Is a cup of coffee worth your life, or is there something more sinister at play?

I had an interesting conversation with a friend lastnight, he called me to complain about recent return to work initiatives. The virus was the last discussion point but it was still a fear in him. Contracting COVID19 no one knows how it will impact them.

Australia has been relatively lucky with COVID we have managed to lock down against the virus and move to elimination although it was summer here and no doubt that helped. As we enter winter we will probably see a re-emergence of the virus and who knows how it will impact us.

Vaccine roll outs have also been delayed as European Nations continue to grapple with ever growing cases putting a delay on Australian exports. I think it is warranted, Europe has people dieing and we are COVID Free, to the needy it should go.

However, return to work mandates are beginning to be rolled out and people are starting to get forced back into the city. Public transport has been avoided by many as they opt to drive in due to fears that the virus would spread. Public transport was identified as a ticking time bomb that could potentially cause another break out.

But with pressure from the business sector wanting to reopen and no doubt due to dwindling income a conflict has emerged. With many workers refusing to return to work until this is over. The federal government is putting pressure on states to open up withholding funding as a means to starve states into submission.

My friend rang me to see if I could help, beyond the safety working from home has provided it has also delivered a work/life balance and a better way of life. He couldn't understand why we would go back.

I chuckled a little, to disguise the mandate as anything else then older generations putting their wealth before our health is the first mistake.

A core dispute arising is that night-life and the city centric lifestyle is dwindling away. With it too the property prices which have been hit hardest. Why try to out bid multi million dollar properties close to the office and trade money for work life balance when you can now live further away, buy a cheaper home and maintain a great work life balance.

The average age of Aussies is 35 most of which reside in the burbs as we have been costed out of the city. With COVID economies are changing and while people complain the city is dead the burbs are booming. Less cross community interaction has created safety zones which prevents virus spread. As a result booming venues have sprung up in the burbs including bars, cafes, pubs and many awesome local mum and dad businesses.

For the cost of my weekly commute and 3x coffees a day I can take my whole family out each night for coffee and dessert. Not to mention Wednesdays we go to our local where kids eat free.

They have been at capacity since work from home restrictions as people have alot of disposable income, lots of spare time and are spending more diversed across multiple businesses.

I chuckled because the business sector is always chiming in about being capitalist but when you're in politics you learn very quickly businesses are socialists. They want to direct public funds to themselves, a true capitalist society would not he mandating people back to the CBD office in an event to secure the city. It would allow the market to choose.

But don't be misled into believing that we live in a capitalist time, capitalism moved on 30+ years ago.

The interesting part in all this is why should the people care about a business when clearly the business wants people to put the health, safety and well-being of themselves and their families second to a $6 coffee?

I have a premium subscription to a photo sourcing service that provides financial support to artists for their work, please help by supporting artists

Posted Using LeoFinance ^Beta