TheLoveBandit
Retired Never Was, Coulda been wannabe
In other words, Americans might be more likely to demand to sacrifice lives for the economy, because they are risking so much more on average by being unable to work for a period of time.
I don't see or hear many Americans concerned about their income, at least as it relates to medical care and such. Everything is still in such a 'pause' that a sense of 'loss' isnt bearing down in that regard. I sense an air of holding ones breath until this passes and then sort it out. Meaning, if worker isnt paid, rent isnt paid but we'll still live here (no evictions/foreclosures), we can still pick up our meds (with any savings we have, if you arent still getting paid to work 'essential' or 'remote'), and you cant go hospital cuz its all corona'd. Not spending on gas. Food yes, gas no.
I see the push to return based on a few other, less substantial, factors. First, sheeple listen to the news and-or Trump, and their leaders tell them the economy is dying...wile watching their peers get laid off or furloughed. They don't want to lose their job, lost in the sea of those ever growing unemployment numbers. Better to have a job now than look for one if (IF!!) the economy comes back. So, a sense of security on that count = having employment at all, and keeping it. Secondly, there is the stir-crazy effect. But I think many are still viewing this as a mini-vacation or walkabout, if you will. A time to re-assess priorities in the world, or for them personally. And, perhaps as a result of a capitalistic country engraining 'get mine' mentality for generations, there is the fear of falling behind when things to start back up again. And, unfortunately, many self-identify heavily with what work they do. Without that, they feel adrift. No schedule, no sense of worth to the world. And third, for those that see themselves as more rational minded...it's about numbers. The disbelief in the horrific original projections getting lowered steadily leaves them with little faith in the gov't or it's measures. Moreover, Covid spreads more than regular flu, but we're losing roughly the same small percentage of the population, many feel they can take their chances like they do every year. IF they get it, the chances of it being serious are very small. Everyday, the numbers reported show more and more that this virus was already widespread, driving down the kill rate, telling us the herd immunity was at work but is stifled and will have to be faced at some time. Screw it, let's go, a few get sick but most of us get back to where we were.
That, is what I see around me. Though, tbh, the majority of those in my neighborhood are fine holding as-is. It's the online conservatives I see who are more gung-ho about getting the economy back up. Though, I don't really feel like we should, or really can, begin to label the 'back to work' group as conservatives or liberals, when Democrat governors appear to be some of the first to open things back up.