csmonitor--2020-04-03--How small does a 'small business' need to be for financial aid?

As the federal government prepares to launch a $ 349 billion loan program meant to help small businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic , critics have growing concerns that some mom-and-pop shops might get squeezed out .
The Paycheck Protection Program – part of the $ 2 trillion relief package signed into law last week – was billed as a way to help local businesses that often form the fabric of communities retain workers and pay bills .
But an expansive definition of `` small business '' in the law means that it will be open to much more than just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applications Friday .
Operators of name-brand hotel , restaurant , and service chains and franchises with thousands of employees at locations scattered across the United States are eligible .
Lobbyists are also pushing the Small Business Administration to interpret the law generously to help sectors devastated by mandatory business closures and stay-at-home orders , possibly making the aid available to international fast food and lodging giants and allowing individual owners to get around a $ 10 million cap on loans .
While Congress could approve more money later on , the program as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly .
That could mean applicants who have the financial and legal expertise of a larger organization might be able to maximize their benefits , not leaving much for smaller businesses , especially those who wait or have problems applying .
`` I ’ m certain that ’ s what ’ s going to happen , '' said Lauren Friel , the owner of a wine bar in Somerville , Massachusetts , that has been closed for three weeks .
`` It makes me really angry .
It ’ s outrageous .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pockets full of cash . ''
Ms. Friel said she intends to apply Friday for around $ 50,000 to help her pay rent and employees who have been furloughed , but she 's not expecting to be successful .
Independent contractors and the self-employed could be especially hurt since they will not be eligible to apply until April 10 under guidance from the Treasury Department .
By then , banks could be overwhelmed with applications .
`` It ’ s hard for me to say this : There is only $ 350 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hotel chain is going to be going after this money .
It ’ s not going to last , '' said Ron Feldman , chief development officer at ApplePie Capital , which has been helping businesses get ready to apply .
`` If you want to get this loan , speed is your friend , '' Mr. Feldman told 2,000 franchise industry officials on a conference call this week .
Underscoring the need for help , the federal government reported Thursday that a record 10 million workers filed for unemployment in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brabant , manager of government relations for the National Federation of Independent Business , said he was still optimistic that the loan program would deliver for traditional small businesses .
`` Our tone could change in a week if things don ’ t go well , '' he said .
The program will give businesses low-interest loans of about 2.5 times their average monthly payroll .
They will be fully or partially forgiven if businesses show that the money was used to retain or rehire employees and pay some overhead expenses through June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food service and lodging businesses qualify as long as they do not have more than 500 employees at a single location .
It also declared that thousands of franchises recognized by the SBA – like multi-location restaurants , hotels , gyms , and hair salons – will qualify regardless of their revenue and ties to large corporate parents .
Many nonprofits , which are normally ineligible for such aid , also qualify .
The law says the maximum loan will be $ 10 million .
But lobbyists representing chains are asking that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than each owner .
The International Franchise Association argued in a letter to the SBA that would allow the program `` to achieve its intended outcome and have maximum impact . ''
The letter urged the agency to confirm that franchisors it recognizes – that are the parent companies of major chains from Burger King to Marriott – qualify as well .
The agency is expected to issue additional guidance on the program Thursday .
Greg Flynn , CEO of the Flynn Restaurant Group , which calls itself the largest restaurant franchisee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Applebee 's , Arby 's , Taco Bell , and Panera locations , said larger employers should get relief , too , so that they can quickly rehire workers .
Mr. Flynn said that he furloughed 30,000 of his 48,000 employees as his company 's revenue dropped by 60 % in a matter of days .
He is hoping to qualify for 2 1/2 times his $ 60 million monthly payroll under the program .
`` It is my 100 % total focus just to survive and keep the infrastructure in place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees to come back to , '' Mr. Flynn said .
`` With [ the rescue ] , we can do it .
Without it , I don ’ t think we can . ''
Darryl DePriest , who was chief counsel for the SBA office that advocates for small business from 2015 to 2017 , called the $ 349 billion `` almost like a first installment '' and predicted Congress will eventually appropriate more money .
But for now , business owners who wait or have problems filing their applications might lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Rugy , a research fellow at George Mason University .
`` When we look at back who were the beneficiaries of this , we ’ re probably going to see that it ’ s skewed toward the bigger of the so-called small businesses , '' she said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

As the federal government prepares to launch a $349 billion loan program meant to help small businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic, critics have growing concerns that some mom-and-pop shops might get squeezed out.
The Paycheck Protection Program – part of the $2 trillion relief package signed into law last week – was billed as a way to help local businesses that often form the fabric of communities retain workers and pay bills. But an expansive definition of "small business" in the law means that it will be open to much more than just Main Street shops when lenders start processing applications Friday.
Operators of name-brand hotel, restaurant, and service chains and franchises with thousands of employees at locations scattered across the United States are eligible. Lobbyists are also pushing the Small Business Administration to interpret the law generously to help sectors devastated by mandatory business closures and stay-at-home orders, possibly making the aid available to international fast food and lodging giants and allowing individual owners to get around a $10 million cap on loans.
While Congress could approve more money later on, the program as it stands is expected to run out quickly. That could mean applicants who have the financial and legal expertise of a larger organization might be able to maximize their benefits, not leaving much for smaller businesses, especially those who wait or have problems applying.
"I’m certain that’s what’s going to happen," said Lauren Friel, the owner of a wine bar in Somerville, Massachusetts, that has been closed for three weeks. "It makes me really angry. It’s outrageous. They are going to walk away with their pockets full of cash."
Ms. Friel said she intends to apply Friday for around $50,000 to help her pay rent and employees who have been furloughed, but she's not expecting to be successful.
Independent contractors and the self-employed could be especially hurt since they will not be eligible to apply until April 10 under guidance from the Treasury Department. By then, banks could be overwhelmed with applications.
"It’s hard for me to say this: There is only $350 billion in this fund. Every big restaurant and hotel chain is going to be going after this money. It’s not going to last," said Ron Feldman, chief development officer at ApplePie Capital, which has been helping businesses get ready to apply.
"If you want to get this loan, speed is your friend," Mr. Feldman told 2,000 franchise industry officials on a conference call this week.
Underscoring the need for help, the federal government reported Thursday that a record 10 million workers filed for unemployment in the two weeks ending March 28.
Jeff Brabant, manager of government relations for the National Federation of Independent Business, said he was still optimistic that the loan program would deliver for traditional small businesses.
"Our tone could change in a week if things don’t go well," he said.
The program will give businesses low-interest loans of about 2.5 times their average monthly payroll. They will be fully or partially forgiven if businesses show that the money was used to retain or rehire employees and pay some overhead expenses through June 30.
The law specified that all food service and lodging businesses qualify as long as they do not have more than 500 employees at a single location. It also declared that thousands of franchises recognized by the SBA – like multi-location restaurants, hotels, gyms, and hair salons – will qualify regardless of their revenue and ties to large corporate parents. Many nonprofits, which are normally ineligible for such aid, also qualify.
The law says the maximum loan will be $10 million. But lobbyists representing chains are asking that the cap apply to each location – rather than each owner.
The International Franchise Association argued in a letter to the SBA that would allow the program "to achieve its intended outcome and have maximum impact." The letter urged the agency to confirm that franchisors it recognizes – that are the parent companies of major chains from Burger King to Marriott – qualify as well.
The agency is expected to issue additional guidance on the program Thursday.
Greg Flynn, CEO of the Flynn Restaurant Group, which calls itself the largest restaurant franchisee in the U.S. and owns more than 1,200 Applebee's, Arby's, Taco Bell, and Panera locations, said larger employers should get relief, too, so that they can quickly rehire workers.
Mr. Flynn said that he furloughed 30,000 of his 48,000 employees as his company's revenue dropped by 60% in a matter of days. He is hoping to qualify for 2 1/2 times his $60 million monthly payroll under the program.
"It is my 100% total focus just to survive and keep the infrastructure in place, so there is a home for our employees to come back to," Mr. Flynn said. "With [the rescue], we can do it. Without it, I don’t think we can."
Darryl DePriest, who was chief counsel for the SBA office that advocates for small business from 2015 to 2017, called the $349 billion "almost like a first installment" and predicted Congress will eventually appropriate more money.
But for now, business owners who wait or have problems filing their applications might lose out to larger applicants, said Veronique de Rugy, a research fellow at George Mason University.
"When we look at back who were the beneficiaries of this, we’re probably going to see that it’s skewed toward the bigger of the so-called small businesses," she said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-01--A crisis that draws the best from investors

