Good Friday Thoughts

COTTonLINE hopes that, for all our readers, Good Friday is in fact “good.” That involves staying well, following the distancing guidelines, and washing hands thoroughly.

It begins to look like most of us will survive Covid-19, with a little bit of luck and a generous amount of care. Perhaps that is what to keep in mind when reaching for a bit of the optimism we normally associate with spring whilst in the midst of the biggest systemic shock this society has experienced maybe since Pearl Harbor.

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Many have asked, “Did we overreact?” implying that we have done so. I disagree. We did what an epidemic with substantial morbidity demands, take cover and keep our heads down.

It may be true that eventually most of us will contract the coronavirus. However by being careful we postpone the event while the medical/scientific community work hard finding palliatives, cures and vaccines. If we can postpone long enough, the danger will be reduced when it happens, maybe nearly to zero.

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The Harris poll reports results of a recent survey of American opinions toward China.

Outside the Beltway, the coronavirus crisis is actually bringing Americans together on the China issue. Republicans and Democrats now largely agree that the Chinese government bears responsibility for the spread of the pandemic, that it can’t be trusted on this or any other issue, and that the U.S. government should maintain a tough position on China on trade and overall, especially if Beijing again falters in its commitments.

If nothing else good comes out of this miserable pandemic, the coalescing of negative opinion toward the current leadership of China is a very good thing.