- 27 Nov 2020 03:38
#15139786
You are preaching to the choir. I am no fan of goofy debate fallacies. And the slippery slope fallacy can be quite goofy if the examples that are presented have no merit. The government has enormous power and the left has the proclivity to increase the power of the government to control our lives. As of now they are willing to alter free speech and impose restrictions on how people should conduct their lives. It is no accident that small firms and everyday citizens have decided to leave California (a gorgeous state with great weather) and move to Texas (less regulations).
That is not such a big hurdle to overcome and the work could be accomplished with education. If I was King I would have a plan on how to put the those at risk on hermetic quarantine. It is not an impossible task and it may save lives while at the same time prevent the demolition of the young people that go to work everyday. It is way cheaper for the government to pay cash to the elderly than to pay cash a huge fraction of population. In fact, the elderly already get a check from the government so the savings would be greater.
I am the first one to admit this would not be perfect as some people would ignore the guidelines and bring the virus to grandma. However, putting the entire population on lockdown is not perfect either (just look at Europe). By now we should be able to know which are the type of gatherings that spread Covid the most and which areas are relatively safe. I bet grocery stores are low in the list and gyms are high.
Let's be cold for just a minute regarding those figures.
A 2016 report that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiled found that more than 2 million people in the United States die every year. The leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer, with around 635,000 deaths and 600,000 deaths per year, respectively.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articl ... spectively.
Let's assume this year we will have 2.4 million dead people instead of 2.0 million. That would roughly be a 16-17% increment in deaths. However, the bulk of the excess deaths were nursing home patients, people over 80, and those with multiple risk factors.
According to the actuarial tables those over 80 have a 4 to 11% chance of dying by natural causes.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html If we add morbid conditions the rate is likely much higher.
It is safe to assume that a fraction of the 270k you mention as Covid deaths would have died in 2020 of a natural death. In any event it is not an overwhelming task to hermetically isolate the elderly and keep them safe while at the same time keeping the young people employed.
Lastly, I admit this plan would never be implemented as politicians tend to do whatever is best for their election. The Dems thrive on chaos and COVID is a great excuse to preach chaos.
Unthinking Majority wrote:This is a slippery slope fallacy: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/slippery-slope
You are preaching to the choir. I am no fan of goofy debate fallacies. And the slippery slope fallacy can be quite goofy if the examples that are presented have no merit. The government has enormous power and the left has the proclivity to increase the power of the government to control our lives. As of now they are willing to alter free speech and impose restrictions on how people should conduct their lives. It is no accident that small firms and everyday citizens have decided to leave California (a gorgeous state with great weather) and move to Texas (less regulations).
The problem is young people spread it to older people, like their parents or grandparents. Schools opened for a couple of months and cases have exploded. Old people have to go out and buy groceries too etc.
That is not such a big hurdle to overcome and the work could be accomplished with education. If I was King I would have a plan on how to put the those at risk on hermetic quarantine. It is not an impossible task and it may save lives while at the same time prevent the demolition of the young people that go to work everyday. It is way cheaper for the government to pay cash to the elderly than to pay cash a huge fraction of population. In fact, the elderly already get a check from the government so the savings would be greater.
I am the first one to admit this would not be perfect as some people would ignore the guidelines and bring the virus to grandma. However, putting the entire population on lockdown is not perfect either (just look at Europe). By now we should be able to know which are the type of gatherings that spread Covid the most and which areas are relatively safe. I bet grocery stores are low in the list and gyms are high.
Americans have it ass-backwards on dealing with COVID and are dying as a result. 270,000 dead Americans and their families don't care about some person complaining about wearing a mask.
Let's be cold for just a minute regarding those figures.
A 2016 report that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiled found that more than 2 million people in the United States die every year. The leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease and cancer, with around 635,000 deaths and 600,000 deaths per year, respectively.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articl ... spectively.
Let's assume this year we will have 2.4 million dead people instead of 2.0 million. That would roughly be a 16-17% increment in deaths. However, the bulk of the excess deaths were nursing home patients, people over 80, and those with multiple risk factors.
According to the actuarial tables those over 80 have a 4 to 11% chance of dying by natural causes.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html If we add morbid conditions the rate is likely much higher.
It is safe to assume that a fraction of the 270k you mention as Covid deaths would have died in 2020 of a natural death. In any event it is not an overwhelming task to hermetically isolate the elderly and keep them safe while at the same time keeping the young people employed.
Lastly, I admit this plan would never be implemented as politicians tend to do whatever is best for their election. The Dems thrive on chaos and COVID is a great excuse to preach chaos.
Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
Adam Smith
Adam Smith