Do you think COVID qualifies as a minor apocalypse?

[Ultralight]

I was contemplating this recently. If you have seen doomsday, dystopian, or apocalypse movies (I have probably seen them all) then you are familiar with this idea.

Doomsday/apocalyptic movies tend to take place in a world that is totally screwed -- think Mad Max or I am Legend.

Or think of the classic dystopian novels such as Brave New World or 1984.

These films and books obviously have their themes ramped up into overdrive.

But what about a real life dystopia or apocalypse -- particularly a minor one.

Does COVID and the political, social, and economic responses qualify as a minor apocalypse or as a sharp turn toward dystopia?

[razz]

The OP could only be asked by a member of a very privileged society. Others around the world are suffering far worse. Do we consider their lives of deprivation an apocalypse?

[happystuff]

Actually, I think climate change and the effects thereof are more likely to be minor - then eventually - major apocalypse events.

[LDAHL]

Isn’t “minor apocalypse” pretty much a contradiction in terms? Like “tiny tsunami”?

I think Covid qualifies as one more disease afflicting mankind. Nothing more. Nothing less. To me, contemporary China has the odor of a dystopian society. The Prime Minister of Canada seizing the power to cancel insurance contracts might be a goose step in that direction, but nowhere near the final product.

[Ultralight]

Isn’t “minor apocalypse” pretty much a contradiction in terms? Like “tiny tsunami”?

I think Covid qualifies as one more disease afflicting mankind. Nothing more. Nothing less. To me, contemporary China has the odor of a dystopian society. The Prime Minister of Canada seizing the power to cancel insurance contracts might be a goose step in that direction, but nowhere near the final product.

Tiny Tsunami was the name of the band you played drums in during college, right? Come on, fess up!

LDAHL = Loud Drums And Hard Liquor!

[ToomuchStuff]

Not nearly enough death and destruction to be an apocalypse.

Now I know people from both parties, fear the people who we have entrusted the authority to control us, to not give up that authority, willingly, when the time is done. That is the most dystopian fear I am aware of.

[LDAHL]

Tiny Tsunami was the name of the band you played drums in during college, right? Come on, fess up!

LDAHL = Loud Drums And Hard Liquor!

I’ll have you know I was a model of studiousness and decorum in college. “Who is this golden youth?” people would ask. “Let us learn his ways and be wise”.

[Ultralight]

I’ll have you know I was a model of studiousness and decorum in college. “Who is this golden youth?” people would ask. “Let us learn his ways and be wise”.

Best answer!

[Ultralight]

The OP could only be asked by a member of a very privileged society. Others around the world are suffering far worse. Do we consider their lives of deprivation an apocalypse?

That is a nuanced answer.

[Ultralight]

Actually, I think climate change and the effects thereof are more likely to be minor - then eventually - major apocalypse events.

Tru dat, yo!

[LDAHL]

Actually, I think climate change and the effects thereof are more likely to be minor - then eventually - major apocalypse events.

I’m still waiting for that hole in the ozone layer to do us in.

[happystuff]

I’m still waiting for that hole in the ozone layer to do us in.

Your post prompted me to Google "ozone hole". Interesting stuff. This is a summary of the history to 2001: https://theozonehole.com/ozoneholehistory.htm

[LDAHL]

Your post prompted me to Google "ozone hole". Interesting stuff. This is a summary of the history to 2001: https://theozonehole.com/ozoneholehistory.htm

If I’d known how long doomsday would be in coming I would have taken better care of myself.

[happystuff]

If I’d known how long doomsday would be in coming I would have taken better care of myself.

With the ozone - maybe. But the damn zombies will get you sooner than not. LOL

[ApatheticNoMore]

You are just going to be mocked on this one. And if you take any precautions it's "you think covid even with vaccines is the end of the world". Yes, yes that's right I think covid is the end of the world. You've got my number alright >8)

