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At the moment we're well beyond the CDC. We have a President and his various acolyte governors who have so utterly botched and politicized our COVID-19 response

At the moment we're well beyond the CDC. We have a President and his various acolyte governors who have so utterly botched and politicized our COVID-19 response that many people won't take the most basic steps to protect themselves and those around them. It's maddening and leaves those of us who are trying to do the right thing feel totally unprotected and unsupported, especially in states like Texas and Florida. The CDC may have made missteps, but there's no way it can possibly operate as well as it should in this political climate.

SpicyLemonZest 6y ago
Of course there'll be politics on an issue of great social importance. That's supposed to be the point of having a CDC, that they can offer respected, apolitical advice on what we need to do. When they fail catastrophically, we inevitably fall back to the normal strategy for resolving disputes about what our society should do, which is politics.
- someguydave 6y ago
  Looking at the HN comments apparently nobody wants to believe that civil servants can fail unless hindered by the political bosses, and that Presidents are personally responsible for what 2.8 million federal employees do all day. I wonder if they blame the Queen in the U.K.?
  - rsynnott 6y ago
    The queen isn't in charge of the civil service. People in Britain absolutely do blame the cabinet (the UK's executive) and particularly the prime minster when they fuck up, yes. I mean, obviously.
    - someguydave 6y ago
      You should watch “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister” for reasons why you shouldn’t believe the elected politicians have anything to do with what the UK government actually does.
      - lumberingjack 6y ago
        Just watching the House of Commons debate finer points about covid-19 is hilarious seems like they're more clueless than the public because they're scared blind over losing their positions

SpicyLemonZest 6y ago

Of course there'll be politics on an issue of great social importance. That's supposed to be the point of having a CDC, that they can offer respected, apolitical advice on what we need to do. When they fail catastrophically, we inevitably fall back to the normal strategy for resolving disputes about what our society should do, which is politics.

someguydave 6y ago
Looking at the HN comments apparently nobody wants to believe that civil servants can fail unless hindered by the political bosses, and that Presidents are personally responsible for what 2.8 million federal employees do all day. I wonder if they blame the Queen in the U.K.?
- rsynnott 6y ago
  The queen isn't in charge of the civil service. People in Britain absolutely do blame the cabinet (the UK's executive) and particularly the prime minster when they fuck up, yes. I mean, obviously.
  - someguydave 6y ago
    You should watch “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister” for reasons why you shouldn’t believe the elected politicians have anything to do with what the UK government actually does.
    - lumberingjack 6y ago
      Just watching the House of Commons debate finer points about covid-19 is hilarious seems like they're more clueless than the public because they're scared blind over losing their positions