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The View From Down Here
May. 25th, 2020 07:10 pmOne simple question, so many answers
Am I afraid of the Covid19 virus?
Physically, no. I'm not afraid of catching it, despite my mild co-morbidity factor of reduced lung capacity thanks to a double-whammy lung infection back in 2000. I have enough faith in my own immune system, the Australian attitude, so far, to social distancing, self-isolation & our, by & large, adherence to the measures the Federal & State governments have put in place. But most of all, I have faith in our medical system, our doctors & nurses & the available technology. The only thing that scares me about catching the virus, is that I'd give it to L-SP, who is more at risk than I am
Economically, no. We are both lucky, in that my job not only can't be done from home, but is connected sufficiently to the building industry (deemed 'essential' by the governments) to not be under threat. In fact, as previously noted, my workplace is probably busier than it was in February, before the shit hit the fan. L-SP is able to work quite effectively from home, in an industry that's probably even more essential than mine, in the long run, but sufficiently IT based to be done from anywhere. Maybe she should try the local park, for a change of scenery... So we're not in any immediate danger of starvation, eviction, or having to sell the cat to get by - though at 4am today, I'd have been open to offers
Politically, yes - it scares the living shit out of me. The amount of bullshit that's coming out of world leaders' mouths hasn't been reduced by this at all... it's increased tenfold & they're using fear & panic to justify & sell it to people who are in the state of mind that craves certainty & guidance, even if it's certain to lead them to disaster. About the only thing Trump hasn't blamed for all this is God, which would lose him the support & votes of America's bible belt in this election year. Boris Johnson is using the pandemic to disguise the facts that he has no vision & no clue how to lead the UK forward into a future untethered to Europe & barely any idea how to unite a country so bitterly divided along class & monetary lines. China is denying responsibility, threatening trade sanctions against Australia for daring to suggest an independent inquiry into the origins & handling of the Plague & blustering against the USA... all the while beefing up its military strategies for territorial & political gain. Russia & Brazil's leaders are both lying about the impacts of the Plague on their populations & letting people die for political expediency, just to keep their oligarchies alive
Sociologically then, I'm not sure. This will kill a lot of people before it's done & what consequences that will have for leaders who have been either incompetent, or untruthful, is an interesting question, best left to those who are capable of plotting revolutions. Because surely, a few will be attempted in the aftermath - either by ballot, or bullet
Am I afraid of the Covid19 virus?
Physically, no. I'm not afraid of catching it, despite my mild co-morbidity factor of reduced lung capacity thanks to a double-whammy lung infection back in 2000. I have enough faith in my own immune system, the Australian attitude, so far, to social distancing, self-isolation & our, by & large, adherence to the measures the Federal & State governments have put in place. But most of all, I have faith in our medical system, our doctors & nurses & the available technology. The only thing that scares me about catching the virus, is that I'd give it to L-SP, who is more at risk than I am
Economically, no. We are both lucky, in that my job not only can't be done from home, but is connected sufficiently to the building industry (deemed 'essential' by the governments) to not be under threat. In fact, as previously noted, my workplace is probably busier than it was in February, before the shit hit the fan. L-SP is able to work quite effectively from home, in an industry that's probably even more essential than mine, in the long run, but sufficiently IT based to be done from anywhere. Maybe she should try the local park, for a change of scenery... So we're not in any immediate danger of starvation, eviction, or having to sell the cat to get by - though at 4am today, I'd have been open to offers
Politically, yes - it scares the living shit out of me. The amount of bullshit that's coming out of world leaders' mouths hasn't been reduced by this at all... it's increased tenfold & they're using fear & panic to justify & sell it to people who are in the state of mind that craves certainty & guidance, even if it's certain to lead them to disaster. About the only thing Trump hasn't blamed for all this is God, which would lose him the support & votes of America's bible belt in this election year. Boris Johnson is using the pandemic to disguise the facts that he has no vision & no clue how to lead the UK forward into a future untethered to Europe & barely any idea how to unite a country so bitterly divided along class & monetary lines. China is denying responsibility, threatening trade sanctions against Australia for daring to suggest an independent inquiry into the origins & handling of the Plague & blustering against the USA... all the while beefing up its military strategies for territorial & political gain. Russia & Brazil's leaders are both lying about the impacts of the Plague on their populations & letting people die for political expediency, just to keep their oligarchies alive
Sociologically then, I'm not sure. This will kill a lot of people before it's done & what consequences that will have for leaders who have been either incompetent, or untruthful, is an interesting question, best left to those who are capable of plotting revolutions. Because surely, a few will be attempted in the aftermath - either by ballot, or bullet
