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> The key that unlocked donations was President Trump. Upon learning of this restriction he quickly put into place a release of liability for medical use of ind

> The key that unlocked donations was President Trump. Upon learning of this restriction he quickly put into place a release of liability for medical use of industrial N95 masks. President Trump did nothing except sign the law when it came to his desk. The provision was in the “Second Coronavirus Package” that originated in the US House of Representatives. It was written by Democratic lawmakers and sponsored by Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat. Here’s the law in question: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201... This Link should take you directly to the relevant section about industrial masks: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201/text#H4A1FCBAAF09E40FBA7E5CB7B15FA97B7 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201... Here’s the vote in the House: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll102.xml http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll102.xml All 40 “Nays” were Republican. Here’s the Senate vote: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00076#position https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_... all votes against were, once again, Republicans. It’s also unclear what type of masks Facebook had in stock. They might have been of the medical variety for all we know. And even if not, there would not have been liability anyway: it was manufactures that were previously liable when selling the wrong type of mask to health care workers. But in Facebook donating masks, no manufacturer is part of the transaction. I’ll not go through the rest of your half-truths, except to note that if you believe any MD can see patients in “Africa” without going through some sort of accreditation you’re wrong.

robomartin 7y ago
Why are people so butt hurt with Trump? I get it, the guy inspires projectile vomiting every time he opens his mouth. I clean vomit off my floor every day after we watch the WH Coronavirus briefing. I get it. And yet, the guy is doing the right things. And, yes, he signed the bill DESPITE 40 Republicans voting against it. Get it? HE GOT IT DONE BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT, DESPITE HIS OWN PARTY VOTING AGAINST IT! He did the right thing. Without his signature the supply of industrial masks would not have been released for use. So, c'mon. Relax a bit. We are on this boat together. The guy is doing a good job with this. Tough card. There are not magical solutions. There are no perfect solutions. Superman isn't going to come flying and save us all. How about a little FUCKING unity? I did not vote for the guy and yet I can wipe my mouth from the vomit he induces every time he is on TV speaking like a 5 year old and recognize that either by talent, luck or divine intervention he seems to be able to steer this ship in the right direction. Get off that high horse and become part of the solution. What did I do? I put on hold my self funded startup after investing $250K of my own money to pivot and work on development of technology we believe will be critical as COVID-19 subsides. So, yeah, and sorry to put it this way. Stop it! Find something you can contribute. And, yes, if you have to help Trump, fucking help him. I have even reached in to the WH to offer help with manufacturing capabilities. United we float this ship. Divided we sink it. I hope to hell Democrats could get off their high horses and get with the program! Enough is enough! As an independent what they have been doing has me so angry there is no way I will vote for a Democrat for a long time. I did not vote for Trump last time but I sure as hell will vote for him this time. And this is because of the petty dick-head Democrat politicians and people who just can't let go and do nothing but cause discord and division. And, BTW, if Democrats want to win in November they better figure out a way to nominate Andrew Cuomo, only dumb-fucks would vote for Biden. Cuomo could do it. I would even consider voting for him, even as angry as I am about what Democrats have put our country through for almost four years. Trump isn't ideal, but he is doing a good job. > I’ll not go through the rest of your half-truths, except to note that if you believe any MD can see patients in “Africa” without going through some sort of accreditation you’re wrong. Well, my wife a doctor with international credentials. We are multicultural and have lived in other countries. We also have multiple doctors in the family who practice in various states in the US as well as Europe and South America. She also has friends who work with Médecins Sans Frontières. So, no, I know what I am talking about. And, yes, the problems with our healthcare system have almost nothing to do with insurance. I mean, ANYONE who understands business also understands the very proposal that insurance is the problem is ridiculous. Insurance responds to costs and probability of expenditures. If you don't think so, go get a Ferrari insured and ask them why it costs so much. Drive down costs and insurance ceases to be a problem. Our healthcare system has layers of costs that are not being addressed and cannot be addressed by insurance. To drive the other point home even further, here are the requirements for doctors withing to join Médecins Sans Frontières: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/general-requirements https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/gen... A doctor from California can join Médecins Sans Frontières and go practice all over the world and yet, that same doctor, is not allowed to practice medicine in other states within the US. There are few exceptions, but that's the general rule. This is stupid. BTW, Trump also had to sign a law/action/presidential-whatever to create an exception so doctors could practice medicine across states using tele-medicine during this crisis. So, yeah, he got that done too. All while we collectively vomited due to his inability to communicate like an adult. I only care about actions, not theater. I will gladly keep vomiting so long as he continues to do a good job.
- KarlKemp 7y ago
  >> How about a little FUCKING unity? > only dumb-fucks would vote for Biden >> Relax a bit. > HE GOT IT DONE Notice something?
  - robomartin 7y ago
    Yeah, I’ve had enough. As a classical liberal sitting near the political middle I’ve been watching the political left devote four years to doing absolutely nothing but try to reverse an election. We are trying to destroy ourselves from the inside. And now Dems try to stuff piles of unrelated stuff into an emergency bill, taking advantage of several Republicans being sick with the virus? Really? I would be just as incensed if it were the other way around. These people are playing with lives. The American Left has gone insane. As for Biden...I’d like to see anyone defend him as a real choice. The only thing we can say is he is less worse than Bernie, who would destroy this nation. Dems don’t have a serious candidate. Get governor Cuomo to run. That would be a serious candidate. Aside from that taking quotes out of context is a cheap shot.
robomartin 7y ago
President Trump signed the law and made it happen despite the fact that a good number of Republicans were against it. That's the point. He is making the right decisions. As for your comment regarding accreditation for doctors operating outside the US, you are wrong. As a simple example, I refer you to the requirements for working anywhere Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières opearates: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/general-requirements https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/gen... My wife is a doctor with international credentials. We have friends and family members in various areas in the US, Europe and South America who are doctors covering a range of disciplines in various domains. And we lived in more than one country. Through them and life experience I know these medical systems, their drivers, advantages, disadvantages and issues very well. I am not pulling these statements out of a vacuum chamber. With regards to US doctors not being able to practice across state lines. It's real, messy and complicated: https://www.ortholive.com/blog/practicing-medicine-across-state-lines-its-currently-complicated https://www.ortholive.com/blog/practicing-medicine-across-st... And, yes, it is ridiculous. Either we are a country or a bunch clans. I can't think of any other nation where a doctor is limited to practicing medicine in a single province. To say this is crazy is an understatement. Doctors take time and tons of money to produce, they are a scarce resource...and we limit them to operating within a single state? Someone tell me why this makes sense. On the topic of fixing the system with insurance. Someone please explain how the cost of insurance can be lowered without lowering the underlying costs said insurance covers first. This is a very fundamental principle of business. If you want to reduce the cost of a downstream element in the chain you have to first address costs upstream. Cause and effect. You can't reverse that reality. Impossible. Or, to put it in different terms, if the cost of operating a business is $10MM per year and revenue is $1MM per year that business is not sustainable. You can't lower insurance costs artificially. The cost of insurance is an effect, not a cause.
robomartin 7y ago
> And even if not, there would not have been liability anyway: it was manufactures that were previously liable when selling the wrong type of mask to health care workers. But in Facebook donating masks, no manufacturer is part of the transaction. Just noticed this. It's wrong. Hospitals could not accept donations of industrial masks, or, more accurately, they could not use them. This would expose them to potentially serious legal liability. Simple example: Someone dies. Lawyers discover medical team member were using using industrial masks they accepted from donations. They sue the hospital, every doctor, nurse and practitioner in the hospital and perhaps even whoever donated the masks. How do I know this? Well, as I mentioned elsewhere, my wife is a doctor and we have many doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners in our circle. In addition to this, we tried to donate many thousands of N95 masks from our own manufacturing operation's inventory to our local hospitals. They were refused, citing, very specifically "we cannot legally use industrial masks". Once Trump went against Republicans in the House and Senate and signed the law releasing liability until 2024 we got a call from the hospitals we had contacted asking if the masks were still available. That's when we handed them over. This, sadly, is how our legal system works. This is reality. BTW, I do believe it was the White House who asked for the industrial mask exception to be included in the legislation. I don't have the time to go track down this assertion, so take it for what it is.

