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School’s Out, But Not Forever
Of course COVID-19 can’t convince everyone to confront their own mortality and act responsibly in the interest of public health. Have you met people?
“The dangers of life are infinite, and among them is safety.” — Goethe
Outraged people on Twitter, politicians and political pundits; journalists, social laureates and irate op-ed writers: All seemed genuinely shocked this week that college kids, finding school unexpectedly cancelled for the rest of the semester, couldn’t be dissuaded from partying on spring break by stern public warnings of possible infection.
At least now we know why so many of these same authorities genuinely believed Obamacare would work. Or rather, we know why they believed Obamacare would work as it was intended to work; to make health care affordable for everyone.
It was naivety about human nature. In particular, it was naivety about that persistent human delusion- most prominent in the young- that nothing bad will ever happen to us.
“That could never happen to me” syndrome is why spring breakers were partying. It’s why baby boomers have to be begged by their worried children to stay home during COVID-19. It’s the reason people don’t save for retirement. It’s the reason Obamacare did not deliver on its promises.