Excellent analysis of some of the tradeoffs involved. I just wonder about the biggest trade-off of all: that is, that the policymakers effectively ended normal social life for 18 months by imposing unprecedented interventions into private life, in pursuit of a sole aim ("preservation of public health"), while disregarding all other human values. Unfortunately, I don't think that this most important question can be addressed by the utilitarian, technocratic mindset which informed the pandemic response, and, seemingly, this analysis.
Jun 13, 2022·edited Jun 13, 2022Liked by Fitzwilliam Staff
Thanks for the series, really great. One small thing...
"70% of people have private health insurance, and the rest (including retirees and low-income people) have ‘medical cards’ qualifying them for free public healthcare." That isn't right? Lots of people don't have private health insurance and don't have a medical card. They simple use the public health system? Medical cards are a special scheme which provides free GP & dentist visits, etc.
Excellent analysis of some of the tradeoffs involved. I just wonder about the biggest trade-off of all: that is, that the policymakers effectively ended normal social life for 18 months by imposing unprecedented interventions into private life, in pursuit of a sole aim ("preservation of public health"), while disregarding all other human values. Unfortunately, I don't think that this most important question can be addressed by the utilitarian, technocratic mindset which informed the pandemic response, and, seemingly, this analysis.
Thanks for the series, really great. One small thing...
"70% of people have private health insurance, and the rest (including retirees and low-income people) have ‘medical cards’ qualifying them for free public healthcare." That isn't right? Lots of people don't have private health insurance and don't have a medical card. They simple use the public health system? Medical cards are a special scheme which provides free GP & dentist visits, etc.
Also 70% seems really high. HIA claimed it was 46% in May 2021 — https://www.hia.ie/sites/default/files/Press%20Release_May%202021.pdf
Thanks again, looking forward to the rest of the series.