The Future Belongs Those Who Show Up For It!

People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Don't try to dig what we all s-s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)

My generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a b-big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My, my, my generation

People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My, my, my generation

this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation

Source: LyricFind

Today’s rueful blog post is not pandemic“related”.

Yes, despite all the  “Pandemic” news from the CDC I was inspired instead by this  news announcement that had little to do with the “pandemic”, or current “politics”.  Instead  it was this: 

From the Wall Street Journal:

5/21/2020

U.S. Birthrates Fall to Record Low Last year’s data are another sign of how American childbearing, which began declining during the 2007-09 recession, never fully rebounded

Statistics showed. The general fertility rate fell 2% to 58.2 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, its lowest level since the government began tracking the figure in 1909.

The data are the latest sign of how American childbearing, which began declining during the 2007-09 recession, never fully rebounded when the economy bounced back. Millennials have been slower to form families than previous generations, in part, economists say, because they are less financially secure than those before them.

“There are a lot of people out there who would like to have two children, a larger family, and there’s something going on out there that makes people feel like they can’t do that,” said Melanie Brasher, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Rhode Island, who studies fertility.

Birthrates fell or held steady for women of all ages except those in their early 40s. Teenagers saw the sharpest drop, with a 5% decline in their birthrate. Since peaking in 1991, the teen birthrate has fallen 73%.

The total fertility rate—a snapshot of the average number of babies a woman would have over her lifetime—ticked down to 1.7 in 2019, a slight decline from the previous year and another record low. In almost all years since 1971, that rate has been below the level of 2.1 needed for the population to replace itself, without accounting for immigration.

A leveling off of births among Hispanic women, who account for nearly a quarter of U.S. births, is also driving the overall decline. They had about 885,900 babies last year, down slightly from 2018.

The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic is expected to further depress births in the coming years, experts say. “People that were products of the Great Depression, the birthrates were much lower for that cohort than they were for people born after World War II,” Prof. Brasher said.

That would continue to pressure the age balance of the population, exacerbating a shortage of young workers to help offset the Medicare and Social Security costs of America’s aging baby boomers.

The NCHS data also showed that the share of babies born preterm last year hit its highest level in more than a decade, with just over 1-in-10 being born before 37 weeks of gestation. The rate of women delivering via caesarean section fell slightly to 31.7%, continuing a decade of general declines in the procedure.

End of Article (Underlines are mine)

As I pondered this article, my mind in some unfathomable way started to go into overdrive.  I reflected on declining birthrates and its implications to our society in general and to my own thoughts on the societal changes that have occurred in my lifetime as a “baby boomer”.  Unlike Melanie Brasher from the University of Chicago, who said “There are a lot of people out there who would like to have two children, a larger family, and there’s something going on out there that makes people feel like they can’t do that,”

Fearless I decided I would try to speculate what is “going on”.

I started by “freethinking”-always dangerous, but compulsive.

First, I recalled my major in Anthropology at Lafayette. In my thinking about the declining birthrates, and its implications to our “society” one group in particular, “The Shakers”, came to mind.  (Of course, it did not stop there, I somehow remembered that a fellow student at Lafayette, one of our first female students, June Sprigg , went on to  became an “expert” in Shaker studies.  Funny how my darn mind can digress so far!  Do any of my College bloggers remember June?)

Well anyway, on to my speculations.

The Shakers “non-procreated” themselves right out of existence. From Wikipedia:

“Shakers are on the endangered list. There are now only two living members left of the Shaker Church in Maine after one died Monday. Sister Frances Carr passed away from cancer at 89. ... The current Shaker community, called Sabbath day Lake Shaker Village, is in Maine, where the two remaining members live.Jan 4, 2017).”

With that I started to “weave” my thoughts into this week post.

Unlike the Shakers, human societies all over the world historically have viewed propagation and nurturing the next generation as the main goal of their existence.  The nearly universal organizational structure of marriage (in one form or another) arose as the primary means to expand ‘society” and insure its’ continuity-ergo my Gmail moniker for many years now and the Title of this week’s post. “The future belongs to those who show who show up for it”. Obviously, I have pondered the “demographics” of birthrates long before I started blogging.

