Seriously: What is the COVID endgame?

I hope it’s clear to most people at this point that there is a concerted effort among many to fundamentally change how society works. The quiet part is now being said out loud now they we have effective vaccines and therapeutics.

If it was up to some (more people than I would like to admit) we have intermittent lockdowns every few months (see Austria), covid “curfews” (see Ireland) , masking up indoors, vaccine mandates , the restriction of large gatherings and monthly stimulus checks because you aren’t allowed to go to work (stop the spread). The advocates of these policies have shown they are willing to pursue these ends through about whatever means necessary.

It’s time we, the freedom side, just say “no” at literally every Covid restriction- time for compromise is way past done.

letssee wrote:

Why would you want to vaccinate your 5 year old daughter? Are you really that stupid?

Because I follow the guidance of the CDC and the FDA. Because more than 8,000 children aged 5 to 11 have been hospitalized from serious Covid illness and about 800 have died. Because 0 out of 2,300 children in Pfizer’s study had serious complications from the vaccine.

Look, these are all small numbers. I’m sure some children will have complications. But the risk of a vaccine complication seems less likely (and severe) than getting seriously ill.

800 dead kids from Covid is a very small number but it’s not zero. If we had to quarantine for the rest of our lives to reduce that risk even further it would not be worth it. But a one time shot vaccine with periodic boosters is a simple precaution. It would be one thing if the vaccine was dangerous or ineffective but it’s neither.

Bottom line: I don’t pretend that when I “do my own research” by reading Facebook posts or listening to Joe Rogan that I can come to a better conclusion than the goddamn Centers for Disease Control. If you actually think that you can than I would argue you are the stupid one.

energeticlotuseater wrote:

If it was up to some (more people than I would like to admit) we have intermittent lockdowns every few months (see Austria), covid “curfews” (see Ireland) , masking up indoors, vaccine mandates , the restriction of large gatherings and monthly stimulus checks because you aren’t allowed to go to work (stop the spread). The advocates of these policies have shown they are willing to pursue these ends through about whatever means necessary.

It’s time we, the freedom side, just say “no” at literally every Covid restriction- time for compromise is way past done.

You are an absolute idiot. you're seriously the worst person on this entire site, which is an incredible accomplishment. It's like being the worst Nazi soldier. One can only hope that you're an expert troll, because knowing that a person like you exists on this planet means it's a worse planet than I thought it was.

additionally, in highly-vaccinated populations, the largest area of growth of covid infections is in children. It's the one population where we can still make a dent in the general spread of the disease.

There’s nothing to pretend about. It’s a piece of cloth. I’m sure you don’t wear it every moment of the day or with friends and family.

Jesus Christ we’ve been in a pandemic and you’re complaining that you had to do that for 1.5 years? If you think it’s a big deal you are soft as sh*t and have no perspective for what is a real struggle. Let’s hope you aren’t ever faced with something that’s an actual big deal or I think you’d fold immediately.

You're right. Im just a guy at the end of the bar. Occam's razor states that entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity. Or to inacurrately paraphrase, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

You are artificially adding complexity to this issue.

The endgame politically is that America will change to a grim, sterile, fearful country if we do nothing to stop covid hysteria.

The endgame scientifically is that people will have virtually the same probability of death as they did before.

The endgame running-wise is that Galen Rupp will remain the greatest American distance runner to have ever lived.

The endgame of this thread will be you continuing to ignorantly put words in my mouth and guess my political stance on foreign policy and bomb dropping.

One a them joggers wrote:

Bullet_Proof wrote:

The answer is quite simple.

End lockdowns.

End vax mandates.

Problem solved.

Yeah, okay, but he asked "what's the endgame", not "what solution does the dude sitting at the end of the bar who always seems to have remarkably simple solutions to all humanity's problems propose"? I mean, I'm taking his question in a more literal sense - meaning, he's asking what will actually happen as Covid is gradually brought under control (if that happens)?

You're wrong. I'm asking because I don't see any possible way that the virus is "brought under control" beyond the current level. This is very much looking like the long-term endemic level of Covid that we just have to deal with. So my question is, what do you want to do: continue masking and other mitigation nonsense that has a limited marginal benefit, or do what Bullet_Proof is suggesting...end mandates, end lockdowns, accept reality, and get back to normal life.

So why didn't you just say "I don't know"?

energeticlotuseater wrote:

I hope it’s clear to most people at this point that there is a concerted effort among many to fundamentally change how society works. The quiet part is now being said out loud now they we have effective vaccines and therapeutics.

If it was up to some (more people than I would like to admit) we have intermittent lockdowns every few months (see Austria), covid “curfews” (see Ireland) , masking up indoors, vaccine mandates , the restriction of large gatherings and monthly stimulus checks because you aren’t allowed to go to work (stop the spread). The advocates of these policies have shown they are willing to pursue these ends through about whatever means necessary.

