As the corona virus tears across the globe leaving medical systems overwhelmed, in civilized countries that have them, and mass death in its wake, our country continues its economic terrorism against affected countries including Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, denying them food and medical equipment. In fact, there is hardly a country on earth we have not done filthy murderous things to from instigating civil wars and violent coups to orchestrating genocides.
In our own country there are calls from politicians and the corporate media for bailouts of the usual suspects; banks, big oil, finance, airlines, ect. along with emergency crumbs in the way of checks to “taxpaying' citizens. Even that appreciated but inadequate assistance – coming from the corrupt and inept G.O.P leadership – is being stymied by Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Cuomo with calls for stringent means testing. Layoffs and unemployment are skyrocketing by the day with evictions likely soon to follow.
Meanwhile, the only platform and leadership that could limit the damage and save the country, and I refer of course to Bernie Sanders's calls for universal medical coverage via Medicare for All, relief from student dept, a job-creating Green New Deal focused on adaptive infrastructure renewal, green agriculture and moving away from fossil fuels from the power grid to transportation has been soundly defeated by corporate media efforts and voters driven by fear and misinformation. A majority of said voters stated in exit polls that they support these things but were informed that Joe Biden, a senile conservative democrat was more electable in spite of polls showing the very opposite.
So here we are, sheltering in place with the most inept and crooked government in the history of our republic in charge even as we continue raining death and destruction in every part of the world. This includes the deadly embargo on Cuba which has been successful in assisting China with the development of Interferon Alpha 2b which has proven effective for viruses with characteristics similar to those of COVID-19. But hey, let's not let common sense or the curbing of unnecessary deaths get in the way of our renewed cold-war fervor!
Music, the tunes that rise out of the inky bitumen of our subconscious can sometimes be an oracle trying to tell us something or helping us see situations in perspective. The other day the voice of Doris Day rose from my inner swamp singing Que Sera Sera. As I consider the larger reality the tune that has been playing in my head is Instant Karma.
