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End the Lockdowns… But Don’t Be Fooled, It Won’t Save Us
Twelve days after it reopened for indoor dining (the only possible kind of dining, given its location inside of Grand Central Station), the famed Grand Central Oyster Bar has closed of its own accord. The New York Post has the story,
“We were only doing 3 percent of the revenues we ordinarily do at this time,” the chef added. Early on the Oyster Bar decided against providing takeout because commuters were not coming into Grand Central and nearby office towers were similarly devoid of people.
The owners of the Oyster Bar declare they aren’t considering closing permanently, but of course they are. Every restaurant in America, but especially those in lockdown zones, are considering closing or already have. In Disney Springs, even Wolfgang Puck decided this week to close permanently.
No restaurant in a high-traffic place like a train station or near a tourist destination will survive, no matter what local politicians do. Many of us have (rightly) been focused on pressuring politicians to loosen the grip on restaurants if we have a hope of ever eating out ever again, but the closure of these restaurants makes something very clear: Even if or when restaurants are legally going to be allowed to open, it’s not likely they’ll survive for one reason: fear. People are too scared, no matter what politicians say, to leave their homes. It goes to show we don’t need lockdowns or regulations; people are staying home voluntarily and have been for a long time. But the road back isn’t going to be easy or quick; we are in for a world of pain for a very, very long time. We’re basically committing societal suicide; fear of a virus that has next to no chance of killing any of us but will destroy life as we know it for a long time to come. If some of the most famous restaurants in New York City are operating at 3%, when (if ever) will anyone try to throw a concert or a live sports event again? I’ve been focused on ending the lockdowns because it feels like that’s the endpoint for this madness, but we need to start focusing on what this deep and paralyzing fear will do to our long-term recovery efforts.
Published in General
Ralphie,
Those of us who have experience in being required to make things work in the physical world, I mean other than writing and proofreading reasonable prose, know that life isn’t quite as simple as just going for the narrative. I mean maybe the advertising department can afford to think that way but engineering, production, customer service, and invariably even sales can’t afford this level of pure bullsh*t.
Thanks.
Regards,
Jim
Here in Kentucky, our governor (“Nanny” Andy Beshear) breathlessly reports to us each day the number of new cases. He recently told us that the “virus is coming after us.” The number of deaths are downplayed and never a mention that most of them are 80 years plus. Absolutely no discussion on why we should care how many people have tested positive for the virus. He’s extended our mask mandate for another month. He has been very clear that harsher measures may need to be instituted if we can’t bring things under control. Don’t worry though, if you feel like protesting and rioting in my city of Louisville, all covid rules are suspended.
Restaurants are open, but with reduced seating and a long list of spacing/cleaning requirements for the staff. You wear a mask to enter, remove it at your table, and wear it if you need to use the restroom. I’ve noticed many fast food restaurants are not even bothering to open their doors for sit-down customers. They have gone 100% drive-through.
That probably saves them at least one-time salary plus benefits, someone who would be doing nothing but cleaning.
ke,
Ever wonder why with so little going on the government never lays people off. I guess opening envelopes full of checks for people’s tax payments can be hellishly hard work. Well somebody’s got to do it. Neither rain nor sleet nor snow … well maybe they wear a letter opener out once in a while.
Regards,
Jim
But a lot fewer people are sending in tax payments these days… But I guess that just means they can take more paid vacations.
ke,
Listen to me, ke, knowing which box people must fill in on a standard form that hasn’t changed for 25 years is demanding work. They need that vacation to the Caribbean to unwind from all that stress.
Regards,
Jim
It’s not the stress of “working” that they need a break from. It’s the stress of knowing that they’re in effect “working” for… DONALD TRUMP!!!
Yes, this is all about the differing ideologies of different locations. Arizona has healthy numbers back in some restaurants, and even brewpubs, while full liquor license (distilled spirits) bars are still suppressed by executive edicts, limiting capacity and ordering mask wearing every time you stand up from your drink. Magically, the alcohol vapors protect you and other patrons so long as a bottle or glass is in front of you.
But it must be periodically emptied and refilled…
People will flee Democratic strongholds in search of habitable states. And they’ll bring their voting habits with them. Stay strong.
They might need to have some sense… something-ed… into them…
Seriously, there needs to be a public education campaign to both welcome newcomers and to make them think about what made them come and how their own behaviors will preserve those qualities of their new home that attracted them. “Freedom is not free. It is paid for daily by the decisions of our citizens and residents to hold themselves and government accountable to act and live in liberty.”
Yup. The tyranny of Pritzker/Lightfoot was the last straw for my wife and I’m definitely bringing my voting habits to TN.
True. This is why they’ve suffered the most during the COVID lockdowns. When you’re already one half-step away from bankruptcy, any economic downturn is a disaster. The tourism industry is the same way. When people need to tighten their finances, eating out and traveling are the first things to go . . .