I think many of us cynically but realistically think that the powers that be will take care of the wealthy through the coming crisis: "too big to fail" will be back with a vengeance, and trillions of dollars (more, it's been happening already) will prop up the stock market 1/
But in a sane world, we'd get a Guaranteed Income to see us through the crisis — enough for quarantined people, underemployed people, and laid off people to buy food, pay the rent. 2/
It's a test of our governments: Will it be simply more Disaster Capitalism, or will governments respond to the needs of people?
Very realistically, I think, as investors sell off stock, much of the money will land in the real estate markets, worsening the already terrible housing crisis. Governments can intervene with rent controls and spending significantly on off-market housing. Will they? 4/
I would urge reporters to view government responses to the crisis through this lens. Every dollar spent on tax cuts or supports for corporations is a dollar not spent on meeting the immediate everyday needs of citizens.
