Posted on 03/25/2020 6:53:52 AM PDT by karpov
Anyone who was looking for some assurance that politicians are giving appropriate weight to the potentially devastating economic impact of aggressive COVID-19 control measures will not find it in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's comments at his press conference today. "We're not going to put a dollar figure on human life," said Cuomo (D), who last Friday announced that "we're all in quarantine now" while ordering all "nonessential" businesses to close. The goal, he explained, is to "save lives, period, whatever it costs."
In a world of finite resources, where government agencies routinely and appropriately weigh the cost of potentially lifesaving regulations, that attitude is utterly irrational. Worse, Cuomo portrayed concerns about the millions of Americans who have been deprived of their livelihoods by lockdowns like his as cruel indifference to the fate of Americans who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their age or pre-existing medical conditions.
"My mother is not expendable, and your mother is not expendable, and our brothers and sisters are not expendable," Cuomo said when asked about "conservatives" who have noted the heavy burdens imposed by sweeping restrictions on movement, business operations, and work. "And we're not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable."
Here is what lockdown skeptics are really saying, according to Cuomo: "We'll just sacrifice old people; they're old people anyway. And the old get left behind .We're going to move on, and if you can't keep up, well, you just fall by the wayside of life." He described their philosophy as "some modern, Darwinian theory of natural selection."
That interpretation is not just uncharitable; it is cruel in its own way, treating the human costs of shutting down the "nonessential" economy, which fall disproportionately on people of modest means, as a minor consideration
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Right, because no actions ever come w/o consequences, which may include (different) deaths.
This does not exist in a vacuum.
We cant simply change one thing for one purpose without it domino-Ing tosomething else. We must look for the balance.
His and many others squawking about nothing else matters is just another form of IF IT SAVES ONE LIFE....!
Which honestly is moronic fora whole population.
The solution does not have to be a universal decree, in various countries there may be locations that need a continuation of the virtual lockdown, but only a few and where infection rates and death tolls are much above the average. That might currently apply to parts of Washington state and New York City. I don’t see how the economy can survive a longer (widespread) lockdown and a low end moderate casualty toll is a necessary evil, in particular if it does not substantially exceed what would happen in the absence of any response.
I can’t imagine that progressives would be crazy enough to think that any country could sustain a lockdown for months or an entire year, without an economic collapse. They might think there is something in that for them, but it would become a hell on earth for everybody, with the exception of a very few super rich types, and you have to wonder what role they have played in this, after so much loose talk over the past decade about the need to reduce the population.
I would also like to see a national day of prayer for the health and recovery of the nation and its people. There’s another idea that won’t please the Democrats, but as they like to throw things into packages, we could throw in a prayer for forgiveness of sins. That would really get them going.
Some politicians have strange ideas about “essential” & “non-essential”.
What about deaths from MS-13, robbers, etc., in their search for food and stuff.
Do Human Trafficers get some of the economic bail out package?
I am in favor of reducing the risks of transmitting or catching the virus especially among those most vulnerable. But is there really such a thing as “nonessential economy”? Why isn’t a middle ground based on true risk assessment and reasonable easily achieved mitigation of risks not being taken seriously? Perhaps some businesses would have to remain closed and RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR DOING SO. But I think the majority of businesses could make adjustments that would allow them to remain open. Perhaps with a limited staff and occupancy and a change of hours. Maybe by restricting the handling of merchandise. I don’t know. I do know the all or nothing approach is not working.
There is a giant problem with the New York governor’s position.
If he is true to that position, thinks it’s totally logical and moral, and not hypocritical, then given the numbers of infected, ill, hospitalized and deceased due to the seasonal flu he should add that the economic shutdown and forced hibernating of people should be mandatory every year throughout the flu season, “because it WILL save lives” in the same way that is now claimed for Cov-19. The poor New York governor is too insane to recognize his own hypocrisy.
There are doctors who use obsidian blades in operations. They sterilize just as well as steel, do not lose their edge, and in fact, are sharper. For small incisions, they leave much smaller scars.
Isnt that amazing? Who ever thought that we could progress to the Stone Age?
Because everyone who in the past has been essential due to hurricanes or snow storms already knows who they are.
So says the governor that signed legislation allowing abortion until birth.
“save lives, period, whatever it costs”
This is why liberals should never be put in charge of anything, anywhere, anytime. They don’t possess one ounce of common sense.
What about the lives of the millions of people work in "nonessential" jobs? And THEIR children?
Liquor stores. If you mean liquor stores just tell us.
LOL. When I worked for the Army the Class 6 store was not considered essential. Thank God the Governor of VA disagrees because I am plumb out of Bourbon.
“I Am Plumb Out of Bourbon.” A tragedy in 3 acts.
Which is why we need a stimulus package that helps struggling Americans and small businesses through this. If we go back to work too early the increased death rate will tank the economy anyway. There really is no “good” solution here, only the lesser of 2 evils.
As a healthy 30 year old I am not worried about dying from the CV. I am, however, worried about my dad, who is in his 60’s. He has a heart condition and has had several bouts of bronchitis in the past. If he gets the CV it will not be just a passing cold. If that happens I’d like him to have a bed in the ICU, a ventilator, and medical staff to help him, which won’t happen if our ICUs are overloaded. Meanwhile people aren’t going to stop having heart attacks and other serious medical conditions just because the hospitals are overloaded so many people who would otherwise have survived will die.
You have to be alive to enjoy your livelihood.
When city, county and state budgets collapse and police, EMT and firemen are laid off...
Nah, they'll just run a deficit. It's what our FedGov has been doing for decades.
I live in an urban part of California. Can I request to be shipped to Taiwan instead? I’m rather attached to my freedom of speech.
City, Counties and States can’t print money.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.