COVID-19 is reshaping the world and some may even become permanent. The pandemic has revealed more starkly the way society is divided and how the poor invariably end up bearing the brunt of crises, deepening poverty and widening of the gap between the rich and the poor. COVID-19 may have brought forward the debate on future of how society is organised. Without exception, COVID 19 people a lot poorer and living standards a lot lower. People are losing their lives and their jobs and for some the mood is one of despondency and hopelessness as a major economic catastrophe looms ahead. People now face a prolonged period of uncertainty. The continuing despair and distrust with the existing political and economic arrangements has made many unlikely to accept a return to business-as-usual. They now question the wisdom of free-market capitalism and profiteering. The pandemic reveals another ugly aspect capitalism’s gross inequality where the mega rich harbour little or no empathy for the less fortunate at a time when working people are going without tests and treatments and when hospitals are struggling to find even the basic facilities like protective gears, ventilators etc. Their message overall has been how quickly normal service is resumed and return to normal where the opportunity now arises to plunder and pillage of the wealth of rival businesses. The insidious root of the problem is that the market simply does not work.
The American $2.2 trillion the CARES Act signed into law by Trump gave a lot away to the biggest corporations, banks and the wealthy — both through a gigantic bailout fund, and also numerous tax credits and deductions. Also the biggest companies got themselves exempted from the requirement in the second related bill from the requirement to provide workers with paid sick leave. The average Americans come out with the short end of the stick. $1,200 per adult won’t take anybody very far given that the typical American spends about $1,000 a week on food, rent, mortgage, et cetera. It’s become very clear that the super-rich have managed to escape to The Hamptons or yachts or wherever and still get concierge healthcare, including, apparently, tests for the virus when they wish. Everybody else is either in limbo or in danger. The pandemic vividly reveals the class structure in America as well as elsewhere. So-called essential workers are not college educated. They are being put into harm’s way, often without adequate equipment or protection. Twice as many Blacks and Latinos are dying in New York than whites. What is so apparent and so obvious is the gaping gap in privilege and wealth and power. We might see more awakening among particularly the working class. The best way to help is to show people what’s been happening.
In the United States, the sociopathic right-wing oligarchs have mobilised their base to protest against lockdowns and quarantines and to advocate the return to work, risking workers to exposure to the virus for the sake of Wall St and the share-holders. Capitalism cannot operate without the labour-power of workers, and with the pandemic, the profits of the capitalist class are in danger.
Fearing he would be blamed for the extent of the pandemic, Trump has sought to lay blame on China and the World Health Organization and those on the Right easily led to believe that the Chinese and U.N. are culpable and Trump is being successful with many Americans at laying blame on the UN and China. Meanwhile Trump awaits to become the saviour of humanity with his promotion of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19
The pandemic has been bring home to many thatthe promises of normalcy will never deliver security. Workers now sense their own power, aware that they can act without waiting for yesterday’s leaders. Let’s build an a society that inspires. Let’s offer people hope that they can believe in the future. There must not be a regression to former inequalities. Post-pandemic we will need to fight for a green and just world. We must be pushing forward alternatives to the status quo, because those are the ideas that will be the solutions to tomorrow’s deepening crises.
“Rise like lions after slumber,” said Shelley. There is plenty to do, but we have to do it fast.
The American $2.2 trillion the CARES Act signed into law by Trump gave a lot away to the biggest corporations, banks and the wealthy — both through a gigantic bailout fund, and also numerous tax credits and deductions. Also the biggest companies got themselves exempted from the requirement in the second related bill from the requirement to provide workers with paid sick leave. The average Americans come out with the short end of the stick. $1,200 per adult won’t take anybody very far given that the typical American spends about $1,000 a week on food, rent, mortgage, et cetera. It’s become very clear that the super-rich have managed to escape to The Hamptons or yachts or wherever and still get concierge healthcare, including, apparently, tests for the virus when they wish. Everybody else is either in limbo or in danger. The pandemic vividly reveals the class structure in America as well as elsewhere. So-called essential workers are not college educated. They are being put into harm’s way, often without adequate equipment or protection. Twice as many Blacks and Latinos are dying in New York than whites. What is so apparent and so obvious is the gaping gap in privilege and wealth and power. We might see more awakening among particularly the working class. The best way to help is to show people what’s been happening.
In the United States, the sociopathic right-wing oligarchs have mobilised their base to protest against lockdowns and quarantines and to advocate the return to work, risking workers to exposure to the virus for the sake of Wall St and the share-holders. Capitalism cannot operate without the labour-power of workers, and with the pandemic, the profits of the capitalist class are in danger.
Fearing he would be blamed for the extent of the pandemic, Trump has sought to lay blame on China and the World Health Organization and those on the Right easily led to believe that the Chinese and U.N. are culpable and Trump is being successful with many Americans at laying blame on the UN and China. Meanwhile Trump awaits to become the saviour of humanity with his promotion of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19
The pandemic has been bring home to many thatthe promises of normalcy will never deliver security. Workers now sense their own power, aware that they can act without waiting for yesterday’s leaders. Let’s build an a society that inspires. Let’s offer people hope that they can believe in the future. There must not be a regression to former inequalities. Post-pandemic we will need to fight for a green and just world. We must be pushing forward alternatives to the status quo, because those are the ideas that will be the solutions to tomorrow’s deepening crises.
“Rise like lions after slumber,” said Shelley. There is plenty to do, but we have to do it fast.
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