[108thSt]

Originally Posted by tbanks3

Wearing a mask is not hard or harmful. It's obviously beneficial to society as a whole if everyone does their part. You wear clothes and shoes in public - per social norms, expectations, and consequences - and probably don't have similar issues.

Not a valid comparison - masks block breathing and hide your facial expressing and cues you give to other people. While humans have worn clothes and shoes since they were Neanderthal for hours a day, blocking your breathing and hiding your face with a scarf has been practiced only for minutes/an hour at a time in harsh conditions.



But I agree that masks are helpful in slowing the spread of respiratory illnesses (if a surgical mask, cloth masks have less than 50% rate of stopping droplets), and mask wearing is absolutely fine if that means, in an emergence of a new virus, wearing mask allows us to go on withour lives and keep people employed and businesses open. But it is not natural, and it is hard for most people to wear them all day inside.



It is anti-science to pressure people to wear masks outside - it is already proven that transmission outside does not occur unless someone sneezes directly in your face, from within 12 inches. And that is what a Harvard trained epidemiologist told our company in a town hall meeting. She said that it is not even possible to get it in an elevator (no mask) because you are not inside long enough. The real issue is being inside non-ventilated building (little outside air drawn in, no high grade filtration like MERV -13) for hours a day with someone who is sick. If you have good ventilation, and good filtering, even inside is not a problem if there is enough space between people.




To greatly reduce viral transmission we can do two things:


1. Allow for better ventilation in buildings (make opening windows for fresh air the norm)
2. Make is socially acceptibe to stay home if you are not feeling well - most people stay home only when they are really sick.



The issue becomes when we are told to wear a mask AND socially distance AND you closed down businesses, AND make everyone scared to death. It is just too much.

[Shartnado42]

Disappointed to see this, seemed like a great idea that was doing well:

https://outline.com/MTKzJj

"Morris votes to issue cease-and-desist order to halt popular outdoor concert series at South Farms in Litchfield County after this year"

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by 108thSt

Make is socially acceptibe to stay home if you are not feeling well - most people stay home only when they are really sick.

This is a culture shift in business that has to happen, regardless of COVID.

I can't count the times on the train I was seated near someone with the plague, and sometimes it was so bad that I moved cars and wound up standing for the rest of the trip.

Some of this is stubborn people that are too selfish/ignorant to isolate. A lot of it is pressure to work because an employer doesn't support/encourage sick leave enough.

[tbanks3]

Originally Posted by 108thSt

Not a valid comparison - masks block breathing and hide your facial expressing and cues you give to other people. While humans have worn clothes and shoes since they were Neanderthal for hours a day, blocking your breathing and hiding your face with a scarf has been practiced only for minutes/an hour at a time in harsh conditions.



But I agree that masks are helpful in slowing the spread of respiratory illnesses (if a surgical mask, cloth masks have less than 50% rate of stopping droplets), and mask wearing is absolutely fine if that means, in an emergence of a new virus, wearing mask allows us to go on withour lives and keep people employed and businesses open. But it is not natural, and it is hard for most people to wear them all day inside.



It is anti-science to pressure people to wear masks outside - it is already proven that transmission outside does not occur unless someone sneezes directly in your face, from within 12 inches. And that is what a Harvard trained epidemiologist told our company in a town hall meeting. She said that it is not even possible to get it in an elevator (no mask) because you are not inside long enough. The real issue is being inside non-ventilated building (little outside air drawn in, no high grade filtration like MERV -13) for hours a day with someone who is sick. If you have good ventilation, and good filtering, even inside is not a problem if there is enough space between people.




To greatly reduce viral transmission we can do two things:


1. Allow for better ventilation in buildings (make opening windows for fresh air the norm)
2. Make is socially acceptibe to stay home if you are not feeling well - most people stay home only when they are really sick.



The issue becomes when we are told to wear a mask AND socially distance AND you closed down businesses, AND make everyone scared to death. It is just too much.

It’s a fine comparison. Not for public health but because you get fined if you don’t wear them in public. If someone doesn’t think a mask helps or is needed, and chooses not to wear one due to their personal preference, it’s quite similar. The point has less to do with public health and more to do with following norms/laws. You can’t go into businesses without a shirt not because you might get someone sick, but because it’s a social norm and a business policy.

[JayCT]

Please stick to the topic of the thread which is the Economic Climate in our state. I& you wish to discuss the merrits of wearing masks, there are other threads in other forums where this can be done. JayCT, Moderator

[BobNJ1960]

Large Ct job cuts at Raytheon.

https://www.nhregister.com/business/...r-15644664.php

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Large Ct job cuts at Raytheon.

https://www.nhregister.com/business/...r-15644664.php

So sad. Times are tough for that industry.

[Lincolnian]

Post COVID there will be many necessary changes. Hopefully, we can get some meaningful policy on a national infrastructure plan implemented which includes the necessary changes to reduce carbon levels and mitigate the impact of climate change. Companies like Raytheon will be critical participants in developing the necessary technology and products to meet international goals. Judging by how poorly the global pandemic plan was handled working on an international carbon reduction plan and getting our citizens to understand how important it is to our country's social and economic future will be a very difficult challenge.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Large Ct job cuts at Raytheon.

https://www.nhregister.com/business/...r-15644664.php

Originally Posted by Mr_250

So sad. Times are tough for that industry.

Raytheon Board: Our Stock Is a Buy


This headline is from 2017



Are Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) shares, which are trading near an all-time high, a good buy? The company's board seems to think so.
After markets closed on Wednesday, Raytheon declared a $0.7975 per-share dividend -- unchanged from the previous quarter -- and said its board had authorized the company to repurchase up to $2 billion in shares. That's on top of the $900 million available under Raytheon's previous repurchase program, which was authorized in 2015.

The new buyback continues a trend. Raytheon, in the last decade, has reduced its share count by nearly 30% via share repurchases, and management has said it expects to return about 80% of free cash to shareholders. But should investors get excited about this latest move?




https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/...-is-a-buy.aspx


If you have money for share buybacks - you have money for employees. Time to make this practice illegal again.

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

Raytheon Board: Our Stock Is a Buy


This headline is from 2017



Are Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) shares, which are trading near an all-time high, a good buy? The company's board seems to think so.
After markets closed on Wednesday, Raytheon declared a $0.7975 per-share dividend -- unchanged from the previous quarter -- and said its board had authorized the company to repurchase up to $2 billion in shares. That's on top of the $900 million available under Raytheon's previous repurchase program, which was authorized in 2015.

The new buyback continues a trend. Raytheon, in the last decade, has reduced its share count by nearly 30% via share repurchases, and management has said it expects to return about 80% of free cash to shareholders. But should investors get excited about this latest move?




https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/...-is-a-buy.aspx


If you have money for share buybacks - you have money for employees. Time to make this practice illegal again.

Did you read the article on the same link, right below it? Stock buy backs and money should go to employees. But, I know some large firms have stock ownership programs with employees that they are allowed to purchase stocks at a discount (via 401k or what have you, and sell those stocks when they need). So if you look at it that one, the employees that take advantage of the company see large increase in stock price they bought at a discount. More money for employees aka shareholders.

This isn’t just related to old UTC, the industry it getting slammed. Just hope that the 450 jobs they lost in CT won’t be rehired in Mass once this thing is over.