Good story. When I started reading it I was think I was going to post a response that Balance is what was needed. I see now that was not needed you clearly understand that a balance needs to be struck.

Once we have agreement on the need for balance we get to picking winners and losers. I see factions energizing their base of support to promote policies that will make them winners. It is most obvious on the pro business side.

The progressive side acted first and achieved some wins that should get them some votes. The United Neo-liberal/conservative Plutocratic Oligarchic Elites exacted their price for those victories and collected billions for their coffers but some were exposed and were force to give it back because they raided the wrong cookie jars. Of course you have to remember every dollar you give to the poor ends up in a rich pocket eventually but rarely does capital given or loaned to the rich trickle down and at most it is a meager trickle.

I suspect that some of those that are protesting the restrictions would not mind bigger death tolls, they believe in survival of the fittest and have been preparing for hard times and see hard times as a way to rise above the riff raff.

While this tragedy hurts almost everyone there are still many who will benefit from this course of events and they are doing what they can to make sure if they are not real winners they minimize their losses.

TEK