whenever I see someone arguing we need to “re-open the economy ASAP” they almost always
1. live in SF
2. work as a CEO, VC or in finance
3. argue from at least two false premises
1. live in SF
2. work as a CEO, VC or in finance
3. argue from at least two false premises
the first false premise is leveling criticism and standards on other experts and forecasters they don’t pass
take this @Medium post currently circulating VC for ex, where are noble author suggests scientists and epidemiologists are “overstepping their expertise”
take this @Medium post currently circulating VC for ex, where are noble author suggests scientists and epidemiologists are “overstepping their expertise”
sir (and author), need I remind you that you are a CEO writing a medium post, and are also an expert in none of these things
the second, even more fundamental premise, is no one writing these critiques ever has any imagination beyond our current system
why are we having issues in agriculture, supply chains, and industrial meat plants?
because we created an unsustainable, profit-seeking industrial ag system that’s over-levered on mono crops and is currently great at destroying our climate and spreading disease
because we created an unsustainable, profit-seeking industrial ag system that’s over-levered on mono crops and is currently great at destroying our climate and spreading disease
why are we having issues in the social fabric and mental health?
because rich people sit safely at home writing medium posts while working class people risk their lives to #COVID working for Amazon or Instacart or Target
because rich people sit safely at home writing medium posts while working class people risk their lives to #COVID working for Amazon or Instacart or Target
literally last week, Jerome Powell, the chairman of the @federalreserve, said “we have unlimited money”
he literally said it
time.com/5810597/fed-co…
he literally said it
time.com/5810597/fed-co…
we can #CancelRent
we can (easily) fund a #PeopleBailout
we can pay everyone’s healthcare costs
we can support our schools, hospitals, and essential workers
the money exists (or can be created)
we lack the imagination + political will to do what places like Denmark do now
we can (easily) fund a #PeopleBailout
we can pay everyone’s healthcare costs
we can support our schools, hospitals, and essential workers
the money exists (or can be created)
we lack the imagination + political will to do what places like Denmark do now
we live in an economy where we can turn any collection of liabilities into a complex derivative, but we have zero imagination or creativity for how to solve people staying home a few months to save lives
I’ll be the first to admit whether we re-open (and when) is way above my pay grade and expertise. I’m not an expert in these things either
but one thing *I am* willing to do — and I’d encourage anyone writing the “we need to re-open ASAP” medium posts or policy briefs to also do
is try to learn and imagine a better system, not just ways to troubleshoot this tragic disaster inside the limits of our current system
is try to learn and imagine a better system, not just ways to troubleshoot this tragic disaster inside the limits of our current system
the reason we’re in this crisis is lack of imagination and introspection
we need our leaders and thinkers to:
question premises and dogma
plan different scenarios
use their imagination and compassion
we need our leaders and thinkers to:
question premises and dogma
plan different scenarios
use their imagination and compassion
times of chaos, uncertainty, and transition (hat tip @James_Gross @heyitsnoah) are the perfect moment to reinvent and create new things
we can create something new and so so much better than what we currently have
that’s treating the patient AND the disease
/ end 🧵
we can create something new and so so much better than what we currently have
that’s treating the patient AND the disease
/ end 🧵
