Saturday, April 4, 2020
Some people are simply awesome. I have seen evidence of these people all around me lately. There are people who give of themselves just because they wake up in the morning and think, “How can I help someone today?” I am not one of those people. I do not naturally reach out to help people unless I see a need or am asked. I will help, and I like to help, but I am too wrapped up in my own head to initiate a helping scenario.
I was impressed when I saw the news coverage showing the New England Patriots plane returning from China with personal protection equipment for area hospitals and some for New York City. I do not know anybody who owns any type of plane, let alone a plane capable of international travel, but what a great way to use your wealth to fill a life-saving need. It is unfortunate that in an effort to lower prices for medical equipment and supplies, very little is produced in the United States and none of those savings are ever passed on to the patient.
Personally, I would be okay with the government buying 100 one-million-dollar machines, to keep in idle, production-ready warehouses near Bowen and 3M facilities, so those companies could quickly ramp up production of face masks when the next pandemic strikes (and you know there will be a next one). The government would also need to do the same for other essential medical equipment and supplies. I would like to see $1 billion of the more than $600 billion defense budget rerouted to future health defense.
Let me quit ranting and get back to talking about awesome people. I saw a news story about a seven-year-old boy in Virginia who collected personal protection equipment from hotels to donate to hospitals. I have seen posts from half a dozen of my friends who are sewing masks for others in large quantities. (Yes, the epidemic has forced me to scroll down through at least ten Facebook posts in my timeline every time I log in so I can spy on and interact with my friends. The Horror!)
Many employers are trying to continue to pay their employees who cannot come to work. I hope the transition-to-grant loans the Small Business Administration is authorized to now issue, are a real help to enable employers to keep doing so. The first round of loans to help small business were reported on the news to be less than four percent interest. I took that to mean 3.99%. I think nearly four percent for a disaster loan is too high, and this virus crisis is an economic disaster for many small businesses.
Off track again; back to awesome people. A friend of mine has a husband who, along with all the senior staff at his company, is taking a 20-percent pay cut to be able to keep more lower-level staff. The company did lay off thousands of workers in a division that saw its market evaporate overnight, but it is trying to keep as many people employed as possible. One of my older daughter’s roommates works at a daycare center and only essential workers are bringing their children, so the staff is taking turns working each week.
I have seen news coverage of people making face shields with 3-D printers to donate to medical care workers. I have watched with water in my eyes as the reported infection rate continues to climb for health workers, and they continue to put their lives on the line each day. My helper who is not related to me continues to come help me even though she is in the high-risk of death category also (except Thursday when I told her not to come because I was sick).
My piece of advice to you is to be as awesome as you can, even if that simply means answering the phone when your friend calls wanting to vent about their day, reading your Facebook feed to make sure your friends are okay, putting on a face mask before you walk out your door, or listening to your family when they complain about wearing the mask and handing them the mask anyway.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
Some people are simply awesome. I have seen evidence of these people all around me lately. There are people who give of themselves just because they wake up in the morning and think, “How can I help someone today?” I am not one of those people. I do not naturally reach out to help people unless I see a need or am asked. I will help, and I like to help, but I am too wrapped up in my own head to initiate a helping scenario.
I was impressed when I saw the news coverage showing the New England Patriots plane returning from China with personal protection equipment for area hospitals and some for New York City. I do not know anybody who owns any type of plane, let alone a plane capable of international travel, but what a great way to use your wealth to fill a life-saving need. It is unfortunate that in an effort to lower prices for medical equipment and supplies, very little is produced in the United States and none of those savings are ever passed on to the patient.
Personally, I would be okay with the government buying 100 one-million-dollar machines, to keep in idle, production-ready warehouses near Bowen and 3M facilities, so those companies could quickly ramp up production of face masks when the next pandemic strikes (and you know there will be a next one). The government would also need to do the same for other essential medical equipment and supplies. I would like to see $1 billion of the more than $600 billion defense budget rerouted to future health defense.
Let me quit ranting and get back to talking about awesome people. I saw a news story about a seven-year-old boy in Virginia who collected personal protection equipment from hotels to donate to hospitals. I have seen posts from half a dozen of my friends who are sewing masks for others in large quantities. (Yes, the epidemic has forced me to scroll down through at least ten Facebook posts in my timeline every time I log in so I can spy on and interact with my friends. The Horror!)
Many employers are trying to continue to pay their employees who cannot come to work. I hope the transition-to-grant loans the Small Business Administration is authorized to now issue, are a real help to enable employers to keep doing so. The first round of loans to help small business were reported on the news to be less than four percent interest. I took that to mean 3.99%. I think nearly four percent for a disaster loan is too high, and this virus crisis is an economic disaster for many small businesses.
Off track again; back to awesome people. A friend of mine has a husband who, along with all the senior staff at his company, is taking a 20-percent pay cut to be able to keep more lower-level staff. The company did lay off thousands of workers in a division that saw its market evaporate overnight, but it is trying to keep as many people employed as possible. One of my older daughter’s roommates works at a daycare center and only essential workers are bringing their children, so the staff is taking turns working each week.
I have seen news coverage of people making face shields with 3-D printers to donate to medical care workers. I have watched with water in my eyes as the reported infection rate continues to climb for health workers, and they continue to put their lives on the line each day. My helper who is not related to me continues to come help me even though she is in the high-risk of death category also (except Thursday when I told her not to come because I was sick).
My piece of advice to you is to be as awesome as you can, even if that simply means answering the phone when your friend calls wanting to vent about their day, reading your Facebook feed to make sure your friends are okay, putting on a face mask before you walk out your door, or listening to your family when they complain about wearing the mask and handing them the mask anyway.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.