Three good things that will probably come out of the epidemic
The COVID 19 epidemic is obviously a net negative. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t have any positive consequences. One we’re already experiencing.
The first is less pollution/global warming/energy use. Aside from slowing this stuff down in a way that would be inconceivable without an epidemic, this should help prove how man-made climate issues are.
The second has to do with the American economy and American business. Several years ago, I read about a remote WWII military plane crash site that was discovered. One of the things that struck the team most was that everything on that plane was American made. Now we are learning what happens when we depend too much on imports. We have to wait to get something as simple and critical as face masks. This is both a national security problem and a business problem. Companies can’t afford not to be able to fill orders. Some manufacturing is going to come back. Some may go to Mexico but that’s still an improvement because Mexico spends more money here than China does.
The third is political. The whole country is learning the cost of ignoring facts. If businesses in Georgia open and their infection rate spikes in about three weeks, the whole country will know why and there will be no hiding from it. And there will be no electoral hiding from it. Now the vote can really be understood as a matter of life and death.
I learned several years ago from a personal tragedy that even tragedies can have favorable consequences. That doesn’t make the tragedies desirable because those favorable consequences are not remotely enough to be worth it. However, they do cushion the blow a little and, as I also learned, in this case from my sister, there’s no reason not to accept the cushioning. If you have to live with tragedy, take what relief you can get.
Ron Powell
04/27/2020 @ 4:15 am
Amen!
Ron Powell
04/27/2020 @ 3:50 pm
That’s an ‘Amen’ re Kosh’s post….
04/27/2020 @ 10:46 am
I hate to tell you, but this virus more likely proves that the increase in the earth’s temperature is not necessarily due to man-made intervention. The NOAA reports that CO2 levels have increased to the highest rate ever as of April 26, that is more than 40 days after most of the country began sheltering in, and more than three months after China began sheltering in. CO2 levels rising means that earth is warming on its own, apart from whatever human beings do.
We should have seen a decline in these numbers, but we are not. We may need to start facing the fact that the earth is simply warming as part of one of its cycles.
Koshersalaami
04/27/2020 @ 11:28 am
The possibility exists that proof can go either way.
04/27/2020 @ 2:55 pm
You are right, but we need to start facing the fact that we can do all kinds of things to change what we are doing and the planet will still get warmer. The earth goes through cycles, and we could easily be facing a warming cycle that could last for decades. it is time to start preparing for that, because some may think that they are gods who can do anything, but they are not.
Bitey
04/27/2020 @ 11:57 am
You’re wrong, Pannier. Your assumption, which you stated, is that we should have seen a decline in temperatures. Your assumption is false. We should not see a decline in temperatures as of yet. You should consult the actual science before making such statements. By the way, why do you want the science to be wrong? You live on the planet too.
Anyway, the CO2 core that is making the planet hotter takes a very long time to make. It is still getting thicker from the use of fossil fuels in recent years. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-co2-isnt-falling-more-during-a-global-lockdown/
“…Forecasters expect emissions to fall more than 5% in 2020, the greatest annual reduction on record. But it’s still short of the 7.6% decline that scientists say is needed over the next decade to stop global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius…”
Climate change, and life on the planet are serious enough to not make such assumptions. No, Pannier, we should NOT be seeing a decline yet. Not by a long shot.
04/27/2020 @ 2:38 pm
Bitey, you are the clueless one. I didn’t say a word about temperature. What I said is the CO2 levels have continued to rise despite the fact that human emissions have greatly declined in the last three months. This means that not all CO2 increases are due to human activity.
I am not making assumptions. That is a fact. NOAA reported numbers.
It may be time to start facing the fact the earth goes through cycles and we may be in a warming cycle on the earth. If that is the case, it is time to start bracing for the fact that things are going to be different regardless of your attempted totalitarian takeover of the planet.
Bitey
04/27/2020 @ 3:48 pm
Pannier, forget reading the article I liked. Just read the TITLE of the article.
Bitey
04/27/2020 @ 3:52 pm
Pannier, this must be from a different Robert Pannier.
“
I hate to tell you, but this virus more likely proves that the increase in the earth’s temperature is not necessarily due to man-made intervention. The NOAA reports that CO2 levels have increased…”
This Pannier mentioned temperature and CO2….as did the article that I linked.