After the recommendation that people stay home from work for a couple of weeks to slow the spread of coronavirus, state governments jumped in with orders to close most non-essential businesses.

It is very well possible that this type of cure could be worse than the ailment itself.

President Trump just indicated that he is aware of that possibility.  The longer that businesses are closed, the greater the odds of a new Great Depression.

Depressions take lives too, and our politicians need to recognize that.

One of the things I feared most back during all the bailouts and money spent to deal with the Great Recession was that we would not be equipped to deal with the next crisis.

In 2007, our Federal budget was about $2.7 trillion.  In 2009 it jumped to over $3.5 trillion and now it is over $4.4 trillion.  And, that’s BEFORE this pandemic hit.

Opponents of tax cuts always cry about deficits, yet tax receipts were at all time highs in 2019 at over $3.4 trillion.  Trump’s tax cuts helped spur economic growth even while he conducted a trade war with China and Europe.

This is why the US Dollar has rallied to all time highs.  The US economy is the only game in town.

But, with this pandemic, if we continue to keep businesses shuttered, all that will go down the toilet.

We need to get businesses back open, and that includes restaurants.  We can take precautions to help slow the spread and continue to work on treatments to treat people who are infected.

Yes, lives will be lost.  Perhaps more than if we all just stayed home.

But, I can pretty much guarantee that if we enter a prolonged global depression, even more lives will be lost through disease, crime and even starvation.

What the Federal government needs to do is recommend that small businesses re-open, but with certain protocols. And, the government must do what is necessary to be sure there are adequate supplies of soap, hand sanitizer, masks and other items so that we can still slow the spread.

It is absolutely critical that people get back to work, otherwise the current course of action may be worse than the virus itself.