Intersting back and forth. Thanks for furthering the dialogue in your post, so necessary.

Not entirely sure I resonate with all your points, though I understand. I think it will become further evident: the absolute need for sharing thoughts, ideas, positions.

Sadly, here take a breath, I think we need to keep in mind the very real element of family unit, I mean the immediate family, yes, you, your husband or wife, and kids, pets, sure why not? What happens when they are suddenly on the chopping block, I mean REALLY. They are coming for you and yours, what you have created, your supplies. This unraveling of 'peaceful' society is the worst end scenario to a devastating world pandemic, (short of the disease taking everyone out), wait around long enough and our fellow humans will insure us of that!

So what do you choose? Sit it out with a cold beer, bong, how much gas do you have in your car, (where you going to go...), make thicker walls and hope for the best? For many there are deep, well expressed arguments taking this position, countless ones that would choose this route. Skillful and 'educated' arguments abound and are endless. Unfortunately it can't end like this as it would mean the end of life as we know it. Of course, (trying not to over state), the only solution is vaccinations that work, but they better be forthcoming... or the lesser option of learning to live with pandemic longer term.

All the theorizing and lofty thinking (though necessary), will crashingly come apart when suddenly more than a lap top will be required to see you and family through another day.

So, the question becomes: what do we do? Again, I refer to the most basic act of preservation, what do we/you do? Pause and think: There are no enemies at present, (oh of course there is always risk, crime, etc, etc, that's why we have police, armies... ). But what do we do when the current level of security and our safety net goes away, as it can. Yes it can. Then what?

We ignore this scary thinking at our own peril...

Ok, of course I think this shall pass, life shall go on, lessons learned, we will come out of this changed, a bit scarred and scared. I add this as I'm one of those lovers of life who choose the path of positive thinking. But what if...?

Excellent piece, thanks again for opening this up...