When everything is labeled 'essential,' nothing truly is. In 2020, during the chaos of massive lockdowns and panic, governments worldwide decided to decree what was 'essential.' Politicians and bureaucrats chose who could work, who had the right to earn a living, and even who could leave their homes. The repercussions? A newfound appreciation for the everyday heroes like grocers, truckers, and utility workers, yet the absurdity of categorizing liquor stores and casinos as essential services. While rational thinkers watched in disbelief, decision-makers cherry-picked jobs based on their entangled interests, leaving out millions in the lurch.
First, let's chuckle at one truth: Governments suddenly discovering the importance of blue-collar work! The real backbone of society was finally unmasked—a little late, but a win nonetheless. Blue-collar workers, often scorned by ivory tower elites, were thrust into the limelight, keeping countries functional while many smirked behind laptops in cozy home offices. The narrative suddenly shifted as these unsung heroes kept society moving while governments dished out stimulus checks to others with questionable 'essential' status.
While jobs in fast food joints and grocery stores were rightly deemed essential, the categorization of other jobs was almost laughable. Tattoo parlors? Hair salons? Pot dispensaries? Somehow ‘magically’ essential. We're living in a paradox. The era of common sense was hijacked by absurdity. Yet, we shouldn't gloss over those decisions made under the guise of public safety but driven by panic, politics, and popularity. Just imagine if these decisions were in the hands of voters rather than a select few.
It’s easier to manipulate the masses and play with livelihoods when cleverly masked under 'essential' jargon. Control, after all, is a sweet candy for the power-hungry. But liberty-loving individuals didn't need a pandemic to understand how irrational government intervention can stifle freedom. Regulatory overreach overshadowed the core of what makes a society truly essential: individual liberty and personal responsibility.
Education systems faced a defining moment of their own. Teachers, long touted as indispensable, suddenly found themselves battling the perception that they'd become non-essential. As schools scrambled to transition online, parents experienced a first-hand glimpse into the educational system. Eventually, they reevaluated priorities, questioning what was indeed essential in learning. This period ignited debates on school choice and highlighted public education's vulnerabilities.
Health care? Obviously essential. Yet it struggled under the weight of top-heavy administration while bureaucratic policies hamstrung real progress. When healthcare became synonymous with ‘overwhelming demand,’ the issue of staffing shortages, not just facilities, was spotlighted. Resilience came from courageous healthcare workers, not an endless tide of regulations.
The irony is, of course, that the ultimate essentials are not newly discovered phenomena. Farmers, truckers, healthcare providers, and educators don't receive their value from crisis-driven recognition. These professions have always held the weight of real necessity, far detached from the bureaucrat’s pen.
Let’s not forget how politicians hysterically clung to unexpected tyrannies of induced 'essentialness.' With calls for extended powers came the twisted logic of limiting freedom in the name of safety. The necessity to 'flatten the curve' morphed into a monstrous overreach, burdening small businesses, with many teetering on the brink of collapse. One wonders which 'non-essentials' were conveniently left out of aid packages as they struggled.
The essence of what society should place as essential is evident in those never-coveted but crucial roles. But as the dust settled from our world upheaval, how much of this 'essence' was driven by political expediencies rather than real necessity? It might be wise to overhaul systems before another glob of importance shifts behind the whims of decision-makers.
In these strange days, it’s more vital than ever to question the narratives fed to us about what's essential. With lessons learned, let's not settle for a fate dictated by ivory towers. Let’s redefine essential in our own terms, driven by the unstoppable spirit of determined individuals, not bureaucratic declarations.