In other words, if things went according to plan, the United States national debt would have increased by over a trillion dollars in 2020! Now, things are not going according to plan on both sides: we’re now spending an additional $2 Trillion and government revenues are primarily based on taxing income and payroll, both of which are going to decrease this year.
We tend to view forest fires as a threat and something to avoid at all costs, and it’s only recently that we’ve figured out that trying to prevent all fires actually makes the fires worse when they do get out of control, because of the buildup of dead branches and foliage on the floor of the forest. Fires appear to destroy environments in the short run, but in the long run you need a fire every once in a while to ensure a healthy habitat. This virus is out of control and will cause a lot of damage, but it’s also clearing a path for new growth.