As we see more and more demonstrations around the country demanding local and state leaders commence with relaxing stay at home/shelter in place restrictions so people can start to get back to work, the more we see media figures, Democrats, and even some on the right push back against the idea.

Unfortunately, much of the debate surrounding the issue has involved parties that are often talking past each other. In particular, the people pushing back on the idea of opening by the end of the month or early next month at a gradual pace seem to think that reopening is about bursting open the gates full steam ahead without thought for those who are most at risk for catching the Wuhan coronavirus. It’s not, but more often than not, that is the way some critics are framing it.

Twitter user OneFineJay had a great series of responses today to number cruncher Josh Jordan, who posted a recent CBS poll on what respondents thought about the idea of reopening and how they would react when it happened in their states:

I have to jump on this a little because I don't think Josh understands WHY people who want to the country to *responsibly* and *methodically* reopen, want it to reopen.

So I'm going to spell it out really simple:
Unemployed people descend into a slow death spiral. https://t.co/72fcihNCWq

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

I have seen what destitution can do to individuals and communities.

I also know that people can climb out of poverty.

This is different. This is a violation of the Fifth Amendment on a grand scale. This is something almost impossible empathize with unless it happened to you.

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

The very institution that we elected, with our implied consent, and under the use of emergency powers, struck down not just our ability to make a living, but our ability to make that call for ourselves.

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

Most of us here are not paid political hacks and we have our contingencies on how to live under five more years of Trump or 8 more years of Stacey Abrams.

We actually CARE about more than just "how the economy will help Trump win or lose."

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

Because those people who are unemployed through no fault of their own are going to need help. Those who have maintained their jobs will get taxed to death to help them AND will also have to step up and help their local communities. We feel that weight.

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

And this endless attacking of motives, this endless talking past each other is just absurd.

We know more today than 37 days ago.

We should expect people to behave responsibly.

No one will be perfect in this.

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

To put an even finer point on everything, Jay noted that the marches at their core were about people who simply need to get back to work in order to put food on the table for their families and to keep a roof over their heads:

It's not longer "the economy" when you're jobless, and I really hope Josh doesn't have to walk a mile in those shoes for him to get it.

— Jay (@OneFineJay) April 23, 2020

Well-said.

I’ll add to it that unfortunately there has also been this tendency by some folks (not necessarily Josh Jordan – I don’t know his full opinion on all of this) who argue against reopening that people who are in favor of starting the reopening process sooner rather than later don’t have skin in the game. That couldn’t be further from the truth. For example, my mom and dad are senior citizens. My dad has multiple underlying conditions that make him especially vulnerable to catching the Wuhan coronavirus.

I’ve talked to them about the reopen debate, and they understand, too, that we can’t stay in this holding pattern where almost no one works. People have to be able to provide for their families. Not only that, but there’s a mental health angle here that the people in positions to make decisions don’t seem to be factoring in to their decisions, like NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), for instance.

The longer people have to stay home, the more they feel isolated, and bad things can and sadly already have come from that.

Everyone – literally everyone – talking about this issue in America right now has skin in the game. Everyone. Whether it be themselves and/or their loved ones. The “they’re only marching because they want to get a haircut and get Trump re-elected even if it means people have to die” nonsense has got to stop.