People. Do you miss them?
Sure, they get on your nerves sometimes. After a couple of weeks avoiding them, are we having fun yet? We can hope that this becomes a teaching moment. Given all of the free time we have, it could be the time for some reflection.
Whether or not it’s likely, the present circumstances could prove to be a gift. It very well could be a game changer, or give us the opportunity to change the game.
What game? Civilization.
Wow! I expect a lot, you say. No. I don’t expect it but do see an opportunity; one likely be unappreciated — the proverbial opportunity lost.
First, just in general you have to be more aware of how much difference being around people makes. No masks. No Purell. No daily bull sessions by a clown who is unaware of how obvious his ignorance, greed and lack of concern for others are.
We should appreciate the importance of visiting grandparents, attending church or games and concerts. People in the hospital can have visitors. In other words, life is only normal when we can interact with people. A part of that game changer would, or could, be that we appreciate other people. We could come to understand that hate is a negative to the person doing the hating, not just the object of that hate. Being nice to others actually is personally beneficial.
Another lesson we should learn from this potential teaching moment is how important are those who do the menial but necessary jobs that keep the society functioning. Whether it’s the guys hanging on to the back of the garbage truck, the janitorial workers at your office or the lady that cleans your house once a week or the undocumented people who pick the fruits and vegetables that you and I have no interest in doing, they deserve our appreciation and a livable wage.
These people play an important role. These people are important — but you wouldn’t know that by looking at their bank account. Nor would you realize how important they are by the way they are treated.
Parasites sitting on their duffs on Wall Street or in the board rooms of pharmaceutical corporations or slumlords, regardless of how tacky their properties, do more harm than good or do harm but no good. For their contributions they are rewarded in a way that would make Midas jealous.
The at the economic bottom can ill afford to pay any taxes but still must fork over money they could put toward feeding their children or providing them a childhood. Those at the top scheme to avoid paying for the costs of all of the benefits they enjoy. It’s their favorite game.
One other point comes to mind. Many stories on the news are of the acts of kindness of people during this time of stress. Despite being in the most vulnerable demographic, many retired medical people are volunteering. A few employers are trying to help their employees keep their heads above water. That is very human but the opposite of what we are taught.
We are taught, from grammar school through college to compete. The other major emphasis during those years is sports — a field of competition. In all of our education we are pitted one against the other. Then what happens? You get a job where, in most cases you are required to cooperate with your fellow employees.
Sure, your company will be in competition with other companies but, for most people, their daily routine consists of working in cooperation with the others. These workers are supposed to be lead by someone that may be at a level to compete with someone else for another promotion. But, his/her responsibility is to get the most out of his people. That is usually achieved through cooperation. It is unlikely that the leader even realizes the best methods, much less has the mindset to implement it.
This failure to understand the importance of cooperation and having been taught and trained in a shallow form of competition, has resulted in the monumental incompetence at the top of most American corporations. While we may go full on rah-rah about how we are the best at everything (as epitomized by the occupant of the Oval Office), my experience overseas and background in international economics and international relations demands a very different perspective.
You demur? In 1980 we were the world’s leading creditor nation. Now we are the leading debtor nation. In 1980 we were the leading exporter of manufactured goods. Now we are the world’s lading importer of manufactured goods. In 1980 we were the world’s leading importer of raw materials.Now we are the leading exporter. We have become a third-world nation with an unlimited credit card.
What ever you call it, shelter-in-place, lock-down or home-bound, this could be a blessing if we would take advantage of this gift, however unattractive the wrapping.
If you found this educational, edifying, interesting or otherwise worth your time, this geezer would appreciate a little supplement to those Social Security checks, They forgot to factor in the cost of publishing a blog.
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Many thanks,
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