Uber Driver on Working During Early COVID: Risk, Money, and Who to Trust

Vance Crowe [00:00:02] As the crow flies on the Bands Crow podcast. Thomas Evans. Welcome. What's

Thomas Evans [00:00:08] Up

Vance Crowe [00:00:08] To the podcast?

Thomas Evans [00:00:10] What's going on? How you doing?

Vance Crowe [00:00:11] I'm doing great. So you and I met a few months back. You were my Uber driver from one side of town to the other. And we found out that we both lived in U City, university City is a part of St. Louis. And yes,

Thomas Evans [00:00:24] Sir,

Vance Crowe [00:00:24] Had a fantastic conversation. And now that Coronavirus is going on, I'm trying to collect a whole bunch of different perspectives of people from all over the world, different backgrounds, different work. And I thought, man, I should give my buddy Thomas a call and hear what he's doing. So it is, what is it, April 14th? April 15th. It's

Thomas Evans [00:00:44] April 14th. It's the, the 14th. The 14th of April right now. And right now I gotta say, man, this stuff has hit the economy hard. It has hit my pockets hard, it's hard for me to work because, you know, I'm doing Uber and Lyft, and when I met you around that time, the business was booming in the St. Louis area. Now nothing, we ain't getting no type of business for real doing Uber and Lyft. So what I used to make in 30 hours, then I would have to work almost 80 hours now to work, you know what I mean?

Vance Crowe [00:01:16] So are you spending most of the time for your Uber, like just waiting for somebody to, to hit they need a ride?

Thomas Evans [00:01:23] Yeah, most of the time doing that. Outside of that, I have a few personal clients that I pick up and take different places on a regular basis, but, so that, that helps out a lot. But as far as Uber and doing Uber and Lyft, it's not as fun as it used to be.

Vance Crowe [00:01:37] And so what's it like now if you do get a client, where, where do they wanna go? Are they, where are you driving people when we're, so in St. Louis, Missouri, we're under a stay at home order. The people that don't have essential jobs are at home, but it looks like there's a lot of cars out there. So where are you taking people?

Thomas Evans [00:01:55] A lot of people have to go to different places of, of course, the grocery stores and Walmart. But most of the people that I take, like I come to notice a lot of times in the morning when I drive. Like let's say I got a, I wake up at two in the morning and I want decide to turn on my app. I, I get a lot of calls for people that, like a lot of older senior citizens that need to go to like, get dialysis and stuff like that. So I get a lot of those, like people that get treat cancer treatments or people that gotta go to the doctor real early in the morning and stuff like that. And a lot of people that gotta go to work and stuff. Other than that, other than that, I usually get a lot of people just going back and forth to the grocery stores, convenient places like that to get a set to items of course.

Vance Crowe [00:02:38] And so what is the price right now of an Uber relative to, because doesn't the price fluctuate depending on how much demand there is, stuff like that? Well,

Thomas Evans [00:02:46] It also, it, it used to depends on if it was a particular event going on in a certain area. Let's say the Fox had a big show that night, the Uber prices will shoot up in that area just because people will be needing to get to that area or they need to be going home from that area. Right now it ain't nothing going on. So the prices for Ubers are just flat and flat rates right now.

Vance Crowe [00:03:14] Flat rates. And when people get in your car, are they wearing a mask?

Thomas Evans [00:03:19] Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Most people are definitely wearing masks. I'm wearing masks myself when I'm in a car with anybody. But I try to keep a, at least my, my windows ventilated and I try to just, at least after every ride, sanitize it, lights all it down, maybe scrub and floors if need be. Other than that, I just try to wipe my whole car down almost after every trip.

Vance Crowe [00:03:39] So let's go back a little while, like how did you figure out that Coronavirus was gonna be a big deal and when did you see it start impacting your driving?

Thomas Evans [00:03:50] So when I didn't, so my son's birthday was March the third. He's, he actually lives in California, so I actually didn't realize how big it was until I got back from California and seeing that, okay, that's one of the few, one of the first places where a lot of the stuff was happening to that. And then probably, probably like a week later, like business just shut down, like once that stay at home order and stuff, got into play the flight the first week business was a man, it was like a ghost town, some more in nights in St. Louis. It wasn't nobody trying to get no rides anywhere unless they were going to work or like I said to the doctor to get dialysis or something like that.

