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We get where we are today.

What happens when we don't follow the science and the experts when dealing with a pandemic? We get where we are today. The President has said early on, this is like we are at war. But we have no clear orders, just suggestions. We have too many task forces and appointed leaders, but no coordination and plan. Battles are won with good intelligence, of which we don't have any. We have too many opinions, not facts, because the scientists have been sidelined. Each governor, each mayor, and each federal government agency and leader is sharing different information, different plans, and have different goals. This pandemic affects us all, can infect anyone, yet too many (but not the majority) are more interested in conspiracy theories or our individual freedoms than focusing on the common good and it's distracting and raises everyone's anxiety.
I have heard that we have to take care of the economy, have to get people back to work as an argument against social distancing and staying at home. The world economy is now going to shrink by 3% projected for this year and our economy will contract by 5% for this year, no GDP growth this year. In trying to save the economy by giving billions to those who already have billions, over the health and welfare of the citizens of the country, we are failing at both.
Yes, here in my hometown in South Dakota, we have had only 2 deaths in a population of 28,000 so it hasn't hit us hard (not just yet, maybe). But in many states, the infection rates, hospitalization rates, and those who are dying are going upward, not flattening, not taking the summer off.
This is a marathon and we haven't even hit the wall yet (I have been told that at some point in the race, a runner's body just screams to stop, and they have to push through that to finish the race); as we are only a couple months in and the pandemic is going to last at least a year until we can find a vaccine, better treatments and screening, and better information and coordination of how to slow down hot spots and transmission of the corona virus. We have to be better: look for the facts, have compassion, demand more from our leaders, help those in need, and believe that we will get through this, maybe come out better in some ways, such as realizing if we win the rat race, we are still a rat. Let us love our families, love our neighbors (all of them), and work the problem, to see as many as possible come out healthy on the other side
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