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There really is no doubt what the source of the Coronavirus is. The virus began its international trajectory in Wuhan, China, most likely as the result of the unorthodox appetites of the local residents who dine on things most of us would not – bats. That the disease that bats routinely carry would spread to humans should not come as a surprise. The same path of different diseases – bats to humans to the general population – has played out before also emanating from China.
The fallout from the virus is likely to be severe – international travel, the stock market, the intense strain on the medical systems of multiple countries, mass casualties and last, but not least, the mystifying decline in business at Chinese restaurants the world over and for the otherwise innocent folks who make Corona beer.
We Americans have, until very recently, been one of the prime supporters of the movement to globalize international trade and travel. We have been supporters of the People’s Republic of China even though they claim to be communist (subject to debate) and are certainly an authoritarian politically repressive regime. Nonetheless, in the past we have looked the other way at these things under the guise of international brotherhood and the manufacture of inexpensive products.
This is not the first time the People’s Republic has zinged us with its lax health and quality standards. Lest we forget the hundreds of thousands of Americans who struggled with the effects of “Chinese Drywall” in their homes. This is not to castigate the Chinese people; there has been enough racist blather on the internet and at our borders to last for a long time. But maybe it is time for the Chinese Government to take some responsibility for what they have done (or failed to do).
What is mystifying is how it could be that a central government, the size of which would make most laissez-faire economists bristle, could do so little to implement and enforce basic health rules. Isn’t that the idea behind the totalitarian communist state – the government will take care of and protect the people.
Well, that did not exactly happen here did it ? And, what’s worse is that the end result of the Chinese government’s lackadaisicalness has now literally spilled out all over the world wreaking havoc on the global economy. So what has the Chinese government done to accept responsibility and ameliorate the problem ? The answer is nothing. Doesn’t the Chinese government bear some responsibility for the creation of this health crisis and its subsequent cover up ?
Decades of experience with totalitarian societies yield more than a few good generalizations. The most striking one, at the present moment, is their knee jerk ability to deflect responsibility, hide from the truth and point the finger at others. Hitler and Stalin were masters at this. The government of Iran has developed skills at this as well (note how long it took the Iranian government to accept responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner).
If the People’s Republic of China wants to remain part of the international community and minimize the very significant damage it has caused (which may not even be possible) perhaps the government should take responsibility for allowing this to happen. Once it does that, maybe the People’s Republic of China should apologize to the rest of the world.