I was thinking about this scenario the other day.

[Initech]

What if the virus just dies out like the first SARS-COV-1 did? Would we have enough data and evidence to declare a formal end to the pandemic? And if the pandemic does in fact end would we still need to be taking all the touchless, contactless, and extreme cleanliness precautions that we've been taking, or would that also be considered over?

What got me thinking about this was reading about what's going on with the Oxford vaccine and how the policy makers at Oxford have been saying that there's a very real possibility that they couldn't get enough data on the vaccine to warrant further study because there's not enough new cases of the virus to pursue further development of the vaccine.

Now on the other hand there is the possibility of future, even deadlier coronaviruses emerging in the future which would warrant further study of a vaccine, which, SARS, MERS, and COVID are all coronavirus based. But the rush to get one to market, let alone one that can vaccinate against 300,000,000 people in the US alone, would be something that not be as rushed.

And of course the future of the United States, in this scenario alone, what the virus does could very well be the deciding factor in the 2020 election. If the virus starts rebounding and coming back with a full vengeance like the 1918 flu did, I just wonder what the next year ahead could hold depending on the outcome. Or if the virus dies out it could also play a role in how the next year pans out.

[Moostache]

1. Hi, I'm the "gummint"...I'd like to point out your post is why I exist...

The private sector will try to abandon vaccine exploration and development as fast as they can...you see, there is no money to be made in something that you give to some one once (or maybe a booster) and that solves their problem.

Its like developing new antimicrobials...no profit margin in curing people, only 'treating' them or 'managing' their illness...like Insulin, until you realize that generics are killing your once healthy profit margins...

A for-profit healthcare system is always going to have a fundamental problem - it is not efficient to develop cures, only treatments, and even then only expensive treatments that must be taken multiple times or preferably for life.

Vaccines suck for business...charge too much to cover costs, and the press will crucify you...charge too little and the price won't support the investment and the board of Directors will fire you...

Bottom line? Making money off of people's health is an inherently evil practice...whether done through drug makers or health coverage providers or doctors stacking their days with 5 minute consults at $300 per visit (charged to insurance, and a 425 co-pay collected from patient).

SARS
MERS
EBOLA
COVID-19

All are precursors...all have been getting progressively worse as the world gets tied tighter to air travel and international supply chains...

The real question our federal government should be asking right fucking now? WHY spend TRILLIONS on "defense" only to eventually have to spend TRILLIONS more due to the consequences of a pandemic...especially when we had STARTED to build the necessary infrastructure and policy positions that would have staved off thousands of deaths, prevented millions of job losses and shut down pains, and cost in the few BILLION dollar range instead of the TRILLIONS these bailouts and stimuli are going to cost in the end?

Why are we led by imbeciles and why are so many of our fellow citizens actually DUMBER than Trump is?

Those are the real questions of the moment for me...

[Brainfodder]

2. So don't allow the practice of evil?

The answer to your question, lots of reasons, including stupidity, not fixable that we know of?, drug use affected brains, mental disorders, diseases of the brain, bad genes, bad sources of information, poor logic and reasoning skills, brainwashed, loyalty to party, shitty leadership, laziness, and I am sure there are more, but that's my .02.

[Moostache]

3. I know I am getting into the deep weeds here....but...

One answer that is not terribly popular is to remove the undue and harmful 'respect' that is garnered simply by pretending to believe in 'god', or by claiming 'everything is part of god's plan'.

This has been a convenient 'get out of jail free' card for stupidity for generations going back to the dark ages. The entire practice of organized religion should have been eliminated during the Enlightenment, but it was allowed to persist and it is a breeding ground for stupidity and cover for those stupid people to avoid social pariah status for many of their dumbest and basest instincts and actions.

People find Jesus all the time, but so few of them that yell about him the loudest even know the Bible or other 'holy texts' at all. In the USA, it is mainly Jesus and Christianity but there are world-wise equivalents.

If we want to reduce stupidity by 50% in say 2 generations, I would start with simply removing the social security blanket of respectability that religions enjoy. I would challenged their "sincerely held religious beliefs" as no more valid or privileged than someone who believes Elvis and JFK are living with the Lizard People in Cuba.

The problem runs far, far deeper than this, but this would be a good first step for removing the obstacles that allow stupid people to co-exist amongst the less mentally challenged for sure...

[lagomorph777]

5. I wouldn't miss the Evilgelicals or any system of organized pretending,

if they were to suddenly disappear. Those megachurches just may end up sending many of them to heaven (or at least off the surface of the Earth).

[Brainfodder]

7. FAITH angle, so over played it's gross, indeed?

If you ask them enough questions, FAITH is the cornered response, eventually.

I never talk about religion any more, I'm not interested, that's the beauty of not believing in it?
I find it wacky, so many sects and not all of them can be correct?
Never a big debate and pick just 1?
Extremists on any of them, quick to wish DEATH to ______ on any blasphemy, real or imaginary?
No pause when leaders push that violence?!?

People hanging onto traditions and museums probably aint that helpful to leave the past behind?

[lagomorph777]

4. SARS-COV-1 didn't just die out; It was killed by careful governments doing responsible public health

We don't have that this time.

[NickB79]

6. Exactly.

[Initech]

8. True.

This is why elections matter!