A few thoughts on the US government and world reaction to Corona, starting with @DouthatNYT's piece today:
The Coronavirus Is More Than a Disease. It’s a Test. nyti.ms/2HPG8Mx
The Coronavirus Is More Than a Disease. It’s a Test. nyti.ms/2HPG8Mx
First and foremost, China is responsible. Their authoritarian system inherently lets local officials hide the severity of disasters until it is too late, instead of quickly asking for help from the national govt. In this case, they LITERALLY jailed people for telling the truth.
As I said earlier in response to others, WHO continues to lack the power to force countries to do much of anything. If allowed in, they are very effective and proactive. Here, they had to get on their knees and bet the Chinese...and the Chinese still mostly refused.
As for our govt...I said when budget went through that Trump et al would regret not fully funding the CDC on infectious diseases.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Well, now they will pay a price for that shortsightedness, whether or not that money would have really made a difference.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Well, now they will pay a price for that shortsightedness, whether or not that money would have really made a difference.
We still haven't learned many of the lessons from the past decade, with H1N1, Ebola, and before that, SARS and others.
A unified worldwide response would largely mitigate the spread of these diseases. But governments refuse to do so, for a myriad of reasons.
Furthermore, even in our Federal govt, we need a single voice on these issues. Today, we had numerous people from the CDC, White House, etc giving varied accounts, which do nothing but confuse and, ultimately, scare people.
Don't believe me...see the stock market.
Don't believe me...see the stock market.
Tweet from earlier.
This really isn't a doomsday virus. This should be a relatively manageable disease.
But instead, our incompetence and political priorities are going to cost lives, and economic damage.
But instead, our incompetence and political priorities are going to cost lives, and economic damage.
Robert R. Redfield is going to have to learn by trial by fire.
Fauci, his predecessor, unfortunately made every mistake imaginable with Ebola, etc...and now can't use that learned knowledge to get it right this time.
Fauci, his predecessor, unfortunately made every mistake imaginable with Ebola, etc...and now can't use that learned knowledge to get it right this time.
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