thestream--2020-05-04--Troublers of America, Arise!

Troublers of America, Arise!

Handcuffs , ankle monitors and locked church buildings are the new normal for many Christians in America today .
The state has threatened worshipers of Jesus .
At the same time , they are opening the “ essential ” doors of Planned Parenthood wide .
Somehow it ’ s safe to congregate at Walmart , Home Depot , liquor stores and on golf courses .
But gathering in worship , prayer and repentance are a threat to national safety .
A closed church isn ’ t the most disturbing reality , however .
The pathetic extent of many Christian ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats is to remind people to wash their hands as they shelter in place .
They fearfully wait it out as they hope for the best .
It ’ s shameful .
Washing hands is a great common sense idea , but how can that be the best insight and advice a blood-bought , Spirit-filled , fire-breathing Christian can offer ?
The most disturbing reality in the midst of this crisis is a muzzled , cowering church .
Where are those who have a reputation as troublers ?
The church shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The church should cause politicians to tremble !
The time is now for humble yet bold prophetic people to use every medium available to them to strike cultures and unholy systems with ferocity !
Cast down arguments , assault wickedness and become defenders of our rights as Americans to assemble , to worship and to be free from tyranny .
The Constitution wasn ’ t written to protect us from a virus at the cost of our liberty .
It is in place to protect our rights , and those rights aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic or any other crisis .
After being accused of troubling Israel , Elijah , in the anointing of the Lord , struck back with the sword of truth : Holy indignation must erupt from within as we clearly stand against the threats , taunts and attempts to shut down the only governmental authority that outranks that of the United States of America : the church .
The secular leadership of our nation , our states and our localities need to hear loud and clear , whether they might identify as Believers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandoned the commandments of the Lord !
I would suggest pastors who refuse to consistently and without apology confront the spirit of the age have disqualified themselves from ministry .
The spirit of the age includes the vile cultural and political positions that are embraced , celebrated and promoted by our nation ’ s leaders and influencers .
Ichabod may soon be stamped above the doorposts of their church if it hasn ’ t been done already .
When pastors understand their prime call is to equip a prophetic people to expose and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will become clear that it ’ s not possible to go silent on the politics and immoralities in the land .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Sadly , there is but a small number of fervent , devoted , highly trained and radically surrendered people who are prepared to respond to the taunts and assaults that the enemy is bringing through this testing season .
Instead of equipping the people diligently over the last few decades , many pastors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hopes that they keep everybody comfortable and happy .
Instead of trained warriors they have produced sloths who have little interest in the things of the Spirit .
Elijah demanded a decision .
He fearlessly confronted leaders , false prophets and all of the people and called them out .
And he didn ’ t stop there .
He went to war in the power of God and ultimately killed all 450 of the prophets .
There are extremely powerful prophetic systems in America today .
They must be not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Holy Spirit .
The media is prophesying lies twenty-four hours a day .
Many politicians are releasing oracles that originate from wicked hearts that are in radical rebellion to God .
Lawmakers are enforcing demonically influenced restrictions on the church .
Satan is gaining ground while Christians sleep .
We need troublers of America to arise !
This prophetic army will be deeply humble , surrendered and functioning from a place of sobriety .
They won ’ t sound mere opinions but will rather trumpet prophetic truths .
They won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many gave their lives to protect are ripped away from us .
They will aggressively and with fire in their eyes stare down the enemy and remove him from his place .
It ’ s time the unrighteous leaders of America hear loud and clear that they have been disobedient to the Lord God .
They need to hear that God has an awakened , equipped and determined people who will confront their unholy advances in this hour .
Holy confrontation isn ’ t the ultimate goal .
A restored altar is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t get there without you and I standing up boldly to the spirit of the age .
Jezebel must go .
False prophetic systems must go .
The rains of refreshing must return but that will only happen as the nation repents as a result of God ’ s people taking a stand .
A restored altar to the one true God in America is the goal .
This is a season of divine reset and every one of us must shift dramatically .
Repentance must hit us deeply as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today is the day for you and everyone of us to respond to the call of the Lord to fight against deeply wicked systems in our nation .
The altar will be built , the false prophets will die and the fire will fall .
Only then can we call America a Christian nation again .

Handcuffs, ankle monitors and locked church buildings are the new normal for many Christians in America today. The state has threatened worshipers of Jesus. At the same time, they are opening the “essential” doors of Planned Parenthood wide. Somehow it’s safe to congregate at Walmart, Home Depot, liquor stores and on golf courses. But gathering in worship, prayer and repentance are a threat to national safety.
A closed church isn’t the most disturbing reality, however.
