My business, your life
or
My life, your business
This is the crux of the current crisis and it is a mean and hard fight and it will be a mean and hard fight for awhile. The math hasn't changed and trajectories are clear, many are going to die because we lack the resources to save them. The cost of this crisis to certain industries will be overwhelming and in some cases terminal. Evidence that the virus can linger up to 17 days is another hard edge in the battlefield. So now it isn't just vigilance in the moment, it is vigilance always. Constant testing will be the norm for a time. Who is going to pay for all these tests. Where are the resources? Where are all the resources we need to protect "us" in this particular battlefield? Who has the things that we all need right now? There are things we don't need; PSAs, feel good about us caring advertisements, platitudes. No, in a few days we are going to need rent and food and this is occurring everywhere. Each one of us has been given an opportunity to help ourselves, that we assist all by doing a simple thing is a fortuitous by-product so stay home. I hope you have reached out to those you love, I hope you have taken steps to gird yourself and strengthen your bastions. I hope you have taken this seriously and have marshaled your resources to shelter yourself and those you love.
The heat of this battle is in the clash about us, the value we represent and the way that value has been constantly and generally harvested. If your business is in a hard way then you immediately recognize the importance of my life to your business and you should take steps to preserve my life, which is your business. Relief is needed at the front lines, it is needed for tests and for food, rent is probably not being paid by many this month as money is needed for food instead. Medical workers need relief, they need help and equipment, more PPE and more test kits and more ICU beds and ventilators. Where are the resources our society should have to deal with this crisis? I understand how valuable my work is to me personally, that I can continue to help and get paid, I value the fact that this is supported by the company that controls my days. With a little prodding they have reacted by recognizing that their workforce is their company. It helps that they are a widely held company, it helps that they are public facing, it helps they have empowered their safety officer. I am a sub and my prime immediately purchased safety equipment for every one of his subs, N95 masks, face shields, disinfectant. If you are unfortunate enough to be dealing with those who think you should just be totally willing to die so their business can get back to normal in a few weeks I can only offer the suggestion that bio-films show the way to resist, just lock it down altogether. We really need to know who is willing to suck out our life and the lives of our children and grandchildren so they can pretend it is a business as usual. I have been telling my children that we could be locked down as long as 8 to 10 weeks. I am factoring in the actual infected at ten times the current tested number, so for me Alberta's 300 cases means that there are currently 3000 people walking around coughing and sneezing with the coronavirus. Avoidance becomes more difficult as time passes and ICU beds are getting filled quickly in most places. In this battle you just need to last, that is the key to winning the war.
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