1/ So, a serious question for @ChrisChristie whose op-ed in the Post today was very reasonable in trying to strike a balance between opening things back up and staying largely shut down. I agreed w/ some things, disagreed with others, but there is one thing I'm curious about...
2/...& this question is for not only the Gov but anyone else who endorses his position -- part of which is, encourage vulnerable folks to continue sheltering, avoiding contact w/others, while letting less vulnerable go back to work w/precautions in place. Here's the question:
3/ For those w/pre-existing conditions or w/family members w/such conditions who are rightly afraid of going back to work, what do u propose we do for them? Do u support legally requiring employers to hold their jobs for them? Paid leave? Disability pay sufficient to pay bills?
4/ Because if you don't (and I doubt most conservatives would, bc of their devotion to the free market and minimal government intervention in labor markets), you are basically saying that these folks, through no fault of their own, should choose livelihood OR life...
5/ How is that OK? Unless we commit to massive income support, rent/mortgage relief, etc sufficient to get thru the crisis, we are leaving people w/little choice. Conditions that previously were manageable and w/which you could keep working suddenly become career/income killers..
6/ So even with the more thoughtful approach favored by @ChrisChristie, and which includes the kind of compassion and legitimate concern lacking from the lunatic rallies as of late, there is this huge blind spot...The vulnerable are NOT all or mostly retirees. They have jobs..
7/ They support families. They are middle aged folks w/asthma or high BP, young adults w/diabetes, or people with children with asthma or diabetes. They cannot go back safely, and yes, @chrischristie understands that. Great...
8/ But unless folk get behind much larger state action on behalf of these folks, their compassion won't mean much. Sadly, there are voices on the right (which the Gov & others could challenge more directly) saying UE insurance is being made too generous bc it discourages work...
9/ Um, that's the point. We WANT to discourage work amid pandemic, especially for the most vulnerable and those with vulnerable family. We should make UE MORE generous for these folks to get them through the emergency. Until conservatives and republicans start endorsing that...
10/ All talk of gradual re-opening w/ ongoing sheltering for the vulnerable is just a recipe for sacrificing the latter and their families. It is not acceptable. So while I appreciate the measured tone offered by @chrischristie, I hope he & others w/his position will address this