Here's why I find it dystopian though. Vast amounts of lies and misdirection, we have been told lies all along so that nothing could be trusted. Lies about masks sure but I do understand that one had a somewhat noble reason (protecting masks for healthcare workers), but it didn't even achieve that, people hoarded mask anyway, why not just tell them the truth. Failed testing initially, then trying to prevent people from producing actually effective tests. Never willing to admit covid is airborne because they might what, have to spend money on ventilation? Be honest about risks about being in poorly ventilated places for hours? I mean look it's known it's airborne, but ventilation is nowhere talked about almost. So how can one not be a bit of a conspiracy theorist? Didn't even recommend (K)N95s AFTER they were readily available. They didn't even discourage us from gathering over the holidays this year in a massive surge. But I think they should have banned holiday gatherings in 2021? NO. I think they should have verbally warned people about them, said some words basically, and maybe the death toll would be less. So I don't trust them now if they say my risk are low, because information about long covid seems totally blacked out. Tell me they aren't trying to kill me, when it seems to me they are trying to kill me. And yea that's paranoid, but why aren't they honest about ventilation, masks, etc. etc.. We know these things. Then the societal failure to deal responsibly with covid. But this has apparently happened in other plagues before. So it's kind of a further explosion of trust in the society one may have naively think they lived in.

As for those across the world who are suffering worse. Look if you live in a pure failed state, you probably know it. Ok if you are straight out starving to death it hardly makes it better (!), but if your just surviving in a failed state you know it. I have always deeply admired the take on life of people like Russian immigrants, who came out of the collapse of the soviet union. Cynical as all heck, but down to earth and focusing on what they can control, their love of their families and so on. I find it so so refreshing compared to American delusional and trusting optimism. They just like know that everything is broken, they're smart, they're educated and in somewhere like Russia everything has always been broken. But in countries that are not obvious failed states, the problem is we have been propagandized to believe we don't live in failed states. So stuff still shocks when you have a failure not only to contain a pandemic but to even be honest with people about it, the CDC straight out lies etc..

And how this might also be dystopian is people might get sick with this covid again and again, with a chance of developing long covid each time, which will mean a lot of disability, but I don't know that will happen. It's just possible dystopian scenarios.

[happystuff]

ANM - I get what you are saying, but also have to say that... to some of the specifics... yes, I was aware that holiday gatherings were going to cause a surge of covid; yes, the school I work in has ventilation/air circulation systems in every classroom; yes, I heard/believed covid was airborne from day-one!

Yes, there was misinformation as well and yes, there was - and still is - a learning curve with all of this!

I don't believe you are any more paranoid - if that is the word you want to use, (but personally I would use "cautious and careful" instead) - than many other people. I don't know if I believe covid is the "end of the world", but I do believe that it is really, really scary and is very unpredictable with regards to who it hits and how it hits at the time it hits! And that it has definitely changed things throughout the world.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think there is ever going to be a "back to normal" for many, many people. I count myself as one of those for various reasons.

Definitely no mocking here.

[Ultralight]

ANM - I get what you are saying, but also have to say that... to some of the specifics... yes, I was aware that holiday gatherings were going to cause a surge of covid; yes, the school I work in has ventilation/air circulation systems in every classroom; yes, I heard/believed covid was airborne from day-one!

Yes, there was misinformation as well and yes, there was - and still is - a learning curve with all of this!

I don't believe you are any more paranoid - if that is the word you want to use, (but personally I would use "cautious and careful" instead) - than many other people. I don't know if I believe covid is the "end of the world", but I do believe that it is really, really scary and is very unpredictable with regards to who it hits and how it hits at the time it hits! And that it has definitely changed things throughout the world.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think there is ever going to be a "back to normal" for many, many people. I count myself as one of those for various reasons.

Definitely no mocking here.

I think that we as a society will go back to our normal pre-pandemic behaviors to about 95% by May. This is what the vast majority of ppl want! The government and the corporations that run it want this. The churches that want tithes want this. The middle managers and lower level managers want this so their workers have no special treatment. Parents are tired of having to parent their own kids, so they want this. They all want behavior to go back to normal.

The thing that is different is that we'll probably have 200,000 more deaths each year, and 50,000 more long covid victims each year to contend with until covid spins out into a virus more like common cold in like 5 years.

[happystuff]

The thing that is different is that we'll probably have 200,000 more deaths each year, and 50,000 more long covid victims each year to contend with until covid spins out into a virus more like common cold in like 5 years.

And it is because of these things and for all the individuals affected by the deaths and the illnesses and the life-changing circumstances all caused by covid, that I say there will never be a "going back to normal". For the approximately 933K covid deaths in the U.S. alone, if there is only 1 person affected by each individual death, that is 933K people that will never "go back to normal" - their lives have changed permanently.

