Earlier in the week it was Andy Slavitt, today it is Mike Osterholm, both proposing preposterous and unnecessary complete shutdowns of social and economic life in the country. Mr. Slavitt’s proposals included the absurd notion of banning interstate travel. Mr. Slavitt was a former UnitedHealth Group executive who got very rich and has nothing to worry about. He was acting directing of the Medicare and Medicaid Agency in the Obama Administration. If you read his twitter stream you know exactly what he is–primarily a political shill whose remarks relating to the epidemic are designed to harm the current administration and put the other party back in power, because he would probably like to be HHS secretary. I have said repeatedly that it is completely offensive and inappropriate for rich people to advocate lockdowns which mean nothing to them but destroy the lives of low-income and minority Americans.
Mr. Osterholm may have been a pre-eminent infectious disease epidemiologist at one time, but he must be washed up and over the hill now. He hasn’t been right about much during the epidemic other than the likely futility of mask mandates. He was a primary advisor on the multi-million dollar Minnesota model which has estimated 4 million cases, just off by 80 times, and 20,000 deaths, just off by over 12 times, in Minnesota at this point. He needs to re-read his beginning epidemiology textbooks, because he apparently completely forgot to consider variation in susceptibility and infectiousness as a potential factor in the epidemic and keeps saying population immunity won’t be achieved until 70% or more of the population is infected, despite increasing research evidence that this isn’t the case. He too was promoting a renewed round of lockdowns, again, despite evidence that the lockdowns did little to slow cases.
What is wrong with these people–have they zero ability to look at and understand data and research? The case surges in certain states are basically over, and like every other state that has endured a case surge, we will now see the long decline in hospitalizations and deaths. In the latest wave, those serious outcomes were far lower than in the states suffering in April and May. And have we learned nothing about balancing the health harms of the lockdowns with the supposed benefits in regard to coronavirus illness? Do they not read report after report finding missed health care leading to deaths, worsening of illness and other issues? Can they not see that the constant terrorization of the population, which they aid and abet, is responsible for mass anxiety, depression, worsening drug and alcohol abuse and suicides? In the US, and even more so around the world, the lockdowns will kill multiples of people compared to coronavirus. Tens of millions may die of starvation alone. But these moral morons assign no value to those lives. At some point, I hope some group will call them all to account for the insane amount of damage they have done to the people of this country by advocating for policies that destroy lives, while making little, if any, difference in the course of the epidemic.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at 
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Slavitt is an Obama acolyte, and Osterholm’s dislike of Trump is well established. You may be right on with the suspicion they are angling for jobs in the expected Biden administration.
Meanwhile, the Dictator and many other state officials also seem to be counting on a Biden election, with Pelosi and Schumer in charge of the nation’s checkbook, with plans to provide ample funds to cover any state budget shortfalls, restore any depleted unemployment funds, and probably to fully re-pay and salary deferrals and maybe even pay some discretionary bonuses to all these hard-working state bureaucrats for their extra-ordinary service. No pain for anyone, except for those small businessman or blue-collar workers adversely affected by the lockdowns, but, hey, you can’t make everyone happy. And since none of these health care experts or state folks have ever had to pay building rent, figure out how to cover payroll, pay various business taxes, or deal with the risks of entrepreneurship, there is no consideration of the impact on them.
The wrench in the machine would be a Trump re-election and Republican control of the Senate. And maybe the loss of some seats in the Minnesota House.
How much fun would that be?
Well this post didn’t hold up well, did it? The question is this: did Kevin Roche actually believe the stupidity of this post? Or did he just think this could make him some money?
Do you see an ad on the site? Does it cost something to read it? I make nothing from this site, and this year, it will cost me over $30,000 to maintain it. I have been and continue to be very fortunate in business, so I can afford to do that in the interest of trying to get people accurate information, unlike Mr. Slavitt and Dr. Osterholm, who are only interested in how much they can get on TV to spread hysteria. What hasn’t held up well is their constant predictions of hospitals “collapsing” and never-ending case rises. Their actions are a direct contributing cause to the inestimable injury to children who have lost educational and social opportunities and are committing suicide and suffering mental health issues at an unprecedented rate and to the tens of thousands of deaths due to lockdowns, not the virus. They should be ashamed of their ignorant posturing and careless disregard for the welfare of the entire public.