lewrockwell--2020-03-31--Richard Weaver, the Coronavirus, and the Strenuous Life

In Ideas Have Consequences ( 1948 ) , Richard Weaver described comfort as the god of modern man .
Even in our post-modern times , mass man continues to kneel at the altar of comfort though he occasionally does obeisance to lesser gods such as equality and wokeness .
Weaver ’ s writings challenged man to exchange the ease promised by technological advancement for a strenuous and romantic life that existed in non-materialist societies of days gone by .
Specifically , Weaver pointed to the Old South as “ the last non-materialist civilization in the Western World ” and touted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little inclination to heed Weaver ’ s advice , but the coronavirus panic of 2020 is shaking people .
Indeed , the god of comfort does not look so vigorous today .
Comfort resembles the Philistine fertility god Dagon who had the Ark of the Covenant placed at his feet in the temple located in Ashdod .
( 1 Samuel 5:1-5 ) The Philistines had captured the Ark after the Israelites , without consulting Jehovah , impiously attempted to use it as some sort of magic box to give them victory in battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone at night with the Ark and was found by his priests toppled from his throne and later decapitated .
One can assume the look on the faces of the pagan priests who found the mistreated Dagon to be akin to that of so many Westerners confined to high-rise apartments and surrounded by supplies of toilet paper and packaged meals snatched up as shelter-in-place orders issued .
Ideas Have Consequence ... Richard M. Weaver , Rog ... Best Price : $ 6.84 Buy New $ 13.31 The appropriate response of the remnant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the god of comfort should be one of compassion .
As Weaver noted , mass man has been taught from the cradle a false interpretation of life in which he is promised that “ progress is automatic.
” Consequently , “ he is not prepared to understand impediments ” arising and blocking his manicured path .
Liberalism long ago rejected the Christian Faith and its pledge of trials in this world .
What is left of the Church often embraces the so-called prosperity Gospel and its promise of earthly mansions and high-end automobiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberalism defies any outside force to interrupt the march of progress on which society has come to depend and expect .
“ [ Mass man ] has been told in substance that the world is conditioned , and when unconditioned forces enter to put an end to his idyl , ” Weaver observed , “ he naturally suffers frustration.
” Weaver pointed to the “ Great Stereopticon ” as shielding man from truth in the world .
By this he meant the mass media , which in his day was radio , Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white noise machine for an insomniac , the Great Stereopticon drowns out the sound of reality and puts its charge to sleep with the artificial .
In our time , the Great Stereopticon has only grown stronger with the internet and multiple 24-hour cable news networks .
Events are “ refracted through a medium which colors them as effectively as the cosmology of the medieval scientist determined his view of the starry heavens.
” Our night sky , through coordinated efforts that Weaver could not imagine , is cloudless with satellites crisscrossing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mindless entertainment .
Man ’ s dalliance with the god of comfort , Weaver postulated , began when urban living eclipsed rural life .
“ After man has left the countryside to shut himself up in vast piles of stone , after he has lost what Sir Thomas Browne called pudor rusticus , after he has come to depend on a complicated system of human exchange for survival , he becomes forgetful of the overriding mystery of creation.
” Living in such an artificial environment of the city encourages man to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Such an environment , amplified by the noise of the Great Stereopticon , gives a false sense of assurance .
The Ethics of Rhetoric Weaver , Richard M. Best Price : $ 16.96 Buy New $ 19.95 Assurance of continual comfort and the promise of ever increasing technology have been shattered by COVID-19 .
Mass man , much like the Philistine priests , is presented with a choice : Acknowledge that his trusted god is nothing more than a deaf and mute idol , or send the evidence of his god ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Philistines chose the latter course .
They placed the Ark in a cart drawn by two cows and sent it back to the people of Israel .
Afterwards , they continued with their false religion as if nothing had happened .
According to Weaver , mass man must rediscover piety if he is to diverge from the course of the Philistines .
“ I would define piety , ” Weaver wrote , “ as an attitude of reverence or acceptance toward some overruling order or some deeply founded institution which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In other words , man must rediscover the transcendent and its place in a healthy society .
Piety for Weaver was a matter of discipline and encompassed three points : nature , neighbors , and the past .
With nature , Weaver encouraged man to stop trying to mold creation into something at odds with the Creator ’ s work .
Man should be a good steward of creation and its resources , but he must not confuse stewardship with regimentation , the latter allowing him to alter natural purposes and uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own mind .
The urbanite , according to Weaver , is the most likely to be at enmity with nature inasmuch as he tried to abandon her “ by taking flight from country to city.
” We can find great value in conforming our lives to the rhythm of nature , Weaver averred , rather than fighting with nature to bring compliance with our notions of comfort .
Crossroads for Liberty ... William J. Watkins Jr. Best Price : $ 17.60 Buy New $ 24.50

In Ideas Have Consequences (1948), Richard Weaver described comfort as the god of modern man. Even in our post-modern times, mass man continues to kneel at the altar of comfort though he occasionally does obeisance to lesser gods such as equality and wokeness. Weaver’s writings challenged man to exchange the ease promised by technological advancement for a strenuous and romantic life that existed in non-materialist societies of days gone by. Specifically, Weaver pointed to the Old South as “the last non-materialist civilization in the Western World” and touted its virtues.
Mass man has shown little inclination to heed Weaver’s advice, but the coronavirus panic of 2020 is shaking people. Indeed, the god of comfort does not look so vigorous today. Comfort resembles the Philistine fertility god Dagon who had the Ark of the Covenant placed at his feet in the temple located in Ashdod. (1 Samuel 5:1-5) The Philistines had captured the Ark after the Israelites, without consulting Jehovah, impiously attempted to use it as some sort of magic box to give them victory in battle. Dagon did not fare well when alone at night with the Ark and was found by his priests toppled from his throne and later decapitated. One can assume the look on the faces of the pagan priests who found the mistreated Dagon to be akin to that of so many Westerners confined to high-rise apartments and surrounded by supplies of toilet paper and packaged meals snatched up as shelter-in-place orders issued.
Ideas Have Consequence... Richard M. Weaver, Rog... Best Price: $6.84 Buy New $13.31 (as of 03:40 UTC - Details) The appropriate response of the remnant to mass man and his shaken faith in the god of comfort should be one of compassion. As Weaver noted, mass man has been taught from the cradle a false interpretation of life in which he is promised that “progress is automatic.” Consequently, “he is not prepared to understand impediments” arising and blocking his manicured path. Liberalism long ago rejected the Christian Faith and its pledge of trials in this world. What is left of the Church often embraces the so-called prosperity Gospel and its promise of earthly mansions and high-end automobiles if one simply has enough faith. Liberalism defies any outside force to interrupt the march of progress on which society has come to depend and expect. “[Mass man] has been told in substance that the world is conditioned, and when unconditioned forces enter to put an end to his idyl,” Weaver observed, “he naturally suffers frustration.”
Weaver pointed to the “Great Stereopticon” as shielding man from truth in the world. By this he meant the mass media, which in his day was radio, Hollywood, and newspapers. Much like a white noise machine for an insomniac, the Great Stereopticon drowns out the sound of reality and puts its charge to sleep with the artificial. In our time, the Great Stereopticon has only grown stronger with the internet and multiple 24-hour cable news networks. Events are “refracted through a medium which colors them as effectively as the cosmology of the medieval scientist determined his view of the starry heavens.” Our night sky, through coordinated efforts that Weaver could not imagine, is cloudless with satellites crisscrossing and guaranteeing instantaneous communications, video gaming, and mindless entertainment.
Man’s dalliance with the god of comfort, Weaver postulated, began when urban living eclipsed rural life. “After man has left the countryside to shut himself up in vast piles of stone, after he has lost what Sir Thomas Browne called pudor rusticus, after he has come to depend on a complicated system of human exchange for survival, he becomes forgetful of the overriding mystery of creation.” Living in such an artificial environment of the city encourages man to believe that nothing is beyond his control. Such an environment, amplified by the noise of the Great Stereopticon, gives a false sense of assurance.
The Ethics of Rhetoric Weaver, Richard M. Best Price: $16.96 Buy New $19.95 (as of 06:30 UTC - Details) Assurance of continual comfort and the promise of ever increasing technology have been shattered by COVID-19. Mass man, much like the Philistine priests, is presented with a choice: Acknowledge that his trusted god is nothing more than a deaf and mute idol, or send the evidence of his god’s weakness away and continue life as usual. The Philistines chose the latter course. They placed the Ark in a cart drawn by two cows and sent it back to the people of Israel. Afterwards, they continued with their false religion as if nothing had happened.
According to Weaver, mass man must rediscover piety if he is to diverge from the course of the Philistines. “I would define piety,” Weaver wrote, “as an attitude of reverence or acceptance toward some overruling order or some deeply founded institution which the mere individual is not to tamper with.” In other words, man must rediscover the transcendent and its place in a healthy society.
Piety for Weaver was a matter of discipline and encompassed three points: nature, neighbors, and the past. With nature, Weaver encouraged man to stop trying to mold creation into something at odds with the Creator’s work. Man should be a good steward of creation and its resources, but he must not confuse stewardship with regimentation, the latter allowing him to alter natural purposes and uses of creation for the fancy of his own mind. The urbanite, according to Weaver, is the most likely to be at enmity with nature inasmuch as he tried to abandon her “by taking flight from country to city.” We can find great value in conforming our lives to the rhythm of nature, Weaver averred, rather than fighting with nature to bring compliance with our notions of comfort.
Read the Whole Article
Crossroads for Liberty... William J. Watkins Jr. Best Price: $17.60 Buy New $24.50 (as of 08:30 UTC - Details)


lewrockwell--2020-03-31--German Infectologist Decimates COVID Doomsday Cult in Open Letter to Merkel

