Topic: Health Care
Don't Close the Borders Libertarians condemn the notion that we should seal our borders to stop the spread of H1N1, which is already inside the United States.by George Phillies
(libertarian)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Center for Libertarian Press Information issued the following statement on the H1N1 influenza. The position on closing the border is the opposite of that taken by the Libertarian Party National Committee.
Key national and state Libertarian Party leaders echoed the position of the Obama administration and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Wednesday, urging Americans not let the worldwide "swine flu" panic result in an economy-killing shutdown of the US-Mexico border.
"The horse is already out of the barn," said Libertarian National Committee member Dr. Mary Ruwart of Burnet, Texas. "More than 400 cases of swine flu and fortunately only two fatalities have been confirmed in the US. Draconian measures at the border won't protect Americans' health, but would very likely slow down our recovery from the current economic recession. Since income and health are linked, any health protection that tightening the border might afford us against the flu is likely to be offset by its enormous cost."
Cases of the H1N1 influenza virus "swine flu" have now been confirmed in 38 states, and the US Navy announced Tuesday that it is cancelling deployment of one of its ships, the USS Dubuque, due to confirmation of the flu in a crew member.
"We have full confidence that our neighbors will work hard to contain any health threats, as will we," said Eric Sundwall, past state chair of the Libertarian Party of New York and its candidate in the March 31st special election to fill the state's 20th US House District seat. "Inviting trade, tourism and goodwill improves the ability of all countries to respond to pandemics. Border restrictions beyond the exclusion of obviously symptomatic sick people impede that ability and do little or nothing to actually stop the spread of disease."
Sundwall urged Libertarians around the country to "reassert the message of prosperity and peace that good relations with neighbors always foster."
"Common sense and prudent medical practice can contain most of these type of threats," said Ruwart, a pharmaceutical researcher and expert on the health effects of regulation. "It would be irresponsible for government to overreact to emerging health threats. Xenophobia and the resulting decrease in prosperity is a greater threat to our freedom and health than swine flu."
Contact: Thomas L. Knapp | media@clipr.info | 314-721-3960
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