi’s fully vaccinated rate is around 34% compared to the national average of 49%. There were seven counties with rates over 40%, led by Madison with 46%. But, there were 12 counties with rates of 25% or less, led by Neshoba with 21%.
As noted, in Alabama and Arkansas Republican Governors Kay Ivey and Asa Hutchinson have been acting like Dr. Dobbs, not Gov. Reeves.
“Folks are supposed to have common sense,” Ivey told reporters. “But it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It’s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down.”
Hutchinson has been holding town hall meetings across Arkansas to promote vaccinations. “What’s holding us back is a low vaccination rate,” he says.
Reeves, in contrast, has done little. He did surface last week at the Neshoba County Fair. But rather than join these governors in strongly promoting vaccinations, he chose to ho hum mask mandates for schools and the new CDC guidelines.
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” – Proverbs 24:33-34.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.
49 comments:
The Proverbs verse speaks to the slothful, whether vaccinated or not. And I reckon it also speaks to the rest of us who are asleep at the wheel while the democrat regime steals us blind of our resources in order to provide our bounty to the slothful. Sleep not often, nor fold your hands and rest. Work and carefully guard what is yours, lest thieves in the night (government) steal your wealth for their purpose.
If Reeves mandates masks in schools, Crawford will gin-up an article regarding the heavy-hand (hyphen intended) of Republican government.
Partisan views aside, Tate Reeves may be the most mediocre person to occupy a governor's mansion in recent memory.
He's a finger-in-the-wind, lead from behind kind of guy. Not charismatic, not terribly smart, no real world experience, not even disciplined enough to cut out the Little Debbie cakes despite being on camera every day in America's most obese state.
He's a guy who knows he's here because of luck and turn-waiting, not any real world merits or accomplishments. No matter which side of this or any other crisis you find yourself on, he's not the kind of person you'd pick to lead you through it.
"Folks are supposed to have common sense," said Alabama Governor, "but at least we're not Mississippi!"
@12:46 PM
Your description is accurate.
But remember this: when he completes his 2 gubernatorial terms, his SLRP and PERS will be 5X the salary of the average Mississippian.
For the rest of his life, and the life of his spouse.
@12:14 - if he doesn’t make any new mandates and the cases and deaths soar, Tate and other Republicans will blame Joe Biden and the democrats along with China. If the governor isn’t willing to encourage his base to do the right thing, his tenure in office will be defined by that massive failure. It’s unfortunate this continues to be a political issue. I would think saving lives and our economy would appeal to both parties.
Gov. Reeves trusts people to make decisions that are best for them - & not what you idiots in the media believe they should do.
Has this HO-HUM "journalist" even BOTHERED to do some research regarding Delta? The wave has been a relatively quick one in the countries where it has reared its ugly head. Geez... STOP WITH THE OPINIONATED SHAMING! Even their lord Fauci said we aren't locking down again (because he KNOWS it will pass.)
Hey Crawford, I'm looking forward to the article where you use those exact Proverbs verses on the folks not willing to get AND KEEP a job and SHAME THEM for their choices.
Your free to be in the group that has a 100% chance of 1% to catch Covid and die (the unvaccinated ) or you can be in the group that has a 1% chance of catching Covid at all and being seriously sick, much less dying (the vaccinated).
Reeves and all the Republican governors will be crucified in the history books if they teach Critical Covid Theory 25 years from now.
People are very tired of all of the lying and blaming others. Every few weeks politicians change their minds. What they said a week ago is completely wrong and they blame the other side for reminding people what they said.
How about we let people make their own decisions? The politicians keep yelling everyone should wear their masks. then a few days later we see them without a mask.
I don't care if you wear a dozen masks on top of each other. Wear a sleeping bad completely zipped up with your mask on top of that. I will not complain. Might laugh a little.
I agree. Reeves is a nitwit. How much trouble would it be to go all out and encourage people to get vaccinated? Better yet, explain to them that their fears of getting vaccinated are baseless? He's worthless.
HoHum, this is what Hos hum:
Smell like fish,
Look like stew,
Taste like Bar-be-cue.
(Heard in Denver 50 years ago).