Editor ’ s note : Dr. Bhakdi released a now-viral video in which he calmly explained why nationwide lockdowns are “ collective suicide ” .
Now he has written an open letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel and it is fantastic An Open Letter from Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi , Professor Emeritus of Medical Microbiology at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , to the German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel .
Professor Bhakdi calls for an urgent reassessment of the response to Covid-19 and asks the Chancellor five crucial questions .
The letter is dated March 26 .
This is an inofficial translation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a PDF .
As Emeritus of the Johannes-Gutenberg-University in Mainz and longtime director of the Institute for Medical Microbiology , I feel obliged to critically question the far-reaching restrictions on public life that we are currently taking on ourselves in order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus .
Logitech C270 Desktop ... Best Price : $ 99.00 It is expressly not my intention to play down the dangers of the virus or to spread a political message .
However , I feel it is my duty to make a scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts into perspective – and , in addition , to ask questions that are in danger of being lost in the heated debate .
The reason for my concern lies above all in the truly unforeseeable socio-economic consequences of the drastic containment measures which are currently being applied in large parts of Europe and which are also already being practiced on a large scale in Germany .
My wish is to discuss critically – and with the necessary foresight – the advantages and disadvantages of restricting public life and the resulting long-term effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confronted with five questions which have not been answered sufficiently so far , but which are indispensable for a balanced analysis .
I would like to ask you to comment quickly and , at the same time , appeal to the Federal Government to develop strategies that effectively protect risk groups without restricting public life across the board and sow the seeds for an even more intensive polarization of society than is already taking place .
With the utmost respect , Zicam Cold Remedy Oral ... Buy New $ 13.99 In infectiology – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional distinction is made between infection and disease .
An illness requires a clinical manifestation .
[ 1 ] Therefore , only patients with symptoms such as fever or cough should be included in the statistics as new cases .
In other words , a new infection – as measured by the COVID-19 test – does not necessarily mean that we are dealing with a newly ill patient who needs a hospital bed .
However , it is currently assumed that five percent of all infected people become seriously ill and require ventilation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the healthcare system could be overburdened .
My question : Did the projections make a distinction between symptom-free infected people and actual , sick patients – i.e .
people who develop symptoms ?

Editor’s note: Dr. Bhakdi released a now-viral video in which he calmly explained why nationwide lockdowns are “collective suicide”. Now he has written an open letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel and it is fantastic
An Open Letter from Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Professor Emeritus of Medical Microbiology at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, to the German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel. Professor Bhakdi calls for an urgent reassessment of the response to Covid-19 and asks the Chancellor five crucial questions. The letter is dated March 26. This is an inofficial translation; see the original letter in German as a PDF.
Open Letter
Dear Chancellor,
As Emeritus of the Johannes-Gutenberg-University in Mainz and longtime director of the Institute for Medical Microbiology, I feel obliged to critically question the far-reaching restrictions on public life that we are currently taking on ourselves in order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Logitech C270 Desktop ... Best Price: $99.00 (as of 06:31 UTC - Details)
It is expressly not my intention to play down the dangers of the virus or to spread a political message. However, I feel it is my duty to make a scientific contribution to putting the current data and facts into perspective – and, in addition, to ask questions that are in danger of being lost in the heated debate.
The reason for my concern lies above all in the truly unforeseeable socio-economic consequences of the drastic containment measures which are currently being applied in large parts of Europe and which are also already being practiced on a large scale in Germany.
My wish is to discuss critically – and with the necessary foresight – the advantages and disadvantages of restricting public life and the resulting long-term effects.
To this end, I am confronted with five questions which have not been answered sufficiently so far, but which are indispensable for a balanced analysis.
I would like to ask you to comment quickly and, at the same time, appeal to the Federal Government to develop strategies that effectively protect risk groups without restricting public life across the board and sow the seeds for an even more intensive polarization of society than is already taking place.
With the utmost respect, Zicam Cold Remedy Oral... Buy New $13.99 (as of 06:31 UTC - Details)
Prof. em. Dr. med. Sucharit Bhakdi
1. Statistics
In infectiology – founded by Robert Koch himself – a traditional distinction is made between infection and disease. An illness requires a clinical manifestation. [1] Therefore, only patients with symptoms such as fever or cough should be included in the statistics as new cases.
In other words, a new infection – as measured by the COVID-19 test – does not necessarily mean that we are dealing with a newly ill patient who needs a hospital bed. However, it is currently assumed that five percent of all infected people become seriously ill and require ventilation. Projections based on this estimate suggest that the healthcare system could be overburdened.
My question: Did the projections make a distinction between symptom-free infected people and actual, sick patients – i.e. people who develop symptoms?
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-03-31--Is the Pandemic Killing Biden’s Bid?

Is the Pandemic Killing Biden’s Bid?

“ This is the question that is going to dominate the election : How did you perform in the great crisis ?
” So says GOP Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma in today ’ s New York Times .
GOP National Committeeman Henry Barbour of Mississippi calls the crisis “ a defining moment… The more ( Trump ) reassures Americans , gives them the facts and delivers results , the harder it will be for Joe Biden.
” Indeed , it is not a stretch to say Trump ’ s presidency will stand or fall on the resolution of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as having led us in that battle .
Recent polls appear to confirm that .
Though daily baited by a hostile media for being late to recognize the severity of the crisis , in one Gallup poll a week ago , Trump was at 49 % approval , the apogee of his presidency , with 60 % of the nation awarding him high marks for his handling of the pandemic .
Nixon ’ s White Ho ... Buchanan , Patrick J .
Best Price : $ 2.03 Buy New $ 8.50 What was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s antagonists in the media have performed in America ’ s great medical crisis ?
Of 10 institutions , with hospitals first , at 88 % approval , the media came in dead last , the only institution whose disapproval , at 55 % , exceeded the number of Americans with a favorable opinion of their performance .
The media are paying a price in lost reputation with the nation they claim to represent by reassuming the role of “ adversary press ” in a social crisis where , whatever one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country wants the president to succeed .
If Biden begins to mimic a hostile media , baiting Trump at every turn , pointing out conflicts in his views , Joe will invite the same fate the media seem to have brought upon themselves .
Since that Gallup poll , Trump has been seen daily by millions in the role of commander in chief .
He speaks from the podium in the White House briefing room or the Rose Garden just outside the Oval Office .
He is invariably flanked by respected leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economics .
All appear as Trump allies , and Trump treats them as his field commanders in the war on the virus .
And Joe Biden ?
He pops up infrequently in interviews out of the basement of his Delaware home where , sheltering in place , he reads short scripted speeches from a teleprompter .
And Biden ’ s presence has been wholly eclipsed by daily televised appearances of Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who is at the epicenter of the crisis in New York .
Cuomo is taking on the aspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What Trump is doing calls to mind Richard Nixon ’ s “ Rose Garden strategy ” in 1972 .
Though goaded by the press , Nixon avoided attacking his opponent , George McGovern , and declined to engage him on issues .
Instead , Nixon used the Rose Garden to highlight popular initiatives .
Candidate Nixon ’ s campaign strategy in 1972 was not to campaign .
But if Biden can not gather crowds to hear him in a time of social distancing , how does he get his message out ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undermine the president in his role as a wartime commander in chief , where America wants Trump to succeed ?
How does a basement-bound Biden compete with Trump in the Oval Office , Cabinet Room , East Room and Rose Garden ?
Churchill , Hitler , and ... Patrick J. Buchanan Best Price : $ 9.48 Buy New $ 14.00 Whom does Biden call upon to rival Trump ’ s instant access to respected leaders eager to come and stand beside the president in the most serious crisis since World War II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Super Tuesday ?
Sen. Bernie Sanders wants Biden to come out and debate .
But that seems a no-win proposition .
Moreover , when Biden appears on camera , he often seems confused and forgetful , loses his train of thought and doesn ’ t remember what he came to say .
The sense that Biden is losing it is taking hold , and not only on the Republican right .
Democrats have to be looking closely at Cuomo ’ s success , as they wonder how Biden will stand up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
And what lies ahead for Democrats when spring turns into summer ?
The Tokyo Olympics , scheduled to begin July 24 , have been postponed until 2021 .
The Democratic National Convention , scheduled for Milwaukee even earlier in July , has yet to be postponed .
But if Tokyo recognizes it would be a terrible risk to the health of athletes and spectators to have people come from all over the world to Japan this summer , would it not also be an intolerable risk to have Americans from all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week of mingling in midsummer in Milwaukee ?
For Biden to win this election , Trump must lose it .
And the one way Trump can lose it is the perception on the part of a majority of Americans that he has proven an ineffectual president in America ’ s worst pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918 .
If Trump is seen as the victor over the virus , Biden is toast .
The Best of Patrick J. Buchanan

