Comments on: As coronavirus death toll hits 100,000, how many more are we willing to lose? https://www.mitchalbom.com/as-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-100000-how-many-more-are-we-willing-to-lose/ #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Sun, 31 May 2020 11:20:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: sansone22 https://www.mitchalbom.com/as-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-100000-how-many-more-are-we-willing-to-lose/#comment-1800 Sun, 31 May 2020 11:20:10 +0000 https://www.mitchalbom.com/?p=238523#comment-1800 Mitch, I just reread the last words of your Memorial Day week article. “We have seen the enemy. We are carrying it.” You should be ashamed of yourself! Now I know I did the right thing by commenting yesterday. Get rid of your hatred. Spreading fear to your readers is propaganda they don’t need. I’m sure your readers prefer honest reporting. Regards, sansone22

]]> By: sansone22 https://www.mitchalbom.com/as-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-100000-how-many-more-are-we-willing-to-lose/#comment-1799 Sat, 30 May 2020 18:30:13 +0000 https://www.mitchalbom.com/?p=238523#comment-1799 The more deaths from coronavirus the more you enjoy writing about it. Just like your welcoming immigrants to the USA, especially illegal immigrants. The more underclass, the more need for big government and your audience grows.
Your point of view with all it’s drama makes for shallow intellectual curiosity. Why don’t you be honest and claim your role as Detroit’s chief of progressiveism? You pedal bad or sad news and your ratings go up. I’d like more honesty and full investigative research by seasoned journalists, such as yourself. Try being a cheerleader more often. Try identifying the facts on political issues . When you’ve made mistakes or didn’t recognize a published error…admit it. We are all in this crazy new world together. Let’s discuss our differences. We’ll discover honest patriotism. Good for us! Regards, sansone22

]]> By: Banker1 https://www.mitchalbom.com/as-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-100000-how-many-more-are-we-willing-to-lose/#comment-1798 Thu, 28 May 2020 16:11:34 +0000 https://www.mitchalbom.com/?p=238523#comment-1798 Hi Mitch,
I’m a regular reader of your column and while I don’t agree with everything you write I still enjoy reading what you have to say. I normally do not respond to anyone’s column or writings. However, I think we can agree to disagree. In your column that you wrote 0n Wednesday May 27, 2020 regarding Corona virus Pandemic…I felt you wrote the column with somewhat of a political slant. I got the impression the president in your opinion was going to be responsible for future deaths because of pushing for the country to open up its economy. We do agree that every life does matter…whether that life is lost in war, or from the virus. Is one type of death more horrific than another …do their loved ones not miss them as much or mourn for them as much…I think we both know the answer to that…I think you are being a little hypocritical in your column …are you writing about the deaths caused by the virus or you own political viewpoint about Trumps handling of opening up the country. I agree with many things that you said in the column. However, I think you forget one important thing…People need to feel a level of self-worth …they need money to buy things to survive…Remember you write a column …you can do that in your bathroom even in your closet and still get paid…your life goes on as normal…you are one of the lucky ones…most are not as fortunate as you…I do not begrudge you for your good fortune but don’t condemn those who are not as fortunate as you…They too want to get back to their working lives and feel like you and I. I like you, am fortunate, I’m retired and have no worries about going back to work or worry where my next meal will come from…we are a few of the fortunate ones in that position versus the many who are not.
Mitch, If this was not a political slam… why did you not mention our infamous governor who’s own husband tried to skirt around his wife’s own rules and then she tried to pawn it off as a “BAD JOKE”…the bad joke is her administration…I find it quite a coincidence that she was not very well known in the other 49 states until she was rumored to be Joe Biden’s running mate…then all of a sudden she appears on tv, radio and all of a sudden becomes the enforcer for the state of Michigan…give me a break.
If your column was truly a column of COVID – 19 and the deaths associated with the deaths…Mitch what is your solution…wait for a vaccine… Even when researchers find a vaccine that works against the new corona virus, it could be 12 to 18 months at best before it’s ready for the public. That’s only a fraction of the usual time. Are we supposed to stay home, wear a mask for that time frame? Let’s assume for a moment we do as I think you are suggesting…how long do we hibernate for…You are dreaming if you think the deaths will stop…I agree they will more than likely not accelerate, but we still will have deaths and now we really have an economy that’s anemic. Where do you suggest the states will get the revenue to run their states?
Mitch, just for comparison, this year’s flu season is shaping up to be possibly less severe than the 2017-2018 seasons, when 61,000 deaths were linked to the virus. However, it could equal or surpass the 2018-2019 season’s 34,200 flu-related deaths….where was the outrage or as you state in your column…Are we willing to give up their lives because we don’t know them. REMEMBER: THERE IS A VACCINE FOR THE FLU…and people still die!
Overall, the CDC estimates that 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually since 2010 can be blamed on the flu. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the flu kills 290,000 to 650,000 people per year. I guess those numbers aren’t large enough for you to close the country down. (Information provided: By Claire Gillespie Updated March 26, 2020 Health).
From Wikipedia The following:
Suicide is a major national public health issue in the United States. The country has one of the highest suicide rates among wealthy nations. In 2018, there were 48,344 recorded suicides, up from 42,773 in 2014, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). On average, adjusted for age, the annual U.S. suicide rate increased 24% between 1999 and 2014, from 10.5 to 13.0 suicides per 100,000 people, the highest rate recorded in 28 years. Due to the stigma surrounding suicide, it is suspected that suicide generally is underreported. In April 2016, the CDC released data showing that the suicide rate in the United States had hit a 30-year high, and later in June 2018, released further data showing that the rate has continued to increase and has increased in every U.S. state except Nevada since 1999. Surging death rates from suicide, drug overdoses and alcoholism, what researchers refer to as “deaths of despair”, are largely responsible for a consecutive three year decline of life expectancy in the U.S. This constitutes the first three-year drop in life expectancy in the U.S. since the years 1915–1918.
Mitch, I guess since they killed themselves their deaths don’t count. The country’s economy never closed down due to the FLU or Suicide deaths. Why, do you think it has something to do with how the press reports it?

