US postal service

[vogue65]

Automation and other factors already have had a huge impact on USPS. They have laid off a shyte-load of employees over the last decade.

However ...

Tens of millions of Americans, especially those in rural areas, do not have the interwebs. The mail is still their main way of communication, and it figures to be for many, many more years.

Also, there are some things that one can't get virtually. Today, millions of people receive their medications by mail. Again, that is especially true of those in rural areas.

Now, maybe there will be privatization of all of the above, including medication delivery. But the service will still be necessary.

It's a difficult problem. As is the case with most, there is a lot of nuance, a lot of gray.

When FedEx goes under who will deliver the mail?  Oh, just the passenger cargo airlines will go under, hmn.

Amazon with drones will save the day, when?  In 20 years?  As Gen. Patton said, "timing is everything".

[vogue65]

Automation and other factors already have had a huge impact on USPS. They have laid off a shyte-load of employees over the last decade.

However ...

Tens of millions of Americans, especially those in rural areas, do not have the interwebs. The mail is still their main way of communication, and it figures to be for many, many more years.

Also, there are some things that one can't get virtually. Today, millions of people receive their medications by mail. Again, that is especially true of those in rural areas.

Now, maybe there will be privatization of all of the above, including medication delivery. But the service will still be necessary.

It's a difficult problem. As is the case with most, there is a lot of nuance, a lot of gray.

We can't engineer, design, ROI, our way out of mass unemployment, a pandemic, a colapse of the service economy, the end of travel and entertainment, and an inequitable distribution of wealth. 

I don't care how many bars and restaurants are open, I'm not going.  I'm not flying, going on a cruse, using public transportation, going to the dentist (except for an emergency), or going to weddings, funerals, mass, or bah mitzvahs.

The post office is a big RED HERRING.

[WarriorDad]

We can't engineer, design, ROI, our way out of mass unemployment, a pandemic, a colapse of the service economy, the end of travel and entertainment, and an inequitable distribution of wealth. 

I don't care how many bars and restaurants are open, I'm not going.  I'm not flying, going on a cruse, using public transportation, going to the dentist (except for an emergency), or going to weddings, funerals, mass, or bah mitzvahs.

The post office is a big RED HERRING.

If you are comfortable with that then do it.  Everyone has to live their own life.  I'm choosing to get out and live, flying, traveling, attending celebrations.  We are all going to die eventually.

[Hards Alumni]

If you are comfortable with that then do it.  Everyone has to live their own life.  I'm choosing to get out and live, flying, traveling, attending celebrations.  We are all going to die eventually.

No, not really.  You're behavior affects everyone in a pandemic.  Not just your own.

[WarriorDad]

Not going to disagree with the general concept, though I wouldn't tax the automation system so to speak. Generally speaking, the automation system generates more than it destroys at a high level. It certainly can have an overall negative impact at the individual level and I think we should strive to minimize that outcome but not as an extract from the automation itself.

Personal opinion time, and it's totally decoupled from the automation discussion, you want to solve a lot of problems simultaneously? I would wave a wand and enact the following policies:
-Enact a UBI which would effectively include a "stipend" for healthcare (set the UBI to some level that allows for basic living and healthcare expenses)
-

Has there been an example anywhere that UBI has worked?  Finland came out with their results in the last few weeks and people were happier, but it didn't change the economics as people did not go looking for jobs.  UBI sounds great on paper, but I have yet to see where it ever works.  The money isn't there, the resentment from people working to pay the UBI for those that aren't grows.   And what is basic living mean?  Is it indexed?  My basic living expenses in the Chicagoland area are different than those of someone living in Evansville or Syracuse.  San Franciso, NYC, Los Angeles would be higher than Chicago.  How is all this being paid for?

[WarriorDad]

No, not really.  You're behavior affects everyone in a pandemic.  Not just your own.

Which was the case before the pandemic, too.  One of the mayors out west said a few days ago they will not fully unlock until a cure arrives.  He didn't say vaccine or drugs to minimalize risks, but a cure.  People are starting to lose it and some of these officials may have much more on their hands than a virus with less than 1% mortality rate. 

