HEALTH VERSUS THE ECONOMY OR BOTH ? by Marta

 

No sign of a health-economy trade-off, quite the opposite

Have the countries experiencing the largest economic decline performed better in protecting the nation’s health, as we would expect if there was a trade-off?

The chart here shows the same GDP data along the horizontal axis. Along the vertical axis is the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths per million people.

Contrary to the idea of a trade-off, we see that countries which suffered the most severe economic downturns – like Peru, Spain and the UK – are generally among the countries with the highest COVID-19 death rate.

And the reverse is also true: countries where the economic impact has been modest – like Taiwan, South Korea, and Lithuania – have also managed to keep the death rate low.

Notice too that countries with similar falls in GDP have witnessed very different death rates. For instance, compare the US and Sweden with Denmark and Poland. All four countries saw economic contractions of around 8 to 9 percent, but the death rates are markedly different: the US and Sweden have recorded 5 to 10 times more deaths per million.

Clearly, many factors have affected the COVID-19 death rate and the shock to the economy beyond the policy decisions made by each government about how to control the spread of the virus. And the full impacts of the pandemic are yet to be seen.

But among countries with available GDP data, we do not see any evidence of a trade-off between protecting people’s health and protecting the economy. Rather the relationship we see between the health and economic impacts of the pandemic goes in the opposite direction. As well as saving lives, countries controlling the outbreak effectively may have adopted the best economic strategy too.

Economic decline in the second quarter of 2020 vs rate of confirmed
deaths due to COVID-19

The vertical axis shows the number of COVID-19 deaths per million, as of August 30. The horizontal axis shows the
percentage decline of GDP relative to the same quarter in 2019. It is adjusted for inflation.

•   Hide countries < 1 million people

CC BY

Source: European CDC, Eurostat, OECD and individual national statistics agencies

Note: Limited testing and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death means that the number of confirmed deaths may not be an
accurate count of the true number of deaths from COVID-19. Data for China is not shown given the earlier timing of its economic
downturn. The country saw positive growth of 3.2% in Q2 preceded by a fall of 6.8% in Q1.

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Related: Which countries have protected both health and the economy in the pandemic?

Endnotes

 Living in times of uncertainty 

Living in times of uncertainty has posed a challenge to humans ever since the world came into being 

Here s a lesson that the plant world has to teach us . 

WHAT KELP HAS TO TEACH US TO THRIVE IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY 

FLEXIBILITY 

CLAIRE FACKLER/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Strength in flexibility.

• 

By Katherine Ellen Foley

Health and science reporter

November 4, 2020

On days when it feels that the uncertainty is too much to bear, we’d be wise to take notes from a humble, giant algae: kelp.

We land-dwellers rarely think about kelp, but we’ve got quite a lot in common with this ocean friend. For one thing, neither of us are plants; kelp is actually a type of algae called a heterokont. Our lives also share similar beginnings and ends: We both create offspring via sexual reproduction, and eventually, our cells age and die.

These similarities should inspire us to know that we, too, can be like kelp in perhaps its most remarkable feat: It stays firmly rooted amid tumultuous forces beyond its control, and in doing so, inadvertently creates a nurturing environment for others.

Kelp is somewhat constrained in where it can live; because it is algae, it must stick to shallow salt water where it can absorb the suns’ rays. Unfortunately, though, these shallows experience incredibly turbulent waters—too rough for most organisms to handle. These forces would rip humans apart, says Sean Grace, a marine ecologist at Southern Connecticut State University.

Although kelp might be happier in a calmer environment, it continues to thrive. It does so by being both steadfast and flexible. At the bottom of kelp stocks are appendages called holdfasts, which live up to their names, Grace says. Holdfasts fuse themselves to rocks, and become unflappably grounded.

US NATIONAL PARK CENTER

Reaching upward.

Holdfasts allow the parts of kelp that stretch up to the sky, called stripes and blades, to bend to the water’s will. This flexibility is what allows them to survive, instead of getting whisked away and torn to shreds. Even while it accommodates unforeseen pushes and pulls, kelp never stops reaching for the suns’ rays.

But here’s more: As kelp sustains itself by absorbing sunlight, water, and literal tons of carbon dioxide (cleaning up much of our dirty work, I might add), its stability creates a habitat for all kinds of marine life. It does so physically, by providing a reliable hideout for fish, crustaceans, and mammals; and biologically, by providing these creatures with the nutrition they need to thrive.

“If you look all around the world to wherever there are kelp forests, you find higher biodiversity, which is a signal of health,” Grace says. The more kelp, the more other kinds of life thrive.

