Many critics of opening the economy claim that it means sacrificing the weak. The truth is, not opening the economy means sacrificing the strong–those who can and produce the values that all of us–weak and strong alike–want and need.
Regardless of our risk level, we must consume values in order to live. And before values can be consumed, they must first be produced. A pandemic does not change these facts.
The government’s response to the pandemic was to greatly restrict production by closing certain businesses and mandating a variety of other restrictions on the production of values. The government didn’t tell the weak to stay home. It told everyone to stay home, the strong and the weak alike. The result has been the loss of more than 26 million jobs in just 5 weeks, and an unprecedented reduction in the production of values. Those who could have continued to produce the values that we all want and need have been prohibited from doing so. The strong have been shackled to protect the weak.
The weak gain nothing from this. The values that they want and need are now in shorter supply and more difficult (or impossible) to obtain. If they are being responsible and self-isolating, then they are depending on others–the less vulnerable (the strong)–to obtain for them the values that are available. And the strong who are attempting to help the weak must endure longer lines, perhaps visit more stores, and endure other hardships. By shackling the strong and preventing them from continuing to produce values, everyone is suffering.
If we truly want to protect the weak, then we must free the strong. If we want to help those who cannot produce values, then we must protect the freedom of those who can. If we want to protect the weak, then we must first protect the freedom of the strong to produce the values that life requires.