Vance Crowe [00:04:37] The other day I was out on my back patio and somebody stopped by my house, which I haven't had happen in weeks. And my dog ran around the side of the house and, and like, I was like, where's my dog going? And then I saw this person and I was like, instantly very like, what are you doing here? You know, this is, this is weird because I haven't seen a person in so long. Right. Are you seeing that people are treating you differently because they are staying at home? Like, are people like me where they're like, I don't know if I should be talking to you?

Thomas Evans [00:05:08] Well, you know what, one thing, like I notice a lot in my neighborhood. I sit on the porch or I sit, I, I'm doing a lot of yard work now and I'm just noticing the amount of people just exercising around the neighborhood that has like, increased. It went from like, maybe like a 10% to probably like 50% outside people walking dogs. I'm like, I never seen anybody else neighborhood, some of you people up walking up and down the street and stuff. So that's one thing that, and I, I, I, I'm, I'm a pretty friendly guy and most of the people that I, you know, nod my head to and say hi to, they usually do it back and stuff. So it just surprised me that so many people are actively trying to do something since they can't do anything else but stay at home. You know what I mean?

Vance Crowe [00:05:54] Yeah. So what are people saying in your, in your Uber ride, are you having the same kinds of conversations that you were having before Coronavirus kicked off? Or are they totally different

Thomas Evans [00:06:05] Now? Well, well, well, I mean, of course the conversation is, is still fresh and new. It's, it's funny because a lot of people, all I really hear is people trying to like, what's the solution? You know what I mean? Like, that's one thing that I really can't say that I, outta everybody that I've, that talked to doing since the coronavirus and stuff happened, like with the Lyft, Uber Riders, man, all they wanna do is like, what's the solution after all this, after we stayed home for 30 days, let's say the world, world stays at home 30, 40 days, it's, are we just gonna be able to go back outside and then everything's normal again? You're just gonna open back up. Like what, what's, what's really the process that we're going through? We just, we just, everybody's in a state of confusion right now as to what's the plan is. That's what I'm noticing through throughout my rise and talking to people.

Vance Crowe [00:06:55] So you're in an interesting position because you could be right now saying, it's too dangerous. I need to stay at home, so I'm just gonna stay at home. Because you essentially work not just for yourself, but you get to decide whether or not you turn that phone on that app on.

Thomas Evans [00:07:11] So

Vance Crowe [00:07:11] You, you are out there exposing yourself to getting Corona potentially. Why are you doing this and what do you think of people that are, that are back at home not doing it?

Thomas Evans [00:07:22] Well, my, my theory is, well, as far as why I'm doing it right now, I'm not doing it as much as I was when I met you, of course, because of business being decreased. And lately I've been like, man, I don't know if I really need to, you know, just keep exposing myself. So I've been on like a hi eight, I've been really just doing more personal clients than Uber and Lyft as far as right now and stuff. So, or 'cause other than that, right now I look at it, this, this, this whole situation has put me in a position to like really wanna sit down and try to do something like this, like broadcasting and stuff. So I, I actually been doing a lot of readings to studying and trying to figure out some tools to get me on this platform so I could be interviewing people and stuff like that, versus doing Uber and Lyft, which is of course obviously risking my life, you know, to for the better good. I, I was looking at it at first, I'm taking people to work and I'm doing a good deed for them, but at the same time I got kids, I got a family, you know what I mean? I don't want keep coming around and not knowing who's exposed to what and how is it transmitted. I do feel protected, I know I'm safe right now. I'm currently feeling fine and stuff like that. So I'm just at a point where I'm just confused as what's the next move for me and everybody else right now.

Vance Crowe [00:08:49] So one of the things that I recall about us when we first met was that you seemed to be up on what, what was going on, what was going on in the city, kind of what was happening all around. Where do you get your news

Thomas Evans [00:09:00] Right now? Right now I've, I'm looking at YouTube. I, I look at articles shared on Facebook. I look at CNN sometimes Fox Two, Fox, I mean News four, you know, channel five, radio, radio, Ricky Smiley, morning Show, stuff like that.