[Hards Alumni]

Which was the case before the pandemic, too.  One of the mayors out west said a few days ago they will not fully unlock until a cure arrives.  He didn't say vaccine or drugs to minimalize risks, but a cure.  People are starting to lose it and some of these officials may have much more on their hands than a virus with less than 1% mortality rate.

No, it wasn't the case.

[vogue65]

If you are comfortable with that then do it.  Everyone has to live their own life.  I'm choosing to get out and live, flying, traveling, attending celebrations.  We are all going to die eventually.

Hay Dad, go for it.
We are living in very different realities.

My friend, a Chinese doctor in Flushing NYC,  lost 30 of 32 patients.
She has a Dr. friend who has lost over 100.
I live in N.J., I have lost three friends in Newark, N.J., all in their 50's.

During the first week of April 20% of NYPD were out sick.

I'm 77 and in good health, I'm being cautious.  If I were 35 and living in Wisconsin, I'd probably think differently.   

But, what has the pandemic done to the post office, Wall Street, innovation, And automation?  Everything.  As we say, it is a game changer. 

[vogue65]

Which was the case before the pandemic, too.  One of the mayors out west said a few days ago they will not fully unlock until a cure arrives.  He didn't say vaccine or drugs to minimalize risks, but a cure.  People are starting to lose it and some of these officials may have much more on their hands than a virus with less than 1% mortality rate.

1 % of what?  The total population?  The population of the northeast?  Of people over 50 or 60 or 70?   Of urban and suburban people?  Of health care professionals?  Come on, we are better than using a 1% number.

I have no problem with "officials".  The virus will do what the virus will do.  The body will do what the body will do.  The consumer, the worker, the market will do what the they will do.  The officials are not really that powerful or significant. 

[tower912]

Which was the case before the pandemic, too.  One of the mayors out west said a few days ago they will not fully unlock until a cure arrives.  He didn't say vaccine or drugs to minimalize risks, but a cure.  People are starting to lose it and some of these officials may have much more on their hands than a virus with less than 1% mortality rate.

(A)  Find the quote.   'One of the mayors out west' has as much credibility as that Canadian girl we all met over the summer when we were teenagers.
(B)  I strongly suspect that even that person, if asked, will say they misspoke slightly, that they used the word 'cure' as shorthand for vaccine and effective treatment.   

But, some people

[vogue65]

(A)  Find the quote.   
(B)  I strongly suspect that even that person, if asked, will say they misspoke slightly, that they used the word 'cure' as shorthand for vaccine and effective treatment.   

But, some people

There is no vaccine or cure for AIDS, SARS, EBOLA, N1H1, among other virus infectious diseases.
The reality is sinking in, maybe not in Wisconsin, but in the rest of the world.
Why am I not surprised that my belovid Wisconsin is in denial?

[jesmu84]

There is no vaccine or cure for AIDS, SARS, EBOLA, N1H1, among other virus infectious diseases.
The reality is sinking in, maybe not in Wisconsin, but in the rest of the world.
Why am I not surprised that my belovid Wisconsin is in denial?

AIDS is not a virus.

[vogue65]

What is it?  A syndrome?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

HIV is the virus, AIDS is the disease...but it was certainly clear what you meant.

[JWags85]

There is no vaccine or cure for AIDS, SARS, EBOLA, N1H1, among other virus infectious diseases.
The reality is sinking in, maybe not in Wisconsin, but in the rest of the world.
Why am I not surprised that my belovid Wisconsin is in denial?

And what reality is that? We all need hide in our homes and this is the end of travel? We will all live off the socialist dole cause “most” will have to stay in their homes indefinitely?

I’m not even sure what your overall point is other than you’ve survived a lot and lived a lot so you’re comfortable saying the world as we know it is gone and over and never coming back.

Also, your doctors must serve a very elderly and/or afflicted patient base cause losing 94% of your patients, and presumably well over half in the case of the doctor who supposedly lost 100, is bubonic plague level crap, not Corona at its most deadly. 15% is the highest recorded death rate, and that’s for those 80+ in Italy.

