All Businesses Matter

Just as all lives matter , so all businesses matter .
Most Americans have been confined to their homes for the past month except when they need to get something from an “ essential ” business .
And who in their omniscience has decided which businesses are essential ?
Why , the government , of course .
And what businesses does the government consider to be essential ?
Well , it depends on the state .
But this doesn ’ t exonerate the federal government in the least .
It is the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) that is responsible for inciting the coronavirus insanity .
And it is the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) of the Department of Homeland Security that last month issued its “ Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce : Ensuring Community and National Resilience In COVID-19 Response ” that many states are following .
Battlefield America : T ... Whitehead , John W. Best Price : null Buy New $ 9.99 In my state of Florida , Governor Ron DeSantis , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-51 ) on March 1 “ directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency ” because of COVID-19 and then issued another executive order ( 20-52 ) On March 9 “ declaring a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida as a result of COVID-19.
” On March 17 , DeSantis issued an executive order ( 20-68 ) restricting the operation of bars and restaurants and practically closing the beaches .
On March 20 , DeSantis issued an executive order ( 20-71 ) shutting down bars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 20 , DeSantis issued an executive order ( 20-72 ) banning all “ medically unnecessary , non-urgent or non-emergency procedure or surgery ” and directing all dentists to cease performing “ elective services.
” On March 27 , DeSantis issued an executive order ( 20-83 ) urging the elderly and those with serious underlying medical conditions to stay at home .
Included also was “ a public health advisory against all social or recreational gatherings of 10 or more people.
” Also on March 27 , DeSantis issued an executive order ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations.
” On March DeSantis issued an executive order ( 20-89 ) restricting in four Florida counties “ public access to business and facilities deemed non-essential.
” Finally , on April 1 , DeSantis issued an executive order ( 20-91 ) directing “ all persons in Florida ” to “ limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.
” “ Essential services ” means and encompasses “ the list detailed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infrastructure Workforce ” and “ those businesses and activities designed by Executive Order 20-89 and its attachment.
” “ Essential activities ” include “ attending religious services conducted in churches , synagogues and houses of worship ” and “ participating in recreational activities ( consistent with social distancing guidelines ) such as walking , biking , hiking , fishing , hunting , running , or swimming.
” The Free Society Laurence M. Vance Best Price : $ 13.55 Buy New $ 17.54 These executive orders are nothing but creeping fascism .
Their destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of churches closing when they don ’ t have to , “ unessential ” bookstores closing while “ essential ” liquor stores remain open , and outdoor seating areas at convenience stores wrapped in plastic .
Things are just as insane in other states .
In Idaho , a woman was threatened with jail time for holding a “ nonessential ” yard sale .
In Tennessee , churches are closed but abortion clinics are open .
In all states ( except Massachusetts ) where recreational marijuana is legal , marijuana merchants have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , every business is essential because every type of industry relies on , stimulates , and necessitates the other industries .
And of course , every business is essential to the owner of the business , the family of the owner , the employees who work at the business , and the customers who patronize the business .
Once it is accepted that the government can decide which businesses are essential , then no reasonable or logical argument can be made against the government deciding which products and services offered by businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is accepted that the government can decide which businesses are essential , then no reasonable or logical argument can be made against the government deciding And of course , when the government deems something to be essential , it also means that it intends to suppress what it deems to not be essential .
Governors and mayors forcing businesses to close—with the prompting and full support of the federal government—is a big leap toward a totalitarian police state .
And there is a reason I did not say “ a first step.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this way for years , as John Whitehead has so chronicled in detail .
The coronavirus insanity may just be the final straw .
Just as all lives matter , so all businesses matter .
The Best of Laurence M. Vance

“Governments have no right or authority to tell us what business or other activity is ‘essential.’ Only in totalitarian states does the government claim this authority.” ~ Ron Paul
Just as all lives matter, so all businesses matter.
Most Americans have been confined to their homes for the past month except when they need to get something from an “essential” business. And who in their omniscience has decided which businesses are essential? Why, the government, of course.
And what businesses does the government consider to be essential? Well, it depends on the state. But this doesn’t exonerate the federal government in the least. It is the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the federal National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) that is responsible for inciting the coronavirus insanity. And it is the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security that last month issued its “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience In COVID-19 Response” that many states are following. Battlefield America: T... Whitehead, John W. Buy New $9.99 (as of 12:10 UTC - Details)
In my state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, issued an executive order (20-51) on March 1 “directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency” because of COVID-19 and then issued another executive order (20-52) On March 9 “declaring a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida as a result of COVID-19.” On March 17, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-68) restricting the operation of bars and restaurants and practically closing the beaches. On March 20, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-71) shutting down bars, restaurants, and gyms. Also on March 20, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-72) banning all “medically unnecessary, non-urgent or non-emergency procedure or surgery” and directing all dentists to cease performing “elective services.” On March 27, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-83) urging the elderly and those with serious underlying medical conditions to stay at home. Included also was “a public health advisory against all social or recreational gatherings of 10 or more people.” Also on March 27, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-87) suspending all “vacation rental operations.” On March 30, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-89) restricting in four Florida counties “public access to business and facilities deemed non-essential.”
Finally, on April 1, DeSantis issued an executive order (20-91) directing “all persons in Florida” to “limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.” “Essential services” means and encompasses “the list detailed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” and “those businesses and activities designed by Executive Order 20-89 and its attachment.” “Essential activities” include “attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship” and “participating in recreational activities (consistent with social distancing guidelines) such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running, or swimming.” The Free Society Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $13.55 Buy New $17.54 (as of 04:55 UTC - Details)
These executive orders are nothing but creeping fascism. Their destruction of civil liberties has resulted the insanity of churches closing when they don’t have to, “unessential” bookstores closing while “essential” liquor stores remain open, and outdoor seating areas at convenience stores wrapped in plastic.
Things are just as insane in other states. In Idaho, a woman was threatened with jail time for holding a “nonessential” yard sale. In Tennessee, churches are closed but abortion clinics are open. In all states (except Massachusetts) where recreational marijuana is legal, marijuana merchants have been deemed “essential.”
In a market economy, every business is essential because every type of industry relies on, stimulates, and necessitates the other industries. And of course, every business is essential to the owner of the business, the family of the owner, the employees who work at the business, and the customers who patronize the business.
Once it is accepted that the government can decide which businesses are essential, then no reasonable or logical argument can be made against the government deciding which products and services offered by businesses are essential.
That is, once it is accepted that the government can decide which businesses are essential, then no reasonable or logical argument can be made against the government deciding
which medical procedures are essential
which sporting events are essential
which recreational activities are essential
which foods are essential
which television programs are essential
which vitamins are essential A Government of Wolves... John W. Whitehead Best Price: $1.16 Buy New $2.99 (as of 10:15 UTC - Details )
which medicines are essential
which clothing is essential
which car repairs are essential
which amusements are essential
which religious activities are essential
which movies are essential
which books are essential
And of course, when the government deems something to be essential, it also means that it intends to suppress what it deems to not be essential.
Governors and mayors forcing businesses to close—with the prompting and full support of the federal government—is a big leap toward a totalitarian police state. And there is a reason I did not say “a first step.” The United States has been heading this way for years, as John Whitehead has so chronicled in detail. The coronavirus insanity may just be the final straw.
Just as all lives matter, so all businesses matter.
The Best of Laurence M. Vance


