As cases of Covid-19 continue to skyrocket around the world and in the United States, many are waiting for Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines to be made available in hopes that we can possibly wind down the effects of this pandemic in the near future. Meanwhile the nation remains divided.
Some want full lockdowns. Some want nothing done, and many want some sort of a compromise with some Covid-19 guidelines but the ability for most businesses to be able to operate so people don’t lose their jobs and livelihoods.
While the debate continues, House Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has a radical plan. She wants everyone to stay home and the US Government to pay them to do so. I wonder if she is aware of how much debt the United States is in already, or that this won’t keep cash flow heavy businesses from going under in our view? She recently tweeted out her brilliant plan:
“To get the virus under control, we need to pay people to stay home.”
To get the virus under control, we need to pay people to stay home.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
Chip Roy, GOP House Rep in Texas laughed at her notion, not actually addressing ‘AOC’ directly, saying in a quote tweet: “You can’t make this stuff up. #StandUpForAmerica”. AOC took offense and immediately quote tweeted him back:
“Strange that you now oppose checks to help people survive shutdowns, Chip. You voted YES for the CARES Act in March, which paid folks to help weather the impact of COVID shutdowns. What changed for you to oppose stimulus now? The fact that there’s no Wall St bailout anymore?”
Strange that you now oppose checks to help people survive shutdowns, Chip.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
You voted YES for the CARES Act in March, which paid folks to help weather the impact of COVID shutdowns.
What changed for you to oppose stimulus now? The fact that there’s no Wall St bailout anymore? https://t.co/ZxuzMk4kH3
The fact of the matter is that many people in both parties support some form of a second Covid-19 stimulus check for struggling tax paying Americans who need it most.
The parties in Congress are divided on the amount and what a bill would look like. Political gridlock, not a lack of desire for folks like Chip Roy to help Americans is what seems to be holding that progress from happening faster.
Meanwhile, simply paying people to sit at home doesn’t seem functional or reasonable. Would it be for all people? Non-essential workers? Who gets to decide what’s essential or not? To us, it seems ludicrous, but that’s just our view, and we support reasonable measures to keep the most vulnerable safe from Covid-19.
