TESTS?!? I DON'T DO WELL ON TESTS!

The mantra now on handling the pandemic is "TESTS"! The cries of "We need testing!" or "Tests are the way to restart the economy!" are everywhere.

I have a couple of thoughts on that. (I will pause now while you recover from the shock of that statement)

First - How do we test more than 300 million people?
If we set up 250,000 testing centers (and that is a HUGE "if" - to give you a comparison, there are less than 6,500 hospitals in the entire USA and "only" around 14,000 McDonalds!) that still means that each testing center would have to test @1,200 people. So, that means even at 100 people a day that would take @12 days - remember that. A much more reasonable number would be a couple of hundred in each State, so 5,000 to 10,000. If you take the 10,000 number that means the testing would take @10 months - remember this number as well.

Second - What good are the tests for a disease that shows no symptoms in a majority of patients and has up to (and maybe over) a 14 day incubation period? Remember the first comment. I go in on day 1 of the testing and am told I am good to go - no Covid-19. At that point almost @90% of the population would still be untested (using the unrealistic 12 day scenario - if you use the more realistic 10 month scenario, statistically no one had been tested -<1 10="" 12="" a="" actually="" all="" am="" an="" and="" any="" as="" at="" back="" be="" being="" centers="" could="" country.="" days="" done="" during="" entire="" even="" exact="" exposed.="" exposed="" fact="" font="" for="" go="" has="" have="" home.="" i="" if="" impossible="" in="" infected="" irrelevant="" is="" makes="" me="" months="" next="" not="" of="" only="" or="" out="" over="" people="" point="" practical="" purposes="" quarantine="" run="" says="" site="" so="" staff="" test="" testing="" that="" the="" then="" there="" this="" time.="" to="" total="" valid="" walking="" was="" while="" will="" you="">

I am not a conspiracy theorist but I have to wonder if the only reason the testing is being pushed so loudly is that "they" know it cannot be done! (reread the First comment if you doubt it) The control freaks in government are having a field day in telling folks where they can and cannot go and what the can and cannot do. In a previous post, I commented on that so I will not belabor that point here.

The other type of testing is the antibody test that can show if you have had the disease. The first argument still applies - how is it done logistically. The second argument here that I see is this:
What if everyone in a certain work environment tests negative? Do you keep them from work? Does that business shut down if open or not open at all? How is that practical? Except for the knowledge gained in knowing what percentage of the population has had and recovered (which I can tell you is MUCH higher than most people think - it could be approaching 50% if some early numbers are correct), I do not see what this test does either in practical application.

Speaking of where we can and cannot go, how is it helping things by limiting the only places we can go? The grocery stores are more crowded now than when I used to go shopping before the "lock-down". We are being forced into five or six places as opposed to tens or hundreds, depending on where you live. This almost ensures that everyone in an area is exposed to everyone else! The exact opposite of the intent. It is idiotic to suppose that going to a 10,000 square foot grocery store is more safe than wandering a 350,000 square foot mall. But, that is another thought. Let's keep this to testing.

I do have comments enabled for all my posts. This is a serious question - what good are tests? If you have an answer and can present it in a civil and cogent manner, I welcome it and it will be posted. No non-civil and/or vulgar comments will be posted. However, feel free to agree or disagree as you wish. The thoughts behind your comments are very much desired though. Just a "uh-uhh!" is not very productive.

Who's got gas?

Here is another thing that is bothering me - I am tired of people whining about gas prices. Gas was never free!! When people whine about "$40 to fill my tank" they forget that even at $2 a gallon it was $25 or so to fill it!! Here are some numbers: The average car in the U.S. is driven about 12,000 miles a year. If you get 20 MPG (hey if you are driving a Hummer, getting 10, I don't want to hear it!) That is 600 gallons of gas a year. Most people would be estatic if gas was at $2 a gallon again -SO, that is about $600 a year (for the extra $1 a gallon) or $11.54 a week. Now I know there are a LOT of folks that were struggling to pay the $2, but the average person I know was not. Here is another way to look at it. How many Starbuck's coffees or lattes have you had lately at $$37.33 a gallon? ($3.50 for a 12 oz one) How about a beer on an airplane at $53.33 a gallon? ($5 per) Then there is bottled water at $10.66 a gallon. ($1 a 12oz bottle -and it can be MUCH higher...

Our Guv'ment

Section 8 - Powers of Congress The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises , to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and Post Roads ; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings a...

A Three Hour Tour, or, Perchance to drown

Imagine you and your spouse, or significant other, are on a nice boat ride called life. You are on this inconceivably large boat in a sea of unimaginable size on a trip of indeterminate length. Once in a while, you go through some beautiful. almost indescribable days where birds sing, wonderful angelic music accompanies you in your daily activities , and everything you want is there before you. Then there are the dark and stormy days where all you can do is hold on to the rail and upchuck your lunch into the water. Most of the days, however, are just a boat ride. One day your spouse falls overboard, fully clothed, and for no apparent reason. You quickly toss them a line, and say"hold on, I'll get you out!" There is no reason to panic, people fall into the water all the time. Plus, they are a fairly strong swimmer, we will get them out. So, you start pulling on the rope. After pulling and pulling you notice they are not any closer to the boat. You decide you need help....

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