Crisis = Opportunity

“Crisis brings opportunity.” That’s what they taught us in the management classes. Look at the crisis as an opportunity to get better. What are you learning from the crisis? How will you respond?

Okay, let’s apply that wisdom to our recent crisis experiences. Turns out most of what follows is not much of a surprise, actually. We suspected or knew many if not most of these things to be true. The good news is crises motivate us to action.

First, what have we learned? Second, what do we do with the knowledge?

Our “leader” is no leader at all. The crises we are enduring because of our leader’s failures are horrific and tragic. He and his backers must be removed from power and their criminal conduct prosecuted thereafter.

The Republican Party has aided and abetted the leader’s ineptitude, failures and criminality and should be held accountable. Its members must be removed from office at every level of government: federal, state and local.

The existing degree of political divisiveness is untenable and instigated by a powerful minority that seeks to dominate the majority of the populace. Electing diverse, inclusive and fully representative government at all levels will effectively end the tyranny of the powerful few and ameliorate the incessant divisiveness.

The power of free markets and the authority of independent states cannot address a national or international crisis. Only a well-coordinated government response at a national level can address crises of any magnitude.

Systemic racism continues to plague our social institutions, including law enforcement. Non-violent social protest remains the most effective tool available to citizens to seek to reduce systemic racism in our social institutions.

Anti-science bias causes people to suffer and die. No leader of any institution can be retained who ignores science.

Anti-science bias has exacerbated the tragic effects of COVID-19, as it has prevented effective action to stem the climate crisis. Both crises must be evaluated as to the intentionality and culpability of those people in positions of power that willfully caused suffering and death.

Some Governors have stepped up and acted as leaders. Others have been sycophants to their party, have acted irresponsibly and caused unnecessary suffering and death. The sycophants must be removed from office and held accountable for their actions and inactions.

Many patriotic heroes work in government and have done their jobs well despite being vilified and hamstrung by the present administration. Their station in government service must be exalted and celebrated and the government institutions that employ them returned to full funding and staffing.

The United States Postal Service is a miraculously successful government institution that is being kneecapped by those that would privatize its services for profit and disrupt mail-in balloting for the November election. They must be stopped and the Postal Service restored to its full functioning self.

The social safety net in this country is tenuous at best. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, unemployment assistance and universal healthcare for all must be strengthened and protected.

Health care workers in this country are the real heroes. We should thank them by assuring they are all paid well and receive employment benefits.

Service workers as well are heroes. Each worker who is putting their health and welfare on the line every day to help the rest of us manage through crisis must be thanked and paid a livable wage with benefits.

The same goes for teachers, professors and all workers in school systems. We must properly compensate those that are responsible for our children’s learning.

The minimum wage is an insult to every worker. We must establish a “Livable Wage Standard” in this country that is a legal requirement. All jobs must start pay at $18.00 per hour and include health care benefits and paid time off, including part time.

The wealthy and privileged suffer little in crisis and do little to help those that suffer. They must pay a fairer share of the tax burden.

The poor, people of color, indigenous people and the elderly preferentially suffer and die in crisis. They must be targeted for greater direct aid faster.

Economic stimulus in crisis works best when it comes in the form of money paid directly to those that are suffering most. Bailing out targeted industries or companies when in crisis is unnecessary.

Immigrant populations have been singled out and targeted for discrimination in a variety of deleterious ways as political theater. These acts of discrimination must be stopped and criminally prosecuted.

The free press stands between the people of our democracy and fascism. We must protect the free press at all costs.

Any organization claiming to be delivering news but functions effectively as state run media for the government does not meet the definition of free press, can be ignored and need not be protected.

Women holding positions of authority in government and business have managed current crises very effectively. We must put more qualified women in such positions of authority.

Roughly 35% of our populace will stubbornly support their candidate regardless of behavior or performance. Changing their minds is impossible and irrelevant.

The people’s right to vote in a free and fair election is being suppressed. We cannot let this happen.

Routine loving interactions with family and friends are keys to healthy living. We will cherish those moments more when they are routinely available again.

Getting back to “normal” is never going to happen. “Normal” created these crises. We must aspire to “better than normal.”

In those management classes they also teach that crisis brings opportunity because you are able to effect changes that otherwise would not be possible. In crisis people will mobilize assertively to create the change that is required.

We the People have the Power to effect these changes. We will fully exercise that power beginning November 3, 2020.

(Original art by Joan E. Hargate)