Kerri

No one is panicking about Hantavirus, stop trying to clam monger everyone. It’s just that your track record is terrible. #Hanta #Hantavirus

The devastating irony that will become painfully apparent when things get really bad, much worse than they are now, is that many people are basing their decision to ignore the reality of Covid19 on the idea that science, medicine, doctors, and scientists will bail us out when we need it. At the very same time that so many are ignoring mountains of scientific, medical, and “real world” evidence, in the name of living “normal”, we the masses continue to navigate life with a chip on our shoulders that we did not earn, and are damn well not appreciative of. In the back of our minds we seem to think someone will have something that will save us, because it's too hard to deal with the fact that when we call for help, no one will answer. Since we have had so many decades of advancement in health and science, as a society we seem to have forgotten that before medical and scientific advancement accelerated, human life was much more delicate than it is now. Advancements have given us longer lifespans, state of the art equipment, life saving drugs and vaccines, quicker recovery times, and all manner of luxurious improvements to our quality of life that seemed impossible just a short time ago, and what have we done with this gift? In the past, a broken leg, tooth infection, ruptured appendix, a simple infection, diabetes, allergies, and a long list of easily treatable conditions, could easily lead to death, but to us, in our world of fortune, dying from those things seems unthinkable now. Why? Because we have benefited from a more carefree world that scientific advancement has gifted us. But again, what have we done with this gift? In short we have squandered it, and we have done so in a manner that has set us back decades. After decades of carefree existence, provided by access to healthcare powered by information and technology, millions decided that instead of facing our harsh reality the way those who came before us had to, that we would close our eyes and push forward, and this will cost us greatly. This will cost our children greatly. Those who came before us didn’t have a choice, they didn’t have the availability of information that we enjoy, they didn’t have access to lifesaving care and medicines, and I am willing to bet if they were told they would have to adjust their lives to avoid death and suffering, they would jump at the chance, no matter what those adjustments were. We have a choice, we can utilize our knowledge and abilities to manage Covid19, we can protect ourselves and adapt to the change in environment, but to date, the majority is content with returning us to a time when viruses ran rampant, people died younger, babies surviving was a coin toss, and there was nowhere to turn for help. There is no one coming to save us, science and medicine may take decades to find a cure or sterilizing vaccine, or therapeutics for Covid19, like we saw with HIV, and we do not have the luxury of time. Each wave of Covid leaves more people damaged, and as that number continues to grow, so will our problems. Many people think, “if I or my kids get Long Covid, I’m sure my doctor will give us something to help” but there is nothing for them to give. Many don’t even believe Long Covid exists, which is a slap in the face of the hundreds of millions who have it. Every single person on earth can develop Long Covid no matter how much you exercise or what you eat, or how old you are, or how many vitamins you take, no one is immune. People are sicker now, society is sicker now, we are seeing a rise in premature deaths, cancers, neurological issues, and all other manner of illness is becoming so rampant that it seems like everyone is sick all the time. We know this to be true, we can see it with our own eyes. The irony is devastating because it is the very science that millions are denying that gave us the collective chip on our shoulders, and provided us with a higher quality of life than any other time in human history. Every passing day will compound the damage, we can not go forward thinking some magic bullet is going to save us, we need to adapt on our terms, while we still have the ability to. Subconsciously planning on running for the life rafts once the water gets too deep won’t work, there are no life rafts.