The Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic has changed all our lives for the worst with no immediate resolution in sight. I have been bombarded with news updates, social media drama, and just typical hysteria surrounding the recent viral outbreak. The government has instructed the public to quarantine themselves, which has been disregarded by the masses until it affects their personal little space bubble.
People have forgotten about past pandemics and what toll they had taken on society psychically and economically. The Spanish Flu pandemic gave us a set road map to follow and we as a people continue to make the same exact mistakes that were made 100 years ago. The government knows what needs to be done, but they cannot force the citizens to comply without martial law. Unfortunately, martial law is the exact opposite of our great democracy so the government will only use this measure as a last resort which will resort in more lives being lost to the Coronavirus/Covid-19.
The economic ramifications have just begun with millions of people unable to work because businesses have been forced to shutter their doors to curve the pandemic around the world. With medical and food shortages potentially looming on the horizon is there anything positive about these events?
I believe that the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic will require every single person in this world to reassess their lives and behaviors moving forward. Humanity has become too dependent upon technology and mass production to solve the woes of our lives. The Coronavirus has proven that our mentality of immediate gratification does not always come into fruition due to the simple limitations of science and man. Our expectation of the government being able to step in and fix any occurrence immediately does not exist and our comfortable little lives can change overnight.
The reliance on super grocery store chains and mass produced items has weakened our society almost to the breaking point. We now realize that dependence on foreign manufacturers is to our detriment and the behavior must be curtailed. People will support manufacturers from their country and the governments will be more determined to keep businesses from venturing abroad for cheaper labor.
With schools being closed with no idea of when they will be given the all clear to reopen their doors, families have been forced to hunker down in their home. Most traditional families in the United States of America require two incomes to keep up with the American Dream lifestyle. This has turned into a nightmare and a blessing for many parents. With young children at home all day, they have been forced to spend an abundance of quality time with their children. This is also a curse because once the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic loses its grip on our society; a monumental recession will set in and bills still need to be paid.
So, where does this leave us as a society today? It leaves us with the realization of what if. What if there is no more toilet paper? What if I can’t get meat at a grocery store? What if there is no milk to be found? What if there is a gas shortage? What if the hospitals become overwhelmed? What if there is martial law? And the list goes on endlessly within our imaginations.
A lot of these what if questions can be answered by yourself along with the necessary preparation for the particular scenario. The word pantry was a thing of the past, but I strongly suspect that it will make a major comeback. We as a society have been reminded that we cannot always expect there to be abundance and we should be prepared. Fortunately, the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic has opened our eyes before it’s too late.
Here are some reliable links concerning the current Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic:
Center for Disease Control (CDC)