Prophetic Troublers
When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17, ESV)
The pathetic extent of many Christian’s response to the lock-downs and governmental threats is to remind people to wash their hands as they shelter in place. They fearfully wait it out as they hope for the best. It’s shameful. Washing hands is a great common sense idea, but how can that be the best insight and advice a blood-bought, Spirit-filled, fire-breathing Christian can offer?
The most disturbing reality in the midst of this crisis is a muzzled, cowering church. Where are those who have a reputation as troublers? The church shouldn’t be afraid of the United States government. The church should cause politicians to tremble!
The time is now for humble yet bold prophetic people to use every medium available to them to strike cultures and unholy systems with ferocity! Cast down arguments, assault wickedness and become defenders of our rights as Americans to assemble, to worship and to be free from tyranny. The Constitution wasn’t written to protect us from a virus at the cost of our liberty. It is in place to protect our rights, and those rights aren’t suspended in the midst of a pandemic or any other crisis.
After being accused of troubling Israel, Elijah, in the anointing of the Lord, struck back with the sword of truth:
And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals (1 Kings 18:18 ESV).
Holy indignation must erupt from within as we clearly stand against the threats, taunts and attempts to shut down the only governmental authority that outranks that of the United States of America: the church.
The secular leadership of our nation, our states and our localities need to hear loud and clear, whether they might identify as Believers in Jesus or not: America has abandoned the commandments of the Lord!
Politics in the Pulpit
I would suggest pastors who refuse to consistently and without apology confront the spirit of the age have disqualified themselves from ministry. The spirit of the age includes the vile cultural and political positions that are embraced, celebrated and promoted by our nation’s leaders and influencers. Ichabod may soon be stamped above the doorposts of their church if it hasn’t been done already.
When pastors understand their prime call is to equip a prophetic people to expose and assault the kingdom of darkness, it will become clear that it’s not possible to go silent on the politics and immoralities in the land.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Sadly, there is but a small number of fervent, devoted, highly trained and radically surrendered people who are prepared to respond to the taunts and assaults that the enemy is bringing through this testing season. Instead of equipping the people diligently over the last few decades, many pastors have instead played around in the shallows in the hopes that they keep everybody comfortable and happy. Instead of trained warriors they have produced sloths who have little interest in the things of the Spirit.
Prophetic Systems
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word (1 Kings 18:21 ESV).
Elijah demanded a decision. He fearlessly confronted leaders, false prophets and all of the people and called them out. And he didn’t stop there. He went to war in the power of God and ultimately killed all 450 of the prophets.
There are extremely powerful prophetic systems in America today. They must be not only confronted but taken out via the power of the Holy Spirit. The media is prophesying lies twenty-four hours a day. Many politicians are releasing oracles that originate from wicked hearts that are in radical rebellion to God. Lawmakers are enforcing demonically influenced restrictions on the church. Satan is gaining ground while Christians sleep.
We need troublers of America to arise! This prophetic army will be deeply humble, surrendered and functioning from a place of sobriety. They won’t sound mere opinions but will rather trumpet prophetic truths. They won’t stand still when liberties that so many gave their lives to protect are ripped away from us. They will aggressively and with fire in their eyes stare down the enemy and remove him from his place.
It’s time the unrighteous leaders of America hear loud and clear that they have been disobedient to the Lord God. They need to hear that God has an awakened, equipped and determined people who will confront their unholy advances in this hour.
A Repaired Altar
Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” (1 Kings 18:31 ESV).
Holy confrontation isn’t the ultimate goal. A restored altar is. America must be taken back. We can’t get there without you and I standing up boldly to the spirit of the age. Jezebel must go. False prophetic systems must go. The rains of refreshing must return but that will only happen as the nation repents as a result of God’s people taking a stand.
A restored altar to the one true God in America is the goal. This is a season of divine reset and every one of us must shift dramatically. Repentance must hit us deeply as we renounce a casual, shallow life. Today is the day for you and everyone of us to respond to the call of the Lord to fight against deeply wicked systems in our nation. The altar will be built, the false prophets will die and the fire will fall. Only then can we call America a Christian nation again.
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” (1 Kings 18:38-41 ESV).


thestream--2020-05-04--Rev. Jesse Jackson Bucks Environmentalists, Pushes Natural Gas Pipeline as Black Neighborhoods Strug

Rev. Jesse Jackson Bucks Environmentalists, Pushes Natural Gas Pipeline as Black Neighborhoods Struggle With Sky High Energy Prices

Rev .
Jesse Jackson is bucking many of the environmentalists who believe natural gas production perpetuates a world in which climate change is disproportionately hurting black communities .
Jackson is prodding local , state and federal officials in Illinois to okay the construction of a $ 8.2 million , 30-mile natural-gas pipeline built for a community , Axios noted in a report Monday addressing the reverend ’ s contrarian position .