lewrockwell--2020-04-28--Throttle Up: Criminal Government

Throttle Up: Criminal Government

“ For a successful technology , reality must take precedence over public relations , for Nature can not be fooled.
” – Richard Feynman – Rogers Commission “ It appears that there are enormous differences of opinion as to the probability of a failure with loss of vehicle and of human life .
The estimates range from roughly 1 in 100 to 1 in 100,000 .
The higher figures come from the working engineers , and the very low figures from management .
What are the causes and consequences of this lack of agreement ?
Since 1 part in 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shuttle up each day for 300 years expecting to lose only one , we could properly ask “ What is the cause of management ’ s fantastic faith in the machinery ?
… It would appear that , for whatever purpose , be it for internal or external consumption , the management of NASA exaggerates the reliability of its product , to the point of fantasy.
” – Richard Feynman – Rogers Commission The phrase “ Throttle Up ” jumped into my consciousness in the last week when Trump and his coronavirus task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the guidelines for re-opening America , as if a formerly $ 22 trillion economy , tied to a $ 90 trillion global economy , could be turned off and on like a light switch .
Clap off , clap on .
It just doesn ’ t work that way .
The arrogance and hubris of people who think they can declare a global shut down for a virus and think they can easily deal with the intended and unintended consequences of doing so , is breathtaking in its outrageous recklessness and egotistical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surely You & rsqu ... Richard P. Feynman Best Price : $ 15.75 Buy New $ 32.49 This contemptible belief in their own superiority has permeated every fiber of those who rule over us , particularly among captured central bankers , corrupt politicians , bought off scientists , and billionaire oligarchs .
It is the same groupthink , purposeful failure to address risks , and willfully ignoring those in the trenches that murdered seven astronauts on January 28 , 1986 and has created the 2nd Great Depression of today .
“ Throttle Up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same outcome as it did in 1986 .
Thirty-four years ago , on a cold January morning , Space Shuttle Challenger thundered into a crystal-clear blue Florida sky on its 10th voyage into space .
The seven astronauts , including civilian Christa McAuliffe , put their trust in the “ experts ” from NASA , Thiokol , and Rockwell that the shuttle was safe and launching when the temperature was 30 degrees would not pose any added risks .
When Richard Covey in Mission Control informed the crew to “ go at throttle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training told them would happen .
Instead , Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in a horrific display witnessed live on TV by 17 % of the American population .
School children all over the country were watching in their classrooms because McAuliffe was a school teacher chosen from thousands to go into space .
It was a tragedy that shook the nation and led to one of Reagan ’ s better speeches that night , where he addressed the nation ’ s school children .
And he ended with this line from the poem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began the politician ’ s use of death to create heroes when human error , hubris , and recklessness is the true cause of avoidable tragedy and despair .
Those seven astronauts were not heroes , they were victims .
Just as we are all victims of the incompetency , arrogance , corruption and greed of those who lead our government , financial system , and corporate fascist oligarchy passing for capitalism in this globalist-controlled fraud of a former republic .
Using victims to create false heroes has now been elevated to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media and mega-corporations to push whatever agenda supports their narrative .
The propaganda machine is their most useful tool , as decades of dumbing down the public through government school indoctrination has created millions of pliable useful idiots who will believe anything presented by “ experts ” on the boob tube .
The fear and panic created by politicians and the media about a virus only marginally more dangerous than the common flu is the perfect representation of this power over reality .
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster is a perfect analogy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people by fecklessly corrupt authoritarian politicians , IYI medical “ experts ” , and fear mongering fake news media pushing the narrative in whatever direction benefits their bottom line .
There is the simple technical reason why the Challenger blew up and then there is the real reason – the truthful explanation .
What we must understand from history and experience is , if we don ’ t accept the narratives pushed by “ experts ” and think critically based upon facts , the truth will eventually be revealed .
The immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the O-rings sealing the aft field joint on the right solid rocket booster , causing pressurized hot gases and eventually flame to “ blow by ” the O-ring and contact the adjacent external tank , causing structural failure .
The truth is , decisions made and not made over years sealed the fate of those victims , just as we are facing today with this man-made global catastrophe .
Six Easy Pieces : Essen ... Sands , Matthew Best Price : $ 4.98 Buy New $ 9.89 After the shuttle disaster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a commission to cover-up the true cause and protect the establishment from blame .
It was led by William Rogers , a government bureaucrat for decades , along with numerous other people with a vested interest in protecting NASA , the massive defense corporations sucking off the government teat , and the crooked politicians supporting NASA .
There were a couple of members from the trenches , like Sally Ride and Chuck Yeager , but the thorn in the side of the establishment was theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feynman reluctantly agreed to join the commission , knowing he was going to be out of his element in the swamp of Washington D.C .
The nation ’ s capital , he told his wife , was “ a great big world of mystery to me , with tremendous forces.
” Feynman immediately created problems by thinking outside the box and having the gall to ignore the excuses and lies of high-level managers at NASA , Thiokol and Rockwell , while seeking the opinions of the actual engineers who did the real work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line irritated the old guard looking to coverup the truth .
During a break in one hearing , Rogers told commission member Neil Armstrong , “ Feynman is becoming a pain in the ass.
” The establishment always thinks anyone who questions their authority or expertise is a pain in the ass , at best .
Often , they treat anyone with an opposing viewpoint as the enemy , and will undertake any means to shut them up and destroy them .
Witness how Youtube and Google are currently memory holing anything questioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden ’ s sexual assault on a young woman as a Senator .
Feynman embarrassed the “ experts ” on national TV when he conducted a simple demonstration of why the shuttle blew up .
The truth is top management at NASA knew the O-rings were defective in 1977 and contained a potentially catastrophic flaw .
NASA managers also disregarded warnings from engineers about the dangers of launching posed by the low temperatures of that morning , and failed to adequately report these technical concerns to their superiors .
Thiokol engineer Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Help !
” so others would read it—of concerns regarding low temperatures and O-rings .
There were numerous teleconferences on the 27th of January where Ebeling and other engineers argued against the launch due to the freezing temperatures .
According to Ebeling , a second conference call was scheduled with only NASA and Thiokol management , excluding the engineers .
Thiokol management disregarded its own engineers ’ warnings and now recommended the launch proceed as scheduled .
Ebeling told his wife that night Challenger would blow up .
He was right .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s culture off the hook with no recommended sanctions against the deeply flawed organization .
Feynman could not in good conscience recommend NASA should continue without a suspension of operations and a major overhaul .
His fellow commission members were alarmed by Feynman ’ s dissent .
Feynman was so critical of flaws in NASA ’ s “ safety culture ” that he threatened to remove his name from the report unless it included his personal observations on the reliability of the shuttle , which appeared as Appendix F. ” What Do You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : $ 4.09 Buy New $ 10.40 The quote at the beginning of this article about upper management believing there was only a 1 in 100,000 chance of disaster , when the odds were really 1 in 100 or less , came from Feynman ’ s dissent in Appendix F. The fools at NASA and on the Commission didn ’ t understand or willfully ignored Feynman ’ s first principle : The truth stands on its own and is self-evident .
Feynman is an example of an actual hero , not an MSM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Geithner , Powell and the dozens of other psychopaths in suits who have been portrayed in the press as brilliant financial minds that saved the world .
Real heroes take a singular stand for the truth , when everyone else goes along with mistruths , half-truths , and false narratives of those with a subversive self-serving agenda .
The world is inundated in a blizzard of lies , designed to further the plans of those who control the levers of power and wealth .
Lies , backed by an unceasing stream of propaganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic the masses into willingly abandon their freedoms , liberties and rights for the chains of false safety , security , and state control over every aspect of their lives .
It is astonishing to watch in real time as a vast swath of America cowers in their homes , as demanded by their authoritarian elected leaders , while their livelihoods and net worth are purposely destroyed to benefit the .1 % ruling class .
I see multiple analogies today with the shuttle disaster and the lessons learned and not learned .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the same disregard for facts and data led to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster seventeen years later .
Just as the mid-level engineers at Thiokol warned of imminent disaster for years before the tragedy , there have been voices in the wilderness ( scorned and ridiculed as conspiracy theorists ) warning about the reckless arrogance of the Federal Reserve and their Wall Street owners , as they pumped up the largest financial bubble in world history as their solution for the catastrophe created by their previous monetary disaster in 2008 .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of NASA murdered fourteen innocent astronauts , the Fed has now twice destroyed millions of lives in the last twelve years .
These self-proclaimed experts have known the financial system was going to explode since the middle of 2019 when they began a series of desperate ruses , behind the curtain of the debt saturated Ponzi scheme , to keep the Wall Street cabal and hedge fund billionaires from facing the consequences of their fraudulent monetary machinations .
The surprise cutting of interest rates and emergency repo operations every night as we entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the mindless Harvard and Wharton MBAs programmed their high frequency trading computers to buy , buy , buy .
Best economy ever .
Greatest in the history of the world .
Stock market at all-time highs .
Then the China flu arrived , just in time .
A quick 30 % plunge in the stock market was all the Fed needed to rescue their true constituents – Wall Street and billionaire hedge funds – with $ 6 trillion , under the guise of saving the financial system for the little people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits from a man-made crisis , just follow the money .
The Federal government has committed at least $ 3 trillion of your grandchildren ’ s money to the crisis thus far , with the Federal Reserve announcing another $ 6 trillion of monetary support .
That ’ s $ 9 trillion , or $ 70,000 per household .
The average household size is 2.5 .
If we assume each household got their $ 1,200 Covid-19 rebate ( actually just giving them back the taxes they already pay ) , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking individual might wonder who got the other $ 67,000 of stimulus , or 95.7 % of the money allocated to “ save America ” .
It certainly hasn ’ t made its way to small business owners who are going out of business faster than burning gas through a defective O-ring .
If only $ 400 billion is making its way into the pockets of formerly working Americans , where did the other $ 8.6 trillion go ?
The Fourth Turning : An ... Howe , Neil Best Price : $ 7.92 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the pockets of Wall Street bankers , hedge fund managers , and the biggest corporations on the planet .
The Fed has used this faux crisis to further enrich and bailout the richest men on the planet , while again dropping interest rates to zero and throwing grandma under the bus again .
Let her eat cat food , declares Jerome Powell , champion and hero of downtrodden bankers .
He ’ ll be “ earning ” $ 25 million a year from Wall Street as his payoff , the minute he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple years .
As unemployment approaches 20 % , GDP plunges by 30 % , food banks are running out of food , citizens remain locked in their homes under threat of arrest , and human misery approaches 1930 Great Depression levels , the Fed has managed to buy enough toxic debt and artificially rig the stock market , to engineer a 27 % surge from its March lows .
We should all applaud the brilliance of Powell and his fellow sycophants , as they have saved the asses of the .1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this country was sealed well before this overblown hyped coronavirus appeared , to accelerate our demise .
The warnings about too much debt , rigged financial markets , unrestrained politicians running trillion dollar deficits , silicon valley giants conspiring with the Deep State to turn the country into a surveillance state , a military industrial complex creating conflict around the globe , and a state media propaganda machine providing false information to the masses , were dismissed by those who could have acted .
The deficit is now expected to hit $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national debt to $ 27 trillion .
This country is 231 years old and 85 % of our debt has been taken on in the last 23 years .
The Fed ’ s balance sheet was $ 800 billion in 2008 .
It will shortly surpass $ 10 trillion , just a mere 1,250 % increase in 12 years .
Do you understand the analogy with the Space Shuttle Challenger yet ?
We ’ ve left the launchpad at the same rate and angle as the Fed balance sheet .
Those in charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the coronavirus will prove to be our frozen O-ring .
It has been decades of mismanagement , corruption , bad decisions , horrible leadership , delusional thinking , herd mentality , and an inability to summon the courage to deal with critical problems before they blew our country into a million smoking pieces of debris .
Average Americans are trapped in the crew cabin relying on Trump , Powell , Mnuchin , and a myriad of other “ experts ” to safely launch the American economy back into space .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dozens of CEOs from the biggest mega-corporations on earth .
I know because I watched him read their names for fifteen minutes during one of his daily mind-numbing press conferences .
If you had any doubt about who your leaders work for , that list tells you all you need to know .
No one from your local steak shop , butcher or candlestick maker are represented on this task force .
It reminded me of the list of prominent people chosen for the Rogers Commission .
The belief by those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if nothing has happened are as delusional as the NASA administrators who were willfully blind to the truth of an impending disaster .
The actions taken by the political and financial arms of the Deep State have guaranteed this malfunction will prove fatal for our country .
The only question is how many seconds we have before our throttle up moment .
I tend to be a pessimist , so I am leaning towards an explosion before the November election .
The forthcoming financial catastrophic detonation will set off a chain of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ago .
The core elements of this Fourth Turning ( debt , civic decay , global disorder ) are going to juxtapose and connect , accelerating into a chain reaction of chaos , civil uprising , global war , mass casualties , the fall of empires , and ultimately the destruction of the existing social order ( aka Deep State ) .
Hopefully , heroes of Feynman ’ s stature will arise to help rebuild our country based upon common sense , truthfulness , factual assessment of our situation , and honoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reality must take precedence over delusions , propaganda , and lies for us to regain our nation .
Are we capable of learning the lessons from this major malfunction ?
Reprinted with permission from The Burning Platform .
The Best of Jim Quinn

