If you have politicized a public health issue, you're more likely to die

[khalwat]

khalwat:

I actually agree that cultural differences largely make the difference between US COVID outcomes and Japan/Korea COVID outcomes.

However, I think you're missing the main reason this has happened.

Let's completely forget about the "why" for a moment. It's interesting, but largely a distraction.

Regardless of why the USA responded as we did to the COVID crisis, the important part is the scoreboard.

We have done poorly, and others have done far better.

If the countries that are doing so well in response to COVID are the ones where people are actually listening to and practicing the medical advice from their government, then clearly that's the right thing to be doing.

So do it. Get vaccinated. Put on a mask. Social distance.

That's the advice literally everyone around the world has been given, and the countries that are more able & amenable to following it are doing so much better than the ones who are ignoring it.

It's so obvious, and so simple.