WRAPUP 1-Mexico orders economic shutdown; pandemic imminent

Reuters ^ | Thu Apr 30, 2009 | Catherine Bremer and Laura MacInnis

[penelopesire]

MEXICO CITY/GENEVA, April 30 (Reuters) - Mexico's president told citizens to stay home from Friday for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organisation raised its alert level and said a swine flu pandemic was imminent.

In his first televised address since the crisis erupted last week, President Felipe Calderon told Mexicans to stay home with their families. The country will suspend non-essential work and services, including some government ministries, from May 1-5.

"There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus," Calderon said.

[The Pack Knight]

The "Dormant Commerce Clause" (the judicial doctrine which holds that the Interstate Commerce Clause precludes states from interfering in interstate commerce) has never been held to prevent states from exercising their "police power" to protect the public safety, morality, and, most relevant here, health. Without delving into the complexities of this doctrine (which has been the bane of many a law student), as long as the state's exercise of this authority is rationally related to serving these interests, and not just being used as a pretext to protect in-state businesses from interstate competition, then it will generally be held by the courts as constitutional.

Now, that's not to say closing the border might not run afoul of some other Constitutional provision or federal law, but I think it's fair to say that closing the border to protect the public health from a potential epidemic does not run afoul of the Commerce Clause, even in its broadest interpretation.

Of course, the clause right after the Commerce Clause empowers Congress "to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization." Federal courts have held (and the US Supreme Court has affirmed one such case without opinion, Miranda v. Nelson, 351 F.Supp. 735) that this clause vests Congress with "the sole power and authority to determine and grant to aliens right of entry to and residence within the United States and their lawful pursuits therein." This, unfortunately, strongly suggests that states cannot, for any reason, deny entry to aliens who are legally within the United States under federal law. While that case didn't involve cross-border movement, but rather the right of a permanent resident alien to participate in a federal work-study program, there doesn't seem to be much room in that language for distinction.

So, in short, no, border states probably do not have the right to close their border crossings.

[AmericanInTokyo]

IMHO, there will be something akin to a popular revolution in the USA if there are rising tolls American dead or seriously ill and they still keep that Southern border open out of political correctness, incompetence, corruption (bought off by drug money) or all three; and the orgin (which is indisputable at this time) is that the thing is clearly from Mexico.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan is now introducing Self Defense Forces (their military) medical personnel into the equation, deploying them at Narita (Tokyo) International Airport to assist in screenings. This was on the news here this afternoon. Japanese language report below. Further they report the targets are the nearly 30 jumbo jets arriving in Japan from Mexico, the United States and Canada, almost all grouped daily in the 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. slot:

新型インフルエンザ侵入阻止のため、機内検疫業務の支援に当たる自衛隊の医官、看護官ら約30人が30日、成田空港での任務開始に先立ち、藤井充・空港検疫所長のあいさつを受けた。 　藤井所長は「わが国では患者が確認されておらず、水際対策が政府の大きな柱。応援は非常にありがたい」などと話した。 　感染者が多いメキシコ、米国、カナダからの航空便の発着は日本では成田空港が際立って多く、北米便は毎日30数便が午後1時から同5時までの間に集中して到着している。

[AmericanInTokyo]

There is, or at least used to be, quarantine stations about one hour north of the US border from Mexico in California. Who knows, maybe the ACLU got them outlawed. Anyway, their intent was a second level to catch illegals. They were federally run. They would open and close at unannounced and random times.

What is to prevent a sovereign US STATE from constructing such quarantine blockades north of the border and stopping people? In other words, the Feds who run the border crossings (under Obama) can let people in including sick people, but the Governor of a state could insure that such people go no further into his state from those checkpoints and roadblocks. Which of the four governors has the guts?

[LibertyRocks]

Those are good points as well...

The other thing is that the death rate seems to be MUCH higher in Mexico than in other places this has shown up. And, that particularly in the poor “slums” of the city the rate of infection (plus people who are at a disadvantage already due to nutritional deficiency, poverty stuff, etc...) would be higher than in other more “advanced” communities. Not sure if it was on this thread, but viruses do mutate and there is a chance that the higher fatality rate in Mexico could mean that this virus (if it’s been around longer than we thought) COULD be gaining “strength”. Again, not enough information to reach a solid conclusion on anything right now, IMHO.

I still think that in regards to ALL of these statistics it’s still “too soon” to tell.

BTW: Please don’t take my last post as trying to contradict you or anything. I’m doing my best using my limited, somewhat “fundamental” but increasing knowledge of these issues, and other various things I’ve been educated about in the past to examine this from all possible angles.

It’s like walking a fine line here, especially on an internet forum — most I see are like myself, gathering information, reporting things we’ve read, and trying to make sense of conflicting information and reports. It’s those on the forum who are completely dismissing this as “no threat at all” or a “manufactured crisis” that I worry about at this point — they are the same people who could unwittingly advance the spread of this disease by not even taking common sense precautions.

I know there will be people out there who until they are perhaps suffering from it themselves (or even on their death-bed) who will continue to insist this isn’t a problem, or is all a manufactured crisis — I guess I just worry/care too much about others or something but it’s been frustrating to try to get information and at the same time try to convince people that they should take it more seriously — even IF it turns out to be something LESS serious than we thought.

