Been There – Done That

When this Covid/Chinese virus hit we thought we had never seen anything like it – and many of us got scared. Our “elected” political leaders immediately seized upon this fear. A little history:

Spanish Flu, 1919: 675,000 American deaths, .7% of the population; survivors 99.3% shut down – NO.

Asian Flu, 1958: 116,000 American deaths, .07% of the population; survivors 99.93%; shut down – NO.

H1N1 Flu, 2009: 18,000 American deaths, .006% of the population; survivors 99.994%; shut down – NO.

Flu Season 2018: 50,000 American deaths, .016% of the population; survivors 99.84%; shut down – NO.

Covid/Chinese Virus: OK, Let’s assume 120,000 deaths. Don’t misunderstand – this is tragic and our hearts reach out to those affected and their families. But some perspective here may help allay the fear. This number of deaths (120K) is .04% of the population (.0004). That means 99.96% (.9996) of us survive. Is .04 worth laying off 38,000,000 Americans (12% of the population) and destroying the welfare of those families? Is this small number worth destroying countless businesses? Is this worth trampling on and spitting on our Constitution denying freedom of worship, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement and others? We didn’t shut down before so why are we doing it now?

I’m an old guy and I don’t get it.