Dear World,
We are so sorry we cannot cooperate and work with the rest of you in this time of the COVID-19 crisis. This is because, unfortunately, our government has broken down and become completely dysfunctional. In the past, in times of disasters, we were happy to take on a leadership role – to help with the direction and coordination, to provide support and assistance to the rest of the world as needed. With our outstanding capabilities in science, medicine, and technology, with our robust government structures, and with our access to plentiful resources, we used to be well positioned to respond when needed.
But times have changed. We have a big mess on our hands over here right now. It looks like we cannot even take care of ourselves properly. Our leaders have no idea what leading means, even within the context of our own country. The president is missing in action. We have set out on a destructive path that will lead to people dying in large numbers.
We are incapable of coming up with any kind of real plan to tackle the coronavirus. Instead of doing the hard work that is needed on so many different fronts to fight the fight, the career conman who is in charge is engaged in preening and self-aggrandizement, and in trying to find ways to get a leg up in the coming elections. There is not a concern for the fact that too many people are dying. They are collateral damage. Bluster and bombast and outright lies rule the day. Inputs from scientists and doctors are being ignored in policy decisions. The apparatus of the government bureaucracy that has been so effective in the past has been damaged in a bad way. Politically appointed hacks and yes-men, many unqualified, rule the roost, and they run amok playing their games for the benefit of our master of the con game. There is also nepotism going on at the highest level. It would be comical if it were not so sad. There is no going back for the next few months. It is a complete disaster.
Dear World, I hope you now better understand why we are unable to work with you. In fact, our leader has made it clear that he is not interested in cooperation with any of you in any real sense. Also, quite clearly, many of you are doing a much, much, better job than us in handling the pandemic. I know that all of you are getting restless with the current situation – just like those of us here in the USA. How much of social distancing can one take? You want to break out of isolation, engage with other human beings person-to-person, and get on with life like it used to be. Please keep the faith and do what is right for humanity. Know that many of us in the US are being quite reckless in our behaviors in this regard, unfortunately often at the prompting of our supreme leader and his minions. It is definitely resulting in a death toll that is unprecedented in recent times.
I would guess that even after all of you have managed to get this contagion under some kind of control, we will still be scrambling – flailing in various directions, wasting our time and energies, fighting. Many will probably still be dying. There is no common strategy or set of rules in our country to handle the situation. At some point in time, I expect that neighboring states that have different approaches to handling the pandemic could even end up tussling with each other in order to make sure that their own borders are protected from contagion. Fissures have even developed within state boundaries. These are, in fact, encouraged by our great leader, the “stable genius”. In fact, even after you guys open up your economies and your borders, you are going to have to watch out for us. We are not likely to be as prepared as you are. We may be in a position to cause further worldwide damage.
Do not worry about us. I will admit that the situation is scary, and somehow seems unreal, but we will manage. The mortality rate with this virus being what it is, many of us will still survive in spite of the astounding overall stupidity. People who believe in the science are themselves trying to be careful. We also have some sensible governors. And the percentages are still relatively low.
We are OK. One does not have to dwell on the absurdity of the situation all the time. We can compartmentalize things in the mind. Other aspects of life still go on. For example, there is interesting news on the space exploration front. Did you know that SpaceX and NASA are scheduled to jointly launch the first manned US space flight since 2011 this month? The two-member crew entered pre-flight quarantine (standard operation procedure as I understand it) yesterday.
On a personal note, it was warm enough for me to go running outside the house yesterday. Did so for the first time this year. I had been using the treadmill thus far. Covered 6 miles, and I felt great. It was certainly an endorphin high! There was also less traffic on the road. I think I must have also been breathing cleaner air.
Before I end, I would be remiss not to mention, once again, the major positive that has come out of all of this, which is the response of the many citizens on the front lines who are doing their jobs and protecting the rest of us, all of this while the national leadership flounders. People are stepping up to help others. Citizenship includes working for the common good.
Dear World, some day, after a vaccine is developed, we can join you guys in closer fellowship. Or perhaps the elections will allow us to bring some sense to the conversation more quickly. This too shall pass. In the meantime, we would not blame you, the rest of the world, if you felt it essential for your own safety to maintain a travel ban to and from the USA for a longer period of time than expected. That would be sad for those of us who have very close connections all over the world, but some of us would understand.
Once again, sorry for our mess, and sorry that we cannot work with the rest of you. We have our own battles to fight. We wish you all the best.
With you in solidarity during these troubled times.
Splattered Brains 