Katner Adrienne, Brisolara Kari, Katner Philip, Jacoby Andrew, Honore Peggy
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
New Solut. 2020 Nov;30(3):161-167. doi: 10.1177/1048291120960233. Epub 2020 Sep 21.
America is at a critical crossroads in history as the COVID-19 pandemic expands. We argue that the failure to respond effectively to the pandemic stems from the nation's protracted divergence from the democratic ideals, we purport to value. Structural racism and class-based political and economic inequity are sustained through the failings of the nation's democratic institutions and processes. The situation has, in turn, fostered further inequity and undermined science, facts, and evidence in the name of economic and political interests, which in turn has encouraged the spread of the pandemic, exacerbated health disparities, and escalated citizen tensions. We present a broad vision of reforms needed to achieve democratic ideals which we believe is the most important first step to achieving true political representation, achieving a resilient and sustainable economy, and fostering the health of vulnerable communities, workers, and the planet.
随着新冠疫情的蔓延，美国正处于历史的关键十字路口。我们认为，未能有效应对疫情源于美国长期背离我们所崇尚的民主理想。结构性种族主义以及基于阶级的政治和经济不平等因美国民主制度和程序的缺陷而持续存在。反过来，这种情况又滋生了更多的不平等，并以经济和政治利益之名破坏了科学、事实和证据，进而助长了疫情的传播，加剧了健康差距，并加剧了公民之间的紧张关系。我们提出了实现民主理想所需改革的广泛愿景，我们认为这是实现真正政治代表性、实现有韧性和可持续的经济以及促进弱势群体、工人和地球健康的最重要的第一步。