So, okay, I guess I will agree that society will go back to the supposed pre-pandemic behaviors, but there are hundreds of thousands of individuals (or even more!) who have had their "normal" changed forever.

[ApatheticNoMore]

People here are fairly compliant with mask mandates, there is always the person with their nose out here and there, but there is also wide use of (K)N95 etc.. And it seems there is wide support for mask mandates here, so I don't think this push to get rid of them, is really coming from ordinary people, except for a few extremist who don't really represent most of the population. But the Biden administration has decided everyone should have the policies of swing voters in purple states or something, so even where that really doesn't resemble at all the majority of the state or local voting population, mask mandates are going away anyway.

[happystuff]

People here are fairly compliant with mask mandates, there is always the person with their nose out here and there, but there is also wide use of (K)N95 etc.. And it seems there is wide support for mask mandates here, so I don't think this push to get rid of them, is really coming from ordinary people, except for a few extremist who don't really represent most of the population. But the Biden administration has decided everyone should have the policies of swing voters in purple states or something, so even where that really doesn't resemble at all the majority of the state voting population, mask mandates are going away anyway.

But that still leaves the individual to mask or not mask, regardless of mandates. As I have stated, I will be one who chooses to mask whenever the circumstances arise that masking will protect myself and/or others. Ultimately, every person will decide for their own reasons and must live with the results of those decisions - although I'm thinking some of those results will go unrealized/unseen by said individuals.

[LDAHL]

With the ozone - maybe. But the damn zombies will get you sooner than not. LOL

I used to have a doctor who liked to say “we’ll take care of this long enough for something else to kill you “.

[rosarugosa]

I think this was like a dress rehearsal for the apocalypse. It was certainly an eye-opener for those of us who might have been optimistic/delusional enough to envision some sort of scenario where everyone cooperates for the common good.

[Ultralight]

I think this was like a dress rehearsal for the apocalypse. It was certainly an eye-opener for those of us who might have been optimistic/delusional enough to envision some sort of scenario where everyone cooperates for the common good.
This is a really good point.

[LDAHL]

Well, you do see a lot of people who want to use the present situation as an opportunity to make “freedom” a dirty word. Dictators talk about unity a lot. I like living in a country where we don’t walk in lockstep even for “the common good”.

[Ultralight]

Well, you do see a lot of people who want to use the present situation as an opportunity to make “freedom” a dirty word. Dictators talk about unity a lot. I like living in a country where we don’t walk in lockstep even for “the common good”.

Damn those founding fathers for founding these United States, "indivisible... justice for all."

[happystuff]

I think this was like a dress rehearsal for the apocalypse. It was certainly an eye-opener for those of us who might have been optimistic/delusional enough to envision some sort of scenario where everyone cooperates for the common good.

That is a very sad thing, but I - optimistically - still believe there are more people doing good/caring for other people rather than going about in anger and selfishness. I still believe that it's the quiet, little, often simple acts of kindness from one person to another that make the biggest differences and spread so much joy and happiness.

[Alan]

Damn those founding fathers for founding these United States, "indivisible... justice for all."
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin


“No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved.” — Samuel Adams


“Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.” — Edmund Burke


“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.” — Patrick Henry


“The first thing I have at heart is American liberty; the second thing is American union.” — Patrick Henry

[LDAHL]

I still believe that it's the quiet, little, often simple acts of kindness from one person to another that make the biggest differences and spread so much joy and happiness.

That is true. And that is not something government can mandate.

[rosarugosa]

Silly me, but I wasn't thinking about mandates. I was thinking about a world (clearly utopian fantasy stuff) where everyone would want to wear a mask and get vaccinated because we all had the common purpose of wanting to eradicate covid.

[Ultralight]

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin


“No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved.” — Samuel Adams


“Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither, in my opinion, is safe.” — Edmund Burke


“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.” — Patrick Henry


“The first thing I have at heart is American liberty; the second thing is American union.” — Patrick Henry

Dude, we are talking about a mask that slows spread of a deadly disease to our fellow Americans. We are not talking about an empire colonizing our nation. FFS, bro. Get a grip.

Did you post these quotes all over the place when ya boys in the GOP were doing the PATRIOT ACT? Doubt it.

