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| People Are Not Lambs to Be Slaughtered at the Altar of Economy |
| 2020-04-17 |
| [Red State] - Last night, Donald Trump’s team unveiled its guidelines for states that wished to re-open their economies to the working public. It is, without a doubt, a step in the right direction, as it gives us a clear plan and allows for local control of the move to get American citizens safely back to work. Of course, for some people, it is either simply not fast enough or just a reminder that it didn’t have to happen at all, public health experts be damned. Backseat drivers of Civilization One of the more alarming opinions you see floating around social media, often shouted through the megaphones of pundits who have largely ignored or attacked the experts, is that the illnesses and deaths we would see from reopening the economy immediately are a necessary risk we have to take for the greater good. The people who make statements like this would also call themselves "pro-life," though sacrificing human life and calling it a victory for the economy is truthfully no better than sacrificing the unborn and calling it a victory for women’s rights. You are dehumanizing some for the greater good of all. The idea that you are "destroying America" by not opening the country up immediately is absurd. The country has survived worse, and will continue to survive despite this. ...At no point has any sane person suggested keeping the economy shut down forever. That is as impossible as expecting life to continue the way it did before this virus was unleashed on us. I’ve said before that we need a plan, and it appears the Trump team once again listened to their health and economic experts and developed a good one. We can’t just open up overnight. That would create an even worse surge of infection than we’ve already gone through once. To say "Damn the risks!" and go full speed into re-opening right now is reckless and will result in more getting sick and dying. And, yes, I am fully aware that recessions and depressions will also result in human suffering. This is not an ideal situation. But the risks of causing this virus to surge again outweigh the risks of the economy staying closed another two weeks. Americans can survive that, and we can rebuild from that. We can’t rebuild from a plague devastating our population, which is what we risk. |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #17 I can handle confinement. I can handle lots of burdens. But I cannot handle being without an income for a year. Let us work. Let us earn our bread. Let us provide for our families. End this madness. |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-04-17 22:15 |
| #16 I agree, just pointing out what's in the road. Quarantine and distancing are historically proven acts to defend against outbreaks, and a good call here. Lot of people not good at self quarantine, nigh self discipline, especially those young immortals. Mentioned in another tread; friend was on a turkey hunt, was four hours into it when a car from a problem county some 150 miles away pulled up to his hunt, got out, and started taking pictures of the turkeys and thus ruining the hunt. I think they were lucky to only get an ass chewing, not only ruining the hunt but their county tag was identified, bringing their crap out here. Also, if these city children go off one of our dirt roads, its my ass and friends who have to cut them out of their car, face to face cheek to cheek. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2020-04-17 19:56 |
| #15 /\ You know that I think? I think some people don't handle confinement very well. Unfortunately it would appear you are correct, and I am one of them. I am however, complying with the guidelines/directives, etc. There are worse situations under which one could be forced to live, I can assure you. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2020-04-17 19:21 |
| #14 swksvolFF, dear chap, compared to WWII (or the next world wide pandemic*) the current contretemps is not even a storm in the glass of water. *You know how easy, and cheap, is to make biological weapons - especially if you don't care about it being controllable - because it's Allan's job. You know that I think? I think some people don't handle confinement very well. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-17 18:31 |
| #13 Totalitarians will take advantage of emergencies. Not in USA? Never let a crises go to waste? Going back to January living right now! is a really bad idea, likely to water hammer the medical piping and possibly blowing the whole system. Now what is making people jumpy, and this goes for the my rights! aspect as well, is the finish line keeps getting moved. Recovery goals are conspicuously absent in mass media. Add a lot of inconsistent directives - every apocalypse story every has a chapter about seeds, but seeds are non-essential? Declarations that Easter church gatherings are illegal is tough enough, but made by the people who have been consistent in their mocking of Cross Worshipers, and then seeing state troopers sicced on them? Makes you wonder if they went straight state trooper, or asked to sheriff to get involved and sheriff declined? Cell phone tracking without probably cause is still an issue even if 'unnecessary travel' is against the law. Am I guilty unless access to my phone data proves I'm innocent? Yeah, people are getting a bit jumpy. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2020-04-17 18:21 |
| #12 My point is that emergencies do not produce totalitarianism - not in USA. On the other hand, in times of emergency, "somebody has to drive". |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-17 16:14 |
| #11 ^ But that was in another country. And besides, the bitch is dead. |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-04-17 16:10 |
| #10 Correct me if I'm wrong P2k, but it didn't start in the 50es (i.e., after the war). If fact, until the oil crisis of 1973, Detroit (IMO - I used to own Oldsmobile Delta 1972) made the best cars in the world. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-17 15:50 |
| #9 ^Nonsense. Did WWII produced a command economy? Only look at Michigan to see the desire to arbitrarily classify what is important and what is not, what you can have access to and what you can not. That is a command economy. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2020-04-17 15:39 |
| #8 I wouldn't want impatient and paranoid conservative yahoos braving it in the face of the still powerful vector, just to ensure their liberties are not taken away. Especially when the liberals are safely ensconced in their homes. As the article says, you have survived worse; and life will go on for everybody despite the economy taking a hit. Even if every friday night won't be pizza night, people won't be lying in hospitals and makeshift ICUs at the mercy of machines and experimental meds. If the virus hits the economy, you can rebuild it. If it tilts the demographic in favour of clever little buggers who screamed Trump was dirty but stayed indoors, in this crucial election year no less... think about it. |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2020-04-17 14:56 |
| #7 During. During. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-17 14:36 |
| #6 Well, there certainly wasn't a "free market" with rationing, etc. |
| Posted by: Clem 2020-04-17 14:27 |
| #5 ^Nonsense. Did WWII produced a command economy? In fact, since the current POTUS is republican - who's going to support his introduction (assuming he tries) of command economy? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-17 14:26 |
| #4 Well, I hope everyone is enjoying this and what's about to follow of a command economy. Take it real hard. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2020-04-17 13:54 |
| #3 Young people have to LIVE their lives, too, what little time there is on this planet...6-12 months is a good chunk out of one's adult life. Our society is just such a mess. |
| Posted by: Clem 2020-04-17 13:22 |
| #2 To paraphrase grom, I'm tired of hearing about how lives are more important than the economy. These unborn children need to get working on the huge debt we are leaving them... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-04-17 13:17 |
| #1 Better to starve slowly but in good health. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-04-17 13:09 |