The Pembroke , Illinois pipeline would shuttle natural gas into an area of the state that suffers from high energy prices , according to Jackson .
“ When we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s fine by me , I support that , ” Jackson told Axios in February as the issue began heating up .
“ But in the meantime , you can not put the black farmers on hold until that day comes.
” Pembroke residents have a median income of $ 28,922 and rely on a combination of propane , wood stoves and space heaters for heat during Illinois winters , media reports show .
Residents of the town want to know why other parts of Illinois have access to gas but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Everyone else has ( gas service ) , ” Levi , a 52-year-old construction and resident , told the Chicago Tribune in December 2019 as Jackson promoted the pipeline .
“ I ’ m unclear why it ’ s so hard for us to get it.
” Another resident — Cathy Vanderdyz , a city clerk in the area — told Axios that she pays between $ 500 and $ 800 to heat her home over a two month period .
Jackson got involved due in part to a request from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a town in the area .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
The mayor told Axios that businesses refuse to come to the area because local energy prices are too high .
“ It ’ s not on my radar at this point , not to say in the future it would not be , ” Hodges said of climate change .
“ My main concern is cutting our energy costs out here.
” Customers have to pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such pipeline access under current regulations .
Pembroke residents must pay $ 3.2 million of the estimated total $ 8.2 million pipeline extension , according to Nicor Gas , the company behind the project .
Each household would have to pay more than $ 8,000 upfront for access , Axios notes .
Illinois ’ s state legislature is considering a bill designating Pembroke as a “ designated hardship area , ” which would allow Nicor Gas to pay the entire cost .
Jackson , Rev .
Al Sharpton , and National Urban League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past that they oppose an abrupt move away from fracking , a technique producers use to extract natural gas from shale .
They said the technique for producing natural gas helps black people who struggle with high energy prices .
Morial , Jackson and Sharpton ’ s comments came after the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People warned its local chapters in 2019 that oil companies are supposedly trying to manipulate them into supporting their products .
Nearly one in five households are forced to go without food to pay their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted in a 2018 report .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Rev. Jesse Jackson is bucking many of the environmentalists who believe natural gas production perpetuates a world in which climate change is disproportionately hurting black communities.
Jackson is prodding local, state and federal officials in Illinois to okay the construction of a $8.2 million, 30-mile natural-gas pipeline built for a community, Axios noted in a report Monday addressing the reverend’s contrarian position.
The Pembroke, Illinois pipeline would shuttle natural gas into an area of the state that suffers from high energy prices, according to Jackson.
“When we move to another form of energy, that’s fine by me, I support that,” Jackson told Axios in February as the issue began heating up. “But in the meantime, you cannot put the black farmers on hold until that day comes.”
Pembroke residents have a median income of $28,922 and rely on a combination of propane, wood stoves and space heaters for heat during Illinois winters, media reports show.
Residents of the town want to know why other parts of Illinois have access to gas but they must rely on wood and propane. “Everyone else has (gas service),” Levi, a 52-year-old construction and resident, told the Chicago Tribune in December 2019 as Jackson promoted the pipeline. “I’m unclear why it’s so hard for us to get it.”
Another resident — Cathy Vanderdyz, a city clerk in the area — told Axios that she pays between $500 and $800 to heat her home over a two month period. Jackson got involved due in part to a request from Mark Hodge, mayor of Hopkins Park, a town in the area.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The mayor told Axios that businesses refuse to come to the area because local energy prices are too high.
“It’s not on my radar at this point, not to say in the future it would not be,” Hodges said of climate change. “My main concern is cutting our energy costs out here.” Customers have to pay for a some of the cost of delivering such pipeline access under current regulations.
Pembroke residents must pay $3.2 million of the estimated total $8.2 million pipeline extension, according to Nicor Gas, the company behind the project. Each household would have to pay more than $8,000 upfront for access, Axios notes. Illinois’s state legislature is considering a bill designating Pembroke as a “designated hardship area,” which would allow Nicor Gas to pay the entire cost.
Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, and National Urban League President Marc Morial have said in the past that they oppose an abrupt move away from fracking, a technique producers use to extract natural gas from shale. They said the technique for producing natural gas helps black people who struggle with high energy prices.
Morial, Jackson and Sharpton’s comments came after the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People warned its local chapters in 2019 that oil companies are supposedly trying to manipulate them into supporting their products.
Nearly one in five households are forced to go without food to pay their energy bill, the Energy Information Administration noted in a 2018 report.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-05-04--Trump Supporters: Fear Not Those Discouraging Polls

What are we to make of the dire predictions of President Donald Trump ’ s political doom — that he doesn ’ t stand a chance for re-election in November ?