Propagating and “replicating” one’s group, and in turn their values has always been a fundamental principle of virtually every human society (Shakers aside). Yet remarkably in recent years Western societies have seemed to reject this principle almost as if by design.   Marriage as a necessary institution for organizing families has declined both statistically and as an imperative to childbearing.  More importantly over the last 20 years or so childbearing and child rearing has taken a back seat (in my mind anyway others may differ) and looked upon “procreation’ as secondary to one’s immediate economic needs.   This viewpoint seemed reflected in the views cited in this WSJ article.  The things driving our society’s values seem to have turned primarily to economics.  No longer do we find our values in church’s or extended families or in our local civic participation, but instead our focus seems driven by economic advancement.  Couple this with the idea that we need economic equality and parity amongst the sexes.  Success is found by material gain, and personal “fulfillment” in our occupation’s.  Being a successful mother or father is now secondary in our thinking and can occur only after we have been successful in our “economic career”.

This shift may well have been a natural evolution in a society that has taken a different view of equality and individual “rights” and responsibilities.  Maybe we ultimately will find that it was indeed the “right and only path modern society can take”. But for me I hesitate.  Perhaps Melanie could not (or would not contemplate) these cultural shifts in our views of male/female relationships and traditional family units.  Academically such thinking would get her kicked off campus.

I on the other hand fear not being a social dinosaur. For as I write this, I have nagging doubts about the implications of these changes and particularly how rapidly they have occurred.  I cannot help but think that these Declining birthrates may be the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” for our social direction. Yes, perhaps it is a sign of the general malaise we see in of our society.

Which brings me to today’s first observation:

I believe that this fundamental shift started with my generation.  Our societies outlook has been shaped in a large part by the attitudes and values we baby boomers have passed on to our offspring.  Maybe, it is this rueful thinking in my advanced age is what leads me to so often “criticize” my cohort baby boomers, as I have repeatedly done in recent blog posts.  Perhaps, as one who considers himself a “social conservative” it is some wishful self-reflection or even a little self-flagellation. 

I will end with this final Observation:

I am no “futures” expert, much can change socially and demographically that I cannot contemplate.  However, these declining birthrates if they continue will mean that our legacy may, in the long term. be displaced by those societies that “show up for the future”.  Societies that will have different values and worldviews.  Perhaps even “better” ones. For in the end that is what happens to all societies ever since mankind first emerged.  Since I will not be around to see how this ultimately plays out, I can only speculate that my grand kids and great grand kids (hopefully) will find their own way just as humans always have.  I can only hope that they find that our social legacy was something to celebrate as we celebrated “The greatest generation”, but for some nagging reasons (because I am a social dinosaur?) I sure have my doubts!

With That I bid you

Adieu

Thinking about Mom today

Your tiny hand in mine as you're sleeping on my chest
Laying here so still giving Mom a chance to rest
And I'm watching my world rise and fall with every single breath

Looking down at you and how you look so much like me
And all I want to do is give you everything you need
Son, I know I'm gonna make mistakes
But my love for you will never ever change

I don't ever wanna let you go
But I can't wait to get to watch you grow
And no matter what this life might bring
I want you to know that you will always be
You will always be my son

I'm picturing your life, how the years will all play out
And whatever you do, just know that I'm already proud
Son, I know you're gonna make mistakes
But my love for you will never ever change

I don't ever wanna let you go
But I can't wait to get to watch you grow
And no matter what this life might bring
I want you to know that you will always be
You will always be my son

Anthem Lights

Today is "Mothers" day so naturally my thoughts turn to "Grace" and my own relationship with my "mom".

In several of my previous blog posts I have written about Father's and their importance to society, but very few comments about "moms".  Perhaps because so many of my own "fond" memories of childhood revolve around times with dad.  Funny because as I remember,  my Dad worked long hours, working two jobs (as a beat cop and a painter on the side in my younger years) and so most of my formative early childhood hours had to be spent, like most kids with "Mom".  Yet I do not recall of any particular warm and fuzzy stories that I can relate to her.

Now don't get me wrong, my mom was obviously instrumental in who I am and indeed as I believe I once posted it was my mom who instilled in me a "need" to strive to be "successful" scholastically,   professionally and even, athletically.  My father on the other hand was all about looking at life as defined by who you are within a family, a community,and your "ethics.".  Now perhaps I overstate these influences, but I cannot help but believe that as a person I am a product of these two rather diverse world views.

Now, as I look back on my final years with mom, much of this became very clear to me.  

