I am trying to understand how "essential" is defined

Marie5656

Marie5656

SF VIP
Location
Batavia, NY
During this time we are all learning to live a new way. We may not like it, but we need to do it. I am still trying to fully understand what is meant by an "essential service". I under stand groceries, take out food, auto repair and etc.
Even hardware stores. And this is where I have questions. There are people out there who understand the need for hardware stores to be open...but want limits on what we buy there. For example, some are saying paint, gardening supplies, and the like are NOT essential. How is this decided? Let us ponder for a minute. John Doe is a recovering alcoholic. He is having a rough time during this isolation. He needs SOMETHING to do to pass his time, so he does not fall back to his addiction. I say good for him. So, John thinks...maybe I can work in the garden, plant flowers or vegies. Or, gee, my living room needs a paint job.
But there are people saying that the paint and garden supplies he needs to buy are NOT essential. How so? If they are essential to his well beaing, his health, and helps keep his mind OFF his addiction, how is this not essential to John?
This scenario has been brought up on Facebook, with many saying "painting is not essential" without looking at the big picture.

Same with parents wanting to buy toys, or craft supplies to keep thier kids active. Maybe not essential in the grand scheme, but essential to the parents.

Any thoughts?
 

A sad state of affairs no doubt. I've scratched my head several times since this whole Covid-19 took the world hostage, and I can't for the life of me come up with single rational explanation for the rulings that apply to essential vs non-essential goods & services.
 
I'm thinking if there are folks around who lived through the Depression Era, they'd be totally stunned at what many people today consider "essential."
I wouldn't put down anyone who has a different viewpoint, but I kinda agree with what my father's friend said to one of his kids when we were children: if you've got a roof over your head and food in your stomach, you've got nothing to complain about.
 

Among the "essential jobs" I've seen being carried out by government employees are "painting lampposts", and " pressure washing public building"!

I'm sure the men involved were following instructions, and I've no problem with them doing that, but it raises the same question set in the OP doesn't it, (maybe those guys were working undercover and keeping an eye on the rest of us for the authorities?).
 
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"Essential" is in the eye of the beholder, but these are my thoughts on essential jobs and services.

Politics aside, under normal circumstances all (legal) jobs and services contribute to the well-being and enjoyment of someone, enhance the quality of life in society as a whole, and support a robust economy to the benefit of all. But these are not normal circumstances.

In light of the virus leaders must consider trade-offs. If a particular activity is curtailed or restricted, what will be the likely benefit? What will be the likely downside? With limited knowledge of the way this virus behaves, these are particularly tough decisions. They are also very location and circumstance specific. What is right for NYC is very different from what is right of rural Wyoming. One thing is certain ... regardless of the decision made some people will suffer.

Overall, I believe most governors are doing a creditable job of managing this "no win" situation. Time will tell whether the decisions made were correct. I do question why the governor of Georgia would deem hair salons and tattoo parlors to be essential. :rolleyes:
 
Marie5656 said:
During this time we are all learning to live a new way. We may not like it, but we need to do it. I am still trying to fully understand what is meant by an "essential service". I under stand groceries, take out food, auto repair and etc.
Even hardware stores. And this is where I have questions. There are people out there who understand the need for hardware stores to be open...but want limits on what we buy there. For example, some are saying paint, gardening supplies, and the like are NOT essential. How is this decided? Let us ponder for a minute. John Doe is a recovering alcoholic. He is having a rough time during this isolation. He needs SOMETHING to do to pass his time, so he does not fall back to his addiction. I say good for him. So, John thinks...maybe I can work in the garden, plant flowers or vegies. Or, gee, my living room needs a paint job.
But there are people saying that the paint and garden supplies he needs to buy are NOT essential. How so? If they are essential to his well beaing, his health, and helps keep his mind OFF his addiction, how is this not essential to John?
This scenario has been brought up on Facebook, with many saying "painting is not essential" without looking at the big picture.

Same with parents wanting to buy toys, or craft supplies to keep thier kids active. Maybe not essential in the grand scheme, but essential to the parents.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Here in NM, a store is either open or it is closed. So, if a store is open, for instance Wal-Mart, you can buy whatever they have for sale.
 
  • Grocery stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Medical offices
  • Big box stores
  • Convenience stores
  • Banks
  • Mail and shipping businesses
  • Hardware and home supply stores
  • Pet supply stores
  • Laundromats
  • Gas stations
  • Home service professionals (like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs)

Not sure when Gun dealers and Liquor stores decided they were "Essential"
 
I guess I am of the same mindset as everyone here, as to what is essential. Have any of you heard of some states wanting to limit what stores sell. Meaning they should block off areas with non essential products? I guess this was the idea of my initial post. If you walk in to Wal Mart, Home Depot, or a store that sells a variety of items, how can you enforce, or decide what is essential or not?

I read somewhere in regard to liquor stores, that people with drinking problems would have issues if having to stop drinking cold turkey. I do not buy it.
 
That is a great question Marie, yet nobody in authority
will answer you if you ask them.

Here everything is closed except for supermarkets and
pharmacies, plus the little corner shops, you will call
"Mom & Pop" stores and newsagents.

There was a lot of ridicule in the beginning when a cop
tried to tell a father that Easter Eggs were not essential,
maybe not to that policeman, but to the man's children
they were very essential.

So without an instruction from the Government, then
there is no definite answer.

Mike.
 
I have noticed a lot more pedestrians and cars going
past my window today, also one parked outside for
several hours, it was a lady on her own who must have
been visiting somebody, all against advice.

Mike.
 
The only stores I have been in is the grocery stores. Our local Walmart is limiting how many people can go in at one time. But it is a large amount like 500+ and they don't have that many people in there at a time anyway. They are selling everything in all departments. I was just there today and the grocery area had a lot of bare shelves.
 
katlupe said:
The only stores I have been in is the grocery stores. Our local Walmart is limiting how many people can go in at one time. But it is a large amount like 500+ and they don't have that many people in there at a time anyway. They are selling everything in all departments. I was just there today and the grocery area had a lot of bare shelves.
Click to expand...
Our WalMart just started doing the same.
 
Mike said:
I have noticed a lot more pedestrians and cars going
past my window today, also one parked outside for
several hours, it was a lady on her own who must have
been visiting somebody, all against advice.
She was visiting me. I told her not to come, but she said she couldn't spend another night without me & it was worth the risk.
Click to expand...
 
Wait. You're telling me bourbon isn't essential? OK, just kidding. Yeah, the rules are pretty arbitrary. When we first moved to Texas, the "blue laws" were also pretty arbitrary. You could buy nails on a Sunday but not a hammer. Or maybe it was the other way around. This is new territory here. I really think some governors have gone overboard and have made a major power grab. We can't stay locked down forever, but we can't lose our minds either. I for one plan to continue social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and washing my damn hands often.
 
I remember years ago when we were stationed in Alabama, I was frustrated to find that I couldn't buy pantyhose on a Sunday. That was back in the day when you daren't go to work in a law office barelegged and I needed them for Monday. I still think that was a weird as all getout restriction. I haven't been in Alabama in years and years, but I hope they have relaxed all those antiquated blue laws.
 
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