Some Parents Just Don't Care

 

It’s depressing  to know that several parents of parochial school students in Ponchatoula are doing their part to continually spread the COVID-19 virus and contribute to keeping our economy from opening up.  At approximately 7:00 AM Thursday there was a gathering of 20 plus female students and their parents in a neighbor’s yard near the park hugging and socializing without masks. Additionally, their parents were gleefully taking pictures of these girls hugging and posing.  I assume it was some type of back to school celebration because the girls donned their school uniforms. 

It is apparent from this foolish gathering that these parents are confident in their assumption that kids are, as our Commander-in Chief has recently falsely stated, nearly immune from COVID-19. 

As is so often the case with the COVID-19 pandemic, these parents are banking on THEIR assumptions about this virus being correct; ignoring the possible downsides if they are wrong.  If they had practiced protective measures, the only downside would have been not holding the gathering at all.  I’m sure this would not have been some devastating event in their child’s life that would have seriously impacted his/her mental health. 

On the other hand, by holding the event, and assuming it’s safe, the possible downsides to that, if they are wrong, are they have now spawned new carriers of COVID-19 with the additional benefit of their child becoming ill and missing school. 

Fortunately, data suggests that the kids will most likely be asymptomatic and just gleefully go through their daily lives spreading the virus to others. 

This event should also serve as a model for the Tangipahoa School District in their draconian attempts to protect their students from COVID-19.   Apparently they are just wasting their time implementing protective measures such as disinfecting surfaces, social distancing, mask wearing, and offering optional virtual learning, because the bottom line is there may be a whole bunch of parents like those participating in Thursday’s social gathering that couldn’t care less about the safety of their children and others when it involves COVID-19.  So sad!

 

Reply to Local Commentary Regarding Anti-Masking

It’s obvious from Glenda Sharkey’s bizarre commentary entitled “Taking away our rights” that she fails to understand what it means to be a member of a society.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, ‘society’ is defined as the set of rules that a group of individuals lives by known as ‘the social contract.’   In other words, people must play a part in agreeing to abide by certain rules that will benefit the majority of the group members.

Philosopher Thomas Hobbes theorizes that without a society, “Man's natural state would be to preserve only oneself; a man without society would steal another family's food, seduce other men's wives and kill anyone who got in his way.  Of course, the same man would be in constant danger of those things happening to him, his wife and his children. What people needed, therefore, was a society, which would provide protection by subjecting everyone to a set of rules (social contract).” 

The ‘social contract’ not only involves people agreeing to abide by certain rules, but also choosing a leader who may make decisions which benefit the group as a whole.

And therein is where the flaw exists in Ms. Sharkey’s thinking about protecting one’s ‘self-rights’ in resisting the state mask mandate.  It turns into a perfect example of pure selfishness, for she wants to decide, in isolation, what rules she desires to follow to benefit only her.   And if she doesn’t like the rule, she categorizes it as an infringement on her ‘self-rights’; again a rather self-centered point of view showing little regard to the other members of the society of which she has chosen to be a member.

She raises the issue of mandated seat belt wearing while riding in a car as a possible early example of impinging on one’s ‘self-rights’.  Contrary to popular belief, wearing a seat belt not only protects her but also the other societal members riding in her vehicle in the event of an accident.  Its requirement protects her body from becoming a dangerous projectile thrown into another person riding in the car.  It’s in place to protect her and other members of Ms. Sharkey’s society.

Ms. Sharkey, like so many others who have made mask wearing a politicized ‘self-rights’ issue, fails to comprehend that she should wear a mask to help protect others in society from being infected by her.   Ms. Sharkey has no way of knowing whether or not she is an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19.  Mask wearing should be done out of a cooperative effort to function as a member of the society from which Ms. Sharkey continually benefits.  It is not an issue about ‘self-rights.’

Additionally, as far as her statement is concerned, that wearing a mask might be a health risk by trapping exhaled carbon dioxide and causing one to breathe in more CO2, this is categorically false. The WHO listed this as one of the common myths being circulated on social media and states scientific data which indicate that the prolonged use of surgical masks doesn't lead to CO2 intoxication or a lack of oxygen.   I don’t find evidence of any doctors passing out during surgeries.

I hope Ms. Sharkey realizes that if she strictly adhered to her beliefs about societal cooperation (rules) and its infringement on her ‘self-rights’, she would have no alternative but to come to the finale conclusion that she really has very few ‘self-rights.’

If she truly believes that, and that mandating a mask to protect other societal members from prolonged hospitalization and possible death is an infringement on, or a taking away of her ‘self-rights’, I suggest she take up residence in China, for then she will truly understand what taking away “self rights’ really means.

Louisiana Knuckleheads Join Mississippi Group

Well you’ve got to give it to our esteemed Louisiana legislators.  Not only did they serve as puppets for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) in making auto injury insurance claims more difficult for the average citizen under the unsupported guise that auto premiums will decrease, and increased corporate tax breaks adding to our state’s budget deficient for the next fiscal year, but they also may have contributed to the spread of COVID-19.

