If A Coronavirus Vaccine Is A Long Ways Off

#278: The Implications
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New York magazine's Jeff Wise explains why a vaccine for the coronavirus might not happen.  Essentially, other coronaviruses, like the common cold, remain unconquered, which suggests we may find a vaccine to prevent Covid-19 equally elusive.  Perhaps a new vaccine will help a bit, as with the flu; or maybe we'll just have to adjust.  There's also the possibility that Covid-19 will slowly become just another strain of the flu, as Sarah Zhang explains at the Atlantic.

The reaction to Wise's article, in comments, included a few irate writers complaining that there's enough negative news, and that depressing readers with more negativity is simply wrong.

But, is more 'happy talk' the answer?  If the pandemic lasts for years (the best forecasters estimate about two years) it may be that a return to a freer lifestyle will require re-engineering our society.  If so, the sooner we begin, the better.  For example, a re-engineered airplane cabin that somehow carries passengers in isolated compartments, rather than using communal seating.  At a minimum, we could start re-thinking our social interactions, becoming aware of how we mingle with others.

Recently, it's occurred to many observers that big box stores with groceries and a pharmacy, in addition to other goods, are receiving an unfair advantage.  For example, a small, niche clothing store is considered 'non-essential', and must temporarily shut down; meanwhile, a big-box store that sells similar items, in addition to food and medicine, is allowed to remain open.

The overall effect of this inadvertent inequity is to turn everyone into big box shoppers and decimate the hearts of many a business district.  When the time comes, how might we re-engineer this effect?

A possible solution is for local governments to adjust property tax rates so that small businesses with a connection to the community have a leg up.  Raise retail property taxes, overall, and then, assuming local ownership, provide discounts for things like:
  * 10% - Owner operated
  * 20% - Minimum local charitable donations (% of gross earnings)
  * 30% - Worker owned
  * 10% - @ Enterprise Zone
  * 10% - 100% renewable energy usage
  * 10% - Building rehab. (for three years)
  * 10% - High-value wages/benefits

Conceivably, a worker-owned local business that fixes up a building in an enterprise zone, pays good wages, and uses renewable energy, would pay no property taxes under such a scheme.  Of course, if this meant big box stores going out of business, further adjustments would have to be made to maintain revenue.

This rethinking / re-engineering process will hopefully result in a more likely social order, whether necessarily distanced, or not.