My fellow Americans, I feel the need to write and that should be alarming. Anyone who knows me well, knows two things - writing is not my forte and I am dyslexic.
This rambling is split into a few sections, feel free to read all, some or none. I hope this makes you think and I hope you feel compelled to discuss these thoughts with others.
1. Calm the F' down America
Right now, America, we have failed. No, I am not referring to ventilators, hospitals, and or government run healthcare, I am referring to the social conscious of society. The way we interact, see one another, communicate, and live our daily lives. Our rational mind has been replaced with an irrational "animal thought process” that does not serve the individual nor collectively society as a whole. We are making decisions based on fear, not common sense. Basically our stress hormones are through the roof and we are no longing using our prefrontal cortex to think – the part of the brain that separates us from apes.
We
must return to the prefrontal cortex way of thinking (aka rational and
thoughtful) that separates us from our ancestors, apes and other hominoids.
We must do so quickly or the consequences will be dire.
Please understand…What we have done is effectively shut down the United
States economy (and played a massive part in shutting down the global economy)
over the irrational fear of the flu. For
lack of better words, we dropped a nuclear bomb on our lives.
As more and more testing is done and more and more data comes out, I am confident in going out on a limb and stating "the death rate of this disease known as Covid 19 will be that of the common flu or slightly worse". Which basically means, if you have never feared the flu, or the common cold, there is no reason to start fearing it now. (Corona virus is actually in the family of viruses of the common cold).
It
is difficult to determine what the accurate "death rate" from the flu
is because the large majority of people who pass away from "flu like
symptoms" have a preexisting condition. For example, if a 76 year old
(average median life in the USA) is a lifelong smoker and fast food aficionado
with "flu like symptoms" succumbs to fluid in the lungs, did
they die from diabetes? Heart disease? Or the "flu"?
If you look at the CDC statement on the flu and take it at face value -
While the impact of flu varies, it places a substantial burden on the health of people in the United States each year. CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9 million – 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 – 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 – 61,000 deaths annually since 2010.
On the high end the death rate is 61,000/9,000,000*100 = 0.7% and on the low end is 12,000/45,000,000*100 = 0.02%. If you take the average - it is roughly 1 in every 250 people succumb to the flu annually. *Very important to understand that this DOES not include respiratory illness like, pneumonia, asthma – which kills another 160,000 annually – if we included this it would be well over 2% on the high end, right now even with poor data – the corona virus is well under this number.
Keeping in mind the numbers above…Yes, I believe that when society takes a statistically accurate count of total number of people who were exposed to the coronavirus and divides that into the total number of deaths times 100 to get the %, it will be on par with the average flu season.
The issue is simple, the denominator we are using to calculate deaths is WRONG. For example, South Korea's death rate is currently sub 0.9%, Italy's - 10%. Does this mean Italians are 10x more likely to die from the corona virus? Or does it mean that in South Korea more people have been tested? Or are their other factors like age and smoking?
I strongly dislike epidemiological suggestions and studies, but I believe we have to use them when it is the best we have… And to answer the proposed question, more people in South Korea have been tested is why, not that Italians are genetically inferior.
Please also keep in mind that most people are asymptomatic, studies are coming
out as much as 90% of the population - in laymen's terms this means, 90% of the
population do not know they are sick or they confuse their symptoms with things
like allergies, it is pollen season you know.
If the above is true, which I strongly believe it is - the death rate in Italy is well under 1% and in South Korea sub 0.6%, or, better said - very similar or slightly worse than a bad flu season.
In the end, I think will be able to create a statistically accurate sample size
and determine the death rates based off people who have been exposed and the
numbers will overwhelming support the theory that Covid 19 is similar to the
flu and safer than things like pneumonia and bronchitis. This means I am in the camp that believe this
is NOT the apocalyptic scenario government and the media is painting it to
be. Only time will tell.
