Are We Short Changing Ourselves Going 100% Digital Amid Covid-19?

With 22 million and surging upward trend of unemployment in US wiping out fundamentally all the jobs generated in the past decade in just months, mankind is going through probably the unprecedented and drastic times since the great world war II but now instead of fighting among opposing states the common enemy is the highly contagious and deadly viruses, this article explore the complications from 3 different perspectives

Unintended irreversible trends and practices As one disrupt the shadow economic along with the massive lock down led by the unintended consequences in curbing the proliferation of Covid-19, it’s undermining also the extensive legit greater network supporting the grey economic; As most if not all of this segment of economic is unregulated, tax evasion by natures and primary cash based transaction, Government aids are inevitably beyond reach, creating an opening for reshaping the balance in turf protection moves by different interests party and the subsequent massive suffering both financially and emotionally, in addition some of business involve intoxicating alcohol, physical interaction and close proximity with one another which representing an ideal breeding ground for Covid-19 making the lock down virtually ineffective, all it take is a loose canon or mentally ill individual unknowingly or intentionally  embark on personal grievances unleashing his or her personal weapon of mass destruction spreading the lethal droplets as authority moves to curb human interactive to break the Covid-19 food chain as unlike SARS which had 100,000 viruses per swab and exhibits symptoms along being contagious, this sneaky and cunning corona virus had 1 billion per sample and didn’t have symptoms and yet already being contagious from droplets and contacts transfer.

“A relationship is like a bank. When you have deposited money, you can make a withdrawal. If you don’t have money, your check will bounce.”

–Pastor Albert Ocran

In addition, stung by rare criticism from each other in the household with increased face time where the physical distance and status quo had been disrupted and drastic Increase in family discourse during the lock down primary fueled by financial constraints and cash strapped situations where one or both income earner lost their jobs in this bleak labor market and many would ended up in abusive and hostile relationships affecting the long term upbringing of their offsprings. Job skill training and upgrading aimed at boosting their employability focuses merely on the supply side, what more critical is the dwindling demand side.

Widening gap among online and offline employment prospects Those who are having jobs that already can be carried out in the internet will probably have a boost in their career prospect now more than ever before provided their industry are spared from the current lock down although even the greater interest from Government to keep the business sustainable could not stem a fall in the transactions of services especially in aviation, transportation, tourism and restaurant where ultimate products and services had to be consumed by individuals. The great digital divide had gotten further radicalized with as the shift to the online platform are gaining momentum and being pushed over the tipping point by the current on-going crisis, white collars executives are motivated less by actual needs than by risk management strategy.

As government around the world are tasked to take the pulse of the market reaction with massive lock down measures undesirably strangling and suffocating  the economic activates instead of deploying a highly targeted surgical precision tackling the affected individual with massive screening and segregation like the way done in Germany and Korea. Widening of the gap was presumably due to the further proliferation of digital economic accelerated by this world wide pandemic. The art of digitizing  just got better where many are force to engage online platforms for almost full spectrum of everyday living and it could probably be an irreversible behavioral transformation and its also reflecting business growing concern over it’s inability to keep the lure of online business back to offline in the post Covid-19 era. 

Other majority lower paid blue collar jobs which remained largely offline faced the blunt of the physical business activities closures and their duties cant be carried out using “Zoom” and work from home. Construction workers, waiter and waitress, hairdressers, drivers, front line health care supporting employees; cleaners, technician and nurses and etc. The strain on global economy after more than 4 months of outbreak is intensifying, Surge in unemployment due to business disruption is not unique in US intensifying the stress on economic and political system across the continents.

Short changing ourselves going fully digital As a matter of fact, many had manage to digitize their daily living like in the movie “the one player” from learning, entertainment, dating, making a living and socializing, taking a break momentary to fulfill their inevitable physical sustenance; resting, eating and of course relieving oneself but are we short changing ourselves embracing the “1” and “0” wholeheartedly without reservation? Business and Institutions unveils powerful online platform to fulfill the needs of human interaction in schooling, working and socializing but can it totally replace the physical activities in the long run? What are the implication immersing ourselves with everyday online activities?

Unparalleled physical attention perhap is the rarest and purest form of generosity in any forms of physical interaction which are increasingly being digitized, being driven by the mega social media companies to mine our digital foot-prints for profit as we hide behind the absence of physical attributes such as body language; facial expression, tone and instant feedback to interact with one another.

