> I truly believe most Americans would not hoard masks if they were asked to, into yet more evidence that institutions are rotten and cannot be trusted.

You are being idealistic. Even if 99,99% of americans would not hoard masks, the remaining 0,01% could hoard virtually all of the supply. I don't believe you genuinely believe that literally every single american would "not hoard masks when asked to".

Or perhaps it is your estimation that is overly pessimistic, we will never know. Either way, if you ask me, right now the country would be better off with more idealism and less cynicism from its leaders.

Really? Do you genuinely believe that - if the government were to ask its citizens "please don't hoard and markup these incredibly valuable life-saving masks which are available for everyone to buy in large quantities" - you genuinely believe that literally every american would heed that request?

I'll be happy to take your word for this if you want to confirm "yes" you actually believe this. Otherwise I will assume you don't actually believe this, you were just throwing rhetoric around.

Perhaps you should read what I wrote. It is not the same thing you seem to be objecting to.

So you acknowledge that some people would hoard masks regardless, and therefore, your original suggestion "just ask people not to hoard" was overtly idealistic and would not prevent hoarding of masks?

Are you being intentionally obtuse just to get a fight going, or you really do not understand what "I truly believe most Americans would not hoard masks if they were asked to" means? In case of the later, it means that I truly believe most, but not all, Americans would do the right thing and the nation would be able to handle the few sociopaths that who would indeed hoard.

Thanks for the clarification. It seems we disagree on whether we could handle "the few sociopaths" who would indeed hoard. Let's leave it at that.

If only 10% of americans hoarded masks it would have ruined the supply, no give than 30% of America followed Trump blindly, you actually think only 10% of Americans would have went out and gotten masks for themselves and their families when a plague of uncertain lethality was on the rise? I don't have much faith in that here or any other country that didn't just flat out enforce it.

Yes, I do believe it, even the 30% of Trump loyalist, which I do not think are any less patriotic than the elite. But only if their leaders were trustworthy and frank and not patronizing, cynical assholes, transparently lying all the time.