Coronavirus Outbreak

[old_man_tiger]

Here is an argument for a health tax or levy in situations like this. Prior to covid the taxes you already paid covered the cost of a health system that more or less met the needs of the country. There were still issues in the system, but it was OK and in major cities more or less what you'd expect in a developed nation.

During wave 1, there were no vaccines, governments had to quickly scale up capacity. The resources we stressed about in the system were beds, ventilators, and to a lesser extent staff. Apart from Victoria and the "second wave" the rest of us never really faced what most of the world faced.

In this year's wave the NSW Health system got into a pretty tight spot. The biggest issue wasn't the physical infrastructure, several hospitals opened and closed wards inline with demand. The biggest issue was staff. The hidden cost of life and quality of life isn't in the covid death number, because that figure doesn't include those who couldn't or didn't access care due to staff shortages or lockdowns. Bear that in mind for the last paragraph.

The strain on the hospital system has disappeared because of lockdown and a freshly vaccinated majority. We probably won't lockdown again, but we will have new strains and waves of infection. These are manageable with vaccination. The strain on the health system when our Vax rates were lower and we were in lockdown proves that. Mitigating the strain requires an available, suitably trained workforce who can either be flown in or work in other fields domestically, dormant until needed. This is very expensive, and frankly a preposterous waste of money when we have a solution. Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I'm trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc... it is very challenging at the moment.

So as individuals in a society we make a choice around vaccination or non-vaccination. If the latter is chosen by too many people we have seen the health system can't cope without extra resources. So, who should pay for these resources? Or do we not invest these resources and make a choice to not treat certain conditions? BTW the recent pause on so called "elective" surgery was a decision to not treat treatable conditions due to a lack of resources so please reflect on that. If you had treatable chronic issues, and your suffering was extended because of social media nonsense and people with serious issues understanding logic, who should pay to solve that? What if the surgery was for your kid?

 

[old_man_tiger]

I really don’t know. Guessing, and that is all it is, with input from others I listen to, I reckon 60% over all.

Mate why not just use the official data. How could you possibly get better data ?

Interestingly I just read that NSW are considering not opening up to unvaccinated until we get to 95% double dosed. I am really pro that decision. I'd also add a health care tax to any unvaccinated people.

It's not personal. I don't really care if individual people don't get vaccinated. It's their call. It's a really poor decision for society though and to me they should have to wear a cost for that.

I'll remain friends with unvaccinated people. I know 2 of them at this point.

To me it's all about the science and the data.

That health care tax is an interesting concept, Earl.
So if you, or any of your extended family has ever smoked, they should be in line for your tax.
Same if any of them drive a V8 car. ( far more likely to speed)
Or drink any alcohol.
Or partake, or have ever partaken in any drugs.
Or skydive.
Or any have ever driven a car while under the influence.
It is however a credit to you as a person, that you have the decency and empathy towards your fellow man, to remain friends with BOTH your friends who chose not to get vaccinated.

There are taxes on alcohol, tobacco, petrol etc... not a perfect system but did OK regarding health system funding pre-covid.

party drugs are illegal, tax revenue is a strong argument for legalisation for this reason

Edit-I should have added I'm trying to be constructive here GYGT, I find the topic interesting, including your post.

 

[earl]

Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I’m trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc… it is very challenging at the moment.

Your whole post was awesome. Thank you for posting that.

My mum is a retired nurse and (I assume via email) Dr Chant has contacted her to come back to work multiple times.

 

[Tiger5150]

PB you keep throwing in these "no wonder noone likes you" like either I care or it helps an argument. Neither is true. Im not looking for an argument or to be "right"Im actually looking to do the opposite.

Actually, I think I fairly respectfully suggested you have a look at the way you're approaching this 'discussion'.

You are argumentative in every reply, including putting words in my mouth on several occasions.

Actually mate, if you actually read what I said, you would see that I actually said that I picked your post somewhat arbitrarily, had no beef with what you were saying, specifically said that I understand that you were talking about Australia and you were correct about that.......but yeah OK, argumentative in every reply.

To speculate as to why it's not in use here (aside from not being approved/unproven in the eyes of the TGA) : Dexamethasone is the preferred/effective treatment here. An ICU doctor I know (not one for hyperbole) called it a 'game changer' earlier this year and pointed out the quality of ICU care also has a huge impact on patient outcomes.

If the 'streaming' ICUs were suddenly streaming into corridors and we had shipping container morgues filling up with bodies maybe things would be different. Hopefully we never find out.