We didn’t ask to live through the pushes and pulls of 2020, nor did kelp ask to live through the ebbs and flows of the tides. Yet kelp survives, and help others thrive, as should we. Although we don’t have holdfasts, we do have family and loved ones to keep us grounded. We have foundational values that allow us to keep sight of our goals, even while being pulled in undesirable directions. And we can make room for others along the way, too.

Perhaps when Confucius referenced the strength of the humble green reed compared to the stiff oak, he really meant to say “kelp.”

📬

I VOTED

 

Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference?

As if the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t already challenging enough, the US will be holding a general election in the midst of it. Many people are rightfully concerned that traditional, in-person voting could spread COVID-19, and so some states are changing (or considering changing) their voting rules to make it easier for eligible people to vote by mail.

Voting by mail can be done by what’s called an absentee ballot or mail-in ballot. But there is a lot of confusion—and misinformation—around these methods, which vary widely state by state. What’s more, some people use these terms interchangeably, others mean different things by them, and yet others employ different words altogether.

Yes, it’s complicated. But we’ve got a primer for you on absentee ballots vs. mail-in ballots. And please note: use the information in this article for your general information, but consult your local election officials for when and how you may vote. To get started, visit usa.gov and vote.gov.

What is an absentee ballot?

Let’s start with some election basics. Normally, most US voters cast their ballots in person in a polling booth at a polling place/station based on where they are registered to vote. A ballot is the physical form (or electronic voting machine equivalent) that a voter fills out; it lists the candidates, issues, and so on that a person votes on.

An absentee ballot is a ballot used to cast an absentee vote, which is submitted, usually by mail, by an absentee. Absentee, here, refers to a person who can’t physically be present at a voting center on Election Day. Absentee voting in America goes back to the Civil War era, and every state allows this kind of voting in some form—and federal law, in fact, requires ballots be sent to military and overseas voters for federal elections.

To get an absentee ballot, a registered voter must request one through their state government, which accepts or rejects the application. When someone is approved to vote absentee, election officials mail the voter an absentee ballot, which they complete and sign, and return by mail or, under certain circumstances, fax. Officials can reject absentee ballots if they are improperly filled out, and voters face steep penalties if they falsify any information.

All states, again, send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters who request them. In 16 states*, an absentee ballot is the only form of voting through the mail that is allowed by law, and the voter is required to give a reason why they can’t go to a voting location on Election Day. Exact rules vary, but qualifying reasons may include the following:

• Being out of the county where they are registered to vote
• Being a student living outside of the county
• Having an illness or disability
• Working or being on jury duty during voting hours
• Serving as an election worker or poll watcher
• Having religious beliefs or practices that prevent them from going to a voting center
• Being in prison but still able to vote

*Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia

WATCH: How Do You Pronounce The Word "Candidate"?

Why do some people say candi-dates and others say candi-dits? Well, we have an answer ...

What is a no-excuse absentee ballot?

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia** use what’s sometimes called a no-excuse absentee ballot. This is similar to the strict absentee ballot previously noted in the 16 states above, but a registered voter doesn’t have to give a reason (excuse) why they can’t be at their polling location on Election Day. However, the states themselves may simply call this ballot an absentee ballot.

The lexical wrinkles don’t stop there! Some of these states (e.g., Pennsylvania) may refer to the no-excuse absentee ballot as a mail-in ballot.

**Alaska, Arizona, California, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

So, what is a mail-in ballot?

Five states—Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii—already conduct their elections through a mail-in process that’s often referred to as all-mail voting. Registered voters in these states automatically receive a mail ballot, which is sent to their address before Election Day and mailed back by the voter or deposited at a voting location or secure dropbox by a certain time on Election Day.

In these states, the term absentee ballot can specifically refer to 

CAN YOU GIVE IT A TITLE ?

 TASK  Read this account of a job relationship in the USA . Give it a title 

I am going to piss a considerable amount of people off with my comment. I guess I should get ready for the hate mail from my conservative friends. I am a conservative by the way, but I am just answering a question.

I will preface this by saying I believe in “the wall” and closing borders. But 20 years ago, was a different time. Everyone hired illegals at the time, so I am not ashamed of my actions.

After grad school I fell into managing restaurants because the money was great. I opened a new Italian restaurant in 2000 and staffing was difficult. Minimum wage was $6 / hr. I was making $18 / hr. as a general manager, my assistant was making $16 / hr. and my third asst. manager was making $15 / hr.

We couldn’t staff the kitchen so we started hiring anybody. I think I had a dozen Hispanics using the same ID. I still do not understand how they cashed their checks.

We made our pizzas in a wood oven that required quite a bit of maintenance. The person would come in and clean the oven, cut wood, stack the wood, and served as a bus-boy through lunch. We also had a maintenance worker who came in to mop the floors, clean the bathrooms, wash the windows, and also serve as a bus-boy during our lunch hours.

