I want to be very careful on this, because I don't want to misinform anyone on this matter, to the point of causing harm. I mean, it seems undeniable at this stage that COVID-19 is truly putting humanity to the test, but there's some other things to consider as well.
It's true that anecdotes per say are not extremely helpful, but we don't have to use them to point out available statistics. Not just in the US, but around the world, there are countless families that have little to no savings, live paycheck to paycheck and are ill equipped to deal with the current events.
Authorities can scream until they are blue in the face #stayhome and practice #socialdistancing, but if people are literally starving, the words will always fall on deaf ears.
But because I try to be intellectually sound when I voice an opinion, I would like to clarify the following: I'm not talking about injecting cash into the big corporations (like Boeing) like politicians love to do, but to work from the ground up. To start from the civilian, the common Joe, the paycheck to paycheck Jane, that are shouldering this problem grasping to the little hope they can conjure.
If we are truly to make a difference in the US, and everywhere else for that matter, we truly have to rebuild the machine.
Because we live not in a democracy, but in a Corporatocracy, there's little to no chance that change will come from those who have been in power for decades. They are well bought, and know how to play to both crowds; their donors, and their constituency.
As Hillary once famously said: "One must have a public position, and a private position" - Which is code talk for I got the sheep completely calm, don't worry masters.
The question remains however: How can we revamp healthcare? And there is precisely where the majority cannot seem to agree. We could look at evidence, and hard evidence available out there. There are quite a few first world countries who have figured this out. But to enact these new systems, when the partisan hackery is what matters most to our politicians, and discourse is weaponized against us, the population.
The sad truth my friends is that we are at the mercy of two mafias, two cartels. On the one hand we have Pharma, which uses government subsidies to develop their miracle, and dare I say, addictive drugs, and on the other hand we have Insurance Companies that protect your interest in true Al Capone fashion.
Until these two mafias are declawed, they will continue to own governments and insure their reign over Democracy. That conversation, however, is almost never had, and for good reason, the "hey squirrel" move always works a lot better.
Headlines are over the top ridiculous these days, and of course we gobble up the clicks left and right. More so, because we got nothing better to do, trapped in our self or not self imposed quarantines.
I don't know why this is so hard for so many people to grasp. The stockmarket means little to nothing for most people. Yes, it might (key word might) indicate a strong growing economy, but it's not the end all, be all tool to measure happiness, or even the economic health of the working populace.
In other words. To Joe and Jane, the S&P500 recovering these last few days has not, in any way shape or form, given them the opportunity to recover lost wages, or purchase some milk and bread from a store.
As long as we continue to be distracted with the circus, we won't recognize this tragedy for what it can truly be. A time for big change. The con is up!
MenO
