Tests don’t mean a damn thing if they’re not accurate. A study by New York University and reported by NBC showed that Abbott Labs tests are only 50% effective. Which means they’re only right 50% of the time.
There’s a connection to Abbott Labs here in North Dakota. Governor Burgum has been pointing out to the nation how far ahead we are when it comes to testing for COVID-19. The tests we’re using come from Abbott Labs.
In fairness to the Governor, the study came out after he started bragging Abbott up for its testing. It also came out after President Trump invited him to the White House to congratulate him on the amount of testing.
But that’s not before he took a 50-thousand-dollar check from Abbott for his PAC. And it’s not before he knew about a number of false positives here in North Dakota. The type of positives that can cause a family to panic over nothing.
So, let’s visit about the money. The CEO of Abbott Laboratories is a man named Miles White. Mr. White is the man that wrote the check for $50,000 to Burgum’s PAC. The same PAC that’s targeting State Legislators who don’t agree with the Governor. Legislators that don’t believe millions of state dollars should be going to a Theodore Roosevelt library in Medora.
So again, the people’s perception becomes true. Money is the fuel that drives politics. Even during a time like this. A time when people are looking for answers and honesty. They want to know the truth. They want tests that work.
But hey, if it were baseball, 50% would be a great batting average. The problem is we’re not playing baseball.
And even if we were, they would need to be tested too.
Good riding with you.
Joel Heitkamp
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