Vance Crowe [00:09:23] And like, are your friends all talking about Coronavirus or are they on social media or texting? Oh

Thomas Evans [00:09:29] Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah, everybody, it's just the number one subject of the day. 'cause I mean, no sports are being played, you know what I mean? There ain't really nothing else to really talk about, but this coronavirus. So it's definitely a intriguing conversation for everybody right now.

Vance Crowe [00:09:44] What about Easter? So we just had it, there were people that, that's a major holiday, like just up the street. I have a church that I'm sure it is overflowing every single year at this time. And then now they were like, you're not allowed to go in your, in your area. Was that a big deal or now people understood or what?

Thomas Evans [00:10:03] Well, people understood because of the epidemic, the pandemic that's going on with what's being purported. So my church in particular, Oliver Missionary Baptist Church on 12 200 new Bury Road, we got A-A-A-A-A-A, a YouTube page that we broadcast live. So our pastor just did a sermon, read scriptures and you know, we did everything online. We just live streamed everything. And it turned the, the turnout was pretty good as far as like who, how many people seen everything. So nobody was really protesting or anything tripping like that. So that's a good thing.

Vance Crowe [00:10:40] What about as you were preparing for Coronavirus, or when you started to realize like, hey, this is a big thing. What, how, what did you respond with? Like, did you, you go to the grocery store or how did you get ready?

Thomas Evans [00:10:51] So, so the first, my first thing instinct was, okay, let me clean my car out again. You know what I mean? Let me go ahead and quarantine this thing out to the point where, you know, I need to make sure I'm riding around in this thing every day. This is my place of business for the most part. I'm picking up maybe 20, 30 people a day at one point, you know what I mean? So that was my first mindset. And then I went to the grocery store and, you know, got a few things to eat, but I, I mean, I, I did, I'm not as scared per se as everybody else, but I am a tad bit nervous about how it's going to affect us when everything is over with, you know what I mean? How will we be governed as a society? Because, I mean, how do you know, how do you know if the coronavirus is dead enough for people to still go out in the grocery stores and stuff like that and gyms and all these other restaurants and stuff. So I'm really more concerned with the after effect and what's going on right now.

Vance Crowe [00:11:52] What do you, what do you think about people being locked in their houses, right? You said people are out exercising, but I don't know about you, but when I was 18, 19 years old, if I had had to spend all of that time at home with my parents, like I, there would've been problems. I, I mean, I was a little troublemaker.

Thomas Evans [00:12:11] Well, I will, I will say this technology has came a long way. My, my personal habit, one of my bad habits is playing video games. I love playing video games. So if you're an introvert and you, most of the friends that you do have are online, you can just hop on a party in a PlayStation and you can get 16 of your buddies in there and you can play some Call of Duty or some NB 2K and talk stuff, talk smack to each other. It'll feel like you, it'll feel like everybody is right next to each other already. So communicating with people is a lot better. But you know, it is kind of hard when you wanna go out and just have a drink, listen to some music or go see a movie and stuff. It kind of sucks when you don't have the luxury of those things that you once had.

Vance Crowe [00:13:02] How are your kids handling it?

Thomas Evans [00:13:03] Well, my kid, well, like I said, my son is in California. I mean they, funny thing is they kind of happy that they outta school, but I was kind of telling them, man, I don't know if you wanna miss out on school. I, this is, this would be kind of, this is kind of, it's sad because kids are not going be able to like go to prom, you know, you got kids that's not gonna play the state championship games and stuff. So it's actually kind of sad for the kids and stuff when I'm thinking about it. But my kids are doing all right as far as like the pandemic that's going on. They, well, they well taken care of. Just happy, just happy to be able to play Fortnite as long as they want.

Vance Crowe [00:13:41] So I mean, I think that kids are better prepared in today's day and age for than most adults. Like they're, like you were saying on video games, Minecraft, there are a lot of people that this is the first time they've ever done a video call and they're just figuring out how to

Thomas Evans [00:13:54] Hit the button. Right, right, right, right, right.

