Quo Vadis, Covid-19?

One thing we know from the Covid-19 crisis.

No body is in charge. No body knows how it started, or how it will end.

The world is full of experts, but very short on innovative problem solvers.

In the United States, the cruel virus has revealed following glaring weaknesses:

We are not Equipped to Handle National Emergencies

We have big bureaucracies, FEMA, HHS, CDC, and so on.

But no lead agency to coordinate action at the national level.

There is no national policy, no action mechanism and no overall consensus on things to be done.

Current handling of this crisis reminds me of a big Asian Indian wedding- no process, no procedure, and no one knows what is going on.

Industrially, We are not Self Sufficient

At the beginning of this Pandemic, there was a big shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

My neighbor wanted to make a face mask for her friend, a healthcare worker.

She could not find rubber bands anywhere!

How are we going to fight the Russians and Chinese, if we cannot manufacture our own rubber bands?

Our economy is now too dependent on the "Service" sector at the cost of the "Manufacturing" sector.

At present, our manufacturing capacity cannot cope with any emergencies.

We are not a Healthy Nation

Ours is an aging, virus risk nation. More than 16% of the U.S. population (over 50 million) is age 65 years and older, (compared 6% in India). Over 1.5 million of our older population live in nursing home facilities. CDC estimates over 16 million of our population with chronic lung diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Nearly 40% of Americans are severely obese with Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 40.

About 34 million people in the U.S. have diabetes.

With so many time bombs ticking, the U.S. response so far has been like rearranging the chairs in the deck of "Titanic" while the ship is sinking.

Politically and Administratively, We are too Fragmented

Americans have always been proud of the country's decentralized decision making system and its

checks and balances. In times of emergency, when quick and firm actions are needed, our political and administrative infrastructure falls short.

When so many important issues to be tackled, we waste time arguing , "Globalism" vs "Nationalism".

Bigness does not Beget Proficiency

We have big government, big bureaucracy, big military, big corporations, big labor unions and two political parties with big war chests and big promises.

But we fail to deliver on the basic needs like decent homes, affordable healthcare and upgrading of the aging national infrastructure.

We are a Divided Nation

"A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand", said Abraham Lincoln.

Not since the Vietnam War era, have the Country been so divided.

Politically and economically, we are polarized. Our constitutional First Amendment Right of the Freedom of Speech is obscured by the highly partisan news media.

Clamor for personal liberty is currently at odds with the need for individual responsibility.

Only in this Country wearing a mask can become a political statement.

We are finding it difficult to unite the country for a common cause.

The last time the Country stayed united was after 9/11.

We may have won the "battle" against the terrorists. But we seem to be losing the "war" of self governance.

As it says in an old "Pogo" comic strip,

"We have found the enemy. It is us".