" . . . the truth was the opposite of what the Times writers claimed." I was just going to type Yikes, but decided not to because this is disturbingly typical. Yawn is more like it.
I grew up reading both the WaPo and NYT. Both were (from my perspective good (and some might say “excellent” newspapers). I cannot even pick up the WaPo today, it is such a discredited propaganda rag. And the NYT is not far behind. I do still subscribe to the (very) basic NYT. First, and foremost, their recipes are the bomb. And I like to peruse their articles to see what the other side is thinking (not much nowadays). Sad, but true.
Nice work and I hope you do additional pieces on excess deaths. I've had rather similar experiences in the last few years in reaching out to many academics and journalists when I ask inconvenient questions. Irrationality and agenda-driven conclusions, even in "peer-reviewed" research, has been the rule for public health policy and pandemic analysis. Excess deaths are helpful in one respect in terms of showing the before and after, but since they say nothing about attribution for those excess deaths, it's a very limited measure. Also, if excess deaths are primarily the very old, as was the case with the pandemic, it's a bit misleading when compared to more granular analyses like Years of Life Lost. Given the ongoing "pandemic" of opioid overdoses and suicides, the YLL from these deaths has been significantly higher than from Covid, even if we (very charitably) accept that deaths "with" Covid should be tallied as deaths "from" Covid. Here's an essay I wrote on the YLL stuff: https://tamhunt.medium.com/are-lockdowns-causing-more-harm-than-good-528b8ca8d22d
Not surprising to see a UCSF researcher acting this way when one recalls Dr Bob Wachter's (chair of the department of medicine) behavior during the pandemic. Embarrassing.
Also, did the NYT reporters consider age adjustments when highlighting the direct COVID death rates between FL and CA? Which state has the older population, and what is the #1 risk factor for COVID?
The chart and map show how the broadest covid mortality skew was for there to be more deaths in the Southern states, and fewer deaths in the Northern states.
" . . . the truth was the opposite of what the Times writers claimed." I was just going to type Yikes, but decided not to because this is disturbingly typical. Yawn is more like it.
I love your work, David.
Excellent work!
I grew up reading both the WaPo and NYT. Both were (from my perspective good (and some might say “excellent” newspapers). I cannot even pick up the WaPo today, it is such a discredited propaganda rag. And the NYT is not far behind. I do still subscribe to the (very) basic NYT. First, and foremost, their recipes are the bomb. And I like to peruse their articles to see what the other side is thinking (not much nowadays). Sad, but true.
Terrific work, David.
Another great article. Thank you!
Nice work and I hope you do additional pieces on excess deaths. I've had rather similar experiences in the last few years in reaching out to many academics and journalists when I ask inconvenient questions. Irrationality and agenda-driven conclusions, even in "peer-reviewed" research, has been the rule for public health policy and pandemic analysis. Excess deaths are helpful in one respect in terms of showing the before and after, but since they say nothing about attribution for those excess deaths, it's a very limited measure. Also, if excess deaths are primarily the very old, as was the case with the pandemic, it's a bit misleading when compared to more granular analyses like Years of Life Lost. Given the ongoing "pandemic" of opioid overdoses and suicides, the YLL from these deaths has been significantly higher than from Covid, even if we (very charitably) accept that deaths "with" Covid should be tallied as deaths "from" Covid. Here's an essay I wrote on the YLL stuff: https://tamhunt.medium.com/are-lockdowns-causing-more-harm-than-good-528b8ca8d22d
And here's a peer reviewed paper we got published in a rather obscure journal: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Improving-CDC-Data-Practices-Recommendations-for-(v-John-F.-McGowan-Hunt/742d16678a7101ba89d72b9cb8955d6d4c56c4fc
Not surprising to see a UCSF researcher acting this way when one recalls Dr Bob Wachter's (chair of the department of medicine) behavior during the pandemic. Embarrassing.
Also, did the NYT reporters consider age adjustments when highlighting the direct COVID death rates between FL and CA? Which state has the older population, and what is the #1 risk factor for COVID?
Thank you, David, for continuing to knock on those doors. Very strange, indeed!
The chart and map show how the broadest covid mortality skew was for there to be more deaths in the Southern states, and fewer deaths in the Northern states.