4 ms·

> to not share as much information as possible with as many researchers as possible in order to help as many as people as possible. this presumes that the stol

by cat199 6y ago

> to not share as much information as possible with as many researchers as possible in order to help as many as people as possible. this presumes that the stolen information would be used 'to help as many people as possible'.. Also, 1st country with viable vaccine/treatment/etc will have a huge geopolitical bargaining chip & it will likely be used as such no matter the country of origin.

GuB-42 6y ago
> Also, 1st country with viable vaccine/treatment/etc will have a huge geopolitical bargaining chip & it will likely be used as such no matter the country of origin. Definitely, but thankfully, it is a positive sum game. First thing, you won't keep your bargaining chip for long. If a country manages to find a vaccine, others will follow soon enough. Besides independent research and reverse engineering efforts, it is foolish to think that the US doesn't have spies and hackers targeting China. So in order to use that "bargaining chip", the vaccine has to be at least as valuable as what you are asking for in exchange. So while it may cost a lot to the country that doesn't have the vaccine, if it took the deal, it means that the cost is less than not having a vaccine at all. In the end it will be used to help as many people as possible, because it is the only thing a vaccine can do. Unless someone wants a full-on war that is. But if major powers really wanted the worst, there is a pile of nukes that is ready to make the whole pandemic look like a joke.
- OBLIQUE_PILLAR 6y ago
  it would be funny if Cuba finds a successful treatment protocol first.
  - nineparts 6y ago
    If Russia gave it to them via China which made it from research stolen from the USA, I wouldn't call it "funny." I would call it "saving half a face, just in case."
cat199 6y ago
to be clear, wasn't disagreeing, but pointing out some potential rationale why this could conceivably be viewed as a security matter vs open science matter
jessaustin 6y ago
...huge geopolitical bargaining chip... Ummm, I'm not sure how to break it to you, but USA is already laughingstock of world due to our comically misguided reaction to the "pandemic". Everyone expected Trump to screw up (and he hasn't disappointed), but there isn't any person or institution in USA that hasn't totally whiffed on this. CDC mandated tests that didn't work, news media remained unconvinced until late in the game and now jump from one conspiracy theory to another, in-person elections were held as late as April 7, some states required that diseased patients be forced into nursing homes for the elderly, effective masks are still somehow difficult to acquire, Congress has passed numerous "bailout" laws representing trillions of dollars yet has somehow not been able to arrange healthcare for every citizen as most comparable nations have had for decades, our deaths have passed 100k and seem certain to pass 200k as well, etc. It's difficult not to see this "investigation" and especially this silly press release that purports to inform the public about it as just more of the same. Furious pretend activity with no view of long-term strategy or of benefit to anyone other than the bureaucrats who wrote the release.
- cat199 6y ago
  relative level of (dis)respect of any country to another doesn't mean that country won't use something to their advantage
  - jessaustin 6y ago
    What is "advantage" in this case? Nations with reliable treatments and vaccines might use those to improve their citizens' health? Sure that's not something we'd do in USA but it doesn't seem like a bad idea...

by cat199 6y ago

GuB-42 6y ago

> Also, 1st country with viable vaccine/treatment/etc will have a huge geopolitical bargaining chip & it will likely be used as such no matter the country of origin. Definitely, but thankfully, it is a positive sum game. First thing, you won't keep your bargaining chip for long. If a country manages to find a vaccine, others will follow soon enough. Besides independent research and reverse engineering efforts, it is foolish to think that the US doesn't have spies and hackers targeting China. So in order to use that "bargaining chip", the vaccine has to be at least as valuable as what you are asking for in exchange. So while it may cost a lot to the country that doesn't have the vaccine, if it took the deal, it means that the cost is less than not having a vaccine at all. In the end it will be used to help as many people as possible, because it is the only thing a vaccine can do. Unless someone wants a full-on war that is. But if major powers really wanted the worst, there is a pile of nukes that is ready to make the whole pandemic look like a joke.

OBLIQUE_PILLAR 6y ago
it would be funny if Cuba finds a successful treatment protocol first.
- nineparts 6y ago
  If Russia gave it to them via China which made it from research stolen from the USA, I wouldn't call it "funny." I would call it "saving half a face, just in case."

cat199 6y ago

to be clear, wasn't disagreeing, but pointing out some potential rationale why this could conceivably be viewed as a security matter vs open science matter

jessaustin 6y ago

...huge geopolitical bargaining chip... Ummm, I'm not sure how to break it to you, but USA is already laughingstock of world due to our comically misguided reaction to the "pandemic". Everyone expected Trump to screw up (and he hasn't disappointed), but there isn't any person or institution in USA that hasn't totally whiffed on this. CDC mandated tests that didn't work, news media remained unconvinced until late in the game and now jump from one conspiracy theory to another, in-person elections were held as late as April 7, some states required that diseased patients be forced into nursing homes for the elderly, effective masks are still somehow difficult to acquire, Congress has passed numerous "bailout" laws representing trillions of dollars yet has somehow not been able to arrange healthcare for every citizen as most comparable nations have had for decades, our deaths have passed 100k and seem certain to pass 200k as well, etc. It's difficult not to see this "investigation" and especially this silly press release that purports to inform the public about it as just more of the same. Furious pretend activity with no view of long-term strategy or of benefit to anyone other than the bureaucrats who wrote the release.

cat199 6y ago
relative level of (dis)respect of any country to another doesn't mean that country won't use something to their advantage
- jessaustin 6y ago
  What is "advantage" in this case? Nations with reliable treatments and vaccines might use those to improve their citizens' health? Sure that's not something we'd do in USA but it doesn't seem like a bad idea...