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Epistemology Trumps Epidemiology
When the lock down was first forced upon Americans, public officials told us that they were following the science. While it is completely proper to follow the science, we must select the proper science to follow. In responding to the pandemic, government officials followed the wrong science. In responding to the pandemic, the government should…
“Public Health” vs. Individuals
Since March 2020, we have been subjected to an endless series of mandates and prohibitions. Businesses were ordered to close. We weren’t allowed to have large gatherings, even in our own homes. Some states—such as Texas and Florida—have prohibited private businesses from requiring their employees to be vaccinated. Biden has proposed a law to require…
The Opportunity in Our Present Crisis
Property rights suffered unprecedented attacks in 2020. These attacks came from a variety of sources and took many different forms. Virtually nobody was spared from the destructive consequences. The assault was started by local and state governments when they restricted our freedom to produce and trade. Businesses were forced to close, and many will never…
Wearing a Mask can be Selfish
Philosopher Ben Bayer rejects the common notion that refusing to wear a mask is inherently selfish. In fact, he argues, wearing a mask is often the selfish thing to do. The problem, he says, arises from a widely held misconception about the meaning of selfishness. But if selfishness also means the dedicated pursuit of one’s…
The Primacy of Production
The values that human life requires are not simply laying around for us to pick up. They must be produced. Food must be grown, harvested, processed, and shipped to our grocer. Shelter must be built, and that requires countless industries and tradesmen. We can’t survive without consuming values, and we can’t consume values that haven’t…