JMO One reason many Americans don't treat covid seriously enough

[Ferrets are Cool]

is that many of the HIGH PROFILE persons who get the virus either show few effects or are sidelined for a very short period.
Yeah, I know Herman Cain died, but it seems this pandemic is hitting the poor and disadvantaged disproportionally.

I attempted to find something to back up my musings. I found an article that seems to back up my thoughts. I will post a link below if anyone is interested.

IMO, if the rich and famous were dying at the same rate as the poor, the average American "might" take the taking of precautions more seriously. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to have someone competent in the WH, instead of a buffoon.

"What does average income have to do with poor outcomes from coronavirus infection? The diseases that are more prevalent in poor and minority communities reflect decades of structural inequalities, of the burden of racism, income inequality, and marginalization all of which add up to populations that are simply much more vulnerable to any stressors—and COVID-19 is no exception—than those who are richer, more connected, and have the resources to buy their health, in good times and bad. If there ever was an illustration of the fact that the virus does indeed discriminate, it is this. Yes, we may all be at risk of contracting the virus, but even when we do, some of us are much more likely to die than others."

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-health/202005/covid-19-is-bad-all-devastating-the-poor

[luv2fly]

1. Every anti-masker that goes out over and over and doesn't get sick is the problem

It just adds to their belief it is all fake.

[SharonClark]

4. As my 89 year old mom, who is self isolating, says

"If this pandemic was fair then Trump would be dead and buried".

[Karadeniz]

11. Good mom you've got there!

[malaise]

14. THIS

She nailed it.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Offering a qualification to your theory.

When someone you know, you like, you love, perhaps someone in your family dies of Covid, it's real. Very real.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. While I agree with you, there are still those in that group who will insist

that they died from something else besides a "fake virus".

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Yes and no.

It's hard to rationalize the death of an otherwise healthy individual out of the blue. Here today, gone tomorrow. While the MAGAts' initial reaction could be denial ("It wasn't Covid" ), they don't have a credible alternative to explain the death. "It was God's Will" only takes you so far.

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. "It was God's Will" only takes you so far.

For many, all the way to the grave.

[hlthe2b]

5. I agree with this. My ER nurse sister and I (also HCW) were just discussing this...

Especially the issue with all the governors and other COVID-skeptic politicians contracting COVID-19 but never seemingly developing severe symptoms (or at least from what is REPORTED).

It seems to have passed from mere coincidence to a problematic issue for those of us who are seeing the deadly daily consequences to get through to others. Now, even if network news or CNN, or MSNBC actually go into ICUs and ERS to show the real death and despair, so many Americans have tuned out.

I do not know the answer, but it portends a lot more death.

[gab13by13]

6. I agree with the OP

I said a long time ago that one of the Trump family would have to die from Covid before people would take it seriously.

I also agree that Covid deniers will have It Was A Hoax put on their tombstones. Too many of Trump people I know deny when someone we knew died from Covid.

[Phoenix61]

7. Obesity and poverty go hand in hand.

It’s hard to buy nutritious food when you live in a food desert and have to do your grocery shopping at the Dollar General.

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. Preach it

[LakeArenal]

10. I think a few things....

Anti maskholes partly won’t wear a mask cuz “libtards” do.

Some ignore it cuz it’s just damn inconvenient to them.

There is no simplistic answer to any of our social problems.

[ananda]

12. Sometimes I think the rightwing thumbing of the virus..

is a form of eugenics.

It's a view by them that's not particularly well hidden,
either.

[Midnight Writer]

15. A lot of people started recognizing AIDS as a crisis after Rock Hudson died.

That shocked a lot of people, put a face on the victims.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. And even more when Magic Johnson was diagnosed. nt

[milestogo]

16. They also have access to the very best treatment.

[eallen]

17. Medical researchers know that socioeconomic status is correlated with most health outcomes

Which is why many studies try to take that into account when looking to see if the thing they are researching has an effect.

The possible causal explanations are manifold. Those with higher socioeconomic status have more access to medical care, live closer to major medical centers, are better educated, have less stress in their lives, get more exercise, and eat better. Causality likely runs the other direction also: health issues can have a direct impact on wealth and can make it harder to climb the economic ladder.

I don't know that there is a difference in Covid-19 mortality. But if there isn't, that would be surprising.

[GoCubsGo]

18. There's also the issue of conspiracy theories.

One, in particular, comes to mind: The one having to do with alleged lying about official cause of death to exaggerate COVID deaths. A lot of people, including my jackass brother, believe that COVID-19 is being blamed for deaths from other causes, such as heart disease and diabetes. They can't comprehend that coroners will list all the health issues on the death certificate, even if they don't directly lead to the person's death. Many also buy into the conspiracy that doctors get more money for treating COVID-19 patients, so they lie about what actually afflicts their patients. In their minds, these aren't really pandemic deaths, so there's no pandemic to make them sick.