Couple who can't see their baby in NICU hope people take social distancing more seriously; Pure evil: those who want covid-19 to burn through the entire population by ending lockdowns. Some explicitly want to create herd immunity by sacrificing the most vulnerable and helpless by the tens of millions. The arithmetic is trivial, its application insane. Covid-19 mortality might be 2%, maybe less for some, maybe much more, depending on levels of available care, who gets infected, and other issues. 2% of nearly 8 billion people is 160 million deaths, most likely much more than the Black Death/Bubonic Plague, the worst plague in history. Of course, the Plague had a much higher mortality rate, among a much smaller population.
As to evil: The Dhammapada/Way of Truth of the Buddha begins, "All that we are is the result of our thoughts." These Hungry Ghosts and Titan Ashuras think that we should be glad to die to increase their power, glory, and profits, the very thoughts that make them Hungry Ghosts and Ashuras in the first place. We will have to crawl over broken glass, through the flames of these humanmade Hells to prove them wrong.
Karma doesn't wait until you die to manifest. It's who you are, if you don't abandon greed, hatred, and delusion.
In Buddhism, the Ashuras are the rebel gods who seek to invade and destroy the realm of happiness. They have cultural affinities with the Greek Titans and the Norse Frost Giants, who are also at war with their respective Gods.
The Hungry Ghosts/Pretas are those who cannot take in wholesome food, or who even prefer eating dung.
Both live on the right-hand side of the diagram of the six worlds.
I could go through numerous koans about those who deny karma, as in Joshu's Mu and Hyakujo's Fox, the opening koans in Mumonkan. Feel free to ask me about the matter. But today we are going to examine applied karma on the grandest scale, intent on a death toll beyond what even Hitler and Stalin and Mao were able to manage.
Herd Immunity
Early Herd Immunity against COVID-19: A Dangerous Misconception
David Dowdy, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Gypsyamber D’Souza, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
We have listened with concern to voices erroneously suggesting that herd immunity may “soon slow the spread”1 of COVID-19. For example, Rush Limbaugh recently claimed that “herd immunity has occurred in California.” As infectious disease epidemiologists, we wish to state clearly that herd immunity against COVID-19 will not be achieved at a population level in 2020, barring a public health catastrophe.
Some have entertained the idea of “controlled voluntary infection,” akin to the “chickenpox parties” of the 1980s. However, COVID-19 is 100 times more lethal than the chickenpox.
To reach herd immunity for COVID-19, likely 70% or more of the population would need to be immune. Without a vaccine, over 200 million Americans would have to get infected before we reach this threshold. Put another way, even if the current pace of the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the United States – with over 25,000 confirmed cases a day – it will be well into 2021 before we reach herd immunity.
Mothers, Infants, and Children
Dying for the Economy
Helping States
Reopening Reality, Reopening Myth
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC, a national treasure who tells it like it is, like nobody else.
Trump visits the AZ mask factory TRANSCRIPT: 5/6/20, The Rachel Maddow Show
- Deaths at JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley CO—no testing; then testing, but only of management; then horrific results, so no more testing
- Pence lies about testing plans
- Sonny Perdue, Ag-Sec, orders all meatpacking plants to open or else
- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Mike Pence lie about progress in Iowa
- Dr. Caitlin Rivers, Asst. Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Medicine
Four criteria— not met by any state
- Declining cases
- Contact tracing
- Testing capacity
- enough medical resources
Nursing Homes, Meat Processing, Prisons
Worse, worse, and worse.
Rachel again.
You know, it is not a mystery where this virus is running amok, right?
Nursing homes. Meat processing plants. Prisons. It's not a secret. And regardless of how scary these big outbreaks are, you need to know where the virus is so that you can figure out who's going to need help. You can figure out how many people in your community are likely to get it and get sick and need care and potentially even die. You need the data.
One of the things we're focusing on tonight is a state that has decided, right as they are opening up in terms of social distancing, that actually they are going to shut off one of their main sources of data. About what's happening with the epidemic in their state. They're going to stand down on one of the most important sources of data about what's happening in their state just as they're opening up.
More
I do not have time nor space to go into the crackpot conspiracy theories about covid-19, nor the other lunatic proposals of the tinfoil hat brigade for dealing with the Deep State et al. Nor about many more aspects of the problem and its proposed solutions, including honest scientific research on possible treatments and vaccines.
