This thread is a follow-up to the oil prices thread we had less than a month ago.

Australia has signed a stimulus package

So has the US (title) (link)

And Canada

And Brazil (in portuguese)

So how are we feeling about this? Will the packages do their jobs and bandage the economy together until we stop the virus, are we headed towards a new great recession/depression, is this the nail in the coffin for the US as a political power (China has the virus under control in their nation and they're selling/giving out tons of masks so if the US economy is nuked and the Chinese only feel the trade effects then they can further empower themselves)

I'm only 30, but I can't think of a time entire sectors of the economy were shutting down like this.

I'm looking at statements from countries that appear vastly more prepared and honest, like Germany, who say they expect 60-70% of the population to contract the virus. Am I wrong for seeing the general lack of appropriate reaction from the US and expecting worse?

I expect the US will eventually be in a similar situation like Italy is. Most people staying home and most businesses shut down. How do people pay bills? Mortgages? Rent? Healthcare? Find money for basic supplies? Car loans?

Has something like this happened before to a modern economy?

I was having a conversation with a friend today about the economics of art and the potential cost of purchasing an idea. It got me thinking, what are some other things relatively cheap to create but expensive to purchase?