Keep the Focus on the Less Well Off

I made two lengthy posts on the subject of Covid-19 and social distancing when we were first getting used to this idea. Here's a much shorter one to summarize what I think are the key points.

The economy is in a shambles and will be for a long time no matter what we do. The relief from re-opening now before adequate measures are in place to control the infection will be quite small and so not worth it.

The pandemic is hard on everyone, but the economic depression is much harder on those who aren't so well off. Apparently opinion among them is split about re-opening. The louder noises are from Republican zealots who want their freedom, but folks with jobs that put them in danger are very worried. With regard to the practical effect of reopening, they face losing unemployment benefits if they don't return to a job which is in fact unsafe.

My one practical suggestion is also a political one, aimed at my readers who are pretty well off like me: Do not think about this issue -- and certainly do not talk about it -- without keeping firmly in the center of your attention the poor(er) people who are affected by the virus and the shutdown of the economy. They are the ones most at risk, and policy should largely be guided by what's best for them -- even if we are unsure about or disagree about exactly what that is.