Topic: Authoritarianism

The Times Wants You Consumed by Fear, Isolation, and Misery

– January 30, 2021

“We do not need to destroy society, lock people in their homes, tear down businesses, close schools, traumatize kids, drive people to alcoholism and drug abuse, divide society between the clean ruling class and the dirty working class, ban travel, close churches, abolish choirs, and whip up the population into a frenzied psychological meltdown in order to deal with a new strain of a respiratory virus. But tell that to the New York Times.” ~ Jeffrey Tucker

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Science

The Catastrophic Impact of Covid Forced Societal Lockdowns

– January 30, 2021

“Why would we impose more catastrophic restrictive policies when they have not worked? We even have government leaders now enacting harder and even more draconian lockdowns after admitting that the prior ones have failed. Lockdowns are not an acceptable long-term strategy and have severely impacted populations socially, economically, psychologically, and health wise.” ~ AIER Contributing Authors

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Government

The Lockdown to End All Lockdowns

– January 29, 2021

“Rationally ignorant voters tired of the status quo might flock to a party credibly committed to liberty and the Constitution. A party truly committed to limited government and voluntary association does not need a problematic, charismatic leader like Trump but instead could prevail merely on the incentive-aligned reality of its commitment to the Constitution and liberty.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Authoritarianism, Government, History, War and Peace

No More Wartime Presidents

– January 29, 2021

“Americans need a peacetime president, one who will promote public policies that respect individuals, their freely-made choices, and their property rights, allowing them to run their own lives in peace.” ~ David S. D’Amato

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Economic Education

No, Lockdowns Do Not Foster Creative Destruction

– January 29, 2021

“When recovery from the effects of lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, and other draconian measures finally comes, it will be in spite of, not with the help of––and certainly not because of––county, state, and Federal government measures.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Regulation

Judge Temporarily Blocks Cuomo’s Indoor Dining Ban in Ongoing Lawsuit

– January 28, 2021

“The judge recognized that the dining restrictions have caused irreparable harm and that halting the restrictions until the trial was over would be appropriate. For that reason and the belief that the petitioners had a strong potential to succeed based on the rational basis test, he granted a preliminary injunction against the dining ban.” ~ Ethan Yang

Authoritarianism, Free Trade, Policy

A Nuanced Approach to China Part One

– January 27, 2021

“Diplomacy, economic engagement, and the reserved use of military force are the core principles that define disciplined interstate relations. Throwing them out in favor of romanticized visions of conflict and glory would be playing checkers while China is playing chess.” ~ Ethan Yang

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Science

Two Years to Stop the Spread: Some Countries will Close Borders until at least 2022

– January 27, 2021

“Still, many American ‘public health experts’ have urged legislators to adopt the Australia and New Zealand rights-restricting model for ‘stopping the spread.’ Dr. Anthony Fauci, the long time government health bureaucrat, has applauded Australia and New Zealand, claiming they have ‘done quite well’ in their draconian policy response to COVID-19.” ~ Jordan Schachtel

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Science

What Is the Alternative to Lockdowns? A Symposium

– January 26, 2021

Preserving the normal functioning society must be the priority in order to maximize the health of the community, and not by focusing on just one pathogen but all aspects of public health.

Authoritarianism, Classical Liberalism, Crisis

Carlsbad, CA Says No More to Lockdowns. May It Be a National Model!

– January 22, 2021

“Those who are sickeningly intoxicated with power can’t incarcerate us all. As for the businesses terrorized by the political class in Carlsbad, they decided they no longer have any choice. Given the choice between going out of business and defying politicians, they chose the latter. Good for them.” ~ John Tamny

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Government

Zoom Privilege: How Lockdowns Made the Rich Richer

– January 22, 2021

“While the Zoom and Netflix ‘work-from-home until the scary virus disappears’ crowd continues to demand further restrictions in the name of ‘stopping the spread,’ over 9 in 10 Americans continue to suffer under the weight of a destructive COVID-19 safety regime.” ~ Jordan Schachtel

Authoritarianism, Classical Liberalism, Government

A Soviet Dissident Explains American Censorship

– January 20, 2021

“Self-censorship manifests when reasonable minds no longer express their differences. As authoritarian roots sink deeper into American society, the consequences are dire. As Grossman warns, ‘Then life itself must suffocate.'” ~ Barry Brownstein