I'm in a COVID survivors group on Facebook and every day, there are posts with pictures and stories from people whose family members just passed or are in critical condition. The stats so often take away from the richness, warmth, and heartbreak of each life that is impacted.

Grandparents & beloved family members, people with careers that support community development and education, people who had other illnesses and some who weren't sick at all - when you see posts every day while scrolling through, it reminds you of how pervasive COVID is.

The reality is that if we were in the Hunger Games right now and each COVID death was marked by a cannon in the US, the thunder would be deafening.

Instead, we have debates about wearing masks, pandemic relief funds going to wealthy businesses, and gov't failing its people.

My partner turned on the TV the other day and I caught some of a morning show.

At its root, we lack the collective political will to lockdown the country, have mask requirements, and get the virus under control and gone.

So, instead, we share upbeat tips on how to Zoom-school.

We're in a country where's there so little care from gov't towards its people that it's not even a sure thing that this current president - as bad as he & his admin are - will lose re-election. Barriers to voting, gerrymandering, and lack of voter engagement - people are jaded.

Unchecked greed, unchecked police brutality, unchecked racial disparities in public health & housing & education...

COVID has unmasked different aspects of white supremacy and oppression in glaringly stark fashion.

And everyday people are responding so much better than leaders.