Actually if you read my posts and if you read the studies I posted you would realise that Ivermectin (a drug which the clinical evidence shows is not statistically effective) is almost totally useless in that situation. Needs to be early.

For that matter, hopefully none of us are ever in the predicament to be administered these drugs; getting vaccinated is your best bet.

100% agree and that is why me and my whole family are vaxxed.

Anyway, I am done with this.

Righto...

 

[Tiger5150]

Here is an argument for a health tax or levy in situations like this. Prior to covid the taxes you already paid covered the cost of a health system that more or less met the needs of the country. There were still issues in the system, but it was OK and in major cities more or less what you'd expect in a developed nation.

During wave 1, there were no vaccines, governments had to quickly scale up capacity. The resources we stressed about in the system were beds, ventilators, and to a lesser extent staff. Apart from Victoria and the "second wave" the rest of us never really faced what most of the world faced.

In this year's wave the NSW Health system got into a pretty tight spot. The biggest issue wasn't the physical infrastructure, several hospitals opened and closed wards inline with demand. The biggest issue was staff. The hidden cost of life and quality of life isn't in the covid death number, because that figure doesn't include those who couldn't or didn't access care due to staff shortages or lockdowns. Bear that in mind for the last paragraph.

The strain on the hospital system has disappeared because of lockdown and a freshly vaccinated majority. We probably won't lockdown again, but we will have new strains and waves of infection. These are manageable with vaccination. The strain on the health system when our Vax rates were lower and we were in lockdown proves that. Mitigating the strain requires an available, suitably trained workforce who can either be flown in or work in other fields domestically, dormant until needed. This is very expensive, and frankly a preposterous waste of money when we have a solution. Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I'm trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc... it is very challenging at the moment.

So as individuals in a society we make a choice around vaccination or non-vaccination. If the latter is chosen by too many people we have seen the health system can't cope without extra resources. So, who should pay for these resources? Or do we not invest these resources and make a choice to not treat certain conditions? BTW the recent pause on so called "elective" surgery was a decision to not treat treatable conditions due to a lack of resources so please reflect on that. If you had treatable chronic issues, and your suffering was extended because of social media nonsense and people with serious issues understanding logic, who should pay to solve that? What if the surgery was for your kid?

You realise that in 2017 more people died of influenza that died of Covid in 2020? Its mitigated by a vaccine. Where was the tax then? Where was the health system overrun? It wasnt

NO COVID isnt like the flu, without lockdowns and restrictions COVID deaths would probably be x10 but the fact remains that in 2017 and 2019 infleunza killed more people than Covid in 2020/2021.

 

[Eyeofthetiger 0]

people will take cocaine weed and vape and smoke

A lot of unknowns substances going into your body there..how ever when it comes to taking a vaccine that has been deceloped to keep u healthy and safe and potentially others around u, people rebel... lol how weird

That’s what the government tells you to believe

???? here we go with the government

So the earth is flat and 5G is now implanted in my body is it?

Let’s not be silly son. I’m not here to influence anyone, I have my beliefs. But I also think that you have to think positive in life and not think oh I’m going to get COVID and die tomorrow.

I have never thought I was going to get covid and die tomorrow, I could but I don't think like that. There are people who have a much greater chance of dying if they get covid though and my reason for getting vaxxed is to do my part. If there is less covid circulating in the community because myself and other like minded individuals got vaxxed then that means the people who are a greater chance of dying have less chance of catching it because I played my part. Vaccines are not just about protecting the individual which is the point most people in your situation ignore.

Seems like now days alot of people only think about themselves and not about the other people around them.i have heard people say the sick and Elderly should be confined to their homes and everyone else be able to go out.

You do know that the vaccinated still carry the virus and spread it right?

You are less likely to transmit if Vaccinated.

So that means you still transmit

 

[swag_tiger]

people will take cocaine weed and vape and smoke

A lot of unknowns substances going into your body there..how ever when it comes to taking a vaccine that has been deceloped to keep u healthy and safe and potentially others around u, people rebel... lol how weird

That’s what the government tells you to believe

???? here we go with the government

So the earth is flat and 5G is now implanted in my body is it?

Let’s not be silly son. I’m not here to influence anyone, I have my beliefs. But I also think that you have to think positive in life and not think oh I’m going to get COVID and die tomorrow.

