I have to admit that I like to believe I am right most of the time. I, as everyone else on the planet that breathes, can fall prey to ego when it comes to the confidence relative to their opinion. I also have to admit that although I choose to think I am correct, I am by no means immune to the frailty of being wrong on occasion... especially if you consult my wife.
It is because of this shortcoming that all of us suffer, I have tried to take a serious impartial examination of the current crisis and measures being taken as a result of it. In spite of my initial standpoint, I have read, listened, researched and discussed the subject from every conceivable angle and viewpoint, doing my best to set aside my own feelings while trying to understand others. Medical publications, political preferences, news articles, medical professionals, social media, friends, family, local businesses... I wanted to amass as much information as I could, hence the length of this article. I unfortunately found little to dissuade me from my original opinion. Even though I was offered reasons that when first heard seemed to be sound, as I dug deeper into the course of thought behind them, most of our current actions still fell far from logic for me. I'd like to take a moment, or two.... maybe three and point out some of the Observations I have made in the last few weeks since my first article on the subject. Hopefully it will convey why I am still unsure, as well as unsettled with the path we have chosen.
My first problem is that the rules are changing daily. We are initially told one thing and after we engage in the practice we are instructed to modify if not change the exercise completely. At the onset we were told to limit our gatherings to one hundred or less. A few days later it was fifty. A week later it was 10, then five. Now businesses only want one family member in their facility if they are even open to the public at all. The surgeon general has been telling us every week that this coming week will be the worst and we have to prepare that it will just keep getting more so, but when asked if he felt that we should support enabling government measures to have manufacturers devote a portion of their factories to the production of items such as masks, gloves, test kits and ventilators he said that he "didn't think that was necessary at this point." I guess he's waiting to see what happens next week.
Conflicting information as the aforementioned creates confusion that leads to unnecessary alarm. Here in Connecticut our governor is being inundated with ridiculous requests in press conferences and social media to shut everything down citing the false logical that we can all survive with online ordering and delivery for a couple of weeks... as if two weeks will make any difference. (Insert your surgeon general joke here) It's this mentality that has us hip deep in social distancing deprivation at the moment. Although I could go on for an hour or more on this, my fellow Observer, I will simply state that whereas the majority of us have access to a computer along with a credit or debit card, some of us do not. How do those people get what they need?
Speaking of having items delivered, could someone please clue me in on how having our food and other necessities brought to us keeps the virus from spreading? I'm having trouble with this mindset. Follow me on this for a second. The product ordered starts at the manufacturer. Then goes to a warehouse, which gets shipped to a distributor, that then may go to another warehouse or shipped to a local store, which then gets gathered together with other products on the order, gets placed in yet another vehicle that finally delivers the items to the customer. I don't mean to break any germ free delusions of sterility that some of us may have, but exactly how many people touched those items before they were dropped off on the porch? I guess we all just have to hope that Henry the stock boy washed his hands after using the bathroom and Dana the delivery girl wasn't picking her nose in the driveway before she knocked on the door. Oh well.... Let's just all think clean thoughts.
Another problem in the rules category is that some people are making up their own. A good example to start with is the total number of people that are allowed in a place of business at the same time that has been designated essential. Even though in Connecticut the official mandate is to reduce the maximum capacity by half, some companies have decided to trim that number to one third or even lower. A few have gone as far as stopping patrons at the door to inquire as to what they are looking for and escorting them around the store to "help" them shop. We have a store in town that is now taking temperatures of would be shoppers to make sure they don't have a fever before they are granted entrance. I suppose we should be grateful that they're not opting to do it rectally. Nevertheless, the way some people are reacting to this virus, I have no doubt that some would allow being subjected to the cold tip of assurance if they were told it would give a more accurate reading. Not to mention the ones who might enjoy it.
