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I should like to clarify my position on this subject (since I seem to have pissed some good people off) ...
I am not downplaying the potentially horrific impact of COVID-19.
I am 100% opposed to people getting sick. I'm even more opposed to death. Period. I'm rock solid on that point.
Nonetheless, pragmatism combined with optimism is an effective brew ... especially when combined with a shot of Don Julio 1942.
Some medical professionals say that 1.7 million Americans can die from this. Others are saying that's utter hogwash. Since I don't study viruses for a living I suppose I can either choose a side to believe right now ... or I can continue to educate myself as events unfold. I choose the latter. After all, this is a moving target associated with a lot of variables.
Meanwhile, the majority of physicians are prescribing Basic Common Sense and the beautiful and witty Mrs. FAX and I are following those instructions.
Perhaps a re-calibration of our society was inevitable anyway. Perhaps we'll look back on it as a good thing (after all, radical change seems more difficult as it is happening). On the other hand, it is also possible that the lasting reverberations of a national "shut-down" over COVID-19 will be seen as ultimately and abidingly harmful in significant ways.
As for me, if I'm going to die, I would prefer not to die in a state of jaundiced fear. If conditions improve? Great. If not? Definitely bad. Either way, I encourage everyone to avoid engaging in or encouraging alarmism and panic. That will not help anybody or anything.
After all, whatever sort of post-COVID-19 world we will survive to see is the one we are creating now.
FAX
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