I would not change a thing about spending time with Mom during her final years in Salt Lake and Colorado.  But life with her those final years was sometimes an eye opener to say the least.  It has put some real perspective on her complex relationship with my dad.  His favorite line when she pushed him (more like nagged him) was "Grace your breaking my agates" still lingers in my memory.  I found at times   she could certainly break mine during chats with with her on her balcony in Salt Lake.  She could even break my "Faithful and Obedient's" at times as well!   While I am sure her health and sense of isolation there were big contributors to her moods at the time it was still difficult to listen to some of  her "feelings".   I enjoyed many hours chatting with her but on several occasions those conversations  turned to telling me how my Dad never pushed him self enough to be "better", i.e to improve his station in life.  Sometimes I sensed a bitterness that was frankly  both surprising and even disheartening  to hear.  on a few occasions even my Faithful and Obedient's got her back up even more than mine! (I sould note that my Dad was often my Faithful and Obedient's best buddy when I worked long hours at AIG, often visiting her to "get away" for a few hours from having his agates broken in his retirement!)

Yet during all this I felt she indeed loved my dad deeply and missed him, as she often "talked to him" in her room.  

Funny but in that short time in Utah I came to understand my mom much better than I ever had and not necessarily in a "bad" way.   I hope my opening paragraph's did not give you a sense that she anything but genuinely human as we all are when we look back on life in the twilight of our existence.

As I write this today, as I think back  Grace's childhood in which she had a very interesting father.  Her mother, Freda married a man who was not a great role model as a father, husband or provider.  He never held a steady job  and Freda had to often jump the electric meter to make ends meet.  They got evicted many times and were also a almost always one step behind on the rent.  Those scars I think ran deep and I think those memories "stuck" with her till the end.  She always felt she deserved better in life and she felt a need to push those values on my dad in that way, to be something "better" during all their years together.  Of course likewise, it were those values she pushed on me.

These were some of the things l came understand much better during her final years.  Through these conversations  I was able to better understand my own personality and how it has been shaped and molded by both my parents.

So now my final "Observation"  while some of her revelations were surprising to me, I now  realize how lucky I was to have two parents who despite different worldviews and the attendant difficult relations (as all married couple experience) they found a way to remain faithful to their vows,  those we  recite when we say "for better or worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part".  A concept often forgotten in today's perceptions of marriage.  It is that ideal that helps build a "successful" marriage  and for me genuine "happy" childhood memories.

 For indeed I feel that I had an extraordinarily "happy childhood" nurtured by two very good parents who loved their kids dearly.

For your part in that  endurance, nurturing and love , Mom today I say "Thanks".  

Freedom

Freedom! '90

WARNING-7 minute video

George Michael

I won't let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So please don't give me up
'Cause I would really, really love to stick around, oh yeah

Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn't know what I wanted to be (Didn't know what I wanted to be)
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me (said I guess it was enough for me)
To win the race? A prettier face!
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll T.V.
But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way
Think I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me yeah yeah

Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (I will not give you up)
Freedom! (Have some faith in the sound)
You've gotta give for what you take (It's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (So please don't give me up)
Freedom! ('Cause I would really, really love to stick around)
You've gotta give for what you take

Heaven knows we sure had some fun, boy
What a kick just a buddy and me (what a kick just a buddy and me)
We had every big-shot good time band on the run, boy
We were living in a fantasy (we were living in a fantasy)
We won the race, got out of the place
I went back home, got a brand new face
For the boys on MTV
But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah
Now I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah yeah

Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (I will not give you up)
Freedom! (Have some faith in the sound)
You've gotta give for what you take (It's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom! (I won't let you down)
Freedom! (So please don't give me up)
Freedom! ('Cause I would really, really love to stick around)
You've gotta give for what you take

Well it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well
Posing for another picture
Everybody's got to sell
But when you shake your ass
They notice fast
And some mistakes were build to last

That's what you get (That's what you get)
That's what you get (I say that's what you get)
That's what you get (for changing your mind)
That's what you get for changing your mind

That's what you get
That's what you get (And after all this time)
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make me, oh yeah

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah yeah

Freedom!
Freedom! (oh freedom)
Freedom! (my freedom)
You've gotta give for what you take
Freedom! (hold on to my freedom)
Freedom!
Freedom! (my freedom)
You've gotta give for what you take
Give for what you, give for what you take yeah
Yeah, you've got to give for what you, give for what you, give

May not be what you want from me
Just the way it's got to be
Lose the face now
I've got to live, I've got to live, I've got to live

I hope you all “enjoyed” my last two posts which were conspicuous by the lack of statistics, news etc.

Of course given my obsessions such posts could only last so long.  I hope at least a few of you have the fortitude to read this post to the end and of course I would expect at least a few of you to weigh in with your own critique.

