How would you respond to today’s headline: Any public policy is warranted if we can save just one life

Exactly! Why can’t you people just stay home for a few more weeks?

Policy making is always about weighing competing values (# of lives ruined and not just # of lives lost). The is single-factor analysis, and is always the enemy of good sense.

But how are you going to justify your greed for $ if you end up killing Grandma?

It’s not as simple as lives v income. It’s lives v lives. (Possibly saving some lives today v certainly costing lives tomorrow.)

Those that are most susceptible to financial ruin are also those that are most susceptible to COVID-19. We have to keep them safe.

Wait! You’re telling me all airline industry professionals, all managers/engineers/analysts of mass transit systems, professional athletes, musicians, dancers, actors, singers...are all most susceptible to COVID-19?

These types of statement are the last refuge of the political scoundrel!