We don’t know how bad the Swine Flu epidemic will be. We don’t know how deadly the disease may become. Currently there is no vaccine for it. What we do know is that Mexico City, a city of about 9 million people, is a center of the outbreak. Controlling the outbreak in a crowded, smoggy city with less than ideal sanitation will be extremely difficult. Preventing the spread throughout Mexico will be difficult. Once it spreads in Mexico, it will be nearly impossible to prevent its spread to the US.
President Obama should not just worry about the states on the US / Mexican border. Obama should realize that Mexico is our very close neighbor. A good citizen tries to help neighbors when they are in trouble. Trying to help Mexico at this time might keep them from electing an anti-US president in their next election. They almost did that in their last election. Helping Mexico might help the US control the spread of swine flu in its own states.
Carpe Diem President Obama. It is nice to make sure all the US states are prepared. However, doing so by ignoring Mexico may be tantamount to protectionism. It won’t be good for the US in the long run. Take the risk that some US states may be left under provided for in anti-viral medicines. Give a generous portion of the US anti-viral stockpile to Mexico. Try to help stamp out the virus before it really gets started. That is probably the only way you will prevent it from spreading to the US. We all know that a small fire is much easier to put out than a big one. Try to help keep this fire small. You will be helping the Mexicans. You will be helping the US simultaneously. Perhaps just as importantly, you will be recognizing Mexico as an important ally.
Disclosure: no positions
