It remains vital that everyone does their part--wear a mask, avoid mass gatherings, socially distance, etc.--but the reality is that collective action has never been the mere sum of individual acts; it is the product of *organisation.*
Without effective leadership from the US government, the American people have been essentially abandoned, the most vulnerable literally left to die. But that lack of leadership also entailed confusing messages and a deliberate, concerted attack on expertise.
Who would've thought that mask-wearing would become partisan? Yet it has because Trump's vanity led him to eschew one and his cult--needing to justify Trump's every act--built an edifice of bullshit around it to explain the reasoning and, as ever, invite imitation.
Meanwhile, if you open it people will come. Any reopening sends an authoritative signal that the permitted activity is reasonably safe--regardless of whether or not that's true. That's not the fault of individuals, it's the fault of the government.
And their responsibility here is pretty comprehensive. Everyone who's dragged themselves to work is a victim of the US government's unwillingness to spend money to make quarantines, isolation, and distancing economically viable for people.
If people have to choose between starving their families and possibly spreading COVID-19, which do you think they'll choose? That isn't their fault; governments forced it on them.
The individualising rhetoric beloved of many on the left about the pandemic eerily echoes right wing "personal responsibility" mantras, even though it's glossed with a patina of civic-mindedness and 'love thy neighbour' spirit.
Far less thought is given to how every rule-breaker, or every person acting unwisely, is simply following paths of least resistance created (deliberately) by powerful people who had the ability to do so much better.
The organisational incentives in America flow in several contradictory directions, all of which taken together dissipate any good that was done by our individual practises.
It's the same with climate change. Driving less, using reusable bags, composting, etc. all help in aggregate but without the heavy-hitters in government and big business cutting their emissions it doesn't add up to much.
The US government, through incompetence, inaction, and sabotage failed to organise an effective response to COVID. It neutralised the hard work of millions, and is opening us up to a new wave of suffering.
But they succeeded at one thing: getting you to blame each other for it.
But they succeeded at one thing: getting you to blame each other for it.
