Stimulus or Survival

One of Biden’s priorities is for Congress to enact legislation to deal with the economic effects Covid-19 has fallen to the country.  Far too many people who should really know better seem to confuse stimulus with survival.  The economy in 2021 isn’t like the economy in 2009, depressed because there isn’t enough demand; we haven’t fully recovered because we’re still on partial lockdown, with some activities curtailed by the risk of infection.  The goal of policy in this situation isn’t to pump up spending, getting people to eat out and travel. It is, instead, to help people, businesses and local governments get through the difficult period until widespread vaccination lets us go back to business as usual.  The US economy will be depressed at least into the summer and probably beyond. The last package didn’t provide remotely enough aid to get us through those months. While coronavirus relief legislation is often called “stimulus,” that’s not what Biden is trying to do.  Boosting the economy therefore completely misses the point and is not what is needed.  It should be obvious to every member of Congress what America needs is another round of disaster relief.  Far too many Republicans appear not to understand the most basic aspects of pandemic economics.  When business ae forced to close to prevent their customers and staff from spreading the virus stimulating spending will not help either the business or the business’ employees.  Relief, not stimulus is what is needed and relief will be needed as long as people are refrained from gathering, traveling, or otherwise patronizing the nation’s businesses.  What really matters is not what legislation is called but what it is designed to accomplish.  Until Republicans realize this there should be a hiatus placed on any filibuster. No Republican Senator should be allowed to block relief legislation because he or she has termed it to be a stimulus package that will go to people who do nt “deserve” government assistance.