I asked where in the Bible it states it ok to kill your fellow man and you come up with monkeys? Or did your God not instill you with common sense? Do you climb trees during a tornado? Fish on the lake during a lightening storm? Walk in front of a semi on the interstate?
No, of course not. Why? Because you wouldn’t put yourself in danger or those around you in danger. It’s sad that the government has to step in and demand common sense. A good preacher/pastor/priest/etc would tell his congregation we are going to hold off on services or maybe we will broadcast over the Internet. I have no respect for anyone that puts unwilling/common senseless people in harms way.

Most conscience and good judgement is just common sense...

Brian, you bring up an interesting subject about economic damage that provides a good example of unexpected and unintended consequences.

I will start with a bold but provable statement. The Black Plague did not plunge Europe into the Dark Ages, it sparked the Renaissance. Instead of the expected destruction caused by loosing half the population, the surviving serf had increased wealth (inherited from deceased relatives) and greater bargaining power (less serf for the same number of jobs). This was a key component of breaking the feudal system.

If we set the very real and important human component aside, and look at the current crisis from a cold, strictly economic point of view allowing Covid to run its course would most likely be beneficial. Again, this is from a strictly economic point of view. Current estimates put the potential cost at 2 million people. The cold, hard, brutal truth is that this is 2 million less workers for a fixed number of jobs = wages go up. 2 million less workers for jobs that still have to be done sparks innovation in industry and technology to cover the labor shortage. Over 2 million survivors will see an overnight increase in net worth due to inheritance. There are benefits to Social Security as well.

Since you mentioned the Great Depression, I recently learned there is at least one study that indicated the Great Depression had a positive impact on life expectancy. I was extremely surprised to learn this and it is the exact opposite to what I would expect. It is an interesting read and appears to be a very comprehensive study. The only real thing I can grab onto to question its findings is that it collected data only from urban areas. As far as I am aware, there was no pandemic element to starting the Great Depression. If I am wrong on this, please let me know.

Before any of you accuse me of anything, re-read my comments above. I am not suggesting anything. I am responding to a narrow question thru the very narrow lense of economic impact. Your moral argument against this approach are still valid and I agree with many of them.

I am curious. How many on here are aware that the government has absolutely no obligation to protect any given free citizen?

Another landmark SCOTUS decision.

Mike

Rule 1: Continuity of government is #1 priority of government. If it comes to it they will do whatever is necessary to see to that.

Just read a report that the Pastor of that church says he was sorry he did the service since he realized his service has been proven to have spread the virus and infected some of the people who attended. He doesn't plan to have any more services.