It’s time we, the freedom side, just say “no” at literally every Covid restriction- time for compromise is way past done.

Bingo. Exactly. Refuse restriction. Just say "no."

I'm at a lose as to why the government has not devoted more resources to the major supply chain issues surrounding rapid tests. The US would've been out of this by now if: a) rapid tests were available and mandatory for indoor public gatherings (restaurants, concerts, schools, etc.), and b) people properly wore N95 masks at indoor public gatherings. Instead, boatloads of public benefits are going to paying rent for people who are frankly electing to chill at home and binge Neflix, Jerry and Maury all day.

This is a great post and it's so accurate.

The most interesting thing for me to observe is how 1) The human race has seemingly forgotten how viruses etc work (the don't go away, they iterate etc) and 2) How in the last 50 or so years with so may strains of influenza prevalent etc, why we didn't live through those years with everyone having a POV on getting flu shots/vaccinations they feel entitled to ram down the throats of others and never shut the f--k up about.

"But covid is more serious that's why". Is it? For whom, relative to what? Covid fatality is 2% - that is not anomalous with any strain of influenza over the course of history (where fatality sits around the 1.5% mark. Those are facts - go check them.

I'm so tired of this sh-t - honestly we are all a bunch of f-ing idiots.

Boston Guy wrote: So my question is, what do you want to do: continue masking and other mitigation nonsense that has a limited marginal benefit, or do what Bullet_Proof is suggesting...end mandates, end lockdowns, accept reality, and get back to normal life.

Or C: continue mitigating until we've taken every reasonable approach to combating the virus, so when it does become endemic, it's manageable, and we can get back to normal life without a fear of a 6th, or 7th, or 19th wave.

Most people are picking C. We're sorry if that means you have to keep wearing a mask for a while longer. Your sacrifice is noted. maybe they'll build you a statue.

kookypuss wrote:

Bullet_Proof wrote:

You're right. Im just a guy at the end of the bar. Occam's razor states that entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity. Or to inacurrately paraphrase, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

You are artificially adding complexity to this issue.

The endgame politically is that America will change to a grim, sterile, fearful country if we do nothing to stop covid hysteria.

The endgame scientifically is that people will have virtually the same probability of death as they did before.

The endgame running-wise is that Galen Rupp will remain the greatest American distance runner to have ever lived.

The endgame of this thread will be you continuing to ignorantly put words in my mouth and guess my political stance on foreign policy and bomb dropping.

So why didn't you just say "I don't know"?

Because I am responding to the OP's original question. I am staying relevant to this thread.

Please re-read the OP's clarification post directly before yours. It was posted 11:41 a.m. 11/19. Since it was posted 1 minute before yours, I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you didnt see it yet.

The Narwhal wrote:

I'm at a lose as to why the government has not devoted more resources to the major supply chain issues surrounding rapid tests. The US would've been out of this by now if: a) rapid tests were available and mandatory for indoor public gatherings (restaurants, concerts, schools, etc.), and b) people properly wore N95 masks at indoor public gatherings. Instead, boatloads of public benefits are going to paying rent for people who are frankly electing to chill at home and binge Neflix, Jerry and Maury all day.

Because at the peak of the pre-vaccine pandemic, the party that held the senate, congress and president's office agreed on a plan that pretended covid wasn't a big deal, and either ignored or outright banned public health efforts that would have addressed these issues.

Bullet_Proof wrote:

kookypuss wrote:

So why didn't you just say "I don't know"?

Because I am responding to the OP's original question. I am staying relevant to this thread.

Please re-read the OP's clarification post directly before yours. It was posted 11:41 a.m. 11/19. Since it was posted 1 minute before yours, I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you didnt see it yet.

but the OP's question was "what is the endgame?"

You just answered what you hope is the result.

that's not what "endgame' means. It's the part of the game that leads to the end.

What you've posted are results.

+1. Great post.

Now that we are dealing with vax mandates, we have forgotten how bad masking is on an empathy level when we interact with other human beings.

CDC estimates that as of Oct 2, there have been 645 deaths out of 25,844,005 Covid infections in the 0 to 17 age group. An infection fatality rate of 0.0025%. (1 death in 40.068 infections).

The typical seasonal flu is more dangerous to children than Covid-19.

You can tell a lot about a person by his enemies.

The fact you, a wannabe Covid tyrant, dislike me to such an extent to compare me to “ the worst nazi soldier” just further convinces me I am correct in everything I said.

meeel wrote:

[quote]letssee wrote:

Why would you want to vaccinate your 5 year old daughter? Are you really that stupid?

Because I follow the guidance of the CDC and the FDA.

Huge mistake.

They are arms of Big Pharma.

Haven't you figured that out yet?

Where to the last two heads of the FDA now work?