Theocracy

02 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, Missouri Senate, social media

Tags

anti-mask, anti-science, Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, governor, Mike Parson, Missouri Senate, pandemic, social media, Theocracy, Twitter

He’s saying the quiet parts out loud.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Last night, after right wingnut republicans in the Missouri Senate refused to confirm Governor Mike Parson’s (r) nominee as Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) – during a pandemic:

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values. Yet, Senators chose to believe baseless rumors and outright lies on social media rather than the facts in front of them.
6:02 PM · Feb 1, 2022

“Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values…”

Uh, no.

United States Constitution, Article VI

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

Missouri Constitution, I Section 5.

….that no person shall, on account of his or her religious persuasion or belief, be rendered ineligible to any public office or trust or profit in this state, be disqualified from testifying or serving as a juror, or be molested in his or her person or estate; that to secure a citizen’s right to acknowledge Almighty God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions shall establish any official religion….

Missouri Constitution, I Section 6.

That no person can be compelled to erect, support or attend any place or system of worship, or to maintain or support any priest, minister, preacher or teacher of any sect, church, creed or denomination of religion; but if any person shall voluntarily make a contract for any such object, he shall be held to the performance of the same.

It’s possible Mike Parson (r) has read the words. It’s clear he doesn’t comprehend them.

299 former residents of Stone and Taney Counties could not be reached for comment

01 Tuesday Feb 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anti-mask, anti-science, anti-vaccine, Branson, Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, meta, missouri, pandemic, statistics, Stone County, Taney County

Meta.

Occasionally a post here will generate a lot of traffic. With that we sometimes get rambling illiterate responses posted as comments. There appears to be a correlation.

When anyone posts a comment here at Show Me Progress their email and IP addresses are attached to the comment.

All comments are held in moderation until approved. Illiterate responses are held in perpetuity – they won’t appear with the original post. However, we can and have devoted “Meta” posts mocking such content.

One from today:

We are doing well here in Branson Missouri! And if you go to the local hospitals here where are the patients that are deathly ill??? Empty as empty can be!!! I believe you have an agenda for writing your post as well sir and your vote we can do without!! If it’s a deadly virus then we should be properly disposing them instead of wearing the same ones daily lol come on now we all should know how viruses spread and wearing masks is not the answer here and also we wear the same clothing weekly in and out of schools, Walmart, hospitals and wow nothing is being said on how to properly wash our clothes or disposing of our own clothes lol sad people think that wearing a masks and getting the 50th shot is going to stop a deadly virus as the dummies of the white house is stating lol and did you read where biden has exempt his own staff from the vaccine?? Okaaayyy please use what brain cells you all have left and really look at what’s happening!!

We rest our case.

Missouri DHSS:

Cox Health in Branson:

Previously:

17,124 Missourians could not be reached for comment (February 1, 2022)

17,124 Missourians could not be reached for comment

01 Tuesday Feb 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, governor, Mike Parson, missouri, pandemic, social media, statistics, Twitter

Mike Parson (r) [2019 file photo].

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
During these past 22 months, we have never wavered in our opposition to COVID-19 mandates and will always stand for Missourians’ rights and freedoms.
(6/9)
2:56 PM · Jan 31, 2022

Missouri DHSS:

Sue Gibson.

Go ahead, you be you

31 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

anti-mask, anti-science, Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, Dunklin, Jefferson County, Mary Elizabeth Coleman, missouri, pandemic, public schools, right wingnut

It’s everyone else who gets to suffer.

Mary Elizabeth Coleman (r) [2019 file photo].

Yesterday:

MaryElizabethColeman @meaccoleman
This is [….]. He didn’t wear a mask to school, and in response, [….] Superintendent Clint Freeman [….] called the cops on him for trespassing, and he was promptly hauled away in the back of a police car.
[….]
8:57 PM · Jan 30, 2022

On a Sunday?

A kid? Is the student over the age of 18? Did the student refuse to leave?

The consequences of not wearing a mask are clear.

From the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) COVID-19 Dashboard:

Note the number of cases in the last 14 days, compared to the total since March 2020. Do the math.

Note the test positivity rate.

The current Dunklin R-5 School District masking policy:

That’s fair warning.