[Ultralight]

That is a very sad thing, but I - optimistically - still believe there are more people doing good/caring for other people rather than going about in anger and selfishness. I still believe that it's the quiet, little, often simple acts of kindness from one person to another that make the biggest differences and spread so much joy and happiness.

Would simple acts of kindness from one person to another have stopped polio?

[Ultralight]

That is true. And that is not something government can mandate.

There is a small fraction of truth to it. But I think something like a cure for childhood cancer or clean water for everyone would be more universally effective. And those things require massive coordinated effort.

[happystuff]

Would simple acts of kindness from one person to another have stopped polio?

Not talking about simple acts of kindness being cures for illnesses and diseases - although I believe there have been findings that happy people tend to be healthier (mentally and physically) than unhappy people.* Talking about simple acts of kindness as reaching out to others with actions/reactions in positive ways rather than anger, etc.

*You can research this yourself as I'm heading out soon! :)

[Ultralight]

Not talking about simple acts of kindness being cures for illnesses and diseases - although I believe there have been findings that happy people tend to be healthier (mentally and physically) than unhappy people.* Talking about simple acts of kindness as reaching out to others with actions/reactions in positive ways rather than anger, etc.

*You can research this yourself as I'm heading out soon! :)

I think wearing a mask to prevent the spread of covid is a small act of kindness I can do. And when we all do it in concert the impact is great.

But right wing nutjobs (not you) see this as an affront to their freedom. When they go around maskless exhaling covid on people they see themselves as Parick Henry or Geroge Washington -- fighting for our freedom! LOL Talk about being comically grandiose!

[Teacher Terry]

When our mask mandate came back I always complied. However, stores said that they weren’t going to have their employees remind customers because people became abusive and sometimes violent. I took a friend of mine to the doctor last week and they had a huge standing sign noting that they weren’t going to put up with any abusive behavior. How sad that they had to do that. Any place that are still requiring masks have signs up on the door. I keep one in my purse and 2 in my car in case someone needs it.

My friend has always been very hearing impaired and depends on reading people’s lips. He also has a speech impediment which is common with a childhood hearing loss. He definitely needed me to be his interpreter at times and I had to remind the doctor about his issues even though he had been going there for years. Finally they both had to remove masks to have a conversation. The doctor should be wearing a clear mask. I am sure this is a issue for many people with hearing issues especially as they get older.

[Ultralight]

When our mask mandate came back I always complied. However, stores said that they weren’t going to have their employees remind customers because people became abusive and sometimes violent. I took a friend of mine to the doctor last week and they had a huge standing sign noting that they weren’t going to put up with any abusive behavior. How sad that they had to do that. Any place that are still requiring masks have signs up on the door. I keep one in my purse and 2 in my car in case someone needs it.

My friend has always been very hearing impaired and depends on reading people’s lips. He also has a speech impediment which is common with a childhood hearing loss. He definitely needed me to be his interpreter at times and I had to remind the doctor about his issues even though he had been going there for years. Finally they both had to remove masks to have a conversation. The doctor should be wearing a clear mask. I am sure this is a issue for many people with hearing issues especially as they get older.

Handy dandy pen and paper can help. Write stuff down. Read it. It is nifty.

[Alan]

Did you post these quotes all over the place when ya boys in the GOP were doing the PATRIOT ACT? Doubt it.I try to consistently remind people of our founding principles whenever they mis-represent them.

[Ultralight]

I try to consistently remind people of our founding principles whenever they mis-represent them.

Don't we all feel that way? Same trick with the Bible and the Quran.

[Alan]

Don't we all feel that way? Same trick with the Bible and the Quran.
Clarification is not a trick, although I can see how mis-representers may see it that way.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I think if freedom has become a dirty word it's because of people blabbering on about freedumbs to oppose pandemic measures. Yea, so sensible people recoil, freedom is crazy lunatics endangering everyone's health, okay then ... hard pass.

[JaneV2.0]

"Freedom" is highly subjective, apparently.

[Chicken lady]

My dad used to tell me: my freedom to swing my fist ends where your nose begins. The entire history of civilization has been the attempt to define “my fist” and “your nose”.

[Alan]

My dad used to tell me: my freedom to swing my fist ends where your nose begins.
I think that's an admirable rule to live by, including using the government as my proxy to swing its fist for me. That's what mandates do, use government to assault someone for me.

