To Open or Stay Closed, that is the Question.
As America labors over the dilemma of whether to open their businesses and public areas, or keep them closed for an extended period, we must not only look at the decisions of politicians and business operators, but also the public at large. As we have witnessed in numerous circumstances, the decisions by political and business leaders may be overridden by the decisions of their constituents. While a governor, mayor or business owner may pronounce "We're Open", it will be individual families themselves who determine their willingness to participate in group settings or public outings. As a litmus test for such, consider these twenty activities, and whether your customers/citizens/residents would be keen to join in on the activity:
- Spend an afternoon at the mall
- Fly on an airplane
- Attend a child's birthday party with your child
- Go to the movies
- Attend a work conference
- Go to a professional ballgame
- Return to the office/factory/shop/job site
- Stay in a hotel
- Send your kids back to school
- Take an out-of-state vacation
- Go to the gym, spin or yoga class
- Attend a wedding or reunion
- Take a bus, subway or train
- Go to a bar or club
- Attend an indoor concert or other performance
- Ride in an Uber, Lyft or taxi
- Take your kids to a theme park or zoo
- Go to the beach
- Have a dinner party at a restaurant
- Attend church service
As decision-makers, individuals and bodies have to weigh whether their constituents are willing to engage in the actives above, or whether out of fear or caution, they choose to voluntarily forego for the time being, even if given the opportunity. With this in mind, consider whether your residents or patrons are not only allowed to participate, but choose to for themselves and their families. Ultimately, it will be up individuals to determine the right time, and under what circumstances.
Senior Software Architect
4 年Putting my small business hat on vs. my day job -- we need to re-open and let the citizens make the decision of what they will engage in or not. I have read article after article that state 40% of restaurants will close permanently -- a hint to my small business. That is a lot jobs, not just within the restaurants but the infrastructure and services that are attached to them. This goes beyond consolidation in the market. Yes I am sensitive to folks will die no matter which direction we take. And yes I do have a a stake in this -- I have my Mom and others in the family that live at risk, that is why we have to look out for them. I'm not saying other groups won't be affected either but we know who is at greater risk -- so lets protect them and move on. BTW, I read an article that in the first week of restaurants opening in the 4 states that allowed it, at 25% and 50% capacities, that Longhorn had 80 locations in those states that they reopened. And in the first week alone they were at the 83% revenue of their pre-pandemic revenues. So that little glimpse tells me people are willing to take some risk (at least in the region of the country they opened) -- maybe people are not ready to rub elbows in the theater but that is proof in my eyes they are ready to reopen. So let it open and folks will choose between what level of re-entry they want.
Senior Technical Recruiter
4 年I say open up as much as possible, keep quarantines on the high risk groups and keep on living. Accept the fact that people will get sick and some will die. I think each state and community should make policy, not scientists and Washington politicians.
Ex-Housing Project Manager at Community Action Program Belknap- Merrimack Counties, Inc.
4 年I could post a ton of posts from people who lost so much more, people they loved who died. Until there is a decline no one should get to choose who lives or dies based on the economy. The more people who die the less the economy will have as people won't be here to spend. Something else to ponder.