Most people don't know a lot about the spread of diseases, and neither do I. Much needs to be learned. So it would be better to ask skeptical questions in this post, rather than make bold assertions.
It shouldn't surprise anyone to see illogical medical choices made when A is banned, but B isn't. After all, politicians and bureaucrats are making the list of restrictions, not doctors. Whenever something big is gained or lost, politics will intrude and corrupt everything.
1. Some of these restrictions might have a good effect, long-term. Does it really make sense for a hard-working East Asian family to dream of vacationing in North American national parks, Disney World, or Las Vegas? There are zillions of free pretty pictures on the internet, so why eat the expense of international travel?
People will make do with tourist traps that are closer to home, and save themselves a fortune. What is so bad about that? It seems like a positive thing to appreciate the local attractions more, instead of devaluing them because they are close. So much of tourism is just frivolous romantic escapism: pining for 'far-away' lands and customs.
2. Ah, but many of those international travelers are business travelers, you say. How much of fuel-based travel is merely traditional and actually obsolete? What is wrong with electronic/video conferencing?
Let's hope Greta Thunberg loses some frequent-flyer miles because of this corona virus scare. And perhaps climate scientists will be forced to cancel their next junket to Paris or Hawaii.
Here again, people will say that electronic communication is no substitute for 'being there.' What they really should say is that international travel is a perk and status symbol for "higher ups" or people on the way "up."
What is to stop corporations and government agencies from inventing some new status symbol to take the place of international travel? The business world will survive.
3. Will there be an appreciation for how much international disease-carrying is done by the U.S. military, both directly and indirectly? (Think of millions of refugees streaming across borders after the American heroes have destroyed another country.)
4. Squelching mega-crowd events like sporting events, rock concerts, college spring break on the beaches, RVers at Quartzsite, etc. Good riddance to all of the above.
Much of this post may sound like excuse-making for travel restrictions based on my personal likes and dislikes. And no doubt, it is, to some extent.
It shouldn't surprise anyone to see illogical medical choices made when A is banned, but B isn't. After all, politicians and bureaucrats are making the list of restrictions, not doctors. Whenever something big is gained or lost, politics will intrude and corrupt everything.
1. Some of these restrictions might have a good effect, long-term. Does it really make sense for a hard-working East Asian family to dream of vacationing in North American national parks, Disney World, or Las Vegas? There are zillions of free pretty pictures on the internet, so why eat the expense of international travel?
People will make do with tourist traps that are closer to home, and save themselves a fortune. What is so bad about that? It seems like a positive thing to appreciate the local attractions more, instead of devaluing them because they are close. So much of tourism is just frivolous romantic escapism: pining for 'far-away' lands and customs.
2. Ah, but many of those international travelers are business travelers, you say. How much of fuel-based travel is merely traditional and actually obsolete? What is wrong with electronic/video conferencing?
Let's hope Greta Thunberg loses some frequent-flyer miles because of this corona virus scare. And perhaps climate scientists will be forced to cancel their next junket to Paris or Hawaii.
Here again, people will say that electronic communication is no substitute for 'being there.' What they really should say is that international travel is a perk and status symbol for "higher ups" or people on the way "up."
What is to stop corporations and government agencies from inventing some new status symbol to take the place of international travel? The business world will survive.
3. Will there be an appreciation for how much international disease-carrying is done by the U.S. military, both directly and indirectly? (Think of millions of refugees streaming across borders after the American heroes have destroyed another country.)
4. Squelching mega-crowd events like sporting events, rock concerts, college spring break on the beaches, RVers at Quartzsite, etc. Good riddance to all of the above.
Much of this post may sound like excuse-making for travel restrictions based on my personal likes and dislikes. And no doubt, it is, to some extent.
Comments
"The world’s richest people are chartering private jets to set off for holiday homes or specially prepared disaster bunkers in countries that, so far, appear to have avoided the worst of the Covid-19 outbreak. Many are understood to be taking personal doctors or nurses on their flights to treat them and their families in the event that they become infected." - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/11/disease-dodging-worried-wealthy-jet-off-to-disaster-bunkers