You’re in a critical at risk group so I wish you good health and encourage all the safe measures, but stop the Chicken Little extrapolation to anyone and everyone else.

[🏀]

If you are comfortable with that then do it.  Everyone has to live their own life.  I'm choosing to get out and live, flying, traveling, attending celebrations.  We are all going to die eventually.

Hopefully some sooner than others.

[MU82]

Hopefully some sooner than others.

Is this actually rooting for somebody to die? You might want to check that; karma's a beyotch.

But yes, some will die sooner than others. Always. I doubt there will ever be an occasion in which everybody on earth dies the exact same nanosecond.

[vogue65]

And what reality is that? We all need hide in our homes and this is the end of travel? We will all live off the socialist dole cause “most” will have to stay in their homes indefinitely?

I’m not even sure what your overall point is other than you’ve survived a lot and lived a lot so you’re comfortable saying the world as we know it is gone and over and never coming back.

Also, your doctors must serve a very elderly and/or afflicted patient base cause losing 94% of your patients, and presumably well over half in the case of the doctor who supposedly lost 100, is bubonic plague level crap, not Corona at its most deadly. 15% is the highest recorded death rate, and that’s for those 80+ in Italy.

You’re in a critical at risk group so I wish you good health and encourage all the safe measures, but stop the Chicken Little extrapolation to anyone and everyone else.

 

My friends are Chinese doctors in Flushing,  NYC.  They have patients in nursing homes. 
Yes it is that bad in Elmhurst General.  "Plague level",  as you say.  From personal experience I know that Italy was even worse.

I live in a rural area, much different vibe.   Now about flying back to Bergamo?   UNITED has canceled the direct flight from Newark, UA19.  They offer a flight to Frankfort, UA 960, which last night was 20% subscribed.  Then a layover, then a flight to Milan, then on to Bergamo.  20 hrs., unstainable.

No lockdown involved, no government officials involved, it is just the old supply and demand economics at work.  I don't need to be on the dole to fly or not to fly.   I'm no Chicken Little my friend, just writing some very uncomfortable facts.

I think it unfortunate that you chose the word dole.  I guess you have never been poor, good for you.

[Jockey]

If you are comfortable with that then do it.  Everyone has to live their own life.  I'm choosing to get out and live, flying, traveling, attending celebrations.  We are all going to die eventually.

You and chico planning a trip together?

[vogue65]

You and chico planning a trip together?

JWags85 can join them, but I would wager they are not flying.

[MU82]

We are all going to die eventually.

I hear Russian roulette is a ton of fun. So are alligator wrestling and skydiving without a parachute. Might as well give 'em a whirl. I mean, we're all gonna die sometime!

[vogue65]

I hear Russian roulette is a ton of fun. So are alligator wrestling and skydiving without a parachute. Might as well give 'em a whirl. I mean, we're all gonna die sometime!

As I see it we have a lot of risk takers.  Wall Street is made for risk takers, Atlantic City was and Reno is full  of risk takers.  (I'll leave out the passive suicidal folks as it has gotten me into trouble around here in the past)

I would like to know the risk.  That's not a lot to ask.  Leave out the emotion, politics, economics, opinion, conspericy theories, bias, just give me the risk.

[WarriorDad]

Hopefully some sooner than others.

OK, if that makes you feel better. 

[WarriorDad]

You and chico planning a trip together?

Not that I am aware of, but I will be on a plane next week and have no hesitation whatsoever. 

[WarriorDad]

(A)  Find the quote.   'One of the mayors out west' has as much credibility as that Canadian girl we all met over the summer when we were teenagers.
(B)  I strongly suspect that even that person, if asked, will say they misspoke slightly, that they used the word 'cure' as shorthand for vaccine and effective treatment.   

But, some people

Thought it was San Francisco mayor, but it was Los Angles.  Video included.  Do not think he misspoke.

https://deadline.com/2020/05/los-angeles-mayor-eric-garcetti-never-be-completely-open-cure-1202934087/