In case you were worried about wealthy children, who are also returning to schools in Ontario...

[sabotabby]

The Ford Regime has said that rapid antigen testing is unnecessary in public schools, where the children of plebes and unimportant people go. But it's available for the children of the elite in private schools. Funny how these tests are able to not only detect covid but also detect how much your parents make.

Also I somehow missed that the company that makes the tests is called the Creative Destruction Lab. WTF?

Private schools were also able to lower class sizes and improve ventilation. Some even have plexiglass installed between desks. Part of the reason I'm so pessimistic about us ever getting out of this covid mess is that the wealthy and powerful always manage to buy their way out of the dangers and inconveniences.

Comments

[lynnenne]

Funny how these tests are able to not only detect covid but also detect how much your parents make.

No kidding!

[sabotabby]

Fancy science!

[kore]

Yeah, I thought Trump getting sick here and being rushed off to Walter Reed would cut through the crap to prove even the rich and powerful weren't immune (so to speak). NOPE.

[sabotabby]

Nope. He got some kind of expensive treatment that they don't do for regular people.

[kore]

Apparently that dingus Redfield thought he could pray away the Trump. From here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/24/nightmare-scenario-book-excerpt/

Redfield spent the weekend Trump was sick praying. He prayed the president would recover. He prayed that he would emerge from the experience with a newfound appreciation for the seriousness of the threat. And he prayed that Trump would tell Americans they should listen to public health advisers before it was too late. The virus had begun a violent resurgence. Redfield, Fauci, Birx and others felt they had limited time to persuade people to behave differently if they were going to avoid a massive wave of death.

Redfield was watching on television from home. He was praying as Trump went up the steps. Praying that he would reach the balcony and show some humility. That he would remind people that anyone could be susceptible to the coronavirus — even the president, the first lady and their son. That he would tell them how they could protect themselves and their loved ones.

But Trump didn’t waver.

As the fine old blues song goes, CRYIN WON'T HELP YOU, PRAYIN WON'T DO YOU NO GOOD. At least, not if you're expecting a divine miracle to change a dictator's behaviour.

[sabotabby]

Fuck's. Sake.

[franklanguage]

Well, seriously; some animals are more equal, blah blah blah.

[agoodwinsmith]

My tinfoil hattery is that I don't believe that either Trump or Boris ever had it.

[sabotabby]

Agreed.

[sara]

If it makes you feel better, recent studies show the plexiglass shelters are counterproductive.

[sabotabby]

Are they? That's interesting. I would think that they would at least keep the kids apart.

[sara]

Yeah, it screws up the air circulation.

[franklanguage]

Why plastic barriers may not work to stop COVID-19

[springheel_jack]

They might just as well have called it “capitalist labs”.

[sabotabby]

yeeep

[franklanguage]

Well, it may not be a good idea to make the world into "one giant salad bar," as this video says.

Plastic barriers "may not be effective, and in fact may make things worse." Ha! Talk about "the best-laid plans" backfiring!

[sabotabby]

Hate to say it but if the children of the wealthy and powerful start getting long covid, society might actually be forced to change.

[sabotabby]

I have a lot of feelings about this.

I don't want anyone to be sick, disabled, or dead, and especially children.

But as someone who has invisible disabilities and who works with a lot of children who have invisible disabilities, the way we construct ability and social value in this culture is fundamentally fucked. We expect people to work themselves to death. If they're not capable of it, or if they want to prioritize their life and health, they're considered less worthy, less committed, and disposable. This construction is possible because of the invisibility and marginalization of disabled people.

So what happens when a larger chunk of the population becomes disabled? Look at the progress made in accessibility after wars. When that disabled people could be you, or your kid, your worldview suddenly shifts. I don't wish it on anyone but it's going to happen anyway, so I hope it'll make people more empathetic.

[franklanguage]

Don't be afraid to say it! Preach!

[flamingsword]

The plastic shields everywhere help stagnate airflow and keep ventilation from taking the virus particles out of the classroom. It’s like security theater, it doesn’t do any actual good. The rapid testing should happen to every school on a weekly basis, mandatorily for in-person learning.

[sabotabby]

LOL as if we have ventilation.

But yes, random testing is necessary, since a lot of kids don't show symptoms but can still get long covid.

[zombie_cupcake]

That's Doug Ford for you. *burns effigy*

[sabotabby]

He is responsible for why my health and sanity have gone to shit over the last three years.

[zombie_cupcake]

Yupp. 😫😤

[rdi]

“Creative Destruction” is such a techbrodouche term. Seems to be some kind of incubator based out of Rotman at U of T, so fucking MBAs basically.

[rdi]

"private schools were able to access the testing kits because “their regulatory environment is simpler.”” is that code for "they don’t have to answer to a school board"?

[sabotabby]

Yes. I mean, in fairness, my school board has been obstructionist with health stuff too. But also it's that if they have children, they go to private school, and these techbrodouches want them to be safe.

[lil_1337]

Funny how that works. The elite are inconvenienced and those in poverty just die.

[sabotabby]

The elite are barely inconvenienced, even.

[lil_1337]

Of course.

I love your icon!

[sabotabby]

Thanks! dewline made it.

[grimjim]

I doubt they actually make the tests. They appear to be an NGO founded at Rotman.

[sabotabby]

I don't think they make them, just distribute them and pocket the markup.

[franklanguage]

You hit that nail on the head: I haven't had a decent night's sleep in months because I can't stop worrying about the well-being of wealthy children.

[sabotabby]

Sleep well tonight!