Back in May I listed the following thoughts, which were since supplemented by quotes from the media. I believe I posted the original thoughts somewhere here, but since this new thread appeared, it seems time to revisit these early thoughts. This was shared with acquaintances:
After the Pandemic
In re-reading the channeled Seth book The Individual and the Nature of Mass Events, Seth had much to say in 1977 regarding the reasons for epidemics. Some examples:
“The environment in which an outbreak occurs points at the political, sociological, and economic conditions that have evolved, causing such disorder. Often such outbreaks take place after ineffective political or social action—that is, after some unified mass social protest—has failed, or is considered hopeless.”
“Now if you believe in one life only, then such conditions will seem most disastrous, and in your terms they clearly are not pretty. Yet, though each victim in an epidemic may die his or her own death, that death becomes part of a mass social protest. The lives of intimate survivors are shaken, and according to the extent of the epidemic the various elements of social life itself are disturbed, altered, rearranged. Sometimes such epidemics are eventually responsible for the overthrow of governments, the loss of wars.”
“The epidemics then serve many purposes—warning that certain conditions will not be tolerated. There is a biological outrage that will be continually expressed until the conditions are changed.”
“Even in the days of the great plagues in England there were those smitten who did not die, and there were those untouched by the disease who dealt with the sick and dying. Those survivors, who were actively involved, saw themselves in a completely different light than those who succumbed, however: They were those, untouched by despair, who saw themselves as effective rather than ineffective. Often they roused themselves from lives of previously unheroic situations, and then performed with great bravery. The horror of the conditions overwhelmed them, where earlier they were not involved.
“The sight of the dying gave them visions of the meaning of life, and stirred new [ideas] of sociological, political, and spiritual natures, so that in your terms the dead did not die in vain. Epidemics by their public nature speak of public problems—problems that sociologically threaten to sweep the individual to psychic disaster as the physical materialization does biologically.
“These are the reasons also for the range or the limits of various epidemics –why they sweep through one area and leave another clear.”
In light of these concepts, I considered the possible reasons for this pandemic, and focused specifically on the U.S., which has seen the most deaths by far. The reasons are implicit in what I view as likely changes in our society. Some of those changes have already occurred and to some extent will remain. Others may require a change in leadership, but to the extent that a need is recognized, we will see that change. Many changes will be at the individual level via personal value shifts driven by this mass event.
“What may have taken several years or decades to evolve may become reality sooner than anticipated.” – Merrill Lynch Investment Insights, 15 May 2020
Healthcare: There will be less political resistance to expanded or universal healthcare. Healthcare will be de-coupled from jobs. Health issues among minorities, the poor, indigenous populations and the homeless will get more attention. Telehealth will continue in cases where it makes sense.
Diet: An expanded interest in reducing meat consumption – those who may be forced to consider meatless diets during the pandemic will be more likely to modify their diets permanently.
Environment: We will have seen nature recovering, the skies clearing, clean air and water, and will not want to return completely to our polluting ways. There will naturally be less need for fossil fuels as the economy retains some of the lessons learned and permanently adjusts the need for travel.
Relationships: While physical visits and hugging between loved ones has become more challenging, compensations in staying connected such as Zoom have become more widely used. They will continue to be utilized. Values will shift from consumerism toward human relationships. The neighbors whom we have gotten to know will stay our friends.
Lifestyle: People will want to retain the slower pace, the more relaxed way of life. Limits on travel and crowd activities will result in people looking inward for satisfaction. Activities such as yoga and meditation will become more widespread. Values of what is important will have changed.
Economy: Work from home will become a permanent reality for many businesses. Other measures like the four-day workweek and job-sharing will become more popular.
Domestic businesses will provide more products and supplies (insourcing), JIT (Just in Time) policies will be modified, multi-sourcing of components and basic supplies will be more common.
Large meat processing companies will be broken up. Worker rights to a safe environment and publicized issues regarding treatment of animals will result in improved conditions.
Education: Teachers will be more appreciated and possibly better compensated. Education will get more creative. Internet access for all regardless of income will be provided. Remote learning at all levels will continue in cases where it is practical and effective.
Government: Governments at all levels will be better prepared for the next pandemic. Science will gain new respect. Citizens will expect a more responsible government, one that is more prepared to lead in a national crisis. Some of the recent tax cuts will be rescinded in order to pay for expanded social programs. There will be reduced interest in military activities overseas. Federal priorities through public pressure will shift from massive defense spending toward social needs.
Governments will take a hard look at reducing unnecessary prison sentences for non-violent crimes, will reassess bail policies, and will expand use of ankle bracelets allowing home detention.
Minimum wage increases and pushes for a living wage will see less political resistance. Unemployment insurance will become available for the gig economy.
“The United States has a chance to emerge from this latest crisis as a stronger nation, more just, more free and more resilient. We must seize the opportunity.” -New York Times, 17 May 2020
Since writing the above, newspaper articles appeared: from May 31, 2020, An optimistic look at new COVID-19 realities: “…history has demonstrated that it is in response to major cataclysmic events that humankind most often makes major changes to its collective behavior and culture.”
May 31, 2020, Virus demands novel approaches for America: “Unmistakable in this emerging post-virus reality, experts say, are signs that human creativity will forge new approaches, new products and new social paradigms not only more adaptable to future global crises, but also more responsive to income inequality, climate change and other issues laid bare by coronavirus.”
July 26, 2020, COVID-19 has exposed our nation’s gravest failings: “Viewing COVID-19 through a historian’s lens, it’s difficult to imagine a vehicle more efficiently designed for exposing and exploiting our nation’s gravest failings, among them being our virulent racism; our consistent undervaluing of ‘essential’ workers and occupations; our shameful neglect of the needs of the elderly, disabled, children and families; and our outright inhumanity toward undocumented immigrants and incarcerated populations.”
August 23, 2020: "I think this period of recalibration was long needed and maybe couldn't have happened unless we found ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic and fight for racial justice. There's been this awakening in so many senses. I don't see things returning to the status quo, and that's good. We need change." -Mandy Moore, actor
______________________________
I did not re-read this stuff today because I wanted others to evaluate whether it stood the test of time, what has and has not happened, what happened instead, what others might add or disagree with, etc. I found it interesting how many non-Seth sources were aligned with the thrust of what Seth had to say.
Topic: Can we imagine the new after virus (Read 309 times)
