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Privilege needs to recognize itself and compensate

America marked the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 epidemic last week. It was part memorial to the more than 500,000 who have died due to the negligence, ignorance, and egotism of President Trump. It was also part celebration of the rapid ramping up of vaccinations and the prospect of a return to normality by sometime in the late summer or early fall. President Biden has already demonstrated an ability to get good things done with a minimum of fuss, including a $1.9 trillion package intended not only to confront the virus but also to revive the economy.

It may be too much, but better that than too little. It will take some time to move some of that quantity of money through our various bureaucracies and into productive hands. But the initial $1400 payments to taxpayers went out already this weekend and the $300/week plus up of unemployment insurance should move fast too, but a lot of the rest cannot and should not be done quickly. It will require applications from businesses and states. Transparency and accountability will be important to ensuring that it reaches the correct destinations. Nothing could hurt the image of the Democrats-only stimulus more than a few boondoggles at taxpayer expense.

While we wait for the recovery, reflection on the past year is in order. The US failed miserably to stop COVID-19 early, which would have required a serious commitment to testing and contact tracing that the President was incapable of. Trump deserves credit for moving quickly to fund multiple vaccine projects, three of which have already come to arms. He was completely inept however at encouraging mitigation measures (masks, social distancing) and developing a serious plan for administering vaccine. That happened only after Biden took over. His administration has demonstrated impressive capability to increase production and distribution, down to the last mile and even inch.

That said, distribution of the vaccine is following the inverse of distribution of the disease, which has affected black and brown people disproportionately. They have contracted COVID-19 and died from it more than whites, but they are still not getting their proportionate share of vaccinations. There could be no clearer indication of how deeply ingrained in our institutions prejudice is. Georgia is managing to get vaccine to rural white communities while Atlanta black neighborhoods are short on supply. Sounds a bit like the distribution of polling places. Tell me there is no systemic discrimination.

A lot of people like me have enjoyed relatively few deprivations from the epidemic. I’ve been able to continue my usual reading, writing, and teaching from home. It’s not the same as enjoying the stimulation of students and colleagues downtown, but it isn’t all that far off. My wife and I have been walking 6-7 miles per day and have lost a few pounds. Groceries all get delivered. I’ve been in a store no more than half a dozen times in the past year, but I lack for nothing. Brown and black people who need the work bring me everything my bank account can afford.

It is an enormous privilege to quarantine as we have, without giving up professional life or income. All of us who have done it owe those who made it possible a big debt. I’d have thought a minimum wage of $15/hour wouldn’t be too much to pay, but our well-heeled Congress thought differently. I have no doubt but that the support to families with children contained in the latest stimulus package is likewise justified. The Republicans in Congress objected to that too, concerned it might enable some single mothers with four kids to stay home to do the vital work of raising kids rather than work.

Right now our biggest problem is climbing out of the recession and ensuring the benefits aren’t reserved for the relatively rich white people, of which I happen to be one. Privilege needs to recognize itself and compensate. That goes for America as a whole too. As we exit this tunnel, we need to help the rest of the world get out of it too.