5 ms·

Because it makes literally no sense for 50 states to compete and outbid each other for a scarce set of resources when you already have an umbrella organization,

Because it makes literally no sense for 50 states to compete and outbid each other for a scarce set of resources when you already have an umbrella organization, the Federal government, that could coordinate the purchases and the allocation as not every state is hitting the peak at the same time. But it's seemingly every state for themselves instead. A complete failure and lack of leadership and shirking of responsibility from the Federal government, directly contributing to a loss of American lives.

panzagl 6y ago
When it comes to disasters, the Federal government's job is to write checks- they're the gov't equivalent of homeowner's insurance. You may wish it were otherwise, but that is not how it is currently set up.
- thrill 6y ago
  But mostly to those who give something back to the check writers. The government equivalent to giving you a table with a view if you promise to leave a good review on Yelp.
  - panzagl 6y ago
    Do people really believe this? I mean, really? I'm not arguing everything's perfect, but come on...
WalterBright 6y ago
Washington State currently has surplus medical capacity and has been packaging it up and shipping it to states who need it. If the governor of your state is doing nothing while blaming the federal, that's a problem with your governor. As I said, they have the power to do these things, and the responsibility to.
- bjtitus 6y ago
  Doesn't really absolve the federal government in any way. The United States has a Federal Emergency Management Agency which historically has stepped up to the plate during these types of situations. In what way is this case different? There are plenty of cases where states have been trying to follow the approach you suggest and have had their orders seized by the federal government. It seems like it's still quite unclear which approach states are supposed to follow so it seems perfectly reasonable for governors to be pointing fingers where the blame lies. Colorado: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-colorado-polis-ventilators-fema/ https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-colorado-p... Los Angeles: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-04-07/hospitals-washington-seize-coronavirus-supplies https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-04-07/hospitals-... New Jersey: https://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/somerset-county-ordered-35-000-medical-masks-the-federal-government-seized-the-whole-order/article_97ad57a6-004c-53c8-8451-e85a124d35ba.html https://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/somerset... Broader piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-fema-medical-supplies.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-f...
  - WalterBright 6y ago
    If you want the feds to supply masks, they have to get them from somewhere. Furthermore, if you want the feds to supply masks, you'll get them at the discretion of the feds, not local authorities. You're seeing what's wrong with centralized planning of things that don't need to be centralized.
    - foogazi 6y ago
      > If you want the feds to supply masks, they have to get them from somewhere. Just like the states, or counties or towns or households... Except the federal government can order private businesses to manufacture whatever it needs, something no governor can do
      - WalterBright 6y ago
traderjane 6y ago
The federal government also hasn’t provided the confidence that aid won’t be given on a political basis.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  Under a democracy, allocation of resources is always going to be driven by politics. Whether it aligns with facts, logic, greatest good, or science is purely arbitrary.
  - avmich 6y ago
    Not quite. "Driven by politics" doesn't mean that significant deviations from rational management shouldn't cause criticism, attempts - successful or not - to do things around federals and some formal complaints (lawsuits). The latter is a democratic way not to abuse the political driver.
    - WalterBright 6y ago
      It being political doesn't mean you can't criticize it. Get enough people to agree with you, and you can get change. But that's politics - not reason, logic, or science.
WalterBright 6y ago
> a scarce set of resources Making paper masks and gowns is not like building an aircraft carrier.

panzagl 6y ago

When it comes to disasters, the Federal government's job is to write checks- they're the gov't equivalent of homeowner's insurance. You may wish it were otherwise, but that is not how it is currently set up.

thrill 6y ago
But mostly to those who give something back to the check writers. The government equivalent to giving you a table with a view if you promise to leave a good review on Yelp.
- panzagl 6y ago
  Do people really believe this? I mean, really? I'm not arguing everything's perfect, but come on...

WalterBright 6y ago

Washington State currently has surplus medical capacity and has been packaging it up and shipping it to states who need it. If the governor of your state is doing nothing while blaming the federal, that's a problem with your governor. As I said, they have the power to do these things, and the responsibility to.

bjtitus 6y ago
Doesn't really absolve the federal government in any way. The United States has a Federal Emergency Management Agency which historically has stepped up to the plate during these types of situations. In what way is this case different? There are plenty of cases where states have been trying to follow the approach you suggest and have had their orders seized by the federal government. It seems like it's still quite unclear which approach states are supposed to follow so it seems perfectly reasonable for governors to be pointing fingers where the blame lies. Colorado: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-colorado-polis-ventilators-fema/ https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-colorado-p... Los Angeles: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-04-07/hospitals-washington-seize-coronavirus-supplies https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-04-07/hospitals-... New Jersey: https://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/somerset-county-ordered-35-000-medical-masks-the-federal-government-seized-the-whole-order/article_97ad57a6-004c-53c8-8451-e85a124d35ba.html https://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/somerset... Broader piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-fema-medical-supplies.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-f...
- WalterBright 6y ago
  If you want the feds to supply masks, they have to get them from somewhere. Furthermore, if you want the feds to supply masks, you'll get them at the discretion of the feds, not local authorities. You're seeing what's wrong with centralized planning of things that don't need to be centralized.
  - foogazi 6y ago
    > If you want the feds to supply masks, they have to get them from somewhere. Just like the states, or counties or towns or households... Except the federal government can order private businesses to manufacture whatever it needs, something no governor can do
    - WalterBright 6y ago

traderjane 6y ago

The federal government also hasn’t provided the confidence that aid won’t be given on a political basis.

WalterBright 6y ago
Under a democracy, allocation of resources is always going to be driven by politics. Whether it aligns with facts, logic, greatest good, or science is purely arbitrary.
- avmich 6y ago
  Not quite. "Driven by politics" doesn't mean that significant deviations from rational management shouldn't cause criticism, attempts - successful or not - to do things around federals and some formal complaints (lawsuits). The latter is a democratic way not to abuse the political driver.
  - WalterBright 6y ago
    It being political doesn't mean you can't criticize it. Get enough people to agree with you, and you can get change. But that's politics - not reason, logic, or science.

WalterBright 6y ago

> a scarce set of resources Making paper masks and gowns is not like building an aircraft carrier.