- Sat May 02, 2020 3:21 pm
#124657
This corona19 virus has impacted us like nothing else in our lifetime. I really think that we will never go back to the way we were just a few months ago I have been observing the quarantine and working from home as much as I can, though I still have to go where my work is a couple of times a week.
The following are some of my ideas how things might change. I might be totally wrong on some, most or all of them. On some, I hope that I am totally wrong as I don’t feel that the change is for the better.
Politics
If you feel that we are divided now just wait. The full impact of this virus-caused economy has not been realized yet. The stupid (I feel) $1200 deposited in your bank will lull some into thinking that our leaders will pull us out of this and leave us unscathed. It cannot happen the way some think that it will. Economics just doesn’t work like that. Every business man is in business to make a profit and to hopefully support himself and his family. The profitless business that is only in it for the good of humanity doesn’t exist as the norm.
One day soon many are going to wake up and find that there is no magic bullet that the government has to make them 100% well again. Then there is going to be a massive movement to place blame and to require a remedy for their plight. One day soon some person with a small following is going to discover that there are very wealthy persons. That person will try to build his following by suggesting that we take away the wealth from those that have. I fear that there are enough “non-thinkers” who feel that they deserve that wealth and will pursue that goal. I don’t want to be around when that movement gains momentum.
There has long been a sizable distrust of government. Too many feel that the government has a duty to protect all citizens from harm, even when self-inflicted. Who caused all of this economic mess? The politicians of course says the common man. Solution? Change the makeup of the government. What’s the plan? Says the common man, “We’ll figure out that later, just get those bums out of office.” With the little thought most put into who they vote for, I shutter to think what we might wind up with.
Have our politicians failed us in this crisis. Sure, but I probably wouldn't have done much better with hundreds of politicians looking to use the crisis for political gain. One thing that does strike me...where are the politicians that are saying, “We have a crisis hear, what can I do to help?”
The help so far has not been thought out very well. Throwing money at companies without delving into whether the money will be well-spent is insane. I know of one company that recently got a $550,000 forgivable loan. This is a computer based company that ordered its employees to work from home as soon as the crisis became a problem.. No employee missed a day’s pay and wouldn’t have missed a day’s pay. Is this $550,000 well spent?
Please note...We are broke. We have been living on the credit card for decades. It is sudden death for a politician to propose a tax increase. The alternative is to print money with no backup and wind up like Venezuela.
Employment
Our unemployment is now higher than it has ever been. Where this money is coming from to pay unemployment claims is coming from I don’t know. Our states have been crying poor mouth for decades. It looks like it will be months before the unemployment figures get to a manageable level.
I think that many of the unemployed will find that their jobs will never come back In discussions with business leaders I hear that some are going to use this shutdown to weed out the undesirables. Many are finding out that they can continue with fewer employees. Higher paid employees might find out that they have to take a lesser job to have a job. Older workers might never be able to become fully employed as there is an age bias although no one will admit it.
I know of two companies that are looking into a huge investment into robotics. Robots don’t have health insurance, vacations, breaks, mood issues, lunch, etc. Amazingly there are government programs to help them do this.
My local Best-buy closes at 6:00 pm now and one employee said that they are thinking about closing on Sunday. Many stores have abbreviated hours. I suspect that business leaders are going to do a cost analysis to see if the savings are worth it. Shorter hours require fewer employee and less energy.
I have seen figures that state that at-home workers will constitute 10-25% of the work force., this figure might be high but work-from-home is with us now and could grow in the future. If these figures are true this will mean fewer cars needed, fewer capital expenditures, a change in how we build our houses and a drastically different life-style. This means fewer jobs.
The corona19 crisis in our meat packing plants has brought home how fragile our food supply can be. A side problem is that may of these workers are either illegal or low paid legal residents. Health care for these workers is spotty and often inadequate. Will workers try to self cure with the resulting spread of the virus?