Shop all books by Pat Buchanan
“This is the question that is going to dominate the election: How did you perform in the great crisis?”
So says GOP Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma in today’s New York Times.
GOP National Committeeman Henry Barbour of Mississippi calls the crisis “a defining moment… The more (Trump) reassures Americans, gives them the facts and delivers results, the harder it will be for Joe Biden.”
Indeed, it is not a stretch to say Trump’s presidency will stand or fall on the resolution of the coronavirus crisis and how Trump is perceived as having led us in that battle. Recent polls appear to confirm that.
Though daily baited by a hostile media for being late to recognize the severity of the crisis, in one Gallup poll a week ago, Trump was at 49% approval, the apogee of his presidency, with 60% of the nation awarding him high marks for his handling of the pandemic. Nixon’s White Ho... Buchanan, Patrick J. Best Price: $2.03 Buy New $8.50 (as of 12:15 UTC - Details)
What was the public’s assessment of how Trump’s antagonists in the media have performed in America’s great medical crisis?
Of 10 institutions, with hospitals first, at 88% approval, the media came in dead last, the only institution whose disapproval, at 55%, exceeded the number of Americans with a favorable opinion of their performance.
The media are paying a price in lost reputation with the nation they claim to represent by reassuming the role of “adversary press” in a social crisis where, whatever one’s view of Donald Trump, the country wants the president to succeed.
If Biden begins to mimic a hostile media, baiting Trump at every turn, pointing out conflicts in his views, Joe will invite the same fate the media seem to have brought upon themselves.
Since that Gallup poll, Trump has been seen daily by millions in the role of commander in chief. He speaks from the podium in the White House briefing room or the Rose Garden just outside the Oval Office. He is invariably flanked by respected leaders in medicine, science, business and economics. All appear as Trump allies, and Trump treats them as his field commanders in the war on the virus.
And Joe Biden? He pops up infrequently in interviews out of the basement of his Delaware home where, sheltering in place, he reads short scripted speeches from a teleprompter.
And Biden’s presence has been wholly eclipsed by daily televised appearances of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is at the epicenter of the crisis in New York. Cuomo is taking on the aspect of both rival and partner to Trump.
What Trump is doing calls to mind Richard Nixon’s “Rose Garden strategy” in 1972. Though goaded by the press, Nixon avoided attacking his opponent, George McGovern, and declined to engage him on issues. Instead, Nixon used the Rose Garden to highlight popular initiatives.
Candidate Nixon’s campaign strategy in 1972 was not to campaign.
But if Biden cannot gather crowds to hear him in a time of social distancing, how does he get his message out? How does he attack Trump without appearing to undermine the president in his role as a wartime commander in chief, where America wants Trump to succeed?
How does a basement-bound Biden compete with Trump in the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, East Room and Rose Garden? Churchill, Hitler, and... Patrick J. Buchanan Best Price: $9.48 Buy New $14.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
Whom does Biden call upon to rival Trump’s instant access to respected leaders eager to come and stand beside the president in the most serious crisis since World War II?
How does Biden recapture the spotlight of Super Tuesday?
Sen. Bernie Sanders wants Biden to come out and debate. But that seems a no-win proposition.
Moreover, when Biden appears on camera, he often seems confused and forgetful, loses his train of thought and doesn’t remember what he came to say. The sense that Biden is losing it is taking hold, and not only on the Republican right.
Democrats have to be looking closely at Cuomo’s success, as they wonder how Biden will stand up in the debates with Trump six months from now.
And what lies ahead for Democrats when spring turns into summer?
The Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to begin July 24, have been postponed until 2021. The Democratic National Convention, scheduled for Milwaukee even earlier in July, has yet to be postponed.
But if Tokyo recognizes it would be a terrible risk to the health of athletes and spectators to have people come from all over the world to Japan this summer, would it not also be an intolerable risk to have Americans from all 50 states and U.S. territories arrive for a week of mingling in midsummer in Milwaukee?
For Biden to win this election, Trump must lose it.
And the one way Trump can lose it is the perception on the part of a majority of Americans that he has proven an ineffectual president in America’s worst pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918.
If Trump is seen as the victor over the virus, Biden is toast.
The Best of Patrick J. Buchanan


lewrockwell--2020-03-31--Renowned Microbiology Specialist on Why He Believes Coronavirus Measures Are ‘Draconian’

It ’ s a very interesting time in human history .
The birth of alternative media outlets has allowed information to spread across the globe , rapidly .
Today , extreme measures have been taken and are being taken to label information as ‘ false news.
’ Granted , a lot of information out there is indeed false news , but media outlets are getting flagged , demonetized and censored for sharing information that is perfectly valid .
Intravenous vitamin C treatment for covid-19 patients is one of the latest examples , multiple media outlets claimed that it is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , and ‘ fact checkers ’ even flagged some articles providing evidence suggesting that it may .
Meanwhile , as far as Vitamin C treatment for Covid-19 goes , regardless of what some media outlets are claiming , Medicine in Drug Discovery , of Elsevier , a major scientific publishing house , recently published an article on early and high-dose IVC in the treatment and prevention of Covid-19 .
Vitamin C was successfully used to treat 50 moderate to severe covid-19 patients , and some New York hospitals have even started to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that publication ( mentioned above ) , Dr. Richard Cheng , has been updating everyone via his YouTube channel about vitamin C treatment cases out of China prior to the publication of his article .
Cheng also had a message for the ‘ fact checkers ’ as posted in the description of his latest Youtube video .
HOMFA Bamboo Laptop De ... Buy New $ 59.99 We are even fearful of our Facebook Page being deleted , so we are encouraging all those who want to continue to receive and be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our email list .
This is very important if you want to continue to follow our work in-case Facebook deletes our social media platform ( s ) .
We are constantly receiving ‘ false news ’ strikes and page distribution limits despite the fact that we share credible sources .
Again , we are even getting flagged for presenting scientific experts who are simply sharing their opinion .
It ’ s quite concerning , and I am even concerned as I share the opinion of this expert .
How can opinion be ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest experts to share an opinion that counters what we ’ re seeing within the ‘ mainstream ’ comes from Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi , a specialist in microbiology and one of the most cited research scientists in German history .
Bhakdi created a Youtube channel on March 18th , and has since posted four videos that have received more than one million views , total , in a very short span of time .
He has , just like Dr. Cheng , been subjected to irresponsible fact checking that has attempted to discredit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be his last video , and reads an open letter from him to the German Chancellor .
His sentiments echo those of three Stanford professors of medicine who recently shared their expert opinion that extraordinary claims require extraordinary data .
You can read more about that specifically , here .
If you can ’ t understand German , be sure to turn on the English subtitles .
Bhakdi provides sources along with the video as well , you can view them here : [ 2 ] Killerby et al.
, Human Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J Clin Virol .
2018 , 101 , 52-56 [ 7 ] Martuzzi et al .
Health Impact of PM10 and Ozone in 13 Italian Cities .
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe .
WHOLIS number E88700 2006 [ 9 ] Croft et al .
The Association between Respiratory Infection and Air Pollution in the Setting of Air Quality Policy and Economic Change .
Ann .
Am .
Thorac .
Soc .
2019 , 16 , 321–330 .
[ 10 ] United Nations , Department of Economic and Social Affairs , Population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : A Report on an Expanded International Dataset ( ST/ESA/SER.A/407 ) .
2017 [ 11 ] Deutsches Ärzteblatt , Überlastung deutscher Krankenhäuser durch COVID-19 laut Experten unwahrscheinlich , https : //www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichte… ( abgerufen am 26.3.2020 )

It’s a very interesting time in human history. The birth of alternative media outlets has allowed information to spread across the globe, rapidly. Today, extreme measures have been taken and are being taken to label information as ‘false news.’ Granted, a lot of information out there is indeed false news, but media outlets are getting flagged, demonetized and censored for sharing information that is perfectly valid.
Intravenous vitamin C treatment for covid-19 patients is one of the latest examples, multiple media outlets claimed that it is very unlikely that it can do anything to help, and ‘fact checkers’ even flagged some articles providing evidence suggesting that it may. Meanwhile, as far as Vitamin C treatment for Covid-19 goes, regardless of what some media outlets are claiming, Medicine in Drug Discovery, of Elsevier, a major scientific publishing house, recently published an article on early and high-dose IVC in the treatment and prevention of Covid-19. Vitamin C was successfully used to treat 50 moderate to severe covid-19 patients, and some New York hospitals have even started to use the treatment.
The author of that publication (mentioned above), Dr. Richard Cheng, has been updating everyone via his YouTube channel about vitamin C treatment cases out of China prior to the publication of his article.
Cheng also had a message for the ‘fact checkers’ as posted in the description of his latest Youtube video. HOMFA Bamboo Laptop De... Buy New $59.99 (as of 06:33 UTC - Details)
I was made aware that FB Fact Check claims “Shanghai did not officially recommend high-dose IVC for the treatment of Covid-19” . Let me make it clear that not only Shanghai, but also Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, another major city in China, publicly endorsed high-dose IVC for the treatment of Covid-19. Those who Fact Check, please be more careful.
We are even fearful of our Facebook Page being deleted, so we are encouraging all those who want to continue to receive and be able to find our content to sign up for our email list. This is very important if you want to continue to follow our work in-case Facebook deletes our social media platform(s). We are constantly receiving ‘false news’ strikes and page distribution limits despite the fact that we share credible sources. Again, we are even getting flagged for presenting scientific experts who are simply sharing their opinion. It’s quite concerning, and I am even concerned as I share the opinion of this expert.
How can opinion be ‘false news?’
One of the latest experts to share an opinion that counters what we’re seeing within the ‘mainstream’ comes from Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, a specialist in microbiology and one of the most cited research scientists in German history.
Bhakdi created a Youtube channel on March 18th, and has since posted four videos that have received more than one million views, total, in a very short span of time. He has, just like Dr. Cheng, been subjected to irresponsible fact checking that has attempted to discredit him.
He recently uploaded what appears to be his last video, and reads an open letter from him to the German Chancellor. His sentiments echo those of three Stanford professors of medicine who recently shared their expert opinion that extraordinary claims require extraordinary data. You can read more about that specifically, here.
If you can’t understand German, be sure to turn on the English subtitles.
Implementation of the current draconian measures that are so extremely restrict fundamental rights can only be justified if there is reason to fear that a truly, exceptionally dangerous virus is threatening us. Do any scientifically sound data exist to support this contention for COVID-19? I assert that the answer is simply, no.

