Coronavirus Outbreak...

[carpedm9587]

One can have a cell phone, without having an iPhone 11 Pro or a Galaxy s20 Ultra. It takes around a year to save 400 dollars total, by saving 30 a month. Not impossible.

No one is claiming that people cannot save $400 in a year. The study made determined that 40% of the population cannot handle an unexpected $400 crisis. Unexpected - not "after saving for a year."

[carpedm9587]

funny, California's governor, a democrat has been praising Trump's quick response and follow through on everything he promised and they asked for.

Again...what some of the governors are saying...

[carpedm9587]

Did you see the chart I posted for you Mr. data?

You should follow the thread more closely, Sparko. I acknowledged that my analysis was flawed quite a while ago.

[lilpixieofterror]

No one is claiming that people cannot save $400 in a year. The study made determined that 40% of the population cannot handle an unexpected $400 crisis. Unexpected - not "after saving for a year."

[lilpixieofterror]

Again - if a comment is about a statistic, like "40% cannot afford an unexpected $400 crisis," an example is meaningless. If my claim was "no one in the 40% spends money on luxuries," an example of a single person doing so would destroy the argument. When the proposition is "40% cannot afford a $400 unexpected expense," if you wish to show that this 40% (or any significant part thereof) is spending their money frivolously on luxuries like annual phone upgrades and hundreds of dollars a month on cell phone bills, you need to cite a few statistics that actually associated such expenditures with that 40%. If you cannot, then your response is rather pointless since it does not address the argument.

I absolutely agree that some people spend money frivolously, even when they are impoverished. I have no statistics about how prevalent this is, and given the wide range of disagreement on what constitutes a "luxury," I'm not sure how anyone could make this case. And the "hundreds of dollars a month" claim, which you originally made and now have adjusted to "$100 or more a month" (somewhat lowering the bar in the process) is also rather difficult to support. Most carriers now have all-you-can-eat plans that are below $60 per month. I'm paying $150 per month and for that I am providing phones to myself, my wife, my elderly mother, and my parents-in-law.

All in all, I'm not finding your argument very compelling given the original post it appears to be responding to.

[carpedm9587]

What people should or should not do is not the issue. We are in crisis, and the numbers suggest that 40% of the population cannot deal with an unexpected $400 expense. That number was offered in a response to the claim that a $456 price tag for the test should be easily accessible to most people. What they can do going forward is irrelevant. What they can do now is. When you couple these numbers with the millions of people still uninsured, you arrive at my belief that the tests should be made free for everyone, with or without insurance.

Knowing the extent of the virus is critical for planning. Knowing who is or has been infected can be instrumental in many different decisions. Without the information, people are making "best guess" decisions rather than informed ones.

[carpedm9587]

Nice dodge, Pix. In most discussions, you refute one evidence-based claim with other (presumably countering) evidence-based claim. I am pointing out that you have not done this. You have simply made vague assertions. Furthermore, at no point did I say "100% unrefutable truth," so that is a strawman. I simply pointed out the inability of your vague claims to counter the offered evidence.

Then, instead of an actual evidence-based response, you resort to ad homs. If you don't have an answer or the evidence for an answer, Pix, just say so. It's not a crime and it's doesn't make you stupid. Perhaps you will find the evidence you seek at some other time.

[lilpixieofterror]

What people should or should not do is not the issue. We are in crisis, and the numbers suggest that 40% of the population cannot deal with an unexpected $400 expense. That number was offered in a response to the claim that a $456 price tag for the test should be easily accessible to most people. What they can do going forward is irrelevant. What they can do now is. When you couple these numbers with the millions of people still uninsured, you arrive at my belief that the tests should be made free for everyone, with or without insurance.

Knowing the extent of the virus is critical for planning. Knowing who is or has been infected can be instrumental in many different decisions. Without the information, people are making "best guess" decisions rather than informed ones.

[carpedm9587]

Again, Pix, if you have some evidence-based response to make, I'll be happy to look at it. Until then, my opinions will be formed by the available evidence, not by vague assertions that do not address the issue and simply conform to someone's pre-existing narrative.


ETA: I kind of like "carp." Makes me think of Don Knotts in "The Incredible Mr. Limpet."

[lilpixieofterror]

Again, Pix, if you have some evidence-based response to make, I'll be happy to look at it. Until then, my opinions will be formed by the available evidence, not by vague assertions that do not address the issue and simply conform to someone's pre-existing narrative.

[lilpixieofterror]

Again, Pix, if you have some evidence-based response to make, I'll be happy to look at it. Until then, my opinions will be formed by the available evidence, not by vague assertions that do not address the issue and simply conform to someone's pre-existing narrative.


ETA: I kind of like "carp." Makes me think of Don Knotts in "The Incredible Mr. Limpet."

Do you have evidence, beyond a survey?

[lilpixieofterror]

[Sparko]

Again...what some of the governors are saying...

You always have a few bad apples. Just like on tweb.

[Sparko]

You should follow the thread more closely, Sparko. I acknowledged that my analysis was flawed quite a while ago.

I skipped about 7 pages. This thread grew quickly over the weekend. sorry.

[carpedm9587]

Carp brings forth a narrative = okay!

[/QUOTE]

You are welcome to link to any post I've made where I have been unwilling to provide the evidence that supports the views I hold. Until then, this is largely another ad hom. You're welcome to argue that way if you wish, Pix, it just won't do a lot to convince.