lewrockwell--2020-10-10--What Will It Take for Masks and Face Shields To End?

According to rotavirus vaccine developer Dr. Paul Offit,1 people will need to continue wearing masks and social distancing for “ the next couple of years ” even after a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available .
“ People now see vaccines as a magic dust that ’ s about to be sprinkled over this country and make this all go away .
It doesn ’ t work that way , ” Offit told MarketWatch , September 21 , 2020.2 Offit , who sits on the Food and Drug Administration ’ s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee , said he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be rushed to market under pressure from the government .
The U.S. Health and Human Services ’ Operation Warp Speed has pledged to deliver 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 2021,3 if not sooner.4 However , developing a safe and effective vaccine normally takes years and begins with animal studies .
Zinc 50mg Supplement , ... Buy New $ 11.00 ( $ 0.09 / Count ) The COVID-19 vaccines are all being rushed straight into human clinical tests , forgoing lengthy animal trials altogether .
Vaccine makers are also being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the experimental vaccines.5 Early warning signs that something might be amiss have already started emerging .
As detailed in “ Gates Tries to Justify Side Effects of Fast-Tracked Vaccine , ” results6 from Moderna ’ s Phase 1 human trial revealed 100 % of volunteers in the high-dose group suffered systemic side effects .
Side effects included fatigue , chills , headache and myalgia ( muscle pain ) ; 21 % suffered “ one or more severe events.
” A May 26 , 2020 , article7 in STAT news told the harrowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29-year-old participant in Moderna ’ s vaccine trial who suffered severe side effects requiring hospitalization .
While Haydon recovered from the side effects , which included a raging fever , fainting , nausea , muscle pain and generally feeling “ as sick as he ’ d ever felt , ” just imagine what such side effects might do to an elderly person , an infant , young child or someone who is metabolically compromised or has an underlying condition such as a heart problem .
For them , the reactions could be far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July 2020 , it was reported8 that Moderna ’ s 100-mcg dose vaccine — despite its 100 % side effect ratio after the second dose — would proceed to Phase 3 trial assessment .
Like the Moderna vaccine , the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine also appears to come with a shockingly high rate of side effects .
Results9 from one of its Phase 1/2 studies published August 15 , 2020 , revealed a clear majority of participants experienced side effects , including fatigue , headache , muscle ache , malaise , chills and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , AstraZeneca paused its Phase 3 vaccine trial due to a “ suspected serious and unexpected adverse reaction ” in a British participant.10,11 The company did not divulge the nature of the adverse reaction .
Elderberry Gummies - I ... Buy New $ 16.95 ( $ 0.28 / Count ) However , The New York Times reported12 that “ a person familiar with the situation , and who spoke on the condition of anonymity ” said the individual ” had been found to have transverse myelitis , an inflammatory syndrome that affects the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral infections.
” September 12 , 2020 , the British Medicines Health Regulatory Authority gave AstraZeneca the go-ahead to resume its Phase 3 trial in the U.K. , after an independent review found it “ safe to do so.
” 13,14 And here is yet another major surprise that hardly anyone knows .
Offit warns there could be problems with Moderna ’ s and BioNTech ’ s messenger RNA ( mRNA ) vaccines because they have extraordinary shipping and handling needs that include using dry ice .
“ We ’ ve never done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told MarketWatch.15 “ Never.
” A viral video ( above ) posted September 23 , 2020 , features the violent arrest of an Ohio mom at a local football game , ostensibly for not wearing her mask in the stands.16 The video shows a police officer tasing Alecia Kitts at the two-minute mark .
Also clearly on the video is footage showing that the officer who tased Kitts had his own mask off , under his chin , from the time he tased her until he was walking her away in handcuffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on when someone in the stands yelled out , asking him where his mask was .
Elderberry Capsules [ D ... Buy New $ 12.99 ( $ 0.14 / Count ) According to The Ohio Star,17 Tiffany Kennedy , a friend of Kitts who shot the video , said Kitts has asthma and had taken the mask off .
Kitts ’ mask is visible in her right back shorts pocket in the video .
Ohio coronavirus rules issued by Governor Mike DeWine require people to wear masks at outdoor events when 6-foot social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask in Ohio is considered a misdemeanor .
Penalties for failure to comply can include up to 30 days in jail and a $ 750 fine .
While DeWine said his intent isn ’ t to arrest people for noncompliance , he failed to veto a bill that would have reduced fines and banned jail time for noncompliance .
The fundamental problem with assaulting18 and arresting people for not complying with mask rules is that there ’ s no evidence to support the idea that masks prevent the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us masks can not block viruses .
SARS-CoV-2 has a diameter between 0.06 and 0.14 microns.19 Medical N95 masks — which are considered the most effective — can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns.20 Surgical masks , homemade masks , T-shirts and bandanas are even more porous .
At best , a mask may reduce the transmission of large respiratory droplets , but it does nothing to prevent the transmission of aerosolized particulates exhaled by asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals with COVID-19.21 Health agencies ’ own research show it ’ s a futile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of security .
1MD ImmunityMD Plus Re ... Buy New $ 39.99 ( $ 0.67 / Count ) For example , the World Health Organization ’ s June 5 , 2020 , guidance memo22 on face mask use states “ there is no direct evidence ( from studies on COVID- 19 and in healthy people in the community ) on the effectiveness of universal masking of healthy people in the community to prevent infection with respiratory viruses , including COVID-19.
” Similarly , a May 2020 policy review paper23 published in the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journal , Emerging Infectious Diseases , concluded that “ Our systematic review found no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.
” This is highly relevant , as the influenza virus is about twice the size of SARS-CoV-2 .
If masks can not prevent transmission of influenza , they certainly can not prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 .
Certain masks are more useless than others , with valved masks being among the worst , followed by homemade cloth masks .
This includes both commercial cloth masks and N95-rated masks with one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this is because masks with breathing valves do not filter the outbreath .
To be clear , while an N95-rated mask with exhale port will not protect others , it may , however , still offer some protection for the wearer .
If you ’ re wearing a mask , N95-rated masks are the most effective choice .
The caveat is that it must be properly fitted and put on and removed as instructed .
Medical staff must go through fit tests24 for medical N95 masks , which makes them an impractical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immune Supp ... Buy New $ 24.99 ( $ 0.21 / Count ) Face shields , recommended25 by Dr. Anthony Fauci at the end of July 2020 , as an added layer to protect the mucous membranes of your eyes , are even more useless for the prevention of viral spread , especially if used alone in lieu of a mask ( which is generally not recommended26 ) .
Florida Atlantic University ’ s College of Engineering and Computer Science video above provides a qualitative visualization of how masks with valves and face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic University news desk:27 In related news , a Japanese simulation study found “ nearly 100 % of airborne droplets less than 5 micrometers in size escaped through the shields ” and “ about half of larger droplets measuring 50 micrometers found their way into the air , ” The Guardian reports.29,30 Interestingly , Friday September 18 , 2020 , the CDC posted updated COVID-19 guidance on its “ How COVID-19 Spreads ” page that , for the first time , mentioned aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 , saying “ this is thought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” 31 It also noted that aerosolized viruses can travel farther than 6 feet — which is logical seeing how aerosolized viruses can remain suspended in the air for hours — and that “ indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.
” 32 However , the CDC then deleted the mention of aerosols and the possibility of spread beyond 6 feet the following Monday , September 21 , saying a draft version of proposed changes had been posted “ in error.
” 33,34,35,36 The last sentence is a key one .
Understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended in air “ is important because cloth masks aren ’ t designed to protect the wearer from aerosols.
” Masks also , of course , can not protect others from aerosolized viruses exhaled by someone wearing a mask ( or face shield ) .
According to NBC News,38 that SARS-CoV-2 is airborne is “ already well-known , according to infectious disease experts , ” so it ’ s unclear why the CDC would not want that information on its website .
In fact , it ’ s been remarkably slow in acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its delayed acknowledgment and rapid removal of this information has something to do with the fact that , if SARS-CoV-2 spreads primarily via aerosols , then requiring people to wear masks is illogical , seeing how they can not filter out airborne viruses .
All a mask can do is limit the spread of contaminated respiratory droplets .
This has been the argument against mask wearing all along .
Dr. Jill Weatherhead , assistant professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston , told NBC News that the admission that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or jarring.
” 39 The World Health Organization updated its COVID-19 guidance back in July to include aerosolized ( i.e.
, airborne ) transmission , at the urging of more than 200 scientists.40 Joseph Allen , an associate professor in the department of environmental health at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , also told NBC News that “ The scientific community has been raising the alarm about this since February , that airborne spread can happen.
” 41 Dr. Ashish Jha , dean of the school of public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC ’ s deletion:42 Why Are They so Persistent With Mask Recommendations ?
Quantum Health Super L ... Buy New $ 13.99 ( $ 0.08 / Count ) Considering the strong scientific evidence against it , why are governments so persistent in their recommendation of mask wearing ?
Clearly , for many , wearing a bandana or cloth mask provides a form of psychological defense , a way to feel less fearful because it feels like you ’ re doing something to protect yourself and others .
But it ’ s a false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent you from exhaling or inhaling the aerosolized virus .
Cloth masks are clearly also the least preferable option if you want to reduce the spread of infection , as their ability to block larger respiratory droplets is also limited .
In particular , N95 masks with airflow valves on the front should be avoided , as the valve lets out unfiltered air , thus negating the small benefit — the reduction in respiratory droplet emissions — you might get from a mask.43 But with COVID-19 fatality rates44,45,46 as low as they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a false sense of security ?
According to a September 2 , 2020 , study47 in the Annals of Internal Medicine , the overall noninstitutionalized COVID-19 fatality ratio is 0.26 % .
For those younger than 40 , the infection fatality ratio is 0.01 % , while those aged 60 or older have a fatality ratio of 1.71 % .
The estimated infection fatality rate for seasonal influenza listed in this paper is 0.8 % .
So , the only people for whom SARS-CoV-2 infection is more dangerous than influenza is those over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing , social distancing , lockdowns and business shut-downs are clearly completely unnecessary at this point , unless your goal is to increase fear , tyranny and transfer of wealth to the upper 0.001 % who can benefit from collapsing the economy .
The virus is in the air all around us , so you can not avoid exposure even with a mask or face shield .
Remember back in March 2020 when they said we just need to slow down the rate of infection to avoid overcrowding hospitals ?
How did we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear masks everywhere until every trace of the virus has been eliminated , even though a vast majority remain asymptomatic and don ’ t even know they have the virus unless they get tested ?
Overall , it seems mask requirements are being used as a psychological manipulation tool to encourage compliance with vaccination once a vaccine becomes available .
It can also be viewed as a badge of submission to tyranny .
I predict it is likely that , at some point in the future , a tradeoff will be offered : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets vaccinated .
By then , many may be willing to take just about anything as long as they don ’ t have to wear a mask anymore — although some , like Offit , warn that masks may remain a requirement for years to come , even with a vaccine .
Immune Support Supplem ... Buy New $ 19.95 ( $ 0.33 / Count ) I would encourage you to read up on the many open questions relating to fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccines before making your decision .
Overall , it seems the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a devious trade is to engage in civil disobedience now , and go unmasked .
If civil disobedience feels disconcerting , keep in mind that in many areas , mask rules include the following exception : “ You must wear a mask unless you can maintain a 6-foot distance.
” In other words , if you ’ re without a mask and maintain 6-foot social distancing , you ’ re still in compliance with the rules as written .
The Best of Joseph Mercola