Bill let me just say what a few hear think already but haven’t said. Your full of shit Bill with a capital S. We’ve been told this China virus couldn’t be spread if you wear your mask. That in two weeks all would be well and we could get back to normal. That masks don’t work. That getting the vaccine would stop the spread. And that if you’re vaccinated covid would be a thing of the past. Turns out this administration has lied it’s ass off about what does and doesn’t work since January. Now people that are vaccinated are not only getting the new and improved covid their infecting others. But rather than tell the truth that masks don’t really work now we’re blaming the unvaccinated. All while millions of illegal immigrants pour across the southern border. So you think Tater is slow to react but the federal government is fast. Sure, fast enough to change the rules by the hour!!
I think Reeves has done a stellar job.
He always is encouraging people to get vaccinated.
Shutting down the economy and wearing face panties did nothing to stop the China virus.
Tate tried it for a year, saw it didn't work and I think he may have said: "to Hell with it".
And he is correct about the CDC.
(An ultimate foolish clown show).
If you haven’t been vaccinated, you aren’t part of the problem. You ARE the problem.
And you deserve to be on a ventilator.
Geniuses.
The unvaccinated crowd are playing Russian Roulette with their own lives. When the ICUs are full, adios.
I think we are far enough into the vaccine testing to say that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe and effective for a large majority of people. I probably would wait on forcing vaccinations on those under 18. Covid is not like the flu with the flu vaccine being optional. Covid is more along the lines of MMR and Polio. It’s time to require it if you expect to live in society. We are seeing that like the latter illnesses, this crap ain’t going away easily.
If the CDC stats are anywhere near accurate, .0037% of vaccinated people have gotten Covid after being vaccinated. Of these, 74% were over 65 years old.
Hopefully, KF will publish. My last post with these stats got censored.
My body, my choice.
I won't ever understand the people who won't get vaccinated because they view such rebellion as a badge of honor. The attitude is "I don't care how many people get hurt as long as I'm not showing weakness"
I saw a saying about it the other day. "It may be your choice to run through a red light, but others bear the consequences of your action."
Vaccinations work and are proven safe. Are they 100%? No. But they are 10,000 times better than hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.
@6:47p- I hope you find that same passion when the next hospital wants to open in the metro area.
How many certificates of need have been shot down because these very hospitals said more beds weren’t necessary?
Funny how these hospitals have FOUGHT more beds in the metro for years, and then whine and complain there aren’t enough beds when there’s a need.
Greed delivers a pricey karma for all.
I love reading these comments seeing how smart everyone thinks they are. The same fools that were trying to shame the non maskers a year ago (remember the same stupid comments about how you deserved to die if you didn’t wear a mask?) are the same fools saying you deserve to die if you don’t take the “vaccine”. A caged bird may be alive, but it lives in a frickin cage. And you idiots are happy to live in a frickin cage. If I have to risk catching a virus I have a 99.998% chance of surviving, and passing it to my kids that have a 99.999% chance of surviving (and likely already have survived), I’m willing to risk that possibility to still be able to work and socialize. I’ll even keep my kids away from their grandparents if the grandparents are scared. Oh, and since all you people are so smart, provide me with one study showing how effective your masks are. And to say the fears over the vaccine are baseless, despite nearly 12,000 reported deaths, just shows how ignorant you are. I’m not saying don’t take the shot, but to say hesitant people are stupid shows how big of a caged bird you are. No long term effects? And we know that how?
The Chinese Flu is skin to Polio and MMR?
ROTFLMAO
It's always good to see the compassionate liberals voice the desires of their heart. A vile and despicable lot they are. There will be massive problems for all of those that have taken the shot. Thank the good Lord, I won't be one of them.
we are right back where we started from.........no progress has been made in almost 19 months. this proves that this state is nothing but a bunch of green teeth rednecks that can't get out of their own way.
Why should I be expected to wear a mask to protect people who refuse to get vaccinated?
Am I supposed to be my brother's keeper, when he is sleeping with the slut who has syphilis?
Vaccinated vs unvaccinated.
What’s the score?
You folks who want the vaccines for the Wuhan flu mandated - you do realize there are NO mandated vaccines, right? There are certain vaccines one must have if one wants to attend school and work in certain jobs, like at hospitals. In a free country such things cannot be mandated.
I sincerely hope all of you who are so anxious for everyone to be part of this medical experiment don’t have long term health problems from the shot. Some of us are quite ok with taking our chances with a virus with an almost 100% survival rate for younger people. You make your choice, we will make ours. Why can’t you just let people be?
