I wrote this on January 7, 2021, the day after the electoral college elected a new President.
Comments
Tim Fostersays
Love the illusion of this. As I was pessimistic at first, I now have a sense of optimism after reviewing our American history. America has had an incredible history of correcting itself. I do believe that it will get worse before it gets better, but I truly believe 90% of people in this world are normal. I think you got 5% extremists on the right and left. Unfortunately they are currently the loudest voices. I believe the rest of us will eventually rise back up and add a sense of normalcy in this incredibly divisive moment in time. Grandpa, you are a very strong man… all you need is yourself to stand up for yourself!! And if you get tired, I’ll stand up and fight for you. You are an amazing Grandfather and Father to your children!! I only hope one day I can be as fair and strong as you are. Love you!!
I just read this and your piece about the lockdowns. I never understood the logic of having Home Depot, Lowes, Supermarkets, liquor stores, pot shops, etc. open at will while closing down efforts targeted at small businesses, i.e. restaurants, bars, bakeries, fitness businesses, etc. Almost everyone here in Colorado is wearing a mask, while I hear people in Arizona are not as diligent. I also worry about this $15/hour minimum wage as it again targets small business. When we had a small business, we hired young people at much less than that, especially during summer months since our business was seasonal. Maybe I am deviating from the subject, but the way Biden is going, it will severely damage the Country. You are right in your previous Think piece about the victory of hate. We did get our first vaccine shot on January 13. Have you had yours yet?
Jim: Glad to see you are still thinking. I thought you had given up near the end. Let me try to respond:
Facemasks: I know of no scientific evidence, e.g. controlled studies, that the use of masks protects the wearer. Actually, there have been a number of studies but we haven’t been told about them, probably because it is politically incorrect to do so, in a land where complaining about censorship is viewed as some kind of right-wing obsession. I’ve found 10 Studies on the effectiveness of face masks. All of these studies found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth face masks in the general population, neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control. A Danish study “found no statistically significant effect of high-quality medical face masks against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a community setting”. A study by the University of East Anglia found that “a mask requirement was of no benefit and could increase the risk of infection.” A study out of Briton found that “cloth masks were penetrated by 97% of particles and may increase infection risk by retaining moisture or repeated use.” And, from Germany, comes the statement “that the improper use of masks by the public may in fact lead to an increase in infections.”
Minimum wage: Wages are determined by supply and demand. Having a high demand skill lead to financial success. CA has the highest minimum wage and the highest poverty rate. A higher minimum wage hasn’t alleviated poverty because businesses find other ways to get work done. Think of car washes. The basic wash is now about $35; up from $18 before the rise in minimum wage. So the demand has dropped considerably (people do their own; they do it less often, etc. Others are going to quality self-service washes where they drive inti the wash and do the inside at a vacuum station. The result is fewer minimum wage jobs for the people who dried the cars and cleaned the windows. And the fewer minimum wage jobs are going to higher skilled people attracted by the new wage. The former workers have been replaced. So the $15n minimum wage hurts the least skilled workers the most.
Hate vs, Love: Yes, I was right about that; but it is worse than that. The battle now is between good and evil; and evil is winning. Biden’s war on white supremacists means a war on people who disagree with him. You won’t even need to be white. Jason Whitlock will be deemed a white supremacist; so will Candice Owens; You get the idea.
Vaccine: We’ve received both shots; the first on New Years Eve. I didn’t want to do it but Sylvia insisted. I figured that on the last day of the worst year of my life, it wouldn’t be a good idea to piss off my wife of almost 62 years. I’m not sure it was a good idea. After receiving the shot 8 residents got the virus – one died, two are in the hospital, and five are quarantined.
I agree with you on facemasks. The increase in the minimum wage will hurt the lower income segment of the population. Jobs normally taken by that group will slowly be eliminated. McDonalds and Panera, to name a few, already have kiosks for ordering food. More things will be computerized. I wonder how high school and college students will get jobs at $15/hour. When we had a small business, we hired quite a few, especially during the busier summer months. Prices will go up and employment will go down.
On your hate statement, we also have the cancel culture where people are having their twitter and Facebook accounts disabled or removed. People are losing their jobs for just making a conservative statement. A professor here has had to retire because he supported Trump.