Bhakdi provides sources along with the video as well, you can view them here:
[1] Fachwörterbuch Infektionsschutz und Infektionsepidemiologie. Fachwörter – Definitionen – Interpretationen. Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin 2015. https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Service… (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[2] Killerby et al., Human Coronavirus Circulation in the United States 2014–2017. J Clin Virol. 2018, 101, 52-56
[3] Roussel et al. SARS-CoV-2: Fear Versus Data. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 2020, 105947; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science…
[4] Charisius, H. Covid-19: Wie gut testet Deutschland? Süddeutsche Zeitung. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/gesundhei… (abgerufen am 27.3.2020)
[5] Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus Resource Center. 2020, https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[6] S1-Leitlinie 054-001, Regeln zur Durchführung der ärztlichen Leichenschau. AWMF Online, https://www.awmf.org/uploads/tx_szlei… (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[7] Martuzzi et al. Health Impact of PM10 and Ozone in 13 Italian Cities. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. WHOLIS number E88700 2006
[8] European Environment Agency, Air Pollution Country Fact Sheets 2019, https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/… (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[9] Croft et al. The Association between Respiratory Infection and Air Pollution in the Setting of Air Quality Policy and Economic Change. Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc. 2019, 16, 321–330.
[10] United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Living Arrangements of Older Persons: A Report on an Expanded International Dataset (ST/ESA/SER.A/407). 2017 [11] Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Überlastung deutscher Krankenhäuser durch COVID-19 laut Experten unwahrscheinlich, https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichte… (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
Reprinted with permission from Collective Evolution.


lewrockwell--2020-03-31--Northwestern Hospital Asks Seedy Illinois Pol For Permission To Ignore Dying Corona Patients

As America experiences a contagion known as cowardice , doctors are suggesting shirking their responsibilities and standing idly by as corona patients that can be saved , die on their hospital beds .
Doctors plan to do this irrespective of the wishes of the patient or the family .
Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago has announced it is considering implementing an across-the-board do-not-resuscitate order for all patients with corona .
Patients are told not to worry , however , everything will be all right since the hospital will only proceed if the Governor of Illinois , J.B. Pritzker , approves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whims of politicians have been confused with the hard-earned concept of ethics .
According to a Washington Post article on the topic “ Richard Wunderink , one of Northwestern ’ s intensive-care medical directors , said hospital administrators have asked Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker for help in clarifying state law and whether it permits the policy shift.
” Avana Kind Bed Orthope ... Best Price : $ 158.39 Buy New $ 177.99 That ’ s an odd thing to do since “ clarifying state law , ” is not among an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state executive ’ s , responsibilities .
Pritzker is evidently the law clarifier of the state as well as the chief morality officer .
Rather than turn to the state legislature or a judge , why did Northwestern turn to the Governor of Illinois to relieve the hospital and their doctors of their ethical and legal obligations to patients ?
A 2015 press release from Northwestern entitled “ Pritzker Family Makes Unprecedented Gift to Northwestern Law , ” tells some of the story .
Pritzker , then a trustee to Northwestern , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million gift to the law school .
That was the biggest gift ever to any law school .
Northwestern Law School now bears the governor ’ s family name .
Illinois politicians have a long history of a behavior called “ pay-to-play.
” You give a politician some money , he plays nice with you and does you a favor or two .
The current Governor of Illinois appears to have misunderstood how pay-to-play actually works .
He ’ s acting like an unpopular kid trying to buy .
Nonetheless , what Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal , and certainly unethical as the standard pay-to-play : having a buddy and key donor bend the law to help them out of their bind .
The reason cited for this desire to sit by and watch patients die , despite the wishes of their loved ones , is because when a patient needs to be resuscitated it can be a messy procedure that may make it easier for medical staff to acquire Covid-19 .
That is , however , the profession that they trained for and voluntarily took a job in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be around nasty germs , they shouldn ’ t have become doctors .
Is any detail about being a doctor more obvious than that ?
They should have given their spot in medical school to someone a little more eager to do the less glamorous parts of the job .
Some of us out here walking among the commoners find few things more glamorous than the gift of life and the act of keeping people alive .
Even after medical school , they could have chosen other work .
The medical profession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and as a whole , well-insulated from market forces by their anti-competitive “ labor union ” the American Medical Association and various other groups .
The Hippocratic Oath , which is not taken by all doctors in the United States , but which illustrates aspects of the professional ethics of being a doctor , instructs doctors to , among other things vow : “ I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment , but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing .
Neither will I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so , nor will I suggest such a course .
Similarly I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion .
But I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art… .
How to Win America for ... Stevo , Allan J Best Price : $ 23.33 Buy New $ 17.95 “ Now if I carry out this oath , and break it not , may I gain for ever reputation among all men for my life and for my art ; but if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite befall me.
” It is more of a hypocritical oath if it only applies during times when doctors feel like applying it .
As corona spreads , we ’ ve seen politicians , media , and sadly , also public health professionals , who should know better , exacerbate the fear , as if channeling Chicken Little .
In the face of that , business owners , clergy , and now even doctors have tragically exhibited such tremendous cowardice .
The author of the above-cited Washington Post article about the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justifies this sick , anti-social behavior of the mass do-not-resuscitate order by deferring to the anti-medical notion of collectivism , calling it “ a wrenching decision to prioritize the lives of the many over the one.
” To further inject her rotten anti-social politics into the idea of medical treatment , the purportedly unbiased author creates a red herring and then invites the topic of privilege and pragmatism into the debate of what level of treatment is ethical for a patient to receive .
Cha writes “ While the idea of withholding treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country as wealthy as ours , it is pragmatic.
” I ’ m not sure how I would react to a wet-behind-the-ears resident telling me that saving a loved one was just not “ pragmatic , ” but I anticipate it would not be well-received by me .
The field of public health , with its roots among Malthusians , Marxists , and other collectivists in England in the late 1800s , is the polar opposite of medicine .
Physicians have their roots in the Greek tradition , see the patient as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doctor to unquestioningly save the individual .
As the field of public health increasingly dabbles in medicine , and intellectual lightweights are turned to for advice on the ethics of medicine , the Greek philosophical roots that have made medicine such a noble calling are gradually worn away at .
The Bitcoin Manifesto Allan J Stevo Best Price : $ 7.54 Buy New $ 12.73 Mandatory vaccinations , death panels , artificial governmental rationing of medical procedures and supplies , mass fluoridation of water , and a host of other intrusions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with the philosophical roots of medicine , in which the patient is seen as an individual deserving of treatment to the sole benefit of that individual .
These ideas are instead in line with the collectivist roots of public health , in which the existence and value of individuals are perversely dismissed in exchange for talk of populations , discussions of statistics , and obsessions over surveys .
These approaches are not only sociopathic , and philosophically misdirected , they also fail to provide the utility they claim to provide .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once heroic members of the medical profession appear to have turned into timorous , easily spooked little rats .
Hospital administrator is a career path long seen as populated by less-than-heroic rats themselves .
It may therefore not be a shock when hospital administrators , at Northwestern Memorial Hospital , in these cowardly times , congregate alongside doctors , watching sick patients die as quickly as is expedient for the collective , so that another bed can be made available and so that everyone , but the patient , can go home safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-social behavior awaits them in gratitude for a job well done .
In the year 2020 , in a historic moment , when its ethics and skill are most needed , this cowardice is what has become of the American medical community , at one of the most well-regarded teaching hospitals globally .
The Best of Allan Stevo

