Chapter 29 Flashcards
Who was Leon Lederman and what did he have to do to pay for medical bills?
He was a Nobel Prize–winning American physicist who had to auction off his medal for $765,000 to cover healthcare costs.
What does Wilkerson argue is the price Americans pay for their caste system?
A harsher, less benevolent society that lacks a shared sense of responsibility, leading to worse outcomes in healthcare, education, and quality of life.
How does a shared identity influence public support for social safety nets?
Countries where citizens see each other as equals are more willing to support systems that care for everyone.
How did British citizens react when shown U.S. healthcare costs?
With disbelief and shock, unable to comprehend the high prices Americans pay for basic care.
What link does Jonathan Chait make between America’s stingy social safety net and its history?
He attributes it largely to slavery and the resulting caste system, which fosters division and distrust.
What are some indicators where the U.S. lags behind other developed nations?
Highest incarceration rate
More mass shootings and gun deaths
Lowest life expectancy among wealthy nations
Highest maternal mortality among peers
Poorer student test scores
Declining happiness index
How did the COVID-19 pandemic expose the weaknesses of the American caste system?
Disproportionate death toll among African-Americans and Latinos
Essential workers in caste-like roles faced higher exposure
Lack of centralized coordination and public trust
U.S. looked more like a developing country than a global leader
What did The Guardian and Stephen Walt say about America’s pandemic response?
The Guardian compared it to a poor country; Walt called it “a failure of character unparalleled in U.S. history.”
What roles did “mudsill jobs” play during the pandemic?
These low-status, high-risk jobs (e.g., grocery clerks, drivers) allowed society to function while exposing marginalized groups to greater danger.
What is Wilkerson’s closing reflection in this chapter about America’s humanity?
That America must reckon with its history of dehumanizing others and is now in search of its own humanity.
