Corona deaths have now surpassed 1 million people worldwide

[CyberCubed]

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Technically it most likely passed a million deaths awhile ago since we know some countries like China, Russia, India and North Korea aren't accurately reporting deaths. But this is more or less an estimate.

More than 1 million people are now dead worldwide. Kinda crazy a new disease could pop out of nowhere in less than a year and claim over a million lives.

[Leo656]

And now, the "official" story says that the virus is mutating to the point where masks and social distancing have no effect. "If you're gonna get it, you're gonna get it, there's literally nothing you can do."

The Bad: There's nothing we can do.

The Good: If there's literally nothing we can do either way, can we please put the overabundance of "precaution" to bed? Hopefully.

You can't "stop" a virus. You never could. It's like when you go to the doctor and they say they can't give you anything, it has to run its course.

The only way forward is to lift the shackles, go back to normal as best we can, let those who want to mask up do so, and let the chips fall where they may. If the virus has mutated to the point where masks don't help, what then? Hazmat suits? How about NO?

People are gonna die no matter what anyone Does or Doesn't do. C'est la vie.

Also, another recent study strongly suggests that smoking cigarettes, taking opiate medication, and being a cocaine user are all highly contributing factors to whether you display the most severe symptoms and/or end up dying.

SO, let's see... don't smoke, don't be a cokehead, don't be a junkie, don't be a fatass, and you'll PROBABLY be perfectly fine, says "The Data"? I like those odds.

Enough Is Enough. Personally I'd love to go back to work someday. And I'd love to do so without having to dress like a goddamn spaceman on account of someone who doesn't take care of themselves is afraid of catching a cough.

[Andrew NDB]

Some interesting reads out there about cigarette smoking and COVID. It doesn't inherently make you more at risk:

https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk/does-smoking-really-protect-against-covid-19/

[Leo656]

I've also read many that say it absolutely does increase the risk. And still others that say smoking marijuana "protects" you from it. Which I doubt, but if true, means I'm virtually bulletproof. :lol:

But that's the thing. With such an abundance of conflicting information, is it any wonder why people don't trust what they read? Whatever they see today will be contradicted tomorrow.

Common sense is common sense. Wash your hands and don't let anyone cough on you, and you should be alright. The rest of this is just... well, "Overkill" is being too polite.

[neatoman]

2-NRYjSpVAU

[ABrown]

So the actual number is somewhere around 60,000 since only six percent of the deaths are actually caused by covid.

[frank_one]

You can't "stop" a virus. You never could.
People are gonna die no matter what anyone Does or Doesn't do. C'est la vie.
Common sense is common sense. Wash your hands and don't let anyone cough on you, and you should be alright.
So, after all, there IS something that can stop the virus from spreading further and it's called common sense. People are NOT gonna die if you do your part and behave accordingly.

[CyberCubed]

So the actual number is somewhere around 60,000 since only six percent of the deaths are actually caused by covid.

Pre-existing conditions usually contribute to the people who get covid to pass rather than recover.

[IMJ]

And now, the "official" story says that the virus is mutating to the point where masks and social distancing have no effect

I read that too and I wanted to go slap the manipulator who wrote it. Stating that the virus is evolving to defeat masks is a manipulation on how these things evolve that is mean to terrify and scare people who have a lowest common denominator thinking about these things and it's infuriating.

Basically it's assigning an intelligence value to a virus as if it strategically discovered that we were wearing masks and is taking action on it's own to overcome this in it's "attack" on humanity. This is not how these things work.

The whole thing regarding how that nuance was delivered and reported is another sign of the real problems in society nowadays. People are more educated than ever but stopped their education on the cusp of understanding. So instead of real information people are just pencil whipping the easiest ideas that they "learned" somewhere. Ironically, this greater rate of education has actually created people that are actually dumber than they have ever been. "Duhhjhhh durp viruses do da evolve! I learnt this so dis means durp that they do da evolve to beat the masks next cuz dey evolve!"

[Leo656]

I personally don't take much stock in any of it. There's been too much conflicting information since the beginning and it all changes by the day. Nobody knows what's "really" going on with this situation. Y'know who knows? China, who started it. The guys in the lab over in Wuhan know what the deal is because they made the damn thing, everyone else is just guessing.

So, after all, there IS something that can stop the virus from spreading further and it's called common sense. People are NOT gonna die if you do your part and behave accordingly.

Nonsense. Every year, millions of people get colds or flu despite washing their hands and doing their best to avoid people and germs. That doesn't mean "don't wash your hands" of course, but it does mean, "When it's your turn, it's Your Turn" and it's ultimately not in your hands. You can never smoke in your life and still get lung cancer. You definitely shouldn't smoke, BUT you still might be f*cked anyway.

Everyone should be washing their hands and trying not to cough on people. That's common sense and common courtesy, and we all should be doing that ANYway, pandemic or no.

But the masks and the shutdowns are all just as "effective" as airport security. It's theater. "The Illusion Of Safety". If your "destiny" is to get sick, then you're gonna get sick. Whether it's Corona or Cancer. That's Life. Sometimes people do everything right and they STILL get sick and die.

