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Cheap air travel facilitated the global spread of the virus, they're not exactly innocent bystanders.

oh_sigh 7y ago
Cheap car travel facilitated the global spread of the virus. They're not exactly innocent bystanders. Globalization facilitated the global spread of the virus, anyone with an international supply chain is not exactly innocent bystanders. Social activity facilitated the global spread of the virus. Meetup.com is not exactly an innocent bystander. etc...
- Klinky 7y ago
  All true statements. The same criticisms can be applied to any businesses within these industries initially looking to be given billions in monetary grants without equity in return.
- the8472 7y ago
  Not sure what you're trying to say here. The point is that airlines were directly profiting by staying operational while the virus was already spreading. Had they been more proactive in curbing international travel then they would also have been able to resume business sooner. Cars are not commercial entities that profit from spreading the virus. Rideshare and taxi services would be a different story, but even then they do so in a much more localized manner. Similarly if meetup didn't shut down its services soon enough the yes it did facilitate the spread for profit. Economic globalization (movement of goods) on the other hand can work without moving people around as much.
thewebcount 7y ago
Small, dense living quarters facilitated it too!
- bilbo0s 7y ago
  Living quarters facilitate local spread. Trains and cars facilitate national spread. Planes and ships facilitate global spread. Each of these has adjutant consequences of increasing severity. With planes and ships imparting the most severe consequences. Difference between planes and ships being that ships have medical staff, and you can quarantine them in port if necessary. Which we did mostly. (Of course, we probably should have done the same with airliners but hindsight is always 20/20).
bilbo0s 7y ago
This is the point everyone is missing. These guys literally make their money facilitating the global spread of the virus. They want to externalize all of the negative impacts of their business model. OK. Fine. But now we get a cut. You don't just externalize all the costs for dealing with the virus off onto us and then also have us pay to ensure your profits don't take a dip to boot. That would be the most insane deal American taxpayers could ever make. Of course we should get a fair cut of the airlines dependent on the size and structure of the bailout. Anyone saying otherwise has just not thought the whole thing through.

Cheap car travel facilitated the global spread of the virus. They're not exactly innocent bystanders. Globalization facilitated the global spread of the virus, anyone with an international supply chain is not exactly innocent bystanders. Social activity facilitated the global spread of the virus. Meetup.com is not exactly an innocent bystander. etc...

Klinky 7y ago
All true statements. The same criticisms can be applied to any businesses within these industries initially looking to be given billions in monetary grants without equity in return.
the8472 7y ago
Not sure what you're trying to say here. The point is that airlines were directly profiting by staying operational while the virus was already spreading. Had they been more proactive in curbing international travel then they would also have been able to resume business sooner. Cars are not commercial entities that profit from spreading the virus. Rideshare and taxi services would be a different story, but even then they do so in a much more localized manner. Similarly if meetup didn't shut down its services soon enough the yes it did facilitate the spread for profit. Economic globalization (movement of goods) on the other hand can work without moving people around as much.

thewebcount 7y ago

Small, dense living quarters facilitated it too!

bilbo0s 7y ago
Living quarters facilitate local spread. Trains and cars facilitate national spread. Planes and ships facilitate global spread. Each of these has adjutant consequences of increasing severity. With planes and ships imparting the most severe consequences. Difference between planes and ships being that ships have medical staff, and you can quarantine them in port if necessary. Which we did mostly. (Of course, we probably should have done the same with airliners but hindsight is always 20/20).

bilbo0s 7y ago

This is the point everyone is missing. These guys literally make their money facilitating the global spread of the virus. They want to externalize all of the negative impacts of their business model. OK. Fine. But now we get a cut. You don't just externalize all the costs for dealing with the virus off onto us and then also have us pay to ensure your profits don't take a dip to boot. That would be the most insane deal American taxpayers could ever make. Of course we should get a fair cut of the airlines dependent on the size and structure of the bailout. Anyone saying otherwise has just not thought the whole thing through.