[grayed-down]

I'm not disagreeing with you. However, it's just easier for Bill Gates to say that we should crater the US/world economy than, say, a waitress or a bartender or anyone living closer to the financial edge.

BTW, you really should not be using Perl 4 anymore.

[perl4ever]

Well, I'm disagreeing with you and I don't use Perl at all any more, I switched to VBA.

Who is saying we should "crater the economy" depends on your opinion of what will crater the economy, but all sorts of people are demanding things that someone thinks will crater the economy. That's what happens in a crisis, things seem crazy so people start talking about radical actions.

It's not difficult for some random person to say something that is going to have no personal or collective consequence. Gates may be insulated, but his comments have the potential to influence people who might in turn affect him.

[grayed-down]

I think it's a fairly simple proposition. Anyone who suggests that nations suspend across the board business operations beyond what is "reasonable", let's say beyond 4/5, is suggesting that we should "crater the economy" because that is what will happen. It's already happening.

And I'm still agreeing with you that Gates does indeed have a great deal of influence and should be very mindful of the human damage this cratering of the economy is going to have. Perhaps he should not comment publicly? But that's his right to do so.

Anyway, I disagree with Bill Gates on this. We need to get everything back up to speed again and still remain vigilant in protecting ourselves from this contagion.