Pandemic response needs to be Federal. Period.

[intrepidity]

The former guy (TFG) messed it up so much that it'd be nearly impossible to implement mid-stream now, but I hope that some serious planning is underway for the next one (which won't be 100 years away this time).

States don't get to "opt-out" of, eg, mask mandates, and they don't get to decide individually how to manage a pandemic; that is absurd and counter-productive (as has been painfully demonstrated). As long as there is free movement of citizens across state borders, states MUST defer to the Federal government on issues like pandemics!

Even now I'm seeing vastly different implementations of vaccine delivery across states! Why?

If we truly are ONE nation, how about we act like it when it really, really matters?

TFG is, imho, fully culpable for all 500,000+ U.S. deaths for this reason. He allowed a weak, partial and highly fragmented response to the greatest lethal threat our nation has encountered in our lifetimes.

That should never be forgotten nor forgiven. Ever!

[rampartc]

1. the "race to the bottom" approach taken by dtates

does not seem to work for education, the environment, regulation and taxation of corporations, or any other problem that i can think of.

a president, unlike a "businessman," foes not get to choose which problems he can pawn off to others.

[SCantiGOP]

2. I don't really disagree

but this would require revoking or amending the 10th Amendment.

[sop]

3. I suspect TFG's "weak, partial and highly fragmented response" was his attempt to also monetize

the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, much like he did with PPEs, respirators and other urgently needed stockpile supplies. The despicable POS was probably planning something like DeSantis' pay-to-vaccine scheme on a national scale had he been re-elected.

[Johonny]

4. I'm almost certain future studies will demonstrate this

A country with patchwork Covid rules and high degree of travel within country will show worse response than countries with aggressive national covid policies.

[GulfCoast66]

5. I agree in spirit, but there is a real limit to Federal Power

I don’t see how a federal mask mandate would be constitutional nor enforceable.

But there is much that can be done. Florida’s distribution plan is a nightmare. But the FEMA sites opening up here are running like a clock and vaccinating thousands per day. Got mine yesterday after trying to navigate the labyrinth of the Florida system.

And getting Merk to make the J&J vaccine was inspired.

[Tommymac]

6. Yup. PA vaccine rollout is a horrible joke. F--- if that's possible.

This should have been handled by a Federal Clearinghouse set up last summer in anticipation of the vaccine.

Warp Speed my ass.

[Mr.Bill]

7. Having a uniform federal plan would make sense.

The biggest problem I could see would be enforcement.

[gratuitous]

8. Two states

Lockdown states that aren't observing the protocols and Free states that observe and enforce the mask/wash/distance protocols. Lockdown states can do whatever the fuck they want, but nobody comes out while the pandemic is ravaging the country. You want to go in? Fine, but you're not leaving until the crisis is over. Freedom of Movement is ratcheted up in Free states as infection rates go down and percentage of vaccinated residents goes up. Movement between Free states of equal Freedom of Movement status is allowed.

Each state gets to choose its own path. One path is far preferable, but you have to do the work to get on it.