29 ms·

I too share a dim view of the world's ability to work together. Even now when faced with such a disease that is essentially everyone's problem, countries first

I too share a dim view of the world's ability to work together. Even now when faced with such a disease that is essentially everyone's problem, countries first and foremost chose to safeguard their own interests at the expense of others. It is a situation where if we survive, we did so because we worked together and if we die, it is because we only cared for ourselves and nobody else. If course this is oversimplifying a very complex interplay of things but my drift is that no country seems to be able to look beyond their borders and see that if we were to win this, we have to work together. Even more dismaying is the refusal to lift sanctions on Iran. Even a narrowly crafted exception to the sanctions for supplies needed to combat the onslaught of the virus would be good but so far nothing. This is according to what I have read this far and if this is in error, I would be happy to be shown that.

cavisne 7y ago
I know it’s hard to believe but the regime (who any lift in sanctions would have to flow through) hates America enough to kill their own people. https://twitter.com/ap/status/1241658649224925184?s=21 https://twitter.com/ap/status/1241658649224925184?s=21 Aid is the only way to help Iran.
matwood 7y ago
I view a pandemic like what happens in an airline emergency. The first thing you do is put on your own oxygen mask to make sure you are stabilized before helping others. It sounds selfish, but if the most powerful options lose control because they are busy helping others then they can cause everyone to lose. Also, let me say that I'm not saying it's all rainbows and butterflies out there. I just think about all the things that were going to end humankind in my lifetime alone, yet here we are arguably in the best position we have ever been to fight something like this. As a kid we were genuinely afraid of nuclear war. Then there was the HIV epidemic. Y2K, tech bubble busting, 2008 financial crisis, and all the smaller things in between I'm forgetting about. I look out and see the people on ground sharing information, being incredibly cooperative, and trying to stabilize their situation so then they can effectively help others. That is why I'm optimistic we'll work through this.

cavisne 7y ago

I know it’s hard to believe but the regime (who any lift in sanctions would have to flow through) hates America enough to kill their own people. https://twitter.com/ap/status/1241658649224925184?s=21 https://twitter.com/ap/status/1241658649224925184?s=21 Aid is the only way to help Iran.

matwood 7y ago

I view a pandemic like what happens in an airline emergency. The first thing you do is put on your own oxygen mask to make sure you are stabilized before helping others. It sounds selfish, but if the most powerful options lose control because they are busy helping others then they can cause everyone to lose. Also, let me say that I'm not saying it's all rainbows and butterflies out there. I just think about all the things that were going to end humankind in my lifetime alone, yet here we are arguably in the best position we have ever been to fight something like this. As a kid we were genuinely afraid of nuclear war. Then there was the HIV epidemic. Y2K, tech bubble busting, 2008 financial crisis, and all the smaller things in between I'm forgetting about. I look out and see the people on ground sharing information, being incredibly cooperative, and trying to stabilize their situation so then they can effectively help others. That is why I'm optimistic we'll work through this.