As is well-known and documented, the cruelty and corruption of the Trump Administration never ends. For this America will suffer and die. We’ll not defeat the corona virus alone, with an “America First” strategy, just as we’ll not solve the global warming crisis, the 68 million world-wide refugees, the Drug War, over-populaton, and Chinese-Russian-ISIS threats alone. Somebody please tell the Trumpster idiots we didn’t win WW II alone.T
The Christian Bible has over 2000 references to the poor and obligations to them. Christ’s number one commandment: love thy neighbor as thyself. We’ll all now be tested. Constitution’s Preamble: “We the People..in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility..promote the general Welfare..” means the American government was created to “promote the general Welfare” by helping the American people overcome crises like Covid-19. Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal..” We’ll see if we really believe this.
Perhaps we’ll have a discussion on what “we can afford.” Reverse Robin Hood tax cuts for the the already obscenely rich [campaign contributions in action]’ or, perhaps universal health care for “all men are created equal?”
We may well see definitive proof of “our” currently rated #37th best “health care system;” perhaps we’ll seek to improve it [but only if the insurance companies, hospital, Big Pharma, etc approve!!! – campaign contributions in action; thank you Roberts Court for “Citizens United”}. A popular American actor and his wife may be alive because they happened to be in a civilized country that believed in testing.
Perhaps we’ll see a renewed respect for science and expertise, most especially in medicine; perhaps we’ll rely on evidence, not hunches or conspiracy theories. Perhaps we’ll see more respect for health care workers who daily risk their lives keeping others alive; many of whom are underpaid [got to keep the CEO’s happy, $10 million not enough!] and experience various forms of abuse on the job, including death threats.
In this crisis [which according to our beloved leader is a Chinese hoax}, we are being told WE are all in this together.” Many have noted in these last 40 years “our” government has not acted with this in mind, most prominently the frequent budget-busting reverse Robin Hood “trickle down” tax cuts for the top 1% and corporations. Some people are saying that something is trickling down, but it isn’t green and it smells. With 74% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, we’ll see if “our” government will “promote the general Welfare” of all its people.
One analysis of this crisis said we’re only in the first wave, possibly lasting “months” that could impact 40-70% of the world. Will we act and be governed by fact and compassion, or by fear and internet-generated rumor?
Some are beginning to question the wisdom of allowing China to have a choke hold on the world’s industry and commerce [ those who hold this view are not in the top l% – current “globalization” management requires the lower 99% to “take one for the team”}. Having forgotten why America was on the winning side of WW II {we outproduced the Nazis and Japanese}, we’ve “out-sourced” jobs and industry to our long-term enemy.
There has been much opposition to “living wages” and sick days off for ordinary working Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck. They HAVE to go to work each day, sick or not. How much of the pandemic’s sick/deaths will be attributable to these “essential [but under-paid] workers?”
It was nice that Congress got their act together for a $3 trillion aid package. What wasn’t so nice is gradually discovering the “the usual connected suspects” were at the front of the line, deserving or not [hey – what do you think we pay campaign contributions for, sucker?] So your local “Mom-and-Pop” establishment didn’t get bailed out. Why surprised?
When the Covid-19 vaccines become available – who gets them? Will we really have an “all men are created equal” distribution, granted medical workers and first responders, essential workers are priority. How many CEO’s will be sneaking in, anonymously of course [hey sucker, what do you think campaign contributions are for, if not now?]. Then, big Question: is it gonna be virtually free – or – will we see the usual Big Pharma gouging [see 1950’s polio vaccine distribution].
This, of course, will be explained as “a market-based” solution, done by the “invisible hand” [which somehow always seem to favor the top 1%].
With Justice For All 