COVID 19 – HOLISTIC HORSE BODYWORKS

Is Inaction by the Feds An Opportunity to Save Lives??

Conventional wisdom: If the federal government centralized purchasing and placed orders for much needed PPE and ventilators and then distributed these supplies to the states, it would solve a lot of problems such as states fighting against each other and/or FEMA. 

But, would it?

Here’s a different perspective.

The reality is Trump and Mike Pence, as the leader of the COVID-19 task force, have not shown any ability to get any aspect of the COVID-19 response under control. So, what makes anyone think they or their advisors would act quickly, get the right orders placed, and then allocate and ship the supplies in any remotely sensible way?

We are talking about “leaders” who still think stay at home orders for the country are not needed despite what doctors and scientists are saying. We talking about leaders that could not tell the military where to send supplies it volunteered to give the states or give the military the go ahead to utilize testing capacity it has (assuming we can get enough tests which is a whole other subject.) We are talking about leaders that still won’t acknowledge we don’t have near enough testing and testing supplies. We are talking about leaders who won’t utilize the Defense Production Act in any real way despite desperate pleas to do so. Heck, we are talking about leaders who are more worried about polls and less worried about the health and safety of healthcare workers and all citizens.

Here’s a different view. Their failure to act creates an opportunity….maybe even one to save more lives!
Here is my crazy idea….Get as many Governors as possible (hopefully the vast majority) to agree and designate a VERY small # (less than 4-6) of seasoned medical supply chain professionals to: 1) place orders on behalf of the group; 2) agree on a distribution schema (guided by needs data, doctors and scientists); and 3) get the supplies shipped.
Yes, this takes a leap of faith and serious guts. But, I think it takes way less than putting faith in the current leadership. I also think it takes way less faith and guts the more you really think about it! (If it makes you feel any better, when I first thought of this, I thought I was nuts. )
Nope…Every state won’t be represented in the gang of 4-6. Yes, payment and all kinds of other logistics will have to be worked out. Yes, the gang of 4-6 has to be able to put their America hat on and take their state hat off. But, you know what?? I have no doubt they can do it!! (Of course, they can have and will need implementation help.)
Wouldn’t this be better than what is happening now? And, isn’t it better than letting the Pence taskforce or FEMA do it even if they were willing? After all, Trump already told Pence to ignore states that were not showing the appropriate amount of appreciation like Washington.
I spent many years in corporate America watching almost the exact same scenario play out. Top leadership out of touch at best or hiding the truth at worst. “Appreciative lieutenants,” i.e. Division VPs, getting the most funding and resources, often at the expense of what was truly best for the company….and more importantly for consumers/customers.
It breaks my heart to see what is happening. Since we are where we are, let’s move forward and do this thing! Just one woman’s 2 cents. #covid-19 #weareallinthistogether