Interpreting COVID-19 Stats

In response to the discussion on the COVID-19 mortality rate, my mom notes: Looks as if statistics can say whatever you want.  

Yes, that’s true, and remarkably, this is not a new idea.  I believe it was Mark Twain who said, “There are lies, there are damn lies, and then there are statistics.” He was amazing.

As we discussed last night, I simply think and do what scientists tell me to, and I leave it up to them to interpret the numbers.   I’m not a climate scientist or epidemiologist, and thus I’m not in a position to have ideas on these subjects that run counter to those of experts in these fields.

I find it disgusting when someone writes on social media that climate change is a hoax, or, in this case, that the CDC doesn’t understand the pandemic or is responding inappropriately–and then I find out that they’re a hair stylist or a car salesman.  The CDC has an annual budget of $6.5 billion and employs 10,600 top minds.  Why on EARTH could anyone possibly care what this boobs thinks?