According to rotavirus vaccine developer Dr. Paul Offit,1 people will need to continue wearing masks and social distancing for “the next couple of years” even after a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.
“People now see vaccines as a magic dust that’s about to be sprinkled over this country and make this all go away. It doesn’t work that way,” Offit told MarketWatch, September 21, 2020.2
Offit, who sits on the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, said he’s wary of a COVID-19 vaccine that may be rushed to market under pressure from the government.
The U.S. Health and Human Services’ Operation Warp Speed has pledged to deliver 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 2021,3 if not sooner.4 However, developing a safe and effective vaccine normally takes years and begins with animal studies.
Zinc 50mg Supplement, ... Buy New $11.00 ($0.09 / Count) (as of 05:05 UTC - Details) The COVID-19 vaccines are all being rushed straight into human clinical tests, forgoing lengthy animal trials altogether. Vaccine makers are also being shielded against liability if people are harmed by the experimental vaccines.5
Early Warning Signs of Vaccine Dangers
Early warning signs that something might be amiss have already started emerging. As detailed in “Gates Tries to Justify Side Effects of Fast-Tracked Vaccine,” results6 from Moderna’s Phase 1 human trial revealed 100% of volunteers in the high-dose group suffered systemic side effects. Side effects included fatigue, chills, headache and myalgia (muscle pain); 21% suffered “one or more severe events.”
A May 26, 2020, article7 in STAT news told the harrowing story of Ian Haydon, a healthy 29-year-old participant in Moderna’s vaccine trial who suffered severe side effects requiring hospitalization.
While Haydon recovered from the side effects, which included a raging fever, fainting, nausea, muscle pain and generally feeling “as sick as he’d ever felt,” just imagine what such side effects might do to an elderly person, an infant, young child or someone who is metabolically compromised or has an underlying condition such as a heart problem. For them, the reactions could be far worse and possibly fatal.
Disturbingly, in July 2020, it was reported8 that Moderna’s 100-mcg dose vaccine — despite its 100% side effect ratio after the second dose — would proceed to Phase 3 trial assessment.
Like the Moderna vaccine, the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine also appears to come with a shockingly high rate of side effects. Results9 from one of its Phase 1/2 studies published August 15, 2020, revealed a clear majority of participants experienced side effects, including fatigue, headache, muscle ache, malaise, chills and feeling feverish.
September 6, 2020, AstraZeneca paused its Phase 3 vaccine trial due to a “suspected serious and unexpected adverse reaction” in a British participant.10,11 The company did not divulge the nature of the adverse reaction.
Elderberry Gummies - I... Buy New $16.95 ($0.28 / Count) (as of 05:05 UTC - Details) However, The New York Times reported12 that “a person familiar with the situation, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity” said the individual” had been found to have transverse myelitis, an inflammatory syndrome that affects the spinal cord and is often sparked by viral infections.”
September 12, 2020, the British Medicines Health Regulatory Authority gave AstraZeneca the go-ahead to resume its Phase 3 trial in the U.K., after an independent review found it “safe to do so.”13,14
And here is yet another major surprise that hardly anyone knows. Offit warns there could be problems with Moderna’s and BioNTech’s messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines because they have extraordinary shipping and handling needs that include using dry ice. “We’ve never done that before in this country,” he told MarketWatch.15 “Never.”
Why Enforce Ineffective Mask Rules?
A viral video (above) posted September 23, 2020, features the violent arrest of an Ohio mom at a local football game, ostensibly for not wearing her mask in the stands.16 The video shows a police officer tasing Alecia Kitts at the two-minute mark.
Also clearly on the video is footage showing that the officer who tased Kitts had his own mask off, under his chin, from the time he tased her until he was walking her away in handcuffs. He only put the mask back on when someone in the stands yelled out, asking him where his mask was. Elderberry Capsules [D... Buy New $12.99 ($0.14 / Count) (as of 05:05 UTC - Details)
According to The Ohio Star,17 Tiffany Kennedy, a friend of Kitts who shot the video, said Kitts has asthma and had taken the mask off. Kitts’ mask is visible in her right back shorts pocket in the video. Ohio coronavirus rules issued by Governor Mike DeWine require people to wear masks at outdoor events when 6-foot social distancing is not possible.
Not wearing a mask in Ohio is considered a misdemeanor. Penalties for failure to comply can include up to 30 days in jail and a $750 fine. While DeWine said his intent isn’t to arrest people for noncompliance, he failed to veto a bill that would have reduced fines and banned jail time for noncompliance.
The fundamental problem with assaulting18 and arresting people for not complying with mask rules is that there’s no evidence to support the idea that masks prevent the spread of the virus. In fact, the science tells us masks cannot block viruses.
SARS-CoV-2 has a diameter between 0.06 and 0.14 microns.19 Medical N95 masks — which are considered the most effective — can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns.20 Surgical masks, homemade masks, T-shirts and bandanas are even more porous.
At best, a mask may reduce the transmission of large respiratory droplets, but it does nothing to prevent the transmission of aerosolized particulates exhaled by asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals with COVID-19.21 Health agencies’ own research show it’s a futile measure that only provides a false sense of security. 1MD ImmunityMD Plus Re... Buy New $39.99 ($0.67 / Count) (as of 05:05 UTC - Details)
For example, the World Health Organization’s June 5, 2020, guidance memo22 on face mask use states “there is no direct evidence (from studies on COVID- 19 and in healthy people in the community) on the effectiveness of universal masking of healthy people in the community to prevent infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.”
Similarly, a May 2020 policy review paper23 published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, concluded that “Our systematic review found no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”
This is highly relevant, as the influenza virus is about twice the size of SARS-CoV-2. If masks cannot prevent transmission of influenza, they certainly cannot prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Valved Masks and Face Shields Are Useless
Certain masks are more useless than others, with valved masks being among the worst, followed by homemade cloth masks. This includes both commercial cloth masks and N95-rated masks with one or two exhale ports. The reason for this is because masks with breathing valves do not filter the outbreath.
To be clear, while an N95-rated mask with exhale port will not protect others, it may, however, still offer some protection for the wearer. If you’re wearing a mask, N95-rated masks are the most effective choice. The caveat is that it must be properly fitted and put on and removed as instructed. Medical staff must go through fit tests24 for medical N95 masks, which makes them an impractical choice for the general public. Immunity-C Immune Supp... Buy New $24.99 ($0.21 / Count) (as of 05:05 UTC - Details)
Face shields, recommended25 by Dr. Anthony Fauci at the end of July 2020, as an added layer to protect the mucous membranes of your eyes, are even more useless for the prevention of viral spread, especially if used alone in lieu of a mask (which is generally not recommended26).
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science video above provides a qualitative visualization of how masks with valves and face shields perform. As reported by Florida Atlantic University news desk:27
