As the coronavirus crisis hits, the world as we knew it has changed. 

Borders are shut, flights are grounded and millions of people have been told to stay at home.  

The federal and state governments have worked hard on economic packages to keep business (and people) financially afloat until we get to the other side of the bridge.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced the second stage of its economic plan to “cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus and “help build a bridge to recovery.”

A total of $189 billion is being injected into the economy across all arms of government in an attempt to keep Australians in business (and therefore employment). 

A “coronavirus supplement” will be introduced, superannuation will be released early, and businesses will be given up to $100,000 in an effort to enable them to keep paying wages.  

“There is a lot of pain coming but we’re going to cushion the blow as best we can,” Scott Morrison said.  

He added in the accompanying media release, “We know Australia’s more than 3 million small and medium businesses are the engine room of our economy. When they hurt, we all hurt.”

The Commonwealth has announced it will guarantee unsecured loans of up to $250,000 for a term of up to three years. 

To say all of this is drastic and severe would be a multi-billion dollar understatement.

Thousands of people lost their jobs in the blink of an eye. 

And yet, amongst all this high-level intervention, a plague of beggars has descended upon our land.

The Greens asked for donations, requesting people “Join us by chipping in $3 a week”.

The Grattan Institute — founded with a $50 million dollar endowment largely taken from our pockets thanks to Kevin Rudd and Victorian Labour — emerged saying, “The coronavirus crisis underscores the value of high-quality public policy”, blah, blah, please donate.

Quarterly Essay, The Monthly and Saturday Paper publisher Morry Schwartz’s Schwartz Media issued a plea for support of “reliable, honest journalism”, as if Joe Bloggs who’s just lost his income is going to put his hand in his empty pocket to help fund the vanity projects of a left-wing multi-millionaire property developer who already takes money from the public purse. 

The Guardian Australia, of course, is the site of more begging than Central and Flinders Street Stations and environs combined. They haven’t let up.

The Walkley Foundation — that body that defends excellence in journalism on behalf of a union that does its best to harm the largest single employer of journalists in the country, News Corp — spruiked “resources” to help you “invest in your career”.  

Far-left extremist feminist Clementine Ford emerged to ask, “Would any of you subscribe to my Patreon to receive daily things from me (subscribers only) that help ease the boredom of self-isolating during Corona?”

It didn’t go to plan.  

Even PVO criticised the Greens. 

And one of the first comments replying to Ford simply said, “Nup, I don’t get bored. Plus, I will undoubtedly be working I would think a lot of your usual stuff could be done remotely as well?” 

Someone else asked, “Hmm… so you want money for basically nothing?”

In a comedic twist, the first post was her creating a “disinfectant” spray, which was quickly slammed in the comments (for not actually being a disinfectant at all) and prompted a rant.  

“FFS, it’s a LIGHT HEARTED VIDEO,” Ford blasted. “I explicitly state in it that I’m not an expert and I’m not a scientist. I’m just another person trying to get through the f***ing isolation with a bit of good humour. I am SO SICK OF THE F***ING humourless scolds on here EVERY F***ING DAY. I’m sorry I disappoint you all CONSTANTLY. Maybe you should all f**k off and find someone who lives up to you’re EXACTING F***ING STANDARDS. It’s intolerable.” 

The following day, the page seemed to disappear…  

All this just a handful of days into what could well be many months of isolation? 

Bugger stocking up on toilet paper, we’re going to need more popcorn, my friends. 

But, on a more serious note, I would suggest it’s highly inappropriate for any company, or anyone, to use this terrifying pandemic, which ultimately could leave an immense death toll, as an opportunity to rattle a tin in people’s faces, attempt to sell their awards, grant applications or attempt to secure donations for, well, “basically nothing”.

Right now, people have other things on their minds. 

Stop it.  

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