Frankly, the public should demand from the CDC. That a random samples size of the USA is tested and figure out – how many people have actually been exposed already… If it is what I believe it to be, the USA would take a collective sigh of relief! If it is not, the CDC can continue scaring the jobs out of everyone and put this debate to rest!
2. What If I am wrong? And the Law of Unintended Consequences.
For argument sake, let's push back. Let’s say - " Stephen - you just want to see old people die, you are a terrible person - go straight to hell! This disease is 20X worse than the Flu!"
Let's get a few things straight.
1. I have tons of loved ones in my life that are immuno-compromised and those that are considered "elderly". And yes, I fully understand the elderly are more susceptible to the disease and more likely to have an adverse outcome (as in the case with the flu and common colds).
2. The above includes my mother, and those who know me, know I love my Mom more than life itself and I do fear for her.
3. If you still believe with a rational mind that I love death and want "old people to die", please continue reading as I believe I am giving a voice to many in society who have no voice.
There is a law we rarely discuss, and it needs to be discussed more vigorously and openly - NOW. The law of unintended consequences.
There is a famous quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin that states - Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency but in this world nothing can be said to be certain; except death and taxes.
I would like to add, and the law of unintended consequences.
Basically, when we make a broad decision as a society (mainly but not always) through government, there are outcomes that were unintended and undesired.
A class on unintended consequences and thought provoking questions.
We have shut down our economy over the corona virus, I think no one is arguing that. The numbers are going to be staggering when it comes to unemployment, bankruptcy, default, and overall financial uncertainty. Have we, as a society, asked and answered the following question...
1. What happens to suicide rates every time unemployment increases by 1%? What about 25%? Are their lives less important than the immune-compromised and elderly?
2. What do the statistics say about what happens to the number of people who turn to drug and alcohol to dull their pain? What about the family members who suffer because of one's poor choices?
3. What about child and spousal abuse in times of economic uncertainty?
4. What about crime? Hungry mouths know no law.
5. What about PTSD? Depression in our children? Aren’t they the ones that really matter? To date, ZERO children under the age of 9 have died and the only effects they are feeling, are TERRIBLE psychological effects from the fear, propagated by the media, in their parents.
The list of questions can go on and on... And the answer is basically... THEY ARE GOING TO SKY ROCKET!!! We have not even begun to comprehend the damage we are doing from our reaction.
Keeping in mind the above, let's say the death rate of the Corona Virus is extremely high (apocalyptic scenario the press is reporting) at 1% and on the high end 50% of the USA population contracts the disease. That means 1.5 million people will pass away and one would think a total of 4.5 million people are dying (the average death rate annually in the USA is 3 million), but this is not the case read on…
I know a scary number 4.5 million, until you actually look at the stats. As mentioned 3 million people die annually! Death is part of living. Of the 1.5 million people who will pass on a staggering majority will have passed on regardless of the disease as they are already dealing with complications from age, dietary choices, habitual choices, genetic disorder, metabolic disorder, coronary and heart issues and so on. As my Pops says, “one foot on the grave and the other on a banana peel.”
Thus if the death rate is staggering at 1.5 million, what would have happened without the corona virus? How many of these individuals would have made it to 1/1/2021, what about 1/1/2022?
So do I love people? Yes, more than life itself. I would knowingly give my life to protect the elderly from the corona virus and more importantly protect society from the harms that are about to come because of our lack of a comprehensive and rational response to the corona virus.
And that is why I am asking the question AND begging you to think about the law of unintended consequences....
If the corona virus is as deadly as fearmongering politicians, bureaucrats, and the press want you to believe and thus the apocalyptic worst-case scenario is true, does the response still outweigh what is about to come from the economic nightmare we are creating?
Please keep in mind...I did not even ask these questions… What about social security, Medicaid, Medicare? What about federal deficits and inflation from the idiotic 2 trillion dollar stimulus about to happen? Literally the people we are working to save (the older population) needs social security, Medicaid, Medicare now more than ever…and guess what, most of us cannot work and pay into the system that they need in order to pay their bills, buy food, etc!
