Terrific article, James. I like the points that you made and had a giggle too, since I know several idealistic types that are pretty typical of the conspiracy types you describe.

This virus has ceetainly opened up our eyes to the muddle-handedness of the various levels of government.

Evidently nobody has learned diddly squat from previous such pandemics (spanish flu, for example), meaning that there was almost no emergency planning-provision in place.

It appears that those in charge have one goal: get re-elected no matter what it takes. That goal cannot include things like funds to ensure emergency supplies are in place, and emergency plans are set up. Their credo seems to be “Live for today, for tommorrow we die” except it is “ for tommorrow YOU die.”