“Widespread public use of these alternatives to regular masks could potentially have an adverse effect on mitigation efforts. For the study,28 just published in the journal Physics of Fluids, researchers employed flow visualization in a laboratory setting using a laser light sheet and a mixture of distilled water and glycerin to generate the synthetic fog that made up the content of a cough-jet.
They visualized droplets expelled from a mannequin’s mouth while simulating coughing and sneezing. By placing a plastic face shield and an N95-rated face mask with a valve, they were able to map out the paths of droplets and demonstrate how they performed.
Results of the study show that although face shields block the initial forward motion of the jet, the expelled droplets move around the visor with relative ease and spread out over a large area depending on light ambient disturbances.
Visualizations for the face mask equipped with an exhalation port indicate that a large number of droplets pass through the exhale valve unfiltered, which significantly reduces its effectiveness as a means of source control.”
In related news, a Japanese simulation study found “nearly 100% of airborne droplets less than 5 micrometers in size escaped through the shields” and “about half of larger droplets measuring 50 micrometers found their way into the air,” The Guardian reports.29,30
Why Did CDC Delete Aerosol Transmission Notice?
Interestingly, Friday September 18, 2020, the CDC posted updated COVID-19 guidance on its “How COVID-19 Spreads” page that, for the first time, mentioned aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, saying “this is thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”31
It also noted that aerosolized viruses can travel farther than 6 feet — which is logical seeing how aerosolized viruses can remain suspended in the air for hours — and that “indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.”32 However, the CDC then deleted the mention of aerosols and the possibility of spread beyond 6 feet the following Monday, September 21, saying a draft version of proposed changes had been posted “in error.”33,34,35,36
As reported by Forbes:37
“Before Friday’s update, the CDC said large respiratory droplets (like from coughing or sneezing) at close range transmitted the virus, but now the now-deleted guidance added that ‘small particles, such as those in aerosols’ could infect people.
‘There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet,’ the now-removed guidance stated … Scientists say the new CDC guidance is important because cloth masks aren’t designed to protect the wearer from aerosols.”
The last sentence is a key one. Understanding that SARS-CoV-2 is aerosolized and can remain suspended in air “is important because cloth masks aren’t designed to protect the wearer from aerosols.” Masks also, of course, cannot protect others from aerosolized viruses exhaled by someone wearing a mask (or face shield).
SARS-CoV-2 Is Airborne, Which Makes Masks Ineffective
According to NBC News,38 that SARS-CoV-2 is airborne is “already well-known, according to infectious disease experts,” so it’s unclear why the CDC would not want that information on its website. In fact, it’s been remarkably slow in acknowledging it.
One has to wonder whether its delayed acknowledgment and rapid removal of this information has something to do with the fact that, if SARS-CoV-2 spreads primarily via aerosols, then requiring people to wear masks is illogical, seeing how they cannot filter out airborne viruses. All a mask can do is limit the spread of contaminated respiratory droplets. This has been the argument against mask wearing all along.
Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told NBC News that the admission that SARS-CoV-2 is aerosolized was “not surprising or jarring.”39 The World Health Organization updated its COVID-19 guidance back in July to include aerosolized (i.e., airborne) transmission, at the urging of more than 200 scientists.40
Joseph Allen, an associate professor in the department of environmental health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, also told NBC News that “The scientific community has been raising the alarm about this since February, that airborne spread can happen.”41 Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the school of public health at Brown University, commented on the CDC’s deletion:42
“This is so destructive to this incredibly wonderful agency that we have loved and admired our entire careers. This is amateur hour.”
Why Are They so Persistent With Mask Recommendations?
Quantum Health Super L... Buy New $13.99 ($0.08 / Count) (as of 04:15 UTC - Details) Considering the strong scientific evidence against it, why are governments so persistent in their recommendation of mask wearing? Clearly, for many, wearing a bandana or cloth mask provides a form of psychological defense, a way to feel less fearful because it feels like you’re doing something to protect yourself and others. But it’s a false sense of security.
Masks will not prevent you from exhaling or inhaling the aerosolized virus. Cloth masks are clearly also the least preferable option if you want to reduce the spread of infection, as their ability to block larger respiratory droplets is also limited.
In particular, N95 masks with airflow valves on the front should be avoided, as the valve lets out unfiltered air, thus negating the small benefit — the reduction in respiratory droplet emissions — you might get from a mask.43
But with COVID-19 fatality rates44,45,46 as low as they are, why would governments be pushing for a false sense of security? According to a September 2, 2020, study47 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the overall noninstitutionalized COVID-19 fatality ratio is 0.26%. For those younger than 40, the infection fatality ratio is 0.01%, while those aged 60 or older have a fatality ratio of 1.71%.
The estimated infection fatality rate for seasonal influenza listed in this paper is 0.8%. So, the only people for whom SARS-CoV-2 infection is more dangerous than influenza is those over the age of 60.
Mandatory mask wearing, social distancing, lockdowns and business shut-downs are clearly completely unnecessary at this point, unless your goal is to increase fear, tyranny and transfer of wealth to the upper 0.001% who can benefit from collapsing the economy. The virus is in the air all around us, so you cannot avoid exposure even with a mask or face shield.
Remember back in March 2020 when they said we just need to slow down the rate of infection to avoid overcrowding hospitals? How did we go from that to now having to wear masks everywhere until every trace of the virus has been eliminated, even though a vast majority remain asymptomatic and don’t even know they have the virus unless they get tested?
Overall, it seems mask requirements are being used as a psychological manipulation tool to encourage compliance with vaccination once a vaccine becomes available. It can also be viewed as a badge of submission to tyranny. I predict it is likely that, at some point in the future, a tradeoff will be offered: Mask mandates will be dropped provided everyone gets vaccinated.
By then, many may be willing to take just about anything as long as they don’t have to wear a mask anymore — although some, like Offit, warn that masks may remain a requirement for years to come, even with a vaccine. Immune Support Supplem... Buy New $19.95 ($0.33 / Count) (as of 05:05 UTC - Details)
I would encourage you to read up on the many open questions relating to fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccines before making your decision. Overall, it seems the best way to avoid having to make such a devious trade is to engage in civil disobedience now, and go unmasked.
If civil disobedience feels disconcerting, keep in mind that in many areas, mask rules include the following exception: “You must wear a mask unless you can maintain a 6-foot distance.” In other words, if you’re without a mask and maintain 6-foot social distancing, you’re still in compliance with the rules as written.
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola


