Have any of you "live free or die" folks had an opportunity to consider what an unchecked virus would do to the economy?

There's this idea going around among conservatives that it's wrong to ever make decisions in the name of "the greater good." However: "the greater good" of a restarted economy is the main conservative motivation for opening up early, despite the lives it may cost. So I'm not really sure what conservatives rejecting the principle of "the greater good" are really on about.

When it comes to fighting a pandemic, it's not actually possible in the end to avoid that kind of a calculus. Every decision we make with respect to this virus is made -- or should be made -- with all of society in mind. Because the end goal we all share is a healthy population and vibrant economy.

Conservatives are focused on "tyrannical" quarantines, but choosing to relax the quarantines now, or never implementing any quarantines at all, is its own kind of choice.

I agree freedom itself is a value, indeed a very high value -- but if you're dead, then you don't have any freedom at all. We have to find a way to sensibly balance all that we hold dear, while we hold the line against the virus and await a medical breakthrough.

All very true. Ultimately what's best for the health of the country will also be best for the economy.

A very inspirational post. I wish more people like yourself were on this site posting positive, common sense posts. Instead of the negative dominance of orange ones who appear to Have an artificial monopoly on political direction, and popularity, of Imgflip memes

Thanks man.

Funny thing is, when you sort memes by "new" instead of by "hot," the politics stream starts to look a lot more balanced. Noticeably more balanced than it used to, even 6-7 months ago when I joined ImgFlip, I would say.

Most likely explanation for the difference between "hot" and "new"? I think there are a bunch of right-wing lurkers around here who don't really make memes of their own, but who stop by to upvote, or maybe conservative memers are running around with multiple accounts upvoting their own content. Perhaps a bit of both.

I also think Americans are waking up. The relatively complex issues involved in Trump's impeachment were critical, but flew over most average people's heads and may have felt to most to only be of significance to Washington insiders. Coronavirus is different. Everyone across the country is feeling it.

Trump's incompetence was less noticeable during boom times, but this pandemic has underscored the importance of having a competent, responsive, and even at times, boring government equipped to respond to new issues. Contrary to popular belief, politics is not the place to go for entertainment. It's literally a matter of life and death, now more than ever.

And the gap between Trump's self-congratulatory rhetoric and reality can't be papered over anymore.

"Have any of you "live free or die" folks had an opportunity to consider what an unchecked virus would do to the economy?"
None of them have they are all stupid, right?

If they have, they haven't done much to suggest it

Everyone is aware of their own mortality dont be so naive to think they are not. Everyone I guess, except if they're on Crack or something but those people are not the one asking for things to be opened up.
Definitely there are some who don't wish to follow precautions on the spread but ultimately those people don't add up to be many.
However, The vast majority of those who want the economy to open up they are willing to follow precautions for the time being if not only for the minds of others but for their own life and wellbeing as well.
It still gets back to the fact that opening up is possible with precaution and distancing and those who wish to get to work should be able to. I dont know about forcing those who are too scared to get on with life whilst following precautions but sooner or later they will need to get back on the horse and that doesn't mean waiting for a potentially ineffective vaccine.