I DO NOT have the answers - but we need to ask these questions NOW!
3. Rethinking life and death and the immuno-compromised.
It has taken me being slapped in the face with the "panic pandemic" to begin to grapple with my own mortality and the mortality of those that I love.
I have concluded the following:
1. We are all going to die.
2. We should not stop living.
3. We should respect those whose time has come and are close to walking over the great divide and we have to balance that with those who still have a life to live.
4. We should not fear death but rather cherish life.
5. The quality of our life is mainly dictated by choices we make in our diets, our exercise, and our sleep.
Right now there are millions and millions of Americans who are not only fearful for their lives AND they are fearful of the life of someone which they love. (Please DO NOT be afraid of the corona virus, statistically speaking the likelihood of dying from heart dieses, Alzheimer’s, stroke, diabetes, hell - mosquito, car wrecks, guns, etc. is much greater than the corona virus)
Nevertheless, I have to ask myself why? Why are people scared to die? Why are people scared of loved ones dying?
Is it the unknown...
Is it they have regrets...
Is it they wish they spent more time with their loved ones...
Sadly, I think most of us have regrets, we wish we did something else with our lives, we wish we hugged more, cried more, worked harder, made healthier dietary choices, the list can go on and on...better said - we overall feel guilt for how we treated others and ourselves.
I do not know, but I ask, why are you scared of death? And if you are scared of death do something about it!
If you want to live longer, better, and more effectively the science is there on how to do it. I challenge each and every one reading this prose to live better!
Government officials are telling you to practice social distancing and handwashing like these two factors are what control whether you live or die, while they are important – they are not the number one thing to do if you want to survive the Corona Virus!
If you do not already think our government and press has failed us in creating this “panic pandemic”, than you should really thank them for not advocating the most important factor – your immune system!
There are a number of things you can do to DRASTICALLY increase your likelihood of survival and increase the quality of your life today if you do come into contact with the corona virus…Improve your immune system!
1. Eat better - ELIMATE PROCESSED FOOD AND SUGARS. Eat a diet rich in quality fats and vegetables.
2. Sleep better - put down the booze, the phone and the screens - go to bed early and hydrated!
3. Exercise in the sunshine...Your body, mind and spirit will thank you for it.
This should be the message from the
government, not wash your hands, stay home, and avoid living (and by the
way, “elect me! give me your rights god given rights and hard earned money - I
will protect you.” is the biggest load of BS I have ever heard... those
willing to sacrifice liberty for safety - deserve neither).
5. Mindless Medicine and the unintended consequences of the respirator.
Right now, tens of thousands of Americans are living on computers, kicking the can down the road and trying to prevent the inevitable, and no - they DO NOT have the corona virus. They are filling up hospital beds trying to hang on for whatever reason that may be.
It is hard to write, but sometimes the
truth hurts. Countless number of
Americans are laying in hospital beds, suffering from old age, poor dietary
choices, bad habits, and are frankly warn out. One can quickly conclude -
that only computers and modern medicine are doing us the favor and keeping them
alive.
But rather it is a "sick" health care system that is based on government billing, the fear of death, and a poor mentality and healthy understanding of death. Also, we have a sick care system not a preventative care system… this is what we must develop if we wish to continue improving humanity.
We have to change the way we see our lives and we face death. I am not
sure what the answer is, but it is not what we are doing. Please
remember, if you keep doing what you’re doing, you
will keep getting what you always got...
I leave you all with a poem in which I have found peace.
“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, and beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of
living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in
yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and
robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with
the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a
little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your
death song and die like a hero going home.”
Chief Tecumseh
Thanks for reading – I wish everyone all the love in the world and just ask
you, politely and respectfully – please think, cherish your life and live on!
Stephen Crissman