Member-only story
How I Made a Profit From Pain and Death
And what I plan to do with it
My COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment hit my bank account today, and I’m asking myself what I’m going to do with the money. I haven’t lost my job or gotten sick. I can pay my bills on time. The shelter-in-place restrictions are saving me money because I’m not going to restaurants, buying gas, or paying bridge tolls. Impulse buys at the grocery store are no longer a thing. I’m no longer saving up for that vacation I planned this year. Financially, I appear to be in pretty good shape (if I avoid looking at my retirement account). So what am I going to do with an extra $1,200?
Blood Money
Call it what you want: economic impact or stimulus payment, I can’t help thinking that this unexpected tax-free windfall has the whiff of blood money about it. The suffering and death of thousands of people put this money in my hands. One might argue that it’s not for compensation of a personal loss; those who receive it don’t have to have lost anything. It is to help mitigate the cumulative damage to our economy caused by COVID-19. We can use it any way we like, but the intention of our government appears to be that we do spend it. Do I embrace that idea or do what I think is best for me?