To help end the coronavirus pandemic , many people are reinforcing certain codes of behavior .
They are more neighborly and salubrious .
They are social distancing and shopping without hoarding .
They are learning the etiquette of video conferencing from home .
These are signaling a new “ we are all in this together ” ethic .
In surprising news , many are also focused on ESG .
Those initials stand for a code of behavior in the business world known as “ environmental , social , and governance.
” In short , these are metrics used by more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on par with shareholders .
They focus on long-term sustainability over predatory short-term profits , on issues like climate change and inequality over the next quarterly report .
During the coronavirus crisis , for example , many workers are being furloughed instead of fired .
Companies are donating equipment or finding other ways to help their community .
They are suspending dividends to stockholders or putting off bonuses for executives .
But here ’ s the big news : According to research by Bloomberg Intelligence and RBC Capital Markets , investors who bought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faring better than other broad indexes so far this year .
Money keeps flowing into ESG mutual funds , says Bank of America .
In other words , as the tide goes out on the global economy , doing good is paying off .
In the post-COVID-19 world , estimates the British bank Barclays , the use of ESG by investors may accelerate .
Investors see the crisis as a warmup lesson for potential hits to the economy in the future , such as climate change .
They are looking to corporations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current panic among investors , many now see an upside to ethical values in companies over bottom-line profits .
The virus crisis is lifting many codes of behavior .
Why not in capitalism ?

To help end the coronavirus pandemic, many people are reinforcing certain codes of behavior. They are more neighborly and salubrious. They are social distancing and shopping without hoarding. They are learning the etiquette of video conferencing from home. These are signaling a new “we are all in this together” ethic.
In surprising news, many are also focused on ESG.
Those initials stand for a code of behavior in the business world known as “environmental, social, and governance.” In short, these are metrics used by more corporations in recent years to put stakeholders on par with shareholders. They focus on long-term sustainability over predatory short-term profits, on issues like climate change and inequality over the next quarterly report.
During the coronavirus crisis, for example, many workers are being furloughed instead of fired. Companies are donating equipment or finding other ways to help their community. They are suspending dividends to stockholders or putting off bonuses for executives.
But here’s the big news: According to research by Bloomberg Intelligence and RBC Capital Markets, investors who bought stocks in companies with strong ESG are faring better than other broad indexes so far this year. Money keeps flowing into ESG mutual funds, says Bank of America.
In other words, as the tide goes out on the global economy, doing good is paying off.
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In the post-COVID-19 world, estimates the British bank Barclays, the use of ESG by investors may accelerate. Investors see the crisis as a warmup lesson for potential hits to the economy in the future, such as climate change. They are looking to corporations to help with our collective resiliency.
Despite the current panic among investors, many now see an upside to ethical values in companies over bottom-line profits. The virus crisis is lifting many codes of behavior. Why not in capitalism?


csmonitor--2020-04-03--Daily for April 3, 2020

Daily for April 3, 2020

Jessica Calarco has been thinking a lot recently about the importance of school .
This isn ’ t just because the sociology professor has been learning firsthand , like so many millions of other parents around the country , how life works without school .
( For her , it involves new locks on the office door to keep her 5- and 2-year old from interrupting the Indiana University classes she is now teaching by Zoom . )
No , for Professor Calarco , the new life of trying to get a preschooler to do worksheets while a toddler runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a host of concerns about what this unprecedented moment in American education might mean long term – particularly for disadvantaged students .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Professor Calarco studies inequity in education .
Recently , she published a paper on the difference in homework expectations for low-income families .
So she worries about increasing educational disparity as tens of millions of students bring all of their work home , for an unknown length of time .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that schooling has basically all been pushed home , ” she says .
Professor Calarco is far from the only one thinking about the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic ’ s impact on the education system .
As of April 2 , at least 55.1 million students were out of school in the U.S. , according to Education Week , which has been keeping a running tally of school closings .
At least 124,000 schools have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis , according to their count – nearly all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist in the country , according to the National Center for Education Statistics .
“ There ’ s no way you can get through an experience like this without some sort of impact , ” says Vicki Zakrzewski , education director at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California , Berkeley .
“ I wonder if it won ’ t change how we view the purpose of education .
In the West it ’ s been about academics .
How to survive in a global marketplace .
This is making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important.
” At this point , the predictions are theoretical .
As Michael Hansen , senior fellow and the director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution , says , a lot depends on whether schools and families treat this moment like an extended snow storm – a monthlong closure after which everything goes back to normal – or a fundamental shift .
But he and others say that , at the very least , the experience in online learning for millions of students will change the way schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been an overall resistance to technology [ in schools ] , ” Mr. Hansen says .
“ I do believe this will be something that will motivate more schools and districts and states to take the virtual learning environment and classroom much more seriously.
” Indeed , over the past weeks , students and teachers have jumped into all varieties of virtual education , from Google classroom videos to Zoom lectures to virtual field trips .
But as Jennifer Mathes , interim chief executive officer for the nonprofit Online Learning Consortium , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technological surface .
“ What we ’ re seeing right now doesn ’ t fully reflect what online can do , ” she says .
She expects that as educators continue teaching remotely – and even after they come back to the physical classroom – they will likely delve into a more concerted and sophisticated exploration of how to embrace online learning .
“ I don ’ t think anyone ever saw something like this happening on this scale , ” she says .
“ But it could happen again .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shift into online learning and do it in a way that is effective.
” While Mr. Hansen says he doubts that the online classroom will replace much elementary education – just check out the memes posted by parents trying to work at home while managing their second graders ’ internet-based lessons – he sees a potential for virtual education to affect older grades .
High school , for instance , has long puzzled educational reformers , resisting the achievement gains enjoyed over the past decade by younger students .
Perhaps , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for innovation in these older grades .
“ I wouldn ’ t be surprised to see more and more states requiring one or two virtual classes in high school , ” he says .
But as Professor Calarco points out , there are issues with any large movement to online education .
There is still a large digital divide in the U.S .
According to the Pew Research Center ’ s analysis of 2015 U.S. census data , nearly a third of lower income school-age children lack access to high-speed internet .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents with the time and resources to give extra academic help , Professor Calarco says .
This is part of the reason why Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers , believes the pandemic will push schools in the opposite direction .
“ People thought , ‘ Online .
It ’ s going to replace teaching and learning.
’ Nope .
Now people are seeing all the negatives , ” she says .
“ What you ’ re seeing is the limitation of remote learning and online learning.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remind people of the importance of school .
Beyond academics , schools can serve communities as a source of food for lower income students , counseling , and the arts .
Teachers may also be able to do their jobs more creatively , she says .
The federal government has lifted requirements for standardized testing ; teachers now have more independence to create the best curriculum possible for their students .
“ People are starting to appreciate again the bricks-and-mortar schools ; what they mean for socialization , relationship building , ” Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Association of Independent Schools in New England , is also thinking about relationships .
“ How do you keep community at this moment ?
” she says .
“ What does community mean when we don ’ t congregate ?
How do you keep community in a virtual world ?
Our leaders are grappling with that.
” She , too , is noticing a new sort of innovation and imagination within the education landscape .
School leaders , even at the most rigorous schools in the country , are recognizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to teach 100 % of the intended curricular material – and some are starting to wonder whether that ’ s OK , whether the volume of content itself is less important than the underlying skills .
The traditional approach of “ synchronized learning , ” where students are learning together at the same time , is shifting to individual learning .
And teachers who have never taught virtually are experimenting with and creating innovative platforms – often doing so in amazing , new ways , she says .
“ People ask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do to keep learning and curiosity alive , but not necessarily have to deliver curricular content in exactly the same way , or in the same volume or quantity , ’ ” she says .
“ This is a moment that demands learning by our educators … and I ’ ve got to say , educators like learning.
” Ms. Leheny sees it as inevitable that schools will have to grow and change from this pandemic .
So does Ms. Zakrzewski , from the Greater Good Science Center .
Her program recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” site , which shares research-based practices in social-emotional learning and character development , among other topics .
“ Kids eventually will be going back to school , ” she says .
“ There will be some processing that needs to happen with these children , and with the teachers .
What just happened ?
What did we just live through ?
It ’ s not just about the academic tasks anymore .
This idea of shared humanity is coming out as a theme .
What kind of world do we want to @ @ @ @

