“They also own companies that employ a lot of people, invest, lowering the cost of capital, and spend into the economy, whereas the “lower half” buy smokes and lottery tickets.”
Really ??? So guys like bezos and Wal Mart were allowed to stay open but little mom and pop shops who sell the same exact product were deemed non essential and forced to close.
We have a severe inequality in this country and it’s getting worse every year and folks like you who blame and look down on the little guy who is getting screwed will wonder why these folks will having enough and voting in socialism.
Before the pandemic about 40-45% of the country is doing great the other 55% was making $10-11 hr and no benefits.
I have been in employee benefits business for 35 years and the have nots is growing every year.
So guys like bezos and Wal Mart were allowed to stay open but little mom and pop shops who sell the same exact product were deemed non essential and forced to close.
Mom and Pop shops who sell their wares on-line did just fine. Grubhub provided delivery service for any food outlet that wanted to continue through the quarantine, for those outlets that didn't already offer delivery.
I point to Rossman Group in NYC as an example of a business with a robust national presence who continued to repair computers even during the shutdown.
The key was not to shut down business, but to minimize as much as possible "contact" between customers and between customers and sales clerks.
Yes, beauty industry businesses could not adapt to a contact-less model. Tailoring suffered. I grant you that. Your argument paints your points with too broad a brush.