Hey All,

I hope this message finds you well. Hopefully amidst all that is going on, you were able to finish the last assignment (the DRAFT of your incentive letter to Garcetti)…however given the circumstances it will not be due until April 1^st. Please post your letter on edmodo ON or after April1st (not before). 

I am sure that the last thing on many minds is “homework” or schoolwork, which is understandable. The current coronavirus pandemic is history in the making, with America and much of the world shutting down business as usual. Many countries have closed their borders, and across Europe and the Americas, schools, businesses, and places of worship are shutting doors as well.

Many students who have access to technology and the Internet will have to be responsible for continuing much of their education online. There is a real possibility that may be what the rest of your senior year looks like…YOU will have to want to educate yourself enough to complete assignments and check in with your teachers online.

Many of you may be stressed or anxious as grocery shelves become empty, you or your parents or other family members lose hours or jobs, and you may have to take on responsibilities like caring for siblings or others that makes focusing on your education difficult. However, one silver lining is that you are witnessing HOW intrinsically linked our environment, economy and health truly are. This is experiential education to it’s core, as you are living this theory out. The economic fallout that this virus will have on our society will be felt by your generation (and mine) for years to come.

As one way of staying calm, try to busy yourselves by becoming economists and debating the questions provided in my most recent post on edmodo-https://www.edmodo.com/

Please answer two questions and make your comments on edmodo (COMMENT UNDER MY ORIGINAL POST) no later than March 31st^.

^{This assignment is not for a grade, but for the sake of learning and staying informed.}

Topic 1: Supply & Demand

We-Asked-People-Buying-Tons-of-Toilet-Paper-Why

Americans Empty Nation’s Grocery Shelves to Hunker Down at Home

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti Orders Closure of All Restaurants and Bars

Qs:

• How does the scarce supply of goods like bottled water and toilet paper PLUS high demand for those items impact their price?
• Should the government place limits on how much a store can charge for in demand items? Why or why not?
• Should the government place limits on how much we are allowed to buy? Why or why not?
• How will the closing of so many businesses across America impact the suppliers who they normally buy from? Consumers? Workers? Tourism? People’s ability to pay their rent?

Topic 2: The role of government in our economy during a crisis

CDC-Recommends-Suspending-Gatherings-of-50-or-more-people-for-the-next-8-weeks

Federal-Officials-Ask Americans to Stop Hoarding

NIH’s Fauci calls for “dramatic diminution” of personal interactions to fight coronavirus

Trump-disbanded-NSC-pandemic-unit-that-experts-had-praised

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti Orders Closure of All Restaurants and Bars

Coronavirus-Pandemic-Gun-Sales-Surge-Us-California

This Is Why the Dow Jones Just Crashed 3,000 Points

The House just passed a bill guaranteeing free coronavirus testing and emergency paid sick leave

Qs:

Keep in mind, that in a truly free market /capitalist economy, there are NO governmental interventions in economic crisis...

• What steps to limit spread of the virus is the government taking that could hurt businesses and workers? Are these too extreme or not extreme enough?
• Guns sales are increasing as people fear social structures (like following laws) may break down…is this good or bad? Should the government do more to make people feel safe—and if so, what should they do?
• Congress is debating a bill that would provide free testing and 14 days of paid sick leave to those impacted by the coronavirus, amongst other benefits to affected workers & businesses. Are these government interventions in our economy necessary? Are they enough?
• The stock market is moving into recession territory, that is, investors are not putting money into growing companies, and industries like restaurants, airlines, cruise ships, and hotels all over are losing business. Should the government do something to help the industries that will be impacted by the coronavirus? Why or why not?