Day 33 and analysis from a friend

My friend Craig posted this essay on Facebook. This gives a very clear and cogent analysis of our current situation.

The Covid-19 pandemic isn't just a once-in-a-lifetime event, it's a once-in-a-century event. Not since the Spanish Flu (ironically named, since Spain was the only country not lying about it) has the world seen anything like this. WWII is close, and there are about seven million Americans old enough to remember how the war impacted their lives, and the sacrifices Americans made to support the war effort.

Among the many challenges we face today are those who downplay the seriousness of Covid-19, comparing it to the common cold or influenza. While many people may catch the virus and show no symptoms, at least as many (probably more, the research is fuzzy) will have severe symptoms, and 250,000 Americans will die from it before the end of this year.

As we have a common enemy, one that shows no bias for politics, religion, or other beliefs, you would think we could unite against it. But in this bizarre era of tribalism and political polarization, nothing can escape partisanship. And for some odd reason, a significant portion of the country has decided to side with virus and against science.

It began back in January and accelerated in February when their cult leader*, the narcissist-in-chief*, dismissed the threat posed by the virus and attacked the media for reporting factually about it and its spread. He was quickly joined by right-wing media who spread dangerous misinformation, as well as prominent Republicans who urged people to go out and live their lives as though a highly contagious disease weren't spreading rapidly across the nation.

This week saw more outlandish behavior, as people carrying guns, waving Confederate and Nazi flags, and proudly displaying signs supporting the Mango Mussolini* staged protests in at least half a dozen state capitals. Though they were advocating and condemning a variety of subjects, their one unifying objective was the lifting of shut-down orders put in place to keep them and everyone else safe.

These shut-down orders are not oppressing anyone. You're free to pick up groceries, medicine, alcohol and even weed (in states where it's legal). You're free to take walks or go for a bike ride. In California, you can even visit the state parks (though the parking lots have been closed to minimize crowding). The goal, as has been repeated for the last five weeks, is to “flatten the curve” – reduce and spread out infections so we don't overwhelm the limited capacity of our inferior health care system.

So why are the protesters so angry? What is it they want? It's not completely clear. One sign at yesterday's St. Paul protest said “don't cancel my golf season” (bringing to mind Patrick Henry's famous quote, “Give me golf or give me death”). After protests in Ohio and Michigan, the orange idiot* sent out a series of tweets to “liberate” several states (all of which have Democratic governors). He appears to be fomenting revolution only a day or so after telling governors “You’re going to call your own shots.”

In fact, his approach to the pandemic has shown no consistency. After minimizing the seriousness, he reluctantly admitted it was real, but one day he'll repeat the advice of experts and the next day he'll contradict it. As has been his habit since his inauguration (during which time he's told eighteen thousand lies), he lies about the virus and his response to it, then lies about his lies. It's easy to say the reason we're not unified as a country is because we don't have the type of leader (think FDR, Churchill) that we need in this time of crisis. Instead, we're cursed with a malignant narcissist* incapable of telling the truth, more obsessed with TV ratings and his reelection chances than he is the health and welfare of the American people.

Besides his constant lying, Delusional Donald* has continually boasted of the rising stock market and falling unemployment numbers as “proof” of his presidency (even though both lagged those of Obama, whom he frequently derides). He often asked how you could impeach a president who had such great numbers. It's been obvious that with no real achievements he could claim, he was going to make the case for his reelection on the economy. Now that economy is threatened by the shut-down, and that's the primary reason he and his cult followers are so eager to see a reopening.

But what happens if you reopen too early? Remember the “flatten the curve” advice? I've no doubt that many states will lift their shut-down orders too soon, and that will cause a second wave of infections. Depending on when they do it, the second wave could be worse than the first. What's the economic impact of hundreds of thousands of sick and dying Americans? What's the economic impact of making this pandemic last much longer than it really needed to be.

George Santayana said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It was our understanding of the Great Depression that allowed us to avert a second one following the 2008 financial crisis. That lesson remained clear when Congress and the Fed acted last month to avoid yet another depression in the wake of the pandemic shut-down (mind you, this time I'm using the phrase both in reference to mandated stay-at-home orders as well as voluntary ones, either out of concern or fear). So why isn't there the same demonstration of knowledge gained from the 1918 pandemic?

Health experts who've studied pandemics are making sensible recommendations, but politicians and right-wing media are dismissing them and encouraging the inane protests we saw this past week, and will continue to see. Florida and Texas are already lifting restrictions, and several states exempted religious organizations from the no-large-gathering rules. I'm not reading about this type of stupidity elsewhere in the world, and wonder if this is another example of Americans choosing to disregard proven science because they find it inconvenient.

H.L. Mencken is credited with saying “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” I don't know how one can profit from the stupidity the American public is exhibiting these days, but there's no doubt they're doing nothing to disprove his assertion.

*in case you don't know to whom these words refer, it is Donald John Trump, 45th (and 3rd Impeached) President of the United States of America.