Ecclesiastes 1:9 "Nothing new under the Sun"
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ive been dwelling on this scripture recently. As unprecedented as these times feel, disease, pandemics, scary times have been around since the beginning.
In an interview with Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Investing at Ritholtz Wealth Management, William Bernstein showed a chart of post World War Germany. In 1945 Germany was reduced to rubble. As Dr. Bernstein says by 1948, Germany had increased their capacity to pre-war levels.
https://twitter.com/awealthofcs/status/1245843733419118594?s=21
This time you could make the argument we have never been better suited to handle this. Ill list a few examples below.
Medical advancements have put us in place where the smartest doctors are working together and with members of government to find a solution. The question isn’t a matter of if but when.
Technology has made it possible for a society to educate their children and for white collar workers to resume their work with relative capacity.
Social Networks have empowered businesses to market their goods and services in a way not possible even 5 years ago.
The sample size for this virus and those infected continues to grow and we are learning more each day about it. I imagine during the 1918 Spanish Flu many towns and villages were overtaken without having a clue why.
Governments are stepping in on all levels to ensure that economic damage is mitigated and there will be an economy to return to when the shelter in place orders are rescinded.
Humanity is showing once again why we are the dominant species. When trying times present themselves, we band together and do what it takes to overcome the obstacle. We should take note of that and find peace in that during this trial and in trials to come.
Take the Long View!
PK