Exactly one year ago, in Happy Freaking New Year, I wrote, “2021 can go f*** itself. Here’s to a better 2022.”
What a year 2022 has been. It was better than 2021, for me. As I reflect back on it, I had a pretty fantastic year with a few challenges that have all been resolved. I’ve written about these before so I won’t rehash them.
From a broader perspective, 2022 has been the year of excuses. The country has finally decided that the (fear of) Covid pandemic is over. The vaccines have had some good and some marginal results – none as good as promised and none as bad as feared by some.
The implications of the pandemic policies – including lockdowns, subsidies, public health policies, financial assistance – and the constant fear mongering by government, the media and social media – are far from over.
In 2022, I personally experienced supply chain issues, gas gouging, inflation, 30-200% price increases in basic goods, service issues and uncountable recurrences of the dreaded paper sign.
In all of these, the common refrain from anyone in authority was, “It’s not my fault.”
- Corporations that raised prices blamed inflation, labor shortages and supply chain issues – even when it was clearly evident to everyone that they were jacking up prices simply to increase profits.
- Businesses, government and schools blamed “The Great Resignation” for everything from opening late, to delivering shittier customer service, to reducing hours while increasing fees (of course).
- The Democrats blamed Putin for gas price increases and inflation. The Republicans blamed Biden.
2022 was the year of excuses – bad excuses.
Judging from how I see people acting like Covid is in the year view mirror, it feels like 2023 might be the “Year of Getting Back to Normal”.
I hope so. (For what that’s worth).