I think we should all ask ourselves why we take it for granted that we should simply have to ration masks. Why aren't there enough masks available for everyone for inevitable outbreaks like this? Why don't we have the industrial capacity to manufacture masks in the US, leaving us reliant on foreign imports?
We spend ~$80 billion dollars a month on our endless war, military and spy agencies in the name of "national security", but I'd argue that having ample medical supplies (and the ability to manufacture them) are just as, if not more important, to our "national security" as the vast majority of our military activities. Hopefully this crisis will not become to severe and will serve as a wakeup call for us to rethink our national priorities before the next inevitable crisis.
There was an article recently about an US mask manufacturer (small one, not 3M), which for years warned that this will happen: a pandemic will hit and there will be a severe lack of masks anywhere.
He also recounted how after the 2009 flu scare everyone was telling him how after it ends they will now stockpile masks to be ready for the next one, he increased production, but then was stuck with it because people stopped taking his calls the moment the flu faded.
> Why aren't there enough masks available for everyone for inevitable outbreaks like this?
I don't know anyone who has conclusively demonstrated there are not. What we have right now are runs on Home Depot and the like buying out respirators and dust masks faster than the stores can restock them.
> Why don't we have the industrial capacity to manufacture masks in the US, leaving us reliant on foreign imports?
We haven't and aren't. 3M manufactures their masks in the US.
It comes down a question of priorities - the money is being spent right now. Is the average American better off if we spend $25 billion dollars next week arming Turkish Jihadists and sending missiles to Ukraine, or spending that money to build up our own country and respond properly to this outbreak before it gets out of control?
I think we should all ask ourselves why we take it for granted that we should simply have to ration masks. Why aren't there enough masks available for everyone for inevitable outbreaks like this? Why don't we have the industrial capacity to manufacture masks in the US, leaving us reliant on foreign imports?
We spend ~$80 billion dollars a month on our endless war, military and spy agencies in the name of "national security", but I'd argue that having ample medical supplies (and the ability to manufacture them) are just as, if not more important, to our "national security" as the vast majority of our military activities. Hopefully this crisis will not become to severe and will serve as a wakeup call for us to rethink our national priorities before the next inevitable crisis.