Several of our Republican legislators politicized the request from our governor to wear a mask during the most recently concluded legislative session.  They claimed it was an infringement on their “self- rights” and supported our Commander-in-Chief in his refusal to wear one.

Sadly, Mississippi, the state that joins Louisiana in ranking at the bottom in many national polls, also had die hard legislators who decided to flaunt wearing masks to make a political statement.

Thursday, it was reported by the Mississippi State Health Officer, Thomas Dobbs, that 36 people who work at the capital have tested positive for COVID-19, including 26 legislators. That figure means that 1 in 6 legislators have contracted the virus.  Included in these numbers were the leaders of both legislative chambers.

Now some may argue this is no big deal unless these folks get seriously ill. And truthfully some may never experience any symptoms at all.

However, all now serve as virus spreaders, possibly infecting others who may experience serious effects requiring hospitalization and leading to possible death.  They have now exposed their families, friends and any others they have come in contact with to COVID-19.  And continue to blissfully do so.

Wonder how many of our legislators will test positive and how far they will spread it?  I guess we can just add our leaders in Baton Rouge to the other knuckleheads in Mississippi who are the contributors to the shutdown of our economy.  Ironically, our Baton Rouge legislators talk about the necessity of ending this crippling economic shutdown, but some refuse to make a simple lifestyle adjustment to aid in that process, all in the name of “personal freedom.”   Don’t figure, so stupid.

COVID-19 Falsehoods

As we learn more and more about COVID-19 we have discovered that some of the “fake news” being circulated by right wing leaning individuals on social media has now been proven false by data driven statistics.

The first bogus proclamation is that this virus is no big concern, because the chances of contracting it is no greater than contracting the yearly flu.  It really isn’t that contagious.  False, data from China show that each coronavirus case seems to infect about 2 to 2.5 additional people. That's higher than the flu. The average seasonal flu patient spreads it to about 1.3 others.

The second, that the coronavirus will just go away, like the seasonal flu, at the end of the winter months.  It’s still here with no indication that it’s even remotely dissipating.

The third, the final death rate for corona wouldn’t be much greater than that cited yearly from the flu.   False again, the U.S. death rate from last year’s flu season was about 62,000.  At the end of June the five month U.S. corona death rate totaled over 130,000.   Additionally, it is estimated that this figure might be 28% under reported because of people who died at home in small rural communities who never sought a doctor’s care.

An additional falsehood, those wearing a mask and social distancing do little to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  As many states and communities attempt to return to pre-corona times, by opening up venues that make social distancing impossible (bars, restaurants with indoor service, and casinos), and often flaunt the mask requirement, we see the reported number of new cases soaring  as indicated Thursday when the highest single day figure ever reported was announced (55,220).

And the final falsehood, that according to the present administration, the increased number of new cases now being reported is just the result of more testing rather than the beginning of a resurgence of the virus due to the relaxing of precautionary measures.  Dr. Sten Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health pretty much sums up this theory when he states, “Just speaking as an epidemiologist, if I saw rising testing, rising case numbers, and declining hospitalizations and deaths, I would say that Donald Trump and Vice President Pence are correct.  Conversely, if those measures are rising, I would say that they are blowing smoke.”

Sadly the hospitalization rates are rising once again, but fortunately death rates are holding steady due to the discovery of better ways to treat the disease along with drugs that assist in the recovery.  Consequently, both these statistics do not the support the “more testing” theory.

Each of us now has a choice to make.  We can bury our heads in the sand and continue to deny the existence of this health crisis, or we can actively alter our life styles and attempt to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19.   It’s time for a reality check.  It ain’t going away any time soon.  Wear a mask!

COVID-19 Hasn't Left

Thursday, June 18th, the following headlines appeared in the Hammond Daily Star, “Local high schools to host graduation ceremonies” and “PHS parade rolls this weekend.”   The first story reported that seven high schools in Tangipahoa Parish were implementing traditional senior graduation ceremonies involving the gathering of people, while the second reported the holding of a downtown parade in Ponchatoula followed by a social gathering at a local venue.

Fast forward to Tuesday, June 23th, and the following headline appeared in the New Orleans Advocate, “Grad soiree, DJ party cited as outbreak catalyst.”    That story reported that a June 8th graduation party for Isidore Newman School students and their parents was identified as a source of the COVID-19 spread.  The state health officials reported that dozens of the private school college prep school’s parents and students have been infected.

In disbelief one of the parents of a Newman student who attended the party stated he would be “shocked” if it had sparked an outbreak, but did acknowledge that there “wasn’t a whole lot of mask wearing.”  Only 50 people attended the gathering.  Sadly, he was wrong in his disbelief for both his wife and child tested positive for the virus along with others.

And to make matters worse, many of those with positive results have subsequently visited other relatives and friends, in addition to perspective colleges for possible attendance this fall.  God only knows how many others they’ve now infected.