Therefore, it needs to be about Personal Choice. Let people who want to walk on eggshells stay home in their bubble wrap cocoons and pretend that germs stop at their front door. We've done all we can do and supposedly it didn't work. I'm not putting on a goddamn space suit to go to work, in the unlikely event I ever actually find a job again. It's horse sh*t.

If masks actually work, it's enough that YOU wear one. I shouldn't have to anymore if I don't feel like it. "Better safe than sorry, therefore everyone has no choice?" Those people wear condoms to masturbate, I promise you.

I wash my hands, and I don't get close to people. That's common sense, and that's plenty. We are not going to "beat" this thing by hiding from it. Viruses don't "disappear", people gradually develop immunity. Which requires exposure. Avoiding exposure weakens resistance.

Nothing about the way this situation was handled after the first month has been correct. Once it turned out that most people who get it don't even display any symptoms, then that's it, show's over, Back to Work. I feel bad for the unfortunate ones who actually suffer and die from it but again, That Is Life. Every now and then there's a purging fire and the sick and the weak die off. So it's been for the entirety of human history.

There's such a thing as compassion overriding common sense and simple logic. And that's what's been going on. "But people MIGHT get sick and die!" Yeah, some. Most won't. "Needs of the many, etc. etc." And the "Needs of the many" are to go back to work, because most people's unemployment benefits are gonna run out before Christmas.

And then you're REALLY gonna see some sh*t.

People can get mad if they want, this is The Way It Is. We tried it "Their Way" and all it did was wipe a bunch of people out financially. Barely made a dent in the virus. Time to switch gears.

Also... anybody else think it's "interesting" that so many areas have various restrictions marked in place until Election Day? C'mon. Pay attention.

The government's never cared about whether or not people die. Not even the Democrats, I hate to tell you. They Don't Care. It's never been about "public safety". This is about conditioning people to accept UBI as a way of life. That's all its ever been about. "Stay Home, Stay Poor, Stay Afraid, and Wait For Your Check. We Own You." That's been Endgame since Day One.

[Redeemer]

So the actual number is somewhere around 60,000 since only six percent of the deaths are actually caused by covid.

???????????

[Redeemer]

also fyi i am fighting covid right now...... **** sucks......

[Leo656]

Hang in there buddy.

I've briefly wondered a few times if I had it at any point, but I live with three other people and nobody's had any issues so I guess I probably didn't or I certainly would have passed it to them, and two of them are older and ex-smokers so they'd definitely have symptoms if they caught it.

I had a bad lingering cough in Feb./March that hung around for weeks and I sometimes felt a bit feverish, but I never missed any work and nobody around me got sick at all either at home or at work, so I guess it was just my body adjusting to the weather change a bit more harshly than usual. But when all the news started coming out at that time I did start to wonder and worry a bit. Then one day it just vanished. But if what they say is true, I doubt I had COVID or else these other people here absolutely would have gotten visibly sick, or at least one would assume they would.

Like two weeks ago when the temperature dropped sharply from high 80s every day to high 60s with no transition, I started waking up really scratchy and bringing up a lot of mucous. And every time that happens, I admit, I'm like "Ahhhh, crap." But nah, just the weather. So far, at least. But damn if this whole thing doesn't have me second guessing every cough that comes with a prize, now.

((Knocks Wood))

[Andrew NDB]

Sounds like everyone is dropping like flies in your state, Leo.

https://www.app.com/story/news/health/2020/09/28/ocean-county-covid-19-spike-driving-nj-case-increase/3566475001/

[Leo656]

That's a bit south of us, I live in Middlesex County. Actually, if the state of NJ were arranged like a dartboard, I'd live pretty much in the center of the bullseye.

Again, most of the people I talk to on FB also live in NJ and nobody I know of has caught it or knows anyone who has. Very weird. Zero in real life, too.

Once more, they can report whatever numbers they want but if it doesn't match what people see in front of their face, they're not going to believe it's the truth. NJ is small but very densely populated, and everyone is wondering where these supposed stats are coming from. "You know anyone?" "Nah, you?" "Nah." "....Then how is everybody dying?" "I'unno."

Obviously there's bound to have been a few cases, but that many? I'm gonna say "Nah." There'd be more chatter.

[Wildcat]

Not that there needs to be another coronavirus topic but you guys seriously need to stop downplaying it. You guys seem like smart people. You cannot possibly believe the numbers are drastically off or it’s part of some election conspiracy.

It was already a big problem in China before spreading. The outbreak starting in March is clearly not enough time. 5-6 months is all we’re gonna put effort towards something like this? That’s funny but sad.

When there’s a legitimate vaccine things will gradually return to normal. Not after the election or when the calendar turns to 2021. I wonder what the conspiracy would have been if there’s was no election.

It really seems like you’re only saying this because it’s inconvenienced you. Which is understandable but everyone has been inconvenienced. Movies and entertainment don’t count.

Wearing a mask and such is up to the individual I guess but complaining about it is whiny. Saying it does not matter because “it’s you’re fate” is a horrible attitude in general. No they don’t guarantee safety but precautions exist for a reason.