I have never thought I was going to get covid and die tomorrow, I could but I don't think like that. There are people who have a much greater chance of dying if they get covid though and my reason for getting vaxxed is to do my part. If there is less covid circulating in the community because myself and other like minded individuals got vaxxed then that means the people who are a greater chance of dying have less chance of catching it because I played my part. Vaccines are not just about protecting the individual which is the point most people in your situation ignore.

Seems like now days alot of people only think about themselves and not about the other people around them.i have heard people say the sick and Elderly should be confined to their homes and everyone else be able to go out.

You do know that the vaccinated still carry the virus and spread it right?

You are less likely to transmit if Vaccinated.

So that means you still transmit

Yes but it's reduced by more then 50%. Could be up to 20 times less likely to spread it

 

[cochise]

people will take cocaine weed and vape and smoke

A lot of unknowns substances going into your body there..how ever when it comes to taking a vaccine that has been deceloped to keep u healthy and safe and potentially others around u, people rebel... lol how weird

That’s what the government tells you to believe

???? here we go with the government

So the earth is flat and 5G is now implanted in my body is it?

Let’s not be silly son. I’m not here to influence anyone, I have my beliefs. But I also think that you have to think positive in life and not think oh I’m going to get COVID and die tomorrow.

I have never thought I was going to get covid and die tomorrow, I could but I don't think like that. There are people who have a much greater chance of dying if they get covid though and my reason for getting vaxxed is to do my part. If there is less covid circulating in the community because myself and other like minded individuals got vaxxed then that means the people who are a greater chance of dying have less chance of catching it because I played my part. Vaccines are not just about protecting the individual which is the point most people in your situation ignore.

Seems like now days alot of people only think about themselves and not about the other people around them.i have heard people say the sick and Elderly should be confined to their homes and everyone else be able to go out.

You do know that the vaccinated still carry the virus and spread it right?

You are less likely to transmit if Vaccinated.

So that means you still transmit

Where have I ever said that vaccinated people can't still transmit? It is greatly reduced though and that reduction may prevent someone who is vulnerable catching it and dying, why wouldn't I want to prevent that?

 

[old_man_tiger]

Here is an argument for a health tax or levy in situations like this. Prior to covid the taxes you already paid covered the cost of a health system that more or less met the needs of the country. There were still issues in the system, but it was OK and in major cities more or less what you'd expect in a developed nation.

During wave 1, there were no vaccines, governments had to quickly scale up capacity. The resources we stressed about in the system were beds, ventilators, and to a lesser extent staff. Apart from Victoria and the "second wave" the rest of us never really faced what most of the world faced.

In this year's wave the NSW Health system got into a pretty tight spot. The biggest issue wasn't the physical infrastructure, several hospitals opened and closed wards inline with demand. The biggest issue was staff. The hidden cost of life and quality of life isn't in the covid death number, because that figure doesn't include those who couldn't or didn't access care due to staff shortages or lockdowns. Bear that in mind for the last paragraph.

The strain on the hospital system has disappeared because of lockdown and a freshly vaccinated majority. We probably won't lockdown again, but we will have new strains and waves of infection. These are manageable with vaccination. The strain on the health system when our Vax rates were lower and we were in lockdown proves that. Mitigating the strain requires an available, suitably trained workforce who can either be flown in or work in other fields domestically, dormant until needed. This is very expensive, and frankly a preposterous waste of money when we have a solution. Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I'm trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc... it is very challenging at the moment.

So as individuals in a society we make a choice around vaccination or non-vaccination. If the latter is chosen by too many people we have seen the health system can't cope without extra resources. So, who should pay for these resources? Or do we not invest these resources and make a choice to not treat certain conditions? BTW the recent pause on so called "elective" surgery was a decision to not treat treatable conditions due to a lack of resources so please reflect on that. If you had treatable chronic issues, and your suffering was extended because of social media nonsense and people with serious issues understanding logic, who should pay to solve that? What if the surgery was for your kid?

You realise that in 2017 more people died of influenza that died of Covid in 2020? Its mitigated by a vaccine. Where was the tax then? Where was the health system overrun? It wasnt

NO COVID isnt like the flu, without lockdowns and restrictions COVID deaths would probably be x10 but the fact remains that in 2017 and 2019 infleunza killed more people than Covid in 2020/2021.

With some mitigation strategies, but generally not in vaccinated populations, societies that treat covid anything like the flu will clock up a death rate of 1/500. A lot more that 10x.

