RE:RE:THE WORLD NEEDSI think everyone agrees that the deaths and cases from covid are unfortunate, but we need to think critically and determine whether or not the response to covid (and continued lockdowns) are disproportionate to the potential harm. It is impossible to take a 0 harm approach - no matter what measures are taken some people will catch the disease and some people will die. The question is whether the measures and the cost (both actual cost to implement and the economic consequences of implementing) are something we can accept in the long and short term. This is a balancing act. If you listen only to the doctors responsible for public, you hear only one side of the story - they are not responsible for balancing the economic health of the nation with public health, they are solely responsible for public and as such will continue to err on the side of causing the least harm possible no matter the cost.
Compare for instance, the billions and billions of dollars spent to combat covid (without even getting into the GDP consequences of lockdowns) to the number of deaths that have occured. Now compare this to the dollars we spend towards other diseases, such as cancer, which have resulted in many more deaths in the same timeframe. Why are we spending so much money on this pandemic but refusing to spend the same on cancers? Sure, cancers are not communicable, but if you want to save the most people possible, can we not ensure that the very best cancer treatments, including experimental treatments, are made available to anyone who has cancer? Can we not demand and legislate regular (every 6 month to 1 year) pro-active testing to ensure that cancer is caught on a timely basis and sufferers are more likely to survive?
People argue that lockdowns have saved lives. I agree with that, but at what cost? When I compare my region to regions that have never imposed a lockdown, the aggregate economic cost does not justify the decrease in deaths. Even if deaths had increased 5 fold, the cost would still not be justified, especially when we compare how other diseases are treated.
Lockdowns have also been applied disproportionately without justification. Schools remain open (despite lessons being able to be taught online), where hundreds of thousands of children congregate indoors, eat lunches and have physical activity, yet indoor dining and indoor physical activities have been restricted, expect for dance lessons, which for some reason have been permitted. Offices and retail have been permitted to open, again notwithstanding that online shopping and working remotely is possible in most circumstances. A critical approach questions why the government sees fit to close and prevent some activities and yet allow other similar (or easily replaceable) activities to continue.
My sympathies go out to those affected by covid and their families. But the actions taken for this pandemic should be reserved for something far more lethal than covid. When there is a snow storm, we recommend people to stay at home and not to drive, but we do not force them to do so. Some people take risk, and they very well risk the lives of other drivers who may be forced on the road as part of their work, due to hospital appointments, and other matters. These people will generally take precautions while driving, making sure to wear a seatbelt, to drive slowly, and to be calm and courteous drivers. As the public examines the effects of covid, the costs of covid, and unequal responses given to covid by governments, they are increasingly asking for the same freedom: take preventative measures (masks, social distancing), stay away if you are vulnerable or cannot afford to take the risk, but otherwise give everyone freedom to go about their lives and allow life to continue.
I am glad that BPY continues to be in the green, but if you are urging continued lockdowns, why are you investing in this stock at this time and posting on this board?
enjunior wrote: Well, I for one would like to come in contact with my elder parents again someday. Perhaps a hug or touch of some sort. Actually I would like them to see my 11 year old child graduate from grade 7. In an actual graduation with people. Perhaps you missed that France lost another 523 people to covid Tuesday, or that the world has lost 1.17million people to covid. or the Trump supporter who believed the rhetoric and held a party at his house, contracted covid and now has no father or brother.
Honestly, I'm not sure where the stupidity lies here.