RE: S
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I was just wondering how you were faring when I heard the reports of the high number of cases in Korea. The South African government is evacuating the majority of South Africans in Wuhan. About 150 of just over 200. They've tested nearly 150 people here and so far, negative. I do think there's a lot of hype which is a consequence of SARS which had a much higher mortality rate. That said, the covid 19 mortality rate of 4% - if that's to be believed - is much higher than influenza and the common cold. I also heard a report that it's not affecting kids. How weird is that? I am also wondering that as it breaks out in other places - like northern Italy - whether the mortality and recovery rates will be comparable.
Besides all of that, the economic consequences are scary.
This whole thing makes me want to refresh my memory about Malthus.
Stay healthy.
Thanks. Doing okay here. Mostly uoset I can't take my regular late winter vacations.
I think the mortality rate is misleading. It is 0.5% in Korea because they are testing everyone and have the best testing so far. They are finding a lot of mild cases that people wouldn'teven be concerned about. The countries with higher mortality rates are only counting the most obvious and severe cases.
At anyrate, hope it blows over and doesn't wreck the economy. Eventually people will just get bored of it I hope.
I studied Malthus a bit in school. He was one of the first socioeconomic thinkers. He was wrong but it was such an interesting connection to make back then. If it wasn't so dire he'd be up there with much more famous people. Maybe this is neomalthusiast stuff. In anycase, I think we could do without.
So sorry about your vacations. So, as you say, the figures are misleading. Our currency has plummeted - I am planning to do another course and must pay in GBP and between my trying to register and some glitch with the platform - on their side - I'm going to have to fork out a whole lot more than I planned. Urgh!
Indeed. And yes, perhaps this is neomalthusiast and yes, we can do without it.
Our currency is taking a slight hit, but I think the government needs to work harder to save the economy or they will be out of power in 6 weeks with the next election. Hopefully, things pick up for your country soon, but I'm not holding my breath.
Are you talking Korea or Canada? I haven't been paying attention.
It's going to take a while. Ramaphosa has a poisoned chalice. And continuing the cliches, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. You can't fix a country (or systems) that's (have) been systematically pillaged and plundered over ten or more years in less than 2 when you've got very little support from what should, effectively be your power base. I will say this, though: he's done a lot to shore up the judiciary and the prosecution system. And results of enquiries - public - which were necessary - are beginning to be seen. With meaningful consequences.
Thus spake the glass half full girl.
Korea is having national assembly elections this year, it's every 4 years (president is every 5).
Korea has a demographic problem and a lot of other countries doing the export growth thing. There isn't much maneuvering room. But at least the democracy is mature and competent. Worst that can happen is a 4 year wait. In Korea, the average family has something like 150,000 USD in assets if you include their apartment which is quite a bit to lose.
I do feel South Africa has a chance sometime in the future. To clarify I meant a lot of people there are poor enough to have very little to lose. They did put in check when they tried to go a little too extreme which is a good thing. Most people just want security in the end of the day, not revenge or retribution.
Let's try to keep looking at the glass as half full.
Indeed. Especially with all the steem stuff going on.... :D