The right-wing 'seems happy to immiserate the nation' to 'preserve' white privilege

[Celerity]

https://www.rawstory.com/the-right-wing-seems-happy-to-immiserate-the-nation-to-preserve-white-privilege/



The longer the covid is with us, the more it seems John Calvin had a point. The 16th-century theologian and autocrat had a dismal view of human nature, writing in his Institutes of the Christian Religion that "perversity in us never ceases, but constantly produces new fruits." These days, it's not the most stylish perspective. But Lord, is it ever on the money.

I am reminded of this after reading a sociological study that found that exposing white Americans to information about racial disparities in health care lessened their empathy for those who suffered from the covid. It also lowered their fear of the disease and reduced their support for safety precautions against it.

Simply put, the more white people believed the covid was a problem for Black people and people of color, the less they cared about it. That held true across the board for participants. Being a political conservative increased the effects, but even white liberals showed the same basic trend. The conclusions are as terse as they are grim:

Publicizing racial health disparities has the potential to create a vicious cycle wherein raising awareness reduces support for the very policies that could protect public health and reduce disparities.

The more you know, the less you care.

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