lewrockwell--2020-10-12--Will the Worm Turn With the Election in Three and a Half Weeks, or Will Totalitarianism Consume This

Will the Worm Turn With the Election in Three and a Half Weeks, or Will Totalitarianism Consume This Country?

“ Civilization begins with order , grows with liberty , and dies with chaos.
” “ The Story of Philosophy : The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers ” .
~ Book by Will Durant , 1926 .
When the coming election ballots are tallied , will total chaos be the result ?
Will criminal rioting , looting , assaults , and property destruction run rampant ?
Will mobs take over the cities in an attempt to cause havoc ?
Will the aftermath of this presidential circus be a time of terror and devastation ?
Will the country remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist idiocy purposely stoked by the ruling class ?
Regardless of the outcome , or lack thereof , it seems evident that an utterly chaotic period will arise , and in turn will dramatically alter the face of America .
This outcome seems to be a certainty should the incumbent Trump get re-elected , or if he refuses to leave office due to the absurdity of the current flawed voting system , much of which has been caused by the ludicrous response to a fraudulent virus pandemic .
Even if the democratic challenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass rioting will most likely still occur .
Also , with any long-term vote counting process , and risk of lengthy election investigations , felonious behavior by those being allowed by the state to pillage and plunder should be expected .
In other words , prepare for violent pandemonium .
The Story of Philosoph ... Durant , Will Best Price : $ 1.75 Buy New $ 7.84 With mass rioting and lawlessness in the streets , expect state intervention in the form of militarized police , military reserves , and possible active national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already claimed that the military is ready to deploy to distribute a Covid vaccine , which means they are already prepared to take to the streets .
If that happened , it would be a form of martial law that may be nationwide or restricted to the areas of most concern .
Either way , the precedents set in the process would be horrendous .
Initially , these thugs that have been terrorizing much of the country these past few months , may be allowed for a period of time to cause confusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people into asking for more government intervention and rule .
None should be surprised if that turns out to be the case .
In order for the state to gain a high degree of control over the herd , compliance by a large percentage of Americans is necessary , and fear of all the chaos , violence , and madness can be used to cause mass panic , thereby making it easier to corral the public .
The tool of fear will be used over and over again until the people acquiesce to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and voluntarily succumb to blind obedience .
The tethering of society is sought , and this can be accomplished by the use of fear , economic destruction , and then promises to protect and bail out all those that will become dependent on government for the necessities of life .
This coronavirus plot for population control and global economic reset has been long in the making , and is a very multi-faceted plan based on the ability to create and perpetuate constant fear , forcing the people to desire and seek safety at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the past seven months should convince all thinking individuals that this plot has been extremely successful for the controlling ‘ elite ’ class and their enforcers in government .
Most basic freedoms that have existed for centuries have been nearly eliminated in just a few months time .
Many have predicted this kind of takeover by the state , but few could have expected it to happen in the blink of an eye , and without resistance .
COVID : The Politics of ... Siegel , Marc Buy New $ 29.99 This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the turning point of this madness in my opinion .
It will be used as a springboard to launch any number of nefarious plots meant to capture the psyche of the average person by inundating them with fear and horror at every turn .
There will be riots , looting , burning , violence against innocents , new mandates of isolation , curfews , and vastly increased surveillance and enforcement .
The next wave of this fake virus will be said to have arrived , causing even more panic .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune systems have already been greatly compromised , creating more virus panic in what will most likely be a very deadly flu season will be an easier task to accomplish this fall and spring .
Continued economic destruction will occur , causing more business closures , more unemployment , more bankruptcy , and more poverty .
Travel will be further restricted , and all movement will become more difficult .
Hospitals once again will become emergency Covid centers instead of medical facilities , leaving the health care of much of the population lacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these other things happening at once will weigh heavy on this population , causing additional problems not considered at this time .
With these things all going on at the same time , the people will be ripe for a complete tyrannical takeover .
That is exactly what the state desires .
There has been more pushback against this onslaught of tyranny as of late by people around the world , and this is troubling to the powerful controllers that wish to squelch any and all resistance to their rule .
In order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gain back control , the state needs to create so much confusion and fear that people will clamor for their ‘ leadership ’ and protection .
That confusion and fear is coming soon , and will be deliberately levied against all of us .
Corona , False Alarm ?
: ... Bhakdi MD , Sucharit Buy New $ 13.46 As this chaos advances , and once the virus deaths can be claimed to be increasing , a vaccine will be made available .
That vaccine if broadly administered could be the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as what could be in those vaccines could not only be deadly , but could allow for the tracking and control of humanity through the use of nanotechnology hydrogels and bio-sensors that could alter human DNA .
In addition , nano-sensor implants injected via vaccines could modulate brain activity so that control from an outside source could be possible .
These things are already in the works .
What all this means is that this reign of terror that is being waged against humanity is only just beginning .
There will be no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no let up by these forces of evil in their efforts to use a fraudulent virus scare to advance their global reset agenda .
There will be multiple attacks against us by the state , and they will come from many angles .
The beginning of the end will be here in three and a half weeks with this bizarre election chicanery .
How will the people respond ?
Will they continue to hide from the truth , and accept tyranny , or will they say enough is enough , and refuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is but one choice if the people in this country want to salvage their freedom and their lives .
That choice is mass dissent and total resistance to this government and any authority it claims .
“ Power concedes nothing without a demand .
It never did and it never will.
” The Best of Gary D. Barnett

“Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos.”
“The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers”. ~ Book by Will Durant, 1926.
When the coming election ballots are tallied, will total chaos be the result? Will criminal rioting, looting, assaults, and property destruction run rampant? Will mobs take over the cities in an attempt to cause havoc? Will the aftermath of this presidential circus be a time of terror and devastation? Will the country remain split, divided by political and false racist idiocy purposely stoked by the ruling class? Regardless of the outcome, or lack thereof, it seems evident that an utterly chaotic period will arise, and in turn will dramatically alter the face of America.
This outcome seems to be a certainty should the incumbent Trump get re-elected, or if he refuses to leave office due to the absurdity of the current flawed voting system, much of which has been caused by the ludicrous response to a fraudulent virus pandemic. Even if the democratic challenger is claimed to be the victor, mass rioting will most likely still occur. Also, with any long-term vote counting process, and risk of lengthy election investigations, felonious behavior by those being allowed by the state to pillage and plunder should be expected. In other words, prepare for violent pandemonium. The Story of Philosoph... Durant, Will Best Price: $1.75 Buy New $7.84 (as of 04:26 UTC - Details)
With mass rioting and lawlessness in the streets, expect state intervention in the form of militarized police, military reserves, and possible active national military deployment. Remember that Trump has already claimed that the military is ready to deploy to distribute a Covid vaccine, which means they are already prepared to take to the streets. If that happened, it would be a form of martial law that may be nationwide or restricted to the areas of most concern. Either way, the precedents set in the process would be horrendous. Initially, these thugs that have been terrorizing much of the country these past few months, may be allowed for a period of time to cause confusion and devastation in order to steer the people into asking for more government intervention and rule. None should be surprised if that turns out to be the case. In order for the state to gain a high degree of control over the herd, compliance by a large percentage of Americans is necessary, and fear of all the chaos, violence, and madness can be used to cause mass panic, thereby making it easier to corral the public. The tool of fear will be used over and over again until the people acquiesce to all mandates issued by the state, and voluntarily succumb to blind obedience.
The tethering of society is sought, and this can be accomplished by the use of fear, economic destruction, and then promises to protect and bail out all those that will become dependent on government for the necessities of life. This coronavirus plot for population control and global economic reset has been long in the making, and is a very multi-faceted plan based on the ability to create and perpetuate constant fear, forcing the people to desire and seek safety at the expense of liberty. One look at the past seven months should convince all thinking individuals that this plot has been extremely successful for the controlling ‘elite’ class and their enforcers in government. Most basic freedoms that have existed for centuries have been nearly eliminated in just a few months time. Many have predicted this kind of takeover by the state, but few could have expected it to happen in the blink of an eye, and without resistance. COVID: The Politics of... Siegel, Marc Buy New $29.99 (as of 04:26 UTC - Details)
This election coming up in a few days will be the turning point of this madness in my opinion. It will be used as a springboard to launch any number of nefarious plots meant to capture the psyche of the average person by inundating them with fear and horror at every turn. There will be riots, looting, burning, violence against innocents, new mandates of isolation, curfews, and vastly increased surveillance and enforcement. The next wave of this fake virus will be said to have arrived, causing even more panic. Since most of the people’s natural immune systems have already been greatly compromised, creating more virus panic in what will most likely be a very deadly flu season will be an easier task to accomplish this fall and spring. Continued economic destruction will occur, causing more business closures, more unemployment, more bankruptcy, and more poverty. Travel will be further restricted, and all movement will become more difficult. Hospitals once again will become emergency Covid centers instead of medical facilities, leaving the health care of much of the population lacking. The election fallout, and all these other things happening at once will weigh heavy on this population, causing additional problems not considered at this time. With these things all going on at the same time, the people will be ripe for a complete tyrannical takeover. That is exactly what the state desires.
There has been more pushback against this onslaught of tyranny as of late by people around the world, and this is troubling to the powerful controllers that wish to squelch any and all resistance to their rule. In order to stop the spread of dissent, and gain back control, the state needs to create so much confusion and fear that people will clamor for their ‘leadership’ and protection. That confusion and fear is coming soon, and will be deliberately levied against all of us.
Corona, False Alarm?: ... Bhakdi MD, Sucharit Buy New $13.46 (as of 04:26 UTC - Details) As this chaos advances, and once the virus deaths can be claimed to be increasing, a vaccine will be made available. That vaccine if broadly administered could be the final nail in the coffin of freedom, as what could be in those vaccines could not only be deadly, but could allow for the tracking and control of humanity through the use of nanotechnology hydrogels and bio-sensors that could alter human DNA. In addition, nano-sensor implants injected via vaccines could modulate brain activity so that control from an outside source could be possible. These things are already in the works.
What all this means is that this reign of terror that is being waged against humanity is only just beginning. There will be no going back to normal. There will be no let up by these forces of evil in their efforts to use a fraudulent virus scare to advance their global reset agenda. There will be multiple attacks against us by the state, and they will come from many angles. The beginning of the end will be here in three and a half weeks with this bizarre election chicanery.
How will the people respond? Will they continue to hide from the truth, and accept tyranny, or will they say enough is enough, and refuse to comply with any government order? There is but one choice if the people in this country want to salvage their freedom and their lives. That choice is mass dissent and total resistance to this government and any authority it claims.
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
~ Frederick Douglass–Speech, Canandaigua, N.Y., 4 Aug. 1857
The Best of Gary D. Barnett


lewrockwell--2020-10-12--Masks Are a Political Agenda, Not a Protection Against Covid or Flu

This 39-minute interview with two experts is the best information available on the efficacy and dangers of masks .
As I have reported from the beginning , unless the mask is N95 it provides zero protection against inhalation and exhalation of viruses .
All masks raise C02 levels , reduce oxygen levels , and , if you are infected , increase the viral load that you are breathing .
If a N95 mask has an exhalation valve , the C02 and contaminant levels are lower , but if you are infected the mask does not protect others from your exhalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , N9 ... Buy New $ 59.00 A N95 provides a tight fit unlike the masks people are wearing .
Without an exhalation valve , a N95 would build up C02 and contaminant levels quicker and higher .
I find it impossible to wear a N95 mask for more than one hour .
According to OSHA standards , people are supposed to be individually tested before being assigned a mask as some are more damaged by masks than others .
These facts are well known by experts , so why are masks being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OSHA turned its back on its own scientifically based requirements ?
The answer is that masks are a political agenda and have been weaponized against the people .
The same for lockdowns .
Moreover , there is no basis in law for the mask and lockdown mandates .
These are arbitrary illegal actions .
In Michigan the state supreme court has overturned the tyrannical governor ’ s lockdown/mask mandates .
The American people have paid a high price for being uninformed or misinformed by presstitutes and the agendas being served by the Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts

This 39-minute interview with two experts is the best information available on the efficacy and dangers of masks. As I have reported from the beginning, unless the mask is N95 it provides zero protection against inhalation and exhalation of viruses.
All masks raise C02 levels, reduce oxygen levels, and, if you are infected, increase the viral load that you are breathing. If a N95 mask has an exhalation valve, the C02 and contaminant levels are lower, but if you are infected the mask does not protect others from your exhalation of the virus.
3M 8511 Respirator, N9... Buy New $59.00 (as of 04:26 UTC - Details) A N95 provides a tight fit unlike the masks people are wearing. Without an exhalation valve, a N95 would build up C02 and contaminant levels quicker and higher. I find it impossible to wear a N95 mask for more than one hour. According to OSHA standards, people are supposed to be individually tested before being assigned a mask as some are more damaged by masks than others.
These facts are well known by experts, so why are masks being imposed by political authorities and why has OSHA turned its back on its own scientifically based requirements?
The answer is that masks are a political agenda and have been weaponized against the people. The same for lockdowns.
Moreover, there is no basis in law for the mask and lockdown mandates. These are arbitrary illegal actions. In Michigan the state supreme court has overturned the tyrannical governor’s lockdown/mask mandates.
The American people have paid a high price for being uninformed or misinformed by presstitutes and the agendas being served by the Covid virus.
The Best of Paul Craig Roberts


lewrockwell--2020-10-12--What Would Biden’s Foreign Policy Look Like? Just Look at His Supporters

