What we learned in 2020
Tis the season for retrospectives, or at least it would be if we weren’t living news cycle to news cycle. But if I can tear your gaze from the mostly settled election, the unsettled vaccine, and the unsettling prospects of the future, let’s see what lessons we can learn from 2020.
Under the Mask
I won’t rehash any mask debates, but just point out that the science is not settled. Views range anywhere from “it’s all nonsense” to “wear a mask even when you are alone.” But compliance is near 100% in most areas. In fact, it is very rare that I see anyone, aside from me or my family, not wear a mask in public.
So, why do skeptics wear masks?
To be polite. This is by far the justification I can most identify with. I’m not a sociopath; I recognize that there are things I can do to put others at ease.
To not be shamed. This is one I least identify with, but understand. Shame is a powerful tool to use against creatures whose survival historically depended on the acceptance of a community.
Work makes me. This is where we break from the lateral pressure of our peers to top down coercion. If you don’t comply, you are fired.
Stores require it. If you don’t comply, you don’t eat.
Government spaces require it. Try getting a license, going to court, mailing a letter, etc. without wearing a mask. Mask up or get cut off from government services (which you are often required by law to receive).
But where does all this coercion originate? Do employers institute site-wide mask mandates because they have read the science? Are stores hassling customers at the door and checkout because they think it’s good for business? Does the DMV worker who is already behind plate glass have to worry about the ‘Rona? No. It’s because businesses can be sued, fined, or have their licenses revoked. The long arm of the law rests threateningly around the throat of anyone who wants to buy or sell goods or services. The masks uncover the truth about government reach: it’s everywhere.
Safety Über Alles
As coercive as the state is, they wouldn’t be able to pull it off without the majority of people going along with it. Underlying everything is the fear of death. Pandemics are frightening because they can reach anyone, all are susceptible. All includes me.
Once you sell the majority of people that their lives are at stake, no amount of actual carnage will overcome that fear. Suicides are up? Well, I’m not suicidal. Businesses are closing? I don’t own a business. Drug overdoses are up? I don’t do drugs. Domestic abuse? Not a problem here. Other diseases rampaging because of lack of testing and preventative care? That’s not me.
A spike of cases in my area?! Mask up everybody! Stay home, stay safe! Nurses and doctors, I love you, you’re heroes! Save me! Do anything. Spend anything. My… I mean, …lives are on the line.
Monopoly Inc.
What do you call it when you can operate your business without competition? If meatspace employees can’t work, who stays employed? If only grocery-related brick and mortar stores open, who gets all the non-food profits? Did you know the original name for Amazon.com was Relentless.com? Go ahead, type it into your browser. Anyone with a man in Washington not only gets to stay open, but gets that sweet, sweet stimulus money. What a deal.
If nothing else, 2020 has been the largest transfer of wealth from the bottom upward. The most plebes at the bottom can hope for is enough to maybe pay rent for a couple months. After that, well, just become a ward of the state. We don’t need you anyway. China is healthy, they can do our work. Stay in, watch Netflix, and chill.
We Don’t Need No Education
Since the powers that be decided children attending school posed a great threat to our civilization, schools, especially public schools, have closed their doors. In our neck of the woods, it started with a one month hiatus that turned into weekly or daily assignments, videos, and finally culminating in zoom classes. Not that we did any of that, we peaced-out from day one.
Many others have followed suit. Enrollment is at historic lows across the country. Turns out when the value proposition of “free” daycare becomes unavailable, a lot of people decide the rest of what government school has to offer isn’t worth the trouble. Some parents, like us, decided to home school. According to Gallup, homeschooling doubled and is up to 10% of students. Others have opted to pay for private schools, or have enrolled in charter schools, even virtual charter schools.
Schools are ‘open’ in our area, but they require masks. Screw that. School is enough of a dystopian, Lord-of-the-Flies nightmare without depriving children of seeing human expressions for most of their waking moments and literally policing their faces every second of every day. Other places remain closed except for Zoom. I won’t speculate why public schools have decided to sabotage themselves. It seems to be a nexus of government wanting to oversell the pandemic and teachers wanting to be paid to stay home.
Red-pilled on the Boys in Blue
How do you drive a contradiction 60 miles per hour? Put both a Gadsden Flag (“don’t tread on me”) and a Thin Blue Line Flag on your truck. Whose boot do you fancy is doing the treading? Sometimes you can only see glimmers in the darkest moments, and the killing of George Floyd was such a moment. Even die-hard conservatives looked at that video and said, wow, that’s messed up. They hadn’t flipped on the police state, but they were ready to listen. That ended when the looting began and all anyone had to say was #DefundThePolice. Sometimes the mask slips and you see that division is the point.
Much more effective red-pills came later with videos of police arresting people for going to church, having a catch in the park with their kid, or being alone on a beach. There were even some heroes across the nation, local sheriffs, who said, “Nope, we’re not going to enforce these laws.” Guess what happened to them: nothing. Guess why: because no sheriff or officer of the law has ever lost a court case for refusing to do something unconstitutional. So, it really makes you wonder, if they don’t have to enforce these laws, why do they?
Bailouts and Bribery
This year we found out that Americans aren’t very good at math. The Cares Act had a price tag of a $2.2T, but will likely be a few trillion more after loan guarantees to banks and other machinations I don’t quite understand. But it was largely toted as a relief in the form of direct payments to Americans. Ok, so let’s see, $2.2T/330M people equals… $1,200. Does that seem right? It did to a lot of people (the actual amount would be $6,600 if all of it went to every person). In reality, $1,200 was the amount to eligible adults— children got $500 each. For those keeping score, that’s $2T to special interests and about $0.2T as direct payments to people. In other words, the $2T was the purpose of the bill and the change was the surcharge politicians paid to bribe the public.
The same type of bill is being passed now, except the amounts are halved. I guess they needed a bit more to keep all the piggies happy and at the trough.
You’re on Your Own
If there is any lesson we should learn from 2020, it’s that we have to fend for ourselves and take care of each other. It wasn’t the police that were standing in front of businesses to protect them from looters and rioters. It was armed friends, family, and neighbors who wanted to stop criminals from tearing apart their communities. If you don’t work for a large corporation, or the government, you were deemed ‘non-essential’ and hung out to dry. If you want to put food on your table, you need to figure out exactly where it’s coming from, even if local tyrants shut everything down, impose a curfew, or demand to see your ‘essential’ papers when you leave the house. Guns & ammo, secure food & other supplies, and an untouchable source of income.