Summary of Key Points
Recently, Trump signed two "retro" executive orders: one requires the separation of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, which has been in use for over 50 years, and the reintroduction of three separate vaccines from the 1970s; the other orders the removal of electromagnetic catapults from Ford-class aircraft carriers starting with the fourth ship in favor of steam catapults from the 1950s. Both decisions share a common characteristic: they attempt to revive technologies that have been obsolete for more than 20 years and are extremely difficult to implement, reflecting Trump's obsession with outdated things rather than decisions based on scientific or technical rationality.
Detailed Analysis
1. Both Decisions: Rejected by Modern Times
Let's start with the vaccine: The MMR vaccine was introduced in 1971 and offers protection against measles, mumps, and rubella with just one dose, making it much more convenient than administering three separate vaccines. By 2009, American manufacturers had stopped producing the separate vaccines—meaning that the vaccines Trump wants to reintroduce have been out of production for 17 years, and the production lines no longer exist.
Now, let's look at the aircraft carriers: Steam catapults are a technology from the 1950s (around the time Trump was a child), while electromagnetic catapults represent a more advanced technology that is more efficient, easier to maintain, and better suited for future aircraft. The Ford-class aircraft carriers were designed with electromagnetic catapults from the beginning, and the construction of the fourth ship has already begun. Reverting to steam catapults would be like switching from electric cars to gasoline cars—completely incompatible.
2. Implementation Difficulty: Even More Absurd than Turning a Tesla into a Gasoline Car
- Vaccines: To produce the separate vaccines again, manufacturers would need to build new production lines, conduct clinical trials to prove their safety and effectiveness, and then apply for FDA approval. This process could take at least a decade. Trump is 80 years old, with an average life expectancy of only about 8 more years. By the time the vaccines are available, he is likely no longer in office. Would a company spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a product that will only benefit the deceased? Clearly not.
- Aircraft Carriers: The catapult system is a core component of the aircraft carrier design. Electromagnetic catapults do not require steam, so the Ford-class carriers were not designed with the necessary infrastructure for steam catapults (such as steam generators and water storage systems). With the ships already in construction, converting them to steam catapults would mean dismantling and rebuilding the entire structure, resulting in enormous costs and extended construction times. Manufacturers would definitely refuse to do this.
3. The Logic Behind the Decisions: Not Science, but an Obsession with Childhood Memories
As the oldest serving president in the United States, Trump has a particular attachment to things from his childhood and youth. Steam catapults were the technology used on American aircraft carriers when he was a child in the 1950s, and the separate vaccines were the standard during his time in the 1960s and 1970s. However, times are changing, and technologies are phased out for good reasons: the MMR vaccine is more efficient than the separate vaccines, and electromagnetic catapults are more advanced. These are the results of market and technological advancements, not just a matter of preference for the old.
His decisions are not based on data or expert advice but on personal nostalgia, treating national affairs as a game to satisfy his personal preferences.
4. Impact on the Industries
- Vaccine Companies: If forced to comply, they would have to invest heavily in rebuilding production lines and conducting trials with uncertain returns. If they refuse, they could face government pressure, a typical case of imposing unreasonable demands on businesses.
- Aircraft Carrier Manufacturers: The fourth Ford-class carrier is already under construction, and changing the design would mean wasting all previous investments, along with additional costs in the tens of millions of dollars. In the end, taxpayers would bear the burden. Moreover, electromagnetic catapults represent the future trend, and reverting to steam catapults would put American aircraft carriers at a competitive disadvantage.
5. The Difference Between Personal Nostalgia and Presidential Decision-Making
We all have a sense of nostalgia (for old ice cream, old appliances, etc.), but these are personal choices that do not affect others. However, presidential decisions affect the entire country: separating the MMR vaccine could lead to inconvenience for children (who would need to receive three separate doses) and potentially insufficient vaccine supply; changing the catapults on aircraft carriers would slow down the modernization of the navy and waste national resources. Turning personal nostalgia into national policy is irresponsible towards the public interest.
Conclusion
Trump's decisions are essentially attempts to reverse the course of technological development using power, which are neither scientific nor feasible. They highlight a problem: when leaders make decisions based on personal preferences rather than professional judgment, they cause unnecessary trouble and waste of resources for the country. For ordinary people, it's just interesting to watch; for American businesses and taxpayers, it represents a real loss of money and resources.