Here is what may be a big step in the right direction: Companies all over the world are working on vaccine to COVID-19. Perhaps if (just this once) all the companies and countries agreed to share their research and started worked on it together, a vaccine could then be developed much faster, which would allow countries to begin to open up their economies for the benefit of all. Profit motive being what it is, I doubt this will happen, but I think it's a decent idea.
Thoughts?
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13 Apr 20
@mchill saidThe very process of culturing a vaccine takes time. Even with longitudinal studies of efficacy withheld; a year and a half is an optimistic ETA.
Here is what may be a big step in the right direction: Companies all over the world are working on vaccine to COVID-19. Perhaps if (just this once) all the companies and countries agreed to share their research and started worked on it together, a vaccine could then be developed much faster, which would allow countries to begin to open up their economies for the benefit of all ...[text shortened]... ofit motive being what it is, I doubt this will happen, but I think it's a decent idea.
Thoughts?
But cooperation is never, on its face, a bad thing.
Hopefully, corporate selfishness and greed are sidestepped during this crisis. Especially because this "situation" can mutate into something far worse and rather quickly.
@earl-of-trumps saidTo do that would mean accepting more sick than there is healthcare with large numbers of people who would have survived with health care simply left to die. Kind of like what goes on in the countries that the developed world has been ignoring for years (and perhaps in some parts of the developed world)!
The world can't wait. We will eventually come to face with the fact that going back to work is essential and herd immunity will have to be endured.
rip the bandaid off fast. no choice.
@petewxyz saidI couldn't agree more with your statement about the devil we know. But soon we will find out more about the devil we don't know.
To do that would mean accepting more sick than there is healthcare with large numbers of people who would have survived with health care simply left to die. Kind of like what goes on in the countries that the developed world has been ignoring for years (and perhaps in some parts of the developed world)!
Right now, businesses, banks and governments on all levels are squeezed for cash. think long and hard about what happens when bonds are defaulted on, banks close, retirement and pension funds are not being paid even by governments, and the government doesn't have the resources to bail people out.
I could go on and on but that is really a matter for a thread of its own. Suffice it to say, economic devastation from lockdowns can eventually do more harm than virus
@earl-of-trumps saidTo some extent it boils down to how much money you think there is out there. Differentials between rich and poor have been increasing for many years and there are some obscenely wealthy multinationals, corporations and individuals. The danger is that when you say that everybody gets tribal around the various ideologies regarding taxation, but you would hope this might be the time to compromise and to find a middle ground. Maybe some major corporations will actually decide they want to take their share of the pain, it's better for their image to be seen to give in a crisis than to sit back whilst thousands of lives are lost unnecessarily. We have seen donations in terms of changing production lines to make PPE and ventilators. However, in the U.K. we have also seen a lot of big players have their employees furloughed when they could have afforded to pay them.
I couldn't agree more with your statement about the devil we know. But soon we will find out more about the devil we don't know.
Right now, businesses, banks and governments on all levels are squeezed for cash. think long and hard about what happens when bonds are defaulted on, banks close, retirement and pension funds are not being paid even by governments, and the ...[text shortened]... s own. Suffice it to say, economic devastation from lockdowns can eventually do more harm than virus
It's a cruel truth but in the U.K. the demographics of a large proportion of the dead and dying appear to be people receiving pensions, social care and significant health care. The human cost of this virus is also going to involve a reduction in the amount paid out by pension funds and government for every decade it takes off a person's life. Feels morbid saying it and that is probably a drop in the ocean compared to what the big players could contribute.
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13 Apr 20
@mchill saidAnd perhaps if all rainbows and unicorns got together to make all of us merry, we'd dance the morris all day long.
Perhaps if (just this once) all the companies and countries agreed to share
Thoughts?
It's a thought. Not one much more realistic than yours, but still, a thought.
13 Apr 20
@petewxyz Feels morbid saying it and that is probably a drop in the ocean compared to what the big players could contribute.
I think it's the other way around.
Bill Gates is worth around $100 billion but not all in cash, of course. But still, if you took his wealth, you would have $303 per person in America. And of course, you will have wrongfully raped Bill Gates
Federal, state and local pension funds have far more worth than Bill Gates. NO individual or group thereof could fund them for long.
14 Apr 20
1 edit
@earl-of-trumps saidIt's one of those ones where you would love to have the freedom to see what money was tied up where and by whom. Who knows where the money really is or isn't! I'm sure we never get to see any of it!
@petewxyz Feels morbid saying it and that is probably a drop in the ocean compared to what the big players could contribute.
I think it's the other way around.
Bill Gates is worth around $100 billion but not all in cash, of course. But still, if you took his wealth, you would have $303 per person in America. And of course, you will have wrongfully raped B ...[text shortened]... funds have far more worth than Bill Gates. NO individual or group thereof could fund them for long.