Vance Crowe [00:13:57] Whereas like you, if you don't know, like, like my parents, if they saw where I went on the internet to different message boards or to different YouTube channels or they would be completely lost. And I'm sure the same way that if I tried to follow a 12-year-old wherever they're going on the internet, I would be

Thomas Evans [00:14:14] Gone. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You probably wouldn't be able to catch up for sure. 'cause I mean, the good thing about kids, they get to grow up around the technology that we just, we just had to figure out, we had to read the instruction, but they, they get a chance to just pick up the phone and press the buttons as many times as they want. So they very, they're more hands on with everything nowadays. And that's pretty cool in the sense. But other than that the kids are really good and it's predicament. We, it is just sad that they can't really go out and interact as much as they want to.

Vance Crowe [00:14:46] So one thing that strikes me about somebody that drives is that you see all the different types of work that people go to, the different ways they dress. And I mean, you're, you're probably picking up certain type of person, whether they're going to the airport or something, but

Thomas Evans [00:15:00] Oh yeah,

Vance Crowe [00:15:00] You get to see how sophisticated all the different types of office buildings are. Is there anything that concerns you about these people not going into work right now? Like what are you thinking about, how do you view the fact that there are so many people at home right now?

Thomas Evans [00:15:15] I mean, my, my biggest concern is like, people still gotta pay bills, you know what I mean? I feel bad for people that, I mean, if you, I I get if you don't, if you get not having to go to work, but you're still getting paid, but there's people getting laid going home and not knowing if they'll be able to come back to work because their business is no longer exists. So I'm more concerned with the people that's in positions where they might not, they don't even know what their future holds as far as the, the work goes. 'cause I mean, who's to say this, this is over in the next 10, 20 days. You know what I mean? It, we don't even know how long this is gonna last. So I feel bad for the people that's staying at home and don't have no other way but unemployment. And I don't even know how long that process takes for you to even get paid doing that. So that it, it really sucks, in my opinion. For them. For them.

Vance Crowe [00:16:12] Yeah. I mean, I don't know how, how our society will be able to handle it because, you know, people are not gonna be able to pay their rent, right? They go to work right now to be able to wash dishes or do service or do whatever to be able to pay those bills. And now you're telling 'em they legally can't do it.

Thomas Evans [00:16:30] Right? But at the same time, you can still got this pass due check, pass due bill on the, on the living room table. And I'm like, it's not adding up. I can't go to work. I might go to jail if I go to work. You know what I mean? Like that's sad. That's more one of the worst situations that you can be in right now.

Vance Crowe [00:16:51] What do you think about people taking on jobs like Instacart or, you know, like doing the shopping stuff? I mean, 'cause you're in the weird position where, you know what it's like to make that decision. Am I gonna expose myself to the disease or not get paid?

Thomas Evans [00:17:06] I mean that, that's, that's, that's the gift and the curse about the industry right now. The beautiful thing about it is you helping somebody that's not able to get to the grocery store or that's not able to get from point A to point B. So I mean, and then on the other hand, you risking your exposure to coming home to your family with something virus that you didn't even know you were exposed to. So it is, it's, I mean, you know, it's like a yin and yang effect or something like nah and stuff. And I'm, I'm really, I I really can't answer that right now.

Vance Crowe [00:17:41] We were talking before about how my wife is pregnant and it completely changed my risk tolerance. Like, like in a way that I never imagined it would, you know, I always knew like, oh, if you became a dad, you know, you have to take less risk. But I'm sitting there being like, what would happen if I brought this home to my family? What would happen if I caused those problems? Like, I'm supposed to be the one that's making sure things work, not messing things up. And I think that for a young guy, if I had been in my twenties, I'd have been running all over the place doing crazy stupid stuff.

Thomas Evans [00:18:14] Well, I mean, as far as like, you know, that, I mean, you live and you learn, but that's easier said than done. 'cause this situation that we living in right now, this is, this is brand new. Like we seen it in plenty of movies throughout our lifetime, but we didn't never expect, okay, this, it is a virus going around here that actually might take my life. So it's like, man, I gotta find a way to adapt to my environment overnight. You know what I mean? And it's not, it's not easy at all. And it, it is, it's, it is, I I can understand why people are scared right now with the void medias portraying everything. I can understand why people got a sense of what you just said, trying to be overprotective at certain parts, what you never even imagined you would even come to. So

Vance Crowe [00:19:01] What I hear on the news is that this impacts the black community harder than the other communities. Have you heard this as well? Or is this like something just my, that I'm hearing about