Previously:

HB 1987: apparently 1984 was already taken (December 16, 2021)

The reason for the season? (December 26, 2021)

HB 1993: and you’ll have to wear a brown shirt while you’re driving on it (December 21, 2021)

HB 2424: Covid Mary (January 14, 2022)

Omicron in Missouri

27 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

B.1.1.529, Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, missouri, Omicron, pandemic, press release

“More than half of community sewershed samples tested from the week of Dec. 20 showed presence of the Omicron variant…”

Thanks a lot, Mike.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

From the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS):

December 27, 2021

Presence of Omicron variant rising quickly throughout Missouri
[….]

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – More than half of community sewershed samples tested from the week of Dec. 20 showed presence of the Omicron variant. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) continues to partner with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the University of Missouri – Columbia, wastewater operators, and others to monitor COVID-19 trends by testing wastewater in communities throughout the state. For nearly a year, this team has been testing wastewater samples to look for the presence of variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Sequencing tests identified the first presence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) from two sets of sewershed samples collected on Dec. 7-8 in Jackson County and Buchanan County. In both wastewater systems, COVID-19 viral strands were identified as having mutations associated with Omicron which indicated that the Omicron variant virus is likely present among the population in these sewershed areas.

As a result of expanded testing the week of Dec. 20, 32 of 57 samples had mutations associated with Omicron variant. Those locations included: three Kansas City facilities (Blue River, Westside, and Birmingham), seven St. Louis facilities (Lemay, Grand Glaize, Coldwater Creek, Bissell Point, Fenton, Lower Meramec, and Missouri River), five St. Charles County facilities (St. Peters Spencer Creek, Duckett Creek Sewer District WWTF #1, Duckett Creek Sewer District WWTF #2, O’Fallon, and Wentzville), Branson (Cooper Creek and Compton Drive), Springfield Northwest, Interim Saline Creek Regional, Troy Southeast, Farmington East, Perryville Southeast, Columbia, St. Joseph, Atherton, Cape Girardeau, Nixa, West Plains, Washington, Oak Grove, Festus – Crystal City and Joplin Turkey Creek.

“Our robust program for monitoring COVID-19 through sewershed sampling provides us with reliable information regarding the presence of the virus and its variants,” said Donald Kauerauf, DHSS Director. “The existence of the Omicron variant is becoming much more prevalent each week, making the actions of COVID-19 individual testing, vaccination and other mitigation measures more important as we already face the threat of the Delta variant and an increase in flu cases.”

DHSS continues to recommend that residents follow prevention strategies such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings, frequent handwashing and maintaining physical distance from others.

“Gatherings are continuing during this holiday season, and I highly encourage testing before and after these events and any travels to help limit any unintended spread of the virus,” said Kauerauf. “If you’re not feeling well, stay home and don’t risk getting your loved ones sick. It is important for individuals to plan ahead when identifying a location and advance timing needed to get tested, as there is a growing demand for these services.”

Public health experts worldwide are working quickly to learn more about the Omicron variant and how it may impact the health and safety of citizens. The disease severity caused by Omicron is still unknown. Scientists are also studying the degree to which existing vaccines and therapies protect against Omicron.

The sequencing testing results are updated weekly and displayed in the COVID-19 sewershed surveillance StoryMap. The online storymap will be updated on Dec. 28 with the most recent variant data.

DHSS will continue to work with public health partners to monitor for an increase in the Omicron variant, as well as trends in other variants. To learn more about Missouri’s variant monitoring efforts, visit Health.Mo.Gov.

Everyone 5 years and older is highly encouraged to protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated (and boosted if age 16 and older). Missourians should also take the opportunity to get their annual influenza vaccination as part of their risk reduction activities to protect themselves and others from seasonal respiratory illness.

Travelers to the U.S. should continue to follow CDC recommendations for safe traveling. Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines in Missouri at MOStopsCovid.com.

How Missourians can get a free COVID-19 vaccine:

Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for availability by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
Call the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-800-232-0233 (or TTY 1-888-720-7489). Help is available in multiple languages.
Locate local vaccination events in Missouri at MOStopsCovid.com.
Seniors and homebound adults can make arrangements using information at MOStopsCovid.com/seniors
Missouri DHSS COVID-19 Public Hotline
1-877-435-8411
Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

How Missourians can get a free COVID-19 test:

Walk in or schedule an appointment for a test at one of the state’s free community testing sites: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.
Order a test through the state’s free at-home COVID-19 testing program.
Find a free testing option near you through the federal pharmacy locations.

###

Thanks for nothing, Eric.

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

Get vaccinnated, get boosted if you haven’t done so already. Wash your hands. Stay away from indoor crowds. While your at it stay away from any crowds. Wear a high quality mask.

“…We’d better get back ’cause it’ll be dark soon and they mostly come at night. Mostly.”

21 Tuesday Dec 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anti-mask, anti-science, Attorney General, B.1.1.529, Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, Eric Schmitt, missouri, Omicron, pandemic, right wingnut

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s (r) latest existential night terrors:

Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
For many this is the desired outcome of perpetual fearmongering and emergency orders. #nolockdown
[….]
9:50 PM · Dec 20, 2021

Anyone think he sent this from under his bed?

Almost everyone else:

Some of the responses to Eric Schmitt (r) on Twitter::

I bet Todd Akin is thrilled that he found a replacement in Missouri. Someone else who bases their decisions on legitimate science. Many thanks Eric!

Yeah. Because doing nothing is working great.
[….]

No one wants to be locked down Eric, period. As for giving folks money, if we had done what other developed countries of the world did for their citizens, (it’s always a crisis w/the GQP, why is that?) this “inflation crisis” wouldn’t be so bad. So pick an outrage would you.

Science holds no emotions

Or political position

Looks like it’s still “We’re worried that too many poor people will live through this.”

For others, the dream of a million American dead seems within reach.

Can’t wait for Republican Missouri Gov Parson and AG Eric Schmitt (running for US Senate) removing covid protections (including school districts) to take down the KC Chiefs riddled with covid in the NFL Playoffs. Only a matter of time…..Western MO voting get the popcorn.
[….]

That’s what B.1.1.529 can do.

Actually the desired outcome is defeat the virus but when political hacks block scientifically proven methods THEY force a situation where lockdown becomes the only method left. Don’t complain about solutions to a problem YOU created.

That’s sarcasm. No one is asking for a shut down. Jist responsibility and caring about others who might not be as fortunate as you with their health. But you’ve proven that doesn’t matter. Immunity compromised people be damned! Says Eric & his crew.

The world the rest of us have to live in:

Johnson, Lafayette, and Saline Counties, Missouri

13 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

advisory, Corona virus, COVID-19, Delta variant, Department of Health and Senior Services, DHSS, Johnson County, Lafayette County, missouri, pandemic, Saline County, vaccine

Tonight, from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS):

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services posted a local alert for Johnson County and 2 other counties.

JOHNSON, LAFAYETTE & SALINE COUNTIES: COVID-19 cases in Johnson (299), Lafayette (256) and Saline (165) have increased in the past 14 days.

Hospitals in the region are seeing resource strain from dramatically increased numbers of COVID-19 patients and hospitalizations. As a result, several hospitals in the region are at or near capacity. Continued disease spread into Northwest Missouri is expected.

The Delta variant, which spreads more easily and poses higher risk of hospitalization than prior variants, is believed to be contributing to the increase. Vaccination continues to be our best tool to move past this pandemic.

Vaccination rates:
– Johnson County: 23.4%
– Lafayette County: 34.5%
– Saline County: 35.8%
Experts say at least 70% – 80% of people need immunity to minimize spread within a community.

COVID-19 Resources
– Vaccines: MOStopsCovid.com
– At Home & Community Testing: Health.Mo.Gov/CommunityTest

Those who choose not to get vaccinated should continue these important public health steps:
– Maintain at least six feet distance from others;
– Wear a mask when appropriate;
– Avoid others that appear to be sick;
– Avoid others if you have COVID symptoms;
– Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue; and
– Wash your hands.
[….]

The DHSS Advisory – August 13, 2021:

A vaccination rate of 23.4%. What could go wrong?

“…You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight…?”

Who pays the bill?

13 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anti-vaxxers, Claire McCaskill, Corona virus, COVID-19, Department of Health and Senior Services, DHSS, missouri, pandemic, social media, Twitter

From Missouri DHSS:

Last night:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
Anti-vax folks say they don’t trust doctors. Where do they go when they get sick?
11:41 PM · Aug 12, 2021

A few of the responses:

Time for a new rule, all eligible people that chose not to get vaccinated don’t qualify for priority medical care. People who drink don’t qualify for transplants so I believe that the standard has already been set.

The vet. If they have a fever they stamp their foot twice.

What I don’t get is they say they don’t trust the government but they also don’t trust the vaccine because it doesn’t have FDA approval. Do they know what FDA stands for?

