Why can't we restrict people from W Africa?

[Chemisse]

Maybe there is a really good reason why we can't just say no to people who want to come here from Ebola-ridden countries, but if there is, it is not being articulated. So I search on Google and find this:

A majority of Americans think the U.S. should ban all incoming flights from countries fighting Ebola. Some 58 percent of respondents in a new survey from NBC News said they were in favor of a U.S. travel ban from the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where more than 3,400 people have died from Ebola. Only 20 percent said they did not support the ban.

The argument is that to stop the Ebola virus from leaping into new territories, including the U.S., it must be restricted at its source. However, an outright ban on flights from those countries would backfire on efforts to stop Ebola’s spread, health experts have said. Some officials say a travel ban could even make matters worse. The NBC poll is based on a survey conducted Tuesday of 1,010 U.S. adults.

http://www.ibtimes.com/west-africa-travel-ban-why-ebola-fears-over-us-bound-flights-are-overblown-1702532

So I think, okay, tell me the compelling reason why most Americans are wrong on this question.

"Though we might wish we can seal ourselves off from the world, there are Americans who have the right of return and many other people that have the right to enter this country," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas Frieden told reporters this week. "We're not going to be able to get to zero risk no matter what we do unless we control the outbreak in West Africa." Frieden emphasized that a travel ban could make it difficult to get much-needed medical supplies and aid workers to the affected regions. Making it harder to respond to the needs in those countries will “inadvertently increase the risk to people” in the U.S., he said.

WTF! Do you mean to say that our thinking is so black and white that we can only let everybody in - or nobody?? We can't say that nobody can come EXCEPT those who are US citizens returning home, or those who present a compelling reason why they need to come here??

Obama is taking a beating over this, right in time for the midterms. If there is some better reason than what has been given in this article, he needs to get people out there and explain it. If not, every case of Ebola that happens here is going to be blamed on Obama.

[SoCalDem]

1. People who can afford to buy those expensive plane tickets

can travel to places outside of Africa, spend a few days there and buy round trip tickets from those other places..

Every person who comes into the US by air has a VISA that was granted (or a US passport).

All that needs to happen, is for us to stop issuing visas

[Agschmid]

2. You realize the entire world is interconnected, correct?

Also there really "aren't" direct flights to those nations from the U.S. so in effect the flight ban is already in effect.

[Chemisse]

12. It's not that hard to look at passports to see where people have traveled.

Saying the world is interconnected is not a great argument.

I'm not necessarily lobbying for this to happen. I just don't understand why it can't and think we need much better explanation about this.

[a kennedy]

3. Please watch this......NIH doctor on sealing the borders

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/nih-doctor-schools-elisabeth-hasselbeck-after-she-asks-him-to-seal-the-borders-over-ebola/ that's why.

[Chemisse]

14. Thanks. (Although I grimace to think I posed the same question as someone from Fox "News")

“You have Americans there, you have business people there, people of dual citizenship who have to go back and forth,” he said. “It’s completely impractical. In fact, from a public health standpoint, not helpful to do that. And I think every public health official feels that way.”

So if this is the reason, why aren't the Dems out there publicizing this and making people understand?

[amandabeech]

17. I still don't understand why business people cannot conduct their business via computer

and telephone hookups until the crisis is over or at least substantially so. Why should business people be given a pass to possibly bring a horrendous virus into the US? I still don't see it.

Why couldn't dual nationals have to decide in which nation they shall reside during the crisis?

Meanwhile, we can send all the aid we can to help those affected nations.

Maybe we're going to have to set up a quarantine situation.

Sometimes a crisis situation means that some people will be inconvenienced, and that extra effort must be taken in order to prevent the spread of the problem.

Eventually the virus will burn itself out or be much better contained. The measures would be only temporary.

If we take precautions and use good sense, I strongly doubt that we will see many cases of this terrible disease, but why chances?

[AngryAmish]

4. It is part of a larger narrative

Currently, the inclusive parts of our nation hates the non inclusive parts. And vice versa. The non inclusive parts want to restrict immigration generally. And the inclusive parts thinks this is hate.

The inclusive part of this nation is in control of the government due to President Obama getting to appoint the heads of the governmental departments. They fear restricting visitation from Africa itself is racist and is part of a larger, racist agenda.

So racism v antiracism. The racist tribe is hated by the antiracist tribe (and vice versa) so an inch cannot be given.

[fadedrose]

5. I don't see the value in a travel ban

Who in the hell would go there if they didn't have to? And those in those countries are probably aware that they won't receive the care in the US they thought they would after hearing about Duncan.

They need travel if they ever want to cure ebola. They need a vaccine, and they will find one with scientists searching in every country in the world. Shutting ourselves away will lead to more ebola cases in more countries, and what we are doing seems the best way to handle it. Allow volunteers to go there and help and get them home quickly as possible if they get into trouble...

Hopefully our troops will help the situation. Isolation won't.

[AngryAmish]

7. Who would go there if they don't have to?

1. Religious nutters who thinks dealing with sick Africans gives them points with Jeebus.

2. News reporters.

These are Americans who did go and did get sick.

I suppose we can add garden variety thrill seekers and nutters who would travel there to.

The value in letting in folks from the epidemic areas is tiny. But we do it because of the narrative.

[fadedrose]

8. The value is in the experience

Up until Duncan arrived and didn't get the proper care, nobody knew nothin' about treatment, which seems to be prevention of dehydration and help with cleaning and sanitation.

We all learned where the disease comes from. I didn't even know there was a Liberia.

We're all more prepared for it now - moreso than when the doctors were brought in in special planes, ambulances, hazmet suits, etc. and were treated in Texas. Nobody knew what to expect. We know now.

Experience is the best teacher, and we didn't have any previous.

[YarnAddict]

9. "Religious nutters"

So, doctors like Brantley and Sacra, who go and provide MEDICAL CARE to people who may have limited care without them, and who do so as an expression of their faith are "religious nutters?" Niiiiiiice.

[cali]

10. I really find that sentiment bigoted

So if someone feels called upon to help people who are in desperate straits, inspired by their religion, you automatically assume that they are doing so to "get points with Jeebus"? Maybe they're doing so because they believe that helping the ill is something they are called to do because they believe in helping "the least of their brothers".

and by the way, their are non-religious NGOs there too. Ever hear of MSF?

[Chemisse]

15. Good points.

People who do good things for religious reasons deserve as much respect as those who do good things for other reasons.

[DustyJoe]

6. Well Because

They fear restricting visitation from Africa itself is racist and is part of a larger, racist agenda.

.
Unfortunately Ebola is something that kills despite blind political correctness . Other countries have enacted travel bans. Quarantine and contain are actions, not concepts. Why is the govt. so quick to force quarantine on Duncans family, but not enforce travel restrictions from the hot zone itself, but for political correctness ?

[Chemisse]

13. That makes sense, and it certainly could be part of a racist agenda.

But right now the topic is political suicide.

[WillowTree]

11. Bottom line, because it would do nothing to help and could serve to make matters worse.

[Sheepshank]

16. Now it's in Texas and has spread, it's time to seal off Texas from the rest of the USA & world

let's see how practical the implementation for this will be

yet, there are those that still tout the entire country of Liberia and even Africa continent should and can be quarantined? The idiocy of that idea is so so very great in it's magnitude. Ebola is not just in Liberia and flights out of that county are not the only forms of travel through those porus borders to other African nations.