Close the border (for now) - contact politician!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

04/30/2009 11:27:51 AM · #1

Concerned about the H1N1 virus spread? Consider contacting your political leaders. Might help, might not...

Contact - President Obama
Contact - US Senators
Contact - US Congress

Here's what I wrote to President Obama, my US Senators and Congressmen:

"As a concerned citizen and father of 3, I wonder about the US decision not to tighten the US Border with Mexico to help contain the H1N1 virus. I understand that ultimately, the virus will be difficult to contain as it's already made it's way into the US. However, allowing more visitors from Mexico to enter substantially increases the risk of new clusters of the virus to gain traction in areas currently not affected.

People are being stopped and questioned at the border. Now, if people really want to cross the border - honestly - do you think they're going to tell the truth if they don't feel 100% healthy, or have been exposed to friends or family that are infected?

This virus is also contagious one day PRIOR to symptoms being shown.

While I can appreciate the political relations concerns with Mexico and the potential economic impact of restricted travel - don't you think slowing the advance of this virus would give our medical researchers more time to get a vaccine in place to combat this? Or allow the government more time to get all defensive measures in place?

Thank you so much for your time and patience in reading this communication."

Apple iPhone 5

04/30/2009 11:37:47 AM · #2

Taking that proposal to its logical conclusion, it would be necessary to close borders between all countries, including between the US and the EU. There's a possibility that infected US citizens will make their way into the EU, or vice versa.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/30/2009 11:41:39 AM · #3

A bad idea, and probably a wasted effort at this point anyway.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/30/2009 11:44:30 AM · #4

Originally posted by JH:

Don't forget Arizona, California, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas.

K3Master

Pentax K-3

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

04/30/2009 11:47:54 AM · #5

Yousa tinkin' your people gonna DIE?

Message edited by author 2009-04-30 11:49:57.

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/30/2009 11:53:10 AM · #6

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Yousa tinkin' your people gonna DIE?

Excellent.... that made me laugh

justine

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/30/2009 12:11:30 PM · #7

ahh,... the ~~horse~~ (pig) is already out of the barn.

04/30/2009 12:19:26 PM · #8

Originally posted by JH:

If it slows it down, then yes.

Is there any chance that with a little more time, more info can be gained on the makeup of this virus and potential medicines get put in place? I know there's a substantial turnaround time...just thinking out loud.

From this article:

"In a 2006 study Harvard epidemiologists John Brownstein and Kenneth Mandi examined the effect of the sharp reduction in air travel after the Sept. 11 attacks on that year's flu season. They found that the flight ban and the general decline in air travel for weeks afterward delayed the onset of the flu season, but did little to reduce the overall number of infections and deaths that year."

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/30/2009 12:19:48 PM · #9

How did this end up in Rant?

AndyMac24

Canon EOS-40D

04/30/2009 12:24:23 PM · #10

Originally posted by glad2badad:

How did this end up in Rant?

Because it's political and everything political ends up in rant. BTW the virus was brought back by American Tourists, not Immigration. The "close the boarder" crowd IMO is using a pandemic and fear to try and push their agenda of closing the US off from the rest of the world, on the American People.

Message edited by author 2009-04-30 12:32:53.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/30/2009 12:36:29 PM · #11

Originally posted by glad2badad:

"In a 2006 study Harvard epidemiologists John Brownstein and Kenneth Mandi examined the effect of the sharp reduction in air travel after the Sept. 11 attacks on that year's flu season. They found that the flight ban and the general decline in air travel for weeks afterward delayed the onset of the flu season, but did little to reduce the overall number of infections and deaths that year."

To that point, you could probably put a serious dent in the spread of disease (not just flu, but TB and others) by requiring HEPA filters and alcohol-based hand sanitizer on airlines. Neither the FAA nor European air regulators require filters, and cash-strapped airlines aren't exactly eager to spend more money voluntarily.