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I apologize if I'm repeating points already made in the discussion but it's important that they "take" . . . . It is the nature of epidemics like this that people who don't have symptoms spread the disease, and this is much worse than other examples because the symptoms seem to hit people differently. A large number of people are said to have already had it and shaken it off in a few days, while it can be fatal for a significant minority of those who get it. Gathering in large numbers spreads the virus quicker. Not doing this is to avoid crashing the resources of an ill-prepared health care system, including the people needed to run it. Beyond these obvious medical realities, this pandemic is not only slamming us, but it's starting to pull down their economy, bit by bit, and I heard one of the talking heads on the idiot box are discussing the possibility of coming out of this with an unemployment rate of 20% (and they're thinking in government figures). When I look out on the absence of mass demonstrations in the streets today, it looks precisely like the absence of mass demonstrations in the streets before the pandemic hit. There are other reasons we don't have large numbers in the street than the distancing brought on by the pandemic. Building a movement is part of a process. Take this time of isolation to read a book and discuss it online. And/or hold online classes. Make and retain contacts for the future. There's much productive to be done in the here and now that will be useful in the future, particularly with a work force that will be wiser, angrier, and hopefully more ready to take to the streets.. What will not be useful at this point is getting those willing to gather in large groups disproportionately infected or putting them in a position to get their family, friends and coworkers sick. Solidarity, Mark L. _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
