Bug in the System
Is an epidemic (like the Coronavirus outbreak) more deadly in a democracy or in a non-democracy?
How accurate was your prediction?
What most surprised you about this data?
What is the big story this chart tells?
This is a complicated chart so let’s make sure we understand it before we go any further. In general, as the wealth of a country (GDP at purchasing power parity) increases , what happens to the death rate in an epidemic?
In general, which has higher death rates in epidemics (regardless of wealth) democracies or non-democracies?
Based on the evidence in the chart, what was the approximate death rate in the 2020 coronavirus epidemic in China?
How much higher is the death rate from coronavirus in a non-democratic country than in a democracy when both countries have a GPD per person of $30,000?
Okay, now that we got that out of the way, do you have any questions about the chart and how it works and what it says?
Let’s just take a second and make sure we are on the same page about our political terms. What makes a democracy a democracy (in other words) what are two political features all democratic countries have in common?
And this leads to another question: How are democracies different than non-democracies?
Now let’s think about the chart. Why do you think that democratic countries generally have lower epidemic death rates than non-democracies?
What is something these non-democratic countries could do about this?
Explain whether you think they are likely to do this.
Imagine you were living in an undemocratic country, what could you do to make your country more democratic?
Explain whether you would rather live in a poor and democratic country, or a rich but non-democratic country?
Is this data good news or bad?
Describe how mass media would differ in a democracy versus in a non-democracy?
Om general, how does media impact the spread of an epidemic?
How has the media impacted your understanding of the coronavirus epidemic?
Now let’s think about the US of A. How has the Trump administration’s transparency, relationship to the media, and general approach to democracy impacted its approach to the coronavirus?
What are some specific federal agencies the president controls that can help fight epidemics?
If you were the current U.S. President (you aren’t) what would be your first action regarding the coronavirus epidemic?
What are some powers listed in Article II of the U.S. Constitution that the president has to fight coronavirus?
What has the coronavirus taught you about federalism?
What has the coronavirus taught you about democracy in America?
Let’s talk consequences, and let’s be positive for a second. Sometimes bad things lead to big changes in American policy. For example, the Great (not) Depresssion led to the New Deal and big changes in US policy. What U.S. policy changes do you predict the coronavirus could bring about?
In authoritarian (non-democratic) China, millions of people were “locked down” and lost their freedom of movement. Do you think that civil-liberty loving Americans would put up with being “locked down” and having their freedom restricted?
Do you think your school will be closed because of the coronavirus?
Explain whether the coronavirus outbreak will make the world more or less democratic.
And how will it impact democracy in the US?
And how will it impact the 2020 American presidential election?
How do you think this will all end?
Visual Extension
