How to say it.  There is so much at stake , much more than we can know.  We are on the cusp, the beginning days of a second surge in deaths from the coronavirus.  California, a populous state that opened prematurely, along with states in the west and south whose governors owe fealty to the President, have seen rising rates of infection for the past week or so.  The president decreed “back to normal” after about six weeks of diffident and ineffective shut-down.  

The number of deaths alone will further exacerbate the fractures along fault lines of race and class.  Then will follow lasting effect upon the economy.  No degree in economics is needed to understand what will happen when thousands of us feel unsafe to make purchases, to be physically present in stores, offices, places where the exchanges of normal life take place.  Layoffs will continue, many permanent.

One thing leads to another.  Always. 

No one was surprised at the massive amount of federal money given to the airlines, billions spent to buy up debt, proping up banks and investment houses.  An initial subsidy for the citizen, the six hundred dollar per week payment is due to end in several weeks.  There has been debate, reluctance by the Republicans to extend the help, or pass a bill into law for a differently targeted lifeline subsidy.  There’s the old canard, “they’ll not work as long as they receive unemployment.”  The alternative to keeping individuals, and households afloat is?  Also, there’s been scant mention that nearly 27 million Americans may have lost employer-sponsored health insurance between March 1 and May 2nd. 

I am reminded of another pandemic, the Black Death, one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaked in Europe between 1348 and 1350.   Roughly one-third and one-half of the total European population in the five-year period of 1347 to 1351 died.  That pandemic had beneficial effects for the survivors.  Land became plentiful, wages high, and serfdom all but disappeared. (Wikipedia)

There will be an “after” to the coronavirus pandemic.  1. More favorable pay  and benefits to improve the living conditions for those now on the losing side of the race and class dividing line.*  2. Aggressive funding for public education,  — everyone must be educated for citizenship.  3. And most important of all we will make relative the absolute value that finance, money, presently wields in our society. 

There will be a morning after, — if we can hold on through the night.

This song was written for the 1972 Poseidon Adventure movie.  Maureen McGovern released the song in 1973, which became iconic in popularity.

The Morning After
by Maureen McGovern

There’s got to be a morning after
If we can hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let’s keep on looking for the light

Oh, can’t you see the morning after?
It’s waiting right outside the storm
Why don’t we cross the bridge together
And find a place that’s safe and warm?

It’s not too late, we should be giving
Only with love can we climb
It’s not too late, not while we’re living
Let’s put our hands out in time

There’s got to be a morning after
We’re moving closer to the shore
I know we’ll be there by tomorrow
And we’ll escape the darkness
We won’t be searching anymore

There’s got to be a morning after
(There’s got to be a morning after)
There’s got to be a morning after

Lyrics by written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn

*after all, aren’t these “essential” workers who keep our supply chains humming, as we work-from-home, ordering take out, and whatever we need from Amazon?