It is raining outside.  A gray day, but timely for the spring vegetation.  Nature is more reliable than human nature.  I say “more” because there are interruptions in natural processes, sometimes severe ones such as the little ice age (1303-1860) which brought cold and wet summers, failed crops and famine to Europe. 

Human nature is a product of culture, a manifestation of the zeitgeist of a time and place.  The interruption of general well being seemingly takes place in a generation or two. That is how long it takes to “produce” individuals fundamentally avaricious, aggressive, with a winner-take-all and the devil take the hindmost attitude. More erratic than Nature, absent care, — human nature can turn on a dime.  The falling rain is a reminder of what I felt last night before turning in. 

Before turning in I checked my phone news feed.  I read the bulletin that our President by executive order has decreed that the meat processing plants across the country will remain open.  President Trump Tuesday night declared meat processing plants “critical infrastructure.”  It is as if by fiat, by verbal proclamation the President can turn the tide of Nature, the onslaught of a particularly contagious virus which has sickened many low paid employees of big agri corporations: Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing, Cargill.  The workers do not have fully paid sick leave protection, and have been forced to work in close proximity, closer than the 6 ft distance recommended by social-distancing guidelines.  At least 20 workers have already died of the coronavirus. 

The President said that his executive order “would ensure an ample supple of ‘protein for Americans.'” 

If I were a worker in one of those plants, no matter “the order,” no matter the fine sounding promises made by a company PR person, if I thought that I likely would become very ill, and possibly die by going to work, — nothing would outweigh my desire for self preservation.  Seems to me that the meat processing plants will continue to close.  The stockpiles of meat in cold storage already running low, will be depleted, and the meat coolers along the back wall of the the butcher shop at Jewel will be empty.

So this is how it feels, to live in a *failed state….

To conclude I offer a tune by Bob Seeger.  Seeger like any artist worth his/her salt tells the truth.  Seeger’s truth is a description of existential desperation.  The song is a snap shot of a single life, that of a derelict of addiction living in New York.  As reports of the fight against the virus in New York, narrated by governor Cuomo, have come day by day I have felt a growing sadness for this once great city.  New York has been the axis of commerce and culture.  It is unknown what the future holds for the city.  As one would expect the precursors that would produce the condition which we now have, are incisively articulated in Seegers great tune.  The tune is called Manhattan.

*a state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.

Manhattan

By Bob Seeger

Shakey Davey’s got a twelve gauge in his hand
It’s sawed off to the limit
He’s got a vague plan
There’s this liquor store on Madison
There’s another one down on Washington square
He’s pretty sure no one’s ever seen him
Down around there

The first one’s birdshot the next four are double aught buck
The last one’s a slug just for good luck
He’s got his works in his pocket
He wants to score as soon as he’s done
He can’t wait to get straight to get long gone

He puts on his long coat scribbles off a short note
Sits himself down and waits for the sun to go down

It’s right around midnight and there’s still too damn many people on this street
He’s walked all the way from Battery Park he’s got sweaty hands and burnin’ feet
He’s desperate for a fix
His body’s screamin’ “Get me high”
He bursts through the door and lets one fly

Sunrise in the park and Davey’s cold as stone
He got some bad merchandise and he was all alone
Two more unsolved mysteries a iot of paper pushed around
Most folks are just wakin’ up in this great big town

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For the complete text of the New York Times article on the President’s order to reopen the processing plants CLICK HERE.