This article reveals an often overlooked consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic: the staggering amount of productive workdays lost to the illness. In 2022 alone, US workers lost 315 million to 1.05 billion days of work due to COVID-19, equivalent to the removal of 1.3 to 4.3 million workers from the workforce for the full year. This hidden loss could help explain the persistent US worker shortage, with industries unable to work remotely bearing a greater burden. The economic impact of this loss is expected to continue into 2023 if new waves of disease arise. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