John Negroponte , the Darth Vader of U.S. foreign policy , and a bevy of Republican former intelligence and interventionists have their reasons for liking the former VP .
Many of us are counting down the days until we can throw President Donald Trump out of office , out of Washington , out of our lives , and out of the daily news cycle .
With the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg , there ’ s even more immediacy to replacing Trump .
But what would we get with a “ President ” Joe Biden ?
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Earlier this month , a group of Republican former senators and congressmen endorsed Biden for president , saying that he was better equipped that Trump to run the country .
At around the same time , a large group of intelligence and foreign policy professionals , most of whom had worked for Republican presidents , also endorsed the former vice president .
That sounds pretty impressive .
But let ’ s look at what it really means .
It means that they believe Biden will continue an interventionist , neoliberal , pro-war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Liebmann , George W. Best Price : $ 17.55 Buy New $ 22.82 Former Ambassador John Negroponte is one of those intelligence professionals who endorsed Biden .
Negroponte is the Darth Vader of American foreign policy of the past half-century .
Negroponte was ambassador to Honduras during the Iran-Contra affair , through which covert funds from the CIA made their way to the contra rebels ; ambassador to Mexico as the drug cartels consolidated their power against a corrupt government there ; ambassador to the United Nations as the U.S. sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrative of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction ; ambassador to Iraq during the U.S. occupation of that country ; and director of national intelligence during President George W. Bush ’ s torture program .
Nobody has ever accused Negroponte of being a progressive in any sense of the word .
He loves war and has proven happy to jump into it with both feet .
And he happily and publicly endorsed Biden .
Negroponte recently told the Daily Beast what was behind his endorsement .
The interview says as much about Biden as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outset , Negroponte said , “ All roads lead to Trump , and I ’ m just not sure the country can withstand another four years with a man who has shown such disregard for the office.
” I agree .
Just about every Democrat does .
Donald Trump is a bad guy .
But it ’ s not as simple as that .
Negroponte made a point in the interview of saying that he had disagreed with Biden on important ( unspecified ) issues over the years , but that Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a middle of the road kind of person , ” and “ a wise gentleman.
” He said , for example , that he supported warrantless wiretapping of American citizens after the 9/11 attacks .
The statement was incomplete , however .
Biden also supported warrantless wiretapping , voting for the Patriot Act while a senator in 2001 , voting repeatedly for its subsequent reauthorizations and then opposing weakening the measure while he was vice president in the Obama administration .
The Forever War Filkins , Dexter Best Price : $ 1.46 Buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Negroponte and a bevy of Republican former intelligence and foreign policy big-shots have moved to Biden .
The former VP opposes a troop drawdown in Europe , saying that such a move would embolden the Russians , for example .
He supports a more engaged military policy against China in the South China Sea .
He supports an extension of President Barack Obama ’ s policy of maintaining military bases in more than 100 countries , including Forward Operating Bases across Africa .
Literally the last thing I would do is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president has been a disaster in every sense of the word and in both foreign and domestic policy .
The country can ’ t take four more years of a Trump presidency .
But Biden is no panacea .
He ’ s a center-right placeholder .
Negroponte confirmed that .
If you think things will change in foreign policy under a President Biden , think again .
It ’ ll be the same old expansionist , militarist policy that we had under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama .
So go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

John Negroponte, the Darth Vader of U.S. foreign policy, and a bevy of Republican former intelligence and interventionists have their reasons for liking the former VP.
Many of us are counting down the days until we can throw President Donald Trump out of office, out of Washington, out of our lives, and out of the daily news cycle. With the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, there’s even more immediacy to replacing Trump. But what would we get with a “President” Joe Biden? What would a Biden foreign policy look like?
Earlier this month, a group of Republican former senators and congressmen endorsed Biden for president, saying that he was better equipped that Trump to run the country. At around the same time, a large group of intelligence and foreign policy professionals, most of whom had worked for Republican presidents, also endorsed the former vice president. That sounds pretty impressive. But let’s look at what it really means. It means that they believe Biden will continue an interventionist, neoliberal, pro-war foreign policy. The Last American Dipl... Liebmann, George W. Best Price: $17.55 Buy New $22.82 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)
John Negroponte
Former Ambassador John Negroponte is one of those intelligence professionals who endorsed Biden. Negroponte is the Darth Vader of American foreign policy of the past half-century.
Negroponte was ambassador to Honduras during the Iran-Contra affair, through which covert funds from the CIA made their way to the contra rebels; ambassador to Mexico as the drug cartels consolidated their power against a corrupt government there; ambassador to the United Nations as the U.S. sought to go to war with a knowingly false narrative of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction; ambassador to Iraq during the U.S. occupation of that country; and director of national intelligence during President George W. Bush’s torture program.
Nobody has ever accused Negroponte of being a progressive in any sense of the word. He loves war and has proven happy to jump into it with both feet. And he happily and publicly endorsed Biden.
Negroponte recently told the Daily Beast what was behind his endorsement. The interview says as much about Biden as it does about Negroponte. At the outset, Negroponte said, “All roads lead to Trump, and I’m just not sure the country can withstand another four years with a man who has shown such disregard for the office.” I agree. Just about every Democrat does. Donald Trump is a bad guy. But it’s not as simple as that.
Warrantless Wiretapping
Negroponte made a point in the interview of saying that he had disagreed with Biden on important (unspecified) issues over the years, but that Biden was “an experienced politician,” “a middle of the road kind of person,” and “a wise gentleman.” He said, for example, that he supported warrantless wiretapping of American citizens after the 9/11 attacks.
The statement was incomplete, however. Biden also supported warrantless wiretapping, voting for the Patriot Act while a senator in 2001, voting repeatedly for its subsequent reauthorizations and then opposing weakening the measure while he was vice president in the Obama administration. The Forever War Filkins, Dexter Best Price: $1.46 Buy New $9.00 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)
There are other reasons that Negroponte and a bevy of Republican former intelligence and foreign policy big-shots have moved to Biden.
The former VP opposes a troop drawdown in Europe, saying that such a move would embolden the Russians, for example. He supports a more engaged military policy against China in the South China Sea. He supports an extension of President Barack Obama’s policy of maintaining military bases in more than 100 countries, including Forward Operating Bases across Africa.
Literally the last thing I would do is to urge anybody to vote for Donald Trump. The president has been a disaster in every sense of the word and in both foreign and domestic policy. The country can’t take four more years of a Trump presidency. But Biden is no panacea. He’s a center-right placeholder. Negroponte confirmed that.
If you think things will change in foreign policy under a President Biden, think again. It’ll be the same old expansionist, militarist policy that we had under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. So go into the voting booth with your eyes open.
Reprinted with the author’s permission.


lewrockwell--2020-10-12--The Media Are Now Openly Pushing Secession as the Election Nears

