I'm frankly saddened by those putting down Dr. Fauci.
Does anyone think the Chinese, or any other labs that Fauci has helped to fund wouldn't be open without the funds from the U.S. Sure, it's possible they'd be smaller, but they'd also be much more secretive as by providing some of the funding we're able to work collaboratively with those working in the lab. There is little doubt that mistakes can be made in such labs, and in some cases it's happened in labs here as well. What I believe is more important is knowing what's happening in similar labs all over the world, and that's something we only learn by working with them.
We are not the only scientist in the world, highly qualified scientists can be found all over the planet. Sadly, when it came to things like the test kits for coronavirus, we failed to build on what others had done, choosing to develop our own test rather than starting with the most successful tests elsewhere. Our initial effort was a complete bust, and we fought letting independent labs creating their own, but finally succumbed to it. Now we have all sorts of testing, some takes 5 minutes, some take 5 days or more, most people are still not being tested.
If we had our act together deaths and infected numbers would be down dramatically, but in shutting down we had leadership who failed to set a proper example. Does he stay away from others, wear a mask, advice people not to open until criteria's been met, NO, he encourages opening up, even though numbers are growing, and against the advice of his scientific advisors. He has documents prepared by Govt. Agencies intended to regulate industries watered down so that infections in places like food processing go through the roof. It's sad, but we're served by a President who doesn't believe in the advice coming from scientists, unless he tells them what they're to say, and they obey his suggestion. The curve was supposed to come down dramatically before States opened up, but in many cases they're still rising, yet he's encouraging them to open up.
Don't get me wrong, I believe that if we took the guidance seriously, we could be more open, we actually could have not closed certain things that we did. With proper distancing and masks, I don't know that golf courses couldn't have been open, but unless people were living together, only one person could ride on a golf cart. Likewise, beaches, even swimming pools with proper spacing and outdoor showers. Could you have a golf tournament, sure, but no fans, just golfers and officials all maintaining proper distancing. Could people play tennis, that too could probably be done safely, again, no fans in tournament play. Contact sports like football, basketball, baseball, perhaps with a lot of testing, and again no fans. Could we go to movies, theaters, etc, doubtful even in masks unless a small fraction of the seats were filled.
What's sad is, people with freedom are not choosing to do what's right. Too many people on the beach, people not wearing masks when the should, not maintaining distance when lined up to pick up food or drink from restaurants. I grant you, many are younger people, but if they won't take it seriously, the disease will spread to parents, grandparents, etc, those at much greater risk. The Chinese did listen, and they've largely recovered, certainly they have a much more oppressive Govt. but perhaps this was one time our Govt. should have been more oppressive. We'll need to throw a lot more money at the people before this is over as so many businesses will be no more.
Gary
