There has been a lot said and written about the protests staged in several states, including Indiana, in the past few days, protesting the stay at home orders and business closings due to the spread of coronavirus. The protesters want to start working again in their shut-down industries.
The health experts that specialize in epidemiology are clear that we must practice social distancing or death rates from the novel coronavirus will spike upward. Those involved in the protests say they just need to work and start bringing in money now.
I have seen much heavy criticism of these protests, particularly the Saturday demonstration at the Indiana Governor’s residence on the north side of Indianapolis. Those protesting were very close together with few wearing masks.
In politics and public policy, fear can be a key emotion. Fear can dictate how one advocates for or against public policy and can greatly influence how you vote in an election. When you can no longer work and money stops coming into your family, fear becomes a very real thing.
Just talk to people involved in food banks. They have never been so overwhelmed. Those groups are helping people that have never needed food assistance and never imagined they ever would need such help.
As human beings, we are all in this together. I have seen one argument that “being in this together” does not mean we are all in the same boat. Some of us are not working, or working fewer hours. Some of us continue to work, either out of our homes or as essential employees.
I understand the fear I am seeing, but we all must do whatever we can to stop the spread of this virus. Because people without symptoms can contract the virus and spread it to others, this is particularly lethal.
Yelling at each other and placing blame doesn’t help right now. There will be plenty of time to study how this happened and everything that went wrong, and our media is doing a good job of watching all that.
Our common humanity must prevail. Government and non-governmental organizations must help those without work get through this very terrible period. We must help each other to keep us all safe.
Do not blame those fearful of this situation. I understand that emotion. But let’s pull together and help each other to the extent we can.
The wealthiest among us, some of whom are doing very good work, have a special responsibility. Organizing protests with a political motive is not the right choice at this moment.
The Paycheck Protection Program, aimed at keeping small businesses going and keeping their staff intact, is out of money until Congress approves more funding. NBC financial reporter Stephanie Ruhle said recently on MSNBC’s Morning Joe that lots of businesses, such as law firms, who qualify because they have fewer than 500 employees, are doing just fine but are taking this money when the program is not aimed at them. This is not the time for businesses to take the government money just because they can, Ruhl said.
Speaking with public radio station WBUR in Boston, entrepreneur Mark Cuban said something about businesses that do not use this situation to do something better for society:
“Their brand is going to get destroyed. I mean, how you treat your employees today will have more impact on your brand in future years than any amount of advertising, any amount of anything you literally could do. Because, again, we’re all suffering from this. Every single person is looking to see how their company is treating them, how their employers are treating family members and friends.”
When food banks are overwhelmed with people that never expected to need that help, every business person should pay attention to Mark Cuban’s advice.
We may not all be in the same boat, but as human beings that want to live and want our loved ones to live, we are together and should be united.
Listen to the health experts. Stay at home to the extent possible. Wash your hands. No protest will change any of that. You cannot live your life in fear.