[pandaman]

Serious money. You have a crisis of your own making and you need to "save" all the people who lost their livelihood because you are literally fighting the Black Death, which kills people in small shops but, by miracle, spares them in Costco or Best Buy. And this money needs to be distributed. And you are in charge of the distribution. What's to gain here indeed?

[sofixa]

I find your tone a little peculiar.

> You have a crisis of your own making and you need to "save" all the people who lost their livelihood because you are literally fighting the Black Death, which kills people in small shops but, by miracle, spares them in Costco or Best Buy

You are probably aware, but people need to eat to survive. So, when trying to limit community spread of an airborne disease, closing down everything is basically as good as you can do - everyone stays home or outdoors in limited groups, and the disease will just stop spreading. However people need to eat, and move, and the fire department, medical services, etc. are still needed, and you can't stop all of that. Is it really that difficult to comprehend why some things were allowed to stay open while others were not?

And considering the example stores you used, you're probably American. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's local government who did the closing, but the the money to indeed save everyone impacted is coming from the federal government. How does a governor or whatever the equivalent is at the county level profit from the money the feds are giving businesses?

[pandaman]

You are probably aware that shops like Best Buy, Ikea, BB&B etc are not primarily selling food? I don't think Best Buy sells any food at all, maybe some candy at the register... So no, you have not slain me with facts and logic and smugness here just yet.

>How does a governor or whatever the equivalent is at the county level profit from the money the feds are giving businesses?

Feds give money to the states too and in much greater quantities than to any business.

[sofixa]

> You are probably aware that shops like Best Buy, Ikea, BB&B etc are not primarily selling food? I don't think Best Buy sells any food at all, maybe some candy at the register... So no, you have not slain me with facts and logic and smugness here just yet

I'm not too familiar with American brands ( Best Buy in particular). For them to remain open there was probably some reason like them providing essential supplies like electric appliances - if your oven dies you kinda need a new one asap. In France a special exemption was made for hardware stores, for repairs and as a mental health thing.

[pandaman]

Probably there was some reason, I am not interested in this discussion though. I had just refuted your "people need food as you might be aware" argument.