I ’ ve read numerous mainstream media reports gloating over polls that show presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden surging and Trump plummeting .
I ’ m not one to casually dismiss polls , but I view them skeptically , especially given their poor track record in more recent elections , and pollsters ’ brazen manipulation of them to sway public opinion .
Don ’ t the wildly failed polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warrant our skepticism ?
Pre-election polling was uniformly wrong , but so were Election Day exit polls .
I ’ m old enough to remember when exit polling was so accurate that if you got word at noon on Election Day that your favored candidate was losing , you could take it to the bank — or to your psychiatrist .
You knew the pit in your stomach was based on something real and likely irreversible .
At some point , however , that changed , and it ’ s hard to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also waned over the years , maybe because it ’ s hard to get a random sampling with the advent of cellphones and deserved cynicism over politically motivated polling .
In this era of political correctness , political shaming and cancel culture , surely many tell pollsters what they think they want to hear rather than what they truly believe .
Let ’ s also admit that polls vary widely .
Just this week , as progressives were reporting that polling shows Trump is toast , a new Gallup poll shows his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
But let ’ s consider another factor that requires us to take polls with bags of salt : the highly fluid nature of current events including some unforeseeable and beyond our control .
I remember an informed Trump supporter telling me way back in 2017 that , based on polls he was seeing , Trump ’ s chances for re-election were slim .
My reaction was that the likelihood of the 2020 election being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 was comparable to that of Joe Biden defeating Chuck Norris in an MMA contest .
I told my friend that it was unlikely the factors driving the polls would be as relevant in 2020 .
Haven ’ t President Trump ’ s approval ratings fluctuated considerably since then ?
Plus , how can anyone accurately predict the outcome of a contest when only one of the competitors has been identified ?
Moreover , I ’ ve always doubted that polls could measure voter intensity , which many believe is enormously important .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t discount the anti-Trump passion out there , too , but I ’ d rather have passionate voters for a certain candidate than those indifferent to their own candidate but passionately against his opponent .
There ’ s no evidence that anyone is passionately for Biden , except maybe his family .
He never was inspiring , but in his present state , he couldn ’ t get an illiterate pyromaniac to attend a book burning .
The only reason his candidacy was resurrected is that , once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential punch bowl , and no one could flush him .
That left to party honchos the task of jumping on the Biden moped and endorsing him with enough phony sincerity to take Sanders out with coup-like ferocity .
Many election influencers , such as the economy and foreign policy , can change rapidly .
A president can preside over a growing economy for his entire presidency until a financial meltdown reframes the political landscape a month before the election .
An act of war or the eruption of a bona fide presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or erosion of support .
But nothing in modern times has so radically altered the status quo in this country as COVID-19 .
If the election had occurred before the pandemic , it would have been a referendum mostly on Trump ’ s economic record .
If the election had been in April , it might have turned on his perceived response to the virus .
If the election were today or sometime in the next few months , as our focus increasingly shifts from corona fears to jobs anxiety , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic “ reopening.
” Who knows where the economy will be in November ?
If the virus fiercely rebounds shortly before the election , or if the economy hasn ’ t recovered , Trump could be blamed , fairly or not .
I have no intention of predicting the outcome of the November election now .
We can rationally discuss the variables , but until we see how these monumental events play out , no one — I repeat no one — knows whether President Trump will be re-elected , or why or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to Trump supporters is that even reliably accurate polls represent at most a brief snapshot in time .
So don ’ t hyperventilate over polls released right now or the eventual political impact of rapidly unfolding events .
We just have to pray the same prayer we would pray if the election were to not matter to the future of the country : that President Trump manages the ship of state with a steady hand and deftly navigates the nation through these turbulent waters , and that the virus greatly subsides and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a writer , author and attorney .
His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity : Why the Democrats Must Not Win .
Follow him on Twitter @ davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com .

What are we to make of the dire predictions of President Donald Trump’s political doom — that he doesn’t stand a chance for re-election in November?
I’ve read numerous mainstream media reports gloating over polls that show presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden surging and Trump plummeting. I’m not one to casually dismiss polls, but I view them skeptically, especially given their poor track record in more recent elections, and pollsters’ brazen manipulation of them to sway public opinion.
Don’t the wildly failed polls forecasting a Hillary Clinton victory in 2016 warrant our skepticism? Pre-election polling was uniformly wrong, but so were Election Day exit polls.
Pre-Election Polling
I’m old enough to remember when exit polling was so accurate that if you got word at noon on Election Day that your favored candidate was losing, you could take it to the bank — or to your psychiatrist. You knew the pit in your stomach was based on something real and likely irreversible. At some point, however, that changed, and it’s hard to know why.
