Yeah, because that’ll surely end well. Any strong democracy would be a lot better than either the US or China.
China still hasn’t been anywhere near transparent about COVID, for example. Do you really think they’d be any better if an outbreak of something similar would happen, especially if it originated from China in the first place.
The WHO is losing staff today due to lack of funding. That is “a bad ending.” If someone can put up the money in short order to stop that bad ending, it’s better one. China can do that. If a stronger democracy can do it so we can have more good endings down the road, they should. I’m not optimistic.
I’m with you there, in theory at least. Chinese money tends to come with strings attached, though. I’d be weary of that kind of influence without proper oversight.
It’s not like the WHO hasn’t flip-flopped on things before due to outside pressure either, so there’s some precedent there.
Yes. There’s no oversight, whoever puts the money has the influence. US, China, EU, Canada, Australia, etc. We need to move away from the idea of funding being separable from influence. About anything. The economic dimension isn’t separate from the political one. It’s a myth we are told that’s served to further the interests of capital against the rest of us. If any country or block wants the influence we/they can put up the money.
We’re in agreement then. I mean, I don’t have anything in particular against China as such, I just don’t like how they handled COVID and I certainly have some issues with their governance at large, but their money would still be welcome if there was proper oversight.
I do hope WHO will get up and running at 100% though, they’re sorely needed. Considering what’s happening in the US I don’t think it’ll be long before some shit happens over there as well.
Yeah, because that’ll surely end well. Any strong democracy would be a lot better than either the US or China.
China still hasn’t been anywhere near transparent about COVID, for example. Do you really think they’d be any better if an outbreak of something similar would happen, especially if it originated from China in the first place.
The WHO is losing staff today due to lack of funding. That is “a bad ending.” If someone can put up the money in short order to stop that bad ending, it’s better one. China can do that. If a stronger democracy can do it so we can have more good endings down the road, they should. I’m not optimistic.
Money rarely comes with no strings attached.
Yes.
I’m with you there, in theory at least. Chinese money tends to come with strings attached, though. I’d be weary of that kind of influence without proper oversight.
It’s not like the WHO hasn’t flip-flopped on things before due to outside pressure either, so there’s some precedent there.
Yes. There’s no oversight, whoever puts the money has the influence. US, China, EU, Canada, Australia, etc. We need to move away from the idea of funding being separable from influence. About anything. The economic dimension isn’t separate from the political one. It’s a myth we are told that’s served to further the interests of capital against the rest of us. If any country or block wants the influence we/they can put up the money.
We’re in agreement then. I mean, I don’t have anything in particular against China as such, I just don’t like how they handled COVID and I certainly have some issues with their governance at large, but their money would still be welcome if there was proper oversight.
I do hope WHO will get up and running at 100% though, they’re sorely needed. Considering what’s happening in the US I don’t think it’ll be long before some shit happens over there as well.