“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.” – Richard Feynman – Rogers Commission “It appears that there are enormous differences of opinion as to the probability of a failure with loss of vehicle and of human life. The estimates range from roughly 1 in 100 to 1 in 100,000. The higher figures come from the working engineers, and the very low figures from management. What are the causes and consequences of this lack of agreement? Since 1 part in 100,000 would imply that one could put a Shuttle up each day for 300 years expecting to lose only one, we could properly ask “What is the cause of management’s fantastic faith in the machinery? … It would appear that, for whatever purpose, be it for internal or external consumption, the management of NASA exaggerates the reliability of its product, to the point of fantasy.” – Richard Feynman – Rogers Commission
The phrase “Throttle Up” jumped into my consciousness in the last week when Trump and his coronavirus task force of government hacks and bureaucrat lackeys announced the guidelines for re-opening America, as if a formerly $22 trillion economy, tied to a $90 trillion global economy, could be turned off and on like a light switch. Clap off, clap on. It just doesn’t work that way. The arrogance and hubris of people who think they can declare a global shut down for a virus and think they can easily deal with the intended and unintended consequences of doing so, is breathtaking in its outrageous recklessness and egotistical belief in their own infallibility.
”Surely You&rsqu... Richard P. Feynman Best Price: $15.75 Buy New $32.49 (as of 03:07 UTC - Details) This contemptible belief in their own superiority has permeated every fiber of those who rule over us, particularly among captured central bankers, corrupt politicians, bought off scientists, and billionaire oligarchs. It is the same groupthink, purposeful failure to address risks, and willfully ignoring those in the trenches that murdered seven astronauts on January 28, 1986 and has created the 2nd Great Depression of today. “Throttle Up” is going to result in the same outcome as it did in 1986.
Thirty-four years ago, on a cold January morning, Space Shuttle Challenger thundered into a crystal-clear blue Florida sky on its 10th voyage into space. The seven astronauts, including civilian Christa McAuliffe, put their trust in the “experts” from NASA, Thiokol, and Rockwell that the shuttle was safe and launching when the temperature was 30 degrees would not pose any added risks. When Richard Covey in Mission Control informed the crew to “go at throttle up”, they expected what their training told them would happen.
Instead, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in a horrific display witnessed live on TV by 17% of the American population. School children all over the country were watching in their classrooms because McAuliffe was a school teacher chosen from thousands to go into space. It was a tragedy that shook the nation and led to one of Reagan’s better speeches that night, where he addressed the nation’s school children.
“I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle’s takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them.”
And he ended with this line from the poem ‘High Flight’:
“We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of Earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.’”
Thus, began the politician’s use of death to create heroes when human error, hubris, and recklessness is the true cause of avoidable tragedy and despair. Those seven astronauts were not heroes, they were victims. Just as we are all victims of the incompetency, arrogance, corruption and greed of those who lead our government, financial system, and corporate fascist oligarchy passing for capitalism in this globalist-controlled fraud of a former republic.
Using victims to create false heroes has now been elevated to an art form by politicians, the corporate media and mega-corporations to push whatever agenda supports their narrative. The propaganda machine is their most useful tool, as decades of dumbing down the public through government school indoctrination has created millions of pliable useful idiots who will believe anything presented by “experts” on the boob tube. The fear and panic created by politicians and the media about a virus only marginally more dangerous than the common flu is the perfect representation of this power over reality.
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster is a perfect analogy for the current debacle being perpetrated on the American people by fecklessly corrupt authoritarian politicians, IYI medical “experts”, and fear mongering fake news media pushing the narrative in whatever direction benefits their bottom line. There is the simple technical reason why the Challenger blew up and then there is the real reason – the truthful explanation. What we must understand from history and experience is, if we don’t accept the narratives pushed by “experts” and think critically based upon facts, the truth will eventually be revealed.
The immediate cause of the explosion was a failure in the O-rings sealing the aft field joint on the right solid rocket booster, causing pressurized hot gases and eventually flame to “blow by” the O-ring and contact the adjacent external tank, causing structural failure. The truth is, decisions made and not made over years sealed the fate of those victims, just as we are facing today with this man-made global catastrophe. Six Easy Pieces: Essen... Sands, Matthew Best Price: $4.98 Buy New $9.89 (as of 03:07 UTC - Details)
After the shuttle disaster, politicians do what they do best, create a commission to cover-up the true cause and protect the establishment from blame. It was led by William Rogers, a government bureaucrat for decades, along with numerous other people with a vested interest in protecting NASA, the massive defense corporations sucking off the government teat, and the crooked politicians supporting NASA.
There were a couple of members from the trenches, like Sally Ride and Chuck Yeager, but the thorn in the side of the establishment was theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman. Despite being racked by cancer, Feynman reluctantly agreed to join the commission, knowing he was going to be out of his element in the swamp of Washington D.C. The nation’s capital, he told his wife, was “a great big world of mystery to me, with tremendous forces.”
Feynman immediately created problems by thinking outside the box and having the gall to ignore the excuses and lies of high-level managers at NASA, Thiokol and Rockwell, while seeking the opinions of the actual engineers who did the real work. His unwillingness to toe the company line irritated the old guard looking to coverup the truth. During a break in one hearing, Rogers told commission member Neil Armstrong, “Feynman is becoming a pain in the ass.”
The establishment always thinks anyone who questions their authority or expertise is a pain in the ass, at best. Often, they treat anyone with an opposing viewpoint as the enemy, and will undertake any means to shut them up and destroy them. Witness how Youtube and Google are currently memory holing anything questioning the establishment narrative about this virus or Joe Biden’s sexual assault on a young woman as a Senator. Feynman embarrassed the “experts” on national TV when he conducted a simple demonstration of why the shuttle blew up.
“I took this stuff I got out of your [O-ring] seal and I put it in ice water, and I discovered that when you put some pressure on it for a while and then undo it, it doesn’t stretch back. It stays the same dimension. In other words, for a few seconds at least, and more seconds than that, there is no resilience in this particular material when it is at a temperature of 32 degrees. I believe that has some significance for our problem.” – Richard Feynman
The truth is top management at NASA knew the O-rings were defective in 1977 and contained a potentially catastrophic flaw. NASA managers also disregarded warnings from engineers about the dangers of launching posed by the low temperatures of that morning, and failed to adequately report these technical concerns to their superiors. Thiokol engineer Bob Ebeling in October 1985 wrote a memo—titled “Help!” so others would read it—of concerns regarding low temperatures and O-rings.
There were numerous teleconferences on the 27th of January where Ebeling and other engineers argued against the launch due to the freezing temperatures. According to Ebeling, a second conference call was scheduled with only NASA and Thiokol management, excluding the engineers. Thiokol management disregarded its own engineers’ warnings and now recommended the launch proceed as scheduled. Ebeling told his wife that night Challenger would blow up. He was right.
The Commission attempted to let NASA’s culture off the hook with no recommended sanctions against the deeply flawed organization. Feynman could not in good conscience recommend NASA should continue without a suspension of operations and a major overhaul. His fellow commission members were alarmed by Feynman’s dissent. Feynman was so critical of flaws in NASA’s “safety culture” that he threatened to remove his name from the report unless it included his personal observations on the reliability of the shuttle, which appeared as Appendix F. ”What Do You Car... Leighton, Ralph Best Price: $4.09 Buy New $10.40 (as of 03:07 UTC - Details)
The quote at the beginning of this article about upper management believing there was only a 1 in 100,000 chance of disaster, when the odds were really 1 in 100 or less, came from Feynman’s dissent in Appendix F. The fools at NASA and on the Commission didn’t understand or willfully ignored Feynman’s first principle:
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.” – Richard Feynman
The truth stands on its own and is self-evident. Feynman is an example of an actual hero, not an MSM touted hero like Bernanke, Paulson, Geithner, Powell and the dozens of other psychopaths in suits who have been portrayed in the press as brilliant financial minds that saved the world. Real heroes take a singular stand for the truth, when everyone else goes along with mistruths, half-truths, and false narratives of those with a subversive self-serving agenda. The world is inundated in a blizzard of lies, designed to further the plans of those who control the levers of power and wealth.
Lies, backed by an unceasing stream of propaganda and fear, are being used to panic the masses into willingly abandon their freedoms, liberties and rights for the chains of false safety, security, and state control over every aspect of their lives. It is astonishing to watch in real time as a vast swath of America cowers in their homes, as demanded by their authoritarian elected leaders, while their livelihoods and net worth are purposely destroyed to benefit the .1% ruling class.
I see multiple analogies today with the shuttle disaster and the lessons learned and not learned. The leadership of NASA did not learn, as the same disregard for facts and data led to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster seventeen years later.
Just as the mid-level engineers at Thiokol warned of imminent disaster for years before the tragedy, there have been voices in the wilderness (scorned and ridiculed as conspiracy theorists) warning about the reckless arrogance of the Federal Reserve and their Wall Street owners, as they pumped up the largest financial bubble in world history as their solution for the catastrophe created by their previous monetary disaster in 2008. Just as the hubristic out of touch leadership of NASA murdered fourteen innocent astronauts, the Fed has now twice destroyed millions of lives in the last twelve years.
These self-proclaimed experts have known the financial system was going to explode since the middle of 2019 when they began a series of desperate ruses, behind the curtain of the debt saturated Ponzi scheme, to keep the Wall Street cabal and hedge fund billionaires from facing the consequences of their fraudulent monetary machinations.
The surprise cutting of interest rates and emergency repo operations every night as we entered 2020 covered up the imminent disaster, as the mindless Harvard and Wharton MBAs programmed their high frequency trading computers to buy, buy, buy. Best economy ever. Greatest in the history of the world. Stock market at all-time highs. Then the China flu arrived, just in time. A quick 30% plunge in the stock market was all the Fed needed to rescue their true constituents – Wall Street and billionaire hedge funds – with $6 trillion, under the guise of saving the financial system for the little people.
If you want to figure out who benefits from a man-made crisis, just follow the money. The Federal government has committed at least $3 trillion of your grandchildren’s money to the crisis thus far, with the Federal Reserve announcing another $6 trillion of monetary support. That’s $9 trillion, or $70,000 per household. The average household size is 2.5. If we assume each household got their $1,200 Covid-19 rebate (actually just giving them back the taxes they already pay), that’s $3,000 per household.
A critical thinking individual might wonder who got the other $67,000 of stimulus, or 95.7% of the money allocated to “save America”. It certainly hasn’t made its way to small business owners who are going out of business faster than burning gas through a defective O-ring. If only $400 billion is making its way into the pockets of formerly working Americans, where did the other $8.6 trillion go? The Fourth Turning: An... Howe, Neil Best Price: $7.92 Buy New $12.04 (as of 08:30 UTC - Details)
It went directly into the pockets of Wall Street bankers, hedge fund managers, and the biggest corporations on the planet. The Fed has used this faux crisis to further enrich and bailout the richest men on the planet, while again dropping interest rates to zero and throwing grandma under the bus again. Let her eat cat food, declares Jerome Powell, champion and hero of downtrodden bankers. He’ll be “earning” $25 million a year from Wall Street as his payoff, the minute he saunters out of the Eccles Building in a couple years.
As unemployment approaches 20%, GDP plunges by 30%, food banks are running out of food, citizens remain locked in their homes under threat of arrest, and human misery approaches 1930 Great Depression levels, the Fed has managed to buy enough toxic debt and artificially rig the stock market, to engineer a 27% surge from its March lows. We should all applaud the brilliance of Powell and his fellow sycophants, as they have saved the asses of the .1%, for now.
The fate of this country was sealed well before this overblown hyped coronavirus appeared, to accelerate our demise. The warnings about too much debt, rigged financial markets, unrestrained politicians running trillion dollar deficits, silicon valley giants conspiring with the Deep State to turn the country into a surveillance state, a military industrial complex creating conflict around the globe, and a state media propaganda machine providing false information to the masses, were dismissed by those who could have acted.
The deficit is now expected to hit $3.7 trillion in 2020, pushing the national debt to $27 trillion. This country is 231 years old and 85% of our debt has been taken on in the last 23 years. The Fed’s balance sheet was $800 billion in 2008. It will shortly surpass $10 trillion, just a mere 1,250% increase in 12 years. Do you understand the analogy with the Space Shuttle Challenger yet?
We’ve left the launchpad at the same rate and angle as the Fed balance sheet. Those in charge assure us they have everything under control, but the coronavirus will prove to be our frozen O-ring. It has been decades of mismanagement, corruption, bad decisions, horrible leadership, delusional thinking, herd mentality, and an inability to summon the courage to deal with critical problems before they blew our country into a million smoking pieces of debris.
Average Americans are trapped in the crew cabin relying on Trump, Powell, Mnuchin, and a myriad of other “experts” to safely launch the American economy back into space. Trump has convened a re-opening task force consisting of dozens of CEOs from the biggest mega-corporations on earth. I know because I watched him read their names for fifteen minutes during one of his daily mind-numbing press conferences. If you had any doubt about who your leaders work for, that list tells you all you need to know. No one from your local steak shop, butcher or candlestick maker are represented on this task force. It reminded me of the list of prominent people chosen for the Rogers Commission.
The belief by those in charge that things can just go on as if nothing has happened are as delusional as the NASA administrators who were willfully blind to the truth of an impending disaster. The actions taken by the political and financial arms of the Deep State have guaranteed this malfunction will prove fatal for our country. The only question is how many seconds we have before our throttle up moment. I tend to be a pessimist, so I am leaning towards an explosion before the November election. The forthcoming financial catastrophic detonation will set off a chain of events considered impossible just a few short months ago.
The core elements of this Fourth Turning (debt, civic decay, global disorder) are going to juxtapose and connect, accelerating into a chain reaction of chaos, civil uprising, global war, mass casualties, the fall of empires, and ultimately the destruction of the existing social order (aka Deep State). Hopefully, heroes of Feynman’s stature will arise to help rebuild our country based upon common sense, truthfulness, factual assessment of our situation, and honoring the essential principles of our Constitution. Reality must take precedence over delusions, propaganda, and lies for us to regain our nation. Are we capable of learning the lessons from this major malfunction?
“Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously, a major malfunction.” – Steve Nesbitt – NASA Mission Control “I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.” ― Richard Feynman
Reprinted with permission from The Burning Platform.
The Best of Jim Quinn