For the record I found out today a cousin of mine and his family had it and were sick for a month. The “do you actually know anyone” argument is ridiculous. I don’t know anyone who drives a Ferrari either. See how silly that sounds?

You cannot downplay the WORLD telling us there’s a problem. The numbers might be inaccurate. As in not exact but around there. Information changes because everything happened so fast. Who was supposed to be a coronavirus expert by now? It takes years just to become a doctor.

[Leo656]

You cannot possibly believe the numbers are drastically off or it’s part of some election conspiracy.


C'mon, sure I do! I absolutely believe both of those things, far more than I believe that half of my state is keeling over and we all just haven't gotten The Memo about it yet. I'm sure all the perfectly healthy people walking around would be tickled to know that they're ACTUALLY falling down like dominos, because that's what the TV and the computer says. :lol: C'mon.

Me no-selling the situation because I don't personally know anyone dealing with it, and you over-selling it because you know a couple people who are, are just opposite sides of the same coin. You're gonna call what you see, as will I, as will anyone. And that's fine. I respect people saying, "Here's what's happening in front of my face" even if it conflicts with what I'm seeing and saying Over Here. I do NOT respect people blindly believing everything they see on MSNBC or the internet. Or Fox News, for that matter. When you turn on your TV or click on your internet machine, you're paying people to lie to you. Bottom line. They're selling you a product. In this case, the product is Fear, and it comes conveniently wrapped in a little face mask that may as well be stamped with the words "I Believe Anything Anyone Tells Me."

I'll believe the Boogeyman is on my doorstep when I actually see it. What I see instead is a bunch of people walking around with no masks on for 4+ months and not a single one of them getting sick. Surely their number would've come up by NOW. Where does the Magical Virus stop being spooky and dangerous? The edge of Middlesex County? The parking lot of the flea market? The entrance to my cul de sac? Is the virus afraid of my "Beware Of Dog" sign? Seriously, like WHY is nobody at all within a 20-minute drive of where I live getting sick if it's so easy to catch and people aren't wearing masks as much as they should? My wife has family in the Carolinas, and even THEY say that the situation where they live is being trumped up by the media. Oh, they're taking basic common sense precautions, same as regular flu season. Wash your hands, don't get coughed on, don't share a glass. Simple. But on TV it's supposedly that everyone is getting infected and keeling over and for the most part, except for the big cities, that simply is not what's really happening in my and MANY people's experience. And it makes sense that it would travel faster and easier in cities because cities are filthy and people don't practice basic hygiene there. Just like of course it's going to affect people with respiratory issues or drug problems, because their systems are already overtaxed. But not all situations are equal.

All I or anyone who thinks in a similar fashion as I do is saying, is that the entire situation at this point is like trying to swat flies with a bazooka. Is there a virus out there? Sure! Is the media describing the situation accurately? Absolutely not. They're using scare tactics to get people socially conditioned to UBI in the event their preferred candidate wins the election. That's all it is. It'll be a much easier sell to convince people, "Never leave your house again, we'll pay you half of what you were earning (or less) to just stay home, forever!" if they've already been conditioned to living that way for months (or years) the way we are now. You gotta look at the Big Picture. A bunch of ideas these same people were pushing last year, only to be told "That's lunacy, you're outta your damn mind" by MOST Americans, all of a sudden don't look crazy at all. "SURE, pay me to sit at home, that's what I'm stuck doing anyways." And of course, it's a lot easier to get and keep people on government assistance when their entire industry simply doesn't exist anymore and they have no jobs to go back to anyway.

It's attrition. Drag the situation out, wear people down, and eventually, they'll be too exhausted to give a sh*t and you can pass anything you want by them. That's how it went in Cuba, Venezuela, and a bunch of other countries that tried Socialism only to have their people flee to America because their country sucks so bad thanks to all those "Sounded good on paper" bleeding-heart policies like UBI that did nothing but bankrupt their infrastructure. The Left-leaning in government want UBI. Most people didn't want it. NOW, they don't have any choice. Dots are right there, connect 'em.

"The World" got over the virus in a few weeks because they don't have a big nasty election this year with a bunch of "Anybody But This Guy" loons on TV who've hitched their cart to a child-sniffing loony-toon as our only hope of survival. You gotta look at the Big Picture, man. Sumac claims that over where he's at, they've pretty much licked it. I can't say that's true or false, but I'm not gonna call him a liar, either. I'm willing to at least entertain the notion that he's telling the truth even though I can't verify it, but I also wouldn't sign my name on it unless I saw it for myself. I just find it VERY suspect and convenient that in countries or areas that don't have a hate-boner for the Big Bad Orange Demon, the whole ordeal seems to have passed like rain with only a few lingering showers.

You're absolutely entitled to call the events you see around you with your own eyes, as am I. But I'm a worker, bro. Locker Room Rule #1: "Believe HALF of what you see and absolutely NONE of what you hear." I listen to what people say. But if it doesn't match what I see in front of my face, then out the window it goes. "Junk Mail". Bad Intel. I don't believe words on a screen and I don't listen to talking heads. Doesn't matter what "The Forecast" says; it might say "Severe Thunderstorms" on the TV, but if I look out my window and it's bone dry outside, guess who's right? Doesn't matter what the "official story" is; if it ain't raining, it ain't raining, period.

