Note to Self: Research This Mindset

A sign points the way to a National Health Service testing service area for coronavirus assessment at University College Hospital in London. Credit…Isabel Infantes/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images.

Britain is a rich country and may fare better than others. But the N.H.S. is creaking at the seams after years of underfunding [my bolding]. A decade of cuts by successive Conservative governments has stripped the service of resources. Staff morale is low and retention is poor. We are already working at capacity.

(Jessica Potter, “I’m a Doctor in Britain. We’re Heading Into the Abyss,” NYTimes, 3-18-20)

I live in a state that’s been cherry-red since Ann Richards was defeated by ‘W’ in 1994. “Creaking at the seams after years of underfunding” is an apt descriptor for the Texas healthcare system, and indeed for the U.S. system in general. True to form, the Grand Old Party has striven mightily to splay, flay, and fillet Obamacare from the very day of its enactment, down to the present moment.

One of my projects for the new era of isolation and social distancing we live in is to research why efficient, equitable, well-functioning, robust public healthcare systems appear to be anathema to white conservatives in two “advanced” countries.

Dr. Drew Pinsky has condoned flouting the directives of public health officials. Credit…Rich Fury/Getty Images.

Related topic to explore: Why do conservatives such as Drew Pinsky, Rob Schneider, Sean Hannity, Sharyl Attkison, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Ron Paul scoff in various ways at the virus scare?

“This is not affecting people who are healthy,” Mr. Schneider said, falsely.

(Jeremy W. Peters, “From Jerry Falwell Jr. to Dr. Drew: 5 Coronavirus Doubters,” NYTimes, 3-18-30)

About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

View all posts by JMN →

1 Response to Note to Self: Research This Mindset

Eric Wayne says:

March 20, 2020 at 3:26 pm

I tend to think that in most cases if you know two or three things people believe you can guess the rest. If you can crack why conservatives reject quality public health care, and played down the vaccine, your next assignment is figuring out why they are almost universally climate change deniers. They are also against free college.

I see a theme there, and it’s not wanting to pay for a social safety net or the general good of the populace, couples with an unwillingness to sacrifice profit to protect the general population.

I miss the old-school liberal humanists, who have now been replaced by the revolutionary guard itching to declare the year zero.

LikeLiked by 1 person