Usually “20/20” measures visual acuity or refers to regret in hindsight. Now we live in 2020, surrounded by evidence of how to transform our society to respond to pandemics and other threats to our existence, including global warming.
Five crucial action areas are visible: health, economy, education, environment, democracy. Years of disinvestment in these areas — for ideology, to bolster profits and power for a few, or out of indifference — leave us hugely vulnerable to threats like pandemics or climate disasters.
For health, let’s build a full-coverage system for everyone, publicly funded and administered. It doesn’t matter what we call it. The radical change is removing profit — no one should profit from another’s illness or need for life-saving medicine. It means restructuring, but clearly we need many more health care professionals at all levels. The health system must include research, modeling, projections and preparations for emergencies without people profiting from or patenting solutions. And, yes, our government should hold stockpiles of fundamental supplies, including foods, to be fairly distributed during crises.
Job losses these past weeks reveal the huge instability of current economic structures. The job market has been bifurcated into high-end technology jobs and low-end service jobs. The once-solid middle of manufacturing and constructing was exported to cheap-labor locations — more profit for a few, insecurity for the many. Globalization requires wastefulness from redundant transport, extra pollution and excess energy consumption. If Chinese factories burn coal to produce cheap products for chain stores, we don’t notice, but the planet does. Strung-out supply chains are hugely vulnerable to disruption whether by climate disasters or illness. Rebalancing jobs and production to concentrate on fundamental needs — food, housing, clothing and resilience — restores jobs and adds security. Now global warming becomes central: initiating massive government-supported projects to insulate all buildings; add solar, wind and battery capacity; and build micro grids for community-owned energy management will create thriving job markets immediately. Resilience efforts — flood protection, storm drains, roadways, public transit, bridges, internet and other infrastructure components — round out a strong employment plan.
Our public school system has been hollowed out, while knowledge and expertise are denigrated, reducing public ability to seek and evaluate information. We also see the limits of online teaching. Ask any school kid about their recent experience. Still, given potential epidemics (this is not the last), we need to recraft our education system for distance learning. Year-round school might be necessary to provide in-person classes or distance learning as conditions require. Significant investment in technology and our staff and teachers is urgent.
Environment is key to surviving pandemics. We must reduce fuels that pollute sky, water and earth with carbon, oil residues or radiation. It is madness to reduce vehicle efficiency, increase oil production or subsidize polluting industries. Air quality alone, in an era of lethal lung disease, requires the shift from profit for few to health for the many.
We have the science and technology to reinvent truly necessary products. We need the discipline to forego pointless products causing persistent pollution, trash and toxicity to make, use or dispose of. Farmers need strong support emphasizing carbon-smart techniques yielding food while protecting the earth. Massachusetts food producers are reinventing themselves to feed people while we need physical distance, creating systems for the future.
Our democracy is hugely stressed by surreptitious efforts to usurp citizen rights. The pandemic lays bare our vulnerability to manipulation, delay, distraction or disenfranchisement. Universal ballot-by-mail, prohibition of gerrymandering, vastly stronger election protections and revising the electoral college are key. Every citizen has a role to play.
The pandemic is a crisis and a doorway. With foresight in 2020 we can begin the great work of current generations: remake these four systems, while addressing another fearsome threat — global warming.
Three principles guide all action: Fair, care, share. If all pay a fair share, there are enough resources to reorganize these systems and more. Corporations and individuals who shirk taxes turn their backs on their families, their neighbors and the country and planet that support their accumulation of wealth.
If we care for each other — even the least capable, willing, or understanding — we all benefit. If we share our ambitions for security, comfort, beauty, participation and worthiness, all benefit and can contribute. From the myriad examples of kindness and valor during the pandemic emerge the buds of new options. 2020 foresight points the way.
Judith J. Wagner is a resident of Northfield.