May You Live in Interesting Times

 

“May You Live in Interesting Times”

 

“May you live in interesting times”, is an old Chinese proverb. Today it’s a time when we go from being bored out of our minds to panicking from a sore throat. But it’s also a time that brings out the best in people, and as we look back at trying times in the past it’s easy to see how we individually and as a country responded. We will whip this virus, but we can control it faster, if we will unite to fight it.

The virus impact can be as little as just being slightly inconvenienced to devastation. The family who loses a loved one will always remember the sadness associated with the pandemic. Of course, the pandemic doesn’t affect everyone the same, and although it is a worldwide health emergency, the response to controlling it is different in various countries. We will probably look back and regret the terrible job America has done in controlling the pandemic, when compared to Western Europe or New Zealand. Yes, the response from our European friends has been to mandate certain things to limit exposures to the virus, and that is something we haven’t done on a national basis. Our country’s lapses have killed many Americans, because our control of the virus has been erratic. At first we tried to ignore it, and then we instigated some recommendations, but as a whole, the country never tackled the virus like countries that got it under control quickly and were able to reduce virus deaths.  

            Today, as we see our country’s virus deaths spiraling out of control, we are still in an “Open things up mood” and mandatory masks and social distancing are just recommendations in many parts of the country. What should have happen back in March and April, when the virus became an epidemic in New York City, was a national mask mandate that carried a stiff fine for not complying. And don’t give me that old crap about you having the freedom to not wear a mask. You cover your naked bottom don’t you, and showing your bottom is not going to kill anyone, but when you don’t wear a mask you become part of the problem.

            Americans are not going through this pandemic with the lowest possible loss of life, and it’s because of insane gatherings like 250,000 motorcycle riders going to Sturgis mostly without masks. How many thousands were infected, and how many will die, because of that rally? But it’s sure not just a big biker rally. How about First Baptist Church in Dallas holding a Patriotic Service with a 150+ voice shoulder to shoulder choir without masks, to a packed audience without a mask requirement or practicing social distancing? If your church is holding services without mandating masks or social distances, your church is part of the problem.

            Now let’s look at the economic devastation caused by the virus. If having a couple of hundred thousand Americans die doesn’t bother you, maybe the store closings and bankruptcies will get your attention. Some of these studies and statistics are absolutely shocking. In New York City an estimated 60% of their restaurants won’t open back up, and thousand upon thousands of employees, of not only the restaurants, but from stores in every state will be unemployed. We are not only seeing the big stores such as J. C. Penny and other large department stores close, but thousands of small businesses nation-wide are closing daily, never to reopen.

            During this time of a National Emergency, all Americans should work to lift up our small business neighbors, and by doing so make surviving the pandemic a national effort whether it directly affects you or not. Our National and State governments have tried to mitigate the terrible consequences that are befalling the American workers and businesses, but their help has been a pittance compared to what is needed.

Of course, if you are employed by a local, state, or a national governing body, you haven’t had to worry about not receiving a paycheck, and if you are working for a large major company that can weather the storm, you are still going to get paid. However, most Americans aren’t in that shape, and small business are at the top of the list of entities that are affected by the pandemic. Every town in this country, large or small, have local businesses that are in dire straits, and hundreds of thousands of those small businesses won’t survive without help. That is a fact. Now, whether your town or city is 200 or 20,000 or 200,000, in population the survival of your small business community is critical to the wellbeing of the entire town. It is going to be up to the individual town or city to shore up these small business, and help them anyway possible. If we don’t…well you stand to lose the heart of your town or city.

Most of our downtowns are the home of small stores and restaurants, which are owned by local residents. Downtowns are looked upon as the center of town, and that is important. One of the major players in the rejuvenation of downtown San Antonio, Texas told me they worked on restoring their downtown because, and I quote, “When your downtown is perceived as a failure, your entire city is looked upon in the same way.” I don’t believe there is an Arkansas downtown, which wouldn’t look like a failure, if that downtown lost 50% of its businesses. But that is exactly what will happen, if these businesses don’t get help. Those stores and restaurants are seeing sales plummet, and many of them will go out of businesses.

However, it seems most of our towns are ignoring the problem, and for small businesses, it’s sink or swim. If your downtown looks shabby, it’s because your City refuses to provide the funding to adequately take care of city planters, trees, and repairing sidewalks. It makes a downtown look as if no one cares, or if your city ignores ordinance enforcement to the detriment of your downtown during the pandemic, it can be the final nail in the coffin of many businesses. As a bad example, El Dorado’s Downtown has been without a Parking Enforcement Officer for 20 months, and according to the Chief of Police, it will be next year before he hires one. Stores with downtown shoppers reduced to a minimum because of the pandemic, and 80% of the downtown parking already taken by downtown workers, will spell the end of a large number of El Dorado businesses.

            The state Main Street and local Main Street programs have small economic grants to help downtown business, and every small downtown business should apply for these grants. However, these grants, while welcome, won’t be enough, if your town doesn’t chip in to help, and of course, there are multiple ways a city or town can help small businesses. Just think, if every city or town in the state would make a commitment to help small businesses survive the pandemic, it would be a time that we would look back on and be proud of how we helped each other pull through…by working together.