Closing borders is a drastic action
President Obama's answer to a question last night about closing our border with Mexico didn't make sense to me.
That "would be akin to closing the barn door after the horses are out, because we already have cases here in the United States," he said about the new strain of flu that originated in Mexico.
Sure, some horses are out. But a whole lot more horses are still there. Shouldn't we want to keep them there?
Public health authorities try to isolate infectious diseases. That's why they recommend closing schools where one child has gotten sick. That's why they ask people not to travel if they suspect they're coming down with something. Isolating Mexican cases in Mexico would seem consistent with that approach.
My guess, though, is that Obama doesn't want to take action with regard to Mexico that other countries might take against the United States. Couldn't Canada use the same logic to close its border? Couldn't every other country deny entry to Americans and say, "Look, we're just doing what you've done to Mexico."
From a strictly public health standpoint, Obama's horses-and-barn statement doesn't make sense to me.
From the perspective of commerce and good diplomatic relations, however, I think keeping borders as open as possible is a good practice, and only the most extreme crises should force a change in that policy.
Comments (3)
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Closing the border is great idea, but not because of the swine flu! If i were a conspiracy theorist, I'd say this hysteria over this illness is just another step in, "you can't let a good crisis go to waste" philosophy of our new Socialist government. They now own banks, and auto companies, because of "crisies.
Now it will be government health care saving us from extinction because of swine flu, which apparently has overtaken global warming as the greatest, iminent threat to our survival! Thank God for the Community Organizer (Hey Bams, do you who Air Force One is terrorizing today!) that we have becoma a nation of ill-educated, ill-informed sheep. Here is something to ponder about the flu from the CDC:
Each flu season is unique, but it is estimated that, on average, approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu, and more than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.
We have one confirmed case here, but hundreds are dying in Mexico, which has government health care!
Posted on April 30, 2009 11:09 AM
From the perspective of commerce and good diplomatic relations, however, I think keeping borders as open as possible is a good practice, and only the most extreme crises should force a change in that policy.* Doug
I agree! The last thing we need is closing the South Carolina and North Carolina border and screwing up the Carolina Panthers next season and the Charlotte economy...
Posted on April 30, 2009 1:38 PM
At noon today CDC confirmed a case of Type A H1N1 in South Carolina..I encourage everyone to wash our hands. Make sure our own houses are clean and if you see anyone spitting in pubic scold them politely and then take off your shoes before dragging the germs into the house. This is serious and the CDC is trying hard. Germ eradication starts with cleanliness that is next to Godliness and don't be afraid. Our Mayor Leon Brandt back in 1918 died from an influenza epidemic. He went home to home helping the ill. Did he forget to wash his hands?
Posted on April 30, 2009 2:58 PM