For the past ten months, the American economy has been slowly decimated by government edicts and lock downs. Countless businesses have been forced to close, and many will never reopen. Millions were thrown out of work and are unable meet their financial obligations, such as rent, a mortgage, or medical expenses. Despite this economic carnage,…
The Texas Constitution was written to protect individual rights—the freedom of individuals to live as they choose, so long as they respect the freedom of others to do the same. This was accomplished by limiting the powers of government and explicitly affirming that individuals have the right to assemble, the right to worship, and the…
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…
With new COVID cases in Texas routinely surpassing 10,000 per day, it is crucial that we re-evaluate how the pandemic is being handled. When lock downs were first imposed in March, less than 1,000 new cases were being confirmed each day. We were told that the lock downs were necessary to “flatten the curve.” But…
The lock down imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a fundamental truth: Without the freedom to produce and trade, we cannot live happy, flourishing lives. Millions have lost their jobs and been forced to consume their savings or depend on government payments, not because of irresponsibility, but because government has prohibited them…
When the lock downs were first enacted, we were told that it was a necessary step to “flatten the curve.” If everyone stayed home, spread of the coronavirus would slow. Eight months later new cases are now hitting 200,000 a day (versus less than 30,000 a day when the lock downs started). Clearly, the lock…
Defenders of lock downs often claim that individuals won’t do the “right” thing without such coercive measures. They believe that if individuals aren’t forced to stay home, many—if not most—will engage in irrational and irresponsible behavior. We must compel them to do the “right” thing. But when it comes to our individual lives, the right…
Many Americans wonder why some countries, such as China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea have dealt with the pandemic effectively while other nations are suffering massive deaths. This question was recently asked on Quora, and one response stated: It’s not rocket science. There is no mystery here. China isn’t doing anything that any other sensible…
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 economic devastation from the lockdown continues to create more victims. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia estimates that by the end of the year, 1.34 million renter households will owe a combined $7.2 billion in back rent, or an average of $5,400 per household. Because of the moratorium on evictions imposed by the Centers…
At The Objective Standard, Aaron Briley addresses the anti-American ideas underlying Black Lives Matter. Many seem to regard BLM as a humanitarian organization that fights on behalf of the downtrodden—as a nonviolent movement dedicated to protecting the rights of vulnerable citizens. However, this is not true. Founders and leaders of the organization advocate an ideology…
On Tuesday, Ken Potrock, president of Disneyland Resorts, issued a statement criticizing the California government’s lockdown orders. And he didn’t “play nice” or grovel. We have proven that we can responsibly reopen, with science-based health and safety protocols strictly enforced at our theme park properties around the world. Nevertheless, the State of California continues to…