Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, government officials have repeatedly told us that their primary objective is to save lives. And to accomplish that goal, they have forced businesses to close or operate under less than ideal conditions. Not surprisingly, many workers–more than twenty million–have lost their job, their livelihood. The government’s efforts to save lives has…
According to the Declaration of Independence, all individuals are endowed with certain unalienable rights, namely the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, according to the Federal Death Agency (FDA), you need its permission to live. Consider: you are suffering from a terminal disease and all treatments have failed. Your doctor mentions…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken exception to an order by Gunnison County, Colorado that bans non-residents from the county. In a letter emailed to a county official, Paxton stated that the order deprives nonresidents of important rights. It discriminates against nonresident homeowners by entirely prohibiting their ingress to the county and enjoyment of…
In March, the government began forcing businesses to close in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Not surprisingly, unemployment has soared, and many businesses are threatened with extinction. Equally unsurprising is government’s response–throw money at the victims it created. Government will soon be sending individuals money and providing loans and other financial…
The proper purpose of government is the protection of individual rights, including property rights. The proper purpose of government is to protect the freedom of individuals to act on their own judgment, so long as they respect the freedom of others to do the same. Government’s purpose does not change in a pandemic. The role…
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…
On March 25, the Austin Police Department (APD) issued a statement that declared that Austin’s “Stay Home, Work Smart” order “is NOT a mandatory lock down.” By implication, that which is not mandatory is voluntary. Indeed, the statement goes on to say that APD’s goal is to gain voluntary compliance. However, APD then declares, “if…
According to Gallup, America’s trust in the federal government has steadily declined over the past fifty years. In May 1972, 70 percent of Americans had a “great deal” or a “fair amount” of trust that the federal government could successfully deal with domestic problems. In September 2019, that number had dropped to 50 percent. Yet,…
To stop the spread of the coronavirus, governments across the nation have closed businesses and ordered citizens to stay at home except for “essential” business or activities. Gatherings of more than ten people or being within six feet of another person in public is now illegal in many jurisdictions. Freedom of trade, freedom of movement,…
This morning, Harris County Judge Lina Hildago ordered all residents of the county to stay at home unless they have her permission to leave. Of course, Hildago didn’t have the intellectual honesty to put it that way. Instead, she justified her dictatorial mandate by claiming that it will save lives while ignoring the number of…
In the mass paranoia over COVID-19, supplies of surgical masks are being depleted as non-surgeons seek the false comfort of covering their mouth and nose. Of course, individuals should be free to engage in useless activities, but their use of surgical masks poses a potential threat to health care professionals. Some health care professionals are…