It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Those words by Charles Dickens in his French Revolution masterpiece “A Tale of Two Cities,” seems to sum up 2021 without ambiguity.
It was a good year.
It was a bad year.
In one way or another, nearly all out lives have been changed by the events of 2020-2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees.
In many respects, the world remains on its knees with the future is as uncertain as any time in modern history.
Many terrified by the changing environment are mentally frayed by the results of the pandemic and of its continuing hold on our lives.
Wishing it away does not work.
We must follow the science of medicine but a large part of the American population does not wish to make their decisions according to science.
These free thinkers reserve their right to live or die or to become ill by not vaccinating.
Following science for these people is akin to giving up their personal freedoms as Americans.
Science has been replaced by politics and mindless debate by conspiracy addicts, right wingers, fiscal degenerates and the left who appear to want everything their way, or no way.
2021 saw the recovery of the American economy, a record number of unemployed being re-employed, and a record number of empty jobs needing bodies willing to work for a living.
The stock market boomed. Home prices soared. Interest rates remained as low as they’ve ever been.
Everything about the national economy changed in 2021.
The government poured about $2 trillion into the economy to maintain its stability during a trying time.
We have all be effected in one way or another whether we are public school students, college students, restaurant employees and owners, and on and on. 2021 was an introduction into a brave new world.
Many of those attached to the pleasant notion that the government shouldn’t be printing money it does not have to feed people who could not otherwise house or feed themselves are still shouting about the national debt.
Many of those same voices don’t stand in line for free food as thousands of Everett residents have had to do.
What does the national debt mean to them?
Without that huge government cash infusion, chaos would have replaced law and order, starvation for millions would have occurred, and the nation would have teetered near to collapse as a working economy.
Hey, what’s the big deal about a bit of debt!
Law enforcement experienced a year of change.
Police everywhere are now under a spotlight.
Policing policy is changing – but survival without police is an impossibility.
2021 is fading quickly into the history books and indelibly forever onto electronic sites all over the Internet. We are lurching forward again into another year.
Here’s a few things to be happy about as this process takes over.
Be happy for your good fortune.
Be happy with good health.
Be happy even with misfortunes and difficulties.
At least we are here.
Being here is just about everything.
The alternative, well, let’s not think about it.
From us to all of you, our faithful and discriminating readers, Happy New Year.
May 2022 bring you everything you want – and then some!
Ring out the old. Ring in the new.
Here’s to you for a great 2022!