COUNTERPUNCH, APRIL 3, 2020
Photograph by Nathaniel St. Clair
On March 25th, N.Y. Times op-ed columnist Farhad Manjoo wrote about “How the World’s Richest Country Ran Out of a 75-Cent Face Mask.” The subtitle certainly went against the grain of what you’d read from a page dominated by Thomas Friedman: “A very American story about capitalism consuming our national preparedness and resiliency.”
Manjoo identified just one of many failures of the Trump administration to be prepared for the epidemic. Alex Azar, the HHS Secretary had testified that there were only about 40 million masks in our domestic stockpiles, around 1 percent of what would be required. Like much else, mask manufacturing had migrated to China in the same way as all other textile industries had long ago.
Superb analysis. Needs to be sent far and wide.
Comment by Elliot Podwill — April 3, 2020 @ 4:38 pm
We are starting to lose comrades and friends dying before their time. I met Tarlach a few times in the 1980’s, a courageous member of People’s Democracy, a brilliant up-front fighter for Gay Liberation Politics – and the then-partner of Fergus O’Hare. Huge condolences to Fergus who has suffered an awful sudden and unforeseen loss. Many tributes will be written about Tarlach. – John Meehan
Ian Paisley’s DUP Tried and Failed to “Save Ulster from Sodomy”. Tarlach Mac Niallais led the Counter-Charge – a Man who Saved Sodomy from Ulster.
The article below, from the Irish News, is great humane journalism. It brings us up close to the very harsh reality of a CoVid-19 Death. https://tomasoflatharta.wordpress.com/2020/04/04/covid-19-has-taken-tarlach-mac-niallais-from-us-in-new-york-a-courageous-fighter-from-north-belfast-who-saved-sodomy-from-ulster/
Comment by tomasoflatharta — April 4, 2020 @ 3:59 pm
Excellent article. I’ve been trying to explain this to my wife.
Comment by Richard Estes — April 4, 2020 @ 8:26 pm
I heard the State of New Jersey needs COBOL guys for unemployment backlog.
Comment by Bill — April 5, 2020 @ 12:48 am
Crystal clear thinking, our socio economic culture. After all this, we may be able to add to Lenin..
Comment by dean gibson — April 5, 2020 @ 10:38 pm