Love the illusion of this. As I was pessimistic at first, I now have a sense of optimism after reviewing our American history. America has had an incredible history of correcting itself. I do believe that it will get worse before it gets better, but I truly believe 90% of people in this world are normal. I think you got 5% extremists on the right and left. Unfortunately they are currently the loudest voices. I believe the rest of us will eventually rise back up and add a sense of normalcy in this incredibly divisive moment in time. Grandpa, you are a very strong man… all you need is yourself to stand up for yourself!! And if you get tired, I’ll stand up and fight for you. You are an amazing Grandfather and Father to your children!! I only hope one day I can be as fair and strong as you are. Love you!!
Good thoughts, Tim. It’s comforting to know that you stand with me.
Michael:
I just read this and your piece about the lockdowns. I never understood the logic of having Home Depot, Lowes, Supermarkets, liquor stores, pot shops, etc. open at will while closing down efforts targeted at small businesses, i.e. restaurants, bars, bakeries, fitness businesses, etc. Almost everyone here in Colorado is wearing a mask, while I hear people in Arizona are not as diligent. I also worry about this $15/hour minimum wage as it again targets small business. When we had a small business, we hired young people at much less than that, especially during summer months since our business was seasonal. Maybe I am deviating from the subject, but the way Biden is going, it will severely damage the Country. You are right in your previous Think piece about the victory of hate. We did get our first vaccine shot on January 13. Have you had yours yet?
Jim: Glad to see you are still thinking. I thought you had given up near the end. Let me try to respond:
Facemasks: I know of no scientific evidence, e.g. controlled studies, that the use of masks protects the wearer. Actually, there have been a number of studies but we haven’t been told about them, probably because it is politically incorrect to do so, in a land where complaining about censorship is viewed as some kind of right-wing obsession. I’ve found 10 Studies on the effectiveness of face masks. All of these studies found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth face masks in the general population, neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control. A Danish study “found no statistically significant effect of high-quality medical face masks against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a community setting”. A study by the University of East Anglia found that “a mask requirement was of no benefit and could increase the risk of infection.” A study out of Briton found that “cloth masks were penetrated by 97% of particles and may increase infection risk by retaining moisture or repeated use.” And, from Germany, comes the statement “that the improper use of masks by the public may in fact lead to an increase in infections.”
Minimum wage: Wages are determined by supply and demand. Having a high demand skill lead to financial success. CA has the highest minimum wage and the highest poverty rate. A higher minimum wage hasn’t alleviated poverty because businesses find other ways to get work done. Think of car washes. The basic wash is now about $35; up from $18 before the rise in minimum wage. So the demand has dropped considerably (people do their own; they do it less often, etc. Others are going to quality self-service washes where they drive inti the wash and do the inside at a vacuum station. The result is fewer minimum wage jobs for the people who dried the cars and cleaned the windows. And the fewer minimum wage jobs are going to higher skilled people attracted by the new wage. The former workers have been replaced. So the $15n minimum wage hurts the least skilled workers the most.
Hate vs, Love: Yes, I was right about that; but it is worse than that. The battle now is between good and evil; and evil is winning. Biden’s war on white supremacists means a war on people who disagree with him. You won’t even need to be white. Jason Whitlock will be deemed a white supremacist; so will Candice Owens; You get the idea.
Vaccine: We’ve received both shots; the first on New Years Eve. I didn’t want to do it but Sylvia insisted. I figured that on the last day of the worst year of my life, it wouldn’t be a good idea to piss off my wife of almost 62 years. I’m not sure it was a good idea. After receiving the shot 8 residents got the virus – one died, two are in the hospital, and five are quarantined.
Michael:
I agree with you on facemasks. The increase in the minimum wage will hurt the lower income segment of the population. Jobs normally taken by that group will slowly be eliminated. McDonalds and Panera, to name a few, already have kiosks for ordering food. More things will be computerized. I wonder how high school and college students will get jobs at $15/hour. When we had a small business, we hired quite a few, especially during the busier summer months. Prices will go up and employment will go down.
On your hate statement, we also have the cancel culture where people are having their twitter and Facebook accounts disabled or removed. People are losing their jobs for just making a conservative statement. A professor here has had to retire because he supported Trump.
What is it going to take to stop the madness?