But see also
- Dying of Whiteness by CDC Dr. Jonathan Metzl
-
And from the DK Front Page
New report: U.S. Secret Service has 11 active COVID-19 cases and 60 more in self-quarantine |
Walter Einenkel |
05/09/2020 |
106 |
129 |
Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: Reality has a liberal bias after all |
Greg Dworkin |
05/09/2020 |
472 |
196 |
Friday Night Owls: Youth activists educate themselves about a just economic recovery |
Meteor Blades |
05/08/2020 |
28 |
90 |
One of every 5 young children goes hungry as the U.S. faces its worst food crisis since 1930s |
Dartagnan |
05/08/2020 |
28 |
111 |
Arizona health department orders university researchers to ‘pause’ critical COVID-19 modeling |
Walter Einenkel |
05/08/2020 |
221 |
251 |
A group of nurses held a protest and created a heartbreaking memorial in front of the White House |
Aysha Qamar |
05/08/2020 |
64 |
203 |
In public comments that weren't 'intended to be made public,' McSally trashes hurting cities |
Joan McCarter |
05/08/2020 |
74 |
95 |
Doctors enraged at Trump administration's botched, opaque distribution of COVID-19 treatment |
Joan McCarter |
05/08/2020 |
37 |
145 |
COVID-19 news: Trump and Pence to be tested daily as another White House aide tests positive |
Laura Clawson |
05/08/2020 |
55 |
71 |
Cheers and Jeers: Rum and Social Distancing FRIDAY! |
Bill in Portland Maine |
05/08/2020 |
190 |
124 |
Trump claims 'Project Airbridge' is a big COVID-19 success, so why is he hiding its results? |
Laura Clawson |
05/08/2020 |
26 |
97 |
Cartoon: Trump slaughters the food supply |
BrianMcFadden |
05/08/2020 |
39 |
73 |
At least 15 women who launched hunger strike in protest of ongoing ICE detention win release |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/08/2020 |
3 |
67 |
Trump's done pretending—he's just embracing the skyrocketing American death toll now |
Kerry Eleveld |
05/08/2020 |
180 |
166 |
Pence’s press secretary tests positive for COVID-19; her husband works for Trump |
Walter Einenkel |
05/08/2020 |
323 |
233 |
Stephen Miller-pushed pandemic order has resulted in the deportation of hundreds of migrant kids |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/08/2020 |
16 |
75 |
Where’s the data? Florida removes proof of over 100 COVID-19 cases going back to December |
Aysha Qamar |
05/08/2020 |
73 |
145 |
Republicans threaten low-wage workers with fraud charges if they're too scared to go back to work |
Laura Clawson |
05/08/2020 |
58 |
129 |
Trump threatened Senate Republicans trying to save themselves. Now they're praising his butchery |
Kerry Eleveld |
05/08/2020 |
77 |
112 |
Advocates file urgent complaint warning in-custody ICE death amid pandemic 'will not be the last' |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/08/2020 |
3 |
60 |
Another aide in the mask-free White House tests positive for COVID-19 |
Jen Hayden |
05/08/2020 |
234 |
211 |
Senate Democrats join Pelosi in calling for direct, ongoing cash payments to (almost) everyone |
Joan McCarter |
05/08/2020 |
161 |
140 |
Trump and Pence to get daily coronavirus tests after valet diagnosed with COVID-19 |
Laura Clawson |
05/08/2020 |
97 |
106 |
Pence jokes about empty boxes of supplies during photo op, as many still go without PPE gear |
Jen Hayden |
05/08/2020 |
226 |
347 |
The COVID-19 small business loan program isn't doing the job. Congress needs another plan |
Joan McCarter |
05/08/2020 |
40 |
68 |
'History is written by the winner': Barr and Trump do victory lap after dropping Flynn case |
Laura Clawson |
05/08/2020 |
233 |
192 |
Devastating report shows 14.7% jobless rate and 20.5 million lost jobs. This didn’t have to happen |
Meteor Blades |
05/08/2020 |
111 |
126 |
Cartoon: Supply-siders for death and tax cuts |
Mark Fiore |
05/08/2020 |
15 |
50 |
Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: Ignoring the country's welfare and aiming solely at a smallish base |
Greg Dworkin |
05/08/2020 |
303 |
196 |
Thursday Night Owls: How the climate crisis is contributing to soaring rates of infectious disease |
Meteor Blades |
05/07/2020 |
39 |
113 |
Trump celebrates National Nurses Day by implying actual nurse is lying about availability of masks |
Walter Einenkel |
05/07/2020 |
89 |
125 |
This Week in Statehouse Action: Hot Blooded edition |
Carolyn Fiddler |
05/07/2020 |
8 |
28 |
Fox News pundit tells audience, 'herd immunity is our friend,' and they need to 'have some courage' |
Walter Einenkel |
05/07/2020 |
92 |
78 |
Shooting over closed McDonald's dining room signals 'tension about opening,' CEO says of COVID-19 |
Lauren Floyd |
05/07/2020 |
38 |
83 |
California Supreme Court denies Republican effort trying to block relief for undocumented families |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/07/2020 |
7 |
66 |
Guns N’ Roses frontman gets into a Twitter fight with Trump treasury secretary—and wins |
Walter Einenkel |
05/07/2020 |
55 |
173 |
COVID-19 news: Trump valet tests positive, White House says testing other Americans is 'nonsensical' |
Hunter |
05/07/2020 |
13 |
80 |
