Looking again at Michael Bradley’s piece in Crikey referred to yesterday, it occurred to me that, instead of JobKeeper excluding over a million vulnerable workers, this crisis was an opportunity to test a Universal Basic Income with this control group for the six months of lock-down. A universal wage subsidy, Bradley suggests, was too much of an ideological leap for the Morrison government.

Also, I want to finish with O’Hehir’s view from yesterday of the US “as an imperial power in decline, revealed before the world as a weak, divided and ineffectual nation.” The impact of the pandemic, he says, “has stripped away much of America’s pompous, self-aggrandizing façade and has made many aspects of the nation’s decline, and its fast-decaying claim to world leadership, even more obvious that they already were” and concludes that it has been “a baleful force in human history over the last seven or eight decades, and that overall its decline is more a good thing than a bad thing.”

While on America, Donald’s helpful tip from down under today is to find a gas that is a little stronger than oxygen to feed into your ventilator when you get to that stage. It will fill your brain cavity, gently replacing whatever mush you have in there at present, and kill COVID-19 as well of course.

We now appear to be in conflict with China. We have poked the 300 pound gorilla by suggesting it might be useful to enquire how this pandemic started. A trade boycott has been threatened if we don’t withdraw this unwarranted slur. China generally responds with hurt feelings when challenged on, well anything, including human rights violations. Because we do so much trade with China we are apparently obliged to be obsequious and not tread on sensitivities. The brow beating diplomacy is being led by its well briefed ambassador. But the Chinese people may still want our tourism dollars, to drink our wine, buy our agriculture and send students to universities here (and the spying opportunity they represent). It should just make us more determined to diversify our trading partners, instead of having all $153 billion eggs in one China basket.

As we get close to the end of the shutdown journal journey, what do you miss about your pre-virus world? In a Crikey article yesterday, Nick Carr listed touch, certainty and, curiously, traffic. What are your three?

Numbers today: World 3,126,806 cases and 217,555 deaths. Australia 19 new cases today for 6,746 and 90 deaths. NSW share 11 new cases for 3,016 and 41 deaths. US cases have topped one million (and 58,355 deaths).

The newly released COVIDSafe App drew 1.13 million downloads in the first five hours, exceeding expectations, yet concerns remain over privacy and potential scope creep (code for distrust of government). Western Australia and Queensland announced “easings” of public health orders. Easing for NSW backfired with beachgoers not distancing. Now a scandal has broken over a dozen rugby league players going on their own little camp together. This is precisely how DIY prejudices are formed, with the aid of the availability heuristic: people in their twenties are flouting social distancing regulations, as we all remember the Bondi Beach scenes and subsequent closure of beaches. They may believe in immortality or immunity but apparently can’t connect the dots that kill granny.

In further regulations, deliberate coughing, sneezing or spitting on essential and first line workers now attracts an on the spot fine of $1,300 which can grow to $13,000 if unsuccessfully contested in court.

International news is abuzz with speculation over the health status of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. I’m not sure what purpose it serves, but whenever the leader of a totalitarian state becomes terminally ill we are treated to the high farce of non-disclosure. Is he dead? We haven’t seen him for days. Is he just terribly unwell in some secret location? All nations must surely know how their foreign affairs agents will respond in a given scenario. So just tell us he’s dead and let’s move on.

How did you get on with the avgas remedy Donald? Sorry you singed your hair; I had no idea you liked to have an evening cigar. You shrewdly found the sweet spot between demand and supply as planes are not flying as present. Today I bring you my next remedy suggestion: worm juice. It’s natural and organic, great for gut health and those little virus crowns wouldn’t dare trouble you again. I hear it kills the little suckers in one minute. It may however give you what we Aussies call the trots, so keep that toilet paper handy.

Briefly, the statistics for today show Australia with only 9 more cases (total 6,720 and still 83 deaths). 517,000 tests have been carried out. NSW reports a miserly two new cases (total 3,004 and deaths remain at 36). The world has now identified three million cases and recorded over 205,000 deaths. The US has thinned their herd by 54,000 deaths from one million cases. Boris has resumed PM duties in the UK.