Finally, I had my dishwasher named Eusevio; he had I wife back in Mexico and 7 daughters he was putting through private school. He worked from 8 am until 2 pm with me and walked down to Walmart 2 miles away to work the 3 pm to 11 pm shift. He had previously (in Mexico) wrestled alligators for tourist to make a living) so he was in good shape and a very hard worker.

Several week after we opened the guy who cut the wood quit and we couldn’t fill the job. I asked my two assistants to step up and chop the wood (which I was doing as well) and they both told me “no.” One morning when I was chopping wood for the day, Eusavio showed up early, and took the ax from my hand, indicating that he had “this” job and for me to get back to managing. I let him. After a week of him doing both jobs, I doubled his salary to $12.

A few weeks later the guy who did all the cleaning maintenance quit and we couldn’t fill the position. I asked my assistant managers to step up, come in early, (like I was doing), and mop the floors and clean the bathrooms. They refused.

One day, prior to opening, I was mopping the floors and Eusevio showed up even earlier than before, took the mop from my hand and motioned for me to go handle more important things. I did. And I added another $6 dollars to his hourly wage. He was now making exactly what I was per hour ($18), and two and three dollars more per hour than my assistant managers.

My two assistant managers soon stumbled upon payroll and were mortified that the dishwasher was making more than them. They suggested that we demote Eusavio back down to $6 per hour and take the additional $12 per hour and split it up among the three of us; I would have none of that. I told them that Eusavio was doing three minimum wage jobs and the fact that both of them refused to mop floors, clean toilets, chop wood, clean the oven, bus tables or do dishes, then they didn’t deserve a raise.

They threatened to quit on me as managers and tried to blackmail me. I told them, if they did that, then I would have to teach Eusevio English and train him how to do both of their jobs. I added it up and said, “he is currently making $18 and hour, if you add both of your wages into it he will be making $47 an hour. Do you really want to see that?”

They didn’t quit, but they were pissed. They notified the regional office to let them know what was going on. My regional manager was appalled that I was paying my dishwasher $18 an hour and threatened to fire me. I told him that he wouldn’t have to fire me and that I would quit if he changed Eusevio’s wage. I told him he was doing three jobs and deserved to get paid for them fairly. He didn’t fire me and they (Corporate) let Eusevio keep his job at the wage I had given him.

I was never able to communicate with Eusavio and he was never able to communicate with me because neither one of us spoke the same language. Still, that didn’t keep us from hanging out, having a few beers, and watching football games sitting at the bar on the weekends. I’d buy him a round and he would buy me a round. We communicated through “cave-man” speech, with many facial and hand gestures. But I would rather hang out with him than any of my other co-workers, because he always had my back while many of the others didn’t.

I had to move on to a new job at one point and that same week I had bought a car and was getting ready to sell my old Volvo station wagon. Eusevio showed up late to work one day and told me that his pickup had been stolen the night before. The next day, I handed over the title to the Volvo along with the keys. He hugged me for a very long time, with a tear in his eye he wished me well in my new job, but I had no idea what he was saying. I still miss the guy 20 years later and wonder how his 7 girls he was working so hard for turned out.

A HARVEST OF GRIEVANCE

 WHAT  THEY THINK ABOUT US ABROAD 

FROM ABROAD

THE OTHERS ARE WATCHING 

A harvest of grievance
What a drive through Argentina’s breadbasket reveals

Anger at the government is intense in the country’s interior

The AmericasOct 29th 2020 edition

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Oct 29th 2020

CÓRDOBA

Lorry-drivers at a roadside grill near Vicuña Mackenna, a small town in central Argentina, looked on appreciatively as Jorge Gutiérrez rode up bareback on a young stallion, doffed his blue boina (gaucho hat) and sat down to join them for lunch. “Normally a gaucho has little, or nada, in common with truckers,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow with a red scarf as he tucked into a flame-grilled matambre, or flank steak, so rare that it was almost the hue of that scarf. “But now we agree this pandemic is creating a disaster.” Aldo, a middle-aged trucker with a youthful ponytail and the body of a prize-fighter, interjected: “My friend, all of us will be buried by this crisis if it goes on much longer.”

Discontent is louder in Buenos Aires, the capital, and other big cities, where large protests have taken place since July. But it is just as intense in the agricultural interior. That part of the country was never going to be friendly towards Alberto Fernández, the Peronist president. He was elected a year ago, with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a populist former president, as his running-mate. Córdoba, the province where Vicuña Mackenna is located (see map), voted strongly in favour of Mauricio Macri, the conservative incumbent who lost. The province, like most of the others along the route of this correspondent’s road trip in September westwards from the capital, is bound to pose problems for Mr Fernández’s Front for All coalition in crucial mid-term elections due in October next year.