Should Houston metro area shelter in place? (safety, garage)

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by shytiger

When the State tells you it's safe to go to Home Depot to buy a sponge but dangerous to go and buy a flower, it's not about your health.
When the State shuts down millions of private businesses but doesn’t lay off a single government employee, it's not about your health.
When the State bans dentists because its unsafe, but deems abortion visits are safe, it's not about your health.
When the State prevents you from buying cucumber seeds because it's dangerous, but allows in person lottery ticket sales, it's not about your health.
When the State tells you it's dangerous to go golf alone, fish alone or be in a motor boat alone, but the Governor can get his stage make up done, and hair done for 5 TV appearances a week, it's not about your health.
When the state puts you IN a jail cell for walking in a park with your child because it’s too dangerous, but let’s criminals OUT of jail cells for their health- It’s not about YOUR health!
When the state tells you it’s too dangerous to get treated by a doctor of chiropractic or physical therapy treatments yet deems a liquor store essential- It’s not about your health!
When the State lets you go to the grocery store or hardware store but is demanding mail-in voting, ITS NOT ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.
WAKE UP PEOPLE — If you think this is all about your health you’re mistaken! Please open your eyes! Stop being lead like blind sheep.

Most of this isn't true. So what's your point?

[shytiger]

Some of us see the forest through the trees. That forest is burning down quickly. Only a full functional economy stops the fire.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by shytiger

Some of us see the forest through the trees. That forest is burning down quickly. Only a full functional economy stops the fire.

It'll take more than opening dine-in at Chili's to make the economy function.
There's no travel. No travel means no demand for oil.

[mingna]

Originally Posted by shytiger

Some of us see the forest through the trees. That forest is burning down quickly. Only a full functional economy stops the fire.

Immigrant-heavy Houston has a tremendous number of small mom and pop businesses, the usual portals of entry into the American economic and social fabric for first-generation immigrants. All employing heavy numbers of working-class labor while contributing sales tax to local government.

One has to wonder what effect a prolonged shutdown will have on their viability post-COVID lockdown, when also taking into account the collateral effects of the economic downtown in O&G in Houston.

A terrible perfect storm. Terrible for everyone depending on them for their livelihoods and terrible for Houstonians overall.

[As Above So Below...]

Originally Posted by jfre81

It'll take more than opening dine-in at Chili's to make the economy function.
There's no travel. No travel means no demand for oil.

This.

Even if there was no restrictions, people wouldnt be rushing to get on airplanes or drive long distance with the virus going around. You cant raise the price of oil until people actually need it. Oil would still be where it is.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by As Above So Below...

This.

Even if there was no restrictions, people wouldnt be rushing to get on airplanes or drive long distance with the virus going around. You cant raise the price of oil until people actually need it. Oil would still be where it is.

My last day working at my old job was March 17. It closed three days before it would've been "ordered" to. We'd lose more money being open for nonexistent tourists than we would just mothballing the thing 'til people want to travel again.

This is going to be devastating news to some folks who couldn't understand why, but I can tell you that international tourists don't travel for the sake of the local economies of the places they visit, and they will not make economic kamikazes of themselves patronizing the barbecue joints down there either.

The economy will reopen when the consumers decide. Not politicians. Not protesters, who can try to bully politicians into irresponsible public health policy but can't force people into crowded bars for the purpose of saving a segment of the service industry that's inherently sunk in a global pandemic situation.

Forget customers, would you want to be the one tending bar, with no PPE, handling stuff that people put in their mouths?me, I'll pass.
What's the purpose of a socially distant bar with no sports on TV? I can drink at home for less and get the same effect.

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by jfre81

My last day working at my old job was March 17. It closed three days before it would've been "ordered" to. We'd lose more money being open for nonexistent tourists than we would just mothballing the thing 'til people want to travel again.

This is going to be devastating news to some folks who couldn't understand why, but I can tell you that international tourists don't travel for the sake of the local economies of the places they visit, and they will not make economic kamikazes of themselves patronizing the barbecue joints down there either.

The economy will reopen when the consumers decide. Not politicians. Not protesters, who can try to bully politicians into irresponsible public health policy but can't force people into crowded bars for the purpose of saving a segment of the service industry that's inherently sunk in a global pandemic situation.

Forget customers, would you want to be the one tending bar, with no PPE, handling stuff that people put in their mouths?me, I'll pass.
What's the purpose of a socially distant bar with no sports on TV? I can drink at home for less and get the same effect.

True. And sadly, when businesses are ordered are open, many people will be forced to return to work despite health risks, because they'll lose their unemployment. And with no childcare available. Decisions are being made right now based on short-term political gains rather than long-term, sound strategies.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

True. And sadly, when businesses are ordered are open, many people will be forced to return to work despite health risks, because they'll lose their unemployment. And with no childcare available. Decisions are being made right now based on short-term political gains rather than long-term, sound strategies.

And what to do instead? Keep sitting at home?

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

And what to do instead? Keep sitting at home?

Well, I don't know. But it's not clear to me that much has changed since the stay-at-home order started. We've done pretty well here in Houston, probably because we've all been staying at home. So when people start going back to work, I expect people will start getting sick. And dying. So yeah, I'm going to stay at home as long as I can manage. And yes, I feel badly for people who can't make that choice.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

Well, I don't know. But it's not clear to me that much has changed since the stay-at-home order started. We've done pretty well here in Houston, probably because we've all been staying at home. So when people start going back to work, I expect people will start getting sick. And dying. So yeah, I'm going to stay at home as long as I can manage. And yes, I feel badly for people who can't make that choice.

Personally I work from work few days a week and from home rest of the week. Kind of perfect balance. Our parking lot is getting more packed and overall traffic is getting denser. I know it feels scary when all who survived layoffs will show up at work at the same time, but we gotta keep going and delivering results.