@12:46 mentioned turn-taking. Mississippi gubernatorial elections remind me of Miss Mississippi pageants. A lot of recycled entries year after year, hoping persistence pays off.
Just a personal observation, but everyone around me that has gotten the virus recently has been vaccinated. That’s just around the state. If they (vaccinated) only represent a small minority of the population, something strange is going on.
7:44 - you’re pitching propaganda. Current vaccinations haven’t proven anything that we were told they would do. At all. We are now to the very diluted and subjective claim of expecting “not so bad” symptoms. Yeah, right. Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are what those above the level of sheeple are using - and you have zero evidence that the vaccinations are 10000 x better. The fact that we can’t discuss the true treatments in public but only the vaccinations should tell you everything you need to know if public health and safety is your real goal.
"No long term effects? And we know that how?"
Many years of observation and in-depth knowledge on the subjects involved. There is simply no way to instantly convey the total knowledge in the relevant fields to people who have no basic foundation in medicine much less science, but for those who actually have a legitimate desire to learn something, here's a place to start insofar as long-term effects of vaccines. There has been a program in place for about 40 years to provide compensation to those who claim an injury from vaccines, the VICP (Vaccine Injury Compensation Program), and protect the makers/providers from unreasonable litigation. The two most common issues with vaccines are anaphylaxis (the same reaction a rare few have from bee and wasp stings) and vasovagal syncope (very basically fainting because of fear, in this case fear of needles). Both manifest immediately and neither are related specifically to vaccines. There is simply no reasonable evidence that any common vaccine of any type causes any long-term injury.
Yes, there are "anti-vaxxers" out there that claim links to all sorts of things (autism, etc.) but there is no objective medical connection. While a lot these claims and allegations might sound plausible to people with no true education, knowledge, or underlying understanding of any of the science and medicine involved, to those who do have knowledge and education in the involved science, it is akin to telling someone that their car needs a new transmission because the tires are low on air - there is simply no connection between the vaccines and the other issues.
An important fact is that most of these "professional anti-vaxxers" make money, often substantial sums, from selling a variety of products (from books and written material to "supplements" and devices) directly related to their claims (granted, a limited few do not directly profit and seem to legitimately and sincerely, albeit erroneously, believe what they claim). The most prominent of them have been in trouble with numerous government agencies for false advertising, illegal claims, etc., etc.
I waited to get two doses of the Pfizer vaccine (recommended by physician) at a professional medical clinic that I trusted more than a drive-thru, grocery or drugstore and I had no adverse effects.
To what extent are side effects attributed to the vaccine actually an issue with improper storage and/or careless technique of the shot giver?
Reading some of these comments clearly illustrate how stupid many Mississippians are and why we in the rest of the educated world LAUGH at you redneck, hillbilly, inbred "people".
"To what extent are side effects attributed to the vaccine actually an issue with improper storage and/or careless technique of the shot giver?"
Since you mentioned a recommendation by a physician, that is who you should ask for specific medical advice. If you want general information on efficacy issues related to - ahem - storage conditions and injections into subcutaneous fat versus intramuscular, it is readily available from numerous reputable sources online.
@9:46am - We like it that way, it’s the only explanation. If everyone thinks Mississippi is a shithole, then no one will move here. I like the fact the we aren’t overcrowded with god awful traffic. Every time I drive around Atlanta, I thank my lucky stars for all the ignoramuses in my home state keeping everyone away.
Head on back to Massachusetts.
@9:03 You should read Dr. Jonas Salk's "The Survival of The Wisest" and holla back.
The vaccinated are EXPOSING folks at a higher rate than unvaccinated and it seems the DELTA came from the vaccinated. The dog really is off the leash and what's worse ? THE MEDIA and folks like Bill. Humans deserve nothing at this point but a quick end. We are so stupid.
CDC and scientists change their views on the virus based on new information from credible research.
That's what smart people do...change their opinion when new information makes their opinion obsolete.
As for masks, common sense ought to kick in. A mask reduces the AMOUNT of virus you inhale and the AMOUNT you spew on others!
Try holding your hand in front of a mask and blow. Now take it off and blow. Feel the difference? Now try to about spit on another person with your mask on. How'd that work for you?
Is either vaccination or the mask 100% effective? NO and NO ONE told you they would be...you didn't pay attention. You don't know the basics they assumed a person with common sense would know.