As America experiences a contagion known as cowardice, doctors are suggesting shirking their responsibilities and standing idly by as corona patients that can be saved, die on their hospital beds. Doctors plan to do this irrespective of the wishes of the patient or the family.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago has announced it is considering implementing an across-the-board do-not-resuscitate order for all patients with corona. Patients are told not to worry, however, everything will be all right since the hospital will only proceed if the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, approves it, making everything okay.
Somehow the whims of politicians have been confused with the hard-earned concept of ethics.
According to a Washington Post article on the topic “Richard Wunderink, one of Northwestern’s intensive-care medical directors, said hospital administrators have asked Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for help in clarifying state law and whether it permits the policy shift.” Avana Kind Bed Orthope... Best Price: $158.39 Buy New $177.99 (as of 06:35 UTC - Details)
That’s an odd thing to do since “clarifying state law,” is not among an Illinois governor’s, or any state executive’s, responsibilities. Pritzker is evidently the law clarifier of the state as well as the chief morality officer.
Rather than turn to the state legislature or a judge, why did Northwestern turn to the Governor of Illinois to relieve the hospital and their doctors of their ethical and legal obligations to patients?
A 2015 press release from Northwestern entitled “Pritzker Family Makes Unprecedented Gift to Northwestern Law,” tells some of the story. Pritzker, then a trustee to Northwestern, and an alumnus, made a $100 million gift to the law school. That was the biggest gift ever to any law school. Northwestern Law School now bears the governor’s family name.
Illinois politicians have a long history of a behavior called “pay-to-play.” You give a politician some money, he plays nice with you and does you a favor or two. The current Governor of Illinois appears to have misunderstood how pay-to-play actually works. He’s acting like an unpopular kid trying to buy. Nonetheless, what Northwestern proposes is just as twisted, likely illegal, and certainly unethical as the standard pay-to-play: having a buddy and key donor bend the law to help them out of their bind.
The reason cited for this desire to sit by and watch patients die, despite the wishes of their loved ones, is because when a patient needs to be resuscitated it can be a messy procedure that may make it easier for medical staff to acquire Covid-19.
That is, however, the profession that they trained for and voluntarily took a job in. If doctors didn’t want to be around nasty germs, they shouldn’t have become doctors. Is any detail about being a doctor more obvious than that? They should have given their spot in medical school to someone a little more eager to do the less glamorous parts of the job. Some of us out here walking among the commoners find few things more glamorous than the gift of life and the act of keeping people alive. Even after medical school, they could have chosen other work.
The medical profession is well-paid, highly competitive to enter, and as a whole, well-insulated from market forces by their anti-competitive “labor union” the American Medical Association and various other groups.
The Hippocratic Oath, which is not taken by all doctors in the United States, but which illustrates aspects of the professional ethics of being a doctor, instructs doctors to, among other things vow:
“I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. Similarly I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion. But I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art…. How to Win America for... Stevo, Allan J Best Price: $14.36 Buy New $17.95 (as of 04:37 UTC - Details)
“Now if I carry out this oath, and break it not, may I gain for ever reputation among all men for my life and for my art; but if I break it and forswear myself, may the opposite befall me.”
It is more of a hypocritical oath if it only applies during times when doctors feel like applying it.
As corona spreads, we’ve seen politicians, media, and sadly, also public health professionals, who should know better, exacerbate the fear, as if channeling Chicken Little.
In the face of that, business owners, clergy, and now even doctors have tragically exhibited such tremendous cowardice.
The author of the above-cited Washington Post article about the decision at Northwestern, Ariana Eunjung Cha, justifies this sick, anti-social behavior of the mass do-not-resuscitate order by deferring to the anti-medical notion of collectivism, calling it “a wrenching decision to prioritize the lives of the many over the one.”
To further inject her rotten anti-social politics into the idea of medical treatment, the purportedly unbiased author creates a red herring and then invites the topic of privilege and pragmatism into the debate of what level of treatment is ethical for a patient to receive. Cha writes “While the idea of withholding treatments may be unsettling, especially in a country as wealthy as ours, it is pragmatic.”
I’m not sure how I would react to a wet-behind-the-ears resident telling me that saving a loved one was just not “pragmatic,” but I anticipate it would not be well-received by me.
The field of public health, with its roots among Malthusians, Marxists, and other collectivists in England in the late 1800s, is the polar opposite of medicine. Physicians have their roots in the Greek tradition, see the patient as an individual, and uphold the work of the doctor to unquestioningly save the individual.
As the field of public health increasingly dabbles in medicine, and intellectual lightweights are turned to for advice on the ethics of medicine, the Greek philosophical roots that have made medicine such a noble calling are gradually worn away at.
The Bitcoin Manifesto Allan J Stevo Best Price: $7.54 Buy New $12.73 (as of 05:50 UTC - Details) Mandatory vaccinations, death panels, artificial governmental rationing of medical procedures and supplies, mass fluoridation of water, and a host of other intrusions in the life of individuals are not in line with the philosophical roots of medicine, in which the patient is seen as an individual deserving of treatment to the sole benefit of that individual.
These ideas are instead in line with the collectivist roots of public health, in which the existence and value of individuals are perversely dismissed in exchange for talk of populations, discussions of statistics, and obsessions over surveys. These approaches are not only sociopathic, and philosophically misdirected, they also fail to provide the utility they claim to provide.
In the midst of the coronavirus, the once heroic members of the medical profession appear to have turned into timorous, easily spooked little rats.
Hospital administrator is a career path long seen as populated by less-than-heroic rats themselves.
It may therefore not be a shock when hospital administrators, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, in these cowardly times, congregate alongside doctors, watching sick patients die as quickly as is expedient for the collective, so that another bed can be made available and so that everyone, but the patient, can go home safely, where a government check for their anti-social behavior awaits them in gratitude for a job well done.
In the year 2020, in a historic moment, when its ethics and skill are most needed, this cowardice is what has become of the American medical community, at one of the most well-regarded teaching hospitals globally.
The Best of Allan Stevo


lewrockwell--2020-03-31--Bob Dylan’s Midnight Message to JFK’s Ghost

“ For murder , though it have no tongue , will speak with most miraculous organ.
” – Hamlet On May 1 , 1962 , President John Kennedy was meeting in the Oval Office with a group of Quakers who were urging him to do more for peace and disarmament .
As he kept explaining , the great political opposition he was facing within his own government , they kept urging him to do more .
He listened very closely to their words and finally said , “ You believe in redemption don ’ t you.
” By the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacemaking the Quakers had urged upon him , resulting in his murder in the fall by treacherous government forces , led by the CIA , that opposed him all along .
Now that Dylan has burst forth from behind his many masks and gifted the world with his incandescent new song about the assassination , with a title taken from Hamlet , from the mouth of the ghost of the dead King of Denmark – “ Murder Most Foul “ – we have entered a new day in an odd way .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Dylan had “ sold out , ” here is their answer .
For those who have wondered if he would go to his grave reciting the words of T.S .
Eliot ’ s J. Alfred Prufrock – “ I am no Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be ” – here is Hamlet ’ s booming response .
Not only does this song lay bare the truth of the most foundational event in modern American history , but it does so in such a powerfully poetic way and at such an opportune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eyes of those who ever doubted him .
I say “ should , ” but while the song ’ s release has garnered massive publicity from the mainstream media , it hasn ’ t taken long for that media to bury the truth of his words about the assassination under a spectacle of verbiage meant to damn with faint praise .
As the media in a celebrity culture of the spectacle tend to do , the emphasis on the song ’ s pop cultural references is their focus , with platitudes about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as well as various shameful and gratuitous digs at Dylan for being weird , obsessed , or old .
As the song says , “ they killed him once and they killed him twice , ” so now they can kill him a third time , and then a fourth ad infinitum .
And now the messenger of the very bad news must be dispatched along with the dead president .
Chronicles : Volume One Dylan , Bob Best Price : $ 1.80 Buy New $ 8.67 The media like their Hamlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out roaring like a bull intent on avenging his dead president .
He has the poet ’ s touch , of course , a hyperbolic sense of the fantastic that draws you into his magical web in the pursuit of deeper truth .
In many ways he ’ s like the Latin American magical realist writers who move from fact to dream to the fantastic in a puff of wind .
Dylan is our Emerson .
His artistic philosophy has always been about movement in space and time through song .
Always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way back home through song , even when , or perhaps because , there are no directions .
“ An artist has got to be careful never to arrive at a place where he thinks he ’ s at somewhere , ” he ’ s said .
“ You always have to realize that you are constantly in a state of becoming and as long as you can stay in that realm , you ’ ll be alright.
” Sounds like Emerson , also .
“ Life only avails , not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instant of repose ; it resides in the moment of transition from a past to a new state , in the shooting of the gulf , in the darting to an aim .
Thus one fact the world hates , that the soul becomes.
” “ Murder Most Foul ” is Dylan ’ s soul becoming .
“ A song is like a dream , and you try to make it come true .
They ’ re like strange countries that you have to enter .
You can write a song anywhere … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sometimes people who have the greatest talent for writing songs never write any because they are not moving , ” he wrote in Chronicles .
“ Murder Most Foul ” is a moving song in every sense of the word – a trip to truth .
Dylan has long been accused of abandoning his youthful idealism and protest music .
I think this is a bum rap .
He was never a protester , though his songs became anthems of the civil rights and anti-war movements .
There is no doubt that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to carry on the good fight .
But in turning in a more oblique and circumspect musical direction , following his need to change as the spirit of inspiration moved him , Dylan ’ s songs came to inspire in a new way .
You could always tell his sympathies lay with the oppressed and downtrodden , but for decades he didn ’ t shout it , with perhaps the one exception being the powerful , hard-hitting , and mesmeric Hurricane in 1975 .
With that one he stepped into the ring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the years , a listener has had to catch his drift .
If you go to the music , and dip into his various stylistic changes over the decades , however , you will find a consistency of themes .
He deals with essentials like all great poets .
Nothing is excluded .
His work is paradoxical .
Yes , he ’ s been singing about death since twelve , but it has always been countered by life and rebirth .
There is joy and sadness ; faith and doubt ; happiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ romance and its discontents ; despair and hope .
His music possesses a bit of a Taoist quality mixed with a Biblical sensibility conveyed by a hopelessly romantic American .
He has fused his themes into an incantatory delivery that casts a moving spell of hope upon the listener .
He is nothing if not a spiritual spell-binder ; similar in many ways to that other quintessential American – the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg , whose best work was a poetic quest for an inspired salvific poetry .
While speaking the unspeakable truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might seem hopeless , it is actually a sign of great hope .
For our only hope is in telling the truth , which Bob has done .
This is art , not theory , and art of a special kind since Dylan is an artist at war with his art .
His songs demand that the listener ’ s mind and spirit be moving as the spirit of creative inspiration moved Dylan .
A close listening will force one to jump from line to line , verse to verse – to shoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridges to cross , no connecting links .
The sound carries you over and keeps you moving forward .
If you ’ re not moving , you ’ ll miss the meaning .
I have no wish to explicate the poet ’ s brilliant work .
It speaks for itself .
It says far more than it actually says about a system rotten to the core , a country where everything went wrong since “ The day the killers blew out the brains of the king/Thousands were watching , no one saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglass , James W. Best Price : $ 6.42 Buy New $ 13.52 If you listen to Dylan ’ s piercing voice and follow the lyrics closely , you might be startled to be told , not from someone who can be dismissed as some sort of disgruntled “ conspiracy nut , ” but by the most famous musician in the world , that there was a government conspiracy to kill JFK , that Oswald didn ’ t do it , and that the killers then went for the president ’ s brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to music with a barely tinkling piano , a violin , and a soupçon of percussion , whose lightest words , as Hamlet ’ s father ’ s ghost said to him : “ Murder Most Foul ” truly startles .
It is a redemptive song .
Dylan holds the mirror up for us .
He unlocks the door to the painful and sickening truth .
He shoves the listener in , and , as he writes in Chronicles , “ your head has to go into a different place .
Sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you realize it.
” Bob is our certain somebody .
In these dark times he has offered us his voice .
You believe in redemption , don ’ t you ?
The Best of Edward Curtin

