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I will never understand how a sizable portion of the COVID money that was printed didn’t go towards equipping every school with better filtration/air exchangers

I will never understand how a sizable portion of the COVID money that was printed didn’t go towards equipping every school with better filtration/air exchangers. Not only would it have helped with that pandemic, and future ones, but would probably save more lives and productivity than any other use of money, dollar for dollar.

mensetmanusman 3y ago
We were calling for this months after Covid started :) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24039598 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24039598
jjtheblunt 3y ago
is it because the (delayed) statistics showed people with comorbidities (much more common with increased age) were far more imperiled than kids?
- Auracle 3y ago
  That wasn't very delayed at all. However, stuffing 20+ kids in a room who all bring the same thing back home to their parents/grandparents is probably the greatest way disease spreads in our culture. Offices tend to be a lot more spaced out, might have cubicles, etc.
  - jjtheblunt 3y ago
    Good point: the kids are famously carriers
maerF0x0 3y ago
I will never understand how a sizable portion of the COVID money that was printed didn’t proportionally go towards solving the top 10 preventable killers of people, especially obesity. Ok I do understand why. But I will never understand why we accept corporate lobbying that distracts the government away from public interest and towards private and exclusive profits.
- version_five 3y ago
  Companies have lobbyists. During covid, the only voices that got heard were those of companies who pushed hard to make sure they benefited. People don't have strong and coordinated advocacy groups. So all we ever talked about was making sure companies still profited, who gives a shit if people are locked inside, the economy is what's important. Unfortunately, people are too ignorant to organize for their own good. We can't even agree on what that means, and in fact the majority would rather fight against their own interests in exchange for silly platitudes.
  - PM_me_your_math 3y ago
    The economy is just as important as any other element of our civilization. In a total economic collapse, millions of people may starve to death, and millions more would live on the edge of starvation. Energy, food, materials, and all things managed by logistics rely on economic activity. To downplay the importance of the economy betrays little consideration to all aspects of our civilization. "During covid, the only voices that got heard were those of companies" So you're saying nobody heard BLM and Antifa during the "summer of love" mostly-peaceful riots? Considering BLM got $90MM (to mostly buy mansions in two countries and employ Cullors' family), I'd say they were heard well. And people who got extended economic benefits, not heard? huh? And the states that got virtual blank Treasury checks to buy PPE, vents, ambulances, and everything in between... "would rather fight against their own interests" Who are you to tell other people what their interests are? That bit is simple arrogance. You can only ever speak for yourself.
    - maerF0x0 3y ago
      >Who are you to tell other people what their interests are? That bit is simple arrogance. You can only ever speak for yourself. One thing I will note is that America seems to like to do a lot of tyranny of the majority kind of moves. Instead of saying things like "We recommend isolation and will support you through it if you choose" it becomes "You cannot leave your house because half of you said so". or instead of "You can have an abortion but we wont pay for it" it becomes a tug of war between "You cannot have an abortion, even if you'll pay" or "You can have an abortion and we'll make the tax payer subsidize/pay for it" ... I'm often shocked by the kind of "Freedom" that Americans accept

mensetmanusman 3y ago

We were calling for this months after Covid started :) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24039598 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24039598

jjtheblunt 3y ago

is it because the (delayed) statistics showed people with comorbidities (much more common with increased age) were far more imperiled than kids?

Auracle 3y ago
That wasn't very delayed at all. However, stuffing 20+ kids in a room who all bring the same thing back home to their parents/grandparents is probably the greatest way disease spreads in our culture. Offices tend to be a lot more spaced out, might have cubicles, etc.
- jjtheblunt 3y ago
  Good point: the kids are famously carriers

maerF0x0 3y ago

I will never understand how a sizable portion of the COVID money that was printed didn’t proportionally go towards solving the top 10 preventable killers of people, especially obesity. Ok I do understand why. But I will never understand why we accept corporate lobbying that distracts the government away from public interest and towards private and exclusive profits.

version_five 3y ago
Companies have lobbyists. During covid, the only voices that got heard were those of companies who pushed hard to make sure they benefited. People don't have strong and coordinated advocacy groups. So all we ever talked about was making sure companies still profited, who gives a shit if people are locked inside, the economy is what's important. Unfortunately, people are too ignorant to organize for their own good. We can't even agree on what that means, and in fact the majority would rather fight against their own interests in exchange for silly platitudes.
- PM_me_your_math 3y ago
  The economy is just as important as any other element of our civilization. In a total economic collapse, millions of people may starve to death, and millions more would live on the edge of starvation. Energy, food, materials, and all things managed by logistics rely on economic activity. To downplay the importance of the economy betrays little consideration to all aspects of our civilization. "During covid, the only voices that got heard were those of companies" So you're saying nobody heard BLM and Antifa during the "summer of love" mostly-peaceful riots? Considering BLM got $90MM (to mostly buy mansions in two countries and employ Cullors' family), I'd say they were heard well. And people who got extended economic benefits, not heard? huh? And the states that got virtual blank Treasury checks to buy PPE, vents, ambulances, and everything in between... "would rather fight against their own interests" Who are you to tell other people what their interests are? That bit is simple arrogance. You can only ever speak for yourself.
  - maerF0x0 3y ago
    >Who are you to tell other people what their interests are? That bit is simple arrogance. You can only ever speak for yourself. One thing I will note is that America seems to like to do a lot of tyranny of the majority kind of moves. Instead of saying things like "We recommend isolation and will support you through it if you choose" it becomes "You cannot leave your house because half of you said so". or instead of "You can have an abortion but we wont pay for it" it becomes a tug of war between "You cannot have an abortion, even if you'll pay" or "You can have an abortion and we'll make the tax payer subsidize/pay for it" ... I'm often shocked by the kind of "Freedom" that Americans accept