We Can't Go Back to Normal
For week 8, I wanted to talk about COVID-19. I know, the virus has been a very definitive topic of global news lately and I have been doing my best to abide by health precautions, such as social distancing and diligently washing my hands, but as we continue to be out of work, school, and out of participation in society itself, I wonder about the implications of this unprecedented, modern pandemic on our future in the US, specifically. So far, a lot of what the coronavirus has done to our society socially--besides the obvious public health concerns--has shown us the inadequacies in our capitalist economic, political, and healthcare systems as well as exposed certain qualities of what we thought were immovable institutions, such as physical workplaces, governments, and other places and services we believe are obligatory or guaranteed. Our country is not built to fight a pandemic such as this, especially during a time in which a large amount of the country follows and believes in a man who essentially doesn't believe in science, is an abuser, a racist, a transphobe, and just so happens to be our president. I am currently unemployed and its terrifying to know the only option I have for work right now is to either work for a large company--Amazon and Walmart are hiring--or I work in a grocery store as an emergency worker. We are discovering who are those with the necessary occupations in society: grocery store employees, doctors, nurses, teachers, delivery persons, therapists, and other jobs that have continued to thrive if not be overwhelmed through this pandemic. We are learning that our government has no safety nets for those who are truly at risk; those without home to stay at, without health insurance, and without the security to stop working and to stop exposing themselves to the world.
However bleak this time is, we do see improvements in other places around the world, so maybe we can also improve. I think hope is possible, but we need radical change in our systems and we need it soon in order to survive this pandemic socially, economically, and, most importantly, on a public health level. I know it is a common feeling of wanting to go back to normal, but I'm not sure that can be an option for these circumstances. It might take a lot longer for the US to bounce back from this pandemic because of our terrible federal services and resources for the people, and right now, as it's looking, we're not going back to normal. The article I have linked is about the harsh reality of what we have to face in the foreseeable future, and if we don't take the proper steps towards universal healthcare, democratic socialism, and a more progressive government, I'm not sure we will be able to survive. We must continue to advocate for those who cannot fight for themselves, as this pandemic as shown us that community is one of the most important tools you can have to achieve greater things.
I like how you highlighted the ways in which this pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in our society. The scary thing about a pandemic forcing a large percentage of the population out of work is that our current health care system is designed so that we get our health care through our work, which clearly is not ideal. Hopefully if one thing can come out of this pandemic it's that more people realize we need to change our systems. It would be so nice if organized nightly applause for essential workers translated into, you know, something that might actually help. Higher wages and better paid sick leave would be a good start.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good way to look at this situation, though! We can't go back, so hopefully we can use this to look at what we need to change going forward.
It's interesting to read this post now, over a month after it was published because everything mentioned in this post is still extremely relevant right now. If anything, what you stress here has become even more important. Several states, like Georgia, have begun to open up, and many more (including New Mexico) plan to start reopening mid-May. This time has been very trying, and a lot of people want to go back to work, to see their loved ones, and to be able to go out and have fun again. However, as you mention here we can't go back to the old normal. A lot of people seem to think that life can just carry on as usual after the next two weeks and everything will be the same as it was. But everything has changed; as you pointed out, we realize the true significance of certain professions and jobs now. A new normal has to be established within the next few weeks. It won't be the same as the old one, but considering how many issues were exposed within the old system, this will be a good change, not a bad one.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to acknowledge all of the positive and negative things that can come because of COVID-19. No matter what happens, you're absolutely right that we won't be able to go back to normal. The way that systems are breaking down is showing that our old "normal" doesn't work. Obviously a pandemic is going to shake up everything we know, but we can take what we learn from this and make changes (like implementing universal healthcare) that would protect us from breaking down again, but also benefit our society every day. It sucks that it took something like this for people to suddenly get on board with universal healthcare, but now that we're in this, I hope people realize that there are better systems that we can build than the "normal" that we're grieving the loss of.
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