Public Policy and How We’re Doing

This page will contain additional information regarding public policy and how we’re doing in the U.S. I started it in early September, and will add to it as time goes on.

September 2020

Flying to New Zealand from the U.S.

An interview with someone that relocated from the U.S. to New Zealand was revealing. She compared how COVID 19 life was dealt with.

Flying to New Zealand, the booking of the flight was tightly managed. She could only book less than a week before she left and got approval 2 days before the flight. She was placed directly into 14-day quarantine from the airport. Go through customs, then directly to a bus that takes you to a designated hotel for quarantine. No stops along the way. All coordinated. No Uber! Tight security so no one escapes. Government pays for citizens, outsiders pay themselves. So … might be a deterrent to planning a vacation there!

Lots of ads “we are all in this together” with reminders of what they need to do. Calming messsages like “there is plenty of food.” Went into full lockdown because 1 family tested for COVID. Testing is very adequate which keeps cases down. There is a real investment in public health, communal approach to taking this on, and a serious approach to even the smallest number of cases. Lots of support and concern for citizens. Health ministry calls those in isolation to ask how you are mentally, and if you need a “welfare check.” They don’t want citizens to take unnecessary risks. Attitude of wanting to do it, helping others to do it, and getting through it … unlike the U.S. right now. Here, everything is politicized and there is “a different side to every story.” No “collective culture.”

Tracking Government Responses in Countries that is Data Driven – Political Division

Two reporters did an international comparison for foreign policy. New Zealand was rated the best response … U.S. is towards the bottom. Three key elements were taken under consideration:

1. 1. Public health policy and when it was done.
   2. Ways countries were providing financial support so that public health policy could be maintained. People could then work longer at home and have a cushion for a longer period. Strong social safety nets.
   3. Continue to have conversations with people about why they are doing what they are doing. Clear, consistent communication from key leaders, relying on science-based factual information and not misinformation or politically-based narratives. This would result in a greater behavioral response from the public.

There were issues with the U.S. that rated low in this study:  Below the median in every category. We were late in establishing policy. We aren’t unified because of the political division.

U.S. and Poor Public Policy

It has been stated that autocratic countries “do better”

Autocratic governments are prone to actions that harm populations, promoting false information, limiting the press, caring more about the optics. (Example: China’s first days).  Is the U.S. falling back into these tendencies?

Countries with weak capacities and strong policies fare better in managing COVID 19 and supporting their people. Actual actions taken during the middle of a crisis make a big difference.