COVID-19 response holds a reminder for when things return to normal

The current crisis, the trillions of dollars earmarked by the government to pull us through, and the inefficiency in getting that money into the hands of those who need it most have only served to clarify in my mind what I have always believed: Government is not an effective solution to the ills of society, no matter how much we might wish it were so.

If government is to play a role in addressing those ills, regulatory concerns — seeing those needs are met across the country in a balanced manor — would seem to be the best we can hope for. In theory, anyway. Often, they are taken too far, and far too easily driven by politics.

That’s unfortunate, as I do believe there are things — health care in particular — that should not be considered a luxury or only for the employed. The current system of health care in this country is a wreck, and it was before the ACA. But government’s ineffectiveness in these things is also a reality that was being proven in the shambles that remain of the ACA. Governments change. Priorities change. Trump and the Republicans manage to destroy the thing in a decade.

We see it in preparation for this crisis. Neglected stockpiles. Wishful thinking. Ignorance. Bureaucracy. A lack of tests. The dismantling of task forces and offices because they were created under the “wrong” president. With several months’ lead time, this nation was caught flat-footed. Some of that is on this administration, some of that is on its predecessors, but embarrassing, nonetheless.

Government’s ineffectiveness is highlighted still further by the CARES Act, which will carry a bill in the trillions. When this thing was first kicked around, there was talk of several monthly checks to see people through. Now, average citizens — many who are furloughed — wait in hope of one $1,200 check that won’t even cover the rent.

Rest assured, that’s a huge problem — one-third of renters did not pay on time April 1. Unlike those with mortgages, renters living paycheck-to-paycheck and with likely no income due to COVID-19 don’t get a break unless their landlords are sympathetic or are required to give them a pass in those jurisdictions who saw this coming.

And when does that check come? Two weeks? Two months? Too late? Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (who, it must be said, is doing a pretty good job given the circumstances) says those with direct deposit info on file with the IRS will get their money in two weeks. Let’s hope so. But, keep in mind, much depends on the IRS’s antiquated 1950s-era IT infrastructure.

And, speaking of infrastructure, those who can’t make ends meet are encouraged to file for unemployment, which millions have been doing, overwhelming systems that weren’t designed for that capacity. Similarly overwhelmed, the SBA, tasked with the vital goal of trying to help save our country’s small businesses.

Then, there’s the tons of cash earmarked to help big business. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not blind to the fact that meeting the payrolls for corporations is an important facet of this rescue plan, and Calvin Coolidge was not wrong when he said, “The business of America is business.” Many achieve “The American Dream” working all their lives for these outfits, but when you talk about programs this large, who is to say where the need is or where the money goes, and how efficiently that is done? Is Boeing’s bailout to meet payroll, or to accommodate for 737-max related woes? We all hope for the best, but in the end, who could tell?

No wonder Trump fired the watchdog who would oversee this program. The opportunities for fraud are endless.

Rep. Justin Amash was right when he called out the CARES Act for giving most of the money to corporations and special interests at the expense of individuals.

Those facts shouldn’t be that surprising, given neither party has proven themselves to be a good steward of the public purse. In fact, both tend to prove they are two sides of the same coin. The only difference is what pet projects they want to spend the money on.

That was only made clearer by the nearly-identically-worded responses from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Congressman Justin Amash officially submitted his ‘no’ vote in the congressional record on the bipartisan coronavirus relief bill that puts #FamiliesFirst amid the COVID-19 pandemic. #MI03

“During a national crisis, it’s unfortunate that Congressman Justin Amash would once again adhere to an extreme, out-of-touch ideology, even when it means risking the health, well-being, and economic security of thousands of #MI03.” — DCCC Spokesperson @Court_Rice

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Congressman Justin Amash officially submitted his ‘no’ vote in the congressional record on the bipartisan coronavirus relief bill that puts #FamiliesFirst amid the COVID-19 pandemic. #MI03

“During a national crisis, it’s unfortunate that Congressman Justin Amash would once again work against President Trump, even when it means risking the health, well-being, and economic security of thousands of #MI03.” — NRCC Spokeswoman @CarlyAtch

That would be almost comical if it weren’t for the circumstances. The Senate passed the bill 96–0, the House opted for a voice vote that wouldn’t require anyone to be on the record. As Gov. William J. Le Petomane so clearly recognized, “We’ve gotta protect our phony baloney jobs!”

Sadly, so far as COVID-19 is concerned, there is nowhere else to turn. Only the government has the ability to magically “create” money out of thin air to keep society afloat. Where else could a $2 trillion rescue plan be just the first step? Your bank would never forget what you owe to a penny. Only the government can deal in the realm of “funny money” — numbers so large they defy comprehension.

But, there is a lesson in this we can apply to the social programs Democratic candidates were so freely batting around during the debates and early primaries: Yes, the government is very good at spending large amounts of money, but the return on the investment — how much actually benefits the individual — is problematic, at best.

The government is just not a precise instrument when it comes to fixing problems. It’s more like trying to swat a fly with a two-by-four.

Originally published at http://www.cdsix.com.