I oppose @NC_Governor Cooper& #39;s "Phase 2" (AKA "we& #39;re half-way there, so let& #39;s quit"). But I& #39;m not insensitive to the difficult calculus.

There& #39;s only so much states can do in the face of an incompetent and broken federal government. They can& #39;t print money or run deficits. (1/5)

"Flattening the curve" was (note past tense) all about giving the trump admin time to get off its *ss and mount an effective public health response at the only level that can; the federal level. That didn& #39;t, and won& #39;t, happen. So it& #39;s time to adjust our game plans. (2/5)

The primary responsibility for limiting this pandemic now falls on us as individuals (that fraction of us, anyway, who aren& #39;t idiots). If your circumstances permit, remain in your own personal Phase I. Stay at home. Wear a mask. Vote by mail. Home school. Most importantly...(3/5)

...change your spending habits. The past 3 months have taught us how many of our old ways were frivolous. Don& #39;t buy crap you don& #39;t need. Buy local. Slow the meatpacking lines by buying less (or no) factory meat. Stop buying needless junk at Amazon. Pick a *local* charity... (4/5)

...(e.g. a food bank) & support it. Look to yourself & your friends, not corporations, for entertainment & diversion. In short: live simply, so that others may simply live. Then pick a Democratic candidate and work for her victory. That& #39;s the real vaccine that will save us. (5/5)