Some have even decided that it is acceptable to castigate customers if they do something that doesn't follow the daily new rules format. I personally witnessed a local shop owner (I won't say which as that would be indiscreet) virtually berate a woman patron as she walked through the door because she brought in her own bags. I guess she missed the memo that day as to what was now socially sanctioned. Not only did he verbally admonish her by telling her that reusable bags were banned in his store, he went on chiding, as she exited from his scolding, that he and his employees were "there for her" "on the front lines" and that they were "risking their lives". It took me a moment to process the Aztec two-step that was falling from this moron's mouth. I mean, this guy owns a hardware store and he's coming off like he's the 5th Infantry. Heavens to Betsy!.... Did I write hardware store?! And here I thought I was being discreet....
And am I the only one around who is wondering what happened to the testing that they wanted to do on all of us? It was all over the news a few weeks ago. Here in Connecticut they were supposedly going to set up dozens of drive thru locations statewide to make it easier for us all to be tested. They also claimed that the tests would be covered by most insurance as well as low in price, if not free to those who didn't have coverage. They insisted that this had to be done on a grand scale in the interest of public safety. Today we only have a handful of drive thru testing areas not nearly the number they first proposed. Where did they go? Why did they abandon the urgency of needing them? They started by telling us that we all needed to be tested. Then they decided that only people showing symptoms would be tested. Then certain people wouldn't be tested at all even if they had symptoms. People under 40 were then told to stay at home in self-quarantine for at least two weeks if they thought they had the virus and to only seek medical attention if their symptoms worsened. Now you have to be approved at any age to receive a test and may have to pay for it out of pocket as claims are now being made that tests already given may have been inaccurate by producing false positive or negative results and insurance companies are denying coverage for certain tests. So we still don't have a way to confirm exactly how many people have been infected, only a rough idea. Oh well... not to worry. Given to how deadly this virus is, we won't be around long enough for it to concern us.
All of this inconsistent information and changing of opinions have been justified by our leaders and medical professionals under the premises that "We are learning something new every day." This statement I agree with. In truth, I would consider it an axiom. The issue I have is that despite the fact the information we are gathering about this threat should be alleviating our fears, it has done exactly the opposite and caused even more panic and tighter restrictions on us all. We should also be questioning that in contrary to our research amassing tremendous amounts of data on this virus since it was notified, experts are claiming that we don't know enough yet to make any educated conclusions. Really?... How much more do we need to know? This coronavirus, one of seven known, shares at least 80% of it's genetic makeup with SARS, a strain that was isolated in 2003. In the seventeen years that we have been studying SARS we don't have any clues or insights into the inner workings of this virus at all? Seriously? We've learned nothing in seventeen years? Why is SARS still such a mystery? Why don't we have a vaccine for it yet? And if we don't have a vaccine for SARS how could we possibly expect to have one for Covid-19 within the next year as has been predicted by our "experts"? Is a 20% difference in genome genuinely boggling the minds of our top worldwide medical researchers? Why haven't we heard these questions being asked at the daily press conferences? Maybe it's because we've already learned that there is nothing we can do to stop it... but what do I know?.... I could be wrong.
Until we eventually come to the revelation that we cannot halt the spread of this virus, we will continue to waste time and resources on useless efforts in vain attempts to do so. A few points of reason that we have to acknowledge as a whole are, first and foremost, we are fighting a losing battle. We won't be able to move forward until we begin to accept that fact. We have to comprehend that we can't beat this enemy despite suggestions such as Anthony Fauci's brilliant insight that we never shake hands again.
Another practice of ineffectiveness is taking temperatures before a person is allowed into a facility. The presumption sounds rational and it does promote the idea that some of these businesses are being proactive while helping their community, but in reality it is of little to no use. The CDC and WHO are claiming that upwards of 25% of all who have been exposed to the virus (which, let's face it, is probably everyone in the country by now whether we like it or not) can be asymptomatic. (Great!... another word for the media to coin...) Meaning that those individuals are carrying the virus and can spread it to others while showing little to no symptoms at all. This ridiculously estimated number can reflect that well over 82,750,000 Americans can be walking around like Typhoid Mary and not even know about it. I'm not sure what orifice our experts pulled that number from... I have my suspicions, but if it is indeed a realistic statistic, how is taking someone's temperature before they're permitted to purchase Twinkies going to help? I'm still waiting for a practical answer to that question along with how exactly is the wearing of gloves preventing the spread, but maybe that's just me....
