Reaction to COVID-19 Death Numbers and Reopening Risks in the US

The chapter delves into the US reaction to lower-than-expected COVID-19 death numbers and the risks of prematurely reopening the economy, citing Sweden as an example. It criticizes the lack of a coordinated government response, blaming decades of neoliberal policies for the crisis, and discusses how capitalism's focus on short-term gains leads to poor decision-making. The chapter also highlights the rise of reactionary protests against lockdown measures fueled by conspiracy theories and far-right ideologies, warning of the dangers posed by these movements.