[Goose]

The individualistic nature of American culture is at least partially responsible former the failure.  And in some countries such as Italy and China they were not reluctant to use the police and military.

And Spain, and France, and Singapore, and Australia, and Korea. In Korea, many of the contact tracers ARE police. They would have used the police in Germany when/if they felt it was required.

It is undoubtedly true that Americans are more individualistic than most other nations. That said, there are people in all countries that try to "beat" quarantine/shelter in place, or chose to behave like idiots and congregate on beaches to drink, etc. The difference is that in most nations the Local, State, and, if it comes to it, the Federal governments will enforce the law. The public accepts that and actually demands that. It also may be that you will get locked into your neighborhood or your apartment building for two weeks because there is an outbreak. Not fun, but expected.

At one point that was also pretty true in the USA. The public believed that ignoring the law isn't a right, and they expected the law to be enforced. Absolutely you have your rights, but the law was the law. Most people cooperated, and those that didn't were not given a free pass. Today, most of our politicians are unwilling to enforce the law. It may get ugly, and they don't want that. So, they don't make any laws that possibly will be broken, and if by accident they do make such laws, they ignore the violations. As citizens of a democracy, we get the government we deserve.

In San Mateo County, we call people on the phone when they test positive and ask them to isolate. Most say they can't. In Korea, they call you on the phone and tell you to isolate. Most people do, because if you don't, you get arrested, locked up in isolation, and are fined. And they do check. I wonder why they get better compliance?

[Goose]

The individualistic nature of American culture is at least partially responsible former the failure.  And in some countries such as Italy and China they were not reluctant to use the police and military.

And Spain, and France, and Singapore, and Australia, and Korea. In Korea, many of the contact tracers ARE police. They would have used the police in Germany when/if they felt it was required.

It is undoubtedly true that Americans are more individualistic than most other nations. That said, there are people in all countries that try to "beat" quarantine/shelter in place, or chose to behave like idiots and congregate on beaches to drink, etc. The difference is that in most nations the Local, State, and, if it comes to it, the Federal governments will enforce the law. The public accepts that and actually demands that. It also may be that you will get locked into your neighborhood or your apartment building for two weeks because there is an outbreak. Not fun, but expected.

At one point that was also pretty true in the USA. The public believed that ignoring the law isn't a right, and they expected the law to be enforced. Absolutely you have your rights, but the law was the law. Most people cooperated, and those that didn't were not given a free pass. Today, most of our politicians are unwilling to enforce the law. It may get ugly, and they don't want that. So, they don't make any laws that possibly will be broken, and if by accident they do make such laws, they ignore the violations. As citizens of a democracy, we get the government we deserve.

In San Mateo County, we call people on the phone when they test positive and ask them to isolate. Most say they can't. In Korea, they call you on the phone and tell you to isolate. Most people do, because if you don't, you get arrested, locked up in isolation, and are fined. And they do check. I wonder why they get better compliance?