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I read and appreciate your post

But the real problem here is the data are corrupted. Usually in a debate at some point people can settle on the facts of the question. Thus far, we have people advocating a case fatality rate of 3% and vaccines take 10 years to develop on one end of the spectrum all the way to there are only 2000 deaths due to Covid (all the rest don’t count as those people died with CoVId born of it) and the vaccines have chips in them and are the mark of the beast.

In an environment where not only are there such divergent opinions about the data coupled with the desperate need to be right about whatever data you believe in, there is no hope for progressing to reasonable discussion.

And as usual the truth is somewhere in the middle. I don’t think worldodometer is correct. Too many reports of death but not well vetted. Far under total cases as ir reports only positive tests.

I think cases are underreported by a factor of 6
I think total true deaths are probably around 350,000
I think given the data we are approaching herd immunity
I think we should use targeted and scientifically soundly proven therapies and preventive meds (vaccines for prevention, bamlanivimab and regeneron monoclonal antibidies). Merck had an oral antiviral that looks extremely promising in phase 3 trial. Israel demonstrates the power of population vaccination. India is currently demonstrating that despite ivermectin being broadly available there is a second wave developing.

Until such a time we have agreement on the data we cannot ever agree on what to do.

You are exactly right.

We can’t have confidence in the numbers, because TPTB want us to be afraid so that they can control us. The death numbers were likely inflated, so that they could be used to advance an agenda to get Trump out.

What is astonishing is that people like Kozak know (or should know) these numbers aren’t accurate, yet lob these numbers because of some sort of virtue-signaling that we should all stay very afraid.

People who post on the flubros thread generally agree that the virus is real but the reaction to it is overhyped.

This is Free Republic, a place where freedom is highly prized, yet Kozak et al want us to not be free. If we disagree with our lack of freedom, in the fearbros’ minds, we aren’t taking it seriously enough.

Be afraid, everyone! Run away and hide! Stay in your homes you healthy people! Listen to Dr. Fauci, no matter if he says one thing one day, and the opposite a week later!

It’s all much too much for me.

But the real problem here is the data are corrupted.

I agree with everything you posted after this statement. The problem I am speaking of is that a certain person is allowed, on a daily basis to post a thread that is verifiablely false. He posts it as fact, in the News and Activism portion of the forum with the sole purpose of causing hate and discontent. There is no other rational explanation for his behavior. Over the years, I've seen others get time outs or banned for such behavior, but this has been allowed to go on and on. Yet again, I don't think his posts should be censored, just put where they belong.