[BostonCard]

Well, we do have the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which did start in the Middle East and has been associated with transmission from camels.

I could give a rats arse what we call this thing; I just want an administration that pursues policies to contain it.  I think to GR's point, when the history of this virus is written, nobody is going to come out looking so hot, except maybe Taiwan.  The Chinese Communist Party's missteps early in the epidemic almost certainly contributed to the spread of the virus, but, I don't get to vote on who China's leaders are (nor, for that matter do the Chinese).

On the other hand, America's leaders are accountable to its people, and many (not just in the administration, but in state and local governments both Democratic and Republican) have failed at a time when we most needed them to step up.  Once upon a time, we had a President who knew where the buck stopped.

BC

Maybe, but i don't think there was one government in the world that reacted with the alacrity required. You need social awareness as well as political will, and neither was there.

Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong to name four.

There was plenty of political will to impose a Chinese travel ban on February 2.  The problem was that the virus was out of the proverbial barn, so to speak, and Trump didn't take the steps required to prepare for the possibility that there was community transmission and making sure the appropriate agencies (CDC, FDA) were equipping us with the means we needed to test broadly.  That was a failure, full stop.  And by being blind to local transmission until it was too late, the administration precluded a strategy of test, isolate, and trace that might have stemmed the more draconian measures now in place.  If nothing else, it would have bought time and enabled socialization of harsher measures earlier.

BC

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  Once upon a time, we had a President who knew where the buck stopped.

BC

Yes, and that President virtually destroyed the Navy and got us into the Korean war, for which we were totally unprepared. I point this out not to single out Truman as a bad president, but rather to show that Presidents with the best of intentions often have bad outcomes in many areas. In some areas he arguably took the wrong advice.

No doubt, but at least he didn't pretend like it was someone else's fault.

BC

[BostonCard]

Well, we do have the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which did start in the Middle East and has been associated with transmission from camels.

I could give a rats arse what we call this thing; I just want an administration that pursues policies to contain it.  I think to GR's point, when the history of this virus is written, nobody is going to come out looking so hot, except maybe Taiwan.  The Chinese Communist Party's missteps early in the epidemic almost certainly contributed to the spread of the virus, but, I don't get to vote on who China's leaders are (nor, for that matter do the Chinese).

On the other hand, America's leaders are accountable to its people, and many (not just in the administration, but in state and local governments both Democratic and Republican) have failed at a time when we most needed them to step up.  Once upon a time, we had a President who knew where the buck stopped.

BC

Maybe, but i don't think there was one government in the world that reacted with the alacrity required. You need social awareness as well as political will, and neither was there.

Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong to name four.

There was plenty of political will to impose a Chinese travel ban on February 2.  The problem was that the virus was out of the proverbial barn, so to speak, and Trump didn't take the steps required to prepare for the possibility that there was community transmission and making sure the appropriate agencies (CDC, FDA) were equipping us with the means we needed to test broadly.  That was a failure, full stop.  And by being blind to local transmission until it was too late, the administration precluded a strategy of test, isolate, and trace that might have stemmed the more draconian measures now in place.  If nothing else, it would have bought time and enabled socialization of harsher measures earlier.

BC

---

  Once upon a time, we had a President who knew where the buck stopped.

BC

Yes, and that President virtually destroyed the Navy and got us into the Korean war, for which we were totally unprepared. I point this out not to single out Truman as a bad president, but rather to show that Presidents with the best of intentions often have bad outcomes in many areas. In some areas he arguably took the wrong advice.

No doubt, but at least he didn't pretend like it was someone else's fault.

BC