I searched my mind for something relevant to say about our current pandemic crisis, but the situation continues to be so overwhelming and surreal that I could only sit back and watch the responses, see the battle lines drawn, and wonder where this all leads, with the usual suspects spreading their disinformation of "welcome to socialism." Then I came across this, no idea of its origin, but it reflects my feelings very well:
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but you need to know how silly you look if you post some variation of, "Welcome to Socialism…"
You are not seeing Socialism. What you are seeing is one of the wealthiest, geographically advantages, productive capitalist societies in the world flounder and fail at its most basic test: taking care of its people.
The crisis is not about the virus.
The crisis is about the massive failure of our "booming economy," to survive even modest challenges. It is about the market dissonance of shortages in stores, even as farmers/producers destroy unused crops and products. This crisis is about huge corporations needing an emergency bailout within days of the longest Bull Market in our history ending and despite the ability to borrow with zero percent interest rates.
The crisis is about corporatized healthcare systems being unable and ill-equipped to provide basic healthcare, at the same time they post record profits. It is about crisis response depending on antiquated systems nobody remembers how to operate.
But most of all, this crisis is a direct result of the politicization of every aspect of our society of the benefit of the privileged few. This vilification of education, science, media, natural rights, rural lifestyles, urban lifestyles, charity, compassion, and virtually everything else for brief political gain has gutted our society.