The accuracy of pre-election polling has also waned over the years, maybe because it’s hard to get a random sampling with the advent of cellphones and deserved cynicism over politically motivated polling. In this era of political correctness, political shaming and cancel culture, surely many tell pollsters what they think they want to hear rather than what they truly believe. Let’s also admit that polls vary widely. Just this week, as progressives were reporting that polling shows Trump is toast, a new Gallup poll shows his approval ratings at an all-time high.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But let’s consider another factor that requires us to take polls with bags of salt: the highly fluid nature of current events including some unforeseeable and beyond our control.
I remember an informed Trump supporter telling me way back in 2017 that, based on polls he was seeing, Trump’s chances for re-election were slim.
My reaction was that the likelihood of the 2020 election being determined by the state of affairs in 2017 was comparable to that of Joe Biden defeating Chuck Norris in an MMA contest. I told my friend that it was unlikely the factors driving the polls would be as relevant in 2020.
Haven’t President Trump’s approval ratings fluctuated considerably since then? Plus, how can anyone accurately predict the outcome of a contest when only one of the competitors has been identified?
Measuring Voter Intensity
Moreover, I’ve always doubted that polls could measure voter intensity, which many believe is enormously important. Most Trump supporters are passionate and loyal. I don’t discount the anti-Trump passion out there, too, but I’d rather have passionate voters for a certain candidate than those indifferent to their own candidate but passionately against his opponent.
There’s no evidence that anyone is passionately for Biden, except maybe his family. He never was inspiring, but in his present state, he couldn’t get an illiterate pyromaniac to attend a book burning. The only reason his candidacy was resurrected is that, once again, Crazy Bernie leaped into the Democratic presidential punch bowl, and no one could flush him. That left to party honchos the task of jumping on the Biden moped and endorsing him with enough phony sincerity to take Sanders out with coup-like ferocity.
Election Influencers
Many election influencers, such as the economy and foreign policy, can change rapidly. A president can preside over a growing economy for his entire presidency until a financial meltdown reframes the political landscape a month before the election. An act of war or the eruption of a bona fide presidential scandal can cause a dramatic uptick in or erosion of support. But nothing in modern times has so radically altered the status quo in this country as COVID-19.
If the election had occurred before the pandemic, it would have been a referendum mostly on Trump’s economic record. If the election had been in April, it might have turned on his perceived response to the virus. If the election were today or sometime in the next few months, as our focus increasingly shifts from corona fears to jobs anxiety, it would turn largely on his handling of the economic “reopening.” Who knows where the economy will be in November? If the virus fiercely rebounds shortly before the election, or if the economy hasn’t recovered, Trump could be blamed, fairly or not.
I have no intention of predicting the outcome of the November election now. We can rationally discuss the variables, but until we see how these monumental events play out, no one — I repeat no one — knows whether President Trump will be re-elected, or why or why not.
Don’t Hyperventilate Yet
The message, then, to Trump supporters is that even reliably accurate polls represent at most a brief snapshot in time. So don’t hyperventilate over polls released right now or the eventual political impact of rapidly unfolding events. We just have to pray the same prayer we would pray if the election were to not matter to the future of the country: that President Trump manages the ship of state with a steady hand and deftly navigates the nation through these turbulent waters, and that the virus greatly subsides and the economy vigorously rebounds.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win. Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-05-04--‘Why I Got Arrested Protesting the Lockdown’

Stream columnist Jason Scott Jones took part in the # ReOpen Hawaii demonstration last week .
He texted me right after posting bail .
So I decided to interview him .
I saw that sweet pic of you getting arrested .
What happened ?
I ’ m in trouble with the lawless Governor of Hawaii and the Mayor of Honolulu .
Or more accurately , I ’ m in trouble with distant , un-American , unelected bureaucrats .
They ’ re working their will through Governor Ige and Mayor Caldwell .
I was arrested on Friday for participating in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
What did you observe about law enforcement at the re-open Hawaii protest ?
How were they acting ?
What were their orders , as far as you could tell ?
Initially , I was relieved .
It looked like we would have a short rally , express our grievances with the Mayor and Governor .
And then head home for a barbecue with the family .
About 30 minutes in , I noticed three separate groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move in from all three available directions in a standard cordon operation .
This made my blood boil .
I couldn ’ t believe our mayor would order police to use military tactics against the families of Hawaii .
An Attack on the Constitution What do you object to about the lockdown orders in Hawaii ?
Are they unconstitutional , needless , or irrational ?
Simply put : because they amount an illegal prior restraint on our right to free speech and our right to freedom of assembly .
The order was unconstitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforced .
What groups were involved in the protest ?
What about the efforts of Michigan ’ s Gretchen Whitmer to label such protests as “ white supremacist ?
” This is Hawaii ; it ’ s hard to make that claim .
