Shit Tickets and Stinking Privilege

Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub...


Ghost - "Year Zero"





People, what in the actual fuck is wrong with you?

With the arrival of covid-19 in Winnipeg (as if you thought it wasn't gonna happen), society has collectively lost its mind; following suit with the rest of the world.  After all, we like to follow about a week behind whatever the US is doing, right?

There is a city/nation/world-wide toilet paper shortage.  Toilet paper.  Really.  Even if a family has to stay in the house for a couple of weeks, how much toilet paper do you need?  You're not going to be shitting yourselves that hard; corona doesn't typically carry gastrointestinal symptoms.  There is a shortage of hand sanitizer as well...interestingly enough, soap is still widely available, EVERYWHERE.

It's no secret that the vast majority of humanity has driven me to nihilism...but in light of recent trends, I am simply disgusted.

People are running mad, stocking up on everything; clearing out shelves within minutes of restocking. I was told that Costco was sold out of toilet paper within 10 minutes of opening their doors.

So, what happens to those people who are living without the means to stock up?  What happens when those living in poverty, or working poor, or paycheck to paycheck need the essentials (purchased as is possible) need to buy toilet paper for the week?  What about diapers? Baby formula?  All these things are in shortage due to the utter selfishness that people with the privilege of disposable income are expressing with reckless abandon.  People are bulk buying baby formula, because it doesn't spoil like milk does.  Actually.

Guess what, "less than" folk...you're fucked.
Because, as my mom always says, "money talks, and shit walks."
And, to further enhance this point, we're hearing stories about people selling rolls of toilet paper online, for exorbitant amounts.  I believe I saw a post circulating on Facebook where some jerk was selling individual rolls for $15.00 each.

Fuck this.  Taking advantage of others in a time of alleged crisis is deplorable.
And I use "alleged", because I don't personally feel that Canada is in crisis due to covid-19.  At the moment, Canada has declared 176 confirmed cases, 3 "probable" cases, and one death - a person in their 80's, with preexisting medical concerns.  I'm not making an effort to minimize that death; I am certain that this person's family is deeply impacted.
Broadly, though...we need to keep things in perspective.
Yes, this virus spreads quickly.  Given the wide global access we have at this time in history, if hemorrhoids were communicable, they would likely spread just as quickly.  Imagine a Preparation-H shortage...

Just for some perspective, let's look at a few numbers that haven't caused complete world turmoil (for totally valid reasons, I'm certain):

• Approximately 800,000 people die committing suicide every year.
• Approximately 646,000 people die from influenza.
• Approximately 40,000 Canadians die prematurely due to income inequality.
• In 2018, it was reported that 100 people died from homelessness in Toronto alone (the only stats I can find are from TO).
• Canadian Indigenous and First Nations populations experience unavoidable death at a rate of nearly double that of non-Indigenous populations.

My point here is not to say, "CoRoNa ViRuS iSn'T a ThInG"...I'm making an effort to point out that there is minimal response to these consistently ongoing conditions and circumstances.

Where is the panicked response to the epidemic of suicide in youth?  Why are we not jumping on government to ensure that EVERYONE earns a livable wage?  Why are we not pumping billions of dollars into ensuring that Indigenous communities are being supported with appropriate and obstacle-free access to health care?

And yet, the public and bureaucratic response to this virus is larger and more harmful than the illness itself; and the panic, paranoia, and fear spread even faster.

So, while many are sequestering themselves in their homes, surrounded by their mountains of toilet paper, it's unfortunate that they likely don't want to crack open a window...

...because their privilege smells like steaming dog shit in the afternoon August sun.  

Check that shit.  

Wash your hands.  Don't lick one another.

Burn sage.  Drink cedar tea.  Hail Satan.  Y'all need him right now.

S