RANT & RAVE & MAYBE MORE

Well, if you want to look at what happens when you *don't* shut down, look at Sweden. On a per capita basis, they've had significantly more deaths than the US and they have a higher trajectory than we do. Oh, and even though they've kept their economy open, it's still cratering.

It's also not just about deaths. Lots of estimates of permanent lung damage among covid-19 survivors. Potential cognitive issues--both from the infection and definitely in people that have been on ventilators. Oh, and way more people need ventilators (and for a longer time) than people with the flu.

This is a different--and novel--virus. This is not flu + media hype = overblown reaction.

Stephen S said...
For every confirmed case there may be 50-85 people who had the sniffles and didn't realize it was Covid-19...at least in Santa Clara California, if this data are valid.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/editorspicks/article/Santa-Clara-antibody-test-coronavirus-results-case-15208216.php

Again, this is the first pandemic being sensationalized by a 24x7 news cycle. Look at the words and images you see/hear on tv. Superlatives. Its meant to scare you, to keep you glued to the tv or website.

I get the fear, but the radical social distancing is , in my opinion, worse.

compare new York to the entire west coast where we led the country in practicing social distancing and your argument is a hard sell.

we don't live in the dark ages. we aren't just going to let a pandemic run amok to suit portfolios and politicians. as it is the U.S. has had a third-world response to the virus which has made us numero uno in deaths.

Stephen S said...

F8 said...
compare new York to the entire west coast where we led the country in practicing social distancing and your argument is a hard sell.

I live about 70 miles from NYC. Do you know what NYC has that California effectively doesnt?

A real Mass Transit system. That is how people get around in NYC, even with social distancing.

On a typical weekday 9 MILLION people ride the subway. In a year 2+ BILLION people do.

Think about that number.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_united_states_rapid_transit_systems_by_ridership

Any airborne virus ricochets through the subway faster than we can type these posts. Tens of thousands would be exposed before the first patient lands in an emergency room.

*********

yep. that is known info. they should have shut it down. the U.S. had plenty of time.

Just to clear up some misunderstandings about my original post. I do believe the virus is dangerous I have been wearing masks and gloves for 3 weeks now. We have faced crisis's in the past: World Wars 1&2, the Civil War and many plagues and epidemics. We have met each and every one of them with common sense, steadfastness, and a desire to overcome. Let's do that again!! Does the Virus know state, county and federal lines? Does it understand why social distancing works in one store but not another? Does it understand why kids were let out of school which was a good choice but yet they are allowed to go into stores? Does it know political party's? Park boundaries?
Let us forget all the fighting, blaming, and B.S. that's going on. Let's get our hospitals and clinics treating patients that need life saving operations and treatments when they are not dealing with covid-19. We need to open business quickly and safely in areas where we can. We need to get people back to work! If a person can work safely in a Amazon warehouse, or a big box store then I believe there are millions of other jobs where a person can work safely. In other areas where we need to use caution and care let's do that. I believe if we don't do this the crisis will be much worse than it is right now. JMHO Larry

Stephen S said...
I promise this will be my last post. Perhaps if I wasn't under lockdown I wouldn't be subjecting all of you to this ;)

This article is exactly what I am talking about, written far more eloquently than I can hammering away on my phone here.

https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/493370-keeping-the-coronavirus-death-toll-in-perspective

Good night all.

where do you live Stephen?

F8 said...
where do you live Stephen

I live in Delran, NJ. It is just north and across the river from Philadelphia.

imo...one can not compare a poison apple to a poison orange other than that they are both fruit...in a paradigm where "devils" logic rules the roost its not surprising at all that information is skewed in multiple layers like an artichoke...tho unlike the artichoke...the "devil" removes the heart...and suckers.the suckers...again and again and again...Stephen S....you might have just got tricked by fate...never blame fate its too "random" and fate rests its case...without prejudice anyway...oh...about promises...minds are made to change( I change mind all the time)...ahh...but promises...promises are made to keep...change your mind often...nothing there to break...but promises are...…..wait a minute...wait a minute...Ive changed my mind...both are imposters...and...well...no need to steal from truth...I mean...a promise and a vow...aren't really the same...right?...right?...………………..

"Hath god said?"...excuse self-perceived religious reference...mere metaphors.....most wisdom is...doncha know!!

There's a line, and he crossed it.

I want to thank all the health care workers, on the frontlines. They're the heroes. People that minimize this are the lowest of the low.

I'm sick of the whining about the economic losses. People can't take a few weeks, a few months, a year of hardship in order to save lives? Thank God they never went through the Great Depression, or World War II, like my old man did, God rest his soul.

There is an old joke about people wanting the Rapture to come so they can get out of paying their mortgages.

Jokes aside, the virus, if it were a person, wants the economy to open - then it can strike again, perhaps with more lethalness.

This will come in waves. If summer tamps it down, which I doubt, fall will bring it back. It is endemic. That is what Dr. Fauci said.

Florida had 1400 new cases Friday, a record, the same day the moron who runs the state opened the beaches. I am sure everyone saw photos of people at the beaches. How many are being infected in Florida because of that? How many will die? What will be the economic impact of that? Does anyone know? I am all ears. Guesses, even wild ones, are welcome.

Very few are going to go to restaurants bars, movie theaters, concerts, sports events, etc., if they open, absent a vaccine, or a drug. Those that do will only spread the virus again. What will be the economic impact of that? Let's say we fill a baseball stadium, sell a lot of hot dogs, and beer. How many will die? What will that cost us?

The world has changed, the U.S. has changed, probably for good.

I will say it again: I am sick of the whining about the economic cost, sick of hearing that it only kills the elderly, or those with preconditions, sick of people downplaying it. This is war. The virus must be defeated, or we won't have an economy. People need to be realistic.

Our economy was in the crapper before this happened. The recovery was always a Potemkin Village. This proved it. We were not ready. We do not have the equipment, the testing, the health care infrastructure, the ability to trace, etc., and that's just the health care aspect of our economy. Look at roads, rail, bridges, schools, etc. Compare it to China. They've maglev rail, our Amtrak's locomotives are, on average, 21+years old. Look at our water management systems, especially on the East Coast, and Midwest. Old. Just read the American Society of Civil Engineers' report card for our infrastructure. D+.

A great crisis has come, whining about it, and bleating about "we gotta reopen blah blah blah" isn't going to fix it.

I would have to agree with Buddy in that our economy has been an artificial house of cards ever since it was resurrected by WWII.

So, we may as well give everybody $2,000 a month for the next year and kick the can down the road again until some semblance of an economy returns.