We kept waiting. We kept waiting for things to get better–biologically, socially, politically–and they didn’t. I wish I could be more upbeat about it without lying. But things have only gotten much worse, at least for the good ol’ US of A. And there is no sign of things getting better for at least another year, maybe longer.
Oh, there is the stock market. Trumpers and other deniers are quick to point out that stock markets are currently up, and for those of us fortunate enough to own stocks I suppose that’s something. But the markets are anything but stable, fluctuating pretty loudly without any indication they will quiet down anytime soon. And more importantly, this is not the 20th century: the stock market is no longer a reliable indicator of how the economy is doing. Unemployment and poverty are still at once-in-a-century highs. The $1,200 check some American taxpayers got (delayed so that Donald J. Trump’s signature could grace its front) was the bucket of water that did little to stop the roaring house fire.
Biologically, the virus is spreading as if Americans are actively doing their best to get and give Covid to every living being. Maybe some of us are. We are still in our first wave and will likely pass 200,000 deaths this year, even as other places including developing countries are able to safely reopen because they’ve contained and controlled their outbreaks. For those of us who do what we can to protect ourselves and others (I consider us a relatively silent majority), our efforts seem increasingly futile. In my state it is mandatory to wear a mask in every indoor public space…despite this, I can count on one hand the number of places (mostly grocery stores) where everyone I encountered was properly masked over nose and mouth. Apparently due to some combination of inconvenience and a feeling of “freedoms being suppressed” many people simply refuse to wear masks or distance in public places. On social media I see videos of confrontations involving these people all the time, but in real life no one visibly minds them…I guess it makes more sense to avoid Covid Karen or Covid Ken than to get in their face. But secretly I wish I were brave/stupid enough to confront these people and kick them out of the store. I wish we were all brave/stupid enough to take control of our nation again.
Speaking of which, protesters are not giving up. Why should they? They’ve demanded justice and gotten none. They’ve demanded change and gotten none. Every time some kind of reform appears on the horizon, usually from state or local governments, the good old USA government steps in and says “Nope”. Federal Homeland Security officers were brought in to my town because the President thought local law enforcement was too “hamstrung” in his opinion. But violence will only be met with more violence. If one side doubles down, so will the other side, and nothing will be solved. No one will benefit except weapons makers.
Politically, I think we are in the midst of a war. I’ve never seen this country so deeply and powerfully divided. The current crisis has only driven the two sides further apart. Lately I’ve been fascinated by American Civil War documentaries, and can’t help but notice the many parallels between the 1850s and now. I have little hope for the near future…regardless of who is elected in November, there will be violence, and probably a lot of it. I’m lucky to live in a small, relatively friendly area where most folks know & like each other. I hope that lasts.
Bike Newbie 