In as much as we are attempting to flatten the curve by implementing restrictions, we again bark up the wrong fallacy laden tree in the ones we chose to endorse. I mentioned in my previous article that we tend to forget. We also have another failing relating to the same. We frequently overlook the obvious. Within all our wasted efforts and contradictory instructions over the past six weeks, we have neglected to notice two things that that should have been as plain as the noses on our fever fearing faces. Two items that should have either been prohibited or had their use modified from the very beginning... if this virus is as dangerous as it is claimed to be. Money and the US Mail. Both are used and handled by practically everyone. Both travel this country coast to coast as well as worldwide and both have been clinically proven to carry contagions. Even Bugs Bunny warned us decades ago "not to play with the dirty money" right along with your mother. You can walk as many one way aisles staying at least six feet apart from each other while donning your fashion conscience matching mask and gloves (full face shield optional) all you want. If we continue to use one or both of those mediums, we are escaping nothing.
An additional item that needs to be checked off on our captain obvious laundry list is that not only are we looking at the wrong tree when it comes to a thought out plan of attack, we are not even in the right forest. If there is one thing that has not been thoroughly disputed in reference to this virus is that over 98% of those who are infected will survive. Also unchallenged is that we know to a degree of certainty who exactly is most likely to be at risk from complications caused by Covid-19. I sense that some of you may see where I'm headed with this, but I have to ask... if not just for sanity's sake. With those numbers and that foreknowledge in mind, why have we decided to make everyone, at risk or not, shelter at home? Seems a little backward to me. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Isn't it a better idea to have the people who are at the most risk stay safe at home and let the rest of us, if we choose to do so, get back to work before we run our economy into the ground? Why have we allowed our governments to decide for us as well as prohibiting work for a large number of people because they're jobs were deemed non-essential. Let me tell you something... every job is essential. We seem too have forgotten that too. Within that line of thought, wouldn't it be a lot cheaper for us too? We've already run up our national debt because of these measures by close to a 1/4 and its just going to keep climbing. Doesn't it make more sense to create policies and programs for those who can't go to work because they are at higher risk and putting plans in place to make sure their jobs are still there when this is over? It would defiantly be more economically sound as most of us would be back at work paying taxes instead of collecting unemployment indefinitely while waiting for our stimulus checks. Shouldn't we at least consider that as a possible way to get us going again instead of requiring everyone to wear masks that are in short supply just to pick up a gallon of milk? The sad reality is that we probably won't even entertain any of those ideas because the majority of us are afraid. As a result of that fear we roll over at the command of those who are in charge as they tell us we are in the utmost danger even if there is little evidence to support their claim. One more factor that has slipped our minds is that a democracy is not perfect. Even though a majority may agree with a flawed principle, it remains flawed nonetheless and can sometimes do more damage than can be repaired.
While our leaders are explaining to all of us why we have to stay at home and follow health scripted guidelines like all responsible Americans should do, those in power should also spell out why we are repeatedly being told that we can't look at this virus like the flu. Well.... why not? Why can't we? It spreads like the flu through contact transfer, coughing and sneezing. Has similar symptoms like the flu. Fever, cough, body aches and fatigue. It can mutate into different strains and make the jump from animal to man like the flu. It can lead to upper respiratory infections that can cause bronchial pneumonia and organ failure.... like the flu. Could someone please elaborate why we can't compare this virus to the flu? We're listening.... We understand that this is an entirely different virus than influenza as most of us are partially educated and passed 11th grade health class. So please... give us some hard reasons why we can't liken this to the flu. Didn't somebody in charge realize that we are more familiar with the flu and it may have been easier for some of us to understand and process the information without panicking ? Wouldn't it have been wiser to inform us that this virus follows the same pattern as the flu but we need to be more cautious due to the severity of it? After all, the CDC precautions list for this virus and the flu are virtually identical. Wash your hands, maintain distances, avoid touching multi used surfaces, avoid crowded areas, don't lick toilets, the elderly and those with underlying health issues are at greater risk, etc., etc., etc..... I suppose they decided not to go with that approach because we were too familiar with the flu and they wanted to get our attention. Well... it worked! Kudos to all in our government, CDC and WHO PR departments. I'm sure there are big bonus for all who contributed to the mayhem in the near future. Spend it wisely when all the businesses reopen if they haven't gone under by the time we come to our senses. Again I must say that I do not wish to be misunderstood and by no means am I suggesting that we shouldn't have met this crisis without a certain amount of prudence. There was definitely cause to do so, but I believe that this could have been handled with more discretion and common sense instead of some states, including my own, pushing the panic button so quickly without thought, guidance or notice and then telling us to calm down.
