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by nicehat
2287 days ago
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> What's more "America First" than making sure only America gets a vaccine? America developing a vaccine first and sharing it with the world for free would be more "America First." That such an idea sounds laughable shows the effects of 20 years of neoliberal wankery mushing the brains of Americans. |
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America First is a different concept, and would be more like developing a vaccine and making sure Americans are vaccinated before anyone in other countries. But in this case we may not be the first to develop it so we want to buy it for ourselves.
Imagine the reaction from Trump's base if he could tell them that "he" secured a vaccine that will only be available to Americans.
To be clear, I'd much rather see America (or any country) develop a vaccine and share it to the world free of royalties, but at least in America, that's not the political climate we live in.
On April 12, 1955, the day the Salk vaccine was declared “safe, effective and potent,” legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Morrow interviewed its creator and asked who owned the patent. “Well, the people, I would say,” said Salk in light of the millions of charitable donations raised by the March of Dimes that funded the vaccine’s research and field testing. “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?” Lawyers for the foundation had investigated the possibility of patenting the vaccine but did not pursue it, in part because of Salk’s reluct