'We are in a war-time scenario,' writes NYCMayor for usatodayopinion
. And as cities like ours plan for the long term, the Trump administration still hasn’t shown a plan to get us the medical supplies we need.New York City has called on the federal government to supply us with more ventilators, N-95 masks, surgical masks and hand sanitizer. Every single one would save lives and slow the spread of the virus. Yet in each case, the federal government has told us they cannot meet our demand.
It’s time for a radical step. Just as the federal government did in World War I, World War II and other extraordinary moments, the Trump administration should nationalize the production and distribution of the medical supplies the American people need. Every company and industry that can possibly produce and distribute more ventilators, masks and hand sanitizer should be doing that around the clock.
Here’s how that might look. It could involve a federal government stimulus to get every out-of-work factory back up and running, hiring workers to churn out these critical provisions. It might mean significant government contracts awarded to any company that can produce these supplies. And at its most extreme, it could mean the government temporarily taking over one of these companies, deciding how many supplies should be produced and where to send them.It’s time for dramatic measures.
Think about the difference that would make. With more ventilators, we can better care for the vulnerable people with respiratory issues that the coronavirus preys on. With more masks, we can protect our health care workers and first responders on the front lines. With more hand sanitizer, we can help people in every city take the basic precaution of keeping their hands clean that has proven to be so important in this crisis. There are lives on the line.We aren’t asking for the world.
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