Hacker News Reader

I answered that already.

Because they paid taxes and employed people. It's like an insurance company that drops you as soon as you file a claim... you pay into a pool, expecting it to be there when you need it.

This is an unheard of situation, don't forget. The government (rightfully so, in my opinion) is forcing these restaurants to shut down dining. It's not like they're shutting down because they're "lazy".

View on HN

Businesses don't pay taxes or employ people in the expectation of being bailed out, they pay taxes (like everyone else) in the expectation of goods and services from the Government. You may expect bailouts for restaurants as a Government service, but the vast majority of people do not.

As a business owner in a 1st world country, for paying taxes I expect infrastructure, security and a functioning legal system.

Security is much more than safety from invasions from other nations. It is a guaranteed safety net for when things go wrong; this covers everything from health care, to unemployment, to services for the homeless, and yes it includes helping businesses that collectively employ tens of thousands of people in times of crisis.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com