I feel bad for everyone who's sick and I feel bad for everyone who died. Just like people who get Cancer or the flu or anything, I wouldn't wish it on 'em. And I take basic common sense precautions to protect myself. But as trite and worn-out as it sounds, I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees. And I'm way past over this sh*t. I probably will get it, out of Cosmic Spite, and it might even get bad. Oh friggin' Well, by this point, if it happens it happens. And if I get it and pass it to my wife? "Oh well, that's life" she says. It's not half as bad as losing the job I worked my ass off for 10 years and having no reasonable prospects for the future, all because a few people are terrified of some invisible Boogeyman that's leaving most people completely the hell alone.

I remember people trying to call out fo work because of Swine Flu, and I remember their bosses saying "Don't be stupid, get your ass in or get f*cked, I don't care." And a lot of people were dropping dead then, too. Probably more Then than Now. All that changed was the attitude. NOW everybody's got two vaginas and they're sitting around wrapping themselves in bubble wrap, waiting for some talking head on the idiot box to tell them it's "safe" to go outside. It's "safe" right now, just don't be a goddamn idiot about it and you'll be fine. And if you're not, Oh Well, you could've gotten sideswiped by a drunk driver or had a jet engine fall out of the sky and land on you. Sh*t Happens.

My entire adult life, I was afraid of my Dad dying, on account of he had a bad heart and didn't take care of himself at all, not even a little. I'd beg him to take care of himself so he wouldn't die young. And he always, ALWAYS said, "When your number's up, it's up. I might live to 100, I might get hit by a bus tomorrow. Either way... I'm fine with it. But I don't waste time worrying about it." And he definitely checked out way too early, but at the same time, I really admire that attitude, looking back on it now. He definitely would be laughing at all of this, were he still here. He'd tell them to stick their masks up their collective asses on account of "I'm too old for this bullsh*t." And he'd be in the highest of High-Risk category, on account of his heart and lungs. And he'd still be laughing at it. He pretty much laughed all the way to the grave any damn way. He may have been a putz, but he was never afraid of anything, not even getting sick and not even dying. And I have to say that as much as we butted heads and I wish he was still here, I still find that admirable.

"When it's your turn, It's Your Turn. Ain't sh*t you can do about it. No sense being Chicken Little." That's what he always taught me. And most of what he tried to teach me was garbage and bullsh*t. But THAT, I find, is very much valid.

But anyway. Call it as you see it from Over There, and I'll call it as I see it from Over Here. That's all I, you, or anyone can or should do. Look out the window and see for yourself. That's "real." Words on a screen are words on a screen. And it's mostly all just to scare people. Nothing new. Same As It Ever Was.

Thanks for the compliment, by the way. The "smartest" thing about me, I'd say, is that I refuse to let people throw numbers at me and lead me where they want me to go based on things I can't touch, taste, see or measure. If I see it, then it's real. Otherwise it's rumors and hearsay.

[Leo656]

Forgot to mention: My Dad died of a common cold, by the way. More accurately, he died in his sleep after he caught a very mild cold and his heart seized one morning in mid-sleep cough around 6am, rather abruptly. "Oops". He was up an hour earlier walking around like everything was fine. See what I mean? See why I don't get so bent about any of this nonsense? You can do everything possible to avoid the Big Bad Wolf, and at the end of the day you just as well might get taken out by the sniffles. Why worry about it? It's Not In Your Hands. You can play it safe, and that's fine. But it's not up to you. You get a Birthday and a Death Day and neither of those things are your decision whatsoever. So don't waste time sweating the small stuff. You'll feel stupid if you go through all this panic over a virus and then keel over dead from a spider bite or some nonsense. What'd you accomplish in the meantime? It's silly.

Life is for Living. Not being afraid. That's my attitude and I won't waver nor apologize.

[Andrew NDB]

When there’s a legitimate vaccine things will gradually return to normal. Not after the election or when the calendar turns to 2021.

Again, there's pretty good odds there never will be one. Where's the universal vaccine for the common cold? Or a flu vaccine that doesn't change every year? Or is the idea that every year we show up for our yearly, mandatory COVID vaccination for the latest strain (I'm sure that will go swimmingly)?

Earlier the CDC said COVID doesn't mutate and a vaccine is imminent... now -- apparently -- it is mutating like crazy? OK. So time to go back to work and less with the wishful thinking. It's been the better part of a year now.

I don't think there's some grand conspiracy at play as much as the left using their existing power to usher things to their favor... which is getting people used to the universal benefits and Green New Deal model. Since when they tried to trot it out proper it was laughed out of the hall. But with the aid of a "pandemic"? Different ballgame.

Like, let's by all means take basic safeguards to return to normal... but liberty isn't supposed to be safe. It never was. Not in this country.

[Galactus]

Maybe I shouldn't comment on US politics but this comment though...

