"The point is that high-level choices are made all the time which constrain the choices of individuals in this country. We are just selective about which we choose to get upset about—a choice deeply shaped by the prerogatives of those who most influence the political conversation, as we saw during Covid-19." This seems like an important point, Sandro! I've recently been working on an article about vaccine hesitancy, and I'm hearing that people decide to get vaccinated when someone they trust, particularly a community leader like a reverend, gets vaccinated. It's like the Raymond Carver-inspired title of the book you reference at the end what we're talking about when we're talking about mask wearing isn't really mask wearing, it's that the people who don't want to wear masks feel a lot of mistrust toward the people who are telling them to. And I think part of that is because the public health conversation among people like myself too often doesn't take into account that some people may have different definitions of health than me, or that their tradeoffs might be different. It's such an important conversation to have and I'm really glad you're having it.
Just realized the book you reference is your book! Even better. :) (Fwiw and inspired by what you've written, I'd love to see the idea of health in America move away from what feels like a joy-less idea focus on metrics, disease avoidance and willpower and toward well-being — more time with family and friends, less work, nature, affordable quality food, etc. Perhaps that could cross some of the political divides.)
"The point is that high-level choices are made all the time which constrain the choices of individuals in this country. We are just selective about which we choose to get upset about—a choice deeply shaped by the prerogatives of those who most influence the political conversation, as we saw during Covid-19." This seems like an important point, Sandro! I've recently been working on an article about vaccine hesitancy, and I'm hearing that people decide to get vaccinated when someone they trust, particularly a community leader like a reverend, gets vaccinated. It's like the Raymond Carver-inspired title of the book you reference at the end what we're talking about when we're talking about mask wearing isn't really mask wearing, it's that the people who don't want to wear masks feel a lot of mistrust toward the people who are telling them to. And I think part of that is because the public health conversation among people like myself too often doesn't take into account that some people may have different definitions of health than me, or that their tradeoffs might be different. It's such an important conversation to have and I'm really glad you're having it.
Just realized the book you reference is your book! Even better. :) (Fwiw and inspired by what you've written, I'd love to see the idea of health in America move away from what feels like a joy-less idea focus on metrics, disease avoidance and willpower and toward well-being — more time with family and friends, less work, nature, affordable quality food, etc. Perhaps that could cross some of the political divides.)