“ The exchange of bodily fluids, do you know what that leads to? “

Demolition Man (1993); Lenina Huxley

In summary The sudden large scale disruption caused by Covid-19 had driven up rising nationalism a bid to regain a foothold in the reshaping global commerce as many re-examine their business strategies many like US, Germany and Japan begun enticing their factories to move out of China as part of the revised business continuity plan due to security and safety concerns and also the thriving middle man brokering countries like Hong Kong and Singapore with primary focus on services, transportation and finance are struggling to reposition themselves in the changing landscape. 

Against the backdrop of  make-or-break economic competition among different countries, globalization momentum had come to a halt, the era of cheap made in China products could be over where multiple processes were outsourced in different geographical location to take advantage of the cost differentiation had led to shortages of strategic products particularly medical face masks and ventilators in the crisis mode in Europe and North America with more than 30,000 corona related death and counting .

By stopping the economy in order to break the chain it had effectively stop majority if not all the business activities had adverse end results as economics like a moving bicycle and its need high level of momentum to  keep a moving bicycle from standing still to a moving speed will be an uphill battle every nations need to face in the post Covid-19. However, we ought to embrace the new norm with minimum doubts and hesitation to take advantage of them as we are highly adaptive and versatile since 100 years ago our living habits had been drastically altered every decades with the 3 great social revolutions from agriculture, industrial and informational. So we are not short changing ourselves but rather transformed to the next phase of lifestyle and do whatever it takes to remain vigilant and progressive

Equalizing the Social Mobility and Countries Amid Covid-19

#coronavirus #covid 19 #social mobility

As the Coronavirus Is Killing Black Americans at outsize rates across The US, due to the inherent structure of social mobility bottleneck; majority of them are holding blue collar jobs in the front-lines and had higher rate of obesity and diabetic which represent high risk factors succumbing to this highly contagious and deadly virus. This Underscore the fast-growing economic linkages across lower, middle and upper class, although living standards had improved for all, the vulnerable 20% bottom needs fundamental safety net for the sake of everyone as they form the foundation of any community, with the collapsing of physiology and safety of individual proliferating to families and society comes disasters. As a matter of fact, how can the world manage the covid-19 very much depending how well the poor countries cope as their failures will have an immediate impact to others including the richest countries as the horrors we are witnessing  with the ever mutating virus now only making its first world tour. 

In fact, the top 5 and bottom 20% had the lowest hierarchy movement, elite class traditionally thru direct bloodline transition and although nowadays increasingly by education. However, the existing interest group having the upper hand and continue to lead the race with added advantages providing their descendants with far better private schooling ,tuition and variety of enrichment and grooming exposures

“The rich get richer and the poor get poorer” – Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The younger generation from middle and upper class families are riding on their parent’s wealth in networking, referrals, financial and emotional supports and responsible upbringing extending to their own careers and family planning and beyond. The elite and the interest group in financial, consulting and legal sectors are the one laying down the unwritten rules in screening candidates favoring those who exhibits the similar traits and values given those who are raised by white collar executives mostly college educated parents a higher chance of being enrolled in these organization.

The accumulation of cultural capital – the acquisition of knowledge – is the key to social mobility. –Michael Gove

Social capital, extra curriculum activities in sports, music, arts and so on which needs additional grooming which are not uncommon in rich families are often neglected in the bottom 20% society and these are exactly the crucial elements one being treated as “one of us” by the decision makers. Merely focusing on grade giving up all other non-essential pursuits are in fact doing disfavors in the work place especially on the entry levels which very much a determining factor on future prospects.