It's attrition. Drag the situation out, wear people down, and eventually, they'll be too exhausted to give a sh*t and you can pass anything you want by them. That's how it went in Cuba, Venezuela, and a bunch of other countries that tried Socialism only to have their people flee to America because their country sucks so bad thanks to all those "Sounded good on paper" bleeding-heart policies like UBI that did nothing but bankrupt their infrastructure. The Left-leaning in government want UBI. Most people didn't want it. NOW, they don't have any choice. Dots are right there, connect 'em.

You really think a country whose majority of the liberal media and even the establishment of the Democrat party denounced Bernie Sanders as a far left radical and did everything to make sure he did not secure the nomination are suddenly going to advocate for Universal Basic Income?

I've heard some US politicians float the idea even on the Republican side I mean this is going to be with us for a while so some ideas have to be put forth to how people who can't work afford to eat but seriously neither major party is going to do anything like that.

[Andrew NDB]

Absolutely. Bernie doesn't play well with others (as in, the democratic party).

Bonus: he stood no chance at getting elected because only like 10-15% of people want actual socialism. It wouldn't even be close. They knew this. Also, he looks and sounds like a crazy man.

I mean, they want what he's preaching. But more than that, they need someone who would actually be able to get elected. That was never him. They need an intermediary... and that's Biden (which hinges on "hate Trump? well, you liked Obama, yes?"). The hope would be, next time around folks would be softened up enough for a Bernie type.

[Leo656]

It's not "sudden", they've been floating it for a while. Only NOW it doesn't look as batsh*t crazy as it did a year ago. We're all sitting around waiting on the government to send us our weekly stipend because we're "not allowed" to work, or else our industry no longer exists anymore, or whatever. They've manipulated the situation to the point where their lunacy looks like the only available option, which is what Leftists do. They didn't create the virus but they damn well knew how to create a panic and ride that sh*t to the bank. They never let a disaster go to waste.

Think I'm wrong? Go find a Cuban or Venezuelan who emigrated here. It varies some depending on where they live, but most of 'em plan to vote for Trump like they did last time. Why? "I've seen this sh*t before and I know how the story ends. No thanks. That's why I left There and came Here."

What do people on the Left always say? How do they always soft-soap people into believing their fairy tales about UBI or anything else? "Tax The Rich". Now overnight, anyone who works is technically "The Rich", and they're about to watch their taxes skyrocket to cover a few million people who are more or less permanently unemployed because of this disaster. UBI sounded good when it was only the millionaires supposedly footing the bill, but now with the economy completely bottomed out, if you're earning over $35 grand, you're "rich". And you will be taxed to pay for those who can't/won't work. Boy, it didn't take long to tip those scales, did it? How much changed in less than a year. "Tax the Rich" went from meaning "Get those evil billionaire crooks!" to "You make $15 an hour? HAH, no, you make six, the rest goes to Uncle Sam. There's some shut-ins who need a new XBox." Wouldn't have flown last year. Now? We almost don't have any choice, because "It's Dangerous Outside."

Big Picture. As Andrew said, not long ago AOC and her cronies were pushing pie-in-the-sky policies that had people laughing in their stupid faces. NOW, those ridiculous policies look like the only option we have to keep people from starving. And it didn't take much at all. A few people get sick, spread a little fear (easy to do when you own the media) and the rest takes care of itself.

See, you can't assume people are noble because they say they are. You have to look at what they DO and not what they say, and you have to pay attention to how the pieces fit. You have to ask "Who Benefits?" Because someone always does. This isn't jet fuel and steel beams, this is merely Observe and Report. Any reasonable person SHOULD be able to see it. The ones who don't are blinded by their childish belief in "Good Guys", especially ones who wear suits and make a living on their soapbox. "They'd never lie to us! They're the Good Politicians!" :lol: There's as many decent and honest politicians as there are decent and honest lawyers. Of course they're gonna manipulate tragedy to suit their own ends. That's their entire job! That's 100% of their function. That's ALL "The Government" does: Feed you sh*t, and tell you it's your fault. People who believe their lies deserve to bleed from the ass, they're the ones who bent over without looking both ways.

But yeah, it's definitely wise and much appreciated when people who aren't from here don't say much about The System, how it works or how it should. I may be an arrogant and ignorant American, but I'm not gonna squawk about the economic and domestic policies of New Zealand, for example, on account'a I ain't from there and I also don't care even a little. I have nothing to add to the conversation, that's 100% Their Business and I'm not involved. That's how most people should be. "Well, I live in ______, but I heard that in America..." Nope. Just don't do that. Nobody should do that, period. It's ignorant and it's vulgar no matter who does it. Mind your own yard, people.
------------

Again, there's pretty good odds there never will be one. Where's the universal vaccine for the common cold? Or a flu vaccine that doesn't change every year? Or is the idea that every year we show up for our yearly, mandatory COVID vaccination for the latest strain (I'm sure that will go swimmingly)?

Earlier the CDC said COVID doesn't mutate and a vaccine is imminent... now -- apparently -- it is mutating like crazy? OK. So time to go back to work and less with the wishful thinking. It's been the better part of a year now.

