Coronavirus, some things it has shown us thus far.

Like billions of other concerned humans on this planet, I’m getting very worried about where this new biological warfare is heading. Sydney like many other international cities is in virtual, lock down. The Government has implemented the most draconian measures severely restricting the free movement of everyone in a nation-wide attempt to contain this very dangerous contagion. We live in unprecedented times.

One thing this crisis has shown Australians, is just how dangerous ‘globalisation’ really is. I mean literally (as an existential threat) in trying to contain this virus right now, but also in slowly depleting our manufacturing base and workforce. As we were continually told (and sold, the con) globalisation was a great thing for consumers, because it gave us cheaper imports, while also helping developing nations. The chief proponents of these damaging WTO policies were driven by ‘the Right’ (ultimately) representing the interests of Corporations and their major shareholders in the rich West.

Thanks to years of policy direction to ‘shift manufacturing offshore’, has resulted in the complete shut down of whole industries (such as the Automobile industry). All this because the Government was ‘so concerned about the levels of subsidies to [such] industries’ … Now, stop and look at how much the Government[s] are now throwing at Coronavirus under the guise of ‘having to stimulate the economy’?

I have written time and again of the utter incompetence of our legislators, need we look any further than the Ruby Princess cruise debacle wherein some 2700 passengers, of which 159 confirmed Coronavirus carriers were allowed to disembark from Sydney? All this empty rhetoric about 'keeping Australia safe' from boat arrivals shows the State and Federal Government[s] up to be the frauds that they actually are. Whether its selling the populous out with private toll roads or shoving tens of billions into their own Super costing us billions in interest, each and every MONTH, they are shockers. And that bill is about to go up my several hundred[s] of billions in the next few months as the ‘SHIT truly hits the fan’ and unemployment soars to over 20%. That’s is my prediction and I will tell you why.

Meanwhile removing all that manufacturing, they turned us into a ‘service driven economy’ heavily reliant on tourism. Now that almost everyone in the world is staying in their homes, not travelling and getting very few ‘services’ (apart from food delivery for all those lazy people who can’t cook if their lives depended on it), the ‘service economy’ has naturally turned to shit. Most of the workforce in that economy were the millions of casuals who we’ve seen forming those long cues at Centrelink. What's more disconcerting, is that we have not seen the worst of it as yet. It is possible all the current draconian measures taken by our Government[s] will just cushion the actual blow.

A prophetic epidemiologist in Italy predicted two months ago, that if Italy did not go into total lock down, the virus would spread exponentially; he was ridiculed by both press and peers, but, he has been proven to be deadly correct. Italy is just getting on top of it's terrible outbreak, I watch the daily news from Rome every morning at 7:30AM on SBS so I’m following it very closely. Spain, Germany and the UK are bracing themselves for their own complacency in not going into lock down and closing borders much sooner. China learned that lesson real quick and it seems we learned nothing from them.

I’m generally an ‘eternal optimist’ but that disposition is truly waning in this current setting.

I saw the following message on all the push button pedestrian crossings in Sydney the last couple days. Despite that clear message, I personally witnessed a man wipe his runny nose and proceed to press the button. I sincerely hope we all pay attention to the SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS and RESEARCHERS more than the current politicians, who sadly come across as a ‘bunch of clowns’ most of the time, with highly inaccurate and inconsistent messaging.

My five pieces of advice: 1) ALWAYS wear a mask and disposable gloves in public. 2) Restrict your movements as much as possible; 3) learn to live more simply and be content with what you have; 4) learn to cook (there are millions of step by step recipes on YouTube); 5) Use Social Media to stay in touch with family & friends (that’s what it was intended for).

Stay cool, calm and collected, we are all in this together, this virus doesn’t discriminate and nor should WE !!