We read a fair amount these days about the Negative Results, Outcomes and Actions that have recently taken place as a result of virtually "Closing Down America" ....
Bailout funds paid, but the business in question still lays of its workers, companies deliberately not paying bills because of the 'crisis', despite the fact that there are those who can, tenants not paying their rent despite the fact that many of them can.
Well, IMO, there are ways to ensure that "Cheaters" toe the line like many, many others do :-
1) Your business gets bailout money. You provide the authorities with a list of your employees and their ID's. You MUST provide the authorities with MONTHLY RECEIPTS PROVING THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR SHARE FROM THE BAILOUT FUNDS.
If not paid, you go to JAIL, starting with the CEO.
2) A company not paying their legitimate bills. You provide the authorities with your latest Balance Sheet showing your AUDITED ASSETS, ESPECIALLY CURRENT ASSETS EASILY TRANSFERABLE INTO CASH. If you have the necessary assets you pay your bills. If not, you go to Jail, starting with the CEO or OWNER.
3) If you are a Tenant you pay your rent unless you can PROVIDE PROOF OF YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT SHOWS YOU CANNOT PAY THE FULL AMOUNT. At the very least, you pay your landlord his running costs for your apartment, e.g. levies, municipal rates, etc. (One of my tenants is in the Tourism business. There are no tourists. She is running out of money. She pays me my running costs and I let her remain in the apartment).
IMO, it was necessary to have this initial Lock down period to assess the whole Virus crisis situation and to also build up essential stocks of protective gear and medicines, bearing in mind that certain stockpiles of masks, etc, were not replenished in the past when they should have been, based on good advice given to previous administrations. Barack Obama's administration is a case in point.
HOWEVER, the question now is, should this total Lock down continue indefinitely ?
Personally I see no reason why it should, provided certain sensible safeguards and other effective measures are put in place ....
A) Records accumulated show the elderly are the most vulnerable to succumb to this Virus, i.e. over about 60 years of age. So anyone over that age group should remain out of the workplace unless their activity has a low risk to it.
B) People who suffer from ailments such as severe Asthma and other related respiratory problems should remain out of the workplace and preferably stay at home.
C) Any other category of individual that the Expert Health Authorities (and NOT the politicians) state are either vulnerable to the Virus or who could currently spread it, should remain out of the workplace.
D) There must be Very Stringent and ongoing TESTING of anyone coming and going from their place of work. AND there must be GALLONS OF ANTISEPTIC SPRAYS AND VAST NUMBERS OF MASKS made available at workplaces, etc.
IMO, by enacting the above there's a good chance that possibly 70% to 80% of the American workforce can get back to work. That's a lot better than the 5% to 10% that may now be the situation.
You have to wonder how long it will be before suicide rates start climbing dramatically ?!
If America can, largely, get back to work with some understandable exceptions, then CONFIDENCE will return to stock markets and currency markets and the oil market, and, and, and ............. |
