In response to a post about a pandemic where the "approved response" is to self-quarantine, you are suggesting that people should be incentivized to live in high-density areas?
Putting aside the benefits of living in a city for the moment, I have to say that such a response appears to be somewhat tone-deaf.
[shrug]
Anyway, it seems that the State paying off medical student debt in return for a certain amount of service to a particular population (a.k.a. the Joel Fleischmann experience) is an efficient use of tax dollars. I admit to only knowing of one person in this situation, but she enjoyed working in the area where she was assigned so much that after her commitment was fulfilled, she stayed on. And even if she hadn't, the community was still well served for the time she was there.
I don't know how widespread this practice is, though.
> I have to say that such a response appears to be somewhat tone-deaf.
You can self quarantine in a city as well as in a rural area. I think we shouldn't blame urban life for what was botched policy. Taiwan, Singapore, Beijing, they all did just fine.
Short of a zombie apocalypse I'd always rather be in a city and in close proximity to quality care (in particular relevant for the elederly) than somewhere else. After all, other diseases haven't stopped existing. If you are in a rural remote area, if you have a heart attack you're pretty much done for. Not to mention even getting good dental care can be difficult.
Also shifting the mindset in the US is a decades long endeavour, fascination with pastoral or bucolic lifestyles is deeply ingrained.
Putting aside the benefits of living in a city for the moment, I have to say that such a response appears to be somewhat tone-deaf.
[shrug]
Anyway, it seems that the State paying off medical student debt in return for a certain amount of service to a particular population (a.k.a. the Joel Fleischmann experience) is an efficient use of tax dollars. I admit to only knowing of one person in this situation, but she enjoyed working in the area where she was assigned so much that after her commitment was fulfilled, she stayed on. And even if she hadn't, the community was still well served for the time she was there.
I don't know how widespread this practice is, though.