While we continue to ignore the presence of the COVID-19 and push the envelope of returning to pre-virus normalcy, COVID-19 remains undeterred, and isn’t magically disappearing into the great unknown anytime soon.

Just keep poking the rattle snake with a stick and see what happens.

While it is not necessary to become obsessed with COVID-19 and completely drop out of daily living, it is necessary to stop being stupid by ignoring that some aspects of your life style must change or the virus will continue to spread unimpeded.

The damage done from the graduation ceremonies and the Ponchatoula parade, followed by the social gathering is set in motion and we won’t see the results for possibly two weeks.  Hopefully they are minimal.

 

However one has to wonder about the question posed by Dr. Jennifer Avegno,  Health Director of New Orleans.  She asked the following, “Is the joy of a graduation celebration worth the guilt of infecting others?”  Apparently some city leaders, Tangipahoa parents, and the Tangipahoa School District administrators have decided selfishly that the answer is a resounding ‘yes’.

Hopefully our behavior will change or we can instead continue to pretend that everything regarding COVID-19 has mysteriously vaporized and follow the advice from Dr. Avegno, “ If you decide to throw a gathering of 100 or more, look around and decide which seven of them you would be comfortable with sentencing to death.”  The number is even greater if elderly are in attendance.

Just how much are you willing to risk regarding your loved ones and others?  Only time will tell!

Mask Time

I have noticed that our local media are now filled with pictures of selfish and uncaring individuals when it comes to protecting others from COVID-19 by wearing a mask;  particularly, pictured senior citizens, the most vulnerable group for contracting the disease.

While wearing a mask other than N95 has limited results in protecting you from contracting the virus from an infected, non-masked individual, its assistance in preventing an infected individual from transmitting COVID-19 to others is soundly supported by the CDC. 

If you don’t trust the CDC how about the Mayo Clinic?  The following statement appears on the Mayo Clinic’s website, “Asking everyone to wear cloth masks can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by people who have COVID-19 but don't realize it.”

And therein is where the selfishness and uncaring come into play in our surrounding communities.  Unless all those individuals who choose not to wear a mask got tested and received negative results immediately before interacting with others, they have no idea of whether or not they are a carrier.  And I suspect they go blissfully about in their daily lives uncaring about possibly infecting others in their day to day activities. 

Those who selfishly wish to not wear a mask based upon whatever principle they choose to adhere to, or make up, should at least have the common decency to be more concerned about the others they interact with; particularly those in high risk categories.

It’s not just about you choosing to take a personal risk, but instead also about the others who don’t wish to take that risk.

And for those, who think this was “all a left wing hoax,” tell that to the husband and kids of the front line ER doctor who committed suicide over all the COVID-19 deaths and suffering she encountered, or those front line health care workers who tearfully provided first hand testimony on our news outlets of the horrific events they have and are still witnessing.

Such a minor inconvenience, wearing a mask to protect others.  So simple.

The demise of recycling

Getting people to recycle is a tough enough battle without individuals creating road blocks which limit its success.  The recent decision by Tangipahoa Parish President, Robby Miller, to close recycle drop off sites in Roseland and Hammond will seriously impede recycling efforts in the areas surrounding those closed sites.

By his order a large portion of Tangipahoa recyclers will now have to travel some 25 or more miles to drop off their recycle waste.  That will probably mean that many will no longer recycle.  While it was bad enough that rural parish residents were never afforded the luxury of curbside recycling services, at a minimum of once per month, at least we had the ability of a short drive twice per month at convenient drop off auxiliary locations.

After first trying to convince residents that the closures would benefit them by claiming better access due to extended drop off hours, Mr. Miller retreated and stated that the closures save the parish money.  This is due to the fact that now the parish won’t have to cover the cost of transporting the recyclables from the Hammond and Roseland drop off sites to the Independence land fill site.  However, no supporting cost saving data was presented as to how much this action saved.

Furthermore, the cost of running these satellite locations was already included as part of the parish’s operating budget for the present fiscal year, so it wasn’t necessary to close these locations at this point in time.

The 2020 Tangipahoa Operating budget lists $13 million as the departmental expenditures from the General  Fund.   I am sure the cost of transporting the recyclables from the Hammond and Roseland auxiliary sites to Independence doesn’t cost any more than one percent of that amount, if even that much.  But since no figures were presented to the public with the closure decision no one knows exactly how much we are saving vs sacrificing the environment.

Sadly, Tangipahoa Parish joins others, nationwide, in the notion that recycling is no longer a priority or worth the effort.  The parish president should have been upfront with his support of that belief from the very beginning instead of initiating an end around game which will result the curtailment of parish recycling services all together after the auxiliary sites closures result in reduced use of the inconvenient Independence landfill facility.  He will then be finally able to blame it on the public and curtail the entire recycling service “due to a lack of recycling interest by the public.”