robomartin 7y ago

Why are people so butt hurt with Trump? I get it, the guy inspires projectile vomiting every time he opens his mouth. I clean vomit off my floor every day after we watch the WH Coronavirus briefing. I get it. And yet, the guy is doing the right things. And, yes, he signed the bill DESPITE 40 Republicans voting against it. Get it? HE GOT IT DONE BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT, DESPITE HIS OWN PARTY VOTING AGAINST IT! He did the right thing. Without his signature the supply of industrial masks would not have been released for use. So, c'mon. Relax a bit. We are on this boat together. The guy is doing a good job with this. Tough card. There are not magical solutions. There are no perfect solutions. Superman isn't going to come flying and save us all. How about a little FUCKING unity? I did not vote for the guy and yet I can wipe my mouth from the vomit he induces every time he is on TV speaking like a 5 year old and recognize that either by talent, luck or divine intervention he seems to be able to steer this ship in the right direction. Get off that high horse and become part of the solution. What did I do? I put on hold my self funded startup after investing $250K of my own money to pivot and work on development of technology we believe will be critical as COVID-19 subsides. So, yeah, and sorry to put it this way. Stop it! Find something you can contribute. And, yes, if you have to help Trump, fucking help him. I have even reached in to the WH to offer help with manufacturing capabilities. United we float this ship. Divided we sink it. I hope to hell Democrats could get off their high horses and get with the program! Enough is enough! As an independent what they have been doing has me so angry there is no way I will vote for a Democrat for a long time. I did not vote for Trump last time but I sure as hell will vote for him this time. And this is because of the petty dick-head Democrat politicians and people who just can't let go and do nothing but cause discord and division. And, BTW, if Democrats want to win in November they better figure out a way to nominate Andrew Cuomo, only dumb-fucks would vote for Biden. Cuomo could do it. I would even consider voting for him, even as angry as I am about what Democrats have put our country through for almost four years. Trump isn't ideal, but he is doing a good job. > I’ll not go through the rest of your half-truths, except to note that if you believe any MD can see patients in “Africa” without going through some sort of accreditation you’re wrong. Well, my wife a doctor with international credentials. We are multicultural and have lived in other countries. We also have multiple doctors in the family who practice in various states in the US as well as Europe and South America. She also has friends who work with Médecins Sans Frontières. So, no, I know what I am talking about. And, yes, the problems with our healthcare system have almost nothing to do with insurance. I mean, ANYONE who understands business also understands the very proposal that insurance is the problem is ridiculous. Insurance responds to costs and probability of expenditures. If you don't think so, go get a Ferrari insured and ask them why it costs so much. Drive down costs and insurance ceases to be a problem. Our healthcare system has layers of costs that are not being addressed and cannot be addressed by insurance. To drive the other point home even further, here are the requirements for doctors withing to join Médecins Sans Frontières: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/general-requirements https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/gen... A doctor from California can join Médecins Sans Frontières and go practice all over the world and yet, that same doctor, is not allowed to practice medicine in other states within the US. There are few exceptions, but that's the general rule. This is stupid. BTW, Trump also had to sign a law/action/presidential-whatever to create an exception so doctors could practice medicine across states using tele-medicine during this crisis. So, yeah, he got that done too. All while we collectively vomited due to his inability to communicate like an adult. I only care about actions, not theater. I will gladly keep vomiting so long as he continues to do a good job.

