Idea: The coronavirus' timing is an opportunity for biorisk to become a major political issue. If we can frame a discussion in the coming post-primary months around what each candidate will do in their next 4 year term to improve pandemic response and prevention, it is likely that pandemic response could become a big discussion point in august-november pre-election discussions and hopefully translate to significant policy moves in the next 4 year presidential cycle.
This falls into a common category for me: "Would be great if it happened, not sure who would make it happen."
As far as I'm aware, most EA-funded biosecurity work currently happens in Europe (e.g. CSER/FHI). I don't know of existing policy organizations in the U.S. that we are linked to, and that are sufficiently large/influential to exert pressure on "discussion points" in the upcoming election cycle.
Did you have a particular "we" in mind when you used the phrase "we can frame a discussion"?
The Blue Ribbon Panel on Biodefense Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is funded by OpenPhil and works in the US FWIW.
OTOH, I think if it became a talking point in debates it could wind up with more funding, but would also risk becoming politicized, which could be bad for the efficacy of the approaches that end up being used.
Idea: The coronavirus' timing is an opportunity for biorisk to become a major political issue. If we can frame a discussion in the coming post-primary months around what each candidate will do in their next 4 year term to improve pandemic response and prevention, it is likely that pandemic response could become a big discussion point in august-november pre-election discussions and hopefully translate to significant policy moves in the next 4 year presidential cycle.
Would love your thoughts!
Certainly a good topic to be thinking about now!
This falls into a common category for me: "Would be great if it happened, not sure who would make it happen."
As far as I'm aware, most EA-funded biosecurity work currently happens in Europe (e.g. CSER/FHI). I don't know of existing policy organizations in the U.S. that we are linked to, and that are sufficiently large/influential to exert pressure on "discussion points" in the upcoming election cycle.
Did you have a particular "we" in mind when you used the phrase "we can frame a discussion"?
The
Blue Ribbon Panel on BiodefenseBipartisan Commission on Biodefense is funded by OpenPhil and works in the US FWIW.OTOH, I think if it became a talking point in debates it could wind up with more funding, but would also risk becoming politicized, which could be bad for the efficacy of the approaches that end up being used.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH1ZQOF1yAo
A key & peele video that is effectively EA dark humor. Enjoy!