The Republicans, as Republicans do, are trying to use a national health threat to bolster their chances in the midterms. This may actually work, as the low informed voter may line up to vote in droves if he or she thinks it can pressure the President to ban travel from the affected countries.
While CDC director Tom Frieden is a typical Ivy boy, (knows a lot, lets you know it) he is right that banning all travel would make a bad situation worse. The people need help, and the leaders of the world have to figure out what investments need to be made and make them. However, while I want aid travel to continue it is reasonable to make tighter restrictions on incoming visitors.
Let's look at what the Republicans say to do-BAN ALL TRAVEL OF CITIZENS FROM AFFECTED NATIONS. How feasible is that? Not very. If all westernized nations banned such journeys, then it would keep Africans in Africa, but they won't. Completely destroying commerce would debilitate these countries economic abilities even more, undermining the efforts further.
Such a move would also stigmatize the region, perhaps permanently. In a nation where an already too large of percentage of people view the continent through the prism of a racist Bugs Bunny cartoon, disconnecting an entire region of the globe seems reasonable to certain people. Citizens who view humanity as more than straight, white, and male tend to disagree.
Diplomatically restricting travel is possible, but if they route through other countries, or infect other countries, what do Americans say when a Frenchman comes here with E? Ban France? Then Germany, the U.K., and so on? The prevailing wisdom of those on the left is that a quick travel ban will help Americans relax, and FORGET, the crisis in Africa. They are probably right.
So we move onto the next idea-quarantine. To that I say who is building 100 Holidaybola Expresses? And what American wants to move around an airport with such a facility? It is out of the question to do this in Africa, where they can't even house the ill, much less furnish a spot to please the west.
So what can be done? Obviously we can strengthen the evaluations at the border entry. We can also make them wear locating devices for a specified period of time, and thus have them report to designated clinics for daily fever checks. We can have them submit for pre-approval their housing and restrict their movements in public. This can be done through Federal and local cooperation, and at a relatively low cost.
Once the period has ended, they are free to move around like anyone else, and while I do not like treating people like cattle, it strikes me as better than treating them like lepers.
This battle will be won by a global effort, not by international isolation. The suburbs mentality will not work here.