How online learning may be more than a stopgap in the US Collapse
Jessica Calarco has been thinking a lot recently about the importance of school.
This isn’t just because the sociology professor has been learning firsthand, like so many millions of other parents around the country, how life works without school. (For her, it involves new locks on the office door to keep her 5- and 2-year old from interrupting the Indiana University classes she is now teaching by Zoom.)
No, for Professor Calarco, the new life of trying to get a preschooler to do worksheets while a toddler runs amok in the background has brought up a host of concerns about what this unprecedented moment in American education might mean long term – particularly for disadvantaged students.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Professor Calarco studies inequity in education. Recently, she published a paper on the difference in homework expectations for low-income families. So she worries about increasing educational disparity as tens of millions of students bring all of their work home, for an unknown length of time.
“Homework-related inequalities become even more consequential now that schooling has basically all been pushed home,” she says.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters View caption Hide caption Lydia Hassebroek, who attends Public School 34, conducts an experiment at her home in New York on March 23, 2020, the first day of remote school after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order closing public schools statewide due to concerns over the rapid spread of COVID-19.
Professor Calarco is far from the only one thinking about the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the education system. As of April 2, at least 55.1 million students were out of school in the U.S., according to Education Week, which has been keeping a running tally of school closings. At least 124,000 schools have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, according to their count – nearly all of the 98,000 public and 34,000 private schools that exist in the country, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
“There’s no way you can get through an experience like this without some sort of impact,” says Vicki Zakrzewski, education director at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. “I wonder if it won’t change how we view the purpose of education. In the West it’s been about academics. How to survive in a global marketplace. This is making us step back and question what is important.”
At this point, the predictions are theoretical. As Michael Hansen, senior fellow and the director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, says, a lot depends on whether schools and families treat this moment like an extended snow storm – a monthlong closure after which everything goes back to normal – or a fundamental shift.
But he and others say that, at the very least, the experience in online learning for millions of students will change the way schools approach virtual education.
Emily Elconin/Reuters View caption Hide caption Molly Maguire uses chalk to calculate an addition problem in her driveway during a math exercise created by her mom, Hattie Maguire, as schools are closed to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Salem Township, Michigan, March 24, 2020.
“There has been an overall resistance to technology [in schools],” Mr. Hansen says. “I do believe this will be something that will motivate more schools and districts and states to take the virtual learning environment and classroom much more seriously.”
Indeed, over the past weeks, students and teachers have jumped into all varieties of virtual education, from Google classroom videos to Zoom lectures to virtual field trips. But as Jennifer Mathes, interim chief executive officer for the nonprofit Online Learning Consortium, says, many educators are just scratching the technological surface.
“What we’re seeing right now doesn’t fully reflect what online can do,” she says. She expects that as educators continue teaching remotely – and even after they come back to the physical classroom – they will likely delve into a more concerted and sophisticated exploration of how to embrace online learning.
“I don’t think anyone ever saw something like this happening on this scale,” she says. “But it could happen again. We’re going to have to be prepared to shift into online learning and do it in a way that is effective.”
While Mr. Hansen says he doubts that the online classroom will replace much elementary education – just check out the memes posted by parents trying to work at home while managing their second graders’ internet-based lessons – he sees a potential for virtual education to affect older grades. High school, for instance, has long puzzled educational reformers, resisting the achievement gains enjoyed over the past decade by younger students. Perhaps, he says, online learning could be used for innovation in these older grades.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see more and more states requiring one or two virtual classes in high school,” he says.
Lindsey Wasson/Reuters View caption Hide caption Adison Pucci does squats at his home in Bothell, Washington, March 11, 2020, using an exercise video made by his middle school teachers as stepbrother Foxton Harding looks on. They are learning from home after the Northshore School District closed in-person classes due to coronavirus concerns.
But as Professor Calarco points out, there are issues with any large movement to online education. There is still a large digital divide in the U.S. According to the Pew Research Center’s analysis of 2015 U.S. census data, nearly a third of lower income school-age children lack access to high-speed internet. Those same children are least likely to have parents with the time and resources to give extra academic help, Professor Calarco says.
This is part of the reason why Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, believes the pandemic will push schools in the opposite direction.
“People thought, ‘Online. It’s going to replace teaching and learning.’ Nope. Now people are seeing all the negatives,” she says. “What you’re seeing is the limitation of remote learning and online learning.”
In her view, the pandemic may well remind people of the importance of school. Beyond academics, schools can serve communities as a source of food for lower income students, counseling, and the arts. Teachers may also be able to do their jobs more creatively, she says. The federal government has lifted requirements for standardized testing; teachers now have more independence to create the best curriculum possible for their students.
“People are starting to appreciate again the bricks-and-mortar schools; what they mean for socialization, relationship building,” Ms. Weingarten says.
Claire Leheny, executive director of the Association of Independent Schools in New England, is also thinking about relationships.
“How do you keep community at this moment?” she says. “What does community mean when we don’t congregate? How do you keep community in a virtual world? Our leaders are grappling with that.”
She, too, is noticing a new sort of innovation and imagination within the education landscape. School leaders, even at the most rigorous schools in the country, are recognizing that they simply won’t be able to teach 100% of the intended curricular material – and some are starting to wonder whether that’s OK, whether the volume of content itself is less important than the underlying skills. The traditional approach of “synchronized learning,” where students are learning together at the same time, is shifting to individual learning. And teachers who have never taught virtually are experimenting with and creating innovative platforms – often doing so in amazing, new ways, she says.
“People ask, ‘What are the things we need to do to keep learning and curiosity alive, but not necessarily have to deliver curricular content in exactly the same way, or in the same volume or quantity,’” she says. “This is a moment that demands learning by our educators … and I’ve got to say, educators like learning.”
Ms. Leheny sees it as inevitable that schools will have to grow and change from this pandemic. So does Ms. Zakrzewski, from the Greater Good Science Center. Her program recently launched the “Greater Good in Education” site, which shares research-based practices in social-emotional learning and character development, among other topics.
“Kids eventually will be going back to school,” she says. “There will be some processing that needs to happen with these children, and with the teachers. What just happened? What did we just live through? It’s not just about the academic tasks anymore. This idea of shared humanity is coming out as a theme. What kind of world do we want to live in?”


csmonitor--2020-04-03--Care for the social ills of isolation

Care for the social ills of isolation

As the COVID-19 shutdown of businesses goes global , governments are helping people deal with the hardship of lost jobs and wages .
Yet they are discovering another need among people enduring prolonged isolation : problem behaviors that result in harm to others or themselves .
For that , money is not a solution .
Compassionate care is .
Spain , for example , has restricted most gambling advertising because of a spike in online gaming among people stuck at home and either lonely , bored , or stressed .
In many countries , hotlines for reporting domestic abuse have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
And with China disclosing a jump in divorces after ending its coronavirus lockdown , Russia decided to suspend the registration of divorces until June 1 .
Russians already have one of the world ’ s highest divorce rates .
For many people , isolation at home combined with anxiety over COVID-19 has intensified existing personal problems , from addiction to bumpy relationships .
Close to half of Americans told pollsters for the Kaiser Family Foundation that the pandemic had affected their mental health .
The inner life of the isolated billions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dimension .
Many religious groups , therapists , and social activists are stepping up their outreach .
Alcoholics Anonymous , for example , is holding meetings online or over the phone .
Governments , meanwhile , are only catching up with the problem .
In Britain , a few members of Parliament have asked the gambling industry to help reduce the sudden increase in online wagering following the shutdown of brick-and-mortar gaming sites .
They want caps on how much money a person can bet each day , for example , and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off-beat contests like table tennis in the absence of mainstream sports .
An estimated 9 % of online bettors in Britain are considered problem gamblers .
The industry has responded by promising to “ monitor the amount of time and money that players spend during the pandemic lockdown.
” Perhaps the term self-isolation needs to be dropped for something less self-oriented .
Most countries have the tools , such as the internet , to offer remote care and companionship for people cooped up at home and either physically alone or with someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping people cope with fear of the virus .
Others can help heal the emotions driving problem behaviors at home .