A basic element of the American dream is equal access to education as the lubricant of social and economic mobility. Nicholas Kristof

The interviewers are looking for someone who not only meet the basic academic qualification but who can be a team player with favorable personality with some common ground not unlike for a lady desiring for a boyfriend who not only can provide but also interesting and humorous. As a matter of fact, Asian are favoring more for actual competent and less threatening individual influenced by their legacy of united examination screening and cultural preferences.  Therefore, State driven initiative of having additional merits due to the inherent disadvantages to normalize the playing field are therefore crucial and meaningful: lower income families, disability, minority, veteran etc..  Reflecting authority growing concern over the challenges to manage increasing capitalism and some level of social justice deployment

“All for one and one for all” —The Three Musketeers

In summary, social mobility bottleneck, the steepest barrier now gets even steepest with Covid-19 pandemic, probably the greatest equalizer in recent history wiping out big chunk of middle class disrupting the existing infrastructure, setting new norm and rewriting the rules of the game. On the other hand, this outbreak had taken the shine off all the developed countries as the viruses going around undermining and destroying medical, economic, education and society. No one is spared from this historical event which already caused 102,000 mortality with more than 1.7 million infected and taking care of one another including providing for basic fundamental safety net for the bottom 20% of society and countries as mankind fate are after all linked are the keys in winning this global battle. As countries unveils to others proven effective ways to counter this pandemic, never before a collective effort are much needed to deploy them.

Flattening The Curve 2020

#coronavirus #lockdown #capacity threshold # flattening the curve

Flattening the curve is probably of the hottest key words in search engine around the world where all of us as individuals had our first hand encounter with COVID-19 where dreams and lives were shattered in an unprecedented manner since the WWII. As a matter of fact, close to 50% or more of the world population are either suffering from the Virus itself directly or from resulting financial setbacks and the inevitable consequences, losing the primary income, being confined at home and so on altering our lifestyle and perspectives permanently for the perceivable future, life will never be the same again individually and collectively for many of us.

On the other hand, No one would had ever guessed having the medical capacity threshold being compromised and breached would had an immediate impact of the mortality rate as once the system is overwhelmed, the vulnerable would already had their destiny sealed due to the rapid deteriorating respiratory system which needed immediate life supporting negative pressured facilities. At the core of overcoming this crisis lies the principle of manageable personal and society’s 100% compliance of adhering to the basic safety precautions and declaring one’s health condition and have faith and follow the systems of which certain demographic like Korea and Germany did better than others in Spain and Italy probably due to the cultural and demographic difference.

Faith without works is dead,” (James 2:26)

In other words, authority in Hong Kong and Singapore of which Incessant Isolated social incidents of medical negligence, bribery and abusive behaviors among patients and medical professionals highlighted the lack of transparencies are the exception rather than the norm. Both countries had been having deep engagement all the while with its residents and this had proven a life and death matters for measures to be carried out in a rapidly evolving situations where the decisions often have to be made quickly, without the benefit of complete data in a fast changing situation as we beginning to understand more on Covid-19

In fact, big cracks appearing wide open over the different Health Care System across different countries amid the Covid19 pandemic. Whether one lives or perish depends very much on your country of resident where some governments simply had the means to safe guard your well being whereas others failed miserably. As number of infection rises to become a bottleneck issues in medical establishments around the world, moral and fair obligation may recede in importance as one needs to make the dreadful decision on which patient to allocate the limited resources in this literally life and death matter, from mayors, doctors, nurses to even the overwhelmed ambulance paramedics .Increasingly, the inherent weakness of different systems and approaches had opened its kimono to everyone.

Thomas Reid” A chain is as strong as its weakest link”

For example, US being basically a glorified model of capitalism is having its public health infrastructure skewed toward profit maximizing flavoring those who had the means for high priced insurance coverage to have access to the best treatments ever available and left other 10% with lesser means to fend for their own. On the other hand Countries like Taiwan and Australia are having 100% insurance coverage on all citizens and they did an incredible decent job this round as no one will be denied of medical services when needed which are the critical preventive and control measures to contain and manage the current crisis. Unmistakably, repeated incidents of individuals flaunting the stay home or self quarantine orders are serious social events related to to trust and compliance relationship with authority which has opened a Pandora’s box regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of governance frameworks.

Warren Buffett Quotes. Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.

Nevertheless, Like all things in life which exhibits similar nature, having an understanding of the capacity threshold will help us to maximize our potentials and fulfilling our destinies. To survive this onslaught of increasing burden of survival physically, financially and emotionally managing the capacity threshold is becoming paramount important and it’s usually comes with additional resources, disciplines and execution. There are other issues in our lives where we need to exercise precautions to take full advantage of the nature of capacity threshold.

