I think culture is playing a big role here.

There is no question the US has handled this pandemic far worse than any advanced Western country. I think at least part of the reason for that is because of our mythology. It's almost blasphemous here to concede any benefit to a sense of community. It runs counter to our vaunted "self made man" myth. The chief reason we are the sole Western nation with no sort of universal health coverage is related to our primary attitude of "I got mine. You go get yours. It's the Superior Capitalist Way™" Chiefly, we don't have an NHS here because Americans are quite happy to pay for the own healthcare but by Damn don't you go asking us to pay for anyone else's healthcare! What are you? Some kind of Communist?

We also see this "Me first! Me alone! To hell with anyone else!" attitude in how many Americans are not wearing masks in public - even when under a county wide mandate as is the case where I live now. "Masks protect other people and why the hell would I want to do that? This is America goddamnit!"

This cultural antipathy toward a sense of community is especially lethal during a pandemic. It is playing out exactly as should be expected.

Post #434,754 by mmoffitt 6/25/20 8:13:34 AM 6/25/20 2:06:24 PM Reply	I think culture is playing a big role here. There is no question the US has handled this pandemic far worse than any advanced Western country. I think at least part of the reason for that is because of our mythology. It's almost blasphemous here to concede any benefit to a sense of community. It runs counter to our vaunted "self made man" myth. The chief reason we are the sole Western nation with no sort of universal health coverage is related to our primary attitude of "I got mine. You go get yours. It's the Superior Capitalist Way™" Chiefly, we don't have an NHS here because Americans are quite happy to pay for the *own* healthcare but by Damn don't you go asking us to pay for anyone else's healthcare! What are you? Some kind of Communist? We also see this "Me first! Me alone! To hell with anyone else!" attitude in how many Americans are not wearing masks in public - even when under a county wide mandate as is the case where I live now. "Masks protect other people and why the hell would I want to do that? This is America goddamnit!" This cultural antipathy toward a sense of community is especially lethal during a pandemic. It is playing out exactly as should be expected. bcnu, Mikem It's mourning in America again. Edited by mmoffitt June 25, 2020, 02:06:24 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #434,776 by pwhysall 6/25/20 12:11:48 PM 6/25/20 12:11:48 PM Reply	Re: I think culture is playing a big role here. I don't think America has, as a nation, internalised the idea that it is no longer a frontier state, where being a rugged individualist is the prime characteristic required for success.
Post #434,789 by mmoffitt 6/25/20 2:04:49 PM 6/25/20 2:04:49 PM Reply	Well said. They can put that on our nation's tombstone. bcnu, Mikem It's mourning in America again.
Post #434,792 by Ashton 6/25/20 2:18:14 PM 6/25/20 2:18:14 PM Reply	Bingo! ...that IS 'about the Size of' most of our dysfunction, IME.

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