Republicans used to laud ‘personal responsibility’. Not with Covid | David Litt

The Republican party is encouraging Americans to make objectively selfish, harmful choices – then using the tools of government to shield them from accountability

“It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions,” declared Ronald Reagan at the 1968 Republican National Convention.

By the time he became president 12 years later, this idea – that individuals can be trusted to act wisely and should be held accountable when they don’t – was firmly entrenched in Republican rhetoric. Reagan even included “personal responsibility” in his list of America’s bedrock values, right up there with faith in God, honesty, and caring for others.

Continue reading...

Coronavirus | The Guardian

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vaccine hesitant New Yorkers consider leaving the city as mandates take effect

For some in the Bronx, the borough hit hardest by the coronavirus, mistrust may win out over jobs and even home Deysia Padilla’s family thought she was at work. Instead, she spent last Thursday afternoon unloading a mound of orange and pink baby socks in a sunny South Bronx laundromat – one-by one, in all their three-inch glory. She had 48 hours to consider an impossible choice: either get vaccinated or lose her job. Padilla is one of thousands of unvaccinated New Yorkers affected by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ultimatum last week. Not only do city employees face the reality of losing their jobs, but without a shot, they’ll even forgo unemployment payments . Some unvaccinated Bronx natives would rather pursue a life outside New York City than be forced to take the vaccine. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian
Read more

Coronavirus live news: AstraZeneca reports vaccine shortfall to EU; Sydney hotel quarantine worker tests positive

US administers 100m vaccine doses; Jordan patients die after hospital oxygen shortfall; Italy partial lockdown starts on Monday Australian PM and chief medical officer get second dose of vaccine Jordan health minister steps down after hospital oxygen failure deaths Lockdown ending could trigger anxiety for many, say UK charities Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage 1.35am GMT Hong Kong is facing its fifth wave of infection, with a growing cluster centred around a high-end gym logging 99 cases so far . The gym is popular with the city’s central business district workers, local media reported, and several major banks and law firms are among dozens of businesses given compulsory testing orders. Authorities have also locked down four residential buildings in the Mid-levels, in another ambush-style operation to ensures all residents are tested overnight before being allowed to move freely again. 1.20am GMT Staying in Australia for a moment, there’s som...
Read more

One in six New York City workers remain unvaccinated after Friday deadline

Last-minute rush of jabs boost vaccination rate to 83% Fox News host gets death threats for vaccinations plea One in six New York City municipal workers remained unvaccinated after a Friday deadline to show proof of at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the city said. Despite opposition the city’s vaccine mandate fuelled by rightwing politicians and media and leading to a protest at City Hall this week, a last-minute rush of jabs boosted the vaccination rate to 83% among police officers, firefighters, garbage collectors and other city workers covered by the mandate as of 8pm on Friday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian
Read more