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Its not a scapegoat -- the CDC is extremely well-funded and has a singular mission -- and is doing a quantifiably terrible job. They downplayed the North Ameri

Its not a scapegoat -- the CDC is extremely well-funded and has a singular mission -- and is doing a quantifiably terrible job. They downplayed the North America risk the first two months of 2020, utterly botched testing but still refused to allow private lab testing until the White House intervened, and they literally lied to the public about the efficacy of masks. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/us/cdc-coronavirus.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/us/cdc-coronavirus.html

latchkey 6y ago
This video [1] made me sad at the time because I could see it coming. The downplay of the severity along with the usage of masks doesn't age well. I was coming from Vietnam and early on the govt. wasn't taking it seriously enough and had some major outbreaks. But they immediately got it under control. Contact tracing, testing, lockdowns, spraying, masks, hand washing, propaganda... and look... it worked. Zero deaths, zero new cases in 90+ days now. The whole country is open within its borders and people are safely interacting without any worries. So, while I think the CDC is doing an ok job... at the end of the day, they totally missed the tidal wave coming at them. [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/02/17/nih-disease-official-anthony-fauci-risk-of-coronavirus-in-u-s-is-minuscule-skip-mask-and-wash-hands/4787209002/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/02/17/nih-di...
odshoifsdhfs 6y ago
In their defence, this happened in most countries in Europe as well. Not sure if incompetence or hubris to be honest (though the mask wearing should be criminal, and imo, is one of the reasons some people refuse to wear them now, based on those comments 3/4 months ago they weren't effective)
mnm1 6y ago
The CDC is part of the executive branch and ultimately has no authority to go against the president's wishes or do anything he doesn't want. Just recently, they said they're not pushing for mandatory mask regulations to not embarrass the president. An agency like this, with no power to do what is right, is completely useless. Still, while I don't trust them one bit now, they don't deserve to be blamed for something they are not in control of. Proper blame lies with the leadership of the executive branch, the white house and ultimately the president. That's where the buck stops and no amount of wishing on their part will ever change that.
- pbhjpbhj 6y ago
  This seems to be a big problem with USA in general - political appointees in fields where objective truth is vital. Having a legal system that can't arrest, charge, prosecute anyone because politics says not to means you don't have rule of law. If someone is recorded saying they committed sex offences then they should get a police interview regardless of their job. Having a disease control department that can't give scientific advice because a political appointee won't like it; might as well close that department, it's no longer useful. Or, you could address the root issue.

latchkey 6y ago

This video [1] made me sad at the time because I could see it coming. The downplay of the severity along with the usage of masks doesn't age well. I was coming from Vietnam and early on the govt. wasn't taking it seriously enough and had some major outbreaks. But they immediately got it under control. Contact tracing, testing, lockdowns, spraying, masks, hand washing, propaganda... and look... it worked. Zero deaths, zero new cases in 90+ days now. The whole country is open within its borders and people are safely interacting without any worries. So, while I think the CDC is doing an ok job... at the end of the day, they totally missed the tidal wave coming at them. [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/02/17/nih-disease-official-anthony-fauci-risk-of-coronavirus-in-u-s-is-minuscule-skip-mask-and-wash-hands/4787209002/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/02/17/nih-di...

odshoifsdhfs 6y ago

In their defence, this happened in most countries in Europe as well. Not sure if incompetence or hubris to be honest (though the mask wearing should be criminal, and imo, is one of the reasons some people refuse to wear them now, based on those comments 3/4 months ago they weren't effective)

mnm1 6y ago

The CDC is part of the executive branch and ultimately has no authority to go against the president's wishes or do anything he doesn't want. Just recently, they said they're not pushing for mandatory mask regulations to not embarrass the president. An agency like this, with no power to do what is right, is completely useless. Still, while I don't trust them one bit now, they don't deserve to be blamed for something they are not in control of. Proper blame lies with the leadership of the executive branch, the white house and ultimately the president. That's where the buck stops and no amount of wishing on their part will ever change that.

pbhjpbhj 6y ago
This seems to be a big problem with USA in general - political appointees in fields where objective truth is vital. Having a legal system that can't arrest, charge, prosecute anyone because politics says not to means you don't have rule of law. If someone is recorded saying they committed sex offences then they should get a police interview regardless of their job. Having a disease control department that can't give scientific advice because a political appointee won't like it; might as well close that department, it's no longer useful. Or, you could address the root issue.