Noam Chomsky on the Coronavirus, Healthcare, and Bernie Sanders’ Campaign
Noam Chomsky appeared on this week’s episode of the Useful Idiots podcast with hosts Matt Taibbi and Katie Halper. A wide variety of political topics were discussed, as Chomsky shared his thoughts on the coronavirus, healthcare in the United States, and his assessment of Bernie Sanders’ campaign.
Regarding the coronavirus, Chomsky discusses how the United States is ill-prepared to deal with the global pandemic due to the longstanding pattern of the U.S. Government prioritizing corporate interests over providing affordable and widely accessible healthcare. Specifically he states, “What our leaders are good at, and have been very good at for the last 40 years, is pouring money into the pockets of the rich and the corporate executives while everything else crashes.”
Chomsky details how approaching healthcare through a business framework results in neglecting preparedness for a potential health crisis. Pondering the question of why hospitals do not have enough beds for the expected surge in coronavirus patients, Chomsky explains how hospitals emphasize being economically sound and extremely efficient. Therefore, this business practice translates to hospitals maintaining just enough beds for what is commonly needed and disregarding being properly prepared for a future crisis.
