Chandelier
Senior Member (Voting Rights)

COVID Isn’t a Cold. It’s Cigarettes All Over Again
Look, we’ve been here before.My grandpa smoked two packs a day for most of my memory of him. Everyone did. Doctors literally prescribed cigarettes for stress. They said it was good for you. Made you look cool. Helped you lose weight. Whatever.He felt fine until he didn’t.That’s exactly what’s...
AI Summary of “COVID Isn’t a Cold. It’s Cigarettes All Over Again” by David Ramsey:
David Ramsey argues that society is dangerously underestimating the long-term health impacts of COVID-19, much like it did with cigarette smoking decades ago. Using a blunt, urgent tone, he compares repeated COVID infections to accumulating damage from years of smoking—effects may seem invisible now but will become catastrophic over time.
Key Points:
1. COVID Is Not “Just a Cold”
- Despite repeated infections being mild or asymptomatic, the virus causes systemic damage—especially to blood vessels, the heart, brain, and organs.
- It binds to ACE2 receptors found throughout the body, allowing it to cause more than just respiratory illness.
2. The Long-Term Risks Are Real
- Scientific studies show the virus can persist in the body long after initial infection, causing chronic inflammation and long-term health problems.
- Conditions like heart attacks, strokes, cognitive decline, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders are rising—especially among young and previously healthy individuals.
3. Every Infection Carries a Cost
- Reinfections increase the risk of organ damage and Long COVID.
- Rather than building immunity, repeat exposures accumulate injury.
4. Children Are Particularly Vulnerable
- Kids are getting infected multiple times a year, and we don’t yet know the long-term effects on their developing bodies and brains.
- Sharp increases in childhood diabetes, cardiac issues, and academic struggles are being ignored or misattributed.
5. Society Is in Denial
- We’ve normalized a serious vascular disease and dismissed it as a mild inconvenience.
- Public health systems have largely abandoned proactive measures, favoring comfort and economic stability over prevention.
6. The Virus Persists and Damages Over Time
- Evidence shows SARS-CoV-2 lingers in organs, potentially causing lifelong complications.
- Long COVID is not rare—it's a sign of ongoing internal battles, even after “recovery.”
7. What We Should Do (But Aren’t)
- Mask in crowded spaces with high-quality masks (e.g., N95).
- Improve indoor air quality with purifiers or DIY Corsi-Rosenthal boxes.
- Demand better vaccines and treatments.
- Stop mocking or dismissing those who continue to take precautions.
8. The Ugly Truth
- We had a choice to invest in protections, but chose denial and convenience instead.
- The consequences—chronic illness, lost productivity, and damaged lives—are already unfolding.
9. The Final Warning
- The damage is cumulative. Like smoking, the health bill may take years to fully arrive, but it will come.
- The science is clear. We’re just refusing to act on it.
Bottom Line:
Ramsey’s piece is a warning: COVID isn’t over, and it never was “just a cold.” Repeated infections carry real risks that could define public health for generations, especially if society continues to ignore mounting evidence.