Were private hospitals given viability payments in 2017? Were nurses seconded to the Public system? Were we in lockdown to control cases? WHO estimates in may of this year had over 100,000 care workers dead from covid globally. Did that happen in 2017? I remember a bit of panic in the system, but nothing like 2021.

I wrote a bunch of other stuff, and frankly it was basically a bunch of simple questions like the above. Earl's point is largely rhetorical and I would have found a post countering this on economic grounds useful. The world needs less erroneous covid and flu comparisons, especially on questions of resources, as opposed to the health of a given individual.

The flu-like stage is coming, it is contingent on better therapeutics, better vaccines or boosters of the current, and broader access to supply globally and across age ranges, but I think you know this which makes your post odd.

 

[old_man_tiger]

Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I’m trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc… it is very challenging at the moment.

Your whole post was awesome. Thank you for posting that.

My mum is a retired nurse and (I assume via email) Dr Chant has contacted her to come back to work multiple times.

My background is allied health. We were basically asked by Dr Chant to restrict services to all but the most critical cases, back in July or August before the proverbial hit the fan. I don't think people realise that without vaccines, covid and mental health from lockdowns alone would have broken the system. This is in a society with lockdowns, curfews etc... I'm glad and grateful we didn't learn the hard way.

 

[happy_tiger]

Singapore is getting bad too I hear and most of them are vaxxed

Unbelievably high population density.

We need to put Singapore into perspective as well. They are doing better than us and we've done exceptionally well. I like to use the counter example of Florida.

Deaths per million population:-

Florida:- 2,744
Australia:- 66
Singapore:- 59

Guess who has the most freedoms and lowest vaccination rates. You have to show me data like that in reverse to provide a rational argument that vaccines and restrictions don't work.

Another way of looking at Florida's figures is that Australia's greatest killer is heart disease and a reasonable estimate per year of deaths from heart disease is about 18k people per year. Florida have had over 58k deaths from COVID. Florida has less people than Australia.

If you're talking about America, Australia is rated higher on the human freedom index.

I'm not surprised. I would state America has major problems in relation to their rights/freedoms.

But as long as they can carry a gun ....all is good

2nd shot today ...

Of a gun or a vaccine?

Both ...sore arm ...busy at work though

Got my 8th Gold Award today ......

 

[Eyeofthetiger 0]

people will take cocaine weed and vape and smoke

A lot of unknowns substances going into your body there..how ever when it comes to taking a vaccine that has been deceloped to keep u healthy and safe and potentially others around u, people rebel... lol how weird

That’s what the government tells you to believe

???? here we go with the government

So the earth is flat and 5G is now implanted in my body is it?

Let’s not be silly son. I’m not here to influence anyone, I have my beliefs. But I also think that you have to think positive in life and not think oh I’m going to get COVID and die tomorrow.

I have never thought I was going to get covid and die tomorrow, I could but I don't think like that. There are people who have a much greater chance of dying if they get covid though and my reason for getting vaxxed is to do my part. If there is less covid circulating in the community because myself and other like minded individuals got vaxxed then that means the people who are a greater chance of dying have less chance of catching it because I played my part. Vaccines are not just about protecting the individual which is the point most people in your situation ignore.

Seems like now days alot of people only think about themselves and not about the other people around them.i have heard people say the sick and Elderly should be confined to their homes and everyone else be able to go out.

You do know that the vaccinated still carry the virus and spread it right?

You are less likely to transmit if Vaccinated.

So that means you still transmit

Where have I ever said that vaccinated people can't still transmit? It is greatly reduced though and that reduction may prevent someone who is vulnerable catching it and dying, why wouldn't I want to prevent that?

Then how did 15 people get it in a gym - all vaccinated? Great vaccine. Your close enough to someone and you have the virus, you will spread it, vaccine or not. Point is, I’m backing my immune system, that’s why it’s there and the fact I know 2 families that copped COVID and recovered at home with just rest and hydration.

 

[earl]

Earl’s point is largely rhetorical and I would have found a post countering this on economic grounds useful.

I don't think there is a good reason not to tax actions that society deems as negative. I would welcome a rational logical post that counters this idea.

I suppose the counter argument is how do we judge negative actions but it's pretty darn clear cut in the case of vaccination against COVID. To me it's black and white and I have still yet to hear a viable counter argument.

 

[earl]

Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I’m trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc… it is very challenging at the moment.

Your whole post was awesome. Thank you for posting that.

My mum is a retired nurse and (I assume via email) Dr Chant has contacted her to come back to work multiple times.

