COVID in the Time of Election Season

For the past week, I find myself unable to tear myself away from the rolling news cycle surrounding the president, his COVID results, and the ensuing chaos. For me, it brings up arguments of Medicare for all, Universal Basic Income, and trying to implore the government to exist for the purpose of taking care of its people, rather than the system we have now where most people are exploited so top government officials can have everything they need and much, much more. 

n The Deficit Myth, Kelton essentially makes the argument that there is enough money to go around, and the issue is priority. Taking this perspective to the real world, I still don't quite understand MMT (or economics on the whole), but I do know that many other countries similar to ours in wealth and resources have figured out things like universal healthcare. 

Since last Friday, I have checked the news multiple times per day looking for updates on the White House COVID situation. All lies about the president's health aside, the whole world watched as a man who routinely asserts himself to be untouchable was whisked away to the hospital, the true reasons for which only emerged days later. In the ensuing days, more people close to the president also tested positive - and the party to which the president belongs still opposes expanding healthcare access, increasing minimum wage, or even taking more precautionary measures against the virus that is far from over. 

As president of the US, Trump has had access to rapid testing for months. Upon receiving his positive result, he was immediately hospitalized where he had top-notch care, multiple doctors, 25/7 access to emergency equipment, experimental drugs, his own private room, and people available to meet his every need (and whim). When he left the hospital, he tweeted that we, the American people, should not let COVID run our lives and that it is nothing be afraid of. 

210,000 people have died SO FAR. How many of those folks would still be alive if we all had access to healthcare like the president had? How many folks would have been able to socially distance and stay home from work if there was a robust system in place to care for the citizens of this country in times of crisis? To waltz out of the hospital four days after entering and "feeling better than 20 years ago" is an immense privilege. I do not expect this particular president to recognize or admit that, but I hope the American people are ready to keep fighting for better conditions for the rest of us. 

Comments

  1. Paula GerstenblattOctober 7, 2020 at 4:45 PM

    Emily,
    Reading Kelton's book I find myself going back and rereading because the concepts are complex and sometimes hard to get my head around. I posted the Fed Chairman's concern about not pumping enough money out to hold things together--the economy=people's lives. The UK started their National health System after WWII when they were flat broke and in shambles. We can afford universal care--or as some might say--we can't afford not to have it. Yes to taxing the ultra rich and reining in defense and other types of spending that is inflationary; however, we are actually able to provide our citizens basic services as a right and because our values dictate it. As you say, "Taking this perspective to the real world, I still don't quite understand MMT (or economics on the whole), but I do know that many other countries similar to ours in wealth and resources have figured out things like universal healthcare."

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  2. Sam GieseOctober 8, 2020 at 10:29 AM

    Hi Emily,

    I had a similar thought process as you wrote about in terms of not quite understanding MMT (or economics in general). And yet I want something to believe in; something that provides us with a more humane basis for how we provide and receive necessary services in this country.

    In the book I don't remember Kelton specifically discussing oppression, and yet some of the principles seem to speak to the "lifting all boats" philosophy. Right now our economy and government are built on structures that oppress- is it too much to hope that those structures can be used for good? Are there not ways in which we can protect all of our citizens and empower individuals? Because right now things are f***ed. Our welfare system has barely protected individuals as it is intended to do. The examples Kelton gave of people waiting years to get on SSI Disability- court proceedings, documents after documents- just to prove that you're not well enough to work. I have seen this process play out and deny individuals their much needed assistance. So what are we doing then? If we're not protecting our most vulnerable, often oppressed populations with our current forms of governing then to me we need something drastically different. I believe some of the programs you reference- like a Universal Basic Income, or universal healthcare- would help empower individuals by helping alleviate some of the burdens created by poverty.

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