A man arrested with me is a Samoan chief .
I was there with my Chinese wife and hapa ( Hawaiian for mixed ) children .
The event looked like Hawaii : Hawaiian , Samoan , Filipino , Chinese , Japanese .
It was a good mix of our state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I also saw a prominent pastor from Calvary Chapel Honolulu .
Do you see the actions of so many blue-state governors as ominous ?
Part of a real threat to liberty ?
Or just the fruit of panic and incompetence ?
Regardless of motive or intention , the response by our governors is an ominous threat to liberty .
Our state and local officials are behaving as thoughtless sock puppets .
Distant , unelected bureaucrats are working their will through our governors and mayors .
They give no thought to the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Orwellian government overreach .
It is vital in the preservation of liberty that we revitalize those institutions that shelter us from distant ideologues .
Do you see Americans as giving in to panic , and surrendering fundamental liberties based on weak or speculative evidence ?
Is this a trial run by enemies of liberty , to see how “ Reichstag fire ” panic can be weaponized to steal our rights ?
We have surrendered our inherited freedoms without a fight .
We will see if we will have to fight to regain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of God , men like DeBlasio and Cuomo surrender their totalitarian powers peacefully .
Are nursing home patients being kept safe in Hawaii ?
Or is your state forcing nursing homes to take in COVID patients , endangering the vulnerable , like New York , New Jersey and California ?
Hawaii has a long , rich history of caring for the elderly .
I have not heard news reports either way .
It is unimaginable that the crimes against the elderly in New York and in Canada could happen in Hawaii .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vulnerable leaves us open to easier manipulation by the dishonest media and victimist politicians How are the homeless , who live on remote beaches in Hawaii , are being treated by the authorities ?
The homeless problem in Hawaii is complex and unique .
They could have left our homeless community unmolested .
Instead the city and county of Honolulu have relocated thousands of them amid the crisis , several times .
The relocation has made it more challenging for private nonprofits and church groups that serve them and meet their needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans in states with overreaching lockdown orders ?
We must pressure our states to open up .
The lockdown has catastrophic unintended consequences .
The depressed are committing suicide .
People are not getting necessary medical tests and treatment .
There ’ s a real threat of hunger and famine in Africa , Asia , the Middle East , and South America .
What are your the next steps that you ’ re taking ?
My next legal step is filing a complaint , a motion for a restraining order , and hopefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the governor , mayor , and the chief of police .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

Stream columnist Jason Scott Jones took part in the #ReOpen Hawaii demonstration last week.
He texted me right after posting bail. So I decided to interview him.
I saw that sweet pic of you getting arrested. What happened?
I’m in trouble with the lawless Governor of Hawaii and the Mayor of Honolulu. Or more accurately, I’m in trouble with distant, un-American, unelected bureaucrats. They’re working their will through Governor Ige and Mayor Caldwell. I was arrested on Friday for participating in the #ReOpen Hawaii event.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
What did you observe about law enforcement at the re-open Hawaii protest? How were they acting? What were their orders, as far as you could tell?
Initially, I was relieved. It looked like we would have a short rally, express our grievances with the Mayor and Governor. And then head home for a barbecue with the family. About 30 minutes in, I noticed three separate groups of police officers. They began to move in from all three available directions in a standard cordon operation. This made my blood boil. I couldn’t believe our mayor would order police to use military tactics against the families of Hawaii.
An Attack on the Constitution
What do you object to about the lockdown orders in Hawaii? Are they unconstitutional, needless, or irrational?
Simply put: because they amount an illegal prior restraint on our right to free speech and our right to freedom of assembly. The order was unconstitutional, and it should not have been enforced.
What groups were involved in the protest? What about the efforts of Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer to label such protests as “white supremacist?”
This is Hawaii; it’s hard to make that claim. A man arrested with me is a Samoan chief. I was there with my Chinese wife and hapa (Hawaiian for mixed) children. The event looked like Hawaii: Hawaiian, Samoan, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese. It was a good mix of our state — a lot of small business owners. I also saw a prominent pastor from Calvary Chapel Honolulu.
Orwellian Government Overreach
Do you see the actions of so many blue-state governors as ominous? Part of a real threat to liberty? Or just the fruit of panic and incompetence?
Regardless of motive or intention, the response by our governors is an ominous threat to liberty. Our state and local officials are behaving as thoughtless sock puppets. Distant, unelected bureaucrats are working their will through our governors and mayors. They give no thought to the local realities and needs of the communities impacted by Orwellian government overreach. It is vital in the preservation of liberty that we revitalize those institutions that shelter us from distant ideologues.