lewrockwell--2020-04-28--Are You a Dissident in the Era of Corona Communism?

In communist Czechoslovakia , one who dissented from the prevailing beliefs in “ official culture ” was a dissident .
It was as much , if not more , a frame of mind , as it was a way of acting .
The mind had to be kept free , and the dissident had to live to fight another day .
He would also , likely , live a less-than-affluent , possibly even impoverished , existence as he sought to speak truth as much as he could get away with , as he sought to disobey as often as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with consequences , that disobedience offered its own reward .
Henry David Thoreau writes “ Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty .
The obedient must be slaves.
” The Five Stages of Col ... Orlov , Dmitry Best Price : $ 4.27 Buy New $ 1.99 Barely any framework for disciplining the dissident exists in America today the way it did in communist Czechoslovakia .
At least not yet .
A dissident might have been assigned a handler to check in with him .
A dissident might have been prevented from travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been prevented from pursuing higher education .
The extended family of a dissident might have been denied economic opportunity .
The punishment of loved ones was perhaps the worst part .
Self-deportation may have been strongly encouraged in some cases where a person was committed to domestic political change .
Prison time and hard labor were both possibilities .
In a totalitarian regime , the cruelty that can be visited upon a dissident has little limit , other than the imagination and enthusiasm of the homeland security officer assigned to the dissident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , America , in spring 2020 , is a far cry from totalitarianism .
Some dissidents today , in former Czechoslovakia , are celebrated in this era post-communism .
Most are forgotten by all but those who knew them , and the few who have heard their tales passed through the oral tradition .
Some dissidents remain cantankerous outsiders to this day , perennially dissatisfied with the system around them , akin to Twain ’ s “ Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority , it is time to reform.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isaiah ’ s Job ” that the work of the dissident , though he does not use the word dissident , is to continue speaking the truth as he knows it .
“ The remnant ” in society will find him , will listen to him , and will be fed by his courage .
It is not the job of a dissident to grow popular or to know his audience .
It is the job of the dissident to speak his truth courageously , as courage is contagious .
Luckily , courage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truth , courageously delivered , is far more impactful than a coronavirus .
Hidden History : An Exp ... Donald Jeffries Best Price : $ 9.86 Buy New $ 14.70 Nock describes the work of a prophet .
Some may call the dissident a gadfly , which Walter Block once defined , in an interview with me , as “ someone who questions received opinion.
” Though the churches are closed under corona communism , a feat never accomplished even in the USSR , in many ways , America under corona communism is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corona response .
The consequences of dissent are so minor , the rewards are so major , and even advocates of corona communism are inviting the crucible of fervent dissent .
To stand idle , after all , is no way for a patriot to act .
This moment merely requires your questioning of received opinion as courageously as you can muster .
No punishment is likely to befall you .
The Neil Ferguson Imperial College paper of March 16 , 2020 , is widely cited by governments as the reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 18 months of this , followed by mass vaccination .
On this topic Ferguson is clear : that 18-month rolling lockdown is only if the people allow it to happen .
Ferguson ’ s words in the closing of the paper , practically beg for robust dissent to put an end to the policy , which Ferguson himself admits in that paper , may not be only politically unfeasible , but unethical as well .
But if such dissent does not push government back , this will not go on for 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will not go on for 60 days , as we are being told .
It will go on for 18 months , and a good enough reason will then be produced for the gullible , so that it will not stop there after 18 months .
The Storm Before the C ... Friedman , George Best Price : $ 22.22 Buy New $ 18.90 Today .
Today is the day to end your own lockdown .
Don ’ t wait for anyone to free you .
Don ’ t wait for anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so only recognizes the legitimacy of their behavior , which is not legitimized by any constitution , any ethical principle , any moral compact .
Live your life unapologetic .
Today is the day to free your mind from this .
Today is the day of taking the daring step of being the dissident and speaking as much truth as you can get away with , to as many people as will listen .
The Best of Allan Stevo