Another detail we all deserve an explanation for is why our leaders decided to actually listen to the CDC and WHO so adamantly this time. It's not like those two organizations haven't issued these warnings before. Since 2002 the CDC and WHO have officially declared 5 pandemics. They include SARS, H1N1, Ebola, MERS and Covid-19. In each case both groups have recommended pandemic protocols to be put in place and in every instance but this one those warnings have fallen on deaf ears. What was so different about this case? I could understand why if this virus was as deadly as they're making it out to be, but it isn't. The numbers just aren't there no matter how much they tell us they are and they probably never will be as we are already hearing that new cases are dropping. In the four pandemics declared before Covid-19 all but one (H1N1) had significantly higher mortality rates if contracted. Ranging from 19.5% (SARS) to 350% (MERS) higher in that category than Covid-19. This latest pandemic has also been proven statistically to have only raised the daily average worldwide mortality rate by .5% to .7% and that number too is dropping as fatal cases are decreasing as well... according to the MSN Coronavirus tracker (not joking... it's a real thing) and due to the fact that we are not testing everyone as aforementioned resulting in undeniably more cases than are being documented. Moreover, we have to take into consideration that the CDC estimates that H1N1 could be attributed to costing us over 575,000 lives in it's first 12 months constituting an average of 199,000 deaths in it's first 18 weeks. At this writing Covid-19 has claimed 119,000 lives in it's first 18 weeks and that number has been under scrutiny by claims that it has been exaggerated. Inflated or not numbers can be manipulated to a degree but they do not lie. With an average of over 80,000 more deaths, in the same amount of time, why then has Covid-19 been deemed more deadly than H1N1? Forgive me, but I almost forgot to mention that H1N1 was never notified by the CDC as Covid-19 has been. Therefore we will never have a complete accurate count of how many people have died from H1N1 as most victims death certificates didn't list it as the cause. It was usually listed as complications from pneumonia.
On a more personal note, please don't even try to tell me that politics has nothing to do with the actions that are being taken. My intelligence has been insulted before, but never to that degree. I don't say it often as I have already stated that I do not care much to be incorrect, but mark my words, If Trump doesn't declare himself king in the next few months this situation that we have gotten ourselves caught in the middle of between the left and the right will be the focal point of every speech, commercial, endorsement and debate in every election from president to town clerk come this November. That is if there is a November this year... we just may cancel it.
I honestly can't decide who I hold more in contempt. The politicians, extremest on either side who will not listen to any other view except their own, the corporations that are taking advantage of the situation or the media we depend on to keep us impartially informed. I lean towed the latter two as the media has seemed to have migrated away from responsible journalism while cornering the misinformation market on sensationalism and the corporations on good old fashioned made in America capitalism.
I used to try and watch at least one news program per day. Mostly local or if I happened to get home in time and no one else was watching Family Feud or Judge Judy, the PBS News Hour. As most of the network and cable news channels base their reporting on ratings, I felt those two sources gave me the best chance of receiving a less biased form of information. Much to my chagrin, both have failed in that regard as of late. I now intentionally avoid all news broadcasts. These days I choose to get my news online where I can pick what topics I feel relevant in order to sift through the hype while allowing me to stay out of the dark.
