As sure as the odds are of me popping a Happy Hour IPA, the US will surpass the million Covid related fatalities milestone in the near future.
America’s Civil War was our last comparable infamous Death benchmark. Between the years 1861-1865, 620,000-750,000 Blue and Gray combatants were killed. (Most succumbed to disease rather than bullets or bombs). On November 3, 2021 the US Covid death count blew by that number in less than two years.
This is not something to be proud of.
The US is now Numero Uno for Covid Deaths in the World. (Despite making up a mere 4.2% of Earth’s inhabitants). Regrettably, many of these deaths were avoidable. Statistically speaking vaccines save lives. It’s mostly the unvaccinated and elderly who are ending up in the mortuaries.
“Just since this summer, 150,000 unvaccinated Americans have needlessly lost their lives despite the widespread availability of vaccines,” Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston. Source New York Times.
So…the US will continue to stumble and stutter to the 1,000,000 mark.
Here’s what I’m proposing. People will make wagers on pretty much anything. How about a call the date of one million Covid deaths in the US?
(This pool will make a charitable contribution to the hungry of La Plata county, CO.)
The rules are simple:
$5 entry fee/date.
Choose a date or a series of dates.
In case of a tie, the betting pool will be split accordingly.
The “House” (that’s me) will subtract $1 per bet. Each and every George Washington note will be donated to the Durango Food Bank. In other words, 20% of your wager will go a worthwhile local charity.
The House (that’s me again) will accept cash, checks and PayPal.
Contact me at: jeffsambur@gmail.com to place your bets and payment information.
My date is March 17th 2022. Saint Paddy’s Day.
Bets must be in no later than New Years Day 2022.
Feel free to forward this post to the other gamblers in your life. (More money means more donations to the DFB.)
I understand this is a dark post. I mean no disrespect to the victims of this seemingly endless pandemic. Some of the money will flow towards helping the hungry and the living of La Plata county. That’s how I’m justifying writing this.
On a personal note. I’ve become numb to the daily grind of Covid.
Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University sums up my current feelings about the virus.
She was asked when the pandemic would end, she replied: “It doesn’t end. We just stop caring. Or we care a lot less.” She added, “I think for most people, it just fades into the background of their lives.”
Source Washington Post.
Stay healthy and safe out there.
Jeff
