As the coronavirus pandemic has spread worldwide, America has struggled to contain the outbreak. This is due to various factors, but at least in part due to an intersection of American values which hamper our response.

• The United States is one of the most individualistic countries in the world. This means that people expect to have the freedom to go where they want to go, even when societal needs may call for reduced movement.
• The United States strongly believes in capitalism, and we believe that supporting the economy is extremely important. We want businesses and the investment markets to succeed.
• There is a growing anti-science movement in American. This means questioning vaccines and pharmaceutical companies.

This manifests itself during this outbreak:

• Individualism: I’m going to out to the bars because that’s freedom!
• Capitalism: We need to go shopping and support businesses! We can’t tank the markets!
• Anti-science: Coronavirus is a hoax. It’s just the flu. Scientists are lying to you.

Combine all this and you have a recipe for disaster, and we’re seeing that now.