There is a reason I am so adamant about people staying home and only going out for food, medications and items directly related to health and safety. Many of us have been asked to make great sacrifices by shutting down our livelihood, resulting in mass unemployment and loss of income to pay for essentials. Laid off people are starving and waiting in hours long lines at food banks. Domestic violence and child abuse is increasing due to the SIP/SAH orders. It bothers me to see so many people going out for gardening and other items that can wait until the SIP/SAH is over. If we are being asked to stay home to flatten the curve, then everyone should do what the so-called experts are asking us to do. If we are all in this together, then people should be all in, even if you think a little extra shopping or an extra trip won‘t hurt anyone. I have made sacrifices for the common good, even though I do not agree with how the government is handling this. I do not see why making a few sacrifices like waiting to buy gardening supplies is so difficult. I agree mental health is as important as physical health but the shut downs are deteriorating mental health. It seems like the government has chosen physical health over mental health with its decisions. Mental health has not stopped the government from ordering shut downs. Tuggers have said lives are more important than profits so why are people resisting delaying immediate gratification for the common good?
I fully understand and appreciate your position. You are one of the business owners who are being directly affected in a negative way. I am very sorry you are being put into that position by the government.
But the question remains, if I am at a store that is selling "essential" goods for a legitimately essential reason, and the store is completely open for business throughout the storefront without restriction, their staff (even if it's fewer people) is already on the clock, and they are standing around waiting for my business, is it wrong for me to spend a few extra minutes selecting a few nonessential items so I can spend more money in that store? It doesn't have to be gardening plants. It could just as easily be a gallon of paint, or a box of floor tile. Does that really matter?
I started this thread to ask that basic question: Is it wrong to buy something that might be considered non-essential if I am at a store to get something essential? And the implied second question is: If the answer is Yes, then WHY is it wrong? If the guy standing in the paint department at Home Depot isn't selling enough paint, they're going to cut his hours. So he will also be forced out of work. Where do you draw the line? If I spend fifteen minutes in the store or twenty, does it really make a difference?
Not trying to be argumentative here. I'm trying to legitimately understand how or why it would make a difference, in the case of stores like Home Depot. It's not like I'm sitting at home thinking "Where can I go today?" It's not like that. I have been sitting at home for over three weeks, and i've left home four times, (I think?) And the only places I've gone is Costco, Safeway, Home Depot, and my sister's Pharmacy today. it's not like I'm prowling the streets looking for something to do.
Dave
