Newminimalists must avoid hubris in 2020.
In my youth [around age 30] I was paid to provide a government with longer-term policy advice. I loved the job. I made some progress on some issues with solutions that still exist. I tell you this by way of background to what I am about to say here. I know that whatever I promote here will be adjudged to be WRONG nevertheless I will set down the basics.
* * *
First, there is no "safe" way to combat the Coronavirus. It can not be defeated unless, or until, there is a proven vaccine against this strain of the Corona virus family. Even with a practical and proven vaccine this virus will likely still continue to kill people.
Second, there will be a second, third, fourth, and an nth wave of this Coronavirus. Indeed we must now acknowledge the fact that we are at the beginning not at the end of this viral pandemic. The healthcare system we have in 2020 has proven to be inadequate in the face of the global, national, regional, and local challenge of this virus.
Third, the victims of this Coronavirus includes those who have been impacted by public policy setting which governments have implemented to fight it. Those who live in poor economic circumstances are on the frontline of this public policy response to a healthcare issue; subsequently, this healthcare challenge morphed into a unique socio-economic issue.
* * *
What to do now?
Stop blaming others for our current predicament. Stop conflating pre-existing healthcare and economic flaws with those that have emerged in the face of this pandemic. Stop prescribing policy settings for political groups and focus on constituents as individuals. Stop deferring to institutional status holders and find innovators in healthcare and supply chains economics. Stop allowing and enabling government processes and procedures to slow the progress on public funded payments to those in real need.
Enact longer-term policy settings that help those in real need. Those who are vulnerable need a way to "isolate" themselves from those who are possible super-spreaders. Those who are not at work [and thus have no cashflow] need a way to get back and earn an income. Those who are permanently shutdown from past streams of income need a support system that can help them invent a new way to earn a living.
Steps. Isolate the most vulnerable. Let those who have access to an income go back to work. Provide local facilities where people can meet to help each other find a new source of income. I know that these policy settings are too simplistic to work in our modern circles of government BUT they can become the first principles that can then be expanded out to form workable schemes that are different in each and every locality around the globe.
Media. Promote the idea that the old economy is not coming back. Hammer the notion that the idea of having a job is dead and instead each person or family unit must create new streams of income. Actively avoid any conversations about law and order compliance measures; rather, implement a few key rules that set the framework for a new state of civility, freedom, innovation, and social cohesion that is totally devoid of the need for ideological group think.
Richard
Those who admit they are struggling to change from the world of 2019 to that of 2020 and beyond will benefit most from becoming a Newminimalist [for more go to minimal-you.com].
Comments