U.S. cancels program aimed at identifying potential pandemic viruses • Hacker News Board

Re: U.S. cancels program aimed at identifying potential pandemic viruses

#51

Post by PartiallyTyped » Tue, Sep 12, 2023, 10:30 PM UTC

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #16

> DEEP VZN drew especially sharp scrutiny because the EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that specializes in sampling animals in attempts to prevent emerging diseases, played a central role in the PREDICT consortium. (EcoHealth also had a long-standing collaboration with the Wuhan lab at the center of the lab-leak theory.) This is why it actually matters to try to figure out if the lab leak is the most probably cause, t…

Regardless of whether it is, even if the probability of a leak is in general low, we have seen that the expected number of deaths is likely in the millions.

Airplanes had far far fewer deaths for the aerospace industry to reach current safety regulations and requirements.

Given that, the regulations and requirements when dealing with pathogens should increase accordingly to match the potential damage.

Re: U.S. cancels program aimed at identifying potential pandemic viruses

#52

Post by omginternets » Wed, Sep 13, 2023, 6:09 AM UTC

op00to wrote: post #48

omginternets wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t disagree with you, but it’s precisely the journalists job to lay bare these opacities and contradictions. What happened instead is that the lab leak hypothesis was treated as mere conspiracy theory. Edit: your comment also ignores the involvement of the USA in the purported lab leak. That’s easier to investigate. There is no excuse for the collective behavior of journalists.

If it’s so easy, why is no one doing it?

I suspect it’s easier not to do it. Rather than grind at an investigative journalism piece, it’s easier (and likely more beneficial to one’s career) to cultivate a network of influential persons and to churn out “exclusive quotes”.

Nothing about investigative journalism is easy. I am lamenting that our journalists have no sense of duty.

Re: U.S. cancels program aimed at identifying potential pandemic viruses

#53

Post by cameldrv » Wed, Sep 13, 2023, 7:25 AM UTC

Obscurity4340 wrote: post #47

omginternets wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is effectively what is happening. The key phrases to look out for are "strategic interests" and "critical infrastructure". See: repatriation of chip-manufacturing, for example.

I don't see (given their environment about secrecy and not wanting to give their bosses/politicians the bad news when there are failures) how this could be successfull. Its hard to innovate when your family risks being disappeared when you inevitably fail at some point of the larger effort and on the way to results that transcend the faults of that overall developmental process.

The point is, the people in charge know what happened. They just have to decide what they can do about it. You're seeing it.

Re: U.S. cancels program aimed at identifying potential pandemic viruses

#54

Post by Obscurity4340 » Fri, Sep 15, 2023, 3:35 AM UTC

cameldrv wrote: post #53

Obscurity4340 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see (given their environment about secrecy and not wanting to give their bosses/politicians the bad news when there are failures) how this could be successfull. Its hard to innovate when your family risks being disappeared when you inevitably fail at some point of the larger effort and on the way to results that transcend the faults of that overall developmental process.

The point is, the people in charge know what happened. They just have to decide what they can do about it. You're seeing it.

I realize too, its kind of hard to think about the next step after this line of analysis terminates. Like, ok, China was running sketch experiments and was not scrupulous enough in their oversight and safety practices, blah blah blah(!), what now? Are you gonna charge them the tabulated bill all over the world? It would destroy them or more accurately, give them a situation where they become Germany after WWI and have nothing to lose.

There needs to be an effort where they are held accountable and the zen koan paper tiger bullshit threats can be summarily sliced through but that still allows them to somehow save face on the world stage and domestically. I know it can't be easy to run that tight a ship without making powerful enemies no matter which step or direction you take.