“For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ.” – Hamlet
On May 1, 1962, President John Kennedy was meeting in the Oval Office with a group of Quakers who were urging him to do more for peace and disarmament. As he kept explaining, the great political opposition he was facing within his own government, they kept urging him to do more. He listened very closely to their words and finally said, “You believe in redemption don’t you.” By the next spring he had turned decisively toward the peacemaking the Quakers had urged upon him, resulting in his murder in the fall by treacherous government forces, led by the CIA, that opposed him all along.
Now that Dylan has burst forth from behind his many masks and gifted the world with his incandescent new song about the assassination, with a title taken from Hamlet, from the mouth of the ghost of the dead King of Denmark –“ Murder Most Foul “– we have entered a new day in an odd way. For those who have wondered over the years if Dylan had “sold out,” here is their answer. For those who have wondered if he would go to his grave reciting the words of T.S. Eliot’s J. Alfred Prufrock – “I am no Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be” – here is Hamlet’s booming response. Not only does this song lay bare the truth of the most foundational event in modern American history, but it does so in such a powerfully poetic way and at such an opportune time that it should redeem Dylan in the eyes of those who ever doubted him.
I say “should,” but while the song’s release has garnered massive publicity from the mainstream media, it hasn’t taken long for that media to bury the truth of his words about the assassination under a spectacle of verbiage meant to damn with faint praise. As the media in a celebrity culture of the spectacle tend to do, the emphasis on the song’s pop cultural references is their focus, with platitudes about the assassination and “conspiracy theories,” as well as various shameful and gratuitous digs at Dylan for being weird, obsessed, or old. As the song says, “they killed him once and they killed him twice,” so now they can kill him a third time, and then a fourth ad infinitum. And now the messenger of the very bad news must be dispatched along with the dead president. Chronicles: Volume One Dylan, Bob Best Price: $1.80 Buy New $8.67 (as of 06:35 UTC - Details)
The media like their Hamlets impotent and enervated, but Dylan has come out roaring like a bull intent on avenging his dead president.
He has the poet’s touch, of course, a hyperbolic sense of the fantastic that draws you into his magical web in the pursuit of deeper truth. In many ways he’s like the Latin American magical realist writers who move from fact to dream to the fantastic in a puff of wind.
Dylan is our Emerson. His artistic philosophy has always been about movement in space and time through song. Always moving, always restless, always seeking a way back home through song, even when, or perhaps because, there are no directions. “An artist has got to be careful never to arrive at a place where he thinks he’s at somewhere,” he’s said. “You always have to realize that you are constantly in a state of becoming and as long as you can stay in that realm, you’ll be alright.”
Sounds like living, right.
Sounds like Emerson, also. “Life only avails, not the having lived. Power ceases in the instant of repose; it resides in the moment of transition from a past to a new state, in the shooting of the gulf, in the darting to an aim. Thus one fact the world hates, that the soul becomes.”
“Murder Most Foul” is Dylan’s soul becoming.
“A song is like a dream, and you try to make it come true. They’re like strange countries that you have to enter. You can write a song anywhere …. It helps to be moving. Sometimes people who have the greatest talent for writing songs never write any because they are not moving,” he wrote in Chronicles.
“Murder Most Foul” is a moving song in every sense of the word – a trip to truth.
Dylan has long been accused of abandoning his youthful idealism and protest music. I think this is a bum rap. He was never a protester, though his songs became anthems of the civil rights and anti-war movements. There is no doubt that those songs were inspirational and gave people hope to carry on the good fight. But in turning in a more oblique and circumspect musical direction, following his need to change as the spirit of inspiration moved him, Dylan’s songs came to inspire in a new way. You could always tell his sympathies lay with the oppressed and downtrodden, but for decades he didn’t shout it, with perhaps the one exception being the powerful, hard-hitting, and mesmeric Hurricane in 1975. With that one he stepped into the ring to brawl.
But for the most part over the years, a listener has had to catch his drift. If you go to the music, and dip into his various stylistic changes over the decades, however, you will find a consistency of themes. He deals with essentials like all great poets. Nothing is excluded. His work is paradoxical. Yes, he’s been singing about death since twelve, but it has always been countered by life and rebirth. There is joy and sadness; faith and doubt; happiness and suffering; injustice and justice; romance and its discontents; despair and hope. His music possesses a bit of a Taoist quality mixed with a Biblical sensibility conveyed by a hopelessly romantic American. He has fused his themes into an incantatory delivery that casts a moving spell of hope upon the listener. He is nothing if not a spiritual spell-binder; similar in many ways to that other quintessential American – the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, whose best work was a poetic quest for an inspired salvific poetry.
While speaking the unspeakable truth about President John Kennedy’s murder might seem hopeless, it is actually a sign of great hope. For our only hope is in telling the truth, which Bob has done.
This is art, not theory, and art of a special kind since Dylan is an artist at war with his art. His songs demand that the listener’s mind and spirit be moving as the spirit of creative inspiration moved Dylan. A close listening will force one to jump from line to line, verse to verse – to shoot the gulf – since there are no bridges to cross, no connecting links. The sound carries you over and keeps you moving forward. If you’re not moving, you’ll miss the meaning.
I have no wish to explicate the poet’s brilliant work. It speaks for itself. It says far more than it actually says about a system rotten to the core, a country where everything went wrong since “The day the killers blew out the brains of the king/Thousands were watching, no one saw a thing.” JFK and the Unspeakabl... Douglass, James W. Best Price: $6.42 Buy New $13.52 (as of 06:45 UTC - Details)
If you listen to Dylan’s piercing voice and follow the lyrics closely, you might be startled to be told, not from someone who can be dismissed as some sort of disgruntled “conspiracy nut,” but by the most famous musician in the world, that there was a government conspiracy to kill JFK, that Oswald didn’t do it, and that the killers then went for the president’s brothers.
Your brothers are comin’, there’ll be hell to pay
Brothers? What brothers? What’s this about hell?
Tell them, “We’re waiting, keep coming,” we’ll get them as well
This is an in-your-face tale, set to music with a barely tinkling piano, a violin, and a soupçon of percussion, whose lightest words, as Hamlet’s father’s ghost said to him:
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,
Thy knotty and combinèd locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand on end
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine.
“Murder Most Foul” truly startles. It is a redemptive song. Dylan holds the mirror up for us. He unlocks the door to the painful and sickening truth. He shoves the listener in, and, as he writes in Chronicles, “your head has to go into a different place. Sometimes it takes a certain somebody to make you realize it.”
Bob is our certain somebody. In these dark times he has offered us his voice.
You believe in redemption, don’t you?
The Best of Edward Curtin


lewrockwell--2020-04-01--The Biggest Fraud in History Is Happening Right Before Our Eyes

