How is the outbreak affecting your life and work?Not as much as as someone with a family. However with autoimmune issues and high iron, I am in a higher risk category given the nature of this virus.
It has been a month since I attempted to get tested for the virus and because my pneumonia never got worse beyond a certain point, others got bumped in front of me. I think such action was not accidental in lowering the case count. To date I am still waiting for the phone to ring and give me a date and time to get tested.
How do you think it will affect your local, national and international politics, economics and life in general?
Locally, the shut down is comparable to everywhere else. Not much is moving except for essential services. I am curious if the UK has declared alcohol an essential service? In Canada alcohol has been
declared essential because a little over 3% of the population would likely cause disruption. I am not sure I agree with that.
I also expect to see the medical systems stress tested. Perhaps a year from now the state verses private debate will come back. There will obviously be cost comparisons. If the costs coming out of America I hear on an anecdotal level are true, the health debate will return with the Bernie Bros front and center.
The vaccine debate will return no question because of the costs associated with shutting down large swaths of the economy. As we get closer to a possible vaccine I can see discussions on the high cost of non-pharmaceutical interventions or NPI's and subsequent affects on a working economy. Then the debate would shift to one of cost and availability. I expect the Libertarians are going to be on the defensive.
The longer the lock down continues the more imperiled long supply chains become. I think Canada is uniquely screwed food wise if the siege continues into the fall.
Globalism in any form works on the principle of high mobility. Without tourism the restaurant, hotel and subsequent service industries suffer. I am curious if China can get by with producing less stuff for America or if America can get by with less stuff from China? The number I hear but cannot verify is trade for the American market is down to 10% of total Chinese production. That may drop further.
The virus also revives the national borders debate and reinvigorates the debate for border enforcement. I expect the SJW's will lament.
There will be a lot of talk next year about failing institutions and surveillance. It is still too early to tell how that one will go. I have no idea just how many bail outs can happen for the banks if the cheques haven't come out until July-August time frame (American timeline).
So there will be a bit to address come summer.
This post has been edited by Trouble: Apr 13 2020, 09:05 PM