It’s hard not to question where the American Government’s loyalties lie when examining how it’s actions seem to continuously negatively affect the people. It is so aggravating to look at the data and see that under the healthcare system available during the recession, it was those people that required health care the most that were most neglected.
Austerity just seems to be across all bases, at least in the way it is presented in this book, a terrible solution to solving a country’s economic issues and is extremely detrimental to a nation’s people with exceptionally damaging effects to a nation’s health.
The only question left is why would a country choose to undergo measures of austerity other than being forcefully pushed by the IMF. As we saw with Iceland, a nation can ignore the IMF’s demands so why is it so uncommon?
Also, I would just like to agree with James that ALMP sounds absolutely wonderful and I would like to see similar practices applied in the United States seeing there is essentially no negative aspect to it. Minimizing stress in the unemployed and lowering suicide rates during a recession just seems to be the most logical and moral program a government could back.
I also totally applaud providing housing for the homeless instead of jailing them. Simply put, the homeless are jailed for existing and it is expensive and a burden to tax payers and is an excellent idea to provide housing for them if it’ll keep them out of jail and make them less likely to acquire a sickness and go to an emergency room and never pay for their treatment which then put on the taxpayer again. SMART POLITICS.
It was also super surprising that foreclosed homes with dirty pools led to the spread of West Nile Virus. Seems like nature taking a minute to help prove austerity policies are just not the way to go. haha
