Jack of Harts

One year ago, we were told to stop gathering together for any reason. Only essential workers were allowed to go outside the home. Church was banned in many areas. Political rallies in support of the President were shut down in many areas, and called mass spreader events whenever they occurred. And when rally goers were shot dead in the street hours later, the media did not dwell on their well-earned fate. BLM and antifa “Mostly Peaceful Protests” against the police were celebrated as democracy in action though, and Democrat politicians were happy to attend and support them. And when those protests devolved into looting and burning down neighborhoods hours later, the media and politicians declared that it never happened, despite the independent broadcasts showing it in living color. One year later, all know which gatherings the media declares good, and which must be suppressed.

One year ago, my place of business was humming along nicely. I work in the hospitality industry, and we were doing well most nights. Then, came the national emergency due to the Covid 19 outbreak. We locked down for 14 days, which became a month, and then two months and then three. Some States still haven’t left lockdown. Some States never did a lockdown at all. But the no matter where you are, the media has been united in their constant reminders that “Lockdowns Save Lives,” that “Masks Save Lives,” and that we must all “Follow the Science” as told by far more knowledgeable, government or media approved, minds. Travel of any kind had to end. Gatherings for any reason had to be stopped. Even medical treatments were not allowed. One year later, I’m doing my company’s economic books, and looking at the cliff we hit a year ago. Right now. Right here. It all started today.

One year ago, the economy was humming. My hometown had an unemployment rate of something like 1%, which is the same as saying that everybody who wanted a job had a job. The trick was finding people who wanted to work for their money. Then we started “14 Days to Flatten the Curve,” to slow down the growth of the Wuhan Virus and keep the hospitals from being overloaded. That quickly transitioned into “Lockdowns Save Lives,” the never-ending effort to stop the spread at all. The government and government scientists dictated what businesses or schools were allowed to stay open and paid people not to work. Those businesses like mine that were deemed essential had to let many people go, and then had trouble finding people for what work remained when the government paid them not to. One year later, finding people who want to work for their money is still the big trick.