Ted Rall for May 17, 2021

  1. Brain guy dancing hg clr
    Concretionist  almost 3 years ago

    Gotta agree. The only way this makes any sense at all, (and not much) is if this forces businesses to adopt some kind of vaccine passport.

    I’ll be wearing a mask in stores despite being vaccinated, but it will be 75% a statement and 25% suspenders AND belt… in a region where about 30% of the folks are vaccinated (most of them older) and 70% of them are armed (most of them middle aged and younger).

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  2. Triumph
    Daeder  almost 3 years ago

    If you don’t know the difference between climate and weather, just wear two masks everywhere until the end of time.

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    KenseidenXL  almost 3 years ago

    I’m vaccinated in a Deep Red state, which makes me something of an exception. Still wearing mine, just so no one mistakes me for a Trumptard….

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    TampaFanatic1  almost 3 years ago

    I agree with Ted on this, this new honor system makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. There has to be some sort of vaccine passport and I know for a fact a lot of morons, errr politicians (Hello Governor DeSantis) are saying no to that option as an attack on personal liberties. Curious if any Libertarians (who I agree with on many social issues but not all) out there would care to comment on this? I feel the mask is simply like a motorcycle helmet or seatbelt EXCEPT in the mask’s case you are also looking out for others in addition to yourself so the mask wearing should be prioritized at a high level and should be not discounted just to appease some who are concerned about business and coin (aka big business and certain politicians feeling the heat about the economy).

    BTW: for Joe Six Pack at the cash register, the data from the NWS is out and yes, most of the nation is getting warmer across the board:

    https://www.npr.org/2021/04/07/983224262/your-weather-forecast-update-warmer-climate-will-be-the-new-normal

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    superposition  almost 3 years ago

    There was a time — long, long, ago — when we elected leaders rather than bunglers … wasn’t there?

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    hfergus Premium Member almost 3 years ago

    What does my wife do about this vaccine “passport”? One dose nearly killed her. Her doctor says the next will kill her. She’s not the only one. Are there ANY plans for people like this?

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  7. Konigstein
    ollou90  almost 3 years ago

    I feel I may understand the point of today’s cartoon. On most of Ted Rall’s cartoons, I am as befuddled as I am with the rather numerous far-right wing cartoons we’ve been overly-treated to lately. It’s as if there are two worlds out there: gold or blue, Laurel or Yanni, Trump or America. I always hope it’s not me who is insane.

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    descabro  almost 3 years ago

    My “deplorable” pals in this semi-rural area were actually among the first in line for shots.

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    Darsan54 Premium Member almost 3 years ago

    “People are rational” is the punchline here.

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    wrytercat  almost 3 years ago

    Sunday, a woman entered the store with no mask. The no mask mandate begins in 3 days, and the store will still require masks be worn. The supervisor told her she needed to wear a mask. She screamed “I’m vaccinated” and began swearing. Here we go again …

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    StackableContainers  almost 3 years ago

    My experience is that you have to trick people into rational behavior by appealing to the their egos and self-interest. Providing well-researched evidence has almost no chance of eliciting rational behavior from the majority of people. Ultimately, most Americans don’t trust something that doesn’t appeal directly to their vanity.

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  12. Lifi
    rossevrymn  almost 3 years ago

    basically,……………………….thank you Theodore for recognizing the real issue.

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    BeniHanna6 Premium Member almost 3 years ago

    Mr. Rall, yes there are plenty of whites that have refused the vaccine, but if you look at statistics, per population there are much greater percentages of minorities that have refused the vaccine. You could have includes them in your cartoon.

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  14. John adams1
    Motivemagus  almost 3 years ago

    All too true. We are NOWHERE NEAR herd immunity. That means we have a high chance not only of continuing to spread COVID-19, but promoting the development of deadlier variants – including some that may be able to beat the vaccines.

    The BEST-vaccinated states aren’t even to 50% yet, and herd immunity needs at least 75% and probably more like 85% for COVID-19.

    And unvaccinated people will simply ignore the CDC guidance that says very clearly that they are still at risk, because they are mildly annoyed by a mask.

    I’d say it is evolution in action, but the fact is they will infect many people who ARE following the rules or can’t get the vaccine yet: children, the immune-compromised, and those who are waiting their turn. And if we do develop more variants – as has already happened – who knows?

    And The Economist just did a comprehensive analysis of the data; they say we are not, in fact, in the second wave but still in the first because there is significant undercounting. They think we have 2-4 times more cases than the official documented count, and they say “India is not an outlier.” https://www.economist.com/briefing/2021/05/15/there-have-been-7m-13m-excess-deaths-worldwide-during-the-pandemic

    Brace yourself. And keep your masks handy.

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  15. Agent gates
    Radish the wordsmith  almost 3 years ago

    Will there be another surge in covid in two weeks?

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    sevaar777  almost 3 years ago

    Looks exactly like 80% of the male population here. The remaining 20% are worse.

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    jewett1  almost 3 years ago

    Good one! As a part-time cashier, I’m still going to wear a mask even though I’m fully vaccinated. Never know what yahoos will walk through the automatic doors into the store.

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    Uncle Joe Premium Member almost 3 years ago

    I guarantee the right wing bloviators & politicians who rant against vaccine passports are all vaccinated. They can’t connect the dots on how this will deplete their base.

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    dogday Premium Member almost 3 years ago

    People have the CAPACITY to be rational. What they CHOOSE to be is, as is painfully obvious, something ELSE entirely.

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  20. Professor chaos
    countoftowergrove  almost 3 years ago

    Pretty good, Theodore. Too bad Biden didn’t issue scanners to retailers to be placed at points of ingress to determine who’s been vaxxed by the chips that were injected.

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    GreggW Premium Member almost 3 years ago

    You can risk infecting the anti-vaxxers who refuse to wear a mask with a clear conscience.

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    Ivan Araque  almost 3 years ago

    Right on the money, Ted!

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  23. Agent gates
    Radish the wordsmith  almost 3 years ago

    Open question? Have people suddenly gone even more crazy?

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    briangj2  almost 3 years ago

    One again, a repost:

    CDC guidelines say fully vaccinated people must still wear a mask in health care settings, transportation hubs such as airports and stations, and public transportation. That includes planes, buses and trains traveling into, within or outside of the U.S. as part of a federal mask mandate that was extended to Sept. 13.

    The agency also said fully vaccinated people must wear a mask or socially distance in places required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

    It means fully vaccinated people may still need to wear a mask depending on where they live and where they go. Some business owners may follow CDC guidelines, but others may be more reluctant to lift their own rules on masking.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cdc-lifts-indoor-mask-guidelines-for-fully-vaccinated-people-what-does-it-actually-mean/ar-BB1gHW5B

    In general, people are considered fully vaccinated: ±

    2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or

    2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

    If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

    If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

    You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.

    You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

    If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.

    However, if you live or work in a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.

    (To be continued)

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    briangj2  almost 3 years ago

    (Conclusion)

    For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

    You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses.

    If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested within 3 days of their flight (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.

    You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.

    People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

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  26. Edwin stewart
    jehardiman  almost 3 years ago

    WWJD? John Wayne would get vaccinated!

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