I don't think there's some grand conspiracy at play as much as the left using their existing power to usher things to their favor... which is getting people used to the universal benefits and Green New Deal model. Since when they tried to trot it out proper it was laughed out of the hall. But with the aid of a "pandemic"? Different ballgame.

Like, let's by all means take basic safeguards to return to normal... but liberty isn't supposed to be safe. It never was. Not in this country.
Absolutely. Bernie doesn't play well with others (as in, the democratic party).

Bonus: he stood no chance at getting elected because only like 10-15% of people want actual socialism. It wouldn't even be close. They knew this. Also, he looks and sounds like a crazy man.

I mean, they want what he's preaching. But more than that, they need someone who would actually be able to get elected. That was never him. They need an intermediary... and that's Biden (which hinges on "hate Trump? well, you liked Obama, yes?"). The hope would be, next time around folks would be softened up enough for a Bernie type.


https://valorguardians.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/iron-sheik-approves2.jpg

[Wildcat]

Leo656,

Oh, I’m sorry about your dad. My dad passed away young too. It was from cancer. 10 years ago. He fought though. He had surgery and chemotherapy. He was fine for a couple of years but it returned.

I don’t know what else to say about the coronavirus. I really don’t watch the news consistently. I mostly just hear it in the background. I stopped reading up on it awhile back too.

I’m just say surely the news must be right to a reasonable extent. You can’t go around doubting or refuting everything being said just because “it’s the media”. That’s more like turning a blind eye, then...hey we tried to tell you.

The news, healthcare organizations and emergency services exist for a reason. If they told us nothing or downplayed things themselves there would be backlash over that instead. People cannot label everything as crying-wolf/agenda/scare tactics just because it’s “The Media”. I think you know what I’m saying.

Like of course this had to happen during an election. Which is always a mess imo. Anything that happened was gonna be turned into politics. It just happened to be a virus. I hate that.
——————
AndrewNDB,

If there’s no 1 time vaccine and it’s a yearly thing like the flu then ok. My point was there’s no legitimate defense against it. Until then why reopen everything and act like nothing is wrong? That does not make sense.

[Andrew NDB]

My dad was 11 years ago. Cancer as well.

But yes. Mark me down for everything Leo said. Also, I don't think it's any coincidence that the democrats pitched their new COVID relief plan way higher than the republicans said they'd swallow. They don't want it to pass. They know it won't (by the way, I'd love to be wrong as this impacts me).

"Some people just want to watch the world burn..."

But to remake it the way they want. That's what seems to be what's happening.

[Leo656]

Sorry about everyone's Dads. And thanks. Mine was pretty much ready, anyways. He was on a lot of pills and he didn't like living that way. That's how I know he'd be laughing all this sh*t off. "I might die? HAH. Oh well." I know he never WANTED to die exactly but he was really, really Catholic. "It ain't up to me anyways, I'll just keep having fun until they call my number, hopefully I go Up and not Down. I ain't sweating it, meanwhile." Again, I find that admirable.
------------

Wildcat: Because people die from colds, too, as was my earlier point. Or the flu, even though there are vaccines for that; people still die from it, all the time. People are ALWAYS going to die no matter how many precautions we take. We've taken every precaution, the precautions do little to nothing. Only effect is, our economy is in ruins and some people have no jobs to go back to. That's worse. That's INFINTELY more important than a few people having an extended coughing fit, even if some of those people die. I'm sorry if that's harsh, but it's a harsh REALITY and not just wishful thinking. The needs of the many need to outweigh the needs of the few, and the needs of the many, in this specific case, demand that we get things back on track economically and stop with the fear-mongering.

Again, in your case, Wildcat, a lot of your argument dismisses the idea that the media and the Leftists in government are lying and manipulating to serve their own ends. You CAN'T ignore or dismiss that, because it's not fantasy, it's absolute Fact and Reality. I've said this about you before, and I mean no disrespect by it at all, but you're TOO optimistic to the point of naivete sometimes. You think AOC or Kamala Harris cares about the numbers? They're smacking their chops, getting ready to make UBI the standard of living. They've talked and talked and talked, and NOW, out of nowhere, they can finally have what they've been pushing for. You think it's coincidence? There is no such THING as coincidence. There ARE no accidents. Things happen because they were set up to happen.

We have to go back to "everything is fine" because it MOSTLY is. Again, even the "official" story says, you're at very little risk unless you're old, fat, a smoker, or a junkie. Again, those are fantastic odds! Of course, the "official story" changes by the hour so tomorrow it will all be different, again. But the FACT is, we're cripping ourselves economically for the next 20 years and it's MOSTLY for no good reason. "Oh noes! Someone might get sick!" Yeah, and I might get a hangnail. You can't live that way. You simply can't. And the current situation is economically unsustainable. It won't matter HOW many people we "save" from the virus if half of those people go broke and hang themselves in six months. Of course, nobody cares about THAT. :roll: Never mind that there's already scattered reports of it happening. The economic toll is going to be far, FAR worse than the physical, if we stay the course as we've been. Enough is Enough.