Mitch, so I need to ask you, are you concerned by the number of deaths this virus has caused, if that was the case, I don’t recall any articles that you have written about the FLU or SUICIDE deaths or is your motive to disapprove of Trumps handling and your dislike for him. It really does not matter because as individuals we each have an opinion whether we agree or disagree, that’s what is great about this country. However, there is a difference between my opinion and yours which differs greatly, mine is heard by my wife and now you, your opinions are heard by not only me but thousands who read you. Mitch, I had a boss that lived by this saying, “Don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness”.

You work in an industry that can affect many individual lives and if you are wrong, you can say sorry and all is forgiven, but many won’t see your apology, many have already made up their minds based on what you wrote previously. Therefore, you have a lot of clout in molding people’s opinion. I realize editorials are opinion-based articles but many times are supported by research to support their opinion….I’m not sure your opinion was supported by many facts…but I enjoyed reading it never the less and more importantly, you got me to read it and just because I disagree with you I will continue to read you.

Thanks for listening!

]]> By: redwingsfantoo https://www.mitchalbom.com/as-coronavirus-death-toll-hits-100000-how-many-more-are-we-willing-to-lose/#comment-1797 Wed, 27 May 2020 14:31:48 +0000 https://www.mitchalbom.com/?p=238523#comment-1797 Mitch, so you are one of the converted that believes flattening the curve saves lives? When this all broke out, the scientists explained that flattening the curve was to reduce the strain on the healthcare system. That this virus, like those before it and those to come, will run their course no matter how long it takes. Your stance on Sweden and the money hungry people, that supposedly sacrificed lives only holds water if you can actually prevent the virus from spreading. But, in reality of flattening the curve, the number of infected and those that may die from it are only delayed by time and not prevented. As long as we are not over taxing our healthcare system, those numbers are inevitable without a cure. So, is your stance we should remain sheltered until one is discovered? That doesn’t seem plausible, since this is related to SARS2 and we haven’t had much success in defeating the flu either.

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