As the COVID-19 shutdown of businesses goes global, governments are helping people deal with the hardship of lost jobs and wages. Yet they are discovering another need among people enduring prolonged isolation: problem behaviors that result in harm to others or themselves.
For that, money is not a solution. Compassionate care is.
Spain, for example, has restricted most gambling advertising because of a spike in online gaming among people stuck at home and either lonely, bored, or stressed.
In many countries, hotlines for reporting domestic abuse have had to increase the number of social workers.
And with China disclosing a jump in divorces after ending its coronavirus lockdown, Russia decided to suspend the registration of divorces until June 1. Russians already have one of the world’s highest divorce rates.
For many people, isolation at home combined with anxiety over COVID-19 has intensified existing personal problems, from addiction to bumpy relationships. Close to half of Americans told pollsters for the Kaiser Family Foundation that the pandemic had affected their mental health.
The inner life of the isolated billions around the world now has an outer dimension. Many religious groups, therapists, and social activists are stepping up their outreach. Alcoholics Anonymous, for example, is holding meetings online or over the phone. Governments, meanwhile, are only catching up with the problem.
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In Britain, a few members of Parliament have asked the gambling industry to help reduce the sudden increase in online wagering following the shutdown of brick-and-mortar gaming sites. They want caps on how much money a person can bet each day, for example, and an end to inducements to risk money on off-beat contests like table tennis in the absence of mainstream sports. An estimated 9% of online bettors in Britain are considered problem gamblers. The industry has responded by promising to “monitor the amount of time and money that players spend during the pandemic lockdown.”
Perhaps the term self-isolation needs to be dropped for something less self-oriented. Most countries have the tools, such as the internet, to offer remote care and companionship for people cooped up at home and either physically alone or with someone who is abusive. The healing professions are helping people cope with fear of the virus. Others can help heal the emotions driving problem behaviors at home.


csmonitor--2020-03-27--Coronavirus and recession: How is this economic crisis different?

This is vital , he says , but so is resolving the pandemic .
Getting the economy restarted while also minimizing recurrences of COVID-19 “ will be an ongoing process , ” Dr. Taylor says , “ and it ’ s probably going to involve both bottom-up experimentation and top-down regulation.
” But the goal differs from typical recessions .
“ You can ’ t simultaneously create conditions that cause whole industries to shut down , and also ‘ stimulate ’ the economy at the same time .
What we ’ re doing now is just a gigantic Band-Aid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segments of the economy have come to a virtual halt amid government-encouraged efforts to contain the COVID-19 disease .
At the same time , governments are acting to mitigate the shutdown ’ s effects on households and businesses .
Congress ’ $ 2 trillion relief package includes assistance to stave off mass layoffs .
It also sends relief checks to individual Americans and bolsters the unemployment insurance system .
In its speed and its depth , this new global recession really is different from those that came before .
Unlike the housing market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a contagion that has hit the global economy much more suddenly .
The so-called Spanish flu in 1918 was another serious pandemic , but this time around , the economic toll comes from conscious efforts to stop a disease before it gets that bad .
In its speed and its depth , this new global recession really is different from those that came before .
That ’ s how economists view the near shutdown of economies across major portions of the world due to the coronavirus .
And they say it means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unlike the housing market and banking meltdown of 2008 , this is a contagion affecting public health that has hit the global economy much more suddenly .
How about the 1918 Spanish flu ?
That was another serious pandemic , in fact one where the deaths totaled an estimated 2 % of world population .
But this time around , the economic toll comes from conscious efforts to stop a disease before it gets that bad .
The unusual nature of this crisis has implications for the policy responses now underway in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .
One key example : A plunge in business revenue , prompting a record-fast spike in unemployment , is putting special focus on how to prop up ailing businesses – not just households or banks – to avoid still deeper and more permanent job losses in the weeks ahead .
Moreover , because of its roots in a pandemic , the economic answers to this crisis are also prominently intertwined with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobilization of resources .
And on all fronts , experts say this crisis calls , more urgently than most , for both a rapid initial response and a sustained , adaptive follow-through .
“ This is a unique and profound challenge , ” says Jonathan Rothwell , principal economist for Gallup and a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington .
It requires an extraordinary response , he adds , even as he voices hope that with proper containment of the disease , within months people may “ feel comfortable going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again.
” How is this different ?
The abruptness and severity stand out .
From restaurants and hotels to auto production and Uber rides , major segments of the economy have come to a virtual halt amid government-encouraged efforts to contain the COVID-19 disease .
Disease-induced effects on the economy are rare but not unprecedented .
Researchers say a 1918 influenza pandemic ( inaptly called the “ Spanish ” flu ) was the fourth-worst global economic event since 1870 , after World War I , World War II , and the Great Depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and similar efforts back then , but not to today ’ s extent .
This may be the first time that government responses to a public health crisis have caused a recession , says economist Timothy Taylor , managing editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives , by email .
Yet that doesn ’ t mean intervention on behalf of public health is bad for the economy .
A newly released paper examining the 1918 pandemic , by Federal Reserve and Massachusetts Institute of Technology economists , finds that cities that intervened earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economically “ and , if anything , grow faster after the pandemic is over.
” What does this mean for solutions ?
Today ’ s temporary curbs on restaurant dining , concerts , movies , and numerous other activities are described by many experts as efforts to “ flatten the curve ” of COVID-19 deaths , to hold a spike in check and reduce it over time .
The economic responses , similarly , aim to flatten a different curve – the magnitude of the recession ’ s effects on households and businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 2 trillion bipartisan deal , struck by the Senate in consultation with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , sending it to President Donald Trump for his promised signature .
The package includes loans and assistance to stave off mass layoffs by small businesses and hard-hit industries such as airlines .
It also targets most individual Americans with relief checks , and bolsters the unemployment insurance system .
Comparable steps are being tried in many nations around the world .
Although all that is being called “ stimulus , ” the goal differs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t simultaneously create conditions that cause whole industries to shut down , and also ‘ stimulate ’ the economy at the same time .
What we ’ re doing now is just a gigantic Band-Aid , ” Dr. Taylor says .
This is where persistence and adaptation comes in .
The immediate bandage is vital .
( Britain , Ireland , and Denmark have plans to retain jobs by directly helping with payroll costs during the downturn .
The U.S. is trying easy loans toward that same end . )
But so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy restarted while also minimizing recurrences of COVID-19 “ will be an ongoing process , ” Dr. Taylor says , “ and it ’ s probably going to involve both bottom-up experimentation and top-down regulation.
” What are the challenges and pitfalls ?
The foremost question about all this is , what will actually work ?
Steps such as cash payments to households and loans to businesses have proved their worth in past crises , economists say .
And although the big rescue package from Congress has flaws , Dr. Rothwell says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan forgiveness to businesses that use the money to maintain their payrolls .
Other questions relate to fairness or concerns about inequality .
Plenty of economists , even on the liberal side , stress the importance of speedy and generous assistance over agonizing about who ’ s getting how much help .
Yet many counter that a rescue can and should be tailored for equity and accountability .
“ There ’ s no reason for me to get a $ 1,000 check , ” says Dr. Rothwell in Washington , noting that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have lost all or much of their income .
The U.S. Senate bill will mandate that Trump-family businesses won ’ t get direct government infusions of money , and that cash payments to households have an income-based ceiling .
While some observers still decry what they see as a federal penchant for bailouts , economist Ioana Marinescu of the University of Pennsylvania says businesses aren ’ t responsible for this crisis .
Instead , she says they warrant rescue in this case as a kind of “ public good , ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) that are at risk if they fail .
As some experts see it , the stakes go beyond public health and the economy .
Social cohesion is also potentially threatened if the crisis leaves many desperate and without money .
“ The main ( perhaps even the sole ) objective of economic policy today should be to prevent social breakdown , ” writes economist Branko Milanovic , an expert on global inequality at the City University of New York , in a March 19 Foreign Affairs article .
And although these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee such challenges won ’ t recur , notes Dr. Taylor .
Now is the time to refine the menu of responses .
“ With the next outbreak – whether it ’ s COVID-19 or something else new – governments will have no excuse for not being much more prepared from day one , ” he says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

