[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

PREE-cisely. Follow the money. But also follow the fear. Fearful people are far easier to control than those who live by common sense.

I thought early on (and still do) that the FEAR of COVID did far more harm than COVID itself. My wife and I both wore masks ONLY when we couldn't avoid it (Dentist and Dr. waiting rooms and such)...maybe 40 times total between the time of the initial outbreak and six months later when we moved here), then hardly at all here as the mask mandate in Florida ended about a week before we came here. Coming from Minnesota it was almost a culture shock to come from a state where government officials were ALWAYS masked and usually hidden behind thick glass, to a state where the officials (Sumter Co. Government) almost never wore masks. We respected others' wishes for social distancing, used hand sanitizer, and didn't shake hands unless offered, but that was all. We both caught COVID (original version). I knew it when I caught it--not fun but my main gripe was that it interfered with golf. My wife thought hers was just a cold. Our doctors verified the antibodies in both our systems at subsequent physicals. I later had the vaccination--not because I thought I needed it but because my family lives in Minnesota and there is no way of knowing precisely what bizarre regulation is going to emanate from St. Paul. Incidentally, we both live VERY active outdoor lives: tennis, golf, archery, walking, etc., eat right, watch our weight, and live healthy lives. I'm 74, she's 70, and for the most part our grandkids can't keep up with us.

Contrast that to the people who nearly live curled up in some closet due to fear of the dread bug, who if they DO get it and considering the fear saturation on the part of media, immediately panic. They have (in their minds anyway) a DEADLY disease and fully expect to either A) die or B) suffer greatly. And so they do.

Then consider what that fear has done to America's economy. I don't need to elaborate on that. The evidence is all around us. Thankfully in forward-thinking states like Florida the negative impact hasn't been as bad as some Northern and Northeastern states, but it has been felt--and still is.

When we let others think for us, bad things happen. When we think for ourselves, live healthy, and act positively, bad things happen far less frequently.

Beware of those who want to do your thinking for you.

6 million dead, nothing to worry about at all... the misinformation here is stunning.