Regina's Reflections

Is 2020 the Worst Year Ever???

This week’s cover of a news magazine featured the apocalyptic phrase “2020.Worst Year Ever.”

There are several reasons for the disappearance of “news magazines”. Readership has seriously declined, there are numerous media outlets, etc. But there is room in the explanation list for irrelevance, exaggeration, downright misleading, and simply WRONG information.

Our Worst year(s) as a country? Seriously? How about these nominees for “Worst Years “?

• The Civil War years, one of the bloodiest in our history But it helped end slavery.

• World War 1 (4 years). First global conflict. 13 million lives, all participating countries

• The Great Depression four years in length. Peak unemployment 25%, GDP decline 27%

• World War 2 global war lasting 6 years, deadliest war in history, defeated Nazi Germany.

• Civil Rights for ALL. 1954 -1968 Goal: End discrimination, provide equal rights. Ongoing.

Then there were the PANDEMICS: 2009 H1NI,1968 H3N2, 1957 H2N2, Flu pandemic

1930-today: 1918 Pandemic. And we have not seen the end.

Yet, as we like to say in the US…. This one’s DIFFERENT. Indeed, it is. The closest to ours is the 2009 HINI pandemic with 12,000 deaths in US, 151,700 to 575,400 worldwide.

BUT 85% of those deaths were those younger than 65. And healthy. Our current pandemic states 200,000 deaths, nearly all over 65, the vast majority with comorbidities. Bottom Line: We lack accurate data. Death certificates often fail to delineate which deaths are truly Covid. Most notably this occurs in senior facilities where the majority of deaths occurred.

But this we do know. A national shutdown nearly destroyed our economy. Closing schools compromised learning for the next generation. Thousands of small businesses came to a permanent end. Street demonstrations caused approximately 30 deaths and the ruin of businesses, many, sadly, minority owned who had finally reached economic success over the past few years. As financial hardships befell most people the “elites” were able to work from home (some from vacation homes) while receiving full salaries, benefits and tenure. But for those without such advantages as health care workers, service workers, and other essential workers all suffered dearly. Some succumbed to Covid. And the financial pain was acute. Once they were downsized, with no salaries they began to slide further into debt. Similarly, with schools closed, those in lower income communities without adequate access to internet or parents unprepared to teach, were simply lost. They lacked the means to attend private schools where all Covid precautions were put into place and there were no lockdowns, only education.

The loss of life of many beloved older people, many already suffering with chronic disease is indescribably sad. But the economic and educational loss of so many, especially for those in the lower income brackets is unforgiveable.

The end is in sight. A unique partnership of government and private sector leaders expedited unprecedented production of new vaccines. Much credit is due to the brilliant scientists and their colleagues who produced a vaccine in the same year of the pandemic. Skeptics abound, several refusing to take the vaccine. However, experts say to tame the spread we need herd immunity, at least 70 % compliance with the vaccine.

There is more uncertainty than ever. A new president and administration, a cloud of skepticism over voting procedures is permanent. A new group of legislators, an entirely new direction for the country. We will see less use of fossil fuels, more alternative energy sources, and drastic changes to many aspects of daily life, as a result of the “Green New Deal”. Education of our young needs to be repaired and improved if they are to have hope of a solid future. And we owe it to fellow our low-income people to help them recover from their substantial financial losses due to the pandemic. They do not want handouts. And they deserve better.

All of that remains to be seen. What could be worse than 2020??...... Perhaps 2021. ■