Do We Need to Help Police What’s Essential?

Better late than never, I suppose, Doug Ducey finally issued a shelter in place order for Arizona. Also, better weak than non-existent.

You see, like all shelter in place orders, Ducey’s has exceptions for “essential services.” And he considers lots of stuff essential that really isn’t. Golf, for example.

So I wonder, should there be public shaming of any business that continues to conduct what really are non-essential functions, at real risk to Arizonans, regardless of what Ducey thinks?

I threw out golf as an example of something that’s labeled essential and isn’t. But it doesn’t pose a huge risk either. Consider this, however:

I heard of a business in the financial sector that has a collection department. It has a bunch of employees who perform various tasks related to collection efforts. Very little has been done to allow employees to work remotely, although many of the tasks lend themselves to telecommuting. And to make matters especially bad, it’s a bullpen operation.

If one of those undoubtedly low-wage employees contracts the virus and gets others sick, and one or more die as a result, would it really have been worth it? Does processing claims against people unable to pay their credit card or other debt really justify the risk of human life? If they collect on that debt, it’ll help their stock value. That could help those in the top 1% a lot, but not many of the rest of us. You know, the ones who might die if the virus spreads.

So, as the saying goes, if you see something, say something – preferably on social media. Be careful. Don’t get yourself on the wrong end of a defamation claim.

Maybe public shaming could save a life or two.