The Coronavirus – Analysis

Posted on By Harry J. Glasbeek

The coronavirus is exacting a toll. It also is revelatory about the nature of our political economy. It provides an opportunity for analysis and discussion to help progressive people about the links which connect them.

An Overview

The pandemic, horrible as it is, is a great political educator.

It has reminded us that it was capitalists’ insatiable drive for profits that caused them to attack spending on health care, leaving us way less prepared than we would have been if we had a system that was not obsessed with profiteering.

It has shown us that capitalists only invest if they can make more money. They do not invest to ensure the public will healthier and better cared-for –this left us without needed equipment and research when the pandemic hit. Capitalists do not set out to meet human needs.

It is teaching us that the few who own most of the assets in this country are unwilling to share any of their wealth with us to help us out of the crisis. To the contrary, they are demanding that governments go into debt (which largely will be repaid by non-capitalists) to ensure that they can resume profiteering when governments have resolved the health crisis.

It is teaching us that, despite the conventional wisdom spread by capitalists and their supporters, workers who provide us with our basic needs are way more important than corporate lawyers, CEO’s, lobbyists, brokers, influencers, advertising types, celebrities, sports’ stars and hedge fund managers. None of them cater for our needs.

It is teaching us that wealth is socially produced by workers, that capitalists who cannot exploit labour or who cannot count on workers to consume their goods and services, are incapable of functioning.

It is making visible that the people, now called heroes by capital’s mouthpieces, are poorly paid for their necessary work. More, much of the work is done by women, recent immigrants, racially different people, all marginalized in a capitalist polity.

Maybe something valuable will come out of the pandemic. It may be that more of us will understand the failures of capitalism and the promise of socialism.

The following pieces centred around the pandemic are proffered as a way to initiate such discussions. Comments and questions are welcome.

Analysis and Dialogue