They’re immune to logic.

To the ERs where they cry and clog up the system. Then the MIs, CVAs, GSW have to compete for care and a bed. Not fair! No Vax? Back of the line. No Vax? You pay the costs of care. No Vax? No bars, restaurants, movies, concerts.

Well, when they get sick with Delta, they should just stay home and deal.with it. It’s only the flu, right? They don’t trust doctors and science. Why should they go to people they don’t trust? Let the hospitals be free to treat heart attacks & accident victims.

They sure don’t trust a lot of people: doctors, scientists, the government, etc…

They trust Facebook more than doctors.

While also talking about how they hate the media and Big Tech. Oh, and that to stop communism, the government should take over traditional media and social media companies. It is almost like they don’t know what they are talking about or something.

Just like the rest of the R’s, they make the mess, expect someone else to clean it up, then complain because the D’s didn’t do it to their satisfaction. [….]

To work. To school. On airplanes. On buses. They spread their sickness across the community and country cause they drank a little sea moss with molasses and ginger. They are fine. [….]

RN here. They call our office begging for advice & asking for all the crazy shit they’ve heard about. When we tell them that’s not an option/no cure they’re stunned. Advice: stay home and go to the hospital only when you’re sick enough to need admission. That & good luck

They also likely get treatments that are still under emergency authorization for that Covid. So that excuse for not getting vaccinated goes out the window.

They beg for monoclonal antibodies which are only authorized under an emergency use authorization because they don’t like the vaccine because it’s authorized under an emergency use authorization.

Spoiler alert: the Emergency Room. I see them. Often. My favorite is when they still don’t believe you after you diagnose them.

They go to the doctor just like everyone else, except currently they filling up the hospitals, you know the ones full of doctors.

Apparently out in public without a mask

And on and on.

You’ll already be a winner

22 Thursday Jul 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, Delta variant, DHSS, missouri, Missouri Lottery, pandemic, vaccination, vaccine

What a difference in just two weeks. What’s up with that?

The Missouri vaccine lottery.

Yesterday:

GOVERNOR PARSON LAUNCHES “MO VIP” CAMPAIGN GIVING VACCINATED MISSOURIANS A CHANCE AT $10,000
Press Release
JULY 21, 2021

JEFFERSON CITY Today, during a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program, MO VIP, to encourage vaccination among all Missourians age 12 and up. Over the next three months, 900 Missourians who have or will choose to be vaccinated will win cash or education savings account prizes in the amount of $10,000.

[….]

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is partnering with Missouri Lottery to conduct a fair and secure program with a randomized selection process. DHSS is using federally funded Coronavirus Relief Funds to fund this campaign. This funding was approved under previous and current federal administrations for broad COVID-19 response purposes to include efforts to boost vaccine uptake.

[….]

To allow time for records and eligibility to be verified, confirmed winners will be announced two weeks following each drawing….

[….]

Additionally, local public health agencies that administer COVID-19 vaccines will now be eligible to provide a financial incentive of up to $25 for each vaccine recipient, up to a total of $11 million. This program would provide incentives for administrators to pass along to recipients for 440,000 vaccines administered across Missouri and would sunset on December 31, 2021. Local public health agencies are able to partner with enrolled COVID-19 vaccinators within the State of Missouri to be part of this program.”’

[….]

“…To allow time for records and eligibility to be verified, confirmed winners will be announced two weeks following each drawing…” Wait, is that verification in the form of something like a “vaccine passport”? Just asking.

Of Course, Mike Parson (r), couldn’t help himself. A year ago:

MISSOURI LAUNCHES THREE NEW RESOURCES TO AID COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECOVERY, INCLUDING $15 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR TOURISM
JULY 16, 2020

JEFFERSON CITY Today, Governor Mike Parson announced new resources as part of the Show Me Strong Recovery Plan, including the Show Me Strong Pledge, Business Recovery Lab, and $15 million in grant funding to help rebuild Missouri’s tourism industry.

[….]

….$15 million in CARES Act funding will be designated for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), entities that promote Missouri as a great place to visit. The funds will be administered by the Missouri Division of Tourism and will grant eligible DMOs funding for recovery efforts such as payroll relief, reimbursement for necessary safety equipment, and the initiation of marketing campaigns with messaging focused on safe travel.

[….]

How’s that one working out?

Get vaccinated.