Thomas Evans [00:19:13] This is like, it, it, what's first is this is something that I just started hearing. I didn't hear it more so when it first, when the, when when the virus first, you know, started. But now that I'm hearing it, I don't know, I didn't, I mean, I don't hear it in my own community per se. I just hear, this is what I hear from the, from the media. I don't know what that means exactly. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Vance Crowe [00:19:36] I, and I don't know, like, so I've talked to some people that are geneticists and they're like, it's really too early to be able to say this race to people. That's what I'm saying. But then on the other hand, they also say it happens for comorbidities. So like if you have, if you are a smoker or if you're overweight or if you have, if you're old. Right, right, right,

Thomas Evans [00:19:54] Right, right, right, right, right, right. Now one, one thing that I did hear, like when they said it's, it's if you have diabetes, you know what I mean?

Vance Crowe [00:20:03] Oh, it's not good for that. Yeah. Real bad. Yeah, it's

Thomas Evans [00:20:04] Not good for diabetes. That's big in the black community for sure. I can say that for myself, like diabetes was one of the reasons my granny is no longer, that's what she lived with for so many years and stuff like that. So when they said that, I cannot understand, I can understand where they would get that number from, but I don't know for for sure if that's, you know what I'm saying? If that's just a trend right now or if that's actually factual, you know what I mean?

Vance Crowe [00:20:31] Who right now do you trust to, to tell you about stuff that's going on with coronavirus? Do you have somebody that you're like, all right, like,

Thomas Evans [00:20:40] To be honest with you, man, I don't know man. Like, like who can you trust? You know what I mean? You got professionals like Dr. I and Dr. Phil man, and then you got a doctor down the street around the corner that could tell me one thing and this person can tell me another. I don't know who to believe. You know what I mean? I'm at the point where I need to really just find this information out on my own and I probably need to do some research on my own and I just don't even know where to start. You know what I mean?

Vance Crowe [00:21:06] I mean, I think that's the hardest part because I, so I've been doing this podcast, you're my 33rd interview and I'll talk with some people, like a scientist that thinks, hey, this is a really big deal. This is like the black plague. Every, you know, there's gonna be death and destruction everywhere. And you know, I'll go upstairs to my wife and be like, oh my God, you know, everything's burning down. We gotta go get more groceries. And then a couple hours later I'll talk with somebody else that'll be like, Hey, you know, we've weathered this before and let's look at statistics and you know, it's not that big of a deal. And for as much opportunity as I have to look into this, I can tell you like nobody actually knows. They have a hunch that it's either safer than we're treating it right now, or it's much more dangerous than we're treating it right now. But nobody knows and everybody is so confident that they do know. You're one of the first people that I've spoken with that's like, I don't know who to believe. And I think that's the only right answer. I mean,

Thomas Evans [00:22:05] I mean it really is. I mean we, what you, you, you heard China had the most deaths and now Italy had the most deaths. Now America has the most death. It came from China. No, it came from America. It's like everybody pointing their finger left and right and they're like, dang, are we really arguing about where this virus is coming from? Or are we really trying to figure out how to stop this thing from spreading any further than it needs to spread? You know what I'm saying? Because you playing with our futures at this point. You know what I mean? Like at this point it, like I said, that the, the thing that bothers me the most right now is like growing up in University City, where we from, we found out we grew, we are both from the culture, like people went to school because they got a chance to hang out with they friends and stuff, and they got a chance to figure out if they wanna go to college in California or New York or down south or up north somewhere and stuff like that. It's stopping a lot of generation from communicating with each other on a level.

Vance Crowe [00:23:10] Oh man, I did not think about that. So for people that don't know what he's talking about, university cities is this very unique part of St. Louis. It's kind of where the, the different cultures slam together. You have like the old school St. Louis culture, you got white culture on one side, you got black culture on another, and then you've got the students of Wash U and then it runs as a major artery through town. So people come there anyway, it is a very interesting place, but if you don't let people outta their houses, there's nothing interesting about it. Right. That's

Thomas Evans [00:23:43] What I'm saying. Like, you know, know, like picture me picture us as kids, man, I was out going to parties and having fun, you know, having a good time with people, but not even gonna be, kids are not even gonna be able to hang out with each other for a while right now and stuff, depending on how long this is going on and stuff. You think

Vance Crowe [00:24:01] They're following that you think, you think 'cause man it'd been, if I was 22, there's no way I would've stayed in no way.

