I have been saying this for a while now
Sep. 7th, 2005 03:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
neebsAs a matter of social policy, the catastrophic lack of response in New
Orleans is exceptional only in its scale and immediacy. When it comes
to caring for our fellow countrymen, we all know that America has never
ranked very high. We are, of course, the only democracy in the
developed world that doesn't offer health care to its citizens as a
matter of right. We rank 34th among nations in infant mortality rates,
behind such rival superpowers as Cyprus, Andorra and Brunei.
But these are chronic conditions, and even many of us who argue for universal health coverage have grown inured to that distinctly American indifference to the common good, to our radical lack of solidarity with our fellow citizens. Besides, the poor generally have the decency to die discreetly, and discretely -- not conspicuously, not in droves. Come rain or come shine, we leave millions of beleaguered Americans to fend for themselves on a daily basis. It's just a lot more noticeable in a horrific rain, and when the ordinary lack of access to medical care is augmented by an extraordinary lack of access to emergency services.
-Harold Myerson, OpEd for washpost.com
You can read the whole story here: The "Stuff Happens" Presidency
But these are chronic conditions, and even many of us who argue for universal health coverage have grown inured to that distinctly American indifference to the common good, to our radical lack of solidarity with our fellow citizens. Besides, the poor generally have the decency to die discreetly, and discretely -- not conspicuously, not in droves. Come rain or come shine, we leave millions of beleaguered Americans to fend for themselves on a daily basis. It's just a lot more noticeable in a horrific rain, and when the ordinary lack of access to medical care is augmented by an extraordinary lack of access to emergency services.
-Harold Myerson, OpEd for washpost.com
You can read the whole story here: The "Stuff Happens" Presidency