It ’ s becoming increasingly clear to even mainstream media outlets that things are unlikely to return to “ normal ” after the 2020 election .
No matter who wins , it is likely the losing side will regard the winning side as having obtained its win using dirty tricks , foreign meddling , or through relentless propaganda offered up by a heavily biased and one-sided news media .
And if about half the country regards the winning president as illegitimate , where does one go from there ?
The survey data isn ’ t exactly calming on this issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the percentage of Americans who believe it is justified to use violence to “ advance political goals ” has quadrupled since 2017 , for both Republicans and Democrats .
Commie Cowboys : The Bo ... Ryan W. McMaken Best Price : $ 12.60 Buy New $ 5.99 After all , political invective has reached a fever pitch since Hillary Clinton declared that a sizable portion of the United States population constituted a “ basket of deplorables.
” Perhaps not since the 1870s and 1880s—when Catholics , Southerners , and Irish ( all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were denounced by Republicans as spies , traitors , and drunks—has half the country so despised the other half .
As early as 2017 , when asked of the chances of another civil war in the United States , about one-third of foreign policy scholars polled said it was likely .
Perhaps , then , it is not shocking that we are now seeing articles even in mainstream publications suggesting that maybe , just maybe , the United States can ’ t continue in its present form .
Moreover , the view is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideologues outside the usual conservative and libertarian groups that have long advocated in favor of decentralization and local control .
On September 18 , for example , Steve Chapman in the Chicago Tribune asked : “ Can the United States survive this election ?
” For the past century , the answer given by most any mainstream journalist would have been a decisive yes .
The usual narrative has long been this : “ Of course America will endure for centuries to come !
We Americans are masters of compromise .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this together and come together in unity !
” Moreover , Chapman notes that while many no doubt will continue to see the United States as strong and likely to endure indefinitely , such assumptions may be unwise given the reality of experience elsewhere : Chapman is not alone .
Break It Up : Secession ... Kreitner , Richard Best Price : $ 20.11 Buy New $ 18.72 Last month in the Philadelphia Inquirer Chuck Bonfig suspected that maybe the end is near : The country has gone through many periods of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , recessions , desegregation , inflation , gas crisis , Watergate , hanging chads , the AIDS crisis , 9/11 .
Maybe it ’ s the 24-hour news cycle or the immediacy of social media that makes the landscape seem so bleak , but I don ’ t recall us ever being so divided .
No one in our country seems happy today .
The right is angry .
The left is despondent .
Our nation reminds me of those married couples who try to stay together for “ the children ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Maybe it ’ s time for a breakup….Just think about it , America .
I know breaking up is hard to do .
We used to be good together .
But what is the point of having the “ greatest country in the world ” if none of us actually like it ?
The debate over separation and secession has been additionally pushed into the national debate by Richard Kreitner and his book Break It Up : Secession , Division , and the Secret History of America ’ s Imperfect Union .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ magazine The Nation , suggests that the United States has never been as unified as many suggest and also concludes that secession and division may be a necessary tactic in bringing about the left-wing reforms he ’ d like to see .
In an interview with The Nation , Kreitner discussed how he began to think about secession as a serious solution : What if the United States broke apart ?
Would that be such a bad thing ?
Is it possible that the progressive policies and programs that I wanted to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enact in a smaller entity than the United States , with its 330 million people and the need to always convince people with very different attitudes and interests ?
So with that question , I was curious if anybody else in American history had favored secession for noble or progressive reasons—not to perpetuate slavery but even to oppose it .
The answer , I quickly found , is yes : There were disunion abolitionists who were fiercely against slavery and who wanted the northern states to secede from the union in the 1840s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protest slavery but to undermine it .
Taking in their arguments and their rhetoric was really , really interesting .
American Secession : Th ... F.H .
Buckley Best Price : $ 15.64 Buy New $ 16.22 Kreitner goes on to note that secession has long been at the forefront of American political ideology .
This , of course , goes back to the secession of the American Revolution and can also be found in the secession movement favored by abolitionists and in New England ’ s efforts to secede during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been entertained by many Americans , and not just defenders of the old Confederacy .
In the early days of Southern secession , many Americans—including those who didn ’ t like the South or slavery—were fine with the Confederacy ’ s departure .
New Yorker George Templeton Strong , for instance , declared in 1861 , “ the self-amputated members [ the Southern states ] were diseased beyond immediate cure , and their virus will infect our system no longer.
” That same year , other New Yorkers seriously discussed leaving the Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade .
In 1876 , the battle over who won the presidential election very nearly produced a national split , with the pro-Democrat governor of New York “ promising state resistance ” to the Republican usurpers .
Nor were the nation ’ s founders necessarily opposed to division .
Thomas Jefferson expressed prosecessionist views , even when he was a sitting president .
In an 1803 letter to John Breckinridge , Jefferson explained that if the future states of the Louisiana Territory sought to secede that was fine with him : And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stating : Only Decentralization Can Save the Union At this point , there is only one strategy that can prevent a continued slide toward conflict , disunion , and ( possibly ) violence : decentralization of political power .
Thanks to decades of growing centralization of power in Washington , DC , American policy is increasingly made by the national government and not by state and local authorities .
This means American life is more and more governed by one-size-fits-all policies hatched by faraway politicians in DC .
Thus , with each passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun policy , healthcare , poverty relief , abortion , the drug war , education , and much more will be decided by the party that wins in DC , and not in the state capitol or in the city council .
In other words , the laws that govern Arizona will be primarily made by politicians and judges from other places entirely .
These faraway politicians will be more concerned with the needs and ideology of a national party , rather than with the specific needs of people who live in Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F.H .
Best Price : $ 3.40 Buy New $ 11.98 It is only natural that as the national government becomes supercharged in this way many Americans might start considering ways to get beyond the central government ’ s reach .
It doesn ’ t have to be this way .
The United States could follow another path in which domestic policy is created and enforced in a decentralized manner , in which laws for Texans are made in Texas and laws for Californians are made in California .
This , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote that the states should be self-governing and unified only on matters of foreign policy : In a decentralized political scheme such as this , the stakes in a national election are much lower .
It doesn ’ t matter as much for Ohioans which party is in power in Washington when relatively few laws affecting Ohioans are made at the federal level .
To adopt this way of doing things , however , would require a sizable departure from the current ideology that reigns in Washington .
On the left especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world where people in Iowa or Indiana are allowed to run their own schools and healthcare systems without meddling from Washington .
While conservatives ’ efforts to force marijuana prohibition on states like Colorado show that the Right is not immune from this impulse , it is abundantly clear that the Left is quite enthusiastic about the idea of sending federal enforcers to ensure the states enact abortion on demand , adopt Obamacare , and enforce drug prohibitions as dictated by Washington .
But unless Americans have a change of heart and begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing unwillingness to accept the outcomes of national elections and growing resistance to the federal government in general .
What follows is unlikely to be pleasant .
Note : The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute .
The Best of Ryan McMaken

