3 ms·

If 2020 panic is a valid sample, our biggest problem is not lack of elasticity in production, but lack of discipline, empathy, and general sense of humanity in

by harikb 6y ago

If 2020 panic is a valid sample, our biggest problem is not lack of elasticity in production, but lack of discipline, empathy, and general sense of humanity in the population. We are still fighting like cavemen when it comes to hoarding groceries, vaccines, you name it. The entitlement of “Freedom” and unreasonable trust in individual responsibility will be the one that will stand in our way. I am not advocating for dictatorship, but that freedom we cherish so much is a double edged one.

zozin 6y ago
What a myopic take. The world just experienced one of the most seismic cultural and behavioral shifts in human history on a scale that's probably never happened before and the vast majority of people fell in line without too much complaint. Your takeaway is that we should curtail individual liberties even further? lol
- visarga 6y ago
  Apparently in COVID the most disciplined countries (and small isolated ones) won.
- maxerickson 6y ago
  You really think there is a cultural shift? The US started lifting restrictions well before we had even vaccinated vulnerable old people. A few weeks of inconvenience deemed unconscionable. Here in Michigan the faster spreading variants are taking hold, people don't appear to care. We may do okay, vaccines appointments are just about available to everyone, but it can be another rough couple of months for no real good reason.
seneca 6y ago
A market designed to expect people to act in a way that humans have never acted would be an utterly useless market. Self interest is one of the most dependable features of humans, especially in the face of scarcity, and is one of the most effective when exploited correctly.
jonathankoren 6y ago
I don’t know where you got this, but there have been countless crises in history, and actually people pull together. They don’t turn into thrill kill cannibals like survivalist publications say. That isn’t to say there aren’t some bad actors, but let’s not over blow this. Who is hoarding groceries and vaccines? The stores are full. Vaccines are plentiful. The US even gave Canada a bunch of AstraZeneca doses recently. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-stress-of-disaster-brings-people-together/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-stress-of... https://www.shareable.net/disaster-collectivism-how-communities-rise-together-to-respond-to-crises/ https://www.shareable.net/disaster-collectivism-how-communit...
- masonic 6y ago
  Vaccines are plentiful. The vast majority of Americans are still not fully vaccinated due to shortages (not poor acceptance). The US even gave Canada a bunch of AstraZeneca doses recently. (Also Mexico) Because Biden is purchasing a legacy at the expense of Americans. Americans are still dying, even from the original strain.
  - Izkata 6y ago
    Just ran across this earlier today: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/03/22/1021079/united-states-covid19-vaccine-surplus-not-enough-people/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/03/22/1021079/united-s... > The US is about to reach a surprise milestone: too many vaccines, not enough takers > As production ramps up, the US will soon have many more doses—and not enough people who want them. The change will be rapid: Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimated that supply and demand could shift “in the weeks to month ahead.” Walmart, a major distributor of vaccines across the country, has said that the flip could happen within a month to 45 days. > In some states, the shift from scarcity to abundance is already here. In Idaho, where 20% of people have gotten at least one shot, many appointments have gone unfilled, causing state officials to increase eligibility ahead of schedule. The state plans to open up appointments to those 55 and up beginning March 22.
  - jonathankoren 6y ago

by harikb 6y ago

zozin 6y ago

What a myopic take. The world just experienced one of the most seismic cultural and behavioral shifts in human history on a scale that's probably never happened before and the vast majority of people fell in line without too much complaint. Your takeaway is that we should curtail individual liberties even further? lol

visarga 6y ago
Apparently in COVID the most disciplined countries (and small isolated ones) won.
maxerickson 6y ago
You really think there is a cultural shift? The US started lifting restrictions well before we had even vaccinated vulnerable old people. A few weeks of inconvenience deemed unconscionable. Here in Michigan the faster spreading variants are taking hold, people don't appear to care. We may do okay, vaccines appointments are just about available to everyone, but it can be another rough couple of months for no real good reason.

seneca 6y ago

A market designed to expect people to act in a way that humans have never acted would be an utterly useless market. Self interest is one of the most dependable features of humans, especially in the face of scarcity, and is one of the most effective when exploited correctly.

jonathankoren 6y ago

I don’t know where you got this, but there have been countless crises in history, and actually people pull together. They don’t turn into thrill kill cannibals like survivalist publications say. That isn’t to say there aren’t some bad actors, but let’s not over blow this. Who is hoarding groceries and vaccines? The stores are full. Vaccines are plentiful. The US even gave Canada a bunch of AstraZeneca doses recently. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-stress-of-disaster-brings-people-together/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-stress-of... https://www.shareable.net/disaster-collectivism-how-communities-rise-together-to-respond-to-crises/ https://www.shareable.net/disaster-collectivism-how-communit...

masonic 6y ago
Vaccines are plentiful. The vast majority of Americans are still not fully vaccinated due to shortages (not poor acceptance). The US even gave Canada a bunch of AstraZeneca doses recently. (Also Mexico) Because Biden is purchasing a legacy at the expense of Americans. Americans are still dying, even from the original strain.
- Izkata 6y ago
  Just ran across this earlier today: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/03/22/1021079/united-states-covid19-vaccine-surplus-not-enough-people/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/03/22/1021079/united-s... > The US is about to reach a surprise milestone: too many vaccines, not enough takers > As production ramps up, the US will soon have many more doses—and not enough people who want them. The change will be rapid: Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimated that supply and demand could shift “in the weeks to month ahead.” Walmart, a major distributor of vaccines across the country, has said that the flip could happen within a month to 45 days. > In some states, the shift from scarcity to abundance is already here. In Idaho, where 20% of people have gotten at least one shot, many appointments have gone unfilled, causing state officials to increase eligibility ahead of schedule. The state plans to open up appointments to those 55 and up beginning March 22.
- jonathankoren 6y ago