An ideological framework can be an impediment to effectively responding to the virus. Partly this is because even if someone's ideology is right, we will not be able to settle age old issues so we will need to compromise and be pragmatic. But more profoundly, it is because what is right in normal times (libertarianism, socialism, or any other ism) might not actually be right for this moment.
For example, normally I would support an unpaid mandate on businesses to provide sick leave for their workers. I recognize that they would pass these costs on to their workers in the form of lower wages but such a mandate is justified by the negative externalities associated with spreading diseases (even in normal times) and the adverse selection concerns that might lead some employers to individually choose not to offer paid sick leave. Right now, however, would be a terrible time to impose unpaid sick leave on low margin employers, as I explained in this tweet thread, because workers could end up paying in lost jobs. Similarly, I hope you are in the process of identifying all sorts of regulations that should be temporarily suspended because they are getting in the way of the many decentralized decisions that businesses and workers are going to need to make to combat this pandemic. After the pandemic is over we can take more time to debate the cost-benefit of these regulations which may well differ in normal times from where it is now.
But, I would also hope you would support me (and other conservative doctors and economists) in supporting a temporary increase in the share of Medicaid costs paid by the federal government. State budgets will be strained, health treatment is essential, and extra money for the health system will help hospitals expand capacity as needed. After the pandemic is over we can take more time to debate the cost-benefit of this public funding for a low-income entitlement. On the specifics of the fiscal aspect of the response:
1. Health. Whatever we need to spend on testing, hospital capacity, vaccine research, etc.
2. Targeted assistance. Whatever can get out quickly in paid leave, unemployment insurance, nutritional assistance, Medicaid, etc.
3. Checks for everyone. I have proposed $1,000 per adult and $500 per child. This is social insurance as incomes fall and people are missed by other programs. Also stimulus when people are in a position to spend again.
4. Loans for businesses. Large and small, to get them through an intense liquidity crunch. Enable them by supporting banks and potentially direct lending too.
Want to join me in this plan and then resume the debate on the bigger issues later?