I will refrain from getting into the election and stuff, and just list things that I think will certainly be up for change, and I am going to focus on it from a perspective of national security, which this absolutely is an issue of now:
1.) Agreed with a lot of posters here: I think the labor market is going to change dramatically. I'm not sure how yet, but it will.
2.) Health care reform. Probably shift to a single-payer system, probably fund more health care projects, probably increase capacity of hospitals, DEFINITELY increase funding and awareness of pandemic responses. I agree too that a lot more national organization around manufacturing of medicines and antibiotics and things will likely occur as a matter of national security.
3.) The idea of UBI or increased social safety net benefits for all American workers is likely going to come up and some kind of reform will likely be passed into law.
4.) In order to keep the economy from stalling, more and more spending on national projects like infrastructure, and more emphasis on re-establishing American manufacturing will likely occur. Bailouts of, for instance, the airline industry will likely occur.
All of the above I list out assumes the following as being likely (and I think these are highly likely):
1.) This outbreak sickens a lot of people, particularly in high population density areas, our healthcare system's weaknesses are exposed and cause breakdowns, and far more people than should have die.
2.) The economy becomes toxic until at least the end of 2020. At best, it will be a sluggish re-start in Q4. A lot of government intervention to keep the markets from completely collapsing occurs.
3.) The election yields different leaders from both parties who are more committed to dealing with this crisis and it's horrible fallout at a national level.
That hasn't exactly gone off without a hitch.