First a small shameless plug about recent “discovery” by the media and the “experts” on the virus timeline. 

From my blog post of March 24^th:

“Now one thing seems very clear to me.  Gosh, this pandemic was likely well established in NY in early January, just based on my read of travel out of China worldwide that day alone.  While arguing and focusing on impeachment at that time our country was missing the greatest pandemic since 1918 entering our country. By the way not sure we will ever "know" for sure about my sister and her husband's infection, but my hunch is they were in fact early victims.”

First this:

From WSJ 5/5/2020

“” Coronavirus Timeline Is Upended as France Discovers December Case Finding suggests Covid-19 was spreading much earlier in Europe than previously believed.”

PARIS—French doctors have discovered a case of the new coronavirus dating from late December in a man who was hospitalized near Paris, the earliest publicly identified Covid-19 infection outside China.

The case, in a man with no history of travel to China, changes the timeline of the pandemic, suggesting that the virus was spreading in Europe at least weeks earlier than previously believed and more than a month before Italy’s outbreak. The finding is a crucial step in a global medical investigation that is scrutinizing how the virus originated in China and then spread to the West, infecting more than 3.6 million people and killing at least 252,000.

And this from Today’s Miami Herald:

Months before Florida leaders had any clue, coronavirus was creeping through the state

It was March 1 when Florida announced its first two cases of the novel coronavirus, a 29-year-old Hillsborough County woman who had traveled to Italy and a 63-year-old Manatee County man. But buried in data recently published by the Florida health department is an intriguing revelation: The spread of COVID-19 in Florida likely began in January, if not earlier.

State health officials have documented at least 170 COVID-19 patients reporting symptoms between Dec. 31, 2019, and February 29, according to a Miami Herald analysis of state health data. Of them, 40 percent had no apparent contact with someone else with the virus. The majority had not traveled.

Of course, I will leave readers to decide if my own thinking was “ahead” of the experts thinking, but I would add that one of the players in my sister’s ventilator episode has gotten a test in NY to see if he already had the virus….will keep you posted when results arrive.

Ok now to the meat of this weeks post. 

This week the big Coronavirus news was the latest “models” were predicating more death and misery with perhaps 200,000 deaths by August 1^st.  Of course, the news was filled with dread mainly because it was attributed to states relaxing social distancing “rules”.  As Phil Gocke has repeatedly stated “if it bleeds it leads”.

 

Click to copy

US infection rate rising outside New York as states open up

By NICKY FORSTER, CARLA K. JOHNSON and MIKE STOBBE yesterday

Take the New York metropolitan area’s progress against the coronavirus out of the equation and the numbers show the rest of the U.S. is moving in the wrong direction, with the known infection rate rising even as states move to lift their lockdowns, an Associated Press analysis found Tuesday.

New confirmed infections per day in the U.S. exceed 20,000, and deaths per day are well over 1,000, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. And public health officials warn that the failure to flatten the curve and drive down the infection rate in places could lead to many more deaths — perhaps tens of thousands — as people are allowed to venture out and businesses reopen.

“Make no mistakes: This virus is still circulating in our community, perhaps even more now than in previous weeks” said Linda Ochs, director of the Health Department in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Now I have no doubt that “opening up” our economy will result in increased transmission of the virus.  That is true whether we open now or in August, or September or later.  Why, well because the public cannot be expected to continue to self-quarantine “indefinitely”.  It will happen despite the “experts’ admonitions.  When the experts say we need to do this for 15 days, then 30 then 45 so we can flatten the curve (note flatten was to spread out infections, not STOP deaths) they cannot reasonably expect people to continue to accept moving goalposts.  But for some reason the press in general continues to push that narrative.  Good luck with that.

Observation 1.

Humans are social animals.  Regardless of your feelings about how we managed this pandemic it is simply impossible to expect humans to be isolated from each other for awfully long.  In addition, we cannot shut down forever without people seeking their “normal lives”.

OK moving on I took my own “ad hoc” look at how we in the US have managed this Pandemic response versus our past experiences with recent Pandemics.

I mulled this over and did a little of my own “research” on two large Pandemics that occurred during our own blog followers lifetimes (well those over say 60 anyway).  Here goes:

The first was that “Asian Flue” (which still runs around and infects and kills people, although we have large scale immunity and vaccines.  No fake news accepted).

Let’s look at two widespread pandemics one in 1957 the other 1968.

