An Uncomfortable New Math
You don’t need to be Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting” smart to know that when the the number of cases far outweighs the number of vents and ICU beds, that chaos is part of the equation. You can put your chalk down, this is not gonna be easy.
It’s been a long few weeks, wowza. Months actually, if you were paying attention. So much to worry about and keep us awake at night that it feels like a miracle to even see a new day. Yet we wake up. Some of us still pretending nothing is happening, that we are too young, or too smart, or too awesome to be affected by COVID-19, and the rest of us playing out scorched earth scenarios on repeat 24/7. It’s still cold and flu season, so every itchy throat, sniffle or slight headache turns us into puddles of fear, and sends parents and grandparents to check their wills. It’s a mess. People are dying. Dying at an alarming rate, under horrifying conditions. Doctors and nurses are having to beg neighbors to make masks. People are being asked to stay home, but going to Florida instead. And the economy, it’s bad. It’s really, really, really bad. Even those of us who don’t have a lot of money in the markets, many with none at all tied to the markets, feel it. Because when Wall Street tanks, our jobs are on the line, even without access to the highs. We ALL feel it, because when this kind of disaster hits, there is no magic bullet to turn it around.
I’m usually 90% unicorns and fairy dust, and 10% generalized anxiety. Friends would describe me as a Pollyanna. But these days, I’m 100% full on scorched earth. I have been extensively worrying about extended work from home, imaging a situation worse then the Depression, with half of Americans not working. Many dead, and more stressed beyond measure. I can’t shake the fear, because it’s not just worrying about surviving the disease, its worrying about having a job when this is all over. That conversation gets extra shakey when you realize most workers cannot easily work from home. Many not at all. Throw in schooling from home and I see no way it works itself out. But then, just as I was frantically reading about this plague, I stumbled upon an article that gave me hope, a perspective suggesting we simply all stay home for five weeks. You can read it here, it is perfection.
I immediately thought: THIS. ALL OF THIS. This will save the world.
But of course, like any good midwestern mom, I have a few suggestions. I would add making it illegal to make bills of any type due during this voluntary lockdown for anyone under or unemployed. The banks that got a bail out a decade ago could return the favor and add two years on to mortgages instead of foreclosing on families with no access to a job, because unemployment will be sky high. Rent, heat, medical ... assistance of all kinds would roll out to those most affected.
Imagine if we successfully stayed home, and actually hunkered down. What if we didn’t expect parents to successfully teach children, or teachers to teach remotely with the same standards? What if we allowed workers to work from home if possible, and if not got them immediate assistance for food, basically making it a lower stress staycation instead of a 5 week shit show of stress? If we really committed to this, when we escape our caves, we can immediately rebuild our economy. Then everyone with means could SPEND THEIR MONEY LIKE THEIR LIVES DEPENDED ON IT, which would pad their 401Ks again, boosting the economy and giving the service workers, contractors, small businesses, arts groups, nonprofits —pretty much everyone besides Target, Amazon, UPS, FEDEX and all the companies still functioning at max potential and profiting from this mess— the chance to begin again. Reboot. Maybe even grow. They could grow! That sounds exciting, and way better than scorched earth.
People rebooking those missed trips, buying theater tickets for themselves and others, supporting a nonprofit or 10, going out for takeout and dinning out with friends would have the power to make it possible. Those stimulus checks shouldn’t go to rent or mortgages, or heat or water, they need to go directly to businesses. Give the banks and landlords and cities an incentive—I know a good one, when people are alive they do a better job of paying bills. Just saying’.
It really seems like we either accept five weeks now, or watch the slow erosion of regular life over 18 months, only to end up in a spot way worse than we could be in five short weeks.
Five weeks seems pretty doable for a magical turnaround. The entire world needs to agree to a magical PAUSE. Close down everything, including the stock market. It can’t be done you say? Why not? Unless you are a doctor, or a delivery driver, or a grocery clerk, or a nurse, or truck driver, or a janitor...you stay home. Everyone.
I know, we have important things to do. I get it, education is important—but there is no way parents who actually still have work to do will get anything done while entertaining/educating an elementary age child, or preschooler. And those who don’t have work will be living with so much stress they might not have the emotional ability to do it. A pause would feel better for both camps.
A five week pause would allow small businesses and nonprofits to make new marketing plans to entice and engage their audiences.
People with money could actually start now, book a vacation, buy a new dress, plan their dream house, call a contractor for that new floor...the options are limitless as long as the internet is functional. Fill those virtual carts, order season tickets to the symphony, book an Airbnb for next year. Dream, and spend. Then spend some more.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if hourly workers would be guaranteed their jobs when they return— because a pause means their company still has a chance? And wouldn’t it feel good knowing that the stylist you see for a cut and color every 4-6 weeks can rest assured they won’t lose their salon? Ice Cream Shops and small restaurants could reopen with revamped new menus
Hotels could be used to house at risk employees, the people on the front lines that need regular testing. Rooms are empty. They could cut a deal with the government to house them. Hospitals and insurance companies could help pay for the dedicated exposure housing. And new cleaning crews would be employed in the process.
I know, it sounds crazy, right? Just remember, none of this is more far fetched than a modern day global pandemic spreading like crazy, killing thousands—potentially millions—and spread by simply sharing space with other humans.
Now we just needs tests. LOTS OF TESTS. Tests for everyone. I bet an MIT student could figure out a way to get a test on an iPhone app (OK, I kid, but that would be cool). Let’s challenge all those brilliant minds stuck at home to get this done. I’m betting there is a billionaire out there willing to put up millions for this kind of innovation. I’m looking at you Elon Musk and Bill Gates.
And we also need a willingness to sit on our asses. Which, let’s face it, will be tough for Americans. Because if you haven’t heard, we think we are pretty exceptional.
I’m not a politician, or a doctor, or an ethicist, or an economist, or a scientist, or a banker. I have no idea how this would actually work. But one thing I do know is that the whole world is in this together. We are are facing the same fears, in tandem. We are all on the verge of economic and emotional collapse. No one knows what to do. No one has seen or lived through anything like this. I just think it would be great to protect all citizens. Lift up everyone. And close down for five weeks. Let’s hit pause TOGETHER. Then restart.
Let’s give the world a fighting chance.
Heather Heier Lane is a mom of two, currently on Spring Break in her living room. She currently wavers between scorched earth and slightly less scorched earth—but is hopeful we can get through this. Prayers to everyone on the front lines of this. If you are in anyway showing up at a medical facility, from the laundry to the ICU; if you drive a truck or a delivery van or carry a mail bag; if you stock shelves, ring up customers or sweep the grocery store floors; if you are a Police Officer, report to a Fire Department, are a court employee, or a civil servant of any kind; if you are a first responder; if you are in mass transit … if you are showing up when the world needs you most, and you know who you are—please know you are a HERO. And if you are a Harvard student, please don’t be offended she said MIT, she is calling on all smarties, you got this.