Whether we like it or not, illegal immigrants are the workers on the huge farms. Again they have little or no health insurance. With the crackdown on illegals farmers are finding it difficult to hire enough employee to harvest. Many crops have already been plowed under.
The following are some of my ideas how things might change. I might be totally wrong on some, most or all of them. On some, I hope that I am totally wrong as I don’t feel that the change is for the better.
Politics
If you feel that we are divided now just wait. The full impact of this virus-caused economy has not been realized yet. The stupid (I feel) $1200 deposited in your bank will lull some into thinking that our leaders will pull us out of this and leave us unscathed. It cannot happen the way some think that it will. Economics just doesn’t work like that. Every business man is in business to make a profit and to hopefully support himself and his family. The profitless business that is only in it for the good of humanity doesn’t exist as the norm.
One day soon many are going to wake up and find that there is no magic bullet that the government has to make them 100% well again. Then there is going to be a massive movement to place blame and to require a remedy for their plight. One day soon some person with a small following is going to discover that there are very wealthy persons. That person will try to build his following by suggesting that we take away the wealth from those that have. I fear that there are enough “non-thinkers” who feel that they deserve that wealth and will pursue that goal. I don’t want to be around when that movement gains momentum.
There has long been a sizable distrust of government. Too many feel that the government has a duty to protect all citizens from harm, even when self-inflicted. Who caused all of this economic mess? The politicians of course says the common man. Solution? Change the makeup of the government. What’s the plan? Says the common man, “We’ll figure out that later, just get those bums out of office.” With the little thought most put into who they vote for, I shutter to think what we might wind up with.
Have our politicians failed us in this crisis. Sure, but I probably wouldn't have done much better with hundreds of politicians looking to use the crisis for political gain. One thing that does strike me...where are the politicians that are saying, “We have a crisis hear, what can I do to help?”
The help so far has not been thought out very well. Throwing money at companies without delving into whether the money will be well-spent is insane. I know of one company that recently got a $550,000 forgivable loan. This is a computer based company that ordered its employees to work from home as soon as the crisis became a problem.. No employee missed a day’s pay and wouldn’t have missed a day’s pay. Is this $550,000 well spent?
Please note...We are broke. We have been living on the credit card for decades. It is sudden death for a politician to propose a tax increase. The alternative is to print money with no backup and wind up like Venezuela.
Employment
Our unemployment is now higher than it has ever been. Where this money is coming from to pay unemployment claims is coming from I don’t know. Our states have been crying poor mouth for decades. It looks like it will be months before the unemployment figures get to a manageable level.
I think that many of the unemployed will find that their jobs will never come back In discussions with business leaders I hear that some are going to use this shutdown to weed out the undesirables. Many are finding out that they can continue with fewer employees. Higher paid employees might find out that they have to take a lesser job to have a job. Older workers might never be able to become fully employed as there is an age bias although no one will admit it.
I know of two companies that are looking into a huge investment into robotics. Robots don’t have health insurance, vacations, breaks, mood issues, lunch, etc. Amazingly there are government programs to help them do this.
My local Best-buy closes at 6:00 pm now and one employee said that they are thinking about closing on Sunday. Many stores have abbreviated hours. I suspect that business leaders are going to do a cost analysis to see if the savings are worth it. Shorter hours require fewer employee and less energy.
I have seen figures that state that at-home workers will constitute 10-25% of the work force., this figure might be high but work-from-home is with us now and could grow in the future. If these figures are true this will mean fewer cars needed, fewer capital expenditures, a change in how we build our houses and a drastically different life-style. This means fewer jobs.
The corona19 crisis in our meat packing plants has brought home how fragile our food supply can be. A side problem is that may of these workers are either illegal or low paid legal residents. Health care for these workers is spotty and often inadequate. Will workers try to self cure with the resulting spread of the virus?
Whether we like it or not, illegal immigrants are the workers on the huge farms. Again they have little or no health insurance. With the crackdown on illegals farmers are finding it difficult to hire enough employee to harvest. Many crops have already been plowed under.
- By johnforbes