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Editor's Note: Al (Alberto R.) Cárdenas is a lawyer and leader of the Latino community in the United States. He held various positions in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush, and was an advisor to the Jeb Bush campaign in 2016. He is a partner in the law firm Squire Patton Boggs and the interest group Cárdenas Partners. The opinions expressed in this comment belong to the author. More in the Opinion section on CNNE.com.
(CNN in Spanish) - The United States has faced great challenges throughout its history, including civil war, slavery, world wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods. Pandemics like the one in 1918, tuberculosis ... We understand history and we have succeeded, despite the crisis.
Dealing with the unexpected has led us to achieve - with great effort - success, determination and yes, prosperity. The bill that Congress has passed in Washington to help during the coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented, considering the economic impact it will have, the transformation of the health system and the interference of the public power in our lives, the Relief project and the Economic Security Act, which contemplates US $ 2.2 billion, was approved in the Senate, with a vote of 96 to 0.
To put it in perspective, Congress approved the so-called Marshall Plan in 1948, after World War II, in order to free up the funds necessary for the recovery of Western Europe after the war. The amount approved at that time was more than US $ 12,000 million at the time.
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In 2008, after the collapse of Wall Street, Congress authorized what seemed at the time an outrageous sum of more than $ 700 billion.
There will be more (perhaps three to four draft bills for additional items) related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Marshall plan promoted the creation of a number of international organizations that currently exist: a reformed United Nations, NATO, the WTO and many others.
The attacks of September 11, combined with the economic rescue of 2008 and 2009 brought about great changes, of great importance and influence to date, that we still feel in our lives: additional security in all airports and in general, in all ports entry to the US, more security also at the entrance to the headquarters of many private sector businesses and many government facilities; loss of privacy, a huge uproar for financial institutions and government surveillance, something that is an expensive operation.
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I predict that this time, the infusion of dollars, which is historically immense, at the same time will have great ramifications in our lives: flu and virus vaccines will be mandatory, they will no longer be optional, the Government will establish a permanent body with the funds needed against pandemics and you will now have in inventory the supplies needed for the next one, such as clinical testing equipment and respirators. The United States will manufacture its own medical supplies, medicines, etc., etc. Rather than depending on China, Italy, and other countries, and - somehow - the federal government will be tempted to take on a bigger role in the public health system.
Finally, 2020 will be an election year of an epic magnitude. Depending on the time in which the virus decreases, what type of political activity will be allowed? Will political rallies, door-to-door campaign, phone call centers be banned? Will the people be allowed to vote by mail or online? Will match conventions be suspended for the first time in our history? What would replace them? Who would benefit most from these changes? And finally, will the harshness and hostility in political rhetoric soften or continue, or will it worsen? Something that is guaranteed is that social networks and cable television programs will become increasingly important, because the possibility of being able to send the message directly to the people will disappear.
Now relax, distance yourself, protect yourself and stay tuned.
United States Policy