This week's episode discusses the history of pandemics as part of the human experience. We examine the early emergence of public health agencies, pandemic preparedness as part of statecraft and the divergence of authoritarian and democratic responses to illness. What is the role of institutions and a free press in holding politicians to account for their response - and do we have a free press in the traditional sense? If corporate influence is the decision maker in what stories are published, then how does that relate to the information provided to the public in response to a pandemic. Are we seeing an erosion of public trust - should governments pick winners and losers?
Finally, how does this communication breakdown, or confusion relate to your responsibility to prepare for the future and be ready to deal with the present danger of COVID-19.
