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Adding context to my perspective on COVID and the shut-downs: (Don't read this. It'll get boring. This is just for my own personal piece of mind)
Empathy really is a curse. Ideally, it makes one a better person, but it also sucks because you feel everyone's pain, not just yours
Empathy really is a curse. Ideally, it makes one a better person, but it also sucks because you feel everyone's pain, not just yours
Right now in my family, my wife is not working. I've taken a cut. I consider myself to be one of the really really lucky ones.
I also have a stake in a small business, and while our model will sustain us for a while, it's hard not to worry about how long we can last.
I also have a stake in a small business, and while our model will sustain us for a while, it's hard not to worry about how long we can last.
On the other side, death is something I've been around since I was very young. I've literally lost 3 BEST friends. Not friends, but BEST friends in my life. (Probably why I don't have friends now.) The permanence and despair of losing someone you love will never be lost on me.
One of the key organizers for the Salt Lake Rally this week is a friend of mine. We agree on pretty much zero political positions and he's not un-crazy when it comes to right-wing conspiracies. His angry FB rants the past few weeks have been both entertaining and disheartening
But he's a friend nonetheless. Someone I don't know left a comment on one of his rally posts saying "I hope you die." That was even more disheartening. I responded to him saying "I hope you don't die...and just as much as that, I hope you don't kill."
And that's where I'm at right now. I really get the desire to get back to work, but if one person gets it and keeps doing everything they normally do and sets off a chain...statistically it's only about 2 rungs down where someone will get it & never provide for their family again
If that chain causes too many to get it all at once suddenly it's not the government shutting down the economy, it's the virus. A few folks in a meat-packing plant pass it on. It goes to some truck drivers. Now, the supply chain - which has been very stable up until now - suffers
And while healthcare organizations are complaining about a lack of PPE and ventilators, what happens when suddenly they're short-staffed from their folks catching COVID as well? They are, after all, at the highest risk.
Thing is, I really do get both sides. I've been unemployed and know the utter worthlessness you feel from not being able to provide for your family. And right now, no one is interviewing or hiring - And I pessimistically believe that many of these aren't coming back anytime soon
The government is showing their absolute incompetence in handling this crisis. This isn't to bash Trump or Republicans or Democrats. This is bashing everyone. The federal government has absolutely dropped the ball on this one. I feel fortunate our state government has been better
But we cannot rush this. We're close to a point we can start slowly reopening and carefully easing the lockdowns. But if we just say, "I don't care if I get it" we're really missing the big picture. Because it's not about "you" it's about everyone you infect and who they infect.