From Wikipedia:

1.    The strain of virus that caused the pandemic, influenza A virus subtype H2N2, was a recombination of avian influenza (probably from geese) and human influenza viruses.^[1][2] As it was a novel strain of the virus, there was minimal immunity in the population.^[1][3]

2.    The first cases were reported in Guizhou in late 1956^[1] or February 1957,^[4][5][6] and were reported in the neighboring province of Yunnan before the end of February.^[7] On 17 April, The Times reported that "an influenza epidemic has affected thousands of Hong Kong residents".^[3] The same month, Singapore also experienced an outbreak of the new flu.^[8] In Taiwan, 100,000 were affected by mid-May and India suffered a million cases by June. In late June, the pandemic reached the United Kingdom.^[3]

3.    By June 1957 it reached the United States, where it initially caused few infections.^[2] Some of the first affected were United States Navy personnel at destroyers docked at Newport Naval Station, as well as new military recruits elsewhere.^[9] The first wave peaked in October (among children who returned to school) and the second wave, in January and February 1958 among elderly people, which was more fatal.^[2][10] Microbiologist Maurice Hilleman was alarmed by pictures of those affected by the virus in Hong Kong published in The New York Times. He obtained samples of the virus from a United States Navy doctor in Japan. The Public Health Service released the virus cultures to vaccine manufacturers on 12 May 1957, and a vaccine entered trials at Fort Ord on 26 July and Lowry Air Force Base on 29 July.^[9] The number of deaths peaked the week ending 17 October with 600 reported in England and Wales. The vaccine was available in the same month in the United Kingdom.^[3] Although it was only available initially in limited quantities,^[10][3] its rapid deployment helped contain the pandemic.^[2]

4.    H2N2 influenza virus continued to circulate until 1968, when it transformed via antigenic shift into influenza A virus subtype H3N2, the cause of the 1968 influenza pandemic.^[2][11]

5.    Mortality estimates[edit]

6.    Excess mortality in Chile, 1953–1959. Flu seasons highlighted in gray. Note black spikes in the mortality rate.

7.    The case fatality rate of Asian flu was approximately 0.67%.^[12] The disease was estimated to have a 3% rate of complications and 0.3% mortality in the United Kingdom;^[3] it could cause pneumonia by itself, without the presence of secondary bacterial infection. It may have infected as many or more people than the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, but the vaccine, improved health care, and the invention of antibiotics contributed to a lower mortality rate.^[1] Overall, the pandemic caused 1 to 2 million deaths worldwide^[2] or 2 to 4 million.^[1] The CDC estimates 1.1 million deaths worldwide.^[13] According to a study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the highest excess mortality occurred in Latin America.^[14] About 70,000^[1][11] to 116,000 people died in the United States.^[15] In early 1958, it was estimated that 14,000 people had already died of the flu in the United Kingdom of the 9 million who became sick.^[3] It caused many infections in children, spreading in schools and leading to many school closures, but was rarely fatal in children. The virus was most deadly in pregnant women, the elderly, and those with pre-existing heart and lung disease.^[1] According to research by Barbara Sands, some of the excess mortality attributed to the Great Leap Forward in Maoist China may have actually been caused by the 1957 flu.^[16]

8.    Economic effects[edit]

9.    The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 15% of its value in the second half of 1957.^[15] In the United Kingdom, the government paid out £10 000 000 in sickness benefit and some factories and mines had to close.^[3] Many schools had to close in Ireland, including 17 in Dublin.^[17]

Ok what happened in 1957 had lots of similarities as far as pandemic origins, world-wide spread etc.  Since it was not a “Coronavirus” it seemed a little easier (I guess) to create a vaccine.  But Jim, you might say, 200,000 dead if it happens as now “predicted” is one hell of a lot more than the 70,000 to 116,000 estimated in this pandemic.  Well, not really:

Population of US in 1957 was 177,751,476

Mortality at 70,000 Death

= 1 Death every 2,539 People

Mortality at 116,000 =

1 Death every 1,533 People

Now today's Corona virus:

Population of US in 328,200,000 today

Deaths as of today 72,000

Mortality = 1 death for every 4,558 people.

So let's place same mortality number's from the past and project against today's population.

Deaths at 1 death for every 2,539 vs today's population = 129,264

Deaths at on death for every 4,558 today=214,090

One other note, the average age in 1957 in the US was about 30. It is now 38.5.  With the coronavirus killing seniors at a high rate, it is likely mortality for everyone else in this pandemic is much better than 1957.

In other words the dead and dying today is not really much different than 1957 when adjusted for population.

