[Mick]

There will be severe long term damage to the US and world economies based on decisions being made by local, state, and federal bureaucrats.  Taking the approach most likely to save the most lives isn't always the best approach.  If it was, we wouldn't be driving cars.  I am not a medical doctor or a scientist of any kind, so I will defer to Stanford's co-director of Meta-Research Innovation Center and professor of medicine, biomedical data science, statistics, and epidemiology and population health.

But the crisis is a result of inaction.  The extreme economic damage is a result of that, not something unavoidable.  What is the long-term economic damage you refer to?  There must be some, but much of the economic shortfall is consumption, which has a much smaller long-term effect than investment.  Certain industries, such as airlines and cruises, may be impacted long-term, but there will be other industries that will be stronger and bigger.

No disrespect meant, but I don't believe you.  Why would you claim that?  Goldman Sachs says 2nd quarter GDP will contract 24%.  There are 30.2 million small businesses in the USA (defined as fewer than 500 employees).  How many of them will survive two months with no revenue and bills piling up?  How will they come back?  They'll be forced to consume what resources they have left, there will be millions in layoffs.[/url]

Yes, the coronavirus is tragic and people will die.  How many people will die because of economic reasons?  How many suicides?  How many because they can't pay their rent and become homeless?  40% of Americans can't afford an unforeseen $400 expense and 50% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  You really think America is going to be whole and bounce back economically from this?

To your comment "But the crisis is a result of inaction."  Powerful people, people who run countries and states and large agencies have a documented bias towards action, even if it means ruination.  And that's where we're headed as a result of this action.[url=https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/]

[Mick]

There will be severe long term damage to the US and world economies based on decisions being made by local, state, and federal bureaucrats.  Taking the approach most likely to save the most lives isn't always the best approach.  If it was, we wouldn't be driving cars.  I am not a medical doctor or a scientist of any kind, so I will defer to Stanford's co-director of Meta-Research Innovation Center and professor of medicine, biomedical data science, statistics, and epidemiology and population health.

But the crisis is a result of inaction.  The extreme economic damage is a result of that, not something unavoidable.  What is the long-term economic damage you refer to?  There must be some, but much of the economic shortfall is consumption, which has a much smaller long-term effect than investment.  Certain industries, such as airlines and cruises, may be impacted long-term, but there will be other industries that will be stronger and bigger.

No disrespect meant, but I don't believe you.  Why would you claim that?  Goldman Sachs says 2nd quarter GDP will contract 24%.  There are 30.2 million small businesses in the USA (defined as fewer than 500 employees).  How many of them will survive two months with no revenue and bills piling up?  How will they come back?  They'll be forced to consume what resources they have left, there will be millions in layoffs.[/url]

Yes, the coronavirus is tragic and people will die.  How many people will die because of economic reasons?  How many suicides?  How many because they can't pay their rent and become homeless?  40% of Americans can't afford an unforeseen $400 expense and 50% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  You really think America is going to be whole and bounce back economically from this?

To your comment "But the crisis is a result of inaction."  Powerful people, people who run countries and states and large agencies have a documented bias towards action, even if it means ruination.  And that's where we're headed as a result of this action.[url=https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/]