Let's go by the official US-government guideline how much a human life is worth in dollars:

[DetlefK]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_of_life

United States

The following estimates have been applied to the value of life. The estimates are either for one year of additional life or for the statistical value of a single life.

$50,000 per year of quality life (the "dialysis standard",[30] which had been a de facto international standard most private and government-run health insurance plans worldwide use to determine whether to cover a new medical procedure)[31]
$129,000 per year of quality life (an update to the "dialysis standard&quot [32][31]
$9.1 million (Environmental Protection Agency, 2010)[33]
$7.9 million (Food and Drug Administration, 2010)[33]
$9.2 million (Department of Transportation, 2014)[34]
$9.6 million (Department of Transportation, Aug. 2016)[35]

A human life is worth about $9 million to the US-government.

So, let's see: 320 million citizens, out of those 2% die. That's 6.4 million people dead. That's equivalent to $75.6 trillion in damages.

Which means that the US-government should, from a purely data-driven, economic and amoral point of view, prioritize human lives over economic damages UNTIL the foreseeable economic damage crosses that threshold.




With a measly $2 trillion aid-package passed, I don't think the US is anywhere near $75.6 trillion in suffered damages yet.

Once the situation in the US gets 10 times worse than it is now, then we can start worrying about the economy.

[KentuckyWoman]

1. My life has never been worth 9 million.

I love life. I fight to keep mine. I fight to keep yours too.
But 9 million bucks? I'm a nice lady who tries to make the world a better place every way I can, but I'm just not $9 Million.

And now that I'm pushing 80 and fairly decent shape except for a buggy ticker.... I'm not even sure spending quarter of a million on a heart bypass or some unforeseen illness is a good investment.

[The Magistrate]

2. An Interesting Approach, Sir

A useful one as well....


"Defeat of a hated enemy is something to be for."

[Chainfire]

3. The problem is

These assholes think that the economy can be restored before the people feel safe in going out. Even with just a high school education, I can tell them that it just ain't gonna happen. Trump is delusional thinking that, by Summer, the country will be better off than before this event began.

I have to figure that their plans involve a quick opening, a rapid (if temporary) rise in the markets, giving them a chance to dump more stocks bought dirt cheap in the last month. By the time the die-off from wave II begins, they will have positioned themselves in a financially better position.

Smart people, if they possibly can, will sit this out until there is an actual change in the lethality of the virus, brought by medical advances and not economic theory. I will not let the President or the governors decide for me when I should take the risk of dying for the benefit of the markets. I would rather live through a depression then spend eternity buried in a tomb of ignorance.

[jimfields33]

4. I don't know. A neighbor has already paid for a cruise for November

And has money down on the next available. I think people are hungry for normal life. I am curious about Disney. First day open will be interesting. Will people go because they think they can ride more rides due to less people? Will do many think that way that the park is packed? I am going to watch from afar on that one. I’m 30 minutes from Disney. I actually miss Disney spring more then the park.

[Chainfire]

5. You will never catch me on another cruise ship

The damn things are a perfect environment for spreading any kind of disease. The food and entertainment ain't good enough to die for.

[jimfields33]

6. It will be awhile for me for sure

I can’t say never though.