Some thoughts on covid after 2 years

Covid is a hypochondriac’s nightmare. As a lifelong one I had more than a few panic attacks early on…and I know folks who hunkered down and engaged in truly strange rituals from their hypochondria to avoid the bug. But once vaccinated all those fears for me faded away.

I can understand if a dumb person chooses not to vaccinate. Really dumb people make really dumb decisions all the time. But all the many folks I know who eschew the shot are smart, some brilliant. That is heartbreaking as it endangers everyone they contact with. How can that be? Goes to show that even smart people can make really stupid decisions. I’m still alive for 77 years in part because I always play the odds in my favor regarding health and safety. A smart person choosing not to vaccinate is sorta like deciding to walk against the light in heavy traffic…at some point you’ll get hit.

After nearly 2 years everyone likely knows hundreds of people who got covid and one or more who died from it. I’ve known 3.

Covid or any pandemic can crash a thriving economy pretty damn quickly. Just ask Mr. Trump. But we now know that if government acts just as quickly with massive financial relief to the masses, the economy can rebound almost as quickly. Just ask Mr. Biden. Covid made the case for Democratic Socialism in diamonds as well as spades.

As of today, 826,100 Americans have succumbed to covid (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

COVID Live - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer Live statistics and coronavirus news tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, tests, and death toll due to the COVID-19 coronavirus from Wuhan, China. Coronavirus counter with new cases, deaths, and number of tests per 1 Million population. Historical data and info. Daily charts, graphs, news and updates www.worldometers.info

).  That is 15.4% of the world’s covid deaths of 5,364,100. This in a country with just 4.2% of the world’s population. For that to occur in the richest country in the world with world class medicine is a grotesque disgrace. My take? Had we elected Hillary in 2016 covid deaths would not be north of 800,000 but south of 300,000. When Trump called Biden a wimp for masking and promoting vaccination, a good hunk of America said ‘Right On’ and didn’t mask, social distance or vaccinate. Another observation? Why would someone seeking votes willingly kill off his potential voters?

Alas, it now appears that pandemic will be with us for the long haul, possibly forever.