Quote Originally Posted by griffin View Post
From Wednesday's episode of Planet America, they detailed how difficult many of the states over there make it for people to collect unemployment payments... a lot worse than it is here. Some states have so many requirements to meet, that as little as only 5% of those people applying for unemployment payments, actually get any money. And the ones who are successful, the payments are capped at a couple of months.
And after 40 years of stagnant wage growth over there due to a failed "trickle down" economic policy, a large number of people are stuck on a minimum wage that doesn't help get anyone out of poverty, or save for a rainy day like this year.
This is why so many people over there are so desperate to get back to work, and are protesting against forced closures of businesses, because even with all of the stimulus money being thrown around, very little of it is getting to the lowest paid people. Meanwhile, the richest people in America (the top 0.1%) are too busy trying to protect their billions and the share market they are invested in, that the people who need the financial help, and the medical help, are being used and ignored.

I fear that with most of the American states winding back their restrictions to allow people to earn money again (who aren't able to get any money from the government), their economy will suffer more over the long term, compared to a short-term hit to the economy that countries like ours sustained by doing a more significant lockdown to almost eradicate the virus.

And from tonight's episode of Planet America, the results of New York's virus anti-body testing from the last week has shown that the virus is proving to be fatal to 1.2% of people who catch it, compared to the worst flu viruses that are fatal to just 0.04% of people who catch it. As I had noted a few days ago about how saving lives can be saving money, not just costing money (to the economy), if a country does nothing so that it puts it's economy first, they could expect 1.2% of their population dying from this virus, probably in less than six months if it is allowed to spread freely. For Australia, that would be 300,000 deaths, and millions more being treated medically, which costs a lot of money.
The fact that we have yet to reach 100 deaths in Australia, means our government needs to be commended for saving 299,900 lives (so far), by putting lives before the national economy. (they may not be perfect, but credit where credit is due)
This is so grim. At a time like this, wealthy people (who have more than enough) still need more than those who have so little. I've seen some videos of a new yorker pleading the government just to extend the end date of their debts so that they get through the coming months. I was in NY last year and could already tell that if you're not above the poverty line, the city will just eat you alive - and nobody would know or hear about it.

Our government is doing a great job balancing health and economy (and prioritising health over the economy) and It's good to see all supporting our government's efforts. The early lifting of the lockout laws is a little concerning though.