In communist Czechoslovakia, one who dissented from the prevailing beliefs in “official culture” was a dissident.
It was as much, if not more, a frame of mind, as it was a way of acting. The mind had to be kept free, and the dissident had to live to fight another day.
He would also, likely, live a less-than-affluent, possibly even impoverished, existence as he sought to speak truth as much as he could get away with, as he sought to disobey as often as he could.
While it may have come with consequences, that disobedience offered its own reward. Henry David Thoreau writes “Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.”
The Five Stages of Col... Orlov, Dmitry Best Price: $4.27 Buy New $1.99 (as of 03:30 UTC - Details) Barely any framework for disciplining the dissident exists in America today the way it did in communist Czechoslovakia. At least not yet. A dissident might have been assigned a handler to check in with him. A dissident might have been prevented from travel. The children of dissidents might have been prevented from pursuing higher education. The extended family of a dissident might have been denied economic opportunity. The punishment of loved ones was perhaps the worst part. Self-deportation may have been strongly encouraged in some cases where a person was committed to domestic political change. Prison time and hard labor were both possibilities. In a totalitarian regime, the cruelty that can be visited upon a dissident has little limit, other than the imagination and enthusiasm of the homeland security officer assigned to the dissident.
While making dramatic steps in that direction, America, in spring 2020, is a far cry from totalitarianism.
Some dissidents today, in former Czechoslovakia, are celebrated in this era post-communism. Most are forgotten by all but those who knew them, and the few who have heard their tales passed through the oral tradition.
Some dissidents remain cantankerous outsiders to this day, perennially dissatisfied with the system around them, akin to Twain’s “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform.”
Albert Jay Nock writes in “Isaiah’s Job” that the work of the dissident, though he does not use the word dissident, is to continue speaking the truth as he knows it. “The remnant” in society will find him, will listen to him, and will be fed by his courage. It is not the job of a dissident to grow popular or to know his audience. It is the job of the dissident to speak his truth courageously, as courage is contagious.
Luckily, courage is far more contagious than coronavirus. Truth, courageously delivered, is far more impactful than a coronavirus. Hidden History: An Exp... Donald Jeffries Best Price: $9.86 Buy New $14.70 (as of 04:30 UTC - Details)
Nock describes the work of a prophet. Some may call the dissident a gadfly, which Walter Block once defined, in an interview with me, as “someone who questions received opinion.”
Though the churches are closed under corona communism, a feat never accomplished even in the USSR, in many ways, America under corona communism is far more inviting to public dissent of the corona response. The consequences of dissent are so minor, the rewards are so major, and even advocates of corona communism are inviting the crucible of fervent dissent. To stand idle, after all, is no way for a patriot to act.
This moment merely requires your questioning of received opinion as courageously as you can muster. No punishment is likely to befall you.
The Neil Ferguson Imperial College paper of March 16, 2020, is widely cited by governments as the reason for the current corona lockdown. It calls for 18 months of this, followed by mass vaccination. On this topic Ferguson is clear: that 18-month rolling lockdown is only if the people allow it to happen. Ferguson’s words in the closing of the paper, practically beg for robust dissent to put an end to the policy, which Ferguson himself admits in that paper, may not be only politically unfeasible, but unethical as well.
Dissent is everywhere.
Corona is minor.
But if such dissent does not push government back, this will not go on for 30 days, as we have seen. It will not go on for 60 days, as we are being told. It will go on for 18 months, and a good enough reason will then be produced for the gullible, so that it will not stop there after 18 months. The Storm Before the C... Friedman, George Best Price: $22.22 Buy New $18.90 (as of 03:06 UTC - Details)
Not next month.
Not next week.
Today. Today is the day to end your own lockdown.
Don’t wait for anyone to free you. Don’t wait for anyone to give you the nod. To do so only recognizes the legitimacy of their behavior, which is not legitimized by any constitution, any ethical principle, any moral compact. Live your life unapologetic.
Today is the day to free your mind from this. Today is the day of taking the daring step of being the dissident and speaking as much truth as you can get away with, to as many people as will listen.
Because courage is contagious.
The Best of Allan Stevo


lewrockwell--2020-04-28--Dissident British Ex-Diplomat Craig Murray Indicted for Blog Posts in Kafkaesque Case

The renowned British peace activist and former diplomat Craig Murray has been charged with contempt of court for writing blog posts .
The suspicious indictment represents a heavily politicized , Kafkaesque case in which Murray has virtually none of his rights guaranteed .
It also appears to be a part of the British government ’ s aggressive crackdown on the Scottish independence movement .
In comments to The Grayzone , Murray described the case against him as a thoroughly undemocratic attack on free speech , and warned it may be punishment for his dissident journalism and activism exposing the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Bullshit : S ... Murray , Mr Craig J Buy New $ 12.99 Murray said he faces the possibility of “ no jury , no ‘ beyond reasonable doubt ’ test , no public interest defence allowed , no freedom of speech defence allowed , and up to two years in jail and an ‘ unlimited ’ fine.
” Craig Murray served as Britain ’ s ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2002 to 2004 .
The UK Foreign Office fired him for his exposure of British and US involvement in egregious human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blown the whistle on torture , warning that the CIA was using highly dubious intelligence obtained from tortured detainees .
Since leaving the UK diplomatic service , Murray has become a prominent human rights activist who maintains a popular blog at his personal website .
On his blog and through social media , Murray has established himself as an outspoken supporter of WikiLeaks and its publisher Julian Assange , who is being tormented in Britain ’ s high-security Belmarsh prison while awaiting potential extradition to the United States .
Sikunder Burnes : Maste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 32.03 Buy New $ 25.89 In recent years , Murray has brought to light an array of US , British , and Israeli government crimes .
He poked holes in Britain ’ s accusations that Russia poisoned double agent Sergei Skripal under official government orders .
And in recent months , he has publicly excoriated the UK ’ s hypocrisy in a scandal involving Anne Sacoolas , a CIA operative who killed the British teenager Harry Dunn after she collided into him while driving on the wrong side of the road outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A resident of Scotland ’ s capital Edinburgh , Murray has been especially outspoken in his support for the country ’ s independence from the United Kingdom .
His pro-independence agitation appears to be a key factor in his persecution at the hands of the government .