This is vital, he says, but so is resolving the pandemic. Getting the economy restarted while also minimizing recurrences of COVID-19 “will be an ongoing process,” Dr. Taylor says, “and it’s probably going to involve both bottom-up experimentation and top-down regulation.”
But the goal differs from typical recessions. “You can’t simultaneously create conditions that cause whole industries to shut down, and also ‘stimulate’ the economy at the same time. What we’re doing now is just a gigantic Band-Aid,” says economist Timothy Taylor.
The United States has been through both pandemics and recessions before. But while they offer some insights into what the coronavirus is doing to the economy, the current situation is unique.
Major segments of the economy have come to a virtual halt amid government-encouraged efforts to contain the COVID-19 disease. At the same time, governments are acting to mitigate the shutdown’s effects on households and businesses. Congress’ $2 trillion relief package includes assistance to stave off mass layoffs. It also sends relief checks to individual Americans and bolsters the unemployment insurance system.
In its speed and its depth, this new global recession really is different from those that came before. Unlike the housing market and banking meltdown of 2008, this is a contagion that has hit the global economy much more suddenly. The so-called Spanish flu in 1918 was another serious pandemic, but this time around, the economic toll comes from conscious efforts to stop a disease before it gets that bad.
In its speed and its depth, this new global recession really is different from those that came before.
That’s how economists view the near shutdown of economies across major portions of the world due to the coronavirus. And they say it means the solutions should be different too.
Unlike the housing market and banking meltdown of 2008, this is a contagion affecting public health that has hit the global economy much more suddenly.
Why We Wrote This The United States has been through both pandemics and recessions before. But while they offer some insights into what the coronavirus is doing to the economy, the current situation is unique.
How about the 1918 Spanish flu? That was another serious pandemic, in fact one where the deaths totaled an estimated 2% of world population. But this time around, the economic toll comes from conscious efforts to stop a disease before it gets that bad.
The unusual nature of this crisis has implications for the policy responses now underway in Congress and beyond.
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.
One key example: A plunge in business revenue, prompting a record-fast spike in unemployment, is putting special focus on how to prop up ailing businesses – not just households or banks – to avoid still deeper and more permanent job losses in the weeks ahead.
Moreover, because of its roots in a pandemic, the economic answers to this crisis are also prominently intertwined with public health – perhaps extending to wartime-style mobilization of resources. And on all fronts, experts say this crisis calls, more urgently than most, for both a rapid initial response and a sustained, adaptive follow-through.
“This is a unique and profound challenge,” says Jonathan Rothwell, principal economist for Gallup and a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. It requires an extraordinary response, he adds, even as he voices hope that with proper containment of the disease, within months people may “feel comfortable going on vacations again and going to sporting events again.”
How is this different?
The abruptness and severity stand out. From restaurants and hotels to auto production and Uber rides, major segments of the economy have come to a virtual halt amid government-encouraged efforts to contain the COVID-19 disease.
Disease-induced effects on the economy are rare but not unprecedented. Researchers say a 1918 influenza pandemic (inaptly called the “Spanish” flu) was the fourth-worst global economic event since 1870, after World War I, World War II, and the Great Depression.
Library of Congress /AP/File View caption Hide caption A conductor checks to see if potential passengers are wearing masks in Seattle during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. Now, a century later, history is repeating itself – but the economic ramifications are very different.
There was “social distancing” and similar efforts back then, but not to today’s extent. This may be the first time that government responses to a public health crisis have caused a recession, says economist Timothy Taylor, managing editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, by email.
Yet that doesn’t mean intervention on behalf of public health is bad for the economy. A newly released paper examining the 1918 pandemic, by Federal Reserve and Massachusetts Institute of Technology economists, finds that cities that intervened earlier and more aggressively did not perform worse economically “and, if anything, grow faster after the pandemic is over.”
What does this mean for solutions?
Today’s temporary curbs on restaurant dining, concerts, movies, and numerous other activities are described by many experts as efforts to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 deaths, to hold a spike in check and reduce it over time.
The economic responses, similarly, aim to flatten a different curve – the magnitude of the recession’s effects on households and businesses.
On Friday, the House passed a $2 trillion bipartisan deal, struck by the Senate in consultation with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, sending it to President Donald Trump for his promised signature. The package includes loans and assistance to stave off mass layoffs by small businesses and hard-hit industries such as airlines. It also targets most individual Americans with relief checks, and bolsters the unemployment insurance system. Comparable steps are being tried in many nations around the world.
Although all that is being called “stimulus,” the goal differs from typical recessions.
“You can’t simultaneously create conditions that cause whole industries to shut down, and also ‘stimulate’ the economy at the same time. What we’re doing now is just a gigantic Band-Aid,” Dr. Taylor says.
This is where persistence and adaptation comes in. The immediate bandage is vital. (Britain, Ireland, and Denmark have plans to retain jobs by directly helping with payroll costs during the downturn. The U.S. is trying easy loans toward that same end.)
But so is resolving the pandemic. Getting the economy restarted while also minimizing recurrences of COVID-19 “will be an ongoing process,” Dr. Taylor says, “and it’s probably going to involve both bottom-up experimentation and top-down regulation.”
What are the challenges and pitfalls?
The foremost question about all this is, what will actually work? Steps such as cash payments to households and loans to businesses have proved their worth in past crises, economists say. And although the big rescue package from Congress has flaws, Dr. Rothwell says it echoes his own preferred solution by offering loan forgiveness to businesses that use the money to maintain their payrolls.
Other questions relate to fairness or concerns about inequality. Plenty of economists, even on the liberal side, stress the importance of speedy and generous assistance over agonizing about who’s getting how much help. Yet many counter that a rescue can and should be tailored for equity and accountability.
“There’s no reason for me to get a $1,000 check,” says Dr. Rothwell in Washington, noting that he’s still being paid while many Americans have lost all or much of their income.
The U.S. Senate bill will mandate that Trump-family businesses won’t get direct government infusions of money, and that cash payments to households have an income-based ceiling.
While some observers still decry what they see as a federal penchant for bailouts, economist Ioana Marinescu of the University of Pennsylvania says businesses aren’t responsible for this crisis. Instead, she says they warrant rescue in this case as a kind of “public good,” for the collective benefits (jobs and incomes) that are at risk if they fail.
As some experts see it, the stakes go beyond public health and the economy. Social cohesion is also potentially threatened if the crisis leaves many desperate and without money.
“The main (perhaps even the sole) objective of economic policy today should be to prevent social breakdown,” writes economist Branko Milanovic, an expert on global inequality at the City University of New York, in a March 19 Foreign Affairs article.
And although these are extraordinary times, that doesn’t guarantee such challenges won’t recur, notes Dr. Taylor. Now is the time to refine the menu of responses.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“With the next outbreak – whether it’s COVID-19 or something else new – governments will have no excuse for not being much more prepared from day one,” he says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-03--Why GOP advised Trump to stop feuding with Michigan's governor

