# Are you willing to die from Covid 19 to help the economy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 24, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198 "2020-03-24T20:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/141 "2020-03-28T23:51:13Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > How about we do what every other civilized nation has done (and even some not-so-civilized) and institute universal health coverage instead of this jacked up piece of shit we currently have? Wouldn’t have guaranteed the kid would have survived but at least he would have had SOME chance instead of being shoved out the door to die. That would be awesome, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, there is a reality in which we are dealing with all this. With that in mind, we need to figure out how to save the most lives. It makes no sense for everyone to keep saying it would be great if we could get universal health care RIGHT NOW. We can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/142 "2020-03-29T11:01:09Z")
People saying “we can’t do this” since Nixon first propose expanding Medicare back in the early 70’s is WHY we have such a jacked up piece of shit medical “system”. The only reason we can’t do this is because so many people have believe the bullshit they’ve been told that it can’t be done. Literally a hundred other countries HAVE done it. At this point it’s evil stupid cruelty. That’s the reality. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/143 "2020-03-29T11:07:18Z")
> [@cmosdes](#): > > Unfortunately, there is a reality in which we are dealing with all this. With that in mind, we need to figure out how to save the most lives. I wanted to address your actual question separately. Here’s how we “save the most lives” 1. STAY HOME. Really. STAY THE FRACK HOME. Unless you ACTUALLY have an essential job, stay the frack home. Shop as little as you possibly can - live on canned peaches and pineapple instead of fresh for a month. 2. WASH YOUR HANDS. 3. STAY HEALTHY AND UNINJURED TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY 4. TALK TO GOD IN YOUR HOME, NOT IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE IN A CONFINED SPACE. God can hear you just as well in your living room as anywhere else. 5. STOP THAT MAN-BABY IN WASHINGTON DC FROM MAKING LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS BASED ON WHO HAS MOST RECENTLY KISSED HIS ASS. Who gets what should depend on actual medical need, and for god’s sake [don’t add insult to injury by sending broken equipment to a hotspot](https://www.kron4.com/news/170-broken-ventilators-sent-to-california-will-be-fixed-by-san-jose-company/) The above is how we’re going to save lives. And we’re going to have to do it for months, not weeks. ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/144 "2020-03-29T14:41:24Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > It’s not the economy. Are you willing to give up your rights and freedom for your health, because that is the choice being offered. Typhoid Mary sure wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/145 "2020-03-29T15:19:50Z")
You are missing my point. There are people who want to use this as an entry to a global totalitarian government. You want to just roll over and let it happen? Fear works. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/146 "2020-03-29T15:24:45Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > {…} people who want to use this as an entry to a global totalitarian government. {…} That’s it? Please tell us more about these ‘people’! Name names. Give us some evidence. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/147 "2020-03-29T16:40:47Z")
I got approved for a 3rd week off starting tomorrow, so if I am going to die from going to work, that doesn’t start until Apr 6. If I even had it at all, that will surely be enough time to get over it. I am going to have to go back out and take my chances, but at least I won’t worry about being a source and infecting everybody. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/148 "2020-03-29T17:28:55Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > People saying “we can’t do this” since Nixon first propose expanding Medicare back in the early 70’s is WHY we have such a jacked up piece of shit medical “system”. The only reason we can’t do this is because so many people have believe the bullshit they’ve been told that it can’t be done. Literally a hundred other countries HAVE done it. At this point it’s evil stupid cruelty. That’s the reality. Wait… you are saying other countries instituted universal health care in a couple of months? ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/149 "2020-03-29T17:35:51Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I wanted to address your actual question separately. > > Here’s how we “save the most lives” > > 1. STAY HOME. Really. STAY THE FRACK HOME. Unless you ACTUALLY have an essential job, stay the frack home. Shop as little as you possibly can - live on canned peaches and pineapple instead of fresh for a month. > > 2. WASH YOUR HANDS. > > 3. STAY HEALTHY AND UNINJURED TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY > > 4. TALK TO GOD IN YOUR HOME, NOT IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE IN A CONFINED SPACE. God can hear you just as well in your living room as anywhere else. > > 5. STOP THAT MAN-BABY IN WASHINGTON DC FROM MAKING LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS BASED ON WHO HAS MOST RECENTLY KISSED HIS ASS. Who gets what should depend on actual medical need, and for god’s sake [don’t add insult to injury by sending broken equipment to a hotspot](https://www.kron4.com/news/170-broken-ventilators-sent-to-california-will-be-fixed-by-san-jose-company/) > > The above is how we’re going to save lives. And we’re going to have to do it for months, not weeks. You said in another post you are still working. What job do you have that is so vital, so critical to the continued existence of this country that you continue to go to that job? Your talking points here address how to save the most lives in the next two months. This has been hashed out repeatedly on this site. I’m glad you mentioned point 3. I was about to use my hammer to give myself a couple of broken hands. I’m glad I read your post first! Point 5. I understand. A different world with a real leader would be awesome, wouldn’t it? I can’t tell you the number of times I thought how great it would be to have frictionless planes, no air resistance, perpetual motion, free energy, morgan fairchild as my wife (not really, but going for a touch of humor here.) Now that we’ve resolved the reality of what we do have, let’s figure out the best way to help the most people. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198/150 "2020-04-27T08:46:02Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > 28 years ago **DesertWife** was diagnosed with ALS; nine months later she was dead. It affected her diaphragm early and she could not breathe properly, making her lungs fill with fluid. > > Her first crisis she went to ER and was intubated, her lungs cleared and duly moved to ICU. Gradually they reduced the settings on the ventilator to see if she could be taken off of it and two days later they removed the intubation. > > She began to fail within the hour and it was apparent she would have to spend the rest of her life on a vent. After a discussion with her two daughters and me she elected not to do that, and was moved from ICU to the hospice wing of the hospital. > > We held her hands and over a period of seven hours watched her slowly die. She went peacefully. Her breaths were shallower and shallower until we could hear the rales without a stethoscope. Then she took a last rattling breath, exhaled, and the next breath never came. > > She died surrounded by her loved ones, not alone because they might get it too, not gasping her life out like a fish out of water on the goddam floor because they’ve run out of beds. > > I would not wish a death like that on _anyone_. Not Glen Beck, not the Republican elders, not even Trump. Anyone who’s okay with condemning hundreds of thousands, if not millions is looking at the idea in the abstract, not imagining what it would be like at all. **DesertDog** , I am so sorry for your loss. This brought me to tears. I wish I had words of comfort. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-die-from-covid-19-to-help-the-economy/850198.md?page=7)