The renowned British peace activist and former diplomat Craig Murray has been charged with contempt of court for writing blog posts.
The suspicious indictment represents a heavily politicized, Kafkaesque case in which Murray has virtually none of his rights guaranteed. It also appears to be a part of the British government’s aggressive crackdown on the Scottish independence movement.
In comments to The Grayzone, Murray described the case against him as a thoroughly undemocratic attack on free speech, and warned it may be punishment for his dissident journalism and activism exposing the UK’s crimes and lies. Zionism is Bullshit: S... Murray, Mr Craig J Buy New $12.99 (as of 03:01 UTC - Details)
Murray said he faces the possibility of “no jury, no ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ test, no public interest defence allowed, no freedom of speech defence allowed, and up to two years in jail and an ‘unlimited’ fine.”
Craig Murray served as Britain’s ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2002 to 2004. The UK Foreign Office fired him for his exposure of British and US involvement in egregious human rights violations in the country. Murray had blown the whistle on torture, warning that the CIA was using highly dubious intelligence obtained from tortured detainees.
Since leaving the UK diplomatic service, Murray has become a prominent human rights activist who maintains a popular blog at his personal website.
On his blog and through social media, Murray has established himself as an outspoken supporter of WikiLeaks and its publisher Julian Assange, who is being tormented in Britain’s high-security Belmarsh prison while awaiting potential extradition to the United States. Sikunder Burnes: Maste... Murray, Craig Best Price: $32.03 Buy New $25.89 (as of 03:01 UTC - Details)
In recent years, Murray has brought to light an array of US, British, and Israeli government crimes. He poked holes in Britain’s accusations that Russia poisoned double agent Sergei Skripal under official government orders. And in recent months, he has publicly excoriated the UK’s hypocrisy in a scandal involving Anne Sacoolas, a CIA operative who killed the British teenager Harry Dunn after she collided into him while driving on the wrong side of the road outside of a US Air Force spying station.
A resident of Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, Murray has been especially outspoken in his support for the country’s independence from the United Kingdom. His pro-independence agitation appears to be a key factor in his persecution at the hands of the government.
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-04-28--Iran Bashing, a US Media Specialty

Iran Bashing, a US Media Specialty

Operating as imperial mouthpieces , US establishment media are hostile toward all sovereign independent nations on its target list for regime change .
They ’ re countries unwilling to sacrifice their sovereign rights to US interests .
Iran tops the list of Middle East nations Washington wants transformed into a vassal state — to gain control over its vast hydrocarbon resources and eliminate Israel ’ s main rival .
Ignoring endless US wars on humanity at home and abroad , and Iran ’ s regional peace , stability and mutual cooperation agenda , the NYT earlier turned truth on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious arguments , anti-imperialist nationalism , and neo-Stalinist repression to ensure compliance ( sic ) .
” The above reads like a State Department propaganda press release — published by the Times , consistent with its press agent services for the state .
The CIA in Iran : The 1 ... Best Price : $ 3.41 Buy New $ 9.50 The above characterization is polar opposite how Iran operates , abhorrent of endless wars , related violence , and repression in all forms .
They ’ re US , NATO , Israeli specialties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other establishment media consistently ignore — blaming victims of US high crimes for what ’ s committed against them .
Despite US war on Iran by other means , notably Trump ’ s sanctions war and medical terrorism , the Islamic Republic is way outdoing the US in combatting COVID-19 .
The US leads the world with over 960,000 outbreaks and around 55,000 deaths because of Trump regime failings in dealing with the coronavirus , notably his regime ’ s indifference toward the health and welfare of ordinary people at home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health minister Iraj Harirchi announced significant progress in containing COVID-19 outbreaks , saying the following : “ There is a declining trend in corona disease in most provinces , and this has been the result of effective actions by the people and the government.
” Outbreaks are 50 % below their peak numbers , deaths down about 70 % , remarkable results given enormous US imposed obstacles on the country , its ruling authorities and people .
Overall , nations illegally sanctioned by the US are more successful than the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreaks .
It ’ s testimony to their public health diligence compared to Trump and congressional indifference toward all things relating to the rights , needs and welfare of ordinary people .
Iranian President Rouhani noted that things “ are on the path to control the disease , ” adding : “ The path to fighting and controlling this disease definitely can not be traversed without the support of the people.
” Outbreaks in Iran number about 89,000 , the death toll around 5,600 .
Over 66,000 infected Iranians recovered and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neocon/CIA house organ Washington Post to throw cold water on its remarkable public health accomplishments .
Plot to Attack Iran : H ... Kovalik , Dan Best Price : $ 4.46 Buy New $ 18.99 WaPo falsely claimed its efforts to combat COVID-19 created a “ breeding ground for human rights abuse ” — a bald-faced Big Lie .
WaPo didn ’ t stop there , falsely claiming coronavirus outbreaks in Iran “ brought its leadership ’ s incompetence , corruption and oppressive rule into plain sight ( sic ) .
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notably Trump , hardliners surrounding him , and their congressional counterparts — not the Islamic Republic .
When it comes to human and civil rights abuses on a global scale , the US is unmatched in its viciousness — at war on humanity worldwide with no end of it in prospect in contrast to Iran at peace with its neighbors , threatening none .
WaPo : “ COVID is exacerbating the government ’ s assault on the rights of Iranian citizens.
” What ’ s most disturbing is that readers believe this and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other nations on the US target list for regime change .
Separately weeks earlier , Wall Street Journal editors said with world attention focused on containing COVID-19 outbreaks , it ’ s “ no time to end Iran sanctions.
” The Journal ignored their flagrant illegality , their harm on ordinary people in nations where imposed , and their consistent ineffectiveness in achieving imperial aims .
Sanctions reveal US viciousness .
Its regimes get away with imposing them because nations able to challenge its imperial rage do nothing .
They also reveal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post-WW II era , the US used and continues using this tactic on targeted nations it doesn ’ t control .
Yet they never succeeded in serving its imperial interests , never toppling a sitting government , never turning populations against their ruling authorities .
Notably when the US attacks nations aggressively , popular support for governments in charge most often increase .
Iran-Contra : Reagan & rs ... Byrne , Malcolm Buy New $ 23.83 It ’ s because who else can people have to turn for support in times of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain during the blitz , true in Libya under Gaddafi when attacked by US-led NATO aggressively , true in Syria under Assad , and true in illegally sanctioned Iran .
Most Iranians support their government ’ s opposition to US imperial viciousness against their nation ’ s sovereignty They oppose regime change and the JCPOA they initially strongly supported — against it now because of no benefits it brought since Trump took office .
Iran is the region ’ s leading proponent of peace , stability , cooperative relations , the rule of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scourge of nuclear weapons .
The US is an unparalleled belligerent on the world stage , perpetually at war , abhorrent of peace , disdainful toward ordinary people everywhere — a fantasy democracy , never the real thing .
The Best of Stephen Lendman

Operating as imperial mouthpieces, US establishment media are hostile toward all sovereign independent nations on its target list for regime change.
They’re countries unwilling to sacrifice their sovereign rights to US interests.
Iran tops the list of Middle East nations Washington wants transformed into a vassal state — to gain control over its vast hydrocarbon resources and eliminate Israel’s main rival.
Ignoring endless US wars on humanity at home and abroad, and Iran’s regional peace, stability and mutual cooperation agenda, the NYT earlier turned truth on its head, falsely claiming “Tehran uses religious arguments, anti-imperialist nationalism, and neo-Stalinist repression to ensure compliance (sic).”
The above reads like a State Department propaganda press release — published by the Times, consistent with its press agent services for the state. The CIA in Iran: The 1... Best Price: $3.41 Buy New $9.50 (as of 03:10 UTC - Details)
The above characterization is polar opposite how Iran operates, abhorrent of endless wars, related violence, and repression in all forms.
They’re US, NATO, Israeli specialties, including atrocities, what the Times and other establishment media consistently ignore — blaming victims of US high crimes for what’s committed against them.
Despite US war on Iran by other means, notably Trump’s sanctions war and medical terrorism, the Islamic Republic is way outdoing the US in combatting COVID-19.
The US leads the world with over 960,000 outbreaks and around 55,000 deaths because of Trump regime failings in dealing with the coronavirus, notably his regime’s indifference toward the health and welfare of ordinary people at home and abroad.
On Saturday, Iranian deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi announced significant progress in containing COVID-19 outbreaks, saying the following:
“There is a declining trend in corona disease in most provinces, and this has been the result of effective actions by the people and the government.”
Outbreaks are 50% below their peak numbers, deaths down about 70%, remarkable results given enormous US imposed obstacles on the country, its ruling authorities and people.
Overall, nations illegally sanctioned by the US are more successful than the world’s richest country in containing and dealing with coronavirus outbreaks.
It’s testimony to their public health diligence compared to Trump and congressional indifference toward all things relating to the rights, needs and welfare of ordinary people.
Iranian President Rouhani noted that things “are on the path to control the disease,” adding:
“The path to fighting and controlling this disease definitely cannot be traversed without the support of the people.”
Outbreaks in Iran number about 89,000, the death toll around 5,600. Over 66,000 infected Iranians recovered and are well again.
Leave it to the neocon/CIA house organ Washington Post to throw cold water on its remarkable public health accomplishments. Plot to Attack Iran: H... Kovalik, Dan Best Price: $4.46 Buy New $18.99 (as of 03:10 UTC - Details)
WaPo falsely claimed its efforts to combat COVID-19 created a “breeding ground for human rights abuse” — a bald-faced Big Lie.
WaPo didn’t stop there, falsely claiming coronavirus outbreaks in Iran “brought its leadership’s incompetence, corruption and oppressive rule into plain sight (sic).”
The above clearly applies to the US, notably Trump, hardliners surrounding him, and their congressional counterparts — not the Islamic Republic.
When it comes to human and civil rights abuses on a global scale, the US is unmatched in its viciousness — at war on humanity worldwide with no end of it in prospect in contrast to Iran at peace with its neighbors, threatening none.
WaPo: “COVID is exacerbating the government’s assault on the rights of Iranian citizens.”
What’s most disturbing is that readers believe this and other establishment media Big Lies about Iran and other nations on the US target list for regime change.
Separately weeks earlier, Wall Street Journal editors said with world attention focused on containing COVID-19 outbreaks, it’s “no time to end Iran sanctions.”
The Journal ignored their flagrant illegality, their harm on ordinary people in nations where imposed, and their consistent ineffectiveness in achieving imperial aims.
Sanctions reveal US viciousness. Its regimes get away with imposing them because nations able to challenge its imperial rage do nothing.
They also reveal US weakness, not strength. Throughout the post-WW II era, the US used and continues using this tactic on targeted nations it doesn’t control.
Yet they never succeeded in serving its imperial interests, never toppling a sitting government, never turning populations against their ruling authorities.
Notably when the US attacks nations aggressively, popular support for governments in charge most often increase. Iran-Contra: Reagan&rs... Byrne, Malcolm Buy New $23.83 (as of 03:10 UTC - Details)
It’s because who else can people have to turn for support in times of great duress.
It was true in Britain during the blitz, true in Libya under Gaddafi when attacked by US-led NATO aggressively, true in Syria under Assad, and true in illegally sanctioned Iran.
Most Iranians support their government’s opposition to US imperial viciousness against their nation’s sovereignty
They oppose regime change and the JCPOA they initially strongly supported — against it now because of no benefits it brought since Trump took office.
Iran is the region’s leading proponent of peace, stability, cooperative relations, the rule of law, and a world free from the scourge of nuclear weapons.
The US is an unparalleled belligerent on the world stage, perpetually at war, abhorrent of peace, disdainful toward ordinary people everywhere — a fantasy democracy, never the real thing.
Reprinted with permission from StephenLendman.org.
The Best of Stephen Lendman


lewrockwell--2020-04-28--Can the Gates of Hell Prevail?

