[BostonCard]

I wouldn’t give the Chinese too much credit. the whole crisis may have been averted had the Chinese Communist Party not hidden the epidemic back when it was first identified and allowed doctors to communicate their concerns instead of censuring them for speaking out.

BC

Once the central government realized the extent of what was happening, they acted decisively. Not ideally early, but once they realized the threat they did what needed to be done. We have known about the threat for a while, watching and criticizing the Chinese, and sat placidly allowing it to proceed here.

I mean, sure, but part of the goal of a competent government is to "realize the extent of what's happening" early when it can still be contained.  The CCP loves to deflect blame by blaming "local officials", as if the local party is different than the central party.  The whole system is meant to stifle dissent and quiet anyone who raises alarms.  And for that reason, the virus spread through the community while the CCP was insisting that there was no human-to-human transmission.  The significant response after the virus already became widespread may have been appropriate, but when you said "Only the Chinese [and Saudis] seem to be the only ones on earth willing to take the steps necessary to stop this." I disagree because the "necessary steps" didn't happen until the horse was out of the barn, so to speak.

Note, none of my criticisms of the CCP are meant to absolve the current administration, but I wouldn't cite China as a model that we should follow.

BC

[BostonCard]

I wouldn’t give the Chinese too much credit. the whole crisis may have been averted had the Chinese Communist Party not hidden the epidemic back when it was first identified and allowed doctors to communicate their concerns instead of censuring them for speaking out.

BC

Once the central government realized the extent of what was happening, they acted decisively. Not ideally early, but once they realized the threat they did what needed to be done. We have known about the threat for a while, watching and criticizing the Chinese, and sat placidly allowing it to proceed here.

I mean, sure, but part of the goal of a competent government is to "realize the extent of what's happening" early when it can still be contained.  The CCP loves to deflect blame by blaming "local officials", as if the local party is different than the central party.  The whole system is meant to stifle dissent and quiet anyone who raises alarms.  And for that reason, the virus spread through the community while the CCP was insisting that there was no human-to-human transmission.  The significant response after the virus already became widespread may have been appropriate, but when you said "Only the Chinese [and Saudis] seem to be the only ones on earth willing to take the steps necessary to stop this." I disagree because the "necessary steps" didn't happen until the horse was out of the barn, so to speak.

Note, none of my criticisms of the CCP are meant to absolve the current administration, but I wouldn't cite China as a model that we should follow.

BC