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Dark morning thoughts:
At first, Coronavirus looked like it might be an "equalizer." Affluent people who traveled got it. Celebrities & politicians got hit.
Also at first, the rescue in the US seemed to pay attention to the crisis's human costs. The rescue might be "equal," too
At first, Coronavirus looked like it might be an "equalizer." Affluent people who traveled got it. Celebrities & politicians got hit.
Also at first, the rescue in the US seemed to pay attention to the crisis's human costs. The rescue might be "equal," too
Subsequently, it's become clear that of course it's not an equalizer whatsoever.
Rich people have access to better healthcare & can escape to isolation. They have resources to fall back on.
Rich people have access to better healthcare & can escape to isolation. They have resources to fall back on.
This is hitting the poor in this country harder, disproportionately African-Americans. Poor people can't isolate. They are called upon to work--near other people. They have underlying health problems that make contracting the virus more dangerous. They have worse healthcare.
Meanwhile, the Corona rescue's initial aid to average Americans is unimpressive. It didn't prevent people from losing their jobs. The amounts are too small. The money isn't going out fast enough. The small-business rescue is an initial disaster.
Meanwhile, the Fed has underwritten all manner of assets, a bailout for the asset-owning class.
The corporate rescue in the CARES Act has few substantive conditions to require companies to channel money to workers rather than funnel that taxpayer money to shareholders & execs.
The corporate rescue in the CARES Act has few substantive conditions to require companies to channel money to workers rather than funnel that taxpayer money to shareholders & execs.
Here's my column on that: https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-coronavirus-bailout-repeats-2008s-mistakes-huge-corporate-payoffs-with-little-accountability
Another trend that our democracy was under attack. On access to voting, on the free press.
Now, instead of coming together, Trump is using the cover of the crisis to push out critics and diminish oversight.
Wisconsin Republicans, aided by SCOTUS, rolled back voting rights.
Now, instead of coming together, Trump is using the cover of the crisis to push out critics and diminish oversight.
Wisconsin Republicans, aided by SCOTUS, rolled back voting rights.
What this all means:
We already can see that we will emerge from this great crisis having exacerbated the inequities of a society already the most unequal since the Gilded Age.
We already can see that we will emerge from this great crisis having exacerbated the inequities of a society already the most unequal since the Gilded Age.
Worse, the crisis may exacerbate the fundamental threat to our democracy.
And those are my thoughts on this dark morning.
And those are my thoughts on this dark morning.