1. Social media engagement
2. Anxiety/phobia and oppressive compulsive behaviors
3. Major life changing events; divorce, sickness, jobless, poverty. death 

Social media engagement: The massive number of working from home arrangements thanks for the technological advancement will simply exacerbate the addictive nature of social media engagement where work and personal and social were all jumbled up, working from home would simply make one more eager to engage more virtual connections to fill the unstoppable sprouts of hallow feeling of not being in office physically, we are known to behave differently in physical and virtual dimensions and it inescapably extends to working from home especially for many of the white collar executives there will be capacity threshold issues on social media, instead of flattening the curve one should attempt to narrow for all work activities within the working hours to have minimum spread over as not to compromise one personal and family time.

“structure determines behavior.” –unknown

Yet, this is not an answer unless we overhaul the new daily schedule forced onto millions restoring the much needed routines and structures keeping one sanity in balance. During the lock down, where family members had to spend a lot more face time together which had led to Increasing trends of negligence, violent and abusive behaviors among family members highlighted the lack of family safety net as all the preexisting control measures were removed without prior notice; having the man and children away during day time for work and school had been providing breathing space for everyone for everyone.

Major life changing events; divorce, sickness, jobless, poverty and death we owes it to our own sanity to encourage and facilitate appropriate stressing events in both personal and family capacity as to manage just fair amount of stress responses to avoid crossing over the capacity limit with irreversible consequences. For example, Losing one job and livelihood, going through with the divorces and being diagnosed with Covid-19 could easily push one to the brink of personal destruction. Of course one could choose to practice to have a resilient outlook and knowing all things in life are not it what they seemed to be and we do not have control after all despite out very best efforts to strive to manage our destinies but taken one at a time they can be handled and managed and we need to flatten the curve as much as possible to have sufficient mental and emotional resources to deal with these matters one at a time and after all we are highly adaptive and resourceful as time had proven in the past. The key is to have a narrative of surviving and winning stories we generate and live it out persistently. The maslows hierarchy of needs are still strong and firm nonetheless

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.–Viktor E. Frankl

Anxiety/phobia and oppressive compulsive behaviors information Gives a glimpse of the level of anxieties, fear and compulsive nature everyone of us face daily in seeking answers of the current pandemic; constantly evolving ways the virus mutate, fear of catching it, incessant hand sanitizing, phobia of the public, getting self-isolated, insomnia are signs where one needs to seek help to maintain moderate level of healthy mind like what the lock down is trying to do to keep your physical health in good hands. Moreover, anxiety can be triggered as many regard smartphone as a source of comfort, giving them temporary relief form impending anxiety and uncomfortable feelings that are easily triggered by various situations.

Women Can Have It All, Just Not at the Same Time- Madeleine Albright

On the contrary, obsessive nature of using the social media platform probably aggravate the condition. Organizations needs to outline civil remedies and hotline that can be used to stop or even prevent irrational and dangerous hoarding behaviors as the fear of shortages will led to real shortages as what the world had observed in toilet paper hoarding which explain man kind’s inherent irrationality. One way to manage people’s irrationality is to have sufficient Government stockpile of supplies with guaranteed pricing releasing per roll per person per week, not unlike the way the federal guaranteed of member bank’s cash flow to prevent bank run. Another way is to flatten the window for a moderation way where one get the latest official news on the pandemic from the media to control the level of anxiety and fear piping into our family, work and personal space, keep rubbing the salt into the wound voluntarily and some how insanely enjoy it.. Intuition is what can guide us to the right path instead of being crippled by fear.

Intuition–  is the ability to acquire knowledge without recourse to conscious reasoning.^[2][3] Different writers give the word “intuition” a great variety of different meanings, ranging from direct access to unconscious knowledge, unconscious cognition, inner sensing, inner insight to unconscious pattern-recognition and the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.^[4][5]

In summary. All eyes on nuts and bolts of on authority agenda for an efficient and effective medical system to cater for the rising dire needs to break the spreading of the corona and minimize the corresponding mortality rate at all cost, manipulating the capacity threshold could means life and death to hundred of thousands of individuals like wise for other aspects of having a decent lifestyle in this life changing event and proactively preserve our mental capacity in dealing with stress and fears. There was never before an equalizing event such as this one impacting everyone in regardless of nationality, races, age and wealth, resetting the defaults, altering our way of life setting new norms influencing future trends in an unimaginative ways. After all, we are all mortal and vulnerable and this time round the timeline is set by the COVID-19 and not the other way around