Most of us never even think about it, at least in a manner that’s consequential. From the moment we wake until we decide to call it a day, it haunts us. This notion that we have options, choices, in much of what we do and how we do it. In fact, it’s easy to take our options for granted—until they are stripped away, even if for the greater good.

As with this pandemic COVID-19, and there may be others down the road, the real option of socialism as a solution is coming more into consideration than ever before.

How a Virus Levels the Playing Field

The recent surge in homelessness, mental illness, substance addiction (not necessarily instances of cause and effect) is a tangible representation of the diversity in class warfare. Those that have the financial resources will stand farther away from these life circumstances than those who don’t. Yet, depending on the State of your residence, the social service dollars dedicated to serving the public dealing with these issues will vary.

Some people will readily point a finger at Democratic states as having more compassion for those who need government’s helping hand. Still others, will say that Republican-run states are more fiscally sound than their counterparts, though the people needing assistance cry out to an audience too self-imposed in ignorance to hear them.

Is anybody listening? Can politicians shut their mouths long enough to know what their constituents really fear and why?

Perhaps the bigger question, no matter the side of the aisle, is ‘does anyone care’?

Class Warfare Just Came Home

At this point in time, more people are losing their options than not. Having options is one of the predominate differences in capitalism compared to communism and socialism. But does capitalism work if it doesn’t work for everyone?

In any crisis that affects economic stability, the longer the downward spiral, the more job loss and home loss are experienced by the masses it provides more opportunity for the wealthy. Their acquisitions are representative of the choices they continue to possess. As the fundamental benefits of living in the U.S. are at the brink of falling away, for many of our workforce, people are trying to quell their anxiety. Living from paycheck to paycheck and relying on your 401k doesn’t offer much in the way of controlling your own destiny.

How many of us are just 30 days (or less) away from losing it all…. Is America’s freedom and democracy hanging on by a thread? If we continue to maintain capitalism as-is without providing social programs to assist the masses when the unforeseen happens, perhaps freedom is a privilege for the few.

This perspective didn’t just happen in the here and now. Our working poor exist with limited choices each day. The Corona Virus has made this reality more tangible to the rest of us. How does this feel?

It’s a nightmare if we keep our social consciousness the same. Alternatively, we can rise to this occasion and be ‘woke’.

Global Connectivity vs. Local Accountability

In our quest to join other nations in creating a global marketplace, we have focused on gaining and maintaining a position of strength, power, and leadership in the world. Go big or go home.

Maybe it’s time we came home for awhile. Took care of our own. Get to know our neighbors. Visit our national monuments. Discover the stories behind the coveted historic places. Step inside ourselves. Remember what made each of us different and invaluable, yet the same.

Short-term survival strategies and money don’t have to coexist.

To get through tough times, try to leave financial compensation out of the equation. Network with other businesses (online during quarantine) and offer services or product in trade for other services or product that you need. It’s a great way to continue doing business, stay connected, and get past the glitch in the economy. Focus on solutions, not the angst of it all.

Why the Polarity Must End

Republicans and Democrats are so consumed with being right, they have overlooked this country’s overriding principles. Does anyone truly win when the solution doesn’t benefit all parties? Our polarity didn’t just start with the last election, the one before that, or the one before that (and so on). This has been in the making for a long time, as egos prevail over emotional intelligence.

While it is easy to blame those in power, the rest of us have to bear some of it as well. You see, we the people have allowed this. We fall so easily into the fray of righteousness instead of fairness, winning over justice.

The farther a party leans to one side, the other goes just as far on the other end of the spectrum. As this process continues, participants need to increase the volume of their pontificating political pitches to drown the opposition out. Again, constituents follow suit ranting louder and louder to gain another follower, an additional like, and a share.

Have we become fighters in a self-fulfilling prophecy, envisioned and generated by our own fear of what could happen if one side or the other didn’t get its way?

The American public, Chinese citizens, and European populous didn’t create the pandemic on a literal sense. Though our behaviors towards one another certainly fuel fear’s fire.

Happenstance or Circumstance

Likely, you’ve had discussions with friends, colleagues, clients, and family members about HOW did COVID-19 happen. With the many stories and theories floating around chat rooms, social channels, and the news (opinion) media and more, it’s hard to get to the truth. I mean, isn’t that what we all want—the truth?

Sucking that reality up is hard.

How do you trust a government that changes their story about a pandemic on a local, state, national and global scale when the issue at hand is a moving target…. You don’t. You can’t. And it’s frustrating, to say the least.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why. Why did this happen? But let’s not focus on the potential ramifications of the virus and its ill-effects on you, your family, your work, your livelihood. I’m sure you’ve gone round and round in your mind about it more than a ferris wheel gone out of control.

Let’s go larger. Because this is a colossal opportunity. If we take the potential silver-lining, collectively, we can beat this and many more negative unforeseen circumstances (or happenstances) that hit us head on.

People, Let’s Take Our Power Back

Take a moment to take a step back from social media interactions. Have you noticed the escalation of inappropriate commentary and verbal assaults towards one another? Is lashing out at others, our friends, our family, and our countrypeople the best that we can do?

Let’s do our best to own our fear. Recognize what it is and then come up with a strategy to minimize it. Let’s work together on this.

Two Choices to Stay Afloat

In hard times, we want to have a game plan to keep our resources to include shelter, food, and electricity. In a robust economy, we simply focus on what we need to do to make more money. With businesses suspending operations or closing their doors, increasing income is a shrinking option.

For now, our best resource is to revisit our spending, discern between want and need, and learn to live with what is essential.

Hang on to your property.

Communication is crucial when experiencing challenges in your home. The same goes when you are a tenant, landlord or homeowner living in a primary residence. If your income has dropped due to COVID-19, talk to your landlord and work out a temporary plan. It’s more cost-effective for renter and property owner. If you are a homeowner, consider renting a room to a family member or friend to help ease your financial burden and theirs. If a perspective tenant doesn’t have the finances to pay rent, at least until the quarantine is over, then arrange for services rendered in lieu of monetary payment. Cleaning services, property maintenance, renovation…you get the idea.

We’re in this together. Getting through it is likely a collective effort. That’s the American way.

Have a Question About Your Current Home Value? Just Ask