Thomas Evans [00:24:08] Nah, now that's the thing, I don't think they're following it, but it, it is putting a hamper on how they can do things. You

Vance Crowe [00:24:15] Oh yeah, that's right. Sure. Because it's not like you can be like, mom, I'm gonna go out for a couple hours, I'll be right back because mom's you Yeah. You got nowhere to go. Right,

Thomas Evans [00:24:24] Exactly. Right. It's stopping a lot of things, a lot of people from creating memories, you know what I mean? Yeah. That would

Vance Crowe [00:24:30] Be

Thomas Evans [00:24:30] Ever lasting. So that, I mean, I don't think that's fair to a lot of people, but I mean that, that's the, that's the days' where we living in right now. How

Vance Crowe [00:24:38] Dangerous do you think the disease is for you to get, if you get it, do you think? What are the

Thomas Evans [00:24:43] Chance? No, me personally, I don't, I don't think, I think if you are having complications already, like as far as like the diabetes or having anything like that sickle cell and stuff like that, I think people more prone to having more, you know, serious side effects from the illness. But I don't think, like if I if knock, let me knock on wood, I hope I don't get the coronavirus or anything. Yeah. But I, I think if I did get the, I probably would be able to be it, you know, that's, I'm confident enough to say that.

Vance Crowe [00:25:15] I mean, I actually think you, you have to be that way because I think there is some element of positivity and getting yourself up and dusting yourself off. But I don't think that's protects you from some of the people. Just, they just get it and bad shit happens. Right. They could be a, i I read about a marathon runner that was like, you know, multiple marathons, super good shape, bang, it got 'em. So some people it just picks out and grabs. But I think for the most part you have to be like, if I get it, my decision is I'm gonna get myself healthy.

Thomas Evans [00:25:48] Most definitely. Like, I feel like if, if, if, if Lord forbid that I get it or anybody else get it that surround me, I feel like we could beat it with remedies, the proper medications and stuff like that. I think we will be able to, my immune system is strong enough to defeat that disease.

Vance Crowe [00:26:08] So what, I don't know if you've heard about these people in like Raleigh, North Carolina and there was one up in Vancouver I saw where they're protesting the stay at home orders where they're saying, Hey, it's our right to be able to assemble. We should be and Vancouver's up in Canada, but like in Raleigh, North Carolina, they're saying we're gonna have a protest and ignore the governor's order because we wanna push back on the fact that you're telling us that we have to stay home. Have you heard about this

Thomas Evans [00:26:33] Stuff? Oh wow. No, I, I haven't heard about that. That's new to me.

Vance Crowe [00:26:36] I mean, it's crazy, right? Because you have people that they could potentially be spreading the disease. Then you have police officers that in order to stop them from protesting, have to potentially expose themselves to the disease themselves. You also have a first Amendment right, where people are allowed to gather. So it's like, do we really wanna destroy the Constitution?

Thomas Evans [00:26:54] Right? That's right. Now it's not the time to be playing with the constitution because with what's going on, one, one wrong assembly could trigger something bigger happening that'll affect everybody. You know what I mean? You know, they might have to rush and change the, the, the amendment if something happens to the point where they have to govern up the, the people correctly, you know what I mean? And their eyes and stuff versus from what we see.

Vance Crowe [00:27:23] Well

Thomas Evans [00:27:24] I think

Vance Crowe [00:27:24] You and I both, both being in, in University City have an interesting view on this because we were both around when Ferguson started lighting on fire.

Thomas Evans [00:27:32] Oh yeah.

Vance Crowe [00:27:33] And that is very present on my mind. I want to avoid mob action at all costs.

