13 Comments

Thank you so much Prof. Kelton for this report on Long COVID. I have a friend with Long COVID. It has affected her heart though she is not disabled, she is very much aware that her ability to exercise has been affected. She contracted the virus before it was recognized so only belatedly sought medical care. I wonder how many people are in the same boat.

Expand full comment

$33 Billion for arms to Ukraine is no problem, though.

Expand full comment

Just as worrisome as Long Covid induced disability is a large number of people suffering from Covid vaccine side effects

Expand full comment

I think that it's more accurate to refer to him as President Manchin since he seems to have the final word on anything the Democrats, including the titular president, want to do.

As someone already noted, there's $33 billion for weapons for Ukraine, but bupkis for COVID, especially Long COVID.

Our government's priorities are so screwed up it's depressing and disgusting.

Expand full comment

I subscribe to your optimism and MMT expertise but our identity politics will continue to produce harmful policies and keep us from realizing the Great Society. Thank you so much. I will keep the Faith.

Expand full comment

Thank you Prof Kelton

Expand full comment

I, too, appreciate this article, and the dedicated work of Prof. Kelton and others, on this serious issue. In fact, I’m outright relieved to note experts addressing Long Haul Covid.

An additional factor exacerbating this population condition, is Censorship of both vaccinations and treatment. Such Censorship persists, in America. And it currently does not get adequate attention.

Please see documents in the Covid Folder at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zkP7rH9L7xq7AfowgqWu07s7xOWBRb4f?usp=sharing

Further exacerbating the matter, is that there exist those within oversight entities, who orchestrate rubber stamping, and revenge for whistle-blowing. To appropriately address this censorship, they will need to be prosecuted.

Why aren’t they? And why the Censorship to begin with? See some possible motives, in the Input Answers folder at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vpm_8f5ra41mS2Lg3tIP9PUSG6aoY8h9?usp=sharing

Expand full comment

Thought of this subject while listening to criticism of China's "extreme" zero Covid policy. China has 1.4 B people and the WHO has China at 1.032 M cases (wow that seems low) and 15 K deaths. And politicians ruminate about being competitive with China? Think about what this means vis a vis long Covid.

Also: during the video the advice is to incentivize business to "be flexible" with people who suffer from long Covid. No. Absolutely not. They need to be told what they will do because otherwise, they won't do it. But still take the incentive. Let's not be naive.

Finally, the word is "overhaul" with respect to the disability system. Not hire lawyers. Scrap and rebuild. No time for putting lipstick on a pig.

Expand full comment

Long COVID is bad, but how long is long? Some articles seem to say that while symptoms persist for months, I've yet to see reports that indicate those who suffer from Long COVID will suffer permanently. Most articles in Long COVID state the problem lasts for several months, but it is hard to tell if people become permanently disabled. We are now over 2 years into the pandemic. Before declaring this an absolute emergency, do we know that there a large, i.e., high percentage of people, who were infected and are suffering from COVID symptoms for a period longer than 18 months or 1 year? Does anyone know?

Expand full comment

Virginian here. Please, VA does not own Manchin -- he is D(WV). Youngkin is bad enough, but at least he admits his party alliance.

Expand full comment

MMT "Modern Monetary Theory" or "Military Monetary Theory"? Just looking at current practice.

Expand full comment