Anzac Day. Lest we forget. Neighbours and their candles in front of homes at dawn. In remembrance. How do we remember and say thanks? What would those who sacrificed their lives have wished for if they had their lives to live? My reflection is that every time we behave badly towards one another we diminish the Anzac legacy. For every life lost in past conflicts a family dynasty of native born Australians did not form.

Let’s get everything on the table as we collaboratively plan a re-set, not a snap-back. Anyone such as Mattias Corman who dismisses anything out of hand, like tax increases, should be excluded from the national conversation so long as their views remain fixed and ideologically driven. It indicates a willful blindness to novel approaches and the experience of other nations. Who can we draw confidence from that things may change and improve? Will we have change or inertia and vested interests ascendant? Among instruments under consideration could include revenue raising sources, consumption patterns, franking credits, superannuation tax, stamp duty, and take a fresh look at the Gini coefficient and inequitable wealth distribution. As a community we could address gender inequality in the workforce and ditch the erroneous belief that the wealthy have become so through hard work.

With all the exposure we have had to state and territory premiers and chief minsters, Tasmania’s premier comes across as the most genuine and sincerely caring government head. Others have also shown us what they’ve got in terms of leadership in a crisis.

The POTUS is now advocating whacky dangerous remedies for the virus under the pretense of sarcasm. The advice is neither funny nor responsible, and how the experts must wince. As one of the article snippets below will show, people who disagree with Trump’s ill-informed statements get sacked. Those who serve the public are obliged to follow the merit principle in recruitment so these intemperate tantrums leading to sackings provide poor examples of professional conduct. The self-professed stable genius deserves all the rebuke, derision and satire heading his way. If you are going to be so gullible as to take any notice of this loony, go ahead, drink the draino. Indeed, if a goat occupied the Oval office, how long would it take Americans to notice?

After relaxing regulations to open popular beaches, those going there went back to their bad old ways of ignoring social distancing, so that privilege has been withdrawn. While the government is also seeking some conformity from tech giants to persuade them to stop stealing intellectual property, why not make a renewed attempt to have them pay more of the tax due. Could we not have published the gap sum between what is due by dint of declared profit and what is receipted by the ATO?

A quick rap of some interesting insights from media sources:

• From Crikey yesterday, “When this is over, will we recognize the role women played?” The title says enough.
• The Age Opinion carried Waleed Aly’s piece “Look at the US and the UK and be glad we’re not like them”. He offers this little gem on prospects for a re-set: “Already the machines of political contest are whirring into action, the Morrison government setting itself for an aggressive pro-business plan for our post-pandemic economy. Specifically that means tax breaks for businesses, and even a big swing at industrial relations. It’s the road that leads to lower wages, worse conditions and limited tax revenue.”
• From Crikey’s Bernard Keane yesterday: “Company tax cuts: another front in the ongoing war on young Australians.” He offers the observation: “In the time since the Coalition abandoned its last attempt to gift some $80 billion dollars over a decade to large companies via a reduction in the company tax rate, we’ve been able to observe the real-world effects of Donald Trump’s massive company tax cut in the Unites States from 2018.”
• “Doctors struggle to stay true to science but not cross Trump.” Associated Press, 24 April, 2020. “It’s becoming a kind of daily ritual: President Donald Trump and a phalanx of doctors file into the White House briefing room each evening to discuss the coronavirus, producing a display of rhetorical contortions as the medical officials try to stay true to the scirnce without crossing the president.”

20 more Australian cases today (total 6,692 and 80 deaths) of which NSW has 12 more cases (total 2,994 and 35 deaths). The Global tally moves to over 2.8 million cases and 197,000 deaths.

National Cabinet met today as we ease into week two of a four week review period in which the road back is to be paved, emphasizing economic recovery. Restrictions are to be lifted on small gatherings and concessions made to community sport. It will be safe for all schools to resume in early June (you remember, like students in classrooms with teachers guiding them). Schools will be exempt from the social distancing rules of 1.5 metres apart and 4 square metres available indoors. The NRL says it has approval for a restart on 28 May.