“ When I consider Life , ’ tis all a cheat ; Yet , fooled with hope , men favour the deceit ; Trust on , and think to-morrow will repay : To-morrow ’ s falser than the former day ; Lies worse ; and while it says , we shall be blest With some new joys , cuts off what we possesst.
” ~ John Dryden , Aureng-Zebe More and more evidence is forthcoming daily that this new coronavirus called Covid-19 , is not only being blown out of proportion , but is purposely being manipulated to show many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this mystery virus .
In some cases , as in Italy , the so-called current epicenter of this falsely identified pandemic , the obvious deception is easy to identify , but it goes on none the less ; this due to the perpetrators of this fraud understanding that fear sells , and allows for the unimpeded ease of population control .
This is partially due to a weakness of mind , but also to the fact that the American public is no longer independent and free , but is beholding to the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 Lux Br ... Best Price : $ 193.19 Buy New $ 209.00 Much of the hype surrounding this ordeal has been refuted , and those responsible for making magnificent and unsubstantiated death claims early on have not only backed off , but have ratcheted down their initial warnings exponentially .
This was done quietly and without fanfare of course , unlike their mass fear mongering , but nonetheless their claims were patently false .
This is why the continued tyranny due to this hype is so ridiculous , as the false basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the political class and its media continue on as if their lies were not noticed .
In the meantime , millions of Americans are without a job , without savings , and without any way to support their families , all due to forcible government interference into their lives in the name of “ safety.
” The economy was shut down , and is still shut down , with no apparent end in sight .
The salacious headlines continue , and read as if Armageddon is already here , but by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being reported of death due to this virus could be ten times too high .
There should be no doubt at this point that this entire episode of viral panic has either been purposely staged , or used to accomplish nefarious political agendas , or both .
All this for a pneumonia-like sickness that is minor compared to the common flu , but a very convenient tool if control of the masses is sought .
Much of this began due to governments ’ around the world , especially in the U.S. and UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed coronavirus “ expert , ” Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson .
He projected 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. and over 500 thousand in the UK if extreme actions were not taken .
After the first day of the UK lockdown , he lowered those estimates by a factor of 25 down to 20,000 .
After this was properly scrutinized , he made a statement in an attempt to cover his own incompetence , but was not successfully in my opinion .
But did things change after his fraudulent model was exposed ; a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Of course not , because that would never fit the agenda sought by the ruling class .
The worst case of abuse of the truth concerning this virus has been in Italy where over 88 % of alleged deaths due to coronavirus were misattributed .
In other words , 9 out of every 10 deaths in Italy stated as due to coronavirus are likely false .
For more information about the Italian scam , see these links here , here , here , and here .
If things continue as of late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to completely shut down , claiming death numbers that are also extremely misleading , and in fact could be outright lies .
Much of the economic damage is already done , and the continued devastation due to the extreme measures taken under the guise of protecting all of us will linger for an unknown amount of time .
GDP in this country is estimated to fall 35 % in just the second quarter alone , but with much of the economy completely destroyed , and possible unemployment up to 30 % or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted , the damage already done will prove to be unbearable .
With this comes extreme psychological problems as well , and sickness and despair at every level will not only increase , but will be deadly .
When all is said and done , this virus will seem tame compared to the horrible consequences of the state ’ s version of a cure .
The next menacing government threat of this plotted response is coming , and that is a coronavirus vaccine that will be demanded or even forced on the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control get ever tighter , mandated vaccinations are in our future .
Long after this virus has disappeared , the vaccines will still be with us , and most likely very dangerous .
First , vaccines are questionable when all is done correctly , and over a long period of time , but a coronavirus vaccine is already being tested .
Vaccines normally need at least 18 months or more to be tested properly before being used on the public .
The risks and potential side effects could be deadly , and certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wolf in sheep ’ s clothing called the government and the CDC .
False claims about this new vaccination coming will abound , but caution is warranted .
The Vitamin D Revoluti ... Soram Khalsa Best Price : $ 1.25 Buy New $ 10.69 This is about power and money , lots of money .
Pharmaceutical companies , the CDC , and those like Bill Gates and his ilk , stand to make fortunes , and with mandates for vaccination , also will have a seemingly endless market , all due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dream for these evil people and corporations , and safety is the last order of business in a fiasco like the one unfolding .
Fear and panic have driven this monstrous response , and although government and the mainstream media knowingly fed this fear from all angles , the people at large accepted the fraud hook , line , and sinker .
As I have mentioned many times previously , the death toll from the state response of shutting down the country , isolating people and families , forcing those most at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a death penalty , and destroying the economic activity that sustains the lives of all will certainly be responsible for many more deaths than the so-called threat of any virus .
The toll on Americans from this madness perpetrated by government will be the real pandemic , and one that will continue for years to come .
What a travesty , and what an exposé on the horrendous and vile nature of government and media today .
Evil is as evil does , and government ’ s evil deeds during this manufactured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the political system and its criminal representatives at every level of rule .
The state is God , deifies arms and prisons .
The worship of the state is the worship of force .
There is no more dangerous menace to civilization than a government of incompetent , corrupt , or vile men .
The worst evils which mankind ever had to endure were inﬂicted by bad governments .
The state can be and has often been in the course of history the main source of mischief and disaster .
~ Ludwig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Best of Gary D. Barnett

“When I consider Life, ’tis all a cheat;
Yet, fooled with hope, men favour the deceit;
Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay:
To-morrow’s falser than the former day;
Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest
With some new joys, cuts off what we possesst.”
~ John Dryden, Aureng-Zebe
More and more evidence is forthcoming daily that this new coronavirus called Covid-19, is not only being blown out of proportion, but is purposely being manipulated to show many more deaths than are actually caused by this mystery virus. In some cases, as in Italy, the so-called current epicenter of this falsely identified pandemic, the obvious deception is easy to identify, but it goes on none the less; this due to the perpetrators of this fraud understanding that fear sells, and allows for the unimpeded ease of population control. This is partially due to a weakness of mind, but also to the fact that the American public is no longer independent and free, but is beholding to the state as guardian of the flock. Flamingo 10,000 Lux Br... Best Price: $193.19 Buy New $209.00 (as of 04:40 UTC - Details)
Much of the hype surrounding this ordeal has been refuted, and those responsible for making magnificent and unsubstantiated death claims early on have not only backed off, but have ratcheted down their initial warnings exponentially. This was done quietly and without fanfare of course, unlike their mass fear mongering, but nonetheless their claims were patently false. This is why the continued tyranny due to this hype is so ridiculous, as the false basis for the initial fear has been exposed, but the political class and its media continue on as if their lies were not noticed. In the meantime, millions of Americans are without a job, without savings, and without any way to support their families, all due to forcible government interference into their lives in the name of “safety.” The economy was shut down, and is still shut down, with no apparent end in sight.
The salacious headlines continue, and read as if Armageddon is already here, but by some legitimate estimates, the actual numbers being reported of death due to this virus could be ten times too high. There should be no doubt at this point that this entire episode of viral panic has either been purposely staged, or used to accomplish nefarious political agendas, or both. All this for a pneumonia-like sickness that is minor compared to the common flu, but a very convenient tool if control of the masses is sought.
Much of this began due to governments’ around the world, especially in the U.S. and UK, listening to one man, a supposed coronavirus “expert,” Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson. He projected 2.2 million deaths in the U.S. and over 500 thousand in the UK if extreme actions were not taken. After the first day of the UK lockdown, he lowered those estimates by a factor of 25 down to 20,000. After this was properly scrutinized, he made a statement in an attempt to cover his own incompetence, but was not successfully in my opinion. But did things change after his fraudulent model was exposed; a model used to close down entire countries? Of course not, because that would never fit the agenda sought by the ruling class.
The worst case of abuse of the truth concerning this virus has been in Italy where over 88% of alleged deaths due to coronavirus were misattributed. In other words, 9 out of every 10 deaths in Italy stated as due to coronavirus are likely false. For more information about the Italian scam, see these links here, here, here, and here. If things continue as of late, the U.S. will be the next country to completely shut down, claiming death numbers that are also extremely misleading, and in fact could be outright lies.
Much of the economic damage is already done, and the continued devastation due to the extreme measures taken under the guise of protecting all of us will linger for an unknown amount of time. GDP in this country is estimated to fall 35% in just the second quarter alone, but with much of the economy completely destroyed, and possible unemployment up to 30% or more, even when these restrictions are lifted, the damage already done will prove to be unbearable. With this comes extreme psychological problems as well, and sickness and despair at every level will not only increase, but will be deadly. When all is said and done, this virus will seem tame compared to the horrible consequences of the state’s version of a cure.
The next menacing government threat of this plotted response is coming, and that is a coronavirus vaccine that will be demanded or even forced on the public. As the screws of surveillance and control get ever tighter, mandated vaccinations are in our future. Long after this virus has disappeared, the vaccines will still be with us, and most likely very dangerous. First, vaccines are questionable when all is done correctly, and over a long period of time, but a coronavirus vaccine is already being tested. Vaccines normally need at least 18 months or more to be tested properly before being used on the public. The risks and potential side effects could be deadly, and certainly could cause much harm. Beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing called the government and the CDC. False claims about this new vaccination coming will abound, but caution is warranted. The Vitamin D Revoluti... Soram Khalsa Best Price: $1.25 Buy New $10.69 (as of 08:00 UTC - Details)
This is about power and money, lots of money. Pharmaceutical companies, the CDC, and those like Bill Gates and his ilk, stand to make fortunes, and with mandates for vaccination, also will have a seemingly endless market, all due to government interference and enforcement. This is a dream for these evil people and corporations, and safety is the last order of business in a fiasco like the one unfolding.
Fear and panic have driven this monstrous response, and although government and the mainstream media knowingly fed this fear from all angles, the people at large accepted the fraud hook, line, and sinker. As I have mentioned many times previously, the death toll from the state response of shutting down the country, isolating people and families, forcing those most at risk into seclusion which is the equivalent to a death penalty, and destroying the economic activity that sustains the lives of all will certainly be responsible for many more deaths than the so-called threat of any virus. The toll on Americans from this madness perpetrated by government will be the real pandemic, and one that will continue for years to come. What a travesty, and what an exposé on the horrendous and vile nature of government and media today. Evil is as evil does, and government’s evil deeds during this manufactured crisis have laid bare the wickedness that is the political system and its criminal representatives at every level of rule.
The state is God, deifies arms and prisons. The worship of the state is the worship of force. There is no more dangerous menace to civilization than a government of incompetent, corrupt, or vile men. The worst evils which mankind ever had to endure were inﬂicted by bad governments. The state can be and has often been in the course of history the main source of mischief and disaster.
~ Ludwig von Mises, Chapter III: Etatism
The Best of Gary D. Barnett


lewrockwell--2020-04-01--In Defense of ‘Price Gouging’

