POSTED: JUNE 1, 2026
The covid epidemic was a wake-up call for the world. SARS, H1N1 and other earlier pandemics of current time were not enough to really shake up the world. Even AIDS was seen by many in the straight community as not really a mainstream pandemic to worry about. I am not making a judgement here but other than in the gay community and the medical community it was a concern but was not seen as the existential threat to the human species that Covid 19 was.
But now we see how these viruses spread – and the unforeseen consequences. Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda are being watched closely as they have real potential to become even worse than the terrible scourge they currently are.
And when I talk to my science friends one common factor comes up – the elimination of U.S. AID, the departure from the U.S. in supporting the World Health Organization, the U.S. degrading of the strength of the United Nations and its various funded agencies.
Humanity is connected, whether that is understood in the White House or not. Starting a war against Iran at an astronomical cost, both financially and environmentally, while cutting back on support for various programs to reduce food insecurity and various diseases is not just immoral but is counter productive for the United States in the long term.
But I see the MAGA virus continuing to grow. Some parts of the American public have been incensed by their leadership from the beginning of this term but the majority are only now starting to swing to being upset with Trump, not for the wavering nature of his support for Ukraine, or his dismantling of most of the pillars of the U.S. political and judicial structure, or the hiding of files for Epstein, or starting a war with Iran to support Israel, but because gas prices are going up! Yes, the personal interest of the American electorate seems to “trump” all other legitimate reasons to be enraged by this tyrant.
America is messed up – and its not just Trump.
The Democrats talk longingly about the upcoming Mid Term elections in the fall, followed by impeachment. But the Republicans who have been so self interested to date are not just going to roll over. And while the fighting in Congress and The Senate goes on, and Americas stockpile of military equipment is depleted, China will act on Taiwan, Russia will continue to degrade Ukraine and Israel will continue to colonize the middle east.
The MAGA virus has tainted our fledgling actions to reverse climate change, world cooperation on medical and science issues and made American Billionaires even more wealthy. One day the historians will look back at this as a pandemic and will be hard pressed to explain how a country which historically was so committed to democracy, turned its back on democratic ideals.
Django