Direct cash payments are necessary when the federal government directs state localities to essentially shut down and place mandatory lock downs in place in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. It's more of a relief package oppose to a stimulus package. People compare this to the stimulus package in 2009 where the federal government started handing out checks for no reason but people don't see the nuance.
In 2009, the government didn't mandate that businesses close. Even though the virus is spreading, certain businesses would still be open providing service if the government didn't force shut downs therefore government intervention was part of the economic downturn thus is justified for providing relief.
I'm not necessarily oppose to some of the restrictions but I'd argue setting arbitrarily limits at at 75k for a cut off doesn't accurately reflect people's living situation. You could live in California under a multi-person household with that salary and not make it far.
In 2009, the government didn't mandate that businesses close. Even though the virus is spreading, certain businesses would still be open providing service if the government didn't force shut downs therefore government intervention was part of the economic downturn thus is justified for providing relief.
I'm not necessarily oppose to some of the restrictions but I'd argue setting arbitrarily limits at at 75k for a cut off doesn't accurately reflect people's living situation. You could live in California under a multi-person household with that salary and not make it far.
This is a very important point to bring up, and I'm very happy that you did. When the banking crisis happened in 2008 and the Great Recession happened, businesses were still able to be in operation -- it's not like you couldn't go to the pizza place down the street to eat, or the catering hall was going under from a lack of customers. Maybe people were spending less on luxuries because many lost their jobs, but businesses weren't mandated to close -- they closed if they had to.
That's why the Trump admin and Congress is giving money out to businesses to try to prop them up through this time. I know that if you can prove there was a financial loss from the coronavirus to your business, you're able to get up to a 10,000 grant from the US government which is fully forgivable with no string attached and you can get a guaranteed loan from them with loan interest rates for the rest of your loss.
I think the issue is going to end up being in who actually gets the money, here's an example: If you're in Alabama making 75,000 is a lot different then making 75,000 in NYC. In Alabama (or any other LCOL areas for that matter) you're going to get a lot more bang for your buck, compared to HCOL areas.