Germany's safe reopening shows what could have been if Trump had any leadership skills whatsoever |
Kerry Eleveld |
05/07/2020 |
81 |
138 |
Pentagon says COVID-19 infection disqualifies recruits, precedent for insurers in an ACA-free market |
Joan McCarter |
05/07/2020 |
62 |
90 |
Now the anti-lockdown protesters are aiming their threats at health care workers |
David Neiwert |
05/07/2020 |
178 |
200 |
Sweden never shut down, now its death rate AND its economy are worse than its neighbors |
kos |
05/07/2020 |
444 |
488 |
Dear America: Testing isn't necessary, unless you're meeting Trump. Then it's mandatory |
Kerry Eleveld |
05/07/2020 |
65 |
139 |
Pelosi endorses $2,000 every month to everybody in next $2 trillion COVID-19 response bill |
Joan McCarter |
05/07/2020 |
170 |
184 |
Georgia's 'reopening' results in 60,000+ out-of-state visitors a day coming to spread the virus |
Hunter |
05/07/2020 |
103 |
192 |
Trump taps big Republican donor to head the Postal Service during coronavirus crisis |
Laura Clawson |
05/07/2020 |
61 |
117 |
First ICE detainee to die after testing positive for COVID-19 had been denied bond last month |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/07/2020 |
6 |
71 |
A member of the U.S. Navy who serves as Trump's personal valet has tested positive for COVID-19 |
Jen Hayden |
05/07/2020 |
327 |
259 |
Meatpacking plants are epicenters of coronavirus. The Trump administration is blaming workers |
Laura Clawson |
05/07/2020 |
123 |
140 |
The first round of small business loans didn't go where the need was greatest |
Joan McCarter |
05/07/2020 |
17 |
82 |
‘Reopen’ protests aren’t just about COVID-19, they’re also brash displays of white supremacy |
Jen Hayden |
05/07/2020 |
144 |
288 |
3.2 million workers file new jobless benefit claims, bringing the eight-week total to 33.4 million |
Meteor Blades |
05/07/2020 |
58 |
85 |
CDC guidance on reopening safely will 'never see the light of day,' scientists told |
Laura Clawson |
05/07/2020 |
138 |
243 |
Cartoon: Donald J. Trump on social protest, the American way |
RubenBolling |
05/07/2020 |
63 |
170 |
Wednesday Night Owls: Malicious, killer incompetence makes 'war-time president' a war criminal |
Meteor Blades |
05/06/2020 |
73 |
127 |
Poll: 20% of Republicans insist they'll refuse a COVID-19 vaccine if and when one is available |
Dartagnan |
05/06/2020 |
214 |
147 |
San Francisco police chief bans 'thin blue line' coronavirus masks after social media outrage |
Marissa Higgins |
05/06/2020 |
52 |
72 |
COVID-19 news: Federal officials expect new wave of pandemic deaths as some states 'reopen' |
Hunter |
05/06/2020 |
44 |
119 |
Blockbuster report details how immigration detention expansion set stage for a COVID-19 crisis |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/06/2020 |
6 |
72 |
Mysterious illness hits at least 15 children in New York City; possible link to COVID-19 suspected |
Aysha Qamar |
05/06/2020 |
27 |
126 |
'Call me a Grandma killer' thread goes viral; the frustration's real, but the prescription is flawed |
Hunter |
05/06/2020 |
281 |
252 |
Five GOP governors declare victory over coronavirus as cases surge in some of their states |
Kerry Eleveld |
05/06/2020 |
193 |
159 |
Instead of supplies to fight COVID-19, Native American health center says it received body bags |
Marissa Higgins |
05/06/2020 |
40 |
144 |
Axios: Trump intends to challenge COVID-19 death count, accuse hospitals of lying |
Hunter |
05/06/2020 |
300 |
308 |
A group of U.S. citizen kids are suing over the exclusion of their immigrant families from relief |
Gabe Ortiz |
05/06/2020 |
9 |
80 |
Trump's demands for payroll tax cut blown off by Senate Republicans who have bigger, deadlier plans |
Joan McCarter |
05/06/2020 |
52 |
138 |
Republican rush to reopen states means unemployment cutoffs for terrified workers |
Laura Clawson |
05/06/2020 |
81 |
145 |
Trump hails coronavirus carnage as his 'best work' |
Kerry Eleveld |
05/06/2020 |
60 |
96 |
Health officials privately see waves of new outbreaks resulting from Trump's reopening |
Joan McCarter |
05/06/2020 |
74 |
143 |
During mask factory photo op, 'Live and Let Die' blared from the speakers as Trump talked to workers |
Jen Hayden |
05/06/2020 |
176 |
179 |
Unhinged lockdown protester in Colorado attracts FBI's interest, so they find a cache of pipe bombs |
David Neiwert |
05/06/2020 |
382 |
316 |
Trump insists 'the people' want the economy to reopen, as two polls say very differently |
Laura Clawson |
05/06/2020 |
167 |
140 |
I have omitted the non-covid Front Page Diaries from this list, but their topics were uniformly just as evil.
Production note: This has been the hardest Diary I have ever written. I have had to cut back on other work in order to do even this much, and we have only scratched the surface. I'm taking the rest of the day off.
Burn, Baby, Burn has many referents, including the Watts riots, at least six songs, and more.
My son was in the NICU when he was born prematurely, with trouble breathing and serious jaundice. But my wife got to hold him and nurse him, and I and our daughter could visit.