As for why I mock and laugh at just about anything I see in a mainstream headline, it's because I have two eyes. I dismiss "The Official Story" on lots of things because the "official story" is always a Lie at worst and a half-truth at best. 100%. Look at George Floyd. "Innocent Victim, choked to death by the cops, hero of his community." OR, he was a violent junkie who once pressed a gun into a pregnant woman's stomach during a robbery, and was so high on Fentanyl that he was already wheezing "I can't breathe" before anyone laid a finger on him. Breonna Taylor, nurse's aid and innocent victim, gunned down for no reason. OR, as piles and piles of photos and video surveillance of her daily routine and wiretaps at the prison where her boyfriend "lived" tells us if we go past the headlines, she was managing her boyfriend's drug trafficking business, moving money and "product" around for him and other prisoners and keeping things warm until he got out. In the end, she died because she made bad choices in the company she kept. That's tragic, but that's still on her. You don't f*cking date drug dealers unless you're a moron. You reap what you sow on this Earth. But again, this isn't information the mainstream media spoon-feeds you. It's all FACTS, but they're facts they don't want you to find out because they're "inconvenient" to the narrative they're trying to create. But they're out there. You just have to look past the headlines and the memes. But that's the thing; it's the responsibility of "the media" to report ALL of the facts, not just the ones they prefer. But that's not how they operate. They operate on spin, 100% of the time. "George Floyd was a hero. Breonna Taylor was just an innocent victim. There's nothing in the drinking water. Oswald acted alone." False, false, false, and false.

You get my point. I dismiss "The Official Story" from the government and the media because they lie all the f*cking TIME. What choice do I have? A better question would be, why do YOU or anyone even pay attention and put such devout faith in what they tell you? You could do five minutes of independent research and immediately discover how little of "The Truth" they actually tell you on any given day. And once that happens, you realize they're trying to work you.

And as they say in my business, you simply can't Work a Worker. When you hustle people as a way of life, you know all the tricks and you can spot 'em by a mile.

[Wildcat]

Andrew NDB, Sorry about your dad too. I know what it’s like.
————
Leo656,

No offense taken. Sometimes my sister jokes that I’m too positive.

I agree the whole situation has definitely benefited some. No doubt getting to avoid others has at least been more convenient for certain people and of course it’s used in every argument right now.

It’s not that I put “devout faith” in the news. Like I said I don’t even sit down and watch it. I just hear it and move on.

It’s just the entire thing cannot be 99% scare tactic. Not even sure what individual journalists or health officials would have to gain. A President/Government official that may or may not have been elected anyway?

Again I hate that it happened during an election. I guess you think it was planned that way because you said no-coincidences but I don’t think you can orchestrate a pandemic to occur in your favor.

I mean you have to take stuff seriously at some time. You cannot dismiss everything as “The Media” and agenda. Warnings exist for a reason.

[Leo656]

You can't cause it but you can capitalize on it. And that's what they did. "Ooooh! A crisis! This'll get people good and pissed off. Nothing gets them ready to hand over their basic human rights like lots of dreariness and misery." Works every time. Worked after 9/11, too. Politicians never let a crisis go to waste. They love to jam a bunch of sh*tty and harmful policies through while everyone's too distracted and outraged to pay attention. That time it was the Republicans. This time, it's the Democrats. They all do it, it's basic Smoke & Mirrors. Nothing new about it. This is a very old game.

They didn't have to cause the pandemic. They just had to fudge the numbers and create a little manufactured outrage. The rest takes care of itself.

Lucky for people like AOC and Rachel Maddow, most people are very, very stupid. They'll believe anything you say as long as you pat 'em on the head and say "I am definitely on your side."

The thing is, by your own admission, you don't follow the events that closely. So you may have missed the part where "People staying at home and getting a 'free' check from the government" was always part of the Master Plan on the Left. And look what we're already doing? This is the part of the game called "social conditioning", where they get you used to an idea as a way of life before finally springing it on you that it's permanent. Like the "Emergency Powers" in the aftermath of 9/11 that led to the Patriot Act and everything that gave the government the right to outright spy on its citizens like the Gestapo. Left Side, Right Side, it really doesn't matter. The thing that never changes is that the government is NOT on your side, and that they're lying to you 100% of the time while they find ways to screw you and me over just a little bit harder and deeper by the day.

In this case it was always about UBI. Here's what the Left has been working for since March when this opportunity presented itself in the form of the virus: Tank the economy, ELIMINATE jobs, blame it all on Trump's lack of leadership, then swoop in and say, "We'll save you! We'll save you with our 'free' money! These Stimulus Packages will NEVER end! We know you're scared to go outside, so here, just take the check! It's not as much as you'd make at a real job, sure, but... it's SOMEthing, right! Just take it!" Pretty easy to do when most people already have no choice but to stay home and take the check because their job no longer even exists. Now all they have to do is officially sign it into law, provided Their Guy wins the election, aaaaaand Done. UBI becomes law, "Green New Deal" is next. The two are directly connected, because the Democrats WANT people unemployed so they're not "killing the planet" by driving or commuting to work. More unemployed people staying home = Less overburden and pollution. UBI is the first domino, Green New Deal is the one right behind it. The two policies are intertwined. And they both had NO chance of happening before all this mess started. Now look where we are. We're 7/10s there already. And all they had to do was jump on a situation that was already happening and spin it to their convenience.

