Okay...I wasn't all that worried about the long term effects of the Corona virus. While I am old, I am in relatively good health and would most likely survive if I were beset with the virus. Also, I don't get out much.
However, today I heard on the radio that Trump had declared a national emergency. That's the part that concerns me.
When Trump first took the throne, there was an underlying suspicion that some sort of orchestrated war or false threat might be in the works to undermine this country's freedoms...and the Corona virus seems to fit right into the plans of our despicable despots-in-charge. I can just picture all those old cronies, wringing their hands and gurgling for joy at such a serendipitous turn of events...like old witches cackling over a cauldron of boiling blood, rats eyes and snake venom.
I've heard some ideas put forward...cut payroll taxes, cut social security and medicare taxes, make those reductions or eliminations permanent, etc. The people who benefit from those tax reductions are only those with jobs...and those who benefit the most are the high earners. As usual, it's the wealthy who reap the rewards. Of course, vaguely hidden in those proposals, with the elimination of any influx of funds into social security and medicare, the republicans will have the sledge hammer they crave so much to demand cuts to the beneficiaries of those programs.
Of course, this entire situation is horrible. People are dying and development of any vaccines may take years (if ever). The long term effects are beyond my comprehension.
Indeed, Trump is an idiot...but it's not just him or his pitiful family. It's the right-wing, racist, republican establishment to be feared, especially at this time of "national emergency"...because...the next step they would fall all over themselves to take is...Martial Law...and that would truly be a disaster...maybe, suspend elections indefinitely, eh? Maybe ban all, selective, public gatherings? Maybe squash selective dissent? This is scary. And now I AM worried. I'm not a religious man...but if I were...I'd say God Help Us.
Added a few weeks later...With the near-worldwide shutdown and businesses of all kinds in the US closing their doors...with so many millions of people put out of work (and income), a financial calamity looms ahead. It would be just peachy if everyone would just stand still in one place for a few weeks...this would all pass. Those infected would not pass the virus along and the lifecycle of the virus would run its course. The attempt at "social distancing" will help, I suppose, but it probably won't be enough. The virus will spread and may over-tax our healthcare facilities. The long term, financial effects may be devastating. The government proposals to ameliorate the economic implosion seem to be bandaids...treating one small laceration while a thousand others erupt and fester. I propose an immediate halt to all debt repayment...no rent, no mortgage payments, no insurance payments, no tax payments...Oh, but what of the banks and institutions who also have debts to pay? I said Halt All Debt Repayment. It's a "financial timeout" for everyone until the pandemic fades away...maybe months...maybe years...whatever it takes. Maybe a vaccine is on the horizon in a year or so...maybe not. Regardless, the horse is already out of the barn. Best to let it graze until a fenced-in field is devoid of nutrients. Then...when the firestorm has ended...when we all can go back to work...Then, we can pick up where we left off and restart paying our bills.
Now it's April. The virus is still spreading and many states have entered a lockdown phase. The Democratic Convention has been postponed along with so many other public events. The trend seems to be heading toward my greatest, initial fear...Police State...no elections...no ousting of the traitorous scum in control of the US government. This is a truly frightening time.
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