[chrisk]

I just found this article from March 18 when Taiwan had COVID-19 under control and the US was starting on its shelter-in-place protocol.

https://www.wired.com/story/taiwan-is-be...-the-same/

The article presents a number of characteristics of Taiwan's government and people that have served them well in this crisis.

The US has been a strong supporter of Taiwan even after recognizing China. The US encouraged its transition from authoritarian to democratic rule beginning in the 1980's. Its transition to democracy has had many rough patches, but they appear to be moving toward more cohesiveness, while divisiveness in the US is becoming more acute.

One telling quote from the article:

Some of the current willingness to trust what the government is telling the people is the direct “result of having experienced the transition from an authoritarian government that lied all the time, to a democratic government and robust political dialogue that forced people to be able to evaluate information.

[chrisk]

I just found this article from March 18 when Taiwan had COVID-19 under control and the US was starting on its shelter-in-place protocol.

https://www.wired.com/story/taiwan-is-be...-the-same/

The article presents a number of characteristics of Taiwan's government and people that have served them well in this crisis.

The US has been a strong supporter of Taiwan even after recognizing China. The US encouraged its transition from authoritarian to democratic rule beginning in the 1980's. Its transition to democracy has had many rough patches, but they appear to be moving toward more cohesiveness, while divisiveness in the US is becoming more acute.

One telling quote from the article:

Some of the current willingness to trust what the government is telling the people is the direct “result of having experienced the transition from an authoritarian government that lied all the time, to a democratic government and robust political dialogue that forced people to be able to evaluate information.

[Leftcoast]

Hmmmh .... This is the first time I’ve heard Taiwan’s government described as cohesive or tending toward “social cohesion”. The society, maybe; their government? Not so much.  And for many strongly felt and historic reasons that I won’t go into here.

When Taiwanese partisans fight on the floor of their assembly, “fight” is not just a metaphor, and can involve group brawls, head-butting, physically barring the doors to the opposition, blowing actual whistles to disrupt opposition speeches, and sometimes hospitalizations.  As divisive, petty, and agitated as McConnell or Schumer get they have yet to lead partisan brawls on the Senate floor.

On the other hand, if Taiwan’s leadership can unite their country and communicate a common vision when faced with an existential threat how come ours keeps trying to use the crisis as a hammer to pound perceived enemies, the press, political rivals, and a substantial number of US citizens?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PTmgwX8taQQ

[Leftcoast]

Hmmmh .... This is the first time I’ve heard Taiwan’s government described as cohesive or tending toward “social cohesion”. The society, maybe; their government? Not so much.  And for many strongly felt and historic reasons that I won’t go into here.

When Taiwanese partisans fight on the floor of their assembly, “fight” is not just a metaphor, and can involve group brawls, head-butting, physically barring the doors to the opposition, blowing actual whistles to disrupt opposition speeches, and sometimes hospitalizations.  As divisive, petty, and agitated as McConnell or Schumer get they have yet to lead partisan brawls on the Senate floor.

On the other hand, if Taiwan’s leadership can unite their country and communicate a common vision when faced with an existential threat how come ours keeps trying to use the crisis as a hammer to pound perceived enemies, the press, political rivals, and a substantial number of US citizens?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PTmgwX8taQQ

[oldalum]

Specifically what was it that these compliant people were compliant with? I'm curious because it would be a model of what works and what we might be able to approach doing (with sufficient adherence). Wearing masks everywhere outside the house? 6-foot or more social distancing? Taking temperatures on entry to any building? Businesses set up for distancing, masks, whatever?

[oldalum]

Specifically what was it that these compliant people were compliant with? I'm curious because it would be a model of what works and what we might be able to approach doing (with sufficient adherence). Wearing masks everywhere outside the house? 6-foot or more social distancing? Taking temperatures on entry to any building? Businesses set up for distancing, masks, whatever?

[Snorlax94]

Specifically what was it that these compliant people were compliant with? I'm curious because it would be a model of what works and what we might be able to approach doing (with sufficient adherence). Wearing masks everywhere outside the house? 6-foot or more social distancing? Taking temperatures on entry to any building? Businesses set up for distancing, masks, whatever?

Coincidentally, a friend from my freshman dorm who works at a chip company in Taiwan texted me this article yesterday. He also texted me photos of a meal he enjoyed while dining out at a restaurant.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taiwa...s-n1188781

The article highlights strict GPS tracking of newly-arrived passengers, including sending police to find you within minutes if, say, you battery dies, and special quarantine taxis from the airport to your quarantine hotel; security at business and school entrances that check your temperature, and if you’re over 99.5, they contact the government and they need to see a doctor; and more ubiquitous use of masks and hand sanitizer.

The author speculates things like the entryway security checking temperatures and notifying the government as being unlikely to fly in the US. Maybe that’s an example where Americans would not be compliant, but I wish they could do that here. Although many cases are asymptomatic, I saw so many obviously sick people shambling about in the public in March. If faced with security guards who would check their temperature and narc on them to the health dept, maybe selfish sick people would have a stronger incentive to, as read by Samuel Jackson, “Stay the f**k at home.”

[Snorlax94]

Specifically what was it that these compliant people were compliant with? I'm curious because it would be a model of what works and what we might be able to approach doing (with sufficient adherence). Wearing masks everywhere outside the house? 6-foot or more social distancing? Taking temperatures on entry to any building? Businesses set up for distancing, masks, whatever?

Coincidentally, a friend from my freshman dorm who works at a chip company in Taiwan texted me this article yesterday. He also texted me photos of a meal he enjoyed while dining out at a restaurant.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taiwa...s-n1188781

The article highlights strict GPS tracking of newly-arrived passengers, including sending police to find you within minutes if, say, you battery dies, and special quarantine taxis from the airport to your quarantine hotel; security at business and school entrances that check your temperature, and if you’re over 99.5, they contact the government and they need to see a doctor; and more ubiquitous use of masks and hand sanitizer.

The author speculates things like the entryway security checking temperatures and notifying the government as being unlikely to fly in the US. Maybe that’s an example where Americans would not be compliant, but I wish they could do that here. Although many cases are asymptomatic, I saw so many obviously sick people shambling about in the public in March. If faced with security guards who would check their temperature and narc on them to the health dept, maybe selfish sick people would have a stronger incentive to, as read by Samuel Jackson, “Stay the f**k at home.”

[Goose]

I find the following article to be interesting. It shows what Taiwan was capable of in 2003 during the SARS outbreak. Impressive IMHO. It also shows the US CDC participating. IMHO it is clear that the USA had the information it needed to mount a much better response than we did to the current outbreak. What we didn't have, and did not create was the required resources and the required will to do so.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...1204001766

The current Taiwan Minister of Health and Welfare is Chen Shih-chung. This position is the equivalent of Azar at HHS. Chen Shih-chung was appointed on 8 Feb 2017. He was also Deputy Minister from 2005 through 2008.  Here is an article about him recently.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3906279

[Goose]

I find the following article to be interesting. It shows what Taiwan was capable of in 2003 during the SARS outbreak. Impressive IMHO. It also shows the US CDC participating. IMHO it is clear that the USA had the information it needed to mount a much better response than we did to the current outbreak. What we didn't have, and did not create was the required resources and the required will to do so.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...1204001766

The current Taiwan Minister of Health and Welfare is Chen Shih-chung. This position is the equivalent of Azar at HHS. Chen Shih-chung was appointed on 8 Feb 2017. He was also Deputy Minister from 2005 through 2008.  Here is an article about him recently.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3906279