On March 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted his mandatory face mask order. Beginning March 10, Texans will be free to choose to wear a mask or not while in public. Some business owners were not happy with the governor’s announcement. Danette Wicker, the owner of a boutique shop in Fort Worth, said, As a…
When deciding on a course of action, we must consider all of the known and relevant facts. We mustn’t consider the issue in isolation. We must consider the full context. This is true for an individual and it is true for a society. Considering the full context includes looking beyond the immediate moment. It means…
On March 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted his mandatory face mask order and said that businesses could begin operating at full capacity. His announcement met with quick criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, including President Biden, who said, Texas—I think it’s a big mistake. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally…
On Thursday, a federal judge in Texas declared the eviction moratorium imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unconstitutional. “Although the Covid-19 pandemic persists, so does the Constitution,” the judge wrote in his ruling. The Department of Justice has announced that it will appeal. Diane Yentel, president and chief executive of the National…
Many Americans, including President Biden, believe that wearing a mask in public should be mandated by law. Violators should be subject to criminal prosecution. Wearing a mask, the argument goes, will protect the wearer, as well as those around him. If this is true, and there is substantial evidence supporting it, then why aren’t we…
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,…
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…
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…
Writing for Forbes, Dr. Paul Hsieh notes that both the National Basketball Association and Disney World have been able to re-open and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The key was rigorous testing, contact tracing, and isolation of the infected. The economic self-interest of both organizations motivated them to take precautions for employees, vendors, guests,…