President Donald Trump 's allies are trying to contain a politically risky election year fight with Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer as he struggles to balance presidential politics with a global pandemic in one of the nation 's most important swing states .
Both sides have tried to de-escalate the feud this week , although Mr. Trump 's supporters in particular sought to downplay tensions that ratcheted up over the weekend when the Republican president unleashed a social media broadside against Governor Whitmer , a Democrat who had been critical of the federal government 's response to the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic governors as well , but he saved his most aggressive insults for the first-term female governor , who is considered a leading vice presidential prospect for his opponent .
`` Everyone should be shedding the partisanship and coming together , '' Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in an interview , suggesting that some of Mr. Trump 's criticism had been mischaracterized .
`` I am rooting for Governor Whitmer , '' said Ms. McDaniel , who lives in Michigan .
`` I think she 's done good things .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lay every problem at the president 's feet . ''
The backpedaling underscores the nature of the dispute , which comes seven months before Election Day in a state that could make or break Mr. Trump 's reelection bid .
Michigan is an elite presidential battleground that has historically celebrated bipartisanship and pragmatism while rewarding candidates who rally behind key institutions in crisis .
Four years ago , Mr. Trump eked out a win by about 11,000 votes out of more than 4.5 million cast in the state .
Michigan Rep. Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised concerns about Mr. Trump 's political attack with the administration directly .
`` I did relay to the administration that I did n't think it was helpful and why play that game , '' Mr. Mitchell said in an interview .
`` These are times when the American people look for leaders .
Leaders do n't whine .
Leaders do n't blame . ''
He said he raised similar concerns with Ms. Whitmer 's office , suggesting that her criticisms about the federal response have not necessarily been accurate .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more drama in this country , '' Mr. Mitchell said .
While political fights are common for Mr. Trump , Ms. Whitmer 's rise in Democratic politics have been defined by her decision usually not to attack the president .
Ms. Whitmer , a 48-year-old longtime state legislator and attorney , ran for governor as a pragmatic liberal , emphasizing her bipartisan work while pledging to fix Michigan 's crumbling roads .
She rarely talked about Mr. Trump before the election or after .
When she gave Democrats ' response to Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , she pivoted from his impeachment to issues concerning working-class voters , including health care , and made only passing references to his behavior .
But as a frequent guest on national media in recent weeks , Ms. Whitmer has criticized the federal response while pleading for ventilators , personal protection equipment , and test kits as Michigan has emerged as one of the hardest-hit states .
Republicans were especially upset after she implied during a Friday radio interview that the Trump administration was intentionally withholding medical supplies from Michigan .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll surged , Mr. Trump called her `` Gretchen 'Half ' Whitmer , '' charging that she was in `` way over her head '' and `` does n't have a clue '' about how to handle the health crisis .
Two days earlier , Mr. Trump said publicly that he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence , the leader of the White House 's pandemic response , not to call `` the woman in Michigan . ''
Mr. Trump has since deleted the tweet .
And in a press briefing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ productive conversation with Ms. Whitmer earlier in the day .
The governor , too , has backed away from the feud this week as the state grapples with the escalating crisis .
Michigan reported more than 7,600 cases of coronavirus and 259 deaths as of Tuesday .
In a statement , Ms. Whitmer declared that her `` No .
1 priority is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19 . ''
`` I do n't care about partisan fights or getting nicknames from the president , '' she said .
Yet Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scramble to contain it – is nothing if not consistent .
The former New York real estate magnate has showed he can not help but respond with force when criticized .
As first lady Melania Trump noted four years ago , `` When you attack him he will punch back 10 times harder . ''
In this case , however , allies quietly note that he did not consider the likely political ramifications in a state he badly needs to win in November .
`` Anyone ... can see that attacking an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership during a crisis is not a net plus , '' said John Anzalone , whose firm handles polling for Ms. Whitmer and former Vice President Joe Biden 's presidential campaign .
Mr. Biden has stood up for Ms. Whitmer repeatedly in recent days .
On Tuesday evening , Mr. Biden 's senior adviser Anita Dunn reinforced his support for the governor , who she said `` is fighting hard for her state and setting an example for leaders across the nation . ''
`` Joe Biden prays that Donald Trump can find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , '' Ms. Dunn said .
The clash was particularly sensitive because of the evolving nature of gender politics in the Trump era .
Suburban women , including many Republicans , have increasingly fled Mr. Trump 's GOP , enabling major Democratic victories across the country in 2018 and 2019 .
Meanwhile , Republican Bill Schuette , whom Ms. Whitmer defeated in 2018 , praised Mr. Trump 's leadership managing the pandemic but also said `` we need to lay down the politics '' in response to questions about the president 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
`` This is not a time for partisanship , '' Mr. Schuette said .
`` This is a time of working together in an open , honest fashion .
That 's what people expect and deserve , particularly in a time of crisis . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

President Donald Trump's allies are trying to contain a politically risky election year fight with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as he struggles to balance presidential politics with a global pandemic in one of the nation's most important swing states.
Both sides have tried to de-escalate the feud this week, although Mr. Trump's supporters in particular sought to downplay tensions that ratcheted up over the weekend when the Republican president unleashed a social media broadside against Governor Whitmer, a Democrat who had been critical of the federal government's response to the coronavirus outbreak. Mr. Trump has clashed with other Democratic governors as well, but he saved his most aggressive insults for the first-term female governor, who is considered a leading vice presidential prospect for his opponent.
"Everyone should be shedding the partisanship and coming together," Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in an interview, suggesting that some of Mr. Trump's criticism had been mischaracterized.
"I am rooting for Governor Whitmer," said Ms. McDaniel, who lives in Michigan. "I think she's done good things. ... I just didn't like her trying to lay every problem at the president's feet."
The backpedaling underscores the nature of the dispute, which comes seven months before Election Day in a state that could make or break Mr. Trump's reelection bid. Michigan is an elite presidential battleground that has historically celebrated bipartisanship and pragmatism while rewarding candidates who rally behind key institutions in crisis. Four years ago, Mr. Trump eked out a win by about 11,000 votes out of more than 4.5 million cast in the state.
Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell, a Republican, said he raised concerns about Mr. Trump's political attack with the administration directly.
"I did relay to the administration that I didn't think it was helpful and why play that game," Mr. Mitchell said in an interview. "These are times when the American people look for leaders. Leaders don't whine. Leaders don't blame."
He said he raised similar concerns with Ms. Whitmer's office, suggesting that her criticisms about the federal response have not necessarily been accurate.
"This is not the time where we need more drama in this country," Mr. Mitchell said.
While political fights are common for Mr. Trump, Ms. Whitmer's rise in Democratic politics have been defined by her decision usually not to attack the president.
Ms. Whitmer, a 48-year-old longtime state legislator and attorney, ran for governor as a pragmatic liberal, emphasizing her bipartisan work while pledging to fix Michigan's crumbling roads. She rarely talked about Mr. Trump before the election or after. When she gave Democrats' response to Mr. Trump's State of the Union speech in February, she pivoted from his impeachment to issues concerning working-class voters, including health care, and made only passing references to his behavior.
But as a frequent guest on national media in recent weeks, Ms. Whitmer has criticized the federal response while pleading for ventilators, personal protection equipment, and test kits as Michigan has emerged as one of the hardest-hit states. Republicans were especially upset after she implied during a Friday radio interview that the Trump administration was intentionally withholding medical supplies from Michigan.
In a weekend tweet storm as the coronavirus death toll surged, Mr. Trump called her "Gretchen 'Half' Whitmer," charging that she was in "way over her head" and "doesn't have a clue" about how to handle the health crisis. Two days earlier, Mr. Trump said publicly that he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence, the leader of the White House's pandemic response, not to call "the woman in Michigan."
Mr. Trump has since deleted the tweet. And in a press briefing on Tuesday, he said he had a productive conversation with Ms. Whitmer earlier in the day.
The governor, too, has backed away from the feud this week as the state grapples with the escalating crisis. Michigan reported more than 7,600 cases of coronavirus and 259 deaths as of Tuesday.
In a statement, Ms. Whitmer declared that her "No. 1 priority is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19."
"I don't care about partisan fights or getting nicknames from the president," she said.
Yet Mr. Trump's initial fiery response – and the scramble to contain it – is nothing if not consistent. The former New York real estate magnate has showed he cannot help but respond with force when criticized. As first lady Melania Trump noted four years ago, "When you attack him he will punch back 10 times harder."
In this case, however, allies quietly note that he did not consider the likely political ramifications in a state he badly needs to win in November.
"Anyone ... can see that attacking an incredibly popular governor who's showing real leadership during a crisis is not a net plus," said John Anzalone, whose firm handles polling for Ms. Whitmer and former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
Mr. Biden has stood up for Ms. Whitmer repeatedly in recent days. On Tuesday evening, Mr. Biden's senior adviser Anita Dunn reinforced his support for the governor, who she said "is fighting hard for her state and setting an example for leaders across the nation."
"Joe Biden prays that Donald Trump can find the strength to live up to her example," Ms. Dunn said.
The clash was particularly sensitive because of the evolving nature of gender politics in the Trump era. Suburban women, including many Republicans, have increasingly fled Mr. Trump's GOP, enabling major Democratic victories across the country in 2018 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Republican Bill Schuette, whom Ms. Whitmer defeated in 2018, praised Mr. Trump's leadership managing the pandemic but also said "we need to lay down the politics" in response to questions about the president's divisive comments and her performance during the crisis.
"This is not a time for partisanship," Mr. Schuette said. "This is a time of working together in an open, honest fashion. That's what people expect and deserve, particularly in a time of crisis."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-03--Generosity that goes both ways

