Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[EricHiggin]

SpokenTruth said:

EricHiggin said:

While the focus needs to be on healthcare at the moment, helping out some types of businesses makes way more sense than others.

An airline for example. Should they be expected to be diverse enough that if air travel becomes a problem, it won't hurt them much? That would seem unreasonable, considering the industry.

Now something like an auto manufacturer though? They made the choice to have parts made all over the world because it was an overall benefit to the company, after weighing the risks. If they are hurt in anyway due to this outbreak, that's their problem. How much have they benefited up until now?

At the very least, the funds should be directed at certain sectors if they're going to dish out some financial help.

How about some financial help for the people?  Paid sick leave?  Free testing (rather than $3,000+ now)?  A temporary UBI?  Increased WIC and SNAP?  Etc?

What good is bailing out an airline industry if you lose too many passengers to the very virus your corporate bailout was saving you from?

That same vid I saw the other day mentioned that 80% of Americans have paid sick leave in some form apparently. Again, not sure how true that is, but that would be pretty decent coverage out of the whole.

Even if the healthcare system was universal, it wouldn't automatically save everyone. Free healthcare doesn't mean no death.

UBI doesn't solve much. If you're not going out due to an outbreak, you're not spending extra money, other than on extra food and supplies, which some have mentioned isn't good if it's not rationed. Just because you can get tested, doesn't mean you don't die, and doesn't guarantee you don't spread it, even though it should help to slow the spread.