August 18, 2020

51 covid-19: day 151 | US: GA | info | act

“

Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
Which in the very thought renews the fear.

So bitter is it, death is little more;
But of the good to treat, which there I found,
Speak will I of the other things I saw there.

” — Dante, Inferno, Canto 1, ll. 1–9

I turn 51 today. Here’s the state of things in this country.

• 170,000 Americans dead from COVID-19;
• $3 trillion deficit;
• 30 million unemployed;
• USPS in shambles;
• 3500+ average daily increase of new COVID-19 cases in Georgia;
• Georgia university campuses forced to open despite daily increases in COVID-19 cases;
• Billionaires became $650+ billion richer during the pandemic;
• Our climate is still deteriorating and we continue to ignore it and even exacerbate it;
• American protestors attacked by unidentified federal forces;
• Voter suppression confirmed by ’rump publicly;
• Senate won’t defend the Constitution;
• Immigration policy is still a mess, marred by racism and xenophobia;
• Anti-fascism is a bad thing;
• White supremists are now the leading terrorists, but ’rump calls them “very fine people”;
• A pedophile gets well wishes from ’rump;
• ’Rump cares more about Putin than he does US troops;
• Food bank lines are growing and there are still shortages of disinfectants and cleaning supplies;
• Science became irrelevant;
• The press is being attacked;
• Worst GDP decline in American history;
• US leads the world in COVID-19 deaths (neck-and-neck with Brazil) while many other countries, like New Zealand, reacted quickly and decisively to control the epidemic;
• Travel to many countries is closed to Americans;
• The world no longer looks up to the US; they pity us. Check the incredulity in this video.

I wish I had better news. Yes, my family is in better shape than many, and for that I am thankful, but if things continue to go the way they have been, I don’t know how much longer that will be true. I know at least one way to help in 76 days.