In Defense of ‘Price Gouging’

Price is the market mechanism that balances supply and demand .
If supply increases , or demand decreases , or both , price will fall .
Conversely , if supply decreases or demand increases , or both , price will rise .
Some markets are extremely liquid and this price change happens quickly and frequently – for example the price you pay for gasoline .
The same station might change its price up or down a few pennies every day .
The vast majority of the time supply and demand move in small increments and changes in price are hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when markets are shocked .
Hurricanes in FL might increase the demand for plywood while at the same time supply is diminished both in stores and through strained supply chains .
This is where well-meaning politicians have often stepped in and enacted laws forcing business to keep prices at the level they were before the shock came .
While well-intended , whether by law or a business owner ’ s personal altruism , not raising prices in a time like this can hurt those it was most designed to help .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are allowed to rise , guys with pickup trucks in surrounding states might anticipate the need , buy the surplus in their region , and drive to FL reselling to those who need in .
Yes they do this at a profit , sometimes .
But , if the market need is misjudged they could end up taking a loss .
This is the essence of being an entrepreneur – forecasting market needs and taking a risk to meet them .
When the law will not allow businesses to increase the price of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickup trucks ” will simply stay home , and the people most in need of plywood will have to do without , until the inadequate ( for the situation ) supply chains of existing businesses like Lowes or Home Depot are able to catch up .
NOW Supplements , Vitam ... Best Price : null Buy New $ 9.92 ( $ 0.04 / Count ) But that ’ s not the only consequence .
If prices remain low , it signals to consumers that everything is normal .
The first ones in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need , leaving less for the people who arrive later .
Let ’ s consider a different , perhaps more personal example .
The whole nation just experienced this first hand with toilet paper .
When stores first began to notice the increased demand for toilet paper they had three options : 1 ) do nothing , 2 ) restrict the number of items each customer could buy , or 3 ) increase the price .
Unfortunately , most stores initially chose “ do nothing.
” This led to customers buying more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others without the ability to satisfy their needs .
Now that the shortage has spread beyond toilet paper into other goods like groceries , many stores have begun enforcing # 2 – restricting how many items each customer can buy .
The conceit of this should be clear after a moment of reflection .
It is the same problem that plagues all central planners .
How could they possibly know the right number of items to meet the needs of each customer ’ s unique situation ?
Only the customer could possibly know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance – Publix grocery stores has instituted a policy of not selling more than 2 of the same item to any one customer .
Seems reasonable , right ?
Yet their policy will allow you to buy 50 quarts of ice cream as long as you select at least 25 different varieties , but will not allow you to get 3 quarts of your favorite triple chocolate truffle variety .
Sure , maybe you won ’ t eat all that ice cream in one sitting , but why should it be Publix ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not qualified to judge your unique situation and needs .
How about another example ?
Their policy would restrict me from buying more than 2 cans of Bar Harbor brand condensed New England style clam chowder ( it ’ s fantastic , by the way ) .
But why ?
How do they know the right amount for me to buy ?
It just so happens that with a large family , we eat at least 4 cans in a single meal .
So for me buying 2 cans would be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next person in line is single and also buying two cans that could be the equivalent of 4 meals for them .
Why should Publix limit me to ½ a meal while allowing another person to purchase 4 meals ?
So we ’ re left with option # 3 – increasing price .
If stores had begun to raise the price of toilet paper when demand surged , people would naturally respond to the higher price and conserve .
With scarce resources , they would consider their immediate needs more carefully .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , it would leave more supply on the shelves for other consumers .
Next , it would cause stores to shift supply chains to support the now more profitable toilet paper , moving more supply out of warehouses and onto store shelves quickly .
Finally , the increased supply would have most likely calmed the panic and it would not have spread to grocery items and other areas .
You might ask why not just ask people to be considerate and only buy what is necessary and no more .
Do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to incentives , and the only equitable way to enforce conservation is to charge the correct market price that reflects the current balance of supply and demand and allow the customer to choose how they will allocate their resources .
Still not convinced this would work ?
I would just note that my local Publix is out of ground beef , but has plenty of ribeye in stock .
Price does matter , and the entrepreneur who responds appropriately is an economic hero .

Price is the market mechanism that balances supply and demand. If supply increases, or demand decreases, or both, price will fall. Conversely, if supply decreases or demand increases, or both, price will rise.
Some markets are extremely liquid and this price change happens quickly and frequently – for example the price you pay for gasoline. The same station might change its price up or down a few pennies every day. The vast majority of the time supply and demand move in small increments and changes in price are hardly noticeable.
However, there are times when markets are shocked. Hurricanes in FL might increase the demand for plywood while at the same time supply is diminished both in stores and through strained supply chains. This is where well-meaning politicians have often stepped in and enacted laws forcing business to keep prices at the level they were before the shock came. While well-intended, whether by law or a business owner’s personal altruism, not raising prices in a time like this can hurt those it was most designed to help.
In the hurricane example, if prices of plywood are allowed to rise, guys with pickup trucks in surrounding states might anticipate the need, buy the surplus in their region, and drive to FL reselling to those who need in. Yes they do this at a profit, sometimes. But, if the market need is misjudged they could end up taking a loss. This is the essence of being an entrepreneur – forecasting market needs and taking a risk to meet them. When the law will not allow businesses to increase the price of plywood, those same “guys with pickup trucks” will simply stay home, and the people most in need of plywood will have to do without, until the inadequate (for the situation) supply chains of existing businesses like Lowes or Home Depot are able to catch up. NOW Supplements, Vitam... Buy New $9.92 ($0.04 / Count) (as of 04:43 UTC - Details)
But that’s not the only consequence. If prices remain low, it signals to consumers that everything is normal. The first ones in line might buy more plywood than their actual need, leaving less for the people who arrive later.
Let’s consider a different, perhaps more personal example. The whole nation just experienced this first hand with toilet paper. When stores first began to notice the increased demand for toilet paper they had three options: 1) do nothing, 2) restrict the number of items each customer could buy, or 3) increase the price. Unfortunately, most stores initially chose “do nothing.” This led to customers buying more than could satisfy their immediate needs, leaving others without the ability to satisfy their needs.
Now that the shortage has spread beyond toilet paper into other goods like groceries, many stores have begun enforcing #2 – restricting how many items each customer can buy. The conceit of this should be clear after a moment of reflection. It is the same problem that plagues all central planners. How could they possibly know the right number of items to meet the needs of each customer’s unique situation? Only the customer could possibly know that. Here’s a for instance – Publix grocery stores has instituted a policy of not selling more than 2 of the same item to any one customer. Seems reasonable, right? Yet their policy will allow you to buy 50 quarts of ice cream as long as you select at least 25 different varieties, but will not allow you to get 3 quarts of your favorite triple chocolate truffle variety. Sure, maybe you won’t eat all that ice cream in one sitting, but why should it be Publix’ decision how much you buy. They are not qualified to judge your unique situation and needs.
How about another example? Their policy would restrict me from buying more than 2 cans of Bar Harbor brand condensed New England style clam chowder (it’s fantastic, by the way). But why? How do they know the right amount for me to buy? It just so happens that with a large family, we eat at least 4 cans in a single meal. So for me buying 2 cans would be the same as half a meal. If the next person in line is single and also buying two cans that could be the equivalent of 4 meals for them. Why should Publix limit me to ½ a meal while allowing another person to purchase 4 meals?
So we’re left with option #3 – increasing price. If stores had begun to raise the price of toilet paper when demand surged, people would naturally respond to the higher price and conserve. With scarce resources, they would consider their immediate needs more carefully. This would create multiple positive outcomes. First, it would leave more supply on the shelves for other consumers. Next, it would cause stores to shift supply chains to support the now more profitable toilet paper, moving more supply out of warehouses and onto store shelves quickly. Finally, the increased supply would have most likely calmed the panic and it would not have spread to grocery items and other areas.
You might ask why not just ask people to be considerate and only buy what is necessary and no more. Do you even know human nature? Humans respond to incentives, and the only equitable way to enforce conservation is to charge the correct market price that reflects the current balance of supply and demand and allow the customer to choose how they will allocate their resources.
Still not convinced this would work? I would just note that my local Publix is out of ground beef, but has plenty of ribeye in stock. Price does matter, and the entrepreneur who responds appropriately is an economic hero.