Who Are We?

I have, on multiple occasions, observed that we can learn something about who we are as a people by discerning what about social insurance programs collectively repel us. We have a hard time with public health concepts — our health is mutually interdependent, to a degree, on the health of others — because they contradict a rugged individualist health ethos. Now, some who missed the earlier program are appalled to discover that what applied to the ACA or, even more, various universal health care proposals also applies to Coronavirus social distancing and mask wearing protocols. We, are a people, who simply cannot get our minds around the idea that we are involuntarily  interdependent.

Doctor Anthony  Fauci noted, only a few days ago, that  “I think we need to emphasize the responsibility that we have both as individuals and as part of a societal effort.”

Smart move, that making this a matter of individual responsibility. May be the only way to sell it to Americans.