[Ultralight]

Clarification is not a trick, although I can see how mis-representers may see it that way.

What is truly amazing is that someone who has no notable credentials and posts on an internet forum is somehow the nation's authority on the history of the American Revolution and the founding of the nation. LOL

Dr. Alan, prominent US historian (don't pronounce the "h")? I cannot wait for your books to be published on what the founding fathers actually, really, truly believed. It is like you are the only one who knows. I can't wait until you're discovered by Harvard or University of Michigan.

Bro, come on. I am likely more knowledgeable and likely more credentialed than you on the topic, and I am by no means an authority. I am a schlub. The difference is that I know I am a schlub and that there are others out there who are experts because I attended their lectures at a proper university, took their classes, and read huge tomes by real historians about the American revolution and our nation's early history.

[Ultralight]

I think that's an admirable rule to live by, including using the government as my proxy to swing its fist for me. That's what mandates do, use government to assault someone for me.

World War 2 rationing mandates. Would you have followed them?

[Ultralight]

Well, you do see a lot of people who want to use the present situation as an opportunity to make “freedom” a dirty word. Dictators talk about unity a lot. I like living in a country where we don’t walk in lockstep even for “the common good”.

World War 2 rationing mandates. Would you have followed them? They were for the common good... Which is taboo, right?

[Ultralight]

I think if freedom has become a dirty word it's because of people blabbering on about freedumbs to oppose pandemic measures. Yea, so sensible people recoil, freedom is crazy lunatics endangering everyone's health, okay then ... hard pass.

These are the same types of people that would have resented and probably skirted the World War 2 rationing mandates.

[iris lilies]

Dude, we are talking about a mask that slows spread of a deadly disease to our fellow Americans. We are not talking about an empire colonizing our nation. FFS, bro. Get a grip.

Did you post these quotes all over the place when ya boys in the GOP were doing the PATRIOT ACT? Doubt it.

The Patriot act was largely wrong then and it’s wrong now, and I wonder why the anointed one Barack Obama had eight years to work to get it repealed and he didn’t.

[Chicken lady]

And yet, I see mask mandates as the government LITERALLY protecting people’s noses… and so the history of civilization continues….

[Ultralight]

The Patriot act was largely wrong then and it’s wrong now, and I wonder why the anointed one Barack Obama had eight years to work to get it repealed and he didn’t.

Do presidents repeal laws?

[Alan]

What is truly amazing is that someone who has no notable credentials and posts on an internet forum is somehow the nation's authority on the history of the American Revolution and the founding of the nation. LOL

Dr. Alan, prominent US historian (don't pronounce the "h")? I cannot wait for your books to be published on what the founding fathers actually, really, truly believed. It is like you are the only one who knows. I can't wait until you're discovered by Harvard or University of Michigan.

Bro, come on. I am likely more knowledgeable and likely more credentialed than you on the topic, and I am by no means an authority. I am a schlub. The difference is that I know I am a schlub and that there are others out there who are experts because I attended their lectures at a proper university, took their classes, and read huge tomes by real historians about the American revolution and our nation's early history.
You are free to refute my opinions with yours, of if you can't you can rail against the opinion holder. Is that how professional Historians do it?

Out of curiosity, which of my founders quotes clarifying your mis-representation of founding intent pissed you off?

[Ultralight]

You are free to refute my opinions with yours, of if you can't you can rail against the opinion holder. Is that how professional Historians do it?

Out of curiosity, which of my founders quotes clarifying your mis-representation of founding intent pissed you off?

Okay, so now your supposed expertise is just your opinion. I think you're making some progress.

Were the founding fathers wrong about anything? Serious question.

[iris lilies]

Do presidents repeal laws?
Notice my careful wording “ work to get it repealed. “ That is what Presidents do, exert leadership and craft Congressional deals.

I did not ask why President Obama failed to “ repeal” the law because obviously he could not, even if he wanted to which obviously he did not.

[Ultralight]

Notice my careful wording “ work to get it repealed. “ That is what Presidents do, exert leadership and craft Congressional deals.

I did not ask why President Obama failed to “ repeal” the law because obviously he could not, even if he wanted to which obviously he did not.

Why did your boy GWB and his cronies pass it?

Deflection and projection -- the conservative way.

[Ultralight]

World War 2 rationing mandates. Would you have followed them?