My background is allied health. We were basically asked by Dr Chant to restrict services to all but the most critical cases, back in July or August before the proverbial hit the fan. I don't think people realise that without vaccines, covid and mental health from lockdowns alone would have broken the system. This is in a society with lockdowns, curfews etc... I'm glad and grateful we didn't learn the hard way.

I am so happy/proud of the way Australia has handled this pandemic. I said at one point and it got a negative reaction that we were behind the curve. We have been and are probably still are behind the curve a bit but that is good. It's good because we have been able to learn from the mistakes other countries have made.

I think basically all our policy decisions have been spot on. We've been conservative but that has paid off with a massive reduction in the number of deaths (and other negative impacts) of COVID.

 

[earl]

Point is, I’m backing my immune system, that’s why it’s there and the fact I know 2 families that copped COVID and recovered at home with just rest and hydration.

The problem with this approach is that people die. People have thought exactly the same thing as you and died. That is worse case. People have also gotten long COVID or been really sick. You can minimise the chance of negative impacts via getting vaccinated.

You will probably be okay but dude healthy people have died.

I view not getting vaccinated as simply having a really really poor ability to assess your personal risk factor.

It also means you don't care about society in general and health care workers in particular.

Lastly since the data is so one sided to me it also shows an inability to filter information accurately. This to me is the big issue of this pandemic. People for whatever reason suffer from disinformation.

My SIL family and it's a big family did exactly what you state you know other people have done - i.e. stay at home,dose up on Ivermectin (a drug which the clinical evidence shows is not statistically effective) and pray it works out. It did work out but they were sick.

I'll add that in Australia Ivermectin (a drug which the clinical evidence shows is not statistically effective) has not been considered a good treatment for COVID. There was a note sent to GP's not to prescribe it. I have not seen a good study on Ivermectin (a drug which the clinical evidence shows is not statistically effective).

 

[cochise]

people will take cocaine weed and vape and smoke

A lot of unknowns substances going into your body there..how ever when it comes to taking a vaccine that has been deceloped to keep u healthy and safe and potentially others around u, people rebel... lol how weird

That’s what the government tells you to believe

???? here we go with the government

So the earth is flat and 5G is now implanted in my body is it?

Let’s not be silly son. I’m not here to influence anyone, I have my beliefs. But I also think that you have to think positive in life and not think oh I’m going to get COVID and die tomorrow.

I have never thought I was going to get covid and die tomorrow, I could but I don't think like that. There are people who have a much greater chance of dying if they get covid though and my reason for getting vaxxed is to do my part. If there is less covid circulating in the community because myself and other like minded individuals got vaxxed then that means the people who are a greater chance of dying have less chance of catching it because I played my part. Vaccines are not just about protecting the individual which is the point most people in your situation ignore.

Seems like now days alot of people only think about themselves and not about the other people around them.i have heard people say the sick and Elderly should be confined to their homes and everyone else be able to go out.

You do know that the vaccinated still carry the virus and spread it right?

You are less likely to transmit if Vaccinated.

So that means you still transmit

Where have I ever said that vaccinated people can't still transmit? It is greatly reduced though and that reduction may prevent someone who is vulnerable catching it and dying, why wouldn't I want to prevent that?

Then how did 15 people get it in a gym - all vaccinated? Great vaccine. Your close enough to someone and you have the virus, you will spread it, vaccine or not. Point is, I’m backing my immune system, that’s why it’s there and the fact I know 2 families that copped COVID and recovered at home with just rest and hydration.

Yeah who cares about the vulnerable?

 

[Tiger5150]

Here is an argument for a health tax or levy in situations like this. Prior to covid the taxes you already paid covered the cost of a health system that more or less met the needs of the country. There were still issues in the system, but it was OK and in major cities more or less what you'd expect in a developed nation.

During wave 1, there were no vaccines, governments had to quickly scale up capacity. The resources we stressed about in the system were beds, ventilators, and to a lesser extent staff. Apart from Victoria and the "second wave" the rest of us never really faced what most of the world faced.

In this year's wave the NSW Health system got into a pretty tight spot. The biggest issue wasn't the physical infrastructure, several hospitals opened and closed wards inline with demand. The biggest issue was staff. The hidden cost of life and quality of life isn't in the covid death number, because that figure doesn't include those who couldn't or didn't access care due to staff shortages or lockdowns. Bear that in mind for the last paragraph.

