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The U.S. seems to have dropped the ball on testing. That's really the only mistake that seems likely to matter that anyone might have conceivably not made. Glo

The U.S. seems to have dropped the ball on testing. That's really the only mistake that seems likely to matter that anyone might have conceivably not made. Global supply chains are a fact of life. The strongest fighter against over-dependence on China is Trump, and he was ridiculed as "protectionist". Trump's travel restrictions were similarly ridiculed. Strategic stockpiles are spotty. Sometimes the thing you stockpile is what you need; often not. Did every other country have a stockpile of masks except the US?

kingaillas 7y ago
>That's really the only mistake that seems likely to matter that anyone might have conceivably not made. How about reacting 6-8 weeks earlier, rather than wasting so many weeks of warnings in denial mode, calling it a hoax by rival politicians, downplaying and lying the whole time? >Global supply chains are a fact of life. And that clearly needs to be rethought because the dependencies introduced can cause a global economic meltdown. As evidence I introduce: the current situation. >Strategic stockpiles are spotty. Doesn't matter since you can't run a country like you run a business. For one, when a business is trouble it throw out all free-market ideology and immediately cries for government for help. The government doesn't have that option. The US is willing to spend $700 billion a year on the military, yet this war is being fought by doctors, nurses, hospitals, grocery stores, delivery people, and truck drivers. Sounds to me like devoting, I don't know, 1% of the military budget for future pandemics (just lump that in under nuclear/biological/chemical threats) would be a wise move. Having $8 billion of PPE around would be extremely handy right now.
PaulDavisThe1st 7y ago
This isn't about a comparison with other countries. It's about ways in which the US was unprepared. And yes, some other countries did have significant stockpiles of masks (compared to their annual use). Also, global supply chains are not "a fact of life". They are the result of a distinct, easily identifiable set of policies, regulations, laws and decisions made by the US government and corporations over a period of less than half of my life. They have occured because people with power decided that they wanted them.
metabagel 7y ago
I believe you’re mixing apples and oranges. Trump opposes moving manufacturing to China in general. But, based on his actions he’s not a supporter of government disaster preparedness. Also, the need for masks was predicted by the government. They just didn’t take action to replenish the stockpile when it needed to be. Let’s not argue “nobody could have foreseen”. They could and they did.

kingaillas 7y ago

>That's really the only mistake that seems likely to matter that anyone might have conceivably not made. How about reacting 6-8 weeks earlier, rather than wasting so many weeks of warnings in denial mode, calling it a hoax by rival politicians, downplaying and lying the whole time? >Global supply chains are a fact of life. And that clearly needs to be rethought because the dependencies introduced can cause a global economic meltdown. As evidence I introduce: the current situation. >Strategic stockpiles are spotty. Doesn't matter since you can't run a country like you run a business. For one, when a business is trouble it throw out all free-market ideology and immediately cries for government for help. The government doesn't have that option. The US is willing to spend $700 billion a year on the military, yet this war is being fought by doctors, nurses, hospitals, grocery stores, delivery people, and truck drivers. Sounds to me like devoting, I don't know, 1% of the military budget for future pandemics (just lump that in under nuclear/biological/chemical threats) would be a wise move. Having $8 billion of PPE around would be extremely handy right now.

PaulDavisThe1st 7y ago

This isn't about a comparison with other countries. It's about ways in which the US was unprepared. And yes, some other countries did have significant stockpiles of masks (compared to their annual use). Also, global supply chains are not "a fact of life". They are the result of a distinct, easily identifiable set of policies, regulations, laws and decisions made by the US government and corporations over a period of less than half of my life. They have occured because people with power decided that they wanted them.

metabagel 7y ago

I believe you’re mixing apples and oranges. Trump opposes moving manufacturing to China in general. But, based on his actions he’s not a supporter of government disaster preparedness. Also, the need for masks was predicted by the government. They just didn’t take action to replenish the stockpile when it needed to be. Let’s not argue “nobody could have foreseen”. They could and they did.