Thomas Evans [00:27:39] Oh yeah. No, no, we don't, we definitely don't need mob action. Like that situation versus this situation is totally different for that type of action. Now I don't, I don't think the coronavirus has got us to the point where

Vance Crowe [00:27:53] I hope not God knows we,

Thomas Evans [00:27:54] We, because I I the coronavirus has not put rage in people's hearts right now and stuff like that. I mean a lot of people are mad because just a lot of people are dying right now. Right. And who's to say that Coronavirus was the reason for it? Are they just writing it on there? Because that's the big news story right now on, on, on these death certificates are people really dying from the coronavirus are effects from cancer effects from like

Vance Crowe [00:28:28] They had a weakened immune system and this thing knocked him out, but anything would've knocked him out. Yeah,

Thomas Evans [00:28:32] That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm not too sure about. That's what's really bothering me. I don't want Corona to justify every death that's going on in America right now. 'cause I feel like that's what it really is doing. 'cause a lot of people are dying and maybe it is Corona and maybe it's something else, but it's sad to say that this family can't even come see this person because the, they died from the coronavirus and you're not allowed to be close to this person anymore.

Vance Crowe [00:29:02] I mean, I actually have tried to check myself when, when I'm start being like, well I can't do that 'cause the coronavirus. And then I'm like, wait a second, are you using this thing as a crutch to be able to get you to not do the things that you know you should be doing? And

Thomas Evans [00:29:17] That's

Vance Crowe [00:29:17] What

Thomas Evans [00:29:18] I'm

Vance Crowe [00:29:18] Saying. And like that's an easy trap to fall in. It's an easy trap for governments to fall in. It's easy trap for business owners but also just regular people.

Thomas Evans [00:29:27] No, for sure. And it, and it's, it is scary at this point because like I said, everybody's in a state of confusion right now and if we don't stick together and if we keep pointing the finger right now, ain't no telling how long this is gonna last. You know what I mean?

Vance Crowe [00:29:45] You look at the presidential elections coming up here. Do do you think that there should be a big change that should change the direction we're headed in? Or do you think No, we gotta keep in the same vein that we've been going,

Thomas Evans [00:30:01] Are we even going to have a presidential election this year? That's, that's another thing. You're

Vance Crowe [00:30:06] The first person to sit to actually ask that. That I've heard. I know people have been like, I don't know.

Thomas Evans [00:30:11] All right. I mean, because like at, at this point, I don't know if it's, I don't even know if it's going to be able, we, we'll be able to vote in time if this epidemic lasts. We don't know how long this is gonna last or who's, are we gonna be voting off of Google accounts when it's time to vote. And as far as like the election goes, I mean I've I'm not sure a Ask the question again. Lemme lemme, I'm I'm gonna need you to ask me that question one more time.

Vance Crowe [00:30:42] Do you think that we are headed in the direction where you wanna keep the same kind of president it is kinda go the Trump route or go a route that's different Biden and do you feel like, I mean, you kind of answered it by being like, I don't even know if we're gonna have an election which says something about it. Right?

Thomas Evans [00:30:59] Yeah, I mean that that, that plays a lot into it. And I mean, I I I want what's best for the country because I'm here, you know what I mean? But I don't know what's the best option right now to who's running the country. My biggest thing right now, I actually need to get my lack of knowledge on the Congress members is, is what I need to be focusing on as far as like the, the presidential election is not really what's being,

Vance Crowe [00:31:26] Well like in our case, our city alderman became super important, right? That's what are the guys that started making, so they were saying whether you could come outta your house or not.

Thomas Evans [00:31:35] That's what I'm, that's what I'm saying, like who is the mayors and who's the aldermans in certain districts that you're living in and stuff like that. Who's going to these congress meetings with the Democrats and the Republican putting together these bills for us as a society to vote on? You know what I mean? We need a better voice in our communities first and then like, I mean who Trump ain't, I mean Trump ain't really done nothing that I can say that I seen them do you know what I mean? I didn't see Trump go to war or anything like that. I don't, I don't see Trump on the front lines at these hospitals giving out medical supplies or anything like

Vance Crowe [00:32:13] That.

Thomas Evans [00:32:14] You know what I mean? I, I don't know. I at this point, like a president is the last thing on my mind and stuff. I need to know about the people that's in the community board as far as like the per the congressmen and I districts and stuff.

Vance Crowe [00:32:28] So for some reason Thomas and I were knocked off and we weren't able to reconnect. And I know he had to get back to some work. So I decided that I'm just gonna go ahead and publish this in whole. I'm sorry we couldn't keep that conversation going, but I really enjoyed Thomas a whole bunch. So I'm fairly certain I will have him back when I can. Thanks so much for listening and we'll be back tomorrow.