3 ms·

Working in 49 countries is not the job of the CDC. They have a duty to exactly 1 country. Cutting the workload should help them stay focused on that 1 country.

by tropo 7y ago

Working in 49 countries is not the job of the CDC. They have a duty to exactly 1 country. Cutting the workload should help them stay focused on that 1 country. It really is crazy for a US government agency to be supporting 49 countries. I hope this isn't typical. Imagine all the other agencies doing likewise. The EPA can stop pollution in France, Botswana, Finland, and 45 other countries. The Department of Education can regulate schools in Russia, Spain, Argentina, and 45 other countries. That's just messed up. It's treating them as colonies.

alistairSH 7y ago
The first portion of the CDC's mission statement suggests otherwise... "CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same." https://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm https://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm It isn't about fixing every problem abroad, or regulating any foreign nation's health agencies. It's about controlling/recognizing threats that start abroad before they spread to the US.
- tropo 7y ago
  Does it work the other way too, or does only the US get stuck with this expense? For example, maybe Poland could fund a disease-control effort in 49 different countries, including the USA. The USA could expect about 48 countries to do likewise. We could have our diseases controlled by Slovakia, Ireland, Haiti, Singapore, South Sudan, Denmark, Laos, Pakistan, Chile, Peru, Ghana, Estonia, and dozens more.
  - alistairSH 7y ago
    Yes, other agencies fill similar roles abroad. The ECDC works across the EU, has partnerships with other states, and has an international relations component. I suspect other nations do the same. It would be daft to ignore epidemics abroad.
fzeroracer 7y ago
Diseases don't exactly have a duty to one country. The best way to stop a pandemic is to control the spread, and controlling the spread means working with other countries.

by tropo 7y ago

alistairSH 7y ago

The first portion of the CDC's mission statement suggests otherwise... "CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same." https://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm https://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm It isn't about fixing every problem abroad, or regulating any foreign nation's health agencies. It's about controlling/recognizing threats that start abroad before they spread to the US.

tropo 7y ago
Does it work the other way too, or does only the US get stuck with this expense? For example, maybe Poland could fund a disease-control effort in 49 different countries, including the USA. The USA could expect about 48 countries to do likewise. We could have our diseases controlled by Slovakia, Ireland, Haiti, Singapore, South Sudan, Denmark, Laos, Pakistan, Chile, Peru, Ghana, Estonia, and dozens more.
- alistairSH 7y ago
  Yes, other agencies fill similar roles abroad. The ECDC works across the EU, has partnerships with other states, and has an international relations component. I suspect other nations do the same. It would be daft to ignore epidemics abroad.

fzeroracer 7y ago

Diseases don't exactly have a duty to one country. The best way to stop a pandemic is to control the spread, and controlling the spread means working with other countries.