Close the Book on Covid

July 2021

Let’s come to an agreement that it’s time to close the book on Covid-19. It was a very bad virus of unknown origin although even moderately functioning minds have a pretty good idea from whence it came. Prior to the vaccines becoming available to everyone over the age of 12 in the US population I reserved a great deal of compassion for the families of those that succumbed to this virus strain; especially in the early days when we had no idea what we were dealing with. The reported death toll was far too large, but even those numbers have been in serious question based on pretty reliable anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

The front-line workers deserve our gratitude and respect for what they accomplished: the immunology researchers who studied the virus and developed the vaccine, medical professionals who worked tirelessly in the trenches, and first responders who put themselves in harm’s way not knowing the ramifications. Thank you, times 10.

With all that said; it is over. But some in our midst try desperately to cling to what was 2020.

credit: keepcalmandposters.com

Regrettably what we’re now seeing in American society is an event postscript as people in all levels of society who were given extramural power and authority in a crisis slowly see their stature and position go back to their original shape. Many took the opportunity to scare, scold, and preach instead of providing encouragement from a position of optimism. Now we watch them cling to the way it was for the last 16 months when anything they said was treated as gospel. Many celebrated medical professionals, immunologists, journalists, panic porn purveyors, governors, mayors, bureaucratic functionaries, et al had the world on their own little string. Their string doesn’t hold much weight anymore. They’ll continue to vainly try to keep it going with an ongoing global body count, news of some emerging mutant virus strains, or maybe an isolated report of rising positivity rates in some county you’ve never heard of. But, we’re onto them.

The disease experts from the alphabet medical mafia CDC, NIH, WHO, and their spokespeople had lost the confidence of rational Americans by the Fall of 2020. We stopped listening to them months ago. The ones we were told to revere had had their 15 minutes of fame but simply refused to move on either because they loved the spotlight or were told concurrently by an insulated group that they were beloved and their message was still important. Maybe it was both.

So here we are in 2021. Our once booming economy begins a shaky recovery mode under new management that appears misguided when dealing with the economy of capitalism and what businesses require to operate. Commercial enterprises are experiencing a labor shortage not because the workers aren’t available, but because our tax dollars continue to be used as a codicil for them to stay home.

In many states our school age kids lost ground in the areas of education and socialization. Whole sections of our stick and mortar commercial economy were shuttered. A drive through the retail center of any major city will verify this point. Suicides and drug overdose rates are through the roof as the Covid restrictions and imposed isolation became the worst enemy of someone already in an emotional hole.

Forget the incessant partisan political posturing and rhetoric; its white noise. President Trump and Operation Warp Speed team did an incredible job of bringing vaccines to the marketplace in record time while setting the initial stage to deliver it to the population. President Biden and his teams at HHS along with private industry have done an equally admirable job in delivering it to the masses.  As of this date over 68% of the US population has had at least one dose. We’ve reached the point where several of the large vaccination complexes and mobile facilities have begun to draw down their efforts as the supplies of vaccine has eclipsed demand. This is a great milestone for America for which we should celebrate. For some however, this victory is just not enough as the newest social divide is between those vaccinated and the staunch ‘non-vaxer’s’.

The persistent media coaxing, governmental incentive give-away programs to encourage the vaccine averse, and the “let’s be safe” social memes are feckless efforts as they relate to our health decisions. Americans cannot allow the virus to be the go-to cudgel dictating how we live our lives. 

 … We’ve reached the point where several of the large vaccination complexes and mobile facilities have begun to draw down their efforts as the supplies of vaccines have eclipsed demand. Everyone has had an opportunity …The decision to get vaccinated or not must become an element of personal responsibility wherein everyone gets to make that choice for themselves….

This is the whole concept behind social liberties, citizenship in America, and taking personal responsibility for your own decisions and actions.’

Personal Responsibility

The decision to get vaccinated or not must become an element of personal responsibility wherein everyone gets to make that choice for themselves. If you believe the science (isn’t that what we’ve been implored to trust) then it should be the guiding principle in terms of decision making and progressing on with our lives. I expect the daily recitation on mainstream media of death counts will continue but why should anyone care? If you believe the science and have been vaccinated, no problem, right? You’re safe. If you made the personal decision to not get vaccinated for whatever reason and you become symptomatic with Covid – it’s on you! This is the whole concept behind social liberties, citizenship in America, and taking personal responsibility for your own decisions and actions. How much compassion do you have for someone injured in a car accident only to find out they were not wearing a seatbelt or were driving under the influence? Personal responsibility.

But somewhere along the line those two words; Personal Responsibility collided with the attitude that one can do whatever one wants to do – without risk or consequence and with the added benefit that society will somehow find compassion for you despite your poor choices. Nah, it doesn’t work that way!

The mask issue? I really don’t care if you wear one or not. Either you’re; A. exercising a sense of personal responsibility because you made the decision to opt out of the vaccination program for whatever reason (that’s yours to make), B. you’ve had the vaccine and simply don’t understand the science or the math behind statistics, or C. you’re making a socio-political statement of absolutely no value to anyone besides yourself.   

Our society will eventually heal from the effects of Covid not because of any government or legislative action but because the American people are resilient enough to forge their way forward. Let’s hope our civic, state, national leaders, as well as our business leaders know enough about human nature to take a lesson in sanity from those of us actually living life, not fearing it.