Quoted from pookycade:
What’s the line from Star Trek: “Jim I’m a Doctor not a magician”. As to what businesses should be left open, what should be propped up, what should be left to fend for itself I cannot say. I will leave that to smarter people than me. I can say anecdotal from my little town that multiple small business owners have told me they risk financial ruin if forced to close, or even if they stay open and people don’t eat out or go for coffee. Generally from what I have read most economists would say that if the difference between a business surviving an acute blow like this versus closing is helping prop it up, overall just taking a pragmatic than emotional viewpoint, it’s better to prop it up so it can comeback to life on the other side of all this.
Fair enough, but the US economy is $23 trillion. Seems like many believe Gov’t is omnipotent with unlimited resources and powers. Or that medium and large corporations have stockpiles of reserves/credit. Many are not that different than small businesses and cannot survive a significant drop in revenue without immediately slashing costs, i.e. employees.
I’m semi-retired now, but use to be responsible for large chemical and materials factories with 1000’s of employees. Shutting down some of the plants would cost millions just to hit the off button, and have serious, long-term impacts on the global supply chain for many industries. Being pragmatic involves balancing many considerations for the overall health and welfare of the Country.
The response by all levels of Government hasn’t been perfect, never is, but overall I’ve been impressed with how it is ramping up and people are pulling together. The sensationalized, headline grappling coverage by most media has been far less impressive and potentially harmful.
And wish you would open during the week after this is over.. My son goes to UVA and you are usually closed when we’re visiting him.