Heckuva Job, Pencie! A US ruled for and by the Rich leaves Workers at Risk
for Coronavirus
JOHN BUELL
03/02/2020
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) - Is the United States
prepared to deal with a public health emergency? At this point such an
emergency seems likely, but, even if it were not, the consequence of
inaction are catastrophic and must be planned for. Preparation for a
national health emergency depends on two variables, the medical resources
available to provide acute and preventive care and the demands made of these
resources. Unfortunately a generation- long war on democratic government and
a never very generous welfare state has inflicted severe harm on both the
supply and demand sides of the emergency preparedness equation.
There is good reason to believe the medical infrastructure for acute care
has been as neglected as our roads and bridges in the current neoliberal
order A survey of California hospitals conducted by the National Nurses
Union revealed: " Only 27 percent report that there is a plan in place to
isolate a patient with a possible novel coronavirus infection. 47 percent
report they don't know if there is a plan.
Only 73 percent report that they have access to N95 respirators on their
units; 47 percent report access to powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)
on their units.
Only 27 percent report that their employer has sufficient personal
protective equipment (PPE) stock on hand to protect staff if there is a
rapid surge in patients with possible coronavirus infections; 44 percent
don't know.
What about the administrative capacity to assess these shortages-along with
the tenuous supply chins for crucial drugs? An administration that is
determined to downsize and denigrate government itself seems unlikely to
rise to the challenge. Indeed as NNU Executive Director put it," nurses and
health care workers need optimal staffing, equipment, and supplies . This is
not the time for hospital chains to cut corners or prioritize their profits.
This is the time to go the extra mile and make sure health care workers,
patients, and the public are protected at the highest standards."
University of Hawaii political theorist Jairus Grove has a suggestion
attuned to the inadequacies of current administrative efforts: "This is not
an ad-hoc FEMA job this is the job for local social work and health
infrastructures with large federal infusions of resources and money.
Hoarding needs to be addressed and rationing needs to be equitable.
Otherwise wealth will determine the odds of survival."
Jairus Grove
@SavageEcology
. Feb 25, 2020
Replying to @SavageEcology
6. INFRASTRUCTURE: Infrastructures need to be put in place for the
distribution of food and medication. If this is done after the worst of an
outbreak it will be done poorly.
Jairus Grove
@SavageEcology
This is not an ad-hoc FEMA job this is the job for local social work and
health infrastructures with large federal infusions of resources and money.
Hoarding needs to be addressed and rationing needs to be equitable.
Otherwise wealth will determine the odds of survival.
8
3:15 PM - Feb 25, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See Jairus Grove's other Tweets
As Grove's remarks about rationing and survival odds imply, a successful
response to the crisis must address the demand side. Citizens are much more
likely to make sacrifices if they believe we are all in this together.
Fostering this feeling, let alone establishing it will be an inordinate
challenge. The CDC can in a matter of fact tone ask workers who are sick to
stay home, but many states do not require businesses to provide paid sick
days for their employees. The Economic Policy Institute reports, "access to
paid sick days is vastly unequal. The highest wage workers are more than
three times as likely to have access to paid sick leave as the lowest paid
workers. Whereas 93% of the highest wage workers had access to paid sick
days, only 30% of the lowest paid workers were able to earn sick days."
Equally significant the many holes in our health insurance system combined
with the extreme inequalities in our political economy are a perfect storm
for aggravating the crisis. Surveys have shown that nearly half of the
population could not come up with $500 to meet an unexpected expense. In
addition if they are insured they likely face so many co- pays and
deductibles that visiting the doctor is a nonstarter. Going to work rather
than to the doctor not only spreads the disease but also deprives public
health experts of the data needed to construct the most effective
strategies. Since many of the workers who fit this description are service
sector and in more contact with others the adverse consequences are greater.
(Even in a more dangerous environment are the 2.1 million citizens in
prison, a veritable petri dish. Has anyone considered their fate in this
crisis?)
There are policy responses far short of a social revolution that would
address these strains. Paid sick leave more work at home four day workweek,
universal healthcare, and job guarantees would be a good start. These are
portrayed as radical, but they are essential to the health of the body
politic and the air that we all breathe.
--
Bonus video added by Informed Comment:
CBS Miami: "Facing South Florida: Rep. Shalala On Coronavirus Outbreak"
Filed Under: Epidemics, Health Care, Inequality, Neoliberalism, Plutocracy,
Workers
About the Author
John Buell has a PhD in political science, taught for 10 years at College of
the Atlantic, and was an Associate Editor of The Progressive for ten years.
He lives in Southwest Harbor, Maine and writes on labor and environmental
issues. His most recent book, published by Palgrave in August 2011, is
"Politics, Religion, and Culture in an Anxious Age." He may be reached at
jbuell@xxxxxxxxxx
One Thing All Liars Have in Common, Brace Yourself
TruthFinder
|
