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That was the alarming part I saw at the beginning of the pandemic. I had no idea that medical mask/PPE manufacturing had been moved offshore to the extent that

by chiph 4y ago

That was the alarming part I saw at the beginning of the pandemic. I had no idea that medical mask/PPE manufacturing had been moved offshore to the extent that it had. It would seem to me to be a capability that any country should have as part of their national biodefense strategy.

chiefalchemist 4y ago
What manufacturing hasn't been moved offshore? The majority of it to a country we're told is an enemy? Could the pro-globalization global elites be any less accountable?
- airstrike 4y ago
  You were doing fine until "global elites". There's no organized cabal driving this outcome, just greedy humans solving for local optima that are globally suboptimal
  - chiefalchemist 4y ago
    Perhaps. From my vantage point, global elites and greedy humans are synonyms. That is, the greedy who - for their own benefit - pushed the globalization agenda, cleaned up financially, and now are too busy counting their booty to own their role in our current sideways-ness. That latter disconnect is common of elites of any sort. We're on the same page. p.s. It doesn't have to be "organized". When there's a common goal, and finite paths to that ends, human behavior automagically begins to synchronize and optimize. Another way to envision it is starlings. No conspiracy, yet highly (enough) organized and "in sync." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVko9jyAkQg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVko9jyAkQg
    - airstrike 4y ago
      I hate to break it to you but all humans are greedy. It's a feature, not a bug, and it is in our DNA. Some just don't have an avenue to manifest said greed but would very likely do so if given the opportunity. Just like you can't expect a woodchuck to not chuck wood, don't expect humans to not be greedy. That will only result in disappointment and resentment. Rather than trying to fix greed, embrace its inevitability and modify your goals so that you create systems which channel that greed into positive externalities.
      - chiefalchemist 4y ago
        We're getting off-topic. I never said it was a bug. What it is, it is. Regardless, some obviously lack self-control to a fault. And regardless of the feature, that doesn't give anyone a free pass on accountability. I have no problem with greed per se. I also have no problem with those who want to lead. But with those decisions comes responsibility and accountability. Bug? Feature? Not my concern. I'm simply not willing to give out free passes either way.

by chiph 4y ago

chiefalchemist 4y ago

What manufacturing hasn't been moved offshore? The majority of it to a country we're told is an enemy? Could the pro-globalization global elites be any less accountable?

airstrike 4y ago
You were doing fine until "global elites". There's no organized cabal driving this outcome, just greedy humans solving for local optima that are globally suboptimal
- chiefalchemist 4y ago
  Perhaps. From my vantage point, global elites and greedy humans are synonyms. That is, the greedy who - for their own benefit - pushed the globalization agenda, cleaned up financially, and now are too busy counting their booty to own their role in our current sideways-ness. That latter disconnect is common of elites of any sort. We're on the same page. p.s. It doesn't have to be "organized". When there's a common goal, and finite paths to that ends, human behavior automagically begins to synchronize and optimize. Another way to envision it is starlings. No conspiracy, yet highly (enough) organized and "in sync." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVko9jyAkQg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVko9jyAkQg
  - airstrike 4y ago
    I hate to break it to you but all humans are greedy. It's a feature, not a bug, and it is in our DNA. Some just don't have an avenue to manifest said greed but would very likely do so if given the opportunity. Just like you can't expect a woodchuck to not chuck wood, don't expect humans to not be greedy. That will only result in disappointment and resentment. Rather than trying to fix greed, embrace its inevitability and modify your goals so that you create systems which channel that greed into positive externalities.
    - chiefalchemist 4y ago
      We're getting off-topic. I never said it was a bug. What it is, it is. Regardless, some obviously lack self-control to a fault. And regardless of the feature, that doesn't give anyone a free pass on accountability. I have no problem with greed per se. I also have no problem with those who want to lead. But with those decisions comes responsibility and accountability. Bug? Feature? Not my concern. I'm simply not willing to give out free passes either way.