The Bad Math of Good Intentions

With governments shutting down the economy because of COVID-19, small government conservatives should adopt a “you broke it, you bought it” approach to restarting the economy, the country, and North Dakota. Because of this, lawmakers should really consider proposals that are made to buffer and offset the costs to both businesses and individuals that these shutdowns have created. It is not welfare to make people and businesses whole enough to survive financially.

In this vein, the North Dakota Watchdog Network has quickly analyzed a proposal made by North Dakota Democrats to create a program to offset costs related to costs incurred by those who actually contract the virus, lose work because of it, but don’t have compensation covered by other programs or benefits for whatever reason.

On the surface, it sounds reasonable. And with a quoted price tag of $…