"It's as if it's Iran or something."

New at Reason: Jonathan Rauch argues that the ban on HIV-positive foreigners is inhumane and counterproductive.

Comments

[Fred Gillette]

No money will go to Africa. It will be waved like a carrot with a gentle voice saying, "You can have this. All you have to do is outlaw abortion."
Nope, not one red cent. Everything comes down to abortion and, oh yeah, marijauna.

I'm on the verge of giving up.

[Russ]

You're right Fred,

No AIDS money will go to Africa; it'll go to Bristol Myers-Squibb and GlazoSmithKline.

Just like how the money appropriated for Iraq and Afghanistan is going to Halliburton.

Or how the new Energy Bill money is going to Archer Daniels Midland.

It's called the American Way... unfortunately most people confuse it with captilism.

[Vigilance Matters]

"It accomplishes nothing in preventing the spread of Aids here."

How you can say that, is beyond me. If nothing else, it most certainly will result in fewer infections here than if we allow them to enter.

[Thorley Winston]

How you can say that, is beyond me. If nothing else, it most certainly will result in fewer infections here than if we allow them to enter.

Quarantines have long been an effective means of preventing the spread of deadly infectuous diseases. It seems intuitive that if you want to reduce the incidences of some diseases, then not bringing in people who carry and can transmit those diseases appears consistent with that goal.

[Dan]

No AIDS money will go to Africa; it'll go to Bristol Myers-Squibb and GlazoSmithKline.

Imagine that. We're giving them money for AIDS treatment, and you meant to tell me that -- GASP! -- the money will wind up in the hands of people who provide AIDS treatments???

How can this monstrous injustice be allowed to stand? Every moral man knows that the proper approach is to rob the medical firms of their property at gunpoint and give it to Africans for free, so that the money can go to its traditional destination -- dictators' numbered Swiss bank accounts.

[Del]

I agree with Jonathan Rauch's call to lift the Aids imigration ban. It accomplishes nothing in preventing the spread of Aids here. My blood begins to simmer however at the thought of throwing $15 billion dollars in taxpayer money at Africa for Aids treatment and prevention. In likelyhood this will end up being $115 billion dollars in 15 years and several African dictators will have their pockets lined and Africans will still have Aids. Any thoughts on a humanitarian, privately financed solution?

[Will Spencer]

I would very willingly accept the minimal increase in AIDS-infected visitors to the country, if we could have $15B of our tax dollars back.

Medical care in Africa is NOT the responsibility of the U.S. taxpayer.

[DFH]

I vote that only cute young heterosexual girls be allowed to emigrate to America!

If we are willing to spend $15 billion to make the Africans like America, what are we willing to spend to convince Sabine H?rold to emigrate to America?

[Del]

"How you can say that, is beyond me. If nothing else, it most certainly will result in fewer infections here than if we allow them to enter."

I can say, "It accomplishes nothing in preventing the spread of Aids here" because we're not talking about something you catch from simply breathing on somebody. Aids is actually quite hard to get and impossible to get just walking down the street or having ordinary non-sexual contact with someone every day.