Thread by @WalkerBragman

There are 2 reasons the U.S. hasn't done a paid lockdown to combat COVID-19:

1) Opposition from the business community.

2) Decades of neoliberal thinking make such a huge federal undertaking unthinkable.

So we left it to states to respond and banked on vaccines.

565,000k died

There are people out there who think it's about "freedom" or whatever. It's not. It's about cowardice and lack of vision in DC.

Americans deserved better.

I've spent an hour talking to anti-lockdown people who insist that we can't control the virus, nor should we try, and that reopening is fairer to the vulnerable because everyone will be exposed and bear the cost.

I cannot stress enough how monstrous and wrong this thinking is.

We know lockdowns as a policy do work. People need to stop shrugging at mass death and hold their leaders accountable.
reuters.com/article/uk-fac…

Essential workers have borne the heaviest cost during the pandemic. There are things we should do to alleviate that: hazard pay, paid sick leave, end at-will employment, etc.

But "open up for fairness" is silly. Rich&poor aren't exposed equally. Former has better medical access.

While we vaccinate, all but most essential businesses should be required to temporarily close or work remotely; evictions and utility shutoffs (including internet) should be suspended, debts should be canceled/suspended, and every single American should be getting $2,000-a-month.