KarlKemp 7y ago
>> How about a little FUCKING unity? > only dumb-fucks would vote for Biden >> Relax a bit. > HE GOT IT DONE Notice something?
- robomartin 7y ago
  Yeah, I’ve had enough. As a classical liberal sitting near the political middle I’ve been watching the political left devote four years to doing absolutely nothing but try to reverse an election. We are trying to destroy ourselves from the inside. And now Dems try to stuff piles of unrelated stuff into an emergency bill, taking advantage of several Republicans being sick with the virus? Really? I would be just as incensed if it were the other way around. These people are playing with lives. The American Left has gone insane. As for Biden...I’d like to see anyone defend him as a real choice. The only thing we can say is he is less worse than Bernie, who would destroy this nation. Dems don’t have a serious candidate. Get governor Cuomo to run. That would be a serious candidate. Aside from that taking quotes out of context is a cheap shot.

robomartin 7y ago

President Trump signed the law and made it happen despite the fact that a good number of Republicans were against it. That's the point. He is making the right decisions. As for your comment regarding accreditation for doctors operating outside the US, you are wrong. As a simple example, I refer you to the requirements for working anywhere Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières opearates: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/general-requirements https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/careers/work-field/gen... My wife is a doctor with international credentials. We have friends and family members in various areas in the US, Europe and South America who are doctors covering a range of disciplines in various domains. And we lived in more than one country. Through them and life experience I know these medical systems, their drivers, advantages, disadvantages and issues very well. I am not pulling these statements out of a vacuum chamber. With regards to US doctors not being able to practice across state lines. It's real, messy and complicated: https://www.ortholive.com/blog/practicing-medicine-across-state-lines-its-currently-complicated https://www.ortholive.com/blog/practicing-medicine-across-st... And, yes, it is ridiculous. Either we are a country or a bunch clans. I can't think of any other nation where a doctor is limited to practicing medicine in a single province. To say this is crazy is an understatement. Doctors take time and tons of money to produce, they are a scarce resource...and we limit them to operating within a single state? Someone tell me why this makes sense. On the topic of fixing the system with insurance. Someone please explain how the cost of insurance can be lowered without lowering the underlying costs said insurance covers first. This is a very fundamental principle of business. If you want to reduce the cost of a downstream element in the chain you have to first address costs upstream. Cause and effect. You can't reverse that reality. Impossible. Or, to put it in different terms, if the cost of operating a business is $10MM per year and revenue is $1MM per year that business is not sustainable. You can't lower insurance costs artificially. The cost of insurance is an effect, not a cause.

robomartin 7y ago

> And even if not, there would not have been liability anyway: it was manufactures that were previously liable when selling the wrong type of mask to health care workers. But in Facebook donating masks, no manufacturer is part of the transaction. Just noticed this. It's wrong. Hospitals could not accept donations of industrial masks, or, more accurately, they could not use them. This would expose them to potentially serious legal liability. Simple example: Someone dies. Lawyers discover medical team member were using using industrial masks they accepted from donations. They sue the hospital, every doctor, nurse and practitioner in the hospital and perhaps even whoever donated the masks. How do I know this? Well, as I mentioned elsewhere, my wife is a doctor and we have many doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners in our circle. In addition to this, we tried to donate many thousands of N95 masks from our own manufacturing operation's inventory to our local hospitals. They were refused, citing, very specifically "we cannot legally use industrial masks". Once Trump went against Republicans in the House and Senate and signed the law releasing liability until 2024 we got a call from the hospitals we had contacted asking if the masks were still available. That's when we handed them over. This, sadly, is how our legal system works. This is reality. BTW, I do believe it was the White House who asked for the industrial mask exception to be included in the legislation. I don't have the time to go track down this assertion, so take it for what it is.