Generosity that goes both ways

I braced myself as I watched a “ 60 Minutes ” news segment called “ Coronavirus and the economy : Best and worst-case scenarios from Minneapolis Fed president.
” The interview was with Neel Kashkari , president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis .
In the interview , Mr. Kashkari – who helped lift the U.S. out of 2008 ’ s Great Recession – indicated that he ’ d learned , after the fact , that it ’ s better to err on the side of being generous rather than singling out some as deserving and others as not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection between generosity and widespread benefits .
While it may seem like a counterintuitive pairing on the surface , it coincides with what Christian Science refers to as God ’ s law of Love .
Mary Baker Eddy , the founder of Christian Science , spent years studying the Holy Bible and learned about the expansive and loving nature of God .
In fact , Love itself is a biblical name for God ( see I John 4:16 ) .
Mrs. Eddy was referring to God as divine Love when she wrote this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health with Key to the Scriptures ” : “ Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals .
It is the open fount which cries , ‘ Ho , every one that thirsteth , come ye to the waters ’ ” ( p. 13 ) .
God is generously giving unlimited good to every one of us as God ’ s beloved children , the spiritual expression of divine Love – all the time .
I know it doesn ’ t always seem like it , especially these days with layoffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spiritual fact of God ’ s goodness remains unchanged , and Mrs. Eddy – following in the path Jesus pointed out – proved this over and over , and we can experience evidence of divine good in our lives , too .
One of my favorite examples along these lines involved a farmer and his cows .
There hadn ’ t been enough rain in the area , the farmer ’ s well was empty , and the cows were starting to go dry .
When Mrs. Eddy learned of this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he only knew , Love fills that well.
” And the next morning the well was full , even though it hadn ’ t rained for days ( see Yvonne Caché von Fettweis and Robert Townsend Warneck , “ Mary Baker Eddy : Christian Healer , ” Amplified Edition , p. 177 ) .
Each of us , too , can experience how that same Love fills whatever empty well we seem to be facing .
God doesn ’ t give “ just enough , ” but gives generously – and so we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once , right before I dropped a significant amount of weight , I purchased a two-piece suit .
I needed it for work , and it was expensive !
But I wore the suit only once or twice before it no longer fit and was too big to get altered .
I ’ d been praying a lot about some profound losses in my life , which had led to a sweet conviction of God ’ s abundant provision for all His children , me included .
So when I met a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job and didn ’ t have the proper clothing for it , I offered her my suit .
When she gratefully accepted , I honestly didn ’ t feel as though I was losing anything , even though some might say I ’ d wasted a chunk of money .
I guess I was erring on the side of generosity .
That very same night , as I was walking into my apartment building , I ran into a neighbor .
Guess what she gave me , with no prompting ?
A three-piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range .
I loved it , and it fit perfectly !
My story is just one small example of how understanding God as the source of all good frees us up to be generous , and opens the door for us to see more evidence of that good in our lives .
Sometimes it ’ s in small ways , other times larger ones .
But whether the need relates to your “ well , ” mine , or someone else ’ s across the globe , God ’ s limitless giving is @ @ @ @ @ @

I braced myself as I watched a “60 Minutes” news segment called “Coronavirus and the economy: Best and worst-case scenarios from Minneapolis Fed president.” The interview was with Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. In the interview, Mr. Kashkari – who helped lift the U.S. out of 2008’s Great Recession – indicated that he’d learned, after the fact, that it’s better to err on the side of being generous rather than singling out some as deserving and others as not.
I love the idea of a connection between generosity and widespread benefits. While it may seem like a counterintuitive pairing on the surface, it coincides with what Christian Science refers to as God’s law of Love. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, spent years studying the Holy Bible and learned about the expansive and loving nature of God. In fact, Love itself is a biblical name for God (see I John 4:16).
Mrs. Eddy was referring to God as divine Love when she wrote this in her book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”: “Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals. It is the open fount which cries, ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters’” (p. 13). God is generously giving unlimited good to every one of us as God’s beloved children, the spiritual expression of divine Love – all the time.
I know it doesn’t always seem like it, especially these days with layoffs and greatly diminished retirement savings. But the spiritual fact of God’s goodness remains unchanged, and Mrs. Eddy – following in the path Jesus pointed out – proved this over and over, and we can experience evidence of divine good in our lives, too.
One of my favorite examples along these lines involved a farmer and his cows. There hadn’t been enough rain in the area, the farmer’s well was empty, and the cows were starting to go dry. When Mrs. Eddy learned of this, she said, “Oh! if he only knew, Love fills that well.” And the next morning the well was full, even though it hadn’t rained for days (see Yvonne Caché von Fettweis and Robert Townsend Warneck, “Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer,” Amplified Edition, p. 177).
Each of us, too, can experience how that same Love fills whatever empty well we seem to be facing. God doesn’t give “just enough,” but gives generously – and so we can express Love-impelled generosity toward others.
Once, right before I dropped a significant amount of weight, I purchased a two-piece suit. I needed it for work, and it was expensive! But I wore the suit only once or twice before it no longer fit and was too big to get altered.
I’d been praying a lot about some profound losses in my life, which had led to a sweet conviction of God’s abundant provision for all His children, me included. So when I met a woman who’d just started a new job and didn’t have the proper clothing for it, I offered her my suit. When she gratefully accepted, I honestly didn’t feel as though I was losing anything, even though some might say I’d wasted a chunk of money. I guess I was erring on the side of generosity.
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That very same night, as I was walking into my apartment building, I ran into a neighbor. Guess what she gave me, with no prompting? A three-piece designer suit well out of my budget range. I loved it, and it fit perfectly!
My story is just one small example of how understanding God as the source of all good frees us up to be generous, and opens the door for us to see more evidence of that good in our lives. Sometimes it’s in small ways, other times larger ones. But whether the need relates to your “well,” mine, or someone else’s across the globe, God’s limitless giving is here to benefit us all.


csmonitor--2020-04-03--Hot commodity: How toilet paper became an icon of stability

It might have something to do with a sense of cultural shame and privacy around toileting , says Richard Smyth , who has written a book on the history of toilet paper .
But more than that , he says , “ To a lot of people in the West , it stands for civilization.
” Why is it we hoard toilet paper in times of crisis ?
To address the shortage , many retailers have set limits on how much an individual shopper can purchase at a time .
With office buildings largely closed , suppliers are also working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to residential customers .
Although toilet paper may not be immediately available in retail stores or on Amazon , that doesn ’ t mean that all the toilet paper is gone .
Shipments are still coming into stores regularly .
As stay-at-home guidelines swept the nation last month , rolls of toilet paper flew off the shelves while people contemplated what they didn ’ t want to run out of .
Now bath tissue is one of the most sought-after products .
The rush on toilet paper has provided ample comedic fodder to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus swirls .
References to a toilet paper shortage have cropped up in countless memes , social media stand-up routines , and even pickup lines on dating apps .
But it arises from a very real concern among consumers .
For many , this bathroom staple has taken on outsize proportions as something of an anchor , a marker of personal and societal stability .
As stay-at-home guidelines swept the nation last month , rolls of bath tissue flew off the shelves while people contemplated what they didn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in demand for toilet paper has raised questions about why we value toilet paper so much – and what its future in our lives might look like .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Where has all the toilet paper gone ?
Although toilet paper may not be immediately available in retail stores or on Amazon , that doesn ’ t mean that all the toilet paper is gone .
Shipments are still coming into stores regularly .
Unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , toilet paper is mostly produced domestically in the United States .
And Procter & Gamble , for example , has said production at U.S. plants is at a record high .
The tricky part for suppliers , however , is that while demand for toilet paper is high now , it is likely to plummet to extremely low levels soon , as consumers work their way through the piles of toilet paper now residing in closets , basements , and garages .
Typically the demand for toilet paper rises in step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long term that is unlikely to change .
The respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19 don ’ t typically call for increased usage of toilet paper .
So companies are working to balance the need to meet current demand without creating a massive surplus down the line .
To mitigate this problem , many retailers have set limits on how much an individual shopper can purchase at a time .
With office buildings largely closed , suppliers are also working to divert supplies meant for public bathrooms to residential customers .
How did toilet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is largely considered a necessity across Western societies today , that hasn ’ t always been the case .
In fact , it didn ’ t catch on right away .
Before a consumer product was designed for the task , humans used a variety of other items including leaves , moss , rocks , and corn cobs .
The Romans had a sponge on a stick available in their communal lavatories .
As modern paper goods spread across the globe in the 19th century , people began ripping pages out of newspapers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a New York businessman designed a paper product specifically for lavatory use .
It was initially considered a “ quack product , ” says Richard Smyth , author of “ Bum Fodder : An Absorbing History of Toilet Paper.
” Most Americans still used outhouses , and there wasn ’ t a place in the market for toilet paper .
But as consumerism rose and indoor flush toilets became the norm , toilet paper became omnipresent .
Why do we hoard toilet paper in times of crisis ?
This actually isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been this kind of a rush on toilet paper .
In 1973 , in the wake of a stock market crash , a rumor that there was a shortage prompted millions of American shoppers to begin hoarding toilet paper .
There wasn ’ t actually a shortage when it all began .
But , much like bare shop shelves today , the suggestion alone that one might be forced to go without toilet paper triggered a buying spree that created a shortage .
It might have something to do with a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Smyth says .
“ I think people see it as rock bottom .
If you ’ re going to the toilet and you don ’ t have toilet paper , that ’ s the lowest you can go.
” Furthermore , Mr. Smyth adds , decades of marketing has contributed to this sense that toilet paper is essential to life as we know it .
“ To a lot of people in the West , it stands for civilization.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

