Memorials of the Future
Memorial Day weekend seems a good time to reflect on history, and our place within it.I have been pondering this recently in the context of Tom Brokaw’s book “The Greatest Generation”.
Sometimes referred to as the WWII Generation, Brokaw celebrates the contribution of those who survived and won this world war, the Great Depression, and other calamities of their time, including public health scourges like polio.Brokaw called them the greatest generation because of the sacrifices they made in these times, for others as much as themselves.They usually describe the logic for their actions as just “doing the right thing”.
I was drawn to Brokaw’s argument when the book came out in 1998.Since, only more stories have come out convincing me of the worthiness of his assertion. This Memorial Day weekend saw even more of such poignant stories about this generation.
It is hard to not compare this through the lens of our current collective response to Covid-19.I was struck especially by the contrast with extraordinary incentives being announced to recruit Americans to get vaccinated against Covid-19,For example, the State of Ohio enters those who get vaccinated in a pool for a drawing of $1 million.Other states, including Washington, have or will join in the approach.An interesting use of federal pandemic funds, for sure.
States and municipalities are offering other incentives.Businesses have also been encouraging their employees to get the vaccine through incentives.I suspect we are just scratching the surface of the efforts to use incentives encouraging Americans to get vaccinated.
The use of incentives to promote positive health behavior is not a new idea.And certainly not to the Washington Health Foundation which used this approach as part of its Healthiest State in the Nation Campaign.Prizes were part of what we used to get people and organizations to participate in the Governor’s Health Bowl over a number of years.They can work.
Nor am I personally offended by the actions of governments, businesses and others to use incentives, in this case, at this time.Whatever is necessary and works.If we are not politically prepared to use government mandates as we have for other diseases, which is already evident, innovation and creativity must be part of an effective approach to building up our population health protections. This is where we find ourselves with this pandemic.
The head scratcher dimension of this for me mostly resides with respect to those who need such an incentive to entice them into this critically good health behavior.I speak not of those who have legitimate hesitation for getting a vaccine because of underlying medical conditions and such.But let’s be clear- this is but a small fraction of those who have not gotten vaccinated as of yet.
I don’t think history will judge “our” generation kindly in its collective response to this public health crisis.We have been loud in airing our grievances and far less bold in our sacrifices. Maybe it is that it is so much easier for us to share our voices through social media, and those without much backbone can get as much airtime as those with on these platforms.But the current noise, and worse the public health inaction, is far too much about ourselves than others in this time of great need.
The “what is in it for me” orientation is what seems to differ from the WWII generation.It also reinforces what is different about using incentives for solely personal health benefit as opposed togetting a vaccine in this case.That is, getting, or not, a vaccine is as much a statement about our commitment to the health of others as ourselves.Much like the use of masks, the life you may be saving is not necessarily your own.
That we need inducements to step up to help others at this time is a sad commentary on our generation.A generalization to be sure, and I mean no disrespect to the many who have stepped up to do what is right and needed, and without incentives.But the broader judgment of history will be made regardless, and it seems to me that we will not be seen in an inspiring light as a whole. Instead, it will be labeled a most selfish time, when much more was needed.
It is a conclusion that depresses me.Hope is so much of the Washington Health Foundation values, and we must find it on this matter in the possibility that my assessment is wrong, or that there is still time for a change that will make us worthy of the legacy of our predecessors.