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by antonzabirko 2296 days ago
The article should've shed light on what govts can do better, not what individuals can. That's where the blame lies.
4 comments

Who is more likely to read and listen to a Newsweek article, an arbitrary individual reading the article making a decision for themselves, or a governmental policy maker when deciding what to tell the country?
You can choose to be a part of this, but it's the same logic as blaming the poor for societal issues or Muslims for terrorism.
If not being poor was as simple as washing your hands and avoiding necessary travel then that might have more merit.

It's quite possible for both "the systemic response is inadequate" and "we should not take personal actions that cause unnecessary risk for others when possible" to both be true and fit in one's head at the same time. One does not negate the other.

Agree, BUT the media only has so much attention. Use it for chastising the govt.
Let's try to reduce the damage on all levels, by all people? There's no need to choose between one or the other, government action and personal responsibility.
Ideally, sure, but I don't think that that federal government is really going to do better in the near-to-medium term no matter how many such articles are written.

Individual (and state government) action is mostly what we have, so that's more important than ever.

This may sound extreme, but it is scapegoating/systemic apolgia.
I'm not sure I understand your comment, so if my reply is off the mark, that's why.

I am not engaging in apologia. I'm looking at what we can practically expect right now.

Really? Individuals can't do things? Only governments can?

It's so easy to just blame the government...