re: I sense the divide is growing

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0% chance of that happening.

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It really depends on how bad this thing gets and if China starts to squeeze us by the balls (which they are already doing) with medical supplies and equipment. The DNC is owned and staffed by Chinese spies and the Republicans allowed these jobs to be destroyed for short term profits so both parties are clearly gigantic pussies about China except for Trump who lacks the support to properly deal with them.

But if we start to see political leaders and their family members dying to The Chinese Virus that could be the spark to light the fuse on this godforsaken powder keg we have with China. I hope it leads us to to embargo China completely but like you I dont think our political leaders have the balls for this so I will settle for key industries coming back instead.

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However, I do think long-term UBI would actually pay off, as long as it replaces the clusterfrick of programs we have now.

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the innovative progressives have already discarded UBI as a policy ideal in favor of an expanded welfare state. they call it UBS (universal basic services)

It is true protective measures will save lives, especially Baby Boomers.

It also true that these live saving measures are also economically devastating.

A sad lesson we must learn is: you can take appropriate action and adopt policy as responsibly as possible and still suffer adverse consequences.

We've all faced situations where we had to sacrifice the queen in order to avoid checkmate.

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Translated: I'm still getting a paycheck so we're good.

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Not even true for a lot of people in healthcare. Physicians were just ordered by the Louisiana Dept. of Health to postpone all medical or surgical procedures that can be safely put off for 30 days. Anyone who doesn’t comply risks losing their license. Many non-urgent clinic visits are being canceled also.

If these doctors can’t work, they can’t bill. If they can’t bill, the nurses, medical assistants, techs, practice managers, and janitors can’t get paid either.

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the innovative progressives have already discarded UBI as a policy ideal in favor of an expanded welfare state. they call it UBS (universal basic services)

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Eh, I don't really keep up with all that, but just from a quick google it seems like we already have most aspects of it?

We have public education & (some) transport already, perhaps shift toward a single-payer healthcare system, and UBI would cover food and shelter, right? What am I missing?

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I say shut everything down that's not essential right now for a month.

After that we've done our best. Everyone back to work and what happens happens.

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Then the outbreak will recur and we are back to where we are now. This is a medical and economic disaster. We need a vaccine ASAP and it needs to be given to the vulnerable population first. Fast track the vaccine and skip a lot of the long term testing. There isn’t really a choice.

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We have public education & (some) transport already, perhaps shift toward a single-payer healthcare system, and UBI would cover food and shelter, right? What am I missing?

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a. housing being a "right" and becoming a necessary service

b. UBI, applied equally, doesn't upset the social balance enough in the way they want

1. Make it clear who is at risk. More than just the elderly (my parents are in their 80s).
2. These people should be quarantined with very specific guidelines. If they choose to break those guidelines then it is on them.
3. Continue testing everyone and getting drugs tested, etc.
4. Everyone should go back to work. It would be better if everyone could be tested before they go back to work but I'm not sure if this is possible right now.
5. FWIW, I am considered "essential personnel" so I am not allowed to take off of work.

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Elderly, cancer patients, people with asthma, young people with immune disorders. All expendable for muh small businesses

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Do you intentionally seek the opinions of people that will piss you off?

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yes. how else do i know what they're going to say?

you go listen to the frigne-left and it will be a DEM talking point within 18 months these days

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I just think it's a low-overhead way of achieving most of the same goals as the current basket of programs, and without the income cliffs and disincentives to work / work more that are associated with them.

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i agree with you. if we go this route it should be UBI as an equal amount to every adult and eliminate the nanny state otherwise

i'm just saying that this isn't even going to be palatable on the left in time