A Human Sacrifice to the Economy of these Disunited States
COVID claimed more US lives than the Vietnam War in three months | #TC61
Welcome to Third Cultured, a Queer Reading of the American Empire through crisis-after-crisis — written by yours truly, Kyle Borland.
Thanks for reading. This newsletter is free but – if you’d like to support it or me – subscribe below, heart this post, forward it to someone, or support my Patreon.
I’ve struggled the past couple of weeks to motivate myself to write. COVID-19 has already killed more Americans than Vietnam and wrought more economic devastation than the Great Recession. And, it’s nowhere near over.
Social distancing, aka our current state of affairs, could last until 2021 in the US.
If this nation was run by competent individuals rather than greed-fueled skin suits, then we’d be less focused on “re-opening” and more focused on saving lives.
Instead, in true American fashion, the “relief” packages primarily benefit large businesses and the 1 percent in a sad attempt to pad bottoming-out GDP numbers. Our narcissist-in-chief delayed payments to millions of Americans to make sure his signature was included (which your bank can take from you without asking). Landlords across the country are evicting tenants despite a national ban. Hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise. “The Great Lockdown” has wiped out all the jobs created since the financial crisis, totaling 33 million unemployed.
Our leaders should be preparing the American people for the extended trauma we’re in for rather than painting a business-friendly mirage that leads us blindly into a pestilience-ridden desert. They should build up our resistance and collective fortitude, but even decent leaders have fallen into the “reopening” trap Trump set for them.
An average of 146,000 people/day has been tested for COVID in the US in April.
To “reopen,” that number needs to increase to at least 500,000–750,000/day.
With numbers like that, “reopening” is a human sacrifice to “the economy.”
Former federal health officials from past Republican and Democratic administrations are calling for $46.5 billion in the next coronavirus aid package in order to safely “reopen.” Their request includes:
$12 billion to help expand the contact tracing workforce. The officials estimate the workforce needs to increase by 180,000 until a vaccine is on the market.
$4.5 billion to use vacant hotels so that infected and exposed people without a place to self-isolate have somewhere they can go so they don't spread the virus.
$30 billion to offer 18 months of income support — a per-person stipend of $50 a day, like jury duty — for those voluntarily self-isolating.
Even as we attempt “reopenings” all around the world, it’s important to remember life will likely never return to what we knew before March 2020.
Look no further than the blocs forming to fill the power vacuum left in DC’s absence.
Colorado and Nevada joined the Western States Pact, with Idaho expected to follow suit soon. There are now three large groups of states, and several smaller ones as well, that are taking it upon themselves to decide when to open:
Western group: California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada
Northeastern group: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Massachusetts
Midwestern group: Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky
Stay safe and healthy, beautiful people. And, thanks for reading.
If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here.
xoxo,
Kyle (@kgborland)
PS – Make sure to check out my Patreon and support if you’re able!
“Against the background of rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism, and a pushback against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic. This is unacceptable.”
— U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
American Empire & Other Wars
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending climbed for the fifth consecutive year in 2019 to $1.9 trillion.
Beijing is preparing to announce its “China Standards 2035” initiative, the technology-focused plan modeled after its manufacturing-focused “Made in China 2025” plan. Together, the campaigns aim to realign global trade and power around China rather than the US and the West. To sum up their view: “That means power in the world is up for grabs.”
Biden announced his VP will be vetted by July (so don’t expect it any time soon). For now, there’s a tacky internal campaign going on for the slot. It might not matter because the press smells blood in the water around Biden and Tara Reade. Must-reads: The Cut | BI | Buzzfeed News | The NYTimes | The Post
China created new admin units to strengthen its hold on the South China Sea while the world is distracted by the COVID pandemic, even condemning US navy ships for “intrusions.” However, Beijing isn’t the only one of the US’ rivals ramping up their aggressive posturing.
Greenland is receiving a US consulate and $12 million to invest in “aid projects,” in a US bid to grow its influence with the Arctic Circle island amid a Great Game with China and Russia. Due to Trump’s 2019 proposal to “purchase” Greenland, local leaders stressed they do not owe the US anything for its investment.
Hopefully, American Exceptionalism will be one of COVID’s victims. The world will tussle for decades to decide what will lead after Washington’s abdication.
Libya’s War is devolving into an “experimental field” for new arms.
Saudi Arabia announced it will no longer sentence minors to the death penalty.
South Korea stressed Kim Jong Un is alive despite various reports.
The Pentagon invested in a CA rare-earths mine to thwart China’s supply chain stranglehold of the valuable raw materials.
The US called on the EU to place sanctions on Iran for successfully launching a military satellite that was "neither peaceful nor entirely civilian."
“US conventional force on the Korean Peninsula has lost its significance. It is an expensive and unnecessary commitment that America should not continue to sustain.”
COVID-19 Updates (as of 9pm PST, 4/29/2020)
Total Confirmed: 3,191,827; Total Deaths: 227,535; Total Recovered: 972,170
US Cases: 1,064,533; US Deaths: 61,668; Recovered: 147,411; Tested: 6,026,170
April 24: As of Friday, there are 8,186 confirmed cases of coronavirus within the Department of Defense. Of the current cases, 3,919 were military service members, 814 dependents, 1,057 civilians, and 423 contractors. 281 of these cases required hospitalization, with 26 deaths. 1,947 have recovered.
$2.5 billion – Estimated cost to develop a COVID vaccine, not including manufacturing costs.
2.6 billion – More people are on lockdown globally than were alive during WWII.
America’s impending food shortage is because of corporate consolidation, as three companies – Tyson, JBS SA, and Cargill – control two-thirds of the meat industry and process it all at a few dozen (vulnerable) giant plants.
As of April 2020, G20 countries have pledged $5.4 trillion in fiscal support.
Beijing pressured the EU to soften its criticism of the CCP’s initial handling of the outbreak in Wuhan. Smaller nations have felt the weight of Beijing’s “friendship” lately, including Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
China’s unemployment rate is likely 20 percent rather than the official 6 percent. Similarly, the US rate is now 20.6 percent which is the highest since 1934.
Congress returns on Monday, May 4 for the next round: relief funds for states. The House has been out since March 14 and the Senate since March 26.
COVID Crash: China -6.8% in Q1, Germany -1.9%, and the US -4.8%.
IMF pledged $1.4B to 25 member countries to help with pandemic relief.
Italy and other southern EU countries successfully pressured Germany to support a $2 trillion EU recovery plan, rather than the $500B plan proposed by Berlin. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has until May 6 to propose a budget that balances the EU’s northern vs. southern fiscal rivalry.
Patients in their 30s and 40s are dying of COVID-induced strokes.
Putin is flailing after losing the oil price war and botching Russia’s COVID response.
Silicon Valley’s megacorps are getting stronger during the pandemic.
Big Tech’s ability to continue hiring and sustaining themselves through crises will not only give the companies an advantage in Silicon Valley, but in the economy at large. Many of the traditional industries expected to suffer — brick-and-mortar retail, food service, and media and entertainment — are the same industries that have been gradually gutted by technology since the last recession.
Taiwan is seizing on the moment to push for WHO membership, hoping the US will include Taipei’s inclusion as part of any funding deal.
The US passed an additional $484 billion relief package for SMBs. The funds are expected to only last a few days.
The world is facing potential "famines of biblical proportions," as 265 million people across 30 countries face starvation.
Trump is determined to kill the US Postal Service because he misguidedly believes it will hurt Amazon.
Wuhan, the origin of the virus, has discharged all its COVID patients.
A Cultural Thing
Enjoying the newsletter? Share it with friends and family!
