Some angry thoughts about the pandemic

WHO today declared we an influenza pandemic is underway (aka, phase 6), which is not news to anyone. This beast has been barreling long for at least 3 or 4 weeks and the reluctance to call it what it was was related to resistance from some of WHO’s member states (the UK, China and Japan have been often fingered as the chief culprits). The apparent lack of cases in Europe didn’t fool most experts. The EU was using a testing protocol designed to minimize the case count. It was refreshing not to have the US party to these kinds of shenanigans, but of course we had no opportunity: it started here in North America. Still, US health authorities have so far acquitted themselves fairly well. We are all in uncharted territory, and communicating risk when you don’t know the size or nature of the risk, is, well, risky. CDC continues to gather information and advise federal agencies, especially regarding general recommendations and vaccine issues. All pretty useful, but as we move into the heart of this pandemic, it will become of increasingly marginal value. The brunt of the pandemic will have to be managed locally. And there were are in big trouble.

Since the Reagan era we have been systematically disinvesting in the public sector and particularly in public health and the social safety nets that catch the weak and sick as they fall. It’s a Republican idea but too many cowardly and weak Democrats threw their lot in with these enemies of public health. Clinton did little to reverse it and in some ways accelerated it. The coup de grace, of course, was reserved for George W. Bush and the Republican congress post 1994, who pulled the trigger with satisfaction and enjoyment. Now we will all suffer the predictable consequences.

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