The Chronicles Of Grant County
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As restrictions on some activities are lifted and as people in Silver City and throughout Grant County contemplate life after lockdown, it's important to realize that the lockdowns and related mitigation efforts implemented throughout the United States were designed to minimize the impact of an over-demand for medical care because of the pandemic.
Our leaders – whether they be conservative or progressive, libertarian or liberal – understood – and understand – that the health care system in the United States is largely based on money.
It wasn't always this way in our nation.
Never perfect. But in many respects, far more based on health care as a focus rather than health care as a profit center.
Hospitals in many communities in the United States were initially founded in one of three ways: religious groups that saw a need to minister to the health needs of the local folks, doctors who saw a need to provide skilled health care to a local populace, and community leaders – in business, in labor, and in government – who saw a need for a healthy population.
Each of these types of foundings was based on local needs.
As medical technologies advanced, life expectancy increased even further.
Diseases that disabled or killed human life were contained, and in some cases, conquered within the United States.
Tuberculous, cholera, and polio were wiped from the everyday life of most Americans.
New hospitals were erected. New medical equipment was put into operation.
Sanitation was improved.
All of these advances came with costs.
Some costs were obvious – health insurance premium increased and prices for medical procedures increased.
Capital was needed. Typically, at levels beyond the ability of local folks to raise by themselves in communities throughout the country.
Capitalism has dealt with situations before when products and services became common societal needs. When those common societal needs become utilities that most or all of us depended on to carry on life.
Electricity, telecommunications, and sanitary sewage disposal systems developed initially without regulatory oversight.
Today, all are typically regulated as utilities in our country. Whether under private ownership, cooperative ownership, governmental ownership, or some other form of ownership.
New electrical grids are planned for future needs. Water purification efforts are paid for over time so that few are left behind. Competitors in telecommunications work together to share cell phone towers.
Systems are designed not for everyday needs. Systems are designed for the worst-case scenarios.
Back-ups to back-ups are put into place. Sometimes by design. Sometimes because of experiences.
Health care evolved differently.
While regulated, not everyone has access to or can afford needed health care services.
Rather than designing a system for the worst-case scenario, the health care system in our nation has been one designed to minimize costs and maximize profit potential.
In many communities, only the buildings that can make money have survived, only the medical equipment that can have its profit potential maximized is available to local folks and only the medical supplies that are needed for day-to-day operations are available for use by the health care workers.
We are now paying the price for these decisions.
The leaders of our country know that the health care facilities are not equipped today to deal with the worst-case scenario.
Without the lockdowns, without the mitigation, our leaders knew that the health care system would be overloaded.
At that point, decisions would have to be made that none of the leaders want to make.
Who gets medical treatments?
Who gets compassionate care?
Who gets no care?
Who lives?
Who dies?
Our leaders – not conservatives and not progressives; not libertarians and not liberals – did not want to have to make those decisions.
In wartime, those decisions are made on the battlefield as well as in field offices.
We don't talk about it much. It's not a polite conversation.
But on the battlefield, leaders have to make those decisions. It is the responsibility of the policy leaders – our leaders – to make sure that the leaders in the field have all the resources they need to be able to make those decisions.
Plan for the worst. Strive to do the best possible. Hope for limited or no need.
As society reopens, realize that our leaders will seek to enhance and strengthen the health care systems throughout the United States.
Additional medical equipment will be put in place.
Additional stocks of medical supplies will be distributed and stored for future use.
The hospitals, health care clinics, and other providers of health care services will be protected.
Medical treatments will be invented.
A vaccine will likely be created by a scientist who we all will know by name – a Jonas Salk, a Madame Curie, an Albert Einstein – who until then will only be known by family and friends.
But – but – until then, people will continue to get infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
While the infections occur and spread, the impact of herd immunity will become more likely as will the likelihood that some of the individuals infected with the virus will not recover.
People will continue to die from this COVID-19 Pandemic. Many will be in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes.
Until and unless we become a pro-active people – until and unless we plan for the worst case scenario – we are destined to repeat this experience in the future.
Our leaders are a reflection of us.
We are a forward-looking people.
We are an optimistic people.
While we are willing to make sacrifices in the short-term – and have done so admirably in the past few months – we are typically unwilling to make long-term commitments if such actions mean great sacrifices.
Will we change?
Will we take the actions needed to plan for the worst case scenarios?
Will we be willing to make the needed sacrifices?
Or, will be do as we have done so many times before – Do what is needed at the moment to minimize what will hurt "us," "solve" the immediate problems, declare victory, and move on?
The decision is in your hands.
Our leaders reflect us.
Our leaders follow us.
Our leaders rarely lead.
In most cases, our leaders do what they know we are willing to tolerate at the moment.
If you choose to keep the optimistic quality that has made America a special place and add pro-active actions to plan for the worst case scenarios, then let our leaders know the sacrifices that you are willing to accept to meet the future.
Plan for the worst. Strive to do the best possible. Hope for limited or no need.
If you choose to blame our leaders, be prepared to accept the blame as well.
Our leaders reflect us.
This image was provided by FrankundFrei through Pixabay.
Do you have questions about communities in Grant County?
A street name? A building?
Your questions may be used in a future news column.
Contact Richard McDonough at chroniclesofgrantcounty@mail.com.
© 2020 Richard McDonough