Sankey (SEC Commish) thinks the season is in jeopardy.

I've said it before --- I don't like an "America isn't even trying" narrative. 

Yes, SOME Americans aren't trying.  MOST are.  That narrative is insulting to the true sacrifices and pain that millions of folk have put themselves through for months (and are continuing to do).

JG2112, let me respond to your points:

I applaud the countries that tried to do something about this. In those instances, they're locking down again, trying to protect their citizens, their hospital workers, etc. They're providing financial support to workers who have to stay home for the common good.  America isn't even trying.

RESPONSE:  This is a false narrative for two reasons: (1) The US is doing a ton to fight this pandemic.  First, the US has been fast-tracking vaccines and treatments since the beginning, has invoked the defense production act to manufacture ventilators and PPE and has been providing states whatever resources the states ask for, including state of opposite political parties (see, NY, where the federal government sent a navy hospital ship and outfitted the Jacob Javitz Center as a hospital, neither of which were even needed or used by NY); (2) because of the US' unique federal / state divide, there is a limitation on what the federal government can do.  The federal government does not have the authority to impose national mask mandates, curfews or even safety guidelines on states - that is for the state government.  The federal CDC has been issuing guidance since the beginning, but it is up to individual states to make their own rules.  That is the difference between us and almost every other country.  

COVID fatigue is real, I get that. But idiots aren't even wearing masks or pretending to be responsible human beings. And despite what some people are arguing, who is being prohibited from doing anything? Really. I can't go to a sporting event! I can't be in a bar after 10pm! Oh no, my freedom!

RESPONSE:  Actually, a lot is being prohibited if you live in a lockdown state.  If you own a gym, restaurant, bar or personal service business, you have pretty much been put out of business by some of the restrictions.  Bars make much of their money after 10.  If your business is adjacent to sporting events or concerts, you have been put out of business.  Now let's talk about kids.  Kids are either learning remotely or on a hybrid model.  As a parent of 2 boys and a member of my school board's planning committee, the devastating effects of this cannot be oversold.  The remote / hybrid education is complete shit, and the kids are suffering socially and emotionally.  As are many adults, which is why substance abuse, depression and calls to suicide hotlines are up through the roof.  Turns out that these "freedoms" and fun pastimes that many of us enjoy actually are pretty important for society.  Also, some states are now banning gatherings of 10 or more for Thanksgiving.   Seems like a minimal sacrifice, unless this is the last Thanksgiving gathering for an elderly grandparent (which, last year was for both of my then-living grandparents, who died in April from COVID).  

By the end of next week this country will have lost the rough equivalent of the city of Madison, Wisconsin to a virus because it couldn't bother to wear a mask and stay out of bars / restaurants. The country couldn't even lockdown for 4 weeks without filing lawsuits or whining about freedom. 

RESPONSE:  You are assuming that simply wearing a mask and staying out of bars would prevent the spread of this disease.  That is not the case. Back in May, NY released detailed data showing that 64% of people who came to the hospital because of COVID hadn't left their homes in weeks.  I think that we are way overestimating the effects of masks and lockdowns.  Note, I am completely pro-mask.  At best, it reduces spread.  At worst, it is a waste, but since it is only a minimal inconvenience, it pays to just wear it for the next few month.  

Now the projection is 500,000 dead by February. That's the population of Atlanta, Georgia.

RESPONSE:  The projections in March were for 2.5 million dead this year alone in the US.  I don't put much stock in projections. 

You do realize many deaths attributed to covid were actually something else, right?  You also realize hospitals have a financial incentive to cite covid as cause of death, even when it's something else. 

The most susceptible population to the virus are those with serious co-morbidities.  For them it makes sense to isolate.  For healthy people, it is house arrest.

A 99.9% survival rate causes many to question why we're so eager to destroy the economy, which is also a major human issue.  People who lose their jobs (and later their homes) are also at severe risk for many serious problems and health issues.

I just wonder how much has to be given up before people realize the 'cure' is worse than the disease itself.  For most people that is the case. 

I say this as someone who has had a couple family members contract the disease and have symptoms, so I know it's real and what it does.  I also know it doesn't do this to the vast majority of people.  There is way too much hysterics going on.

You mentioned a few months ago the likelihood of multiple vaccines being widely available by mid-2021. It looks like you were right NittanyFan. I hope more than anything they get approval and are rolled out soon as the experts are projecting.

Obesity rate of 42% vs 25% would account for some of that, different criteria for counting 'rona deaths may account for more, NY deaths skew the US average.  What Germany really did that quashed their first outbreak is locking down the borders.  Had we done that for New York and New Jersey in March, we'd be having a whole different conversation now.  But Cuomo had a fit when Trump even suggested he was thinking about it.

I don't disagree with this.  I live on Long Island and yes, people are gathering indoors, without masks, in fairly large numbers.  But if that is the case, and people are going to gather anyway, then why force shutdowns of restaurants and other businesses that are closing by the hundreds daily?  That's one of my biggest issues with the whole covid response:  Sure, it would be much better if we could lock the entire country down for 4 weeks just to get this thing completely under control, but after 8 months of this shit, that just is not realistic.  People are going to gather, whether in restaurants or in private homes.  The sooner we realize that, and shape our response to this reality, the sooner we can make the right choices to bring this under control without all of the devastating unintended consequences.