Can the Gates of Hell Prevail?

While you may have a some time on your hands due to the corona virus -19 nationwide lockdown , I might suggest that a few minutes of it be used to watch for the first time or to view again the 1984 film 1984 .
The 1953 U.S television video 1984 and the 1954 BBC video of 1984 are fine , but the full length film released in December of 1984 is by far the best and the closest in presenting the book written by George Orwell.The DVD of 1984 remains purchasable but many of the sites on the TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available , for free or for a nominal fee , have shut it down .
The major reason I am suggesting watching it again is so we can ask ourselves a question which , perhaps , very few of us asked when we first viewed the film , specifically , “ What would a Christian have to think , say and do to be a faithful follower of Jesus in such a society ?
” If you are like me , who thought he remembered pretty well what 1984 was all about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1984 was all about .
Its truth lies in the details of the book or film , which details I remembered if reminded but which were not part of my operative explicit consciousness .
Be that as it may , the only reason I am suggesting seeing the film again or reading the book again is that you see or read 1984 through the lens of the question “ How can one be a faithful follower and disciple of Jesus in such a society ?
” If there is no way to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another as I have loved you , ” in such a society , then the “ gates of hell ” have prevailed over the Christian community , assembly , ekklēsia , church .
Christian Just War The ... McCarthy , Rev .
Emmanue ... Buy New $ 14.00 All Things Flee Thee F ... McCarthy , Rev .
Emmanue ... Best Price : $ 16.29 Buy New $ 15.99 1984 ( Signet Classics ) George Orwell Best Price : $ 1.49 Buy New $ 3.58 The Best of Fr .
Emmanuel Charles @

Friends,
While you may have a some time on your hands due to the corona virus -19 nationwide lockdown, I might suggest that a few minutes of it be used to watch for the first time or to view again the 1984 film 1984. The 1953 U.S television video 1984 and the 1954 BBC video of 1984 are fine, but the full length film released in December of 1984 is by far the best and the closest in presenting the book written by George Orwell.The DVD of 1984 remains purchasable but many of the sites on the TV and the computer that formerly made it available, for free or for a nominal fee, have shut it down.
The major reason I am suggesting watching it again is so we can ask ourselves a question which, perhaps, very few of us asked when we first viewed the film, specifically, “What would a Christian have to think, say and do to be a faithful follower of Jesus in such a society?”
If you are like me, who thought he remembered pretty well what 1984 was all about, then you don’t remember what 1984 was all about. Its truth lies in the details of the book or film, which details I remembered if reminded but which were not part of my operative explicit consciousness. Be that as it may, the only reason I am suggesting seeing the film again or reading the book again is that you see or read 1984 through the lens of the question “How can one be a faithful follower and disciple of Jesus in such a society?” If there is no way to live a Christlike life, “to love one another as I have loved you,”in such a society, then the “gates of hell” have prevailed over the Christian community, assembly, ekklēsia, church.
Christian Just War The... McCarthy, Rev. Emmanue... Buy New $14.00 (as of 03:10 UTC - Details) All Things Flee Thee F... McCarthy, Rev. Emmanue... Best Price: $16.29 Buy New $15.99 (as of 03:10 UTC - Details) 1984 (Signet Classics) George Orwell Best Price: $1.49 Buy New $3.58 (as of 10:53 UTC - Details)
The Best of Fr. Emmanuel McCarthy


lewrockwell--2020-04-29--How To Say No If COVID-19 Vaccination Becomes Mandatory

For those of us who believe vaccines to be unsafe and not properly tested , news coming out that plans are underway to mandate vaccination for COVID-19 is troubling .
Bill Gates , a man who everyone knows has the biggest financial stake in all this , has said that we won ’ t go back to normal until a vaccine has gotten out to the entire world .
Many world leaders are ready to follow Gates ’ playbook , like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who stated , “ Normality as it was before will not come back full-on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And now some officials on the ground , those who are directing the logistics of a vaccine rollout , are telling us how imminent these plans may be .
Let ’ s listen to the words of Dr. Allison Arwady , the head of Chicago ’ s Public Health Department , who tells us “ We ’ ve already bought the syringes , we already know where it ’ s going to happen… ” : Vaccine Epidemic : How ... Best Price : $ 7.50 Buy New $ 12.99 In order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defy any initiatives that would attempt to force you or any of your family members to take any vaccines , or ingest or have anything injected into your body for that matter , it is important to grasp one of the most basic principles underlying life on Earth : each of us as individuals are free and sovereign beings .
The only way someone can have any power over us is by our consent .
Mostly without knowing it , we have consented to the entire political and legal structure that we believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to dive more deeply into the broader discussion of this , please take a look at my series of articles on Natural Law here .
Keeping it within the context of mandatory vaccination , I would like to introduce you to Jerry Day , whose website FreedomTaker serves as a resource for those who would like to come to a better understanding of their sovereignty as individuals and learn about the practical defense of their innate liberty in our current society .
In the video below , Day gives a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its inherent risks to each of us personally , and explains what we need to do if we ever find ourselves being coerced by our government and medical establishment into taking a vaccine : The first thing we must do is state our position clearly and on the record to those people who administer vaccines .
We are certainly not protected if we haven ’ t even stated our position .
You will see links to two free download documents at FreedomTaker.com .
The first document is a requirement that all medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to acknowledge the risks of vaccines , that they are causing that risk by offering vaccines , and that they accept full personal liability to pay for all damage they cause by administering a vaccine .
The Natural Law : A Stu ... Heinrich A. Rommen Best Price : $ 7.00 Buy New $ 8.00 Of course , if vaccines were safe and effective , they would not hesitate to sign a liability agreement… [ but ] they know they are doing harm , so most likely , they will refuse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be responsible for the harm they cause .
That refusal to sign is evidence that they know that vaccines have risk , and you therefore are fully within your rights to refuse the vaccine regardless of any legal mandates .
That type of document is referred to as a ‘ Conditional Acceptance.
’ You agree to have a vaccine if they agree to pay for all damage you suffer .
They will refuse to sign it .
And that gives you the right to refuse their vaccine , because they failed to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day helps us here to bring the matter back into the real-world situation : the actual person who is physically administering the vaccine is rightly seen as the one who needs to assume responsibility for any consequences of their actions , rather than simply being a compliant cog of a faceless medical industry .
It is not hard to see that , once we all start to make those who are simply ‘ doing their job ’ carrying out the orders from above personally responsible for their actions , by and large they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control mechanism and ability to mandate anything falls apart .
No Treason : The Consti ... Spooner , Lysander Best Price : $ 16.37 Buy New $ 24.76 The Takeaway Perhaps the day will not come when you will be faced with having to refuse mandated vaccines for yourself or your family .
However , coming to understand a way in which you can assert your inherent right of self-protection can be very empowering .
Not only does it help give you confidence that you can assert your will in such a circumstance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your inalienable sovereignty .
I believe if each of us is able to strengthen our sense of personal sovereignty and see that we are all co-creators of our collective experience , we will be much closer to bringing the world of our dreams into reality .

