I agree with you re. point 1, and disagree about point 2.

If people had no access to vaccines when Mothers shut down and there was an epidemic in that area - then they had no choice but to close down, at least until everyone could be vaccinated.

As far as the second point - I am not talking about begonias. But even if I were - why are small businesses held to a different standard? Is this a case of all pigs are equal but some are more equal than others?

And I was not talking about begonias. The particular small shops I was talking about often have types of fertilizers, heirloom plant seeds, etc., that I could not find elsewhere. Similarly to how I often found books published by independent publishers in small local book stores vs. in the national chains.

Or hardware stores - the small ones often had a better knowledge base, etc. As someone who supports small businesses, family-owned businesses and farms, hand-crafted products, etc. - I think we lose diversity when we put everything except the mega-stores out of business. And it makes no sense from a safety point of view as long as the small owners are following the procedures.

Other side of it - when people own a small business or work for a small business - they pick up a larger knowledge base and can use that as a springboard in ways that are harder at the big box stores. At least this is what I saw.

I remember walking into a local hardware store and talking to the woman behind the counter, who happened to be black - and was really impressed at how much she knew about the parts I needed. She was able to problem solve with me on the fly. I have never had that kind of service from a Home Depot or Walmart. And it was also providing her with valuable skills she could use to create a better future for herself.

JMHO, feel free to disagree.