It Was 2020

It’s late January 2020. The location is Madison, Wisconsin. Hundreds of people walk the streets near the domed Wisconsin State Capitol, which sits on an isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona. Men and women were captaining their ice-sailing boats around Lake Mendota. Sails snapping as they billow in the ice cold January wind; some boats on collision courses that seem inevitable yet are narrowly missed due to the superior skills of those on-board.

On the other side of Hwy 151 is Lake Monona, most famously known for the plane crash that occurred in 1967 when the famous soul singer and songwriter, Otis Redding, as well as six other members of his band, were killed after his twin-engined aircraft crashed into the lake.

The Germanic work ethic of “work hard, play harder” best describes Madison and its inhabitants. The Biergarten at Olbrich Park is open and teeming with families. They are enjoying the still-young biergarten events and the spectacular view of the Italianate and Romanesque style of architecture.

Brats and cheese curds are being consumed in vast quantities and beer of all types are imbibed with gusto. The Marriott in Madison West was hosting its Contractor and Engineer Conference which was focusing on trust, social media, and workplace complacency. Whether they were preparing to embrace their work day, or getting ready to fulfill life's social requirements of the evening, nobody realized this was the year everything would start to unravel.

In the capitol building, a very important meeting is underway. The governor and senators are talking about this new virus that seems to be building up steam faster than anyone could have anticipated.

There are thirty-three seats in the Wisconsin senate, but only two Senators are in the Senate Chambers, along with Governor Everrett, to discuss this “China virus” and what it might mean to the United States and Wisconsin.

“Senator Jameson. Senator Baldine. I’m glad you could make it on such short notice.”

“Governor Everrett. It is good to see you are in good health. I dare say that this China virus is what brings us together on this fine day?” Senator Jameson, an extreme supporter of the President, has a sarcastic streak a mile wide.

“Yes, Jameson, it is. There are thousands of people in China that are sick from this virus yet nobody seems to know exactly where it came from, how it came to be, or what the symptoms are. How do we prepare for something when we know nothing about it?”

At this point Senator Baldine chimes in. “Governor, if I may? I suggest we make the public health and well-being of Wisconsin a priority now, before any cases are found. Maybe we can head this thing off at the pass?”

“Is that a bit of brown I see on your nose Baldine?” Snarks Senator Jameson. “Is the sickness real? If it is, will it make its way to the United States? Wait until the President gives orders, or at least acknowledges that this China virus is a problem. Until then, what’s the point of worrying? ” Jameson is, yet again, so far up the rear-end of the President he can see the old man’s tonsils. (In later years he would be recorded by an undercover media outlet saying, “Wisconsin voters made their choice. There’s no going back now.” Exactly what he meant by that, the world may never know.)

“Divided again. Well, as much as I would like to offer preemptive aid to our Wisconsinites, it seems I am at an impasse at the moment. A wait and see approach may be best.” Governor Everrett will come to regret this decision in just a few short days.

While the Wisconsin governor was wondering how he should proceed, the President of the United States had his own views on the situation.

Almost one year before the virus was announced in China, the President of the United States disbanded the Center For Disease Control. This was unheard of and had never previously been attempted by any other president or controlling entity. He claimed that the CDC was full of corruption and lies and he would not let his country go down in flames.

“If there was a problem, I’d tell you. I’m a big deal. I’m told things by everyone. Things you’d never hear otherwise. I’ll let you know if China is a problem. Hell, I’ll take care of this virus before it even has a chance to get here! The CDC is using scare tactics on the United States. Don’t let them win!”

This public announcement was made in June of 2018. One year later, in June of 2019, the president had more to say.

“We have stopped international flights. Nobody will be coming from China, or anywhere else in Asia, until I am confident that their virus will not affect us here in the United States. Rest assured, I have your best interest at heart.”

Unfortunately, there were at least a few hundred thousand citizens that believed our illustrious president. The vast majority consisted of lower and middle class caucasians of the Republican persuasion. A mere six months later, the President changes his tune and praises China for how they’ve been handling the virus.

“As the president of the United States, I appreciate all that China has done to contain this virus. They have been very honest and forthcoming and we anticipate the virus will stay in China.”

This statement came exactly one month before the first U.S. citizen returned from China…with the virus.

It was 2020.