Not to worry, my loyal reader about the message not getting out or awareness not being raised even if you choose to not watch the news at 4,5,6,8,9,10 and 11 because every station is now broadcasting modified corporate commercials delivering their message that they are committed to all of us in our time of need... right after they hawk their contact free, delivered right to your door, fresh scent sanitized, germ free product and making sure they tell us about all the good their doing. What a bunch of crapola! Like any good snake oil salesman these companies have jumped at the opportunity to make whatever they can off of our hope, fear and desperation. It's hard to even enjoy Jeopardy and Wheel reruns in the 7 o'clock hour with these charlatans on my TV every five minutes. All this unwanted accosting makes you leery. I've had my suspicions about Alex and Colonial Penn in the past, but now... all this has really got me wondering.
If there is one aspect of human nature I've Observed many a time is that we base the principles we practice on our immediate need and abandon them when they no longer suit us or we feel threatened. This particular exigency has proven that statement beyond all doubt. Six weeks ago if you chose not to utilize reusable bags you were reputed to be irresponsible and even charged for the use of the disposable like. Today your considered irresponsible if you bring them into a store... if you can as most stores have banned their use. Trouble was that no one called us that week with an update to the rules telling us they were no longer socially acceptable. Six weeks ago we were instructed not to wear masks unless we were sick (even though we shouldn't be out in public if we are sick... they told us that too) because they were in short supply, took them away from the people who really need them and they were unnecessary for the general public to use as long as we social distanced. Now the CDC has reversed their opinion and have recommended the use of "cloth face coverings" in highly populated areas where social distancing is more difficult. They also requested in the same statement that we should not be using surgical or N95 masks as they were still high in demand and low in quantity for our medical workers and first responders. So what did we as a responsible society do? Regardless of the shortages almost every single person walking around in public areas are wearing surgical masks as well as N95 masks or similar. Yet again citing that we are being responsible by slowing down the spread of the virus and then littering our parking lots and grassy areas with them when we take them off. I even saw a gentleman walking alone in our town, which is not very big and very easy to social distance in, wearing a surgical mask. I was raised being taught that it was inconsiderate if you didn't offer your hand when you engaged some one. Now your inconsiderate if not insulting when you do. Even further along, in regards to frantic Fauci's no hand shaking recommendation, it has been suggested that we should rethink hugging and kissing as well. What are these cretins talking about? If we are seriously even considering this concept, I believe we need to rethink who we've put in charge along with who we are listening to. We are force-feeding ourselves and our children misinformation and wishful thinking perpetuating the myth that if we keep our heads buried in the sand long enough this virus will just go away. Unfortunately history is against us as normally this undertaking in leu of letting it run its course has proved ineffective time and time again. Simply put, most experts agree that when we stop the practices we are currently following, slowly or not, the virus will more than likely resurface and some have even suggested more aggressively. What do we do then? Anyone?.....
You can #AloneTogether all you want but the reality is that we are not. From what I've Observed we are further from "together" than we have ever been. We are not respecting each other's opinions as well as personal space. We are imposing our individual thinking on how we should all be responding to the problem and reacting harshly when we are disagreed with, listening only to those that concur with our decisions to amass a safety in numbers mentality. We are allowing fear to keep us prisoners in our own homes and those who choose this course are demanding everyone do the same. We are using words such as selfish, alarmist, over-reacting, self-centered, foolish, ignorant and stupid to describe each other. Uttering phrases like "no means no" "stay home-stay safe" "social distance" "worried about nothing" "bunch of idiots" to argue or personal point of view. These words and phrases in and of themselves are in direct contradiction of "together". We have to understand that whereas each side of the argument hold valid points, assertions can be taken too far either way. If we want to claim that we are all in this together we have to listen to each other. Take into consideration one another's perspectives, reasoning and conclusions pertaining to how each of us feel as we will all react differently to crisis. Even though I used the idiom as a point to criticize, the truth is that we really don't know enough yet in regards to how all of this will play out. There is no winning in this conflict and we will honestly never know if any position holds more merit. You can err on the side of caution, not change your habits at all or find a way to employ suggestions from both extremes. Whichever is chosen we should remember to do no harm along the path we elect. We have to remember that when this is finally over we will eventually have to face each other again. There will be certain actions we beget that cannot be taken back. If we don't tread lightly we may indeed end up just #Alone. Strictly an Observation. If you'll excuse me, I have to stop at the post office after I get some cash from the ATM.
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