The guy who ran on a platform "the US sucks" — Benkei
Agreed, but the issue then becomes how does a country remain free of the virus when other countries have pandemics, or it is endemic? Surely there would have to be multiple travel bans. I realise that this might not be so much of an issue once a good vaccine has been produced, but there is no certainty that this will save the day. — Punshhh
Going back to the apparent welcoming of the pandemic, this is also evidenced in the lack of provision for asymptomatic subjects and the spread via them. It seems that it had been accepted from an early stage that the pandemic can't be avoided and that it is better to preserve economies than fight its spread dramatically. — Punshhh
I'm not confusing anything. On the contrary you seem to be completely discounting the real negative effects, leaving entirely aside considerations of the share markets, that curtailing all international travel would have on economies. Effects which would arguably be so great that governments would have no hope of propping up all those who would otherwise become bankrupt. You seem to be blithely ignoring the inter-connectedness and fragility of the global economic system. — Janus
The basic problem, that which is creating the conditions for runaway capitalism, industrial farming practices, resource depletion, soil, land and ocean degradation and pollution, is overpopulation. It is the continuing growth of the human population that necessitates endless growth economies. It is also arguable that such a growth would never have been possible without fossil fuels, the supply of which has already peaked. — Janus
The "wet" (or live) trade in wild animals for food is pretty bad idea. A lot of the problem is rooted in bats, which have very tolerant immune systems. They are able to carry all sorts of novel viruses and bacteria in their blood without getting sick. Bats interact with other animals, sucking blood, and dropping germ laden feces around, contaminating other animals. Then we catch and sell the bats and other animals, and periodically get sick with ebola or corona virus and worse. — Bitter Crank
British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Italy, Reuters is reporting. — BBC
...sounds good as a neoliberal sound bite... — boethius
In your usage, how would you define "neoliberal"? — Metaphysician Undercover
Luxury cruises sound like a colossal bore, anyway. — Bitter Crank
Why do you say that? I do think they have a big game changing effect.The travel bans are now simply too late to have a big game changing effect (still helps a bit though). — boethius
I know, there are many businesses which are already on the edge, prior to the effect of the virus. I don't expect economic collapse though, governments will just print money and bail critical businesses and services out. — Punshhh
Your overly long analysis simply ignores the fact that economies are part of the natural ecology of the Earth. — Janus
Shutting down international travel simply doesn't have the crazy affects that you describe, especially temporarily. — boethius
C. most importantly that corporate profits should be prioritized over any given concept of the public good — boethius
Unfortunately because of the nature of share markets a large part of the common human good, in simply economic and lifestyle (including healthcare) terms at least, has become dependent upon corporate profits. — Janus
They will go to a war footing, prices would be fixed to a degree and there would be some means of rationing.Injecting more money into the system will cause inflation, particularly if there is a shortage of available goods in the market.
I can't speak for Boethius, but if there is a collapse of civilisation, there could be some quite adverse effects in the short term, like mass fires, nuclear explosions, wreckless destruction of ecosystems.The idea that reducing the human population would collapse the ecosystem is also absurd; as I see it the real situation is precisely the opposite. (Collapse the present economic system (if reduced radically over a short period) yes).
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.