The strain on the hospital system has disappeared because of lockdown and a freshly vaccinated majority. We probably won't lockdown again, but we will have new strains and waves of infection. These are manageable with vaccination. The strain on the health system when our Vax rates were lower and we were in lockdown proves that. Mitigating the strain requires an available, suitably trained workforce who can either be flown in or work in other fields domestically, dormant until needed. This is very expensive, and frankly a preposterous waste of money when we have a solution. Doctors are the least of our problems btw, I'm trying to hire nurses, receptionists etc... it is very challenging at the moment.

So as individuals in a society we make a choice around vaccination or non-vaccination. If the latter is chosen by too many people we have seen the health system can't cope without extra resources. So, who should pay for these resources? Or do we not invest these resources and make a choice to not treat certain conditions? BTW the recent pause on so called "elective" surgery was a decision to not treat treatable conditions due to a lack of resources so please reflect on that. If you had treatable chronic issues, and your suffering was extended because of social media nonsense and people with serious issues understanding logic, who should pay to solve that? What if the surgery was for your kid?

You realise that in 2017 more people died of influenza that died of Covid in 2020? Its mitigated by a vaccine. Where was the tax then? Where was the health system overrun? It wasnt

NO COVID isnt like the flu, without lockdowns and restrictions COVID deaths would probably be x10 but the fact remains that in 2017 and 2019 infleunza killed more people than Covid in 2020/2021.


With some mitigation strategies, but generally not in vaccinated populations, societies that treat covid anything like the flu will clock up a death rate of 1/500. A lot more that 10x.

Were private hospitals given viability payments in 2017? Were nurses seconded to the Public system? Were we in lockdown to control cases? WHO estimates in may of this year had over 100,000 care workers dead from covid globally. Did that happen in 2017? I remember a bit of panic in the system, but nothing like 2021.

I wrote a bunch of other stuff, and frankly it was basically a bunch of simple questions like the above. Earl's point is largely rhetorical and I would have found a post countering this on economic grounds useful. The world needs less erroneous covid and flu comparisons, especially on questions of resources, as opposed to the health of a given individual.

The flu-like stage is coming, it is contingent on better therapeutics, better vaccines or boosters of the current, and broader access to supply globally and across age ranges, but I think you know this which makes your post odd.

Good post, well expressed.

I dont equate the Flu & COVID on any level. COVID is nothing like influenza. Without lockdowns, restrictions and the vaccine it would be an unmitigated disaster and of course all the measures you list have been necessary and in the most part precautionary.

I am merely making the point that in actual impact, in raw numbers, the impact on our hospital system hasnt been much more than a bad flu season and Im making this crude, simple example in a discussion about additional taxes on one sector of the population but not the other. Im simply making the point that the impact has not been significant comparable to previous years (influenza disappeared last two years due to COVID actions) and therefore ot doesnt warrant this taxation impposition.

Of course an argument can be made to tax the unvaxxed. Its not a difficult argument and its easy to throw in the alcohol and cigarettes example but I am opposed on the basis that we live in a society, a community with the purpose to look after everyone to the extent we can. I'm an economic capitalist and strong believer that markets fix everything but even I think that degenerating totally into a "user pays" mentality is very dangerous and will hurt the poorest and most vulnerable.

I also think that some of the call to tax the unvaxxed is out of animus. I am vaxxed and given that around 90% of the state and probably the country will be vaxxed, Im not that worried about the unvaxxed and I dont hold any animosity to them.

 

[Geo]

Maybe a tax on repeated posts in the COVID thread..

$10 per post..saying the same thing 600 thousand times..

 

[Tiger5150]

Earl’s point is largely rhetorical and I would have found a post countering this on economic grounds useful.

I don't think there is a good reason not to tax actions that society deems as negative. I would welcome a rational logical post that counters this idea.

I suppose the counter argument is how do we judge negative actions but it's pretty darn clear cut in the case of vaccination against COVID. To me it's black and white and I have still yet to hear a viable counter argument.

There are a couple arguments I have.

My main objection is purely an ideological one. We live in a pluralistic democracy where we give and take and look after everyone. Degenerating into a total user pays system is a dangerous slippery slope IMO, particularly when the actual health costs are comparable with previous years.

There is a second economic argument that unless there is a direct need, you cant simply keep adding taxes, it remoed cash from the economy, reduces growth and slows the economy and increases inflation.

 

[Tiger5150]

Maybe a tax on repeated posts in the COVID thread..

$10 per post..saying the same thing 600 thousand times..

Imagine the windfall in the Luke Brooks thread?