It might have something to do with a sense of cultural shame and privacy around toileting, says Richard Smyth, who has written a book on the history of toilet paper. But more than that, he says, “To a lot of people in the West, it stands for civilization.”
Why is it we hoard toilet paper in times of crisis?
To address the shortage, many retailers have set limits on how much an individual shopper can purchase at a time. With office buildings largely closed, suppliers are also working to divert supplies meant for public bathrooms to residential customers.
Mundane things can take on new meaning during times of crisis. In an uncertain time, toilet paper has taken on outsize proportions as something of an anchor, a marker of personal and societal stability.
Although toilet paper may not be immediately available in retail stores or on Amazon, that doesn’t mean that all the toilet paper is gone. Shipments are still coming into stores regularly.
As stay-at-home guidelines swept the nation last month, rolls of toilet paper flew off the shelves while people contemplated what they didn’t want to run out of. Now bath tissue is one of the most sought-after products.
The rush on toilet paper has provided ample comedic fodder to lighten the mood as fear around the novel coronavirus swirls. References to a toilet paper shortage have cropped up in countless memes, social media stand-up routines, and even pickup lines on dating apps. But it arises from a very real concern among consumers. For many, this bathroom staple has taken on outsize proportions as something of an anchor, a marker of personal and societal stability.
As stay-at-home guidelines swept the nation last month, rolls of bath tissue flew off the shelves while people contemplated what they didn’t want to run out of. The sudden surge in demand for toilet paper has raised questions about why we value toilet paper so much – and what its future in our lives might look like.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Why We Wrote This Mundane things can take on new meaning during times of crisis. In an uncertain time, toilet paper has taken on outsize proportions as something of an anchor, a marker of personal and societal stability.
Where has all the toilet paper gone?
Although toilet paper may not be immediately available in retail stores or on Amazon, that doesn’t mean that all the toilet paper is gone. Shipments are still coming into stores regularly.
Unlike other consumer products in high demand right now, toilet paper is mostly produced domestically in the United States. And Procter & Gamble, for example, has said production at U.S. plants is at a record high.
The tricky part for suppliers, however, is that while demand for toilet paper is high now, it is likely to plummet to extremely low levels soon, as consumers work their way through the piles of toilet paper now residing in closets, basements, and garages.
Typically the demand for toilet paper rises in step with population growth, and in the long term that is unlikely to change. The respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19 don’t typically call for increased usage of toilet paper. So companies are working to balance the need to meet current demand without creating a massive surplus down the line.
To mitigate this problem, many retailers have set limits on how much an individual shopper can purchase at a time. With office buildings largely closed, suppliers are also working to divert supplies meant for public bathrooms to residential customers.
How did toilet paper become essential?
Although toilet paper is largely considered a necessity across Western societies today, that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, it didn’t catch on right away.
Before a consumer product was designed for the task, humans used a variety of other items including leaves, moss, rocks, and corn cobs. The Romans had a sponge on a stick available in their communal lavatories.
As modern paper goods spread across the globe in the 19th century, people began ripping pages out of newspapers or catalogues. Then, in 1857, a New York businessman designed a paper product specifically for lavatory use.
It was initially considered a “quack product,” says Richard Smyth, author of “Bum Fodder: An Absorbing History of Toilet Paper.” Most Americans still used outhouses, and there wasn’t a place in the market for toilet paper. But as consumerism rose and indoor flush toilets became the norm, toilet paper became omnipresent.
Why do we hoard toilet paper in times of crisis?
This actually isn’t the first time that there has been this kind of a rush on toilet paper. In 1973, in the wake of a stock market crash, a rumor that there was a shortage prompted millions of American shoppers to begin hoarding toilet paper.
There wasn’t actually a shortage when it all began. But, much like bare shop shelves today, the suggestion alone that one might be forced to go without toilet paper triggered a buying spree that created a shortage.
But why toilet paper?
It might have something to do with a sense of cultural shame and privacy around toileting, Mr. Smyth says. “I think people see it as rock bottom. If you’re going to the toilet and you don’t have toilet paper, that’s the lowest you can go.”
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Furthermore, Mr. Smyth adds, decades of marketing has contributed to this sense that toilet paper is essential to life as we know it. “To a lot of people in the West, it stands for civilization.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-02-28--Billions of good deeds to defeat an epidemic

To honor the sacrifice of its front-line workers battling the coronavirus , Singapore ’ s government decided today to give them a special bonus .
From cleaners to security guards to nurses , they will all receive a one month salary bonus .
Yet that was not enough .
To pay for this financial gratitude , the government decided all political office holders , from members of Parliament to the president , should take a one month pay cut .
“ We are all in this together , ” said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat .
That sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Asian nation-state of nearly 6 million people .
In response to the effects of the virus on the economy , firms announced pay freezes or salary reductions .
Singapore has earned praise for the ways it has curbed the outbreak on its densely populated island .
Harvard University says it sets the “ gold standard.
” Now it is setting a model by highlighting the collective need for selfless sharing in the task of ending the epidemic .
Across the dozens of countries coping with the virus , billions of people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed by government , such as quarantines or travel restrictions .
Japan , for example , has closed schools for a month .
China told some 150 million people to stay in their homes .
In many places , holiday events have been canceled .
In Italy , Venice shut down its Carnival festival .
“ This could be a long fight that will require shared sacrifice , ” tweeted Scott Gottlieb , who was President Donald Trump ’ s first director of the Food and Drug Administration .
Many leaders are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel the duty to thank those who are operating with effort , sacrifice , abnegation to counter the danger of coronavirus , ” said Italian President Sergio Mattarella .
While the focus has been on the spread of the virus and fears of it , the world is also witnessing a bursting of good deeds .
Across the globe , people are sacrificing personal freedoms or daily activities for the safety of their neighbors , even for the world .
Such acts are a form of love that , on their own , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck by the virus or those deathly afraid of it .
We are , indeed , all in this together .

To honor the sacrifice of its front-line workers battling the coronavirus, Singapore’s government decided today to give them a special bonus. From cleaners to security guards to nurses, they will all receive a one month salary bonus.
Yet that was not enough. To pay for this financial gratitude, the government decided all political office holders, from members of Parliament to the president, should take a one month pay cut. “We are all in this together,” said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. That sense of shared duty extended to many companies in the Asian nation-state of nearly 6 million people. In response to the effects of the virus on the economy, firms announced pay freezes or salary reductions.
Singapore has earned praise for the ways it has curbed the outbreak on its densely populated island. Harvard University says it sets the “gold standard.” Now it is setting a model by highlighting the collective need for selfless sharing in the task of ending the epidemic.
Across the dozens of countries coping with the virus, billions of people are either acting selflessly or quietly accepting burdens imposed by government, such as quarantines or travel restrictions. Japan, for example, has closed schools for a month. China told some 150 million people to stay in their homes. In many places, holiday events have been canceled. In Italy, Venice shut down its Carnival festival.
“This could be a long fight that will require shared sacrifice,” tweeted Scott Gottlieb, who was President Donald Trump’s first director of the Food and Drug Administration.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Many leaders are also praising health workers. “We must feel the duty to thank those who are operating with effort, sacrifice, abnegation to counter the danger of coronavirus,” said Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
While the focus has been on the spread of the virus and fears of it, the world is also witnessing a bursting of good deeds. Across the globe, people are sacrificing personal freedoms or daily activities for the safety of their neighbors, even for the world. Such acts are a form of love that, on their own, send a message of healing to those struck by the virus or those deathly afraid of it. We are, indeed, all in this together.