4 ms·

For me, it's obvious that a virus that starts on the other side of the world and could kill millions of Americans is an urgent national security problem and the

For me, it's obvious that a virus that starts on the other side of the world and could kill millions of Americans is an urgent national security problem and the defense department should be involved. And if we don't currently have a need for extra ventilators (which I'm sure we do) there are other countries who do have that need and this virus doesn't care which human defined borders it is within. If it were me, I'd ramp up production across the US, so that WHEN we have the need, we will be operating at high capacity and if we have excess, we distribute them to the world to save human lives and protect future American lives.

capableweb 7y ago
> For me, it's obvious that a virus that starts on the other side of the world and could kill millions of Americans is an urgent national security problem and the defense department should be involved. Well, as I understand it, Defense Production Act would mean for-profit companies who are earning lots of money on the current event would earn less money. If any of these people who earn money on the current event is sitting in the current administration, it makes sense that they don't see any huge issues with not using the Defense Production Act. I guess that's what you get when a country solely focuses on capitalism since it's inception. The following quote, while not exactly for this situation, comes to mind: > It Is Difficult to Get a Man to Understand Something When His Salary Depends Upon His Not Understanding It
- jimkleiber 7y ago
  I agree that they may have to stop short-term money making, however I think the opportunity is to convince them that the more damage this virus does to the world, the more damage it does to their market, and therefore to their long-term financial interests. Plus, there could be tremendous goodwill gained by deciding to join the efforts to save people's lives—that alone could guarantee them customers for life. Lastly, I understand that the big 3 automotive companies are shutting down their production of cars right now anyway, so the factories will likely sit idle.

capableweb 7y ago

> For me, it's obvious that a virus that starts on the other side of the world and could kill millions of Americans is an urgent national security problem and the defense department should be involved. Well, as I understand it, Defense Production Act would mean for-profit companies who are earning lots of money on the current event would earn less money. If any of these people who earn money on the current event is sitting in the current administration, it makes sense that they don't see any huge issues with not using the Defense Production Act. I guess that's what you get when a country solely focuses on capitalism since it's inception. The following quote, while not exactly for this situation, comes to mind: > It Is Difficult to Get a Man to Understand Something When His Salary Depends Upon His Not Understanding It

jimkleiber 7y ago
I agree that they may have to stop short-term money making, however I think the opportunity is to convince them that the more damage this virus does to the world, the more damage it does to their market, and therefore to their long-term financial interests. Plus, there could be tremendous goodwill gained by deciding to join the efforts to save people's lives—that alone could guarantee them customers for life. Lastly, I understand that the big 3 automotive companies are shutting down their production of cars right now anyway, so the factories will likely sit idle.