Ratchets

OK. Back to talking about the new world.

You probably know what a ratchet is. It's a device you put on a tool so that when you make progress, you don't lose that progress. When you're tightening something, the ratchet makes sure it doesn't untighten itself.

I think the new world will include the results of the ratchet effect. However, in these cases, the ratchet will both keep progress from backsliding, and keep progress from progressing.

Right now, we have discovered that we can provide resources to people in need quickly and simply – enhanced unemployment, resources for lost business, and even simple cash payments so bills can be paid. Who knew? (Ans: many of us. For a long time). Anyway, it is up to us to build ratchets around these progressive initiatives so that, in some way, they survive the crisis. They represent a sudden acknowledgment that we can best address a disaster by everyone helping everyone else. Anyone who has ever filled a sandbag on a levee knows that, but I digress. The new world must not look like the old world in this respect.

And, of course, the crisis is being used to ratchet us back and destroy or diminish our impulse to work together for a common cause. The stimulus bills have shoveled unimaginable billions to the usual suspects, who add it to the billions they already have. Somehow, they want still another payroll tax break in the next bill. If I'm reading this all correctly, even the USPS is being pulled under, allegedly to help pay for the stimulus bills but really to further voter suppression so vote by mail won't work. And here in my home county, the use of plastic grocery bags was banned starting March 1. By March 20, the ban had been lifted – apparently, bringing your own bag to the grocery store helps spread the virus. Sure it does.

Anyway, we've got to look for the ratchets, and then carefully observe in which direction the screw is being turned. The new world will depend on how good we are at this.