Hope this makes sense — it’s getting REALLY late now. :)

[PghBaldy]

The thing is people say the supplies needed are overseas. Other countries want to stop all trade with the US... I dont know what they will do but there is going to be a WORLDWIDE effort very soon to stop this, US is next as we are in stage 1 now (cclsoing schools).

CDC says get 2 wks of food and water. They have commercials they will show I saw the text of them on their website.

[Quix]

I don’t know of US hospitals doing it. Quite plausible that they will.

There are some rumors of staffs at hospitals being quite concerned and of some resistance to folks going to ER with the symptoms.

Thanks tons for your update.

I assume you have the means to be as safe as possible??? God be with you and yours.

[LibertyRocks]

Yep, it’s a common thing... And, it’s one of the reasons I got out of the childcare industry. That and the fact that I had 2 & 3 year olds calling ME Mommy, and screaming and crying to stay at school instead of going home with their parents. I even had one 3 year old confront his (very brilliant scientist mom) one evening when she came to pick him up saying; “Go back to work, I don’t WANT you, I want to stay HERE with her (meaning me)”. Sorry - sore point for me on that score, but was it any wonder. Many of “my kids” were dropped off at 6 am and not picked up till 6 pm. We WERE their parents for all intents and purposes. They only saw their parents for like 2 hours a day for dinner and bedtime...

[No offense meant to parents who NEED daycare to get by, but 99% of these parents in our school had two folks making over $100,000 a year, it’s not like they NEEDED two incomes, and their kids suffered mightily for it...]

OK, won’t derail this any further with that topic! LOL

[Quix]

WOW.

THX.

[AmericanInTokyo]

(30 April 2009 local, Tokyo, photo by Sankei News)

Japanese Self Defense Forces (i.e. their military) has arrived at Narita (Tokyo) International Airport, Terminal 2 (per the photo a few hours ago). These are military medical personnel there to assist Japanese immigration/customs/quarantine authorities / health authorities, at the airport in place for arriving US and other North American flights.

[Quix]

I’m not convinced that the . . .

‘original origin’

is Mexico.

Certainly the publicized origin is.

[Quix]

What would prevent ???

Probably nothing . . . unless it was oligarcic goals of a different sort . . . than prevention or protection of the populace.

[AmericanInTokyo]

My intent here is to feed information from a Japanese and Asian perspective (usually very well thought out analysis and credible information with little to now political-correctness agenda imbedded) because I strongly perceive that my fellow American citizens stateside are NOT being given the full picture back home, by President Obama, Janet Napolatano, and the US mass media.

[Quix]

HOW HORRIFIC!

Sigh.

My heart goes out to such kids.

[Quix]

INDEED.

AND MUCH THANKS FOR YOUR WISE EFFORTS.

There are still even some FREEPERS who have yet to fully awaken to current contingencies vis a vis global tyranny; OThuga’s true backers and their true goals etc.

May God keep you safe and reward you for your wisdom, honesty and patriotism toward all that is good and right.

I at least, have long admired you for such integrity and perceptiveness.

BLESSED BE THE NAME AND WORD OF THE LORD.

[LibertyRocks]

I hate to say this, but THIS is where I think Obama’s fascist plans WILL come into play. It’s not like his buddy Ayers didn’t talk about needing to exterminate 25 million hard-core Conservatives... It wouldn’t surprise me if Obama was seeing this as a “natural” way to “thin the herd”.

Again, not saying at ALL that Obama CAUSED this new virus, but his incompetence isn’t going to HELP, and if he and Rahm are “not letting a crisis go to waste” I see no reason for them to insist on doing “the right thing”. The other problem is that we have so many people, and so many agencies (such BIG Government already) that bureaucracy in our government really does cripple us in many ways...

As for closing our borders — not sure if that would help at this point, but at the very least, we should be guarding against ILLEGAL ENTRY. At least those at border crossings could be screened. The coyotes and their “clients” — that to me is a WAY bigger concern, IMHO. And, as we all know THAT problem should’ve been dealt with starting (at the LEAST) on September 12, 2001.

I honestly don’t think “containment” is possible at this point. But, decreasing the rate of spread is something that could be worked on.

Sounds like Japan has the right idea, and IMHO, we should be taking notes on how they deal with this...

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan's wake up call about this Obama character

Lots of scales dropped from Japanese eyes on that date, 5 April 2009.

They have no illusions. It is now every man (and every country), for itself it seems:

[AmericanInTokyo]

The *April 5, 2009* I was referring to was the launch by North Korea of an ICBM test right smack over Japan...with nothing essentially done by Obama, despite a US-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty. That day woke a lot of people up here in Japan; until then, they were sharing a lot in the Obamamania and “hope” and “change” house of cards, the koolaid a lot of Americans are still sipping 100 days later.

[4woodenboats]

It's going to be very interesting (I hope) reading the logic that spurred you to make this insidious comment:

So, you prefer no safety precautions, no advisories, no news reports - just let the government keep us ignorant and happy?

I want to know.

On this statement I made reflecting the current death toll;

Last I checked, there were 150 deaths in Mexico alone.

Take your time, just try to explain yourself before dawn.

I REALLY want to know.

[AmericanInTokyo]

thank you, Quix-san :-) Eagles up!