There is a Great Decision being presented to us, for there are two pandemics in America. One is the virus which we read about everywhere, as we see graphs and predictions about it. The other is just now appearing. It is the Great Recession of 2020-2021. Up to now all we have heard of it, is the rich worrying about their shrinking stock portfolios. But now, we see it in Grant County with unemployment spiking and business closures beginning. When the aid package passed by Congress kicks in, it will help but it will only get us by for a month or two. But this virus will be burdening us well into next year when the vaccine comes out.

Furthermore, Grant County is being hit with both barrels — record high unemployment and — a New Mexico budget that is under attack as crude oil and gas prices are dropping precipitously. And heaven forbid, more job losses may be coming as the mines could be red flagged with the drop in copper prices. On top of that, even as the virus has not yet hit us directly, the Gila Regional Hospital and other medical service centers are running out of money, as so many of us stay away for our routine care. So here we are with two severe pandemics and so little control over them. What can we do?

— What We Can Do Is Face Down This Virus — The world nations have shown the way to defeat it. Those countries that have tested and tested early were able to contain the virus. But the United States has failed miserably in their testing and most of the country is now over run with community spreading. Fortunately, Grant county’s geographical isolation has saved us so far and with our governor’s state wide stay at-home-order we may be spared widespread infections for a few more weeks and by then, hopefully, massive testing will be available. Then with lots of testing and followup contact tracing — We Will Contain This Virus ! Our hospital need not be overrun. Then as testing is ramped up, we can emerge from our homes and begin to build our local economy again. Then we can do something that helps solve both pandemics.

— Buy Our Goods and Services Locally — We have many good doctors and medical groups who care and are ready to serve us. We also have wonderful shop keepers, there to help us in our Hardware stores, Bike shops and Grocery stores. Our farmers and ranchers too are there to serve us with their locally grown vegetables and pasture fed beef. And we can get the Farmer’s Market going again. And we might even treat our selves to some take out burritos or a sit down meal in town. In none of this need we take our dollars out of the county in those trips to Tucson, El Paso or Las Cruces. And by not going there, we will not bring back the virus from there!

And some of us can do more. The more wealthier among us can launch projects they always hoped to do. Develop their land. Construct and renovate. And with local testing coming, some of us can train to help with the labor intensive work of contact tracing and containment. And all of us, can grow our version of Victory Gardens that our grandparents grew during the War. Through all this we will be healthy and our dollars will stay here. We will no longer be victims. We will be facing down and conquering both Pandemics.

So as desperate as our situation is, it also presents a opportunity to change and to become stronger, both economically and as a community. We Are Grant County! We Can Do This ! This is my hope — Esta es mi esperanza

Gerry Scott of Silver City/Grant County