Crickets. haha

Bueller? Bueller?

[Alan]

Okay, so now your supposed expertise is just your opinion. I think you're making some progress.

I've never claimed expertise but do appreciate the attribution from someone as notable as you, even with the 'supposed' modifier.


Were the founding fathers wrong about anything? Serious question.
Yes, I think they were wrong to think the liberty from government intrusion they risked their lives and fortunes to secure would persist into future generations who no longer have a basis of comparison.

[iris lilies]

Why did your boy GWB and his cronies pass it?

Deflection and projection -- the conservative way.

The initial Patriot Act passed the Senate 98-1. That indicates more than a few Democrats voted for it.

Senator Paul did not vote for it, principled oddball though he was. Father of Rand.

[Alan]

Why did your boy GWB and his cronies pass it?
It passed the House by a vote of 357 - 66, and in the Senate by a vote of 98 - 1.
I think you may be right about my ignorance of American History since I had no idea the Democrats were so under-represented in Congress during that period.


Deflection and projection -- the conservative way. I think you may have mis-spelled Ultralight, but maybe that's just my lack of credentials showing.

[happystuff]

I've asked this before and I'll ask it again, where/when does one person's freedom end when it violates another person's freedom? MOST people (I believe!) know how to compromise - big and unknown word for some folks, I know! But there are folks, as we all know, that are only concerned with themselves at the expense of others. Whose "rights", when conflicts arise, take precedent?

My own answer to this is that it is often a huge grey area and very case-by-case. Again, MOST people are caring and compassionate and concerned and aware of their actions upon others, but there are those few whose selfishness, unhappiness, anger and/or sense of entitlement just wreck havoc.

[Alan]

World War 2 rationing mandates. Would you have followed them?


Crickets. haha

Bueller? Bueller?
That's hard to say since I'd probably have been one of those out of country during the period, maybe in Europe or perhaps the Pacific theater. If I had escaped the horrors of war by dumb luck or perhaps sequestering myself into the relative safety of academia, as some are inclined to do, I'd probably have respected the rationing efforts as a matter of civic mindedness while still protesting the governments heavy handed efforts to diminish my patriotic frugality by enforced mandate.

I feel the same way about the idea of government mandates today.

[ToomuchStuff]

Why did your boy GWB and his cronies pass it?

Deflection and projection -- the conservative way.

Passed by both parties to remove constitutional protections, as well as restrictions in between government agencies (dept of homeland security, instead of FBI, IRS, etc). Seems other presidents were happy with the "freedom" it gave them to trample others rights, as well.

[LDAHL]

World War 2 rationing mandates. Would you have followed them? They were for the common good... Which is taboo, right?

The common good is not taboo, but I think “the common good” can be used as a pretext for all sorts of usurpations. Rules put in place for an emergency put down roots and can hang on many, many years.

There will always be a tension between safety and freedom with no perfect point of resolution. My preference is to err on the side of freedom.

[LDAHL]

Were the founding fathers wrong about anything? Serious question.

Yes. I think the founders did an excellent job of creating obstacles to concentrating power in a few hands or within a single branch of government. But I don’t think they anticipated one branch voluntarily ceding power to another. I think Congress has been doing this for many years to both the Executive branch and the courts.

[Teacher Terry]

UL:Handy dandy pen and paper can help. Write stuff down. Read it. It is nifty.

Well Mr smart ass that would work if my friend didn’t have Parkinson’s disease so bad that he could still write. You are truly clueless.

[ApatheticNoMore]

So the CDC is not releasing data:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/20/health/covid-cdc-data.html

I've been thinking this granularity of the data, granularity of the data, top line numbers are not that useful ... but since I don't spend my entire life pouring over covid data, maybe it was just me missing stuff. *shrug*

So the government isn't going to do anything to protect us almost, no mask mandates, you are on your own sucker! But it insists on manipulating us by not releasing basic data that could help us make decisions because it needs to manipulate an anti-vaxxer into vaxing or something!!! >8) >8) Like the worst boss ever - no honesty, no help (in terms of recommending masks etc.), but plenty of manipulation.

And no wonder one is paranoid (and I hide in my house, or actually I went to a restaurant (3 people) and ate outside, and then walked in a park. It was sunny and in the 70s, so eating outside and thus having lower risk, wasn't even sacrifice)