Do you see Americans as giving in to panic, and surrendering fundamental liberties based on weak or speculative evidence? Is this a trial run by enemies of liberty, to see how “Reichstag fire” panic can be weaponized to steal our rights?
We have surrendered our inherited freedoms without a fight. We will see if we will have to fight to regain them. Or if by the grace of God, men like DeBlasio and Cuomo surrender their totalitarian powers peacefully.
I couldn’t believe our mayor would order police to use military tactics against the families of Hawaii.
Are nursing home patients being kept safe in Hawaii? Or is your state forcing nursing homes to take in COVID patients, endangering the vulnerable, like New York, New Jersey and California?
Hawaii has a long, rich history of caring for the elderly. I have not heard news reports either way. It is unimaginable that the crimes against the elderly in New York and in Canada could happen in Hawaii. In fact, our commitment to the elderly and vulnerable leaves us open to easier manipulation by the dishonest media and victimist politicians
The Vulnerable Always Suffer
How are the homeless, who live on remote beaches in Hawaii, are being treated by the authorities?
The homeless problem in Hawaii is complex and unique. They could have left our homeless community unmolested. Instead the city and county of Honolulu have relocated thousands of them amid the crisis, several times. The relocation has made it more challenging for private nonprofits and church groups that serve them and meet their needs.
What’s your message to Americans in states with overreaching lockdown orders?
We must pressure our states to open up. The lockdown has catastrophic unintended consequences. The depressed are committing suicide. People are not getting necessary medical tests and treatment. There’s a real threat of hunger and famine in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America.
What are your the next steps that you’re taking?
My next legal step is filing a complaint, a motion for a restraining order, and hopefully, a trial. I am filing against the governor, mayor, and the chief of police.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-05-04--Did God Send His Wrath Upon Connecticut?

Connecticut ’ s a small state , but we ’ ve already suffered more deaths from COVID-19 than bigger states like California and Texas .
More people have died of the virus here than in some whole countries .
Mexico and Switzerland , for example .
An article in Sunday ’ s Hartfort Courant explains why .
We ’ re right next door to New York .
We have more older people .
We live close together .
It ’ s natural we would have more deaths .
I accept the natural explanations .
Could there also be a supernatural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2005 Connecticut became the first state in the nation to voluntarily legalize same-sex civil unions , without being impelled to do so by a court order .
At about that time , I began half-joking that a meteor was going to land on the state Capitol .
Is COVID-19 the meteor ?
Did it just hit the whole state ?
Some say that people only think that way — that calamity equals God ’ s wrath because of sin — when it pertains to those sins of which they aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to whether the pandemic was partly caused by same-sex marriage , something I fought against .
I could add abortion and assisted suicide .
That ’ s a totally legitimate criticism .
I can only say in response that I am open to the possibility that God is angry with us over a whole range of sins that don ’ t neatly fit under the categories of left or right .
The sins of capitalism , you say ?
I ’ ve long wondered if the West , collectively , may have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Rich Man and Lazarus ” situation .
All the cheap things we own thanks in part to near-slave labor in the Third World .
All the suffering of which we are barely aware .
“ Fair trade ” is a lefty concern , not something we righties talk about .
And yet… Racism , you say ?
Ah , but there is precedent here .
Abraham Lincoln himself openly wondered — in speeches to the nation !
— whether the hundreds of thousands dead in the Civil War was God ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It Could Be Gay Marriage and Racism So , yeah .
I think that if God is punishing Connecticut , the reason could be gay marriage .
Or abortion .
It could be racism .
Or the dark side of capitalism .
Or whatever sins I myself am particularly guilty of .
That last part is key .
If Connecticut is experiencing Divine Wrath , the point is that each of us repent .
Everyone .
You and me both .
For whatever sins we commit .
Even if we think other peoples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because God loves us and wants the best for us .
If we ’ re being punished , those punishments express His merciful care .
The Lord tells us : “ I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner , but that the sinner turn from his way and live.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
We Catholics have a prayer called the Divine Mercy devotion .
I ’ ve been thinking a lot about the Divine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
Catholics had a wild , all-over-the-place apocalyptic energy in the 1990s .
A lot of it had to do with the alleged visits of the Virgin Mary to children in Medjugorje in Bosnia .
Mother Angelica seemed to have on her show every Tom , Dick or Harry who ever claimed to have been visited by the Virgin Mary .
The next day 50 people would call the Catholic book store where I worked to order “ Thunder of Justice ” or whatever the apocalypse of the week was .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Americans to visit Medjurgorje — lo and behold !
— the Virgin was suddenly said to be appearing in Athens , Georgia , or Scottsdale , Arizona or somewhere else .
( Even Enfield , CT , in 1994 .
Made the front page of the Journal Inquirer . )
My Evangelical friends had their experiences of this .
Some people thought everything a sign that the end is near .