They think they're slick. They're not. It's just that most people don't pay close enough attention. It was always about using the situation surrounding the pandemic as a Trojan Horse to push through a bunch of policies which, not even a year ago, were laughable. But who's laughing now? Nobody but Them.

And they blame Trump for his handling of the virus when he's the one with everything to lose from the situation. Sure, he fumbled it badly. But that's because he's generally kind of an idiot, so it's no surprise. But the people working against him are positively Machiavellian by comparison. I promise you, he did not want the economy to tank. But the Democrats absolutely did. It's in their benefit. They always swoop in when things go south and promise to fix it, but all they ever do is Tax and Spend, and nothing ever gets resolved, they just keep robbing Peter to pay Paul and figure they'll all be dead by the time it comes around to actually paying the tab. And with just a tiny little nudge, they now got everything they wanted. Now it's just a matter of seeing what happens in November.

All of a sudden, they're thisclose to getting everything they wanted, things that were impossible not even a year ago. And they hardly had to do anything at all. "Funny" how that works.

None of this is complicated, by the way. You just have to look at the situation, ANY situation, ask "Who benefits?" and work backwards from there.

Funny thing is, my job's gone and it isn't coming back. It'll be really, really hard for me to get another one for a lot of reasons. In theory, I should be jumping up and down at what the Democrats are proposing with UBI. "YAY, I never have to work again, I just have to scrape by on whatever pittance the government deems appropriate." Sounds great in theory. But for one thing, I fully understand, unlike most people, that a system like that isn't sustainable and will only tank things even further until we're as bad off as Venezuela, and secondly, they have a name for that kind of lifestyle and it's called "Slavery". Sitting around living off whatever scraps your "Masters" throw you and telling you that you ought'a be grateful for that, even. I'd honestly rather work.

AND. I'd love to do it without wearing a stupid mask, if I'm given anything resembling a choice in the matter.

[Wildcat]

Actually I see some of that being true. That some want to make themselves look better or not have to deal with certain things.

There must be 2 sides though. One where people want to use the situation and one where it’s just about the virus because there was clearly an outbreak and many have died.

I admit I’m not into politics but I know what’s going on. It’s unavoidable. I don’t watch those 24 hour news channels but I get the gist of it.

People should take the virus as a separate entity though. That’s what it is. I think it’s scary to dismiss warnings for “reasons”. Health should take priority.

Under all the debate there is truth to it. When someone is telling you to look out you should probably listen and get out of the way. Hope that analogy makes sense.

[Leo656]

Politicians 100% do not care about people dying. Nothing about their job is a public service. It's a game show. It's called "How To Somehow Make Fifty Million Dollars In Four Years Or Less On A Civil Servant's Salary." It's all a game, and that game is rigged.

They're not your friends, and we are not their concern. We are but slaves, and they are the Masters. They Own You. They won't come right out and say it, but that's the game. You pay taxes? Then They Own You.

It's all a great, big giant scam. They're not sitting up there in their ivory towers thinking "How can we save those poor people?" Not a single one. They WANT you to die. You die, that's one less Social Security check they have to write in a few years, one less pension they have to pay out. One less mouth to feed. You don't matter to them.

Please do not expect altruism and pure-heartedness from people whose sole ambition in life was to become The Ruling Class. Don't ROOT for the slave-owners, I'm begging you. Don't look for a human soul or the slightest hint of genuine compassion from ANY of these dirtbags.

These are people who when asked "What do you wanna be when you grow up?" answered "I want to have ALL the power and make ALL the rules."

In other words, they're human filth. Red or Blue doesn't matter. Every single politician is a lizard person in a human costume, and they would eat your skin while you were still wearing it if it would somehow help their approval ratings.

Again, please don't be naive. There are no "good people" on Capitol Hill looking out for Yours or My best interests. There are only jackals playing fiddles while Rome burns. You cannot be a politician AND a "good person" at the same time. Those ideas are 100% irreconcilable.

They want you to die, so they can cry fake crocodile tears and blame The Other Side for it. You and I Don't Matter. We're not in the club. We're expendable. We're numbers. That's all we are. That's all anyone ever is, if they're not in the .000001% Club. AKA, "The People Who Write The Rules WE All Have To Follow But They're Magically Exempt From." You don't wear a suit and make empty speeches on TV for a living? Then guess what? You're ballast. And they don't care about you.

I really need people to "get" this. It's positively maddening that some people actually think there are people Up Top trying to genuinely "Do Good" on this Earth. They think that there are POLITICIANS out there trying to "save the world". Stop that. Stop believing that. It simply isn't true.

You HAVE to realize that Evil Exists. And that it doesn't wear a mask, it's a thousand-headed dragon in a tailored suit. It sits at every desk of every government building from Town Hall to the White House.

"Government" is a Necessary Evil. BUT. Necessary Evil is still Evil.

I am begging for this to sink in.