RSH 009 -- Discontents of COVID-19 and Neoliberalism (3.21.2020)

Recorded on March 19, 2020, Adam and Peter talk about COVID-19/coronavirus and how it reveals the shaky foundation of neoliberal capitalism.  Links discussed and worth reading:  History of 1665 bubonic plague and how social distancing helped: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/eyam-derbyshire-coronavirus-self-isolate-1665-plague ; "We Need Social Solidarity, Not Just Social Distancing" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/opinion/coronavirus-social-distancing.html ; https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-cancel-everything/607675/ ; https://twitter.com/FMH71994/status/1238378851094474752; Why social distancing this week is so important: https://www.businessinsider.com/us-one-week-enforce-social-distancing-flatten-curve-coronavirus-2020-3 ; https://twitter.com/tina_nguyen/status/1238879814863519744 testimony from woman who recovered from coronavirus: https://www.yahoo.com/news/dont-panic-says-us-woman-recovered-coronavirus-055155667.html ; https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-ten-reasons-why-you-ought-not-to-panic-132941 ; https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-what-does-social-distancing-mean/607927/ ; Canadian researchers isolate coronavirus virus: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/12/sunnybrook-researchers-isolate-covid-19-coronavirus.html ; Not sure if warmer weather will slow down coronavirus spread: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/warmer-weather-slow-spread-coronavirus-200310050819610.html Vietnam beating back coronavirus: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/infected-patients-vietnam-cured-coronavirus-miracle-200228035007608.html; how China beat back COVID-19: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/health/coronavirus-china-aylward.html ; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/coronavirus-facts-cure-mortality-rate-virus-covid-19-flu ; https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/11/positive-signs-for-future-of-coronavirus-in-us/ China developing a coronavirus vaccine: https://nypost.com/2020/03/10/coronavirus-vaccine-could-be-ready-by-april-chinese-officials-say/ ; Stanford developed a coronavirus test: http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/03/stanford-medicine-COVID-19-test-now-in-use.html ; https://twitter.com/binraccooon/status/1238228742624948224; Drive-through COVID-19 testing in South Korea: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/13/815441078/south-koreas-drive-through-testing-for-coronavirus-is-fast-and-free ; https://medium.com/@ariadnelabs/social-distancing-this-is-not-a-snow-day-ac21d7fa78b4 ; Trump's management is to blame for coronavirus crisis in the United States: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/07/trump-coronavirus-management-style-123465 ; re-infection seem to stem from faulty tests: https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/487436-can-you-get-coronavirus-twice ; https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca ; Spain nationalizes hospitals https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-spain-nationalises-private-hospitals-emergency-covid-19-lockdown-2020-3; Japan's effective flu drug: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/japanese-flu-drug-clearly-effective-in-treating-coronavirus-says-china; Cuba producing treatments for COVID-19: https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/BioCubaFarma-Guarantees-Production-of-Drugs-for-COVID-19-20200315-0008.html ; https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/despite-u-s-blockade-cuban-pharma-industry-producing-needed-covid-19-medicines/ ; 99% people who died of COVID-19 had other illnesses: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/99-of-those-who-died-from-virus-had-other-illness-italy-says ; at least 20 COVID-19 vaccines are in development: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/who-officials-say-at-least-20-coronavirus-vaccines-are-in-development-in-global-race-for-cure.html ; COVID-19 vaccine test already underway in the U.S.: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-16/coronavirus-vaccine-test-opens-as-us-volunteer-gets-1st-shot ; some scientists question the bats-in-Chinese-wet-markets origin theory of COVID-19; some say it's human activity: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-human-actions-intl/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0xWmdp833lcNqdBTrT6mV_034C8-6oOV49ledF5JSxOY1G1iDYFyh7zS8, or it could be a combination of two viruses: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/coronavirus-origins-genome-analysis-covid19-data-science-bats-pangolins ; China's (unconfirmed) allegation of U.S. origin: https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/china-locked-in-hybrid-war-with-us/ ; lockdown is hurting live entertainment: https://brokeassstuart.com/2020/03/10/coronavirus-cancellations-financially-devastating-for-sf-performers-and-nightlife/; Senate Republican leadership is pushing through a mass surveillance reauthorization bill: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/03/16/senate-leadership-pushing-through-dangerous-surveillance-bill-americans-are-focused; Hong Kong doctors (Adam said doctors in China but they're actually in Hong Kong) say COVID-19 can hurt lung function after recovery: https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-recovery-damage-lung-function-gasping-air-hong-kong-doctors-2020-3; good article on how the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the need for a new economic system: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2020/03/coronavirus-crisis-economic-collapse-capitalism; how Big Pharma will profit from COVID-19: https://theintercept.com/2020/03/13/big-pharma-drug-pricing-coronavirus-profits/     And yes, a Black man helped created Jack Daniels whiskey: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/dining/jack-daniels-whiskey-nearis-green-slave.html    Follow us on Twitter:  Adam Hudson - @adamhudson5  Peter MGunn - @MGunnPeter  Real Sankara Hours - @sankarahours  This is a free episode. 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