The Prime Minister said we are getting some fresh eyes on recovery proposals but Mattias Corman’s mouth said the same old dogma of ruling out tax increases. An open mind implies making all levers available until there is a sufficient rationale for exclusion. Similarly for rumblings of tax cuts for big business – still not listening to the trickle-down evidence or the example of USA’s foray into this ideologically driven action.

Clearly I am seeing too many negative images on TV from US demonstrators and their placard slogans. Are we witnessing an implosion of a whole society? No disciplined thinking is in evidence. Where are all the smart people we know you must have there? It would be good to hear and see more from creative artists, scientists, thinkers, nurses and teachers. Are US citizens no longer our kind of people?

On matters US, another 4.4 million register for unemployment benefits for a total of 25.5 million jobless since mid-March, marching proudly to a 15-20% unemployment rate. The US is among a number of nations that played Russian roulette with advancing reality. We might be best advised by those with credibility, again, those who have logged their 10,000 hours, and definitely not politicians, shock jocks and the Murdoch press. We want wisdom, insight, informed expert opinion, and news from experienced investigative journalists. Would you go looking for a Ming Dynasty vase at Aldi?

The UK is onto something regarding a vaccine. Perhaps you share my secret fantasy wish that Australian medical scientists might “do a Bradbury” and gazump other advanced nations searching for a vaccine. If one should be found, how should we deal with anti-vaxers?

I’ve contributed both primary (me) and secondary (articles on point) resources. How I feel about social isolation has been put out there on my Awesomely Astute blog. It’s personal, revelatory and critical. Is anyone out there? It would be great to have some dialogue as I believe my completed journal will be of historical interest in years to come. What are you thinking and feeling? What do you want from snap-back? Something new or same old same old that you didn’t much like before. How is the isolation experience for family members young and old and in-between? I’m new at this. Sister Julie has been helping me with the frustrating mechanics of a WordPress site for a first time blogger. Not shouting but whispering into the void.

Cases continue their slide with 12 additional for the nation (total 6,675) but with 79 deaths. NSW has only 7 of these new cases for a total of 2,986 and 35 deaths. Globally more than 2.7 million cases and 191,228 deaths. The US accounts for nearly 50,000 deaths.

Enjoy a very different Anzac Day 2020 tomorrow.

The Ruby Princess left Port Kembla this afternoon with 500 crew members. 10% of all Australian COVID-19 cases were passengers on this ship. Along with this welcome departure inquiry season has begun: federal government response to the virus, the Ruby Princess saga, WHO capability to investigate disease outbreaks. These inquiries take the form of what was done, by whom, when and what was not done that should have been. The government has kindly developed an app for detections and tracing, but many have privacy concerns about it, with little trust concerning government surveillance.

Teasers abound for an easing of restrictions forecast for the near future if we continue to behave ourselves. Big business is lobbying for snapback initiatives to be neoliberal policies, flogging corporate tax cuts, deregulation and lower wages, but with little thought for where economic growth will come from. We are likely to rely heavily on the services sector, particularly health and social care, providing one in seven jobs. The Reserve Bank’s Philip Lowe predicts the economy to contract 6% and bounce 6-7% next year, with unemployment peaking at 10%.

Meanwhile, I remain in isolation but for pup walks and occasional groceries. I’m reading lots and today posted a blog message in support of my sister Julie’s countdown approach to mortality and timely expression. The Illawarra Socratic Society continues to feed me topical philosophical opinion pieces which I devour. I have surprised myself that I have not taken on those big projects of exercise and decluttering I thought I would with so much time ostensibly available.

Today we have only 12 more cases in Australia (total 6,661) and 75 deaths. A total of 466,000 tests have now been conducted. NSW acquired 5 of these new cases for a total now just creeping to 2,976 with 34 deaths. World totals are now over 2.6 million cases and 184,268 deaths.