I have a question for readers.

What did the Government do to the general population in 1957? Well GDP did drop by 15% per Wikipedia, but I do not recall (at the tender age of 5), no kindergarten, for sure Dad's  still worked, I played outside in Philly. We as a country obviously didn’t lock down, panic or tell people not to go to stores etc.  If any of my readers can call me out based on their memories…please do so.  I really want to know.

So maybe I was in a kindergarten fog in 1957, let’s move on to my Junior Year in High School:

Once again from Wikipedia:

The Hong Kong flu (also known as 1968 flu pandemic^[1]) was a flu pandemic whose outbreak in 1968 and 1969 killed an estimated one million people all over the world.^[2][3][4] It was caused by an H3N2 strain of the influenza A virus, descended from H2N2 through antigenic shift, a genetic process in which genes from multiple subtypes reassorted to form a new virus.

The CDC estimated 100,000 people died in the U.S.^[12] However, fewer people died during this pandemic than in previous pandemics for various reasons:^[13]

Mostly because some immunity against the N2 flu virus may have been retained in populations struck by the Asian Flu strains which had been circulating since 1957;

1.  the pandemic did not gain momentum until near the winter school holidays, thus limiting the infection spreading;

2.  improved medical care gave vital support to the very ill;

3.    the availability of antibiotics that were more effective against Pneumonia Complications.

US Population in 1968 200,700,000

Deaths Rate = 1 death for every 2,007 people

 Equivalent Death Rate to today’s US Population  =163,527 deaths

(The average age was still much younger than today.)

Once again it appears the death rate today, based on population size is not that much different than 1968.

Now 1968 was Vietnam etc.  That got headlines, probably not so much the flu. Perhaps Lyndon Johnson should have banned public protests of say over 10 people, maybe then he would have run and beaten Nixon.  HMMM?

Instead In 1968 I went to church and school, played football and track at Frankford High.  I do not recall anything except happy high school days.  No quarantine’s etc.  Did I miss out on something? 

So once again readers maybe I was I too busy having a “normal” life in 1968 to realize people were dying in “mass” numbers similar to today’s rates.

If I am wrong, I sure as heck really want to hear from any of my contemporaries what they did in 1968  to socially isolate to help “bend the curve”.

 How about it readers?

Oh but Jim, this would be much worse if we did not do mass quarantines.  Well the experts said we needed to bend the curve to spread death out.  Perhaps, all true but haven't we now done that?. Now suddenly we want to stop more deaths ....in total not just spread them out. The goal posts, listening to the media should change.  But for "how long"?  My guess it's driven by a new way society looks at this Pandemic.  What gives?

I have lots of theories, but let me throw out some one liners as my personal observations:

.

 1. Today we expect the Government to prevent death, particularly us “Boomers”.  I think back to my blog on spending and Medicare.  We have as a generation of boomer’s felt free to have our progeny “pay” for our longer lives.  Just as we expect them to give up employment and normal lives to prevent our “premature” death today.  Of course ultimately, no matter what the grim reaper will call us all home.

B.    We, as a society, of all ages now believe that governments number one job is not necessarily protecting our freedom, our right to assemble, or go to church, or to pursue our dreams.  It is to Keep us safe-at any cost.

C.    The news media feeds us news pieces7/24 and as Phil says “if it bleeds it leads” by constantly demanding to know what our Governor, President or the experts have you done to stop this?  Never mind at what cost our social lives, our pocketbook or even our right to lead our own live as we see fit.  Now our lives are subordinate to the good of society as a whole.  A not to subtle shift in social and political thought. The media in turn drives that narrative.

D.    We in general have come to believe we and our government are in control, and that we can control everything.  Fate, God’s, will and just bad stuff happens has no placed in our lexicon. If people die somehow the government must prevent it.

When did this all happen?  Well over the years many of our citizens have come to accept that is the society should all want.  It is the reality and I suppose I too have willingly accepted most of this reality.  I wonder now, when and why?

For yes I too wear my mask at the supermarket, and I have socially distanced the last two months as required by my Governor. So be it.

 But at least today I think…I’ll be damned if I will not see my Grandson on his birthday this Saturday. Yes, I will do this despite my Governor’s demand that under our new social distancing I am supposed to stay within 10 miles of home under our new “loosened” rules.  Yea right Gov…..make me.

After all I have only so many birthdays to celebrate with him in the limited time I have left!  I am only human after all.  I too, like George Micheal crave some "Freedom"

With that I bid you all

Adieu