Rating: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

The United States is now the number one harborer of confirmed Coronavirus cases, and we still haven’t approached peak corona. The daily news is more and more troubling. It’s surreal and dreadful to experience exponentially depressing bad news on a daily basis. To a degree, I imagine this is what life was like in the 40’s during wartime. Unlike our ancestors, this historical moment takes place on our own soil and the enemy is invisible. It’s totally bizarre and the consequences are a big fat X. What is going to happen? No one seems to know and it’s disheartening to discover just how arrogant and unprepared the U.S. government has been throughout this whole thing. Funny how quickly certain ideologies and values evaporate in the face of catastrophe. Let’s hope the $2 trillion stimulus package shows the world just how virtuous democracy can be. Unfortunately, history shows an impeccable tract record of corruption when money like that gets thrown around.

There are great things about America and a few vestiges of democracy shine through in a time like this. Eviction protection is one of them, albeit, only granted to a select few cities and states. One of the most enlightening aspects during this pandemic has been the literal “lifting of the wool” exposing the real America— those who live paycheck to paycheck. The working class is the backbone of the United States. If that wasn’t clear in March of last month, there is no ambiguity now. There are going to be problems for all Americans come May 1st.

Many aspects of America’s identity will go through drastic reassessment in the coming months after social distancing restrictions loosen up a bit. Even then —things are going to be very very different. American values have always championed individualism and resistance in the face of oppression. These values have worked against us amid this pandemic as more and more Americans flood beaches and cramped balcony parties in celebration of their PTO. Less fortunate friends and family members seem to be getting the point in conjunction with their dwindling prospects. Filing unemployment loses some of its sting when you know there are millions of others racing through the same agonizing procedure. Partying is the last thing on someones mind when all of your savings just went toward paying your corrupt money-grubbing corporate landlord. (SMI Reality)

Following the first wave of coronavirus infections, metropolises like New York and Chicago will change dramatically. Maybe more so than smaller cities. People’s fear of infection might outweigh the fear of crime. There will be more regional development in the U.S. Large cities will have very strict preventative measures and requirements. Public transportation and especially subway use will dwindle, which may cause city boroughs to flourish. Residents will stay in their neighborhoods and not commute downtown. Social life will change and become segregated. Immunity certificates might be a thing. Chairman of Disney, Robert Iger, just released a statement saying quote “Disney parks may take guest’s temperatures at the entrance in the future.” If that’s the case, then people who haven’t gotten the virus will live more strict lives. Certain cities will have reputations as better for one group over the other. Some areas may have a thriving nightlife just for people who have recovered from the virus. People may expose themselves to coronavirus intentionally for some social benefits. Large cities will definitely meet this adjustment head on with a more open mind than rural America. Wide spread discrimination looms.

The coming months will be a better time than any to start thinking more creatively about your future and where you would like to be as the country and world at large adjust to this economical collapse. Some may find this time of introspection invigorating and inspiring. Some may change careers. Others might finally transition to the self they’ve always wanted to have but never could for whatever reasons. The history of America is filled with stories of resilience and reinvention. Americans have historically been pretty good at reinventing themselves and building a new dream from the ground up. It’s never too late. One character that comes to mind who used to be a bastion of American culture in the 80s is Dustin Hoffman’s alter ego character,Dorothy Michaels in the film Tootsie (1983). At one point, Tootsie was the highest grossing comedy of all time. People in their forties or older still dress up like Dorothy for Halloween. Tootsie is currently steaming on Neflix. It hasn’t aged that much aside from its rough edges in regards to gender politics. There is a lot to unpack in Tootsie. My focus is on Dorothy Michaels as a role model for change in the face of unemployment within the opportunistic culture of American capitalism.

At the start of Tootsie, Dustin Hoffman is a misogynist and all around pretentious douche bag. No one likes him because — homeboy thinks he’s the shit, basically. It’s later revealed that he has some redeeming qualities, but it takes experiencing a career in show business as a woman to fully understand the depths of his own vanity. One of the many themes churning away beneath the surface of this 80’s farce is the lengths to which a talented, restless, and intelligent forty-something will go to stay employed. Hoffman’s character works shit waiting jobs and eats scraps of food from the kitchen line as long as the grind doesn’t cut into manifest destiny. To the outside world, America is seen as the dream palace. For Hoffman in Tootsie, and a majority of Americans who work paycheck to paycheck, this country is all about the grind and the degree to which it cuts into your life. Hoffman dreams of pursuing acting full-time. He runs his own theater company, auditions for roles that he is over-qualified for, and works as a full time waiter. He’s ambitious, hard working, and his students look up to him. He’s a really good actor. I mean, it’s Dustin Hoffman… the dude knows how to act. If he wasn’t such an asshole, you would root for him to succeed. But even assholes have to pay rent.

In light of this impending deadline, we are introduced to Hoffman in drag as Dorothy Michaels. His reputation as a “difficult” actor has blacklisted him. As Dorothy, Hoffman has nothing to lose and his new identity gives him a bolt of confidence. Dressing in drag doesn’t make Hoffman less of an asshole, it only serves as a new medium to display his talent. He lands a role in a big sitcom and his career takes off. The movie zigs and zags through plot points and over-the-top antics, but the foundation is established. Identity is an act of the will — not country, gender, race, political party, class, etc. The theme is timeless. It speaks volumes about American DNA and it hits home right now. The American Dream is the idea that if you work hard enough, make some smart choices along the way, and score a dash of luck — you can get what you want in this life.

In relation to the present crisis, what will the United States mean to you when the dust settles and life goes back to its NEW normal routine? If the government writes you a check and boosts your weekly unemployment benefits, will you finally lace up and go full drag? Wait, no… the point is… are you making the best of this situation right now? Complacency has never had a bigger nemesis than a stalled economy. History is happening right now and America is about to change. For better or worse? Have a much needed laugh. Check out Tootsie. It’s pretty funny in that 80’s National Lampoon meets Reaganomics kind of way. The excess of the 80’s must have been insane. To leave on an optimistic note, the words of the fabulously fierce Dorothy Michaels…

“I don’t believe in hell. I believe in unemployment, but not hell.”

(Before you go, check out this killer Tootsie theme song by Stephen Bishop.)

My United States of Whatever