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Do you have an idea on how to implement a pause function into the economy? We live with the flue, but actually a pause could help there too to stop the spread i

by okr 7y ago

Do you have an idea on how to implement a pause function into the economy? We live with the flue, but actually a pause could help there too to stop the spread in the season. Who pushes the pause button? How do the businesses agree on pushing their pause button at the same time? Should there be a pausing fund? Paid in by all businesses that make business overseas? I find this interesting. Reminds me a little bit on traffic jams. If cars were automated, all cars could start/stop at the same time.

rswail 7y ago
We have a pause function, it is when governments issue public health and safety orders. The people that push the pause button are elected governments, There is a pausing fund, it is taxes and government borrowing through the national debt.
- okr 7y ago
  I agree. But did not consider it as a solution. :)
boudin 7y ago
I don't have the magical answer, but there's some elements in place to allow companies to stop their activities for a short amount of time (like furlough with a pay, like it's done in some countries, not sure how it works in the USA). Looking at how beneficial reducing trade and manufacturing has been for the environment, i can't help but think that we need to be able to take the same kind of action we've been taking for COVID-19 to address the other big challenges we're facing.
gremlinsinc 7y ago
A pause button as I see it would be something like issuing every american a food card for groceries. Moratorium on all bills, esp rents and mortgages. Prop up the companies that can't weather that, or that are crucial like cell phone bills, internet, electricity, water. When bills resume they resume as if it's the next month, not w/ 'backup due'. The reason its hard is because you can't hold off evictions for rent, if the mortgage company is gonna foreclose, but if you stop each chink of the chain of bills from collecting more bills, then it's just a matter of sit/wait. When you go back, everything should theoretically still be the way it was. At the basis everyone would be guaranteed to have their phone, internet, gas, electric, water, home, and food. All the essentials. Companies and commercial real estate would follow the same thing -- no rent for restaurants for example to the commercial real estate company that owns the building, no insurance payments, etc... Full pause.

by okr 7y ago

rswail 7y ago

We have a pause function, it is when governments issue public health and safety orders. The people that push the pause button are elected governments, There is a pausing fund, it is taxes and government borrowing through the national debt.

okr 7y ago
I agree. But did not consider it as a solution. :)

boudin 7y ago

I don't have the magical answer, but there's some elements in place to allow companies to stop their activities for a short amount of time (like furlough with a pay, like it's done in some countries, not sure how it works in the USA). Looking at how beneficial reducing trade and manufacturing has been for the environment, i can't help but think that we need to be able to take the same kind of action we've been taking for COVID-19 to address the other big challenges we're facing.

gremlinsinc 7y ago

A pause button as I see it would be something like issuing every american a food card for groceries. Moratorium on all bills, esp rents and mortgages. Prop up the companies that can't weather that, or that are crucial like cell phone bills, internet, electricity, water. When bills resume they resume as if it's the next month, not w/ 'backup due'. The reason its hard is because you can't hold off evictions for rent, if the mortgage company is gonna foreclose, but if you stop each chink of the chain of bills from collecting more bills, then it's just a matter of sit/wait. When you go back, everything should theoretically still be the way it was. At the basis everyone would be guaranteed to have their phone, internet, gas, electric, water, home, and food. All the essentials. Companies and commercial real estate would follow the same thing -- no rent for restaurants for example to the commercial real estate company that owns the building, no insurance payments, etc... Full pause.