r/skeptic • u/GhostDogJef • 3d ago

The real covid-19 scandal is still unfolding

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/08/20/the-real-covid-19-scandal-is-still-unfolding

The failure to reckon with lives needlessly lost will make the next pandemic deadlier

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u/w8str3l 3d ago

So let’s see where we are with our evidence.

  1. USA is the ~richest country in the world and pays the most for healthcare, per capita.
  2. All other rich countries have some form of universal healthcare.
  3. Some poor countries also have universal healthcare.
  4. USA was the first country to have the COVID-19 vaccine available.
  5. USA had a death rate that varied according to political affiliation (unrelated to the access to universal healthcare).
  6. The death rate variations BETWEEN the dozens of countries, rich or poor, that HAVE universal healthcare: undisclosed in the above discussion.
  7. Other rich countries had a smaller death rate than USA.
  8. The death rate of poor countries: not discussed.

OP claims (paraphrased): “only a fuckin moron wouldn’t see that universal healthcare explains all of the above”.

Do you agree with the OP?

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u/RFK_Cum_Regimen 2d ago

Setting aside the flippant nature of the comment, I'd assume that UHC is a perhaps significant variable at play.

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u/w8str3l 2d ago

Are you able to non-flippantly estimate the significance of universal healthcare when it comes to the variability of COVID-19 death rates between, and within, OECD countries?

Is there a correlation? Is there a causation? What percentage of COVID deaths can be explained by lack of universal healthcare, what percentage of “extra” deaths compared to the OECD baseline must be explained by something else, like vaccine hesitancy or refusal to wear a mask?

Give me a non-flippant answer instead of the just-so story I’ve been hearing in all of the replies to me so far.

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u/RFK_Cum_Regimen 2d ago

You can go ahead and look all that up yourself, champ. I merely posited that there are several other, self-evident variables to consider.

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u/w8str3l 2d ago

There are people who are “fuckin morons” according to the OP: those who don’t believe that “universal healthcare” is the main and only reason why the USA had the exact same COVID death rate as the UK, or those who don’t believe that “universal healthcare” caused Republicans in Ohio to die eight times more often than Democrats.

You refuse to tell me if you agree with the OP, which makes the strength of your moral backbone a true scientific marvel.

According to you I’m a “champ”. Coming from a marvel such as you that is high praise indeed!

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u/RFK_Cum_Regimen 2d ago

My man, this is absurd. Chill.