Systemic Stupid
When a phenomena is systemic there is little the average person can do about it. They are a leaf in the river flowing along. This is an insight to the recent “Opening of America” and the systemic stupidity revealed. Specifically, in a municipality, a county in Texas.
First, this observation is not intended to cast aspersions on those responding to the re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is written with empathy as I watched your businesses close down overnight, the adaptive measures implemented, the waiting, …, waiting, the drain on resources and emotional fortitude, and then the re-opening starting gun.
The timeline is well known by now. In the U.S. counties, and then States started lock-downs with Stay At Home orders in mid-March. Texas issued an order effective April 2, 2020. I was working on an electric utility substation project and classified an Critical Infrastructure Worker so kept right on doing what we were doing day to day. The hotel emptied, the restaurants closed up; and drive-thru much reviled as a symbol of instant gratification laziness contributing to obesity epidemics found new life as an essential service.
The project is in Montgomery County just north of Houston, TX. It could be considered a bedroom community with The Woodlands adjacent and Lake Conroe. Otherwise known as “any place USA” with the requisite fast food joints, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Target, interstate service roads, and “express” hotels. I was residing in one of those express suites. It is a different experience when the guests can be counted on one hand and the relationship with hotel staff takes on more of co-worker tone than hotel guest. Housekeeping was reduced to once weekly by hotel management. All housekeeping staff was furloughed.
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So we all adjusted, helped out where we could, and planned our meals out by days rather than time of day. As with everyone else, I saw who the real essential workers were. (Ok, keeping the lights on is important too, but we were not on the front lines facing potential infection). We all watched the COVID numbers in NYC, New Jersey, and Connecticut skyrocket while Texas remained relatively low. The Texas metropolitan areas did shut down and this went a long way to keeping the infection spread in check. Have to admit though, driving in Dallas during that time was a pleasure; what freeways were intended to be — we knew it was temporary and paid with a heavy price.
Now we get to Systemic Stupidity. In this particular instance that stupidity was instigated from the top. Texas started re-opening May 5, 2020. Almost immediately I saw signs in front of churches proclaiming when they would resume services. But the real systemic stupidity were the restaurants opening up their dining rooms. Signs were placed on roadsides advertising the fact. My response was — and still is — no friggin’ way. Drive-thru you are my new best friend; sorry for slagging you all those years.
There is Systemic Stupidity because the restaurant business owners had no choice, they had to open. The System is “designed” that way. (Not really designed, as instituted through financial system and market orthodoxies). The food industry profit margins are thin and capital requirements large. It was a miracle these businesses could ride it out as long as they did. It is no fault of the various business owners and operators, in the same position I would have done the same. I can only empathize how heavy these decisions must have been.
There are many examples of this Systemic Stupidity. My longtime personal peeve is commuting in traffic. A note to fellow activists ten years ago prompted the creation of “This Is Insane Day”: see instructional video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ8pHyEkP1o
Okay BSG, what are you going to do about it? Nothing, absolutely nothing except recognize and name the beast. If enough people recognize the invisible beast we can begin to tame it, change it, maybe even eradicate it. Same thing is going on with Systemic Racism. I’m not expecting the US to change the business models for restaurants, car dealerships, or medical care (note, mega Systemic Stupid!). Just give it a name for what it is and deal with it on your own terms as best you can.
As my momma always says, “Stupid is as stupid does” — Thanks Forrest, and Mrs. Gump.