The vaccination will dramatically reduce how sick you get and if you die. The mask also reduces the amount of exposure so you will have a better shot at not being terribly ill.
ONLY when herd immunity is reached has any vaccination completely eliminated a virus. They protected the vaccinated at various levels.
And, thanks to the deliberate ignorance about how viruses behave and vaccines work, diseases and viruses that were non-existent in this country are back. You chose to listen to those with no expertise, those who told you what you wanted to hear for political and financial gain and in this thread, to a superficial reading about past vaccine law suits.
Now it's so bad, that you can't even take note of the politicians and pundits who have admitted they lied to you by singing a different tune .
This contagion of deliberate ignorance being spread is now responsible for the deaths of 429 children under 10 and growing numbers young people.
You were told the virus could mutate in bad ways but you didn't pay attention. You didn't care about killing old people. They were expendable and " were going to die anyway". You can't admit you were and are wrong. You only still listen to the liars and ill informed and con artists making money off you because they can keep you from feeling stupid and guilty.
You have no excuses for your ignorance anymore. NONE.
"@9:03 You should read Dr. Jonas Salk's "The Survival of The Wisest" and holla back."
You should get a MD, PhD, or similar education, training, and experience and "holla back" at everyone. And if you claim to have already done so you should be ashamed of it and yourself.
This is the entire problem in a nutshell - people with little or no foundation much less actual education and experience in any of the necessary science and medicine Cliffsnoting a couple of books, reading a few crackpot discredited websites, and listening to idiots on social media, and then, telling themselves they know it all. You do not know anything and no one knows it all, singularly or collectively. However, quite a few know quite a bit and have been trying to provide at least the basic correct information, a lot of it foundational and some of it evolving, to those who do not know anything (and aren't expected to know). And here we are. Again.
@11:19am - But my daddy told me that if you’re not first, you’re last. So it’s all or nothing, there ain’t no in between. Either masks work 100% or they work 0%. Vaccines either work 100% or 0%. Black or white, yes or no, 1 or 0.
My little brain can’t process or comprehend much more than that.
/SHAKENBAKE
@12:12 Excuse me? I suggested that you read a particular book by Dr. Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine and the Father of Mass Inoculation. This offends you? His words are not relevant? What an arrogant arse.
You libtards always want to jeer and mock a country boy. But I already thunk up a way to enforce social distancing. I only shower once a month so that I can clear a room upon entry and when i go to the Krogers, nobody will go down an aisle that I am shopping on. Works like a champ.
@1:25pm - Thank you for your service, Cletus.
@1:25
To dabble in the absurd a little... your method only works for a single person... that's the problem. We can't all follow that method or society & the economy grinds to a standstill. When you find a method that works for everyone, come back and talk to me. But wait... we already have that: vaccines, masks, hygiene, etc.
"...Dr. Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine and the Father of Mass Inoculation."
No, and no. Again, this illustrates the problem. There is a very fundamental difference between "vaccination" and "inoculation," and Salk, as much as he did do, wasn't either of those things. And no one with even a passing familiarity with any of it would write either thing.
William Carey had moved all summer graduations to virtual , good to see some folks get it!
There sure are a hell of a lot of folks who act as if they have a degree in immunologoy and/or epidemiology based on their spouting off facts related to what the vaccine does, will do, and doesn't do along with additional facts regarding the distribution and jabbing of the vaccine. Damn, didn't know we had such a surplus of specialists in the field here in the JJ audience. Sure am glad to know they exist since I get ALL of my medical advice from folks who comment anonymously on blogsites. Trust those folks a hell of a lot more than the ones who work in the field and provide their advice based on their degrees. Guess its a case of competing degrees - those from actual medical schools against those self granted based on reading VOX or Epoch Times.
An empty barrel makes the loudest noise.
9:45 pm I understand your point. But, it's also true that a well educated and bright person can find the research and articles of those who have spent their lives studying virology and epidemiology and can quote their words.
And, I think those folks who might can translate the science into words and examples that might be more understandable, have some obligation to try to get through to the misinformed.
12:16 "If you can't be first, you're last" may be the dumbest thing anyone has ever said. I hope you were being facetious.
Tater hasn’t had an original thought in his big block head ever. As we’ve all seen now, he won’t make a decision. Pathetic!
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