It’s becoming increasingly clear to even mainstream media outlets that things are unlikely to return to “normal” after the 2020 election.
No matter who wins, it is likely the losing side will regard the winning side as having obtained its win using dirty tricks, foreign meddling, or through relentless propaganda offered up by a heavily biased and one-sided news media.
And if about half the country regards the winning president as illegitimate, where does one go from there?
The survey data isn’t exactly calming on this issue. As reported by Politico last week, the percentage of Americans who believe it is justified to use violence to “advance political goals” has quadrupled since 2017, for both Republicans and Democrats. Commie Cowboys: The Bo... Ryan W. McMaken Best Price: $12.60 Buy New $5.99 (as of 02:10 UTC - Details)
After all, political invective has reached a fever pitch since Hillary Clinton declared that a sizable portion of the United States population constituted a “basket of deplorables.” Perhaps not since the 1870s and 1880s—when Catholics, Southerners, and Irish (all core constituents of the Democratic Party) were denounced by Republicans as spies, traitors, and drunks—has half the country so despised the other half. As early as 2017, when asked of the chances of another civil war in the United States, about one-third of foreign policy scholars polled said it was likely.
Perhaps, then, it is not shocking that we are now seeing articles even in mainstream publications suggesting that maybe, just maybe, the United States can’t continue in its present form. Moreover, the view is now increasingly being promoted by writers and ideologues outside the usual conservative and libertarian groups that have long advocated in favor of decentralization and local control.
On September 18, for example, Steve Chapman in the Chicago Tribune asked: “Can the United States survive this election?” For the past century, the answer given by most any mainstream journalist would have been a decisive yes. The usual narrative has long been this: “Of course America will endure for centuries to come! We Americans are masters of compromise. We’ll all soon realize we are all in this together and come together in unity!”
But now Chapman writes:
The concept of splitting off is as American as the Fourth of July. The high point of separation sentiment came after Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, resulting in the Civil War. But New England states contemplated leaving over the War of 1812….The bonds that hold Americans together have frayed, and what happens on Nov. 3 may do additional damage. No nation lasts forever, and ours won’t be the first. This election won’t be the end of the United States. But it could be the beginning of the end.
Moreover, Chapman notes that while many no doubt will continue to see the United States as strong and likely to endure indefinitely, such assumptions may be unwise given the reality of experience elsewhere:
In 1970, the Russian dissident Andrei Amalrik wrote a book titled, “Will the Soviet Union Survive Until 1984?” At the time, the idea of a giant superpower disintegrating sounded like a fantasy. But it eventually came true. … Countries like Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia also have broken apart. Britain is leaving the European Union, and Scotland could push to leave Britain. It would be folly to think the United States is immune to these forces.
Chapman is not alone. Break It Up: Secession... Kreitner, Richard Best Price: $20.11 Buy New $18.72 (as of 04:28 UTC - Details)
Last month in the Philadelphia Inquirer Chuck Bonfig suspected that maybe the end is near:
The country has gone through many periods of strife in my time here: assassinations, recessions, desegregation, inflation, gas crisis, Watergate, hanging chads, the AIDS crisis, 9/11. Maybe it’s the 24-hour news cycle or the immediacy of social media that makes the landscape seem so bleak, but I don’t recall us ever being so divided. No one in our country seems happy today. The right is angry. The left is despondent. Our nation reminds me of those married couples who try to stay together for “the children” but end up making everyone around them miserable. Maybe it’s time for a breakup….Just think about it, America. I know breaking up is hard to do. We used to be good together. But what is the point of having the “greatest country in the world” if none of us actually like it?
The debate over separation and secession has been additionally pushed into the national debate by Richard Kreitner and his book Break It Up: Secession, Division, and the Secret History of America’s Imperfect Union. Kreitner, who writes for the leftist magazine The Nation, suggests that the United States has never been as unified as many suggest and also concludes that secession and division may be a necessary tactic in bringing about the left-wing reforms he’d like to see. In an interview with The Nation, Kreitner discussed how he began to think about secession as a serious solution:
What if the United States broke apart? Would that be such a bad thing? Is it possible that the progressive policies and programs that I wanted to see put into place might be easier to enact in a smaller entity than the United States, with its 330 million people and the need to always convince people with very different attitudes and interests? So with that question, I was curious if anybody else in American history had favored secession for noble or progressive reasons—not to perpetuate slavery but even to oppose it. The answer, I quickly found, is yes: There were disunion abolitionists who were fiercely against slavery and who wanted the northern states to secede from the union in the 1840s and 1850s as a way not only to protest slavery but to undermine it. Taking in their arguments and their rhetoric was really, really interesting.
American Secession: Th... F.H. Buckley Best Price: $15.64 Buy New $16.22 (as of 10:56 UTC - Details) Kreitner goes on to note that secession has long been at the forefront of American political ideology. This, of course, goes back to the secession of the American Revolution and can also be found in the secession movement favored by abolitionists and in New England’s efforts to secede during the War of 1812.
Kreitner is right.
Secession has long been entertained by many Americans, and not just defenders of the old Confederacy. In the early days of Southern secession, many Americans—including those who didn’t like the South or slavery—were fine with the Confederacy’s departure. New Yorker George Templeton Strong, for instance, declared in 1861, “the self-amputated members [the Southern states] were diseased beyond immediate cure, and their virus will infect our system no longer.” That same year, other New Yorkers seriously discussed leaving the Union and becoming a city-state devoted to free trade. In 1876, the battle over who won the presidential election very nearly produced a national split, with the pro-Democrat governor of New York “promising state resistance” to the Republican usurpers.
Nor were the nation’s founders necessarily opposed to division. Thomas Jefferson expressed prosecessionist views, even when he was a sitting president. In an 1803 letter to John Breckinridge, Jefferson explained that if the future states of the Louisiana Territory sought to secede that was fine with him:
[If] it should become the great interest of those nations to separate from this, if their happiness should depend on it so strongly as to induce them to go through that convulsion, why should the Atlantic states dread it? But especially why should we, their present inhabitants, take a side in such a question?
And in 1804, Jefferson wrote to Joseph Priestly stating:
Whether we remain in one confederacy, or form into Atlantic and Mississippi confederacies, I believe it not very important to the happiness of either part.
Only Decentralization Can Save the Union
At this point, there is only one strategy that can prevent a continued slide toward conflict, disunion, and (possibly) violence: decentralization of political power.
Thanks to decades of growing centralization of power in Washington, DC, American policy is increasingly made by the national government and not by state and local authorities. This means American life is more and more governed by one-size-fits-all policies hatched by faraway politicians in DC. Thus, with each passing election, the stakes become higher as gun policy, healthcare, poverty relief, abortion, the drug war, education, and much more will be decided by the party that wins in DC, and not in the state capitol or in the city council. In other words, the laws that govern Arizona will be primarily made by politicians and judges from other places entirely. These faraway politicians will be more concerned with the needs and ideology of a national party, rather than with the specific needs of people who live in Arizona. The Republican Workers... Buckley, F.H. Best Price: $3.40 Buy New $11.98 (as of 04:28 UTC - Details)
It is only natural that as the national government becomes supercharged in this way many Americans might start considering ways to get beyond the central government’s reach.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The United States could follow another path in which domestic policy is created and enforced in a decentralized manner, in which laws for Texans are made in Texas and laws for Californians are made in California. This, of course, is what Thomas Jefferson imagined when he wrote that the states should be self-governing and unified only on matters of foreign policy:
The true theory of our constitution is surely the wisest and best, that the states are independent as to everything within themselves, and united as to everything respecting foreign nations. Let the general government be reduced to foreign concerns only.
In a decentralized political scheme such as this, the stakes in a national election are much lower. It doesn’t matter as much for Ohioans which party is in power in Washington when relatively few laws affecting Ohioans are made at the federal level.
To adopt this way of doing things, however, would require a sizable departure from the current ideology that reigns in Washington. On the left especially, it seems few can imagine a world where people in Iowa or Indiana are allowed to run their own schools and healthcare systems without meddling from Washington. While conservatives’ efforts to force marijuana prohibition on states like Colorado show that the Right is not immune from this impulse, it is abundantly clear that the Left is quite enthusiastic about the idea of sending federal enforcers to ensure the states enact abortion on demand, adopt Obamacare, and enforce drug prohibitions as dictated by Washington.
But unless Americans have a change of heart and begin to decentralize the political system, expect a growing unwillingness to accept the outcomes of national elections and growing resistance to the federal government in general. What follows is unlikely to be pleasant.
Note: The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute.
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