Here's the bottom line. We're in "Jaws" now. The virus is the shark. Don't be the mayor who cares more about the money businesses will lose if the beaches are closed than they do about people. Also, don't the guy who says he's not worried about the shark because the shark only eats people who don't swim fast.
I've also used the analogy of Shaza's death from Pitch Black. She thought it was safe to run because the monsters passed, but she hadn't counted on them looping around and that's how they got her. (sharing for context if you haven't seen the movie, graphic warning)
To me it's less about The Money and more about being able to buy food because I have not cultivated a self sufficient garden. We need to pay our mortgage, which ensures we have shelter. I don't know how to loom fabric to sew clothing, and I don't have sheep for wool or cotton to make thread with, so money to trade for clothing is pretty necessary too.
I do know a few chucklenuts who think taking precautions is stupid and that shutting down was bad. I disagree, I think it was good for us to shut down for awhile and, well. Flatten the curve, as the cliche saying goes.
But I also know that Coronavirus is going to stick around longer than the money in my bank account, and sooner than later we're going to not be able to make ends meet.
which is why the federal government should be propping up individuals and not wallstreet with their trillion dollar 'bailout' that disappeared into millionaires' bank accounts in literally hours back at the start
Part of why it's spreading so bad is that people are contagious even when they're not symptomatic, so people can spread it without any clue they're ever carrying it.
I'd say 1. massive increase in testing capacity since that's going to be necessary for remotely safe reopening, 2. implementation of robust contact tracing since that's also going to be necessary for remotely safe reopening, and 3. prioritizing supporting people being screwed by circumstance over "stimulus"
at some level it's just language but if you start from a place of "never mind the people what about the economy" it's unlikely the actual policy enacted is going to skew very hard toward helping people when so much political pressure is the other way plus it's not really "economic stimulus" when people need it to survive, anyway
you mean like Jeff 'he who dies with the most money in the history of ever wins' Bezos? He clearly doesn't care how many people suffer or die so long as he keeps getting richer
yeah, I do have concerns about what could be termed collateral effects of the lockdown. Things like mental illnesses from isolation, stress and financial concerns. It's estimated that many small businesses won't be able to reopen after the lockdown ends. A business failing is a very common cause of going into debt.
These are all serious issues and I support increased mental health treatment and increased domestic violence resources being available to help. I support increased finds diverted to individuals to sustain themselves and re-open. Re-opening and leaving people to face the virus is not the solution.
I mean there is more to the economy than rich people getting richer, obviously, so we can't keep trade actively suppressed indefinitely, but we're very much not at a place of actually needing to decide to sacrifice people.
Some powerful individuals are just comfortable pushing everyone else to do that unnecessarily, knowing they're 1. unlikely to be the ones sacrificed, and 2. would have to help reorganize society away from serving their every whim in order to avoid needless sacrifices.
And it's SO disingenuous and insulting to express concern for people with mental health issues facing depression in quarantine if you've haven't shown favor for expanded mental health care BEFORE this and well... it's not two groups that have a lot of crossover
From the POV of someone who a) has anxiety and b ) is really hit hard right now, I don't think opening up everything is a good idea and people should take precautions. But... I'm going to go see my boyfriend this weekend and may live with him and his family for a little while.
Because I've been waking up feeling the worst I ever have since my anxiety started and I need to do something to change things before I completely spiral and something bad happens.
that makes sense. I'm just a little snappish right now because I'm at the end of my rope and feel like I've been forced into a decision I wouldn't ordinarily make
I also feel like... yes, I'm lucky to have more options than a lot of people, but there are ways to improve mental health without risking the health of around us. I get psychiatric care by phone and video chat. Getting out for walks helps. Video chats with friends help.
The psych department of hospital I go to even offers virtual partial hospitalizations; I could get whole days of remote psychiatric care if I needed it.
but the chances of that seem nonexistent, so I'm not sure what the right option is in the face of gross incompetence and callous disregard for people's needs. if the government won't get its shit together (and let's face it, they won't, under current leadership), we have to try to weigh lives lost on both sides of the equation. Which is... really awful.
Yeah,
Ptriciadactyl
, if they actually did their JOB, then certain individuals in administration and legislation wouldn't be being needlessly cruel to everyone, which is kind of their point of living. Also, it would keep them from raiding the nation's coffers for themselves.
The big problem is that the gradual reopening of things is causing ppl to think “oh it’s safe to go out now!” And crowd public places like beaches and parks, which causes numbers to spike and makes things close down again, which is not helpful. That’s what this plurk is trying to say
I had to go to walmart to pick up a prescription today, and it was a ZOO. This place has, in the past, rarely had more than 3 or 4 registers open with 2 or 3 people per line, There were about 10 open, each with a huge line, almost no one wearing masks, people crowding together in the aisles
plus it's not really "economic stimulus" when people need it to survive, anyway