Feeling Safe?

The late great comedian George Carlin was right:  If we don’t expose ourselves to viruses, we weaken our immune systems, and that’ll put us into early graves.  Or maybe it’ll just kill off wealth, the stock market, the 21st-century economy and, possibly, our freedom.

Given the threat in the atmosphere today – a Chinese-born disease that’s infected more than 200,000 around the globe (and keeps rising) and killed more than 9,000 (and growing) but also seen more than 85,000 (and rising) recover from it – Carlin’s got a point.

Once President Trump and the country’s governors declared a “state of emergency,” they inflamed panic, unleashing a jittery public on grocery stores and pharmacies, seeing products no one never imagined being in such high demand – sanitizing hand wipes, hydrogen peroxide, toilet paper and paper towels – sell out in hours, if not minutes.

Schools are closed, and the government shut down many businesses – some of them, like bars and restaurants, the most vulnerable to any economic disruption – all in the name of safety.  I wonder how “safe” the unemployed are feeling.  Those on the lower end of the pay scale – restaurant, bar and daycare workers – are the “safest.”

Joining the panic are large companies, like Apple, that closed all its stores outside of China for two weeks while other firms told staff to work from home.  Meanwhile, churches and other houses of worship told their congregations to dial up the Good Lord from home.

And now comes a new, vile and deceiving Orwellian term – “social distancing,” although according to Merriam-Webster it’s been around since 2003.  Still, you can’t be social yet be distant.  At least if you operate in the real world, not that false party at Facebook.

And word is coming forth that gun sales are increasing – big time! – because Americans are scared.  

The biggest insult being pawned on us mere citizens, taxpayers if you prefer, and the unemployed, are the dates schools and some businesses, like gyms, are expected to reopen.  They’re arbitrary, but they’ll convince far too many that the disease that once threatened their lives is contained.

In other words, the only thing government, businesses, school, and religious leaders have done is provide us with a false sense of security.  Or should I say, lied?

By late April or early May, we’ll see many more infected with some strain of the coronavirus, and tragically, many more deaths, perhaps a few due to gunshot wounds, I predict.  All because the one message the government needed to deliver was unsaid – take responsibility and be careful.

Feeling safe?