It is really fascinating in a way: Coronavirus challenges the basic assumptions of western society.
If there is a single theme that underlies most modern capitalist nations it is the importance of productivity. We value "work ethic" above all else, are trained to be competitive, overcome challenges, to be innovative and that economic growth is paramount. We are taught that the world should be interconnected and celebrate the fact that we can travel across the globe in a matter of days. These things are hard-wired not only into our cultural norms, but into every contract and obligation (work oriented or otherwise) that we entered into. And now we are faced with a situation where there is nothing we can do.
And I mean this in a positive sense: The answer to the current crisis is literally to "do nothing". Stay at home, get some rest, limit work and shopping to the bare essentials, spend some time with your family, limit exposure to other people, have a cup of tea and just wait. Do nothing and wait for it to pass. This is not something we can "beat".
The question is whether our economic system is able to do that. Are we prepared to collectively just sit things out, or does our system collapse like a house of cards if it is not able to keep "being productive" and expanding exponentially.
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