For those of us who believe vaccines to be unsafe and not properly tested, news coming out that plans are underway to mandate vaccination for COVID-19 is troubling.
Bill Gates, a man who everyone knows has the biggest financial stake in all this, has said that we won’t go back to normal until a vaccine has gotten out to the entire world.
Many world leaders are ready to follow Gates’ playbook, like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who stated, “Normality as it was before will not come back full-on until we get a vaccine for this.”
And now some officials on the ground, those who are directing the logistics of a vaccine rollout, are telling us how imminent these plans may be. Let’s listen to the words of Dr. Allison Arwady, the head of Chicago’s Public Health Department, who tells us “We’ve already bought the syringes, we already know where it’s going to happen…”:

Defying Mandatory Vaccination Plans
Vaccine Epidemic: How ... Best Price: $7.50 Buy New $12.99 (as of 06:30 UTC - Details) In order to understand how you would be able to defy any initiatives that would attempt to force you or any of your family members to take any vaccines, or ingest or have anything injected into your body for that matter, it is important to grasp one of the most basic principles underlying life on Earth: each of us as individuals are free and sovereign beings. The only way someone can have any power over us is by our consent. Mostly without knowing it, we have consented to the entire political and legal structure that we believe has power over us. If you would like to dive more deeply into the broader discussion of this, please take a look at my series of articles on Natural Law here.
Keeping it within the context of mandatory vaccination, I would like to introduce you to Jerry Day, whose website FreedomTaker serves as a resource for those who would like to come to a better understanding of their sovereignty as individuals and learn about the practical defense of their innate liberty in our current society.
In the video below, Day gives a strong indictment against the Bill Gates/WHO vaccine agenda and its inherent risks to each of us personally, and explains what we need to do if we ever find ourselves being coerced by our government and medical establishment into taking a vaccine:
The first thing we must do is state our position clearly and on the record to those people who administer vaccines. We are certainly not protected if we haven’t even stated our position. You will see links to two free download documents at FreedomTaker.com. The first document is a requirement that all medical service and vaccine providers sign for you, to acknowledge the risks of vaccines, that they are causing that risk by offering vaccines, and that they accept full personal liability to pay for all damage they cause by administering a vaccine. The Natural Law: A Stu... Heinrich A. Rommen Best Price: $7.00 Buy New $8.00 (as of 01:18 UTC - Details) Of course, if vaccines were safe and effective, they would not hesitate to sign a liability agreement… [but] they know they are doing harm, so most likely, they will refuse to sign that document, and refuse to be responsible for the harm they cause. That refusal to sign is evidence that they know that vaccines have risk, and you therefore are fully within your rights to refuse the vaccine regardless of any legal mandates. That type of document is referred to as a ‘Conditional Acceptance.’ You agree to have a vaccine if they agree to pay for all damage you suffer. They will refuse to sign it. And that gives you the right to refuse their vaccine, because they failed to meet your reasonable requirements of safety.
Jerry Day helps us here to bring the matter back into the real-world situation: the actual person who is physically administering the vaccine is rightly seen as the one who needs to assume responsibility for any consequences of their actions, rather than simply being a compliant cog of a faceless medical industry. It is not hard to see that, once we all start to make those who are simply ‘doing their job’ carrying out the orders from above personally responsible for their actions, by and large they will not follow through and the whole control mechanism and ability to mandate anything falls apart.

No Treason: The Consti... Spooner, Lysander Best Price: $16.37 Buy New $24.76 (as of 05:04 UTC - Details) The Takeaway
Perhaps the day will not come when you will be faced with having to refuse mandated vaccines for yourself or your family. However, coming to understand a way in which you can assert your inherent right of self-protection can be very empowering. Not only does it help give you confidence that you can assert your will in such a circumstance, it can broaden your understanding of your inalienable sovereignty. I believe if each of us is able to strengthen our sense of personal sovereignty and see that we are all co-creators of our collective experience, we will be much closer to bringing the world of our dreams into reality.
Reprinted with permission from Collective Evolution.


lewrockwell--2020-04-29--Will It Take Food Shortages To End Support for the Shutdown?

Americans are uniquely privileged , to the point of simply imagining they can stay home for months and months without suffering severe economic hardship as a result .
Our unique privilege is delusion , the mentality that America is rich and will remain rich without particular effort on our part .
Abundance simply materializes around us , regardless of incentives , and the job of politicians is to rearrange this abundance more equitably .
Polls such as this one showing widespread American support for quarantines and business shutdowns are evidence of this American privilege .
Eighty percent of respondents think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a response to the COVID-19 virus , and one-third support extending closure for another six months !
Blind Trust in Doctors ... Mason , Howard Buy New $ 12.99 This reflexive and unthinking complicity from the American public is partially explained by media hype , of course , over an illness which at this writing has killed fewer than sixty thousand Americans .
Fear and hysteria always sell .
The press clearly wants the coronavirus to be a major event , one that unseats Trump in the fall .
( For its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrible job , starting with the awful Dr. Fauci , whom the president should have sacked months ago . )
And clearly the various governors ’ responses are wildly out of proportion to the actual public health threat , even if initially well intentioned due to sheer uncertainty of the virus ’ s lethality .
But something far more fundamental is at work here .
American simply fail to understand , or even much think about , the fragility of distribution chains and the goods and services we rely on .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that disruptions at processing plants could create very serious shortages of beef , chicken , and pork in US grocery stores , and decimate livestock farmers .
And of course this was bound to happen as the dominos fell : the shutdowns would not only impact “ nonessential ” goods , but everything .
Who didn ’ t see this ?
Will it take outright food shortages to make Americans change their minds about whether the shutdown is “ worth it ” ?
The Coddling of the Am ... Haidt , Jonathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 13.39 We only need look at India for an example of what business and work shutdowns create in a country without as much existing wealth to consume , where far more people live close to the bone .
The national work moratorium ordered by Prime Minister Modi has sent millions of migrant workers and unskilled laborers into very real danger of starvation .
Already living hand to mouth and penniless , their jobs essentially banned , many have taken to walking hundreds of miles in 100-degree heat to their home villages—in hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a country with widespread poverty and depressingly little per capita capital investment , the shutdown is a death sentence for many .
Without much capital accumulation , Indians have little savings and few investments to consume when income grinds to a halt .
And India is hardly the only poor country at risk and needing food relief ; one NGO official warns of “ biblical ” famines across thirty underdeveloped nations if supply chains continue to be disrupted and charitable economic aid dries up : This is what poverty really means : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an emergency .
Poverty is best defined as a lack of savings and resulting capital , leaving people totally dependent on new and consistent income to survive .
It is a condition only capital accumulation can improve .
And yet “ capitalism ” is blamed for the unfolding tragedy before us : Will stories like this finally make Americans understand the severity of the situation ?
BBC images from India show the heartbreaking human toll of the unprecedented decision simply to stop human work activity due to an infectious disease .
Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Note : The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute .
The Best of Jeff Deist

Americans are uniquely privileged, to the point of simply imagining they can stay home for months and months without suffering severe economic hardship as a result. Our unique privilege is delusion, the mentality that America is rich and will remain rich without particular effort on our part. Abundance simply materializes around us, regardless of incentives, and the job of politicians is to rearrange this abundance more equitably.
Polls such as this one showing widespread American support for quarantines and business shutdowns are evidence of this American privilege. Eighty percent of respondents think shutdowns by various state governors are justified as a response to the COVID-19 virus, and one-third support extending closure for another six months!
Blind Trust in Doctors... Mason, Howard Buy New $12.99 (as of 02:43 UTC - Details) This reflexive and unthinking complicity from the American public is partially explained by media hype, of course, over an illness which at this writing has killed fewer than sixty thousand Americans. Fear and hysteria always sell. The press clearly wants the coronavirus to be a major event, one that unseats Trump in the fall. (For its part, the administration is doing a terrible job, starting with the awful Dr. Fauci, whom the president should have sacked months ago.) And clearly the various governors’ responses are wildly out of proportion to the actual public health threat, even if initially well intentioned due to sheer uncertainty of the virus’s lethality.
But something far more fundamental is at work here. American simply fail to understand, or even much think about, the fragility of distribution chains and the goods and services we rely on. Earlier this week the chairman of conglomerate Tyson Foods warned that disruptions at processing plants could create very serious shortages of beef, chicken, and pork in US grocery stores, and decimate livestock farmers. And of course this was bound to happen as the dominos fell: the shutdowns would not only impact “nonessential” goods, but everything.
Who didn’t see this? Will it take outright food shortages to make Americans change their minds about whether the shutdown is “worth it”?
The Coddling of the Am... Haidt, Jonathan Best Price: $12.68 Buy New $13.39 (as of 02:43 UTC - Details) We only need look at India for an example of what business and work shutdowns create in a country without as much existing wealth to consume, where far more people live close to the bone. The national work moratorium ordered by Prime Minister Modi has sent millions of migrant workers and unskilled laborers into very real danger of starvation. Already living hand to mouth and penniless, their jobs essentially banned, many have taken to walking hundreds of miles in 100-degree heat to their home villages—in hopes of being fed by their families. In a country with widespread poverty and depressingly little per capita capital investment, the shutdown is a death sentence for many. Without much capital accumulation, Indians have little savings and few investments to consume when income grinds to a halt. And India is hardly the only poor country at risk and needing food relief; one NGO official warns of “biblical” famines across thirty underdeveloped nations if supply chains continue to be disrupted and charitable economic aid dries up:
“We are not talking about people going to bed hungry,” he [David Beasley of the World Food Programme] told the Guardian in an interview. “We are talking about extreme conditions, emergency status—people literally marching to the brink of starvation. If we don’t get food to people, people will die.”
This is what poverty really means: having little or no cushion of wealth for an emergency. Poverty is best defined as a lack of savings and resulting capital, leaving people totally dependent on new and consistent income to survive. It is a condition only capital accumulation can improve. And yet “capitalism” is blamed for the unfolding tragedy before us:
Will stories like this finally make Americans understand the severity of the situation? BBC images from India show the heartbreaking human toll of the unprecedented decision simply to stop human work activity due to an infectious disease. Americans should take note, and soon.
Note: The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute.
The Best of Jeff Deist