Congress just passed a nearly $1 trillion pandemic relief package that includes direct payments in the form of “stimulus” checks, but I’m curious. How do you stimulate an economy that is still manually shut down?

Both liberals and conservatives whined on social media that the $600 checks aren’t enough. Who knows? Maybe they’re even right. But what difference would any amount of money make when governors and mayors are still keeping closed down all the places it might be used at, including bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues?