A lot of people are on the edge these days. It’s not only due to the economic problems, but also other issues that crop up on a regular basis. The swine flu, for example; we know that this kind of occurrence will definitely affect the travel industry. This is even truer when people in authority release statements.
This is what VP Joe Biden did last week when he appeared on NBC’s Today Show. What might have been a personal opinion (I didn’t see the interview so I don’t know if he actually encouraged the nation to do as he said) has ruffled a lot of feathers. CBS News reports:
Transportation officials around the country found themselves scrambling this week to reassure worried commuters in the wake of Biden’s controversial comments Thursday on NBC’s “Today Show” that he has told loved ones to avoid subways and planes. Appearing on the morning program, Biden said, “I would tell members of my family – and I have – that I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now.”
The airplane industry and the people responsible for running the country’s network of buses and trains were not, to say the least, amused by Biden’s impolitic advice.
Obviously, such a statement coming from the second in command of the country is bound to affect the sentiments of many people. As such, people in the transportation sector are quick to downplay his statement. From the airline industry to subway operators to bus operators – they all say the same thing: it is safe to travel within the US.