Thomas Ford's derail and passive aggressive insinuation of both insensitive and harsh, incorrectly, comments and supposed positions on this thread started to make it one of argument and veiled attacks.
Instead, what could rationally be discussed is what the authorities, employers, and civil society in general could actually do that would protect those most venerable with the least impact on society/economics has not been had.
Without a doubt this virus is hurting the older and infirm more so than other groups. What that should mean is that there should be a direct policy or plan to protect those groups. In my opinion, shutting down, locking down, cancelling schools, and all activities does not do that in large measure without dire collateral damage.
Several countries have issued decrees or mandates that older people and those with health issues be granted dispensation from work. Some have set up care centers dedicated to the older population. The US has done none of that, and it damm well should and or should have. Especially with the information that is accumulating daily. Healthy able bodied younger folks, and those that are will to take the risks should be able to do try and help the rest of society as well.
I don't think anyone on this thread, myself included, has said "sacrifice the old and the sick so that the rest of us (and I am kinda old) can go on as nothing". If my statements and writings say that, and I don't think they do, and or were understood that way, I apologize to one and all, they were not meant that way. I never try to offend on Texags, and if I did in this case, I am sorry.
That being said, that is not being done in this pandemic in the United States is a Pareto Analysis type of action plan. Below is what should be taking place and it is not:
Quote:
Pareto analysis is a formal technique useful where many possible courses of action are competing for attention. In essence, the problem-solver estimates the benefit delivered by each action, then selects a number of the most effective actions that deliver a total benefit reasonably close to the maximal possible one
Doing the above and identifying the actual, most affected segment of society and helping them is what has to be done, and done in a manner that does not "throw the baby out with the bathwater".