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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

China virus update



Many in the west mocked China's response to the virus outbreak.  But it appears to me that Beijing threw everything they had at the problem.

I fear that in the US, where medical care has dollar signs written all over it, the response to a widespread outbreak of the virus would not be nearly so effective.

In this country workers and the poor can't afford to even imagine going to the doctor if they come down with any symptoms.  How could they ever hope to pay the hospital bills?  How could they even contemplate taking time off from work to isolate themselves if they had symptoms?  They could lose their job and their homes.

I hope the worst is indeed over in China.  My heart breaks for Italy and Iran, or any other nation, that is now facing this virus.  I worry daily about its impact here in America.

Mary Beth works with the homeless population in Portland.  Tell me how the homeless, in such huge numbers across this big country, could ever hope that our 'for profit' healthcare industry would give a damn about them?

Bruce

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