End-times prophecies abounded .
Most of that faded out .
Where did all that energy go ?
I think the answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a desire for God ’ s mercy and healing .
For Catholics , that took the form of devotion to the Divine Mercy , as it was taught by a Polish nun named Faustina .
For Evangelicals , it took the form of re-energized preaching of mercy and forgiveness .
Here is a prayer to illustrate the Divine Mercy devotion .
“ Most Merciful Jesus , whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us , do not look upon our sins , but upon our trust we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart , and never let us escape from It.
” Isn ’ t that re-energized belief in God ’ s mercy Christianity at its best ?
The unhealthy energy was channeled into something healthy .
When an alleged visionary appeared locally a few years ago , no one we knew from the homeschool or pro-life movements even showed up .
Those same folks all love the Divine Mercy devotion .
COVID-19 gives us a new reason to ask if God is punishing us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know if the virus expresses Divine Wrath .
If it does , I don ’ t know why it does .
Those who say they know for sure deserve our skepticism .
But I am mystified by those who dismiss the possibility out of hand .
You really can ’ t know for certain that it ’ s not Divine Wrath , either .
Especially given what we know from Scripture .
God does punish us with diseases and other natural disasters .
Here is a great teaching on that subject .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said no to God in the strongest way possible .
Is God punishing us now ?
Is the virus worse in Connecticut because of the decisions we ’ ve made as a state and the lives we lead ?
That would make sense .
But I don ’ t know .
But we do know what to do .
Repent .
Ask God for His mercy .
This we should do anyway , virus or no virus .
When we take the log out of our own eye , we can turn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The world needs to repent , even if God is not directly punishing us with COVID-19 .
When you call others to repent , tell them about God ’ s mercy .
Tell those you can about Jesus .
That we should do , in season and out of season .
As Pope Benedict said : “ Jesus Christ is divine mercy in person .
To find Christ means to find the mercy of God.
” Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action .
He lives in Waterbury , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven children .
The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own .

Connecticut’s a small state, but we’ve already suffered more deaths from COVID-19 than bigger states like California and Texas. More people have died of the virus here than in some whole countries. Mexico and Switzerland, for example.
An article in Sunday’s Hartfort Courant explains why. We’re right next door to New York. We have more older people. We live close together. It’s natural we would have more deaths. I accept the natural explanations.
Could there also be a supernatural explanation? Is God punishing Connecticut?
The Supernatural Explanation
In 2005 Connecticut became the first state in the nation to voluntarily legalize same-sex civil unions, without being impelled to do so by a court order. At about that time, I began half-joking that a meteor was going to land on the state Capitol. Is COVID-19 the meteor? Did it just hit the whole state?
Some say that people only think that way — that calamity equals God’s wrath because of sin — when it pertains to those sins of which they aren’t guilty. Here I am speculating as to whether the pandemic was partly caused by same-sex marriage, something I fought against. I could add abortion and assisted suicide.
That’s a totally legitimate criticism. I can only say in response that I am open to the possibility that God is angry with us over a whole range of sins that don’t neatly fit under the categories of left or right.
The sins of capitalism, you say? I’ve long wondered if the West, collectively, may have to answer to God for a sort of “Rich Man and Lazarus” situation. All the cheap things we own thanks in part to near-slave labor in the Third World. All the suffering of which we are barely aware. “Fair trade” is a lefty concern, not something we righties talk about. And yet…
Racism, you say? Ah, but there is precedent here. Abraham Lincoln himself openly wondered — in speeches to the nation! — whether the hundreds of thousands dead in the Civil War was God’s punishment on our nation for slavery.
It Could Be Gay Marriage and Racism
So, yeah. I think that if God is punishing Connecticut, the reason could be gay marriage. Or abortion. It could be racism. Or the dark side of capitalism. Or whatever sins I myself am particularly guilty of.
That last part is key. If Connecticut is experiencing Divine Wrath, the point is that each of us repent. Everyone. You and me both. For whatever sins we commit. Even if we think other peoples sins are worse than our own.
Because God loves us and wants the best for us. If we’re being punished, those punishments express His merciful care. The Lord tells us: “I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but that the sinner turn from his way and live.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
We Catholics have a prayer called the Divine Mercy devotion. I’ve been thinking a lot about the Divine Mercy.
We’ve been here before. Catholics had a wild, all-over-the-place apocalyptic energy in the 1990s. A lot of it had to do with the alleged visits of the Virgin Mary to children in Medjugorje in Bosnia. Mother Angelica seemed to have on her show every Tom, Dick or Harry who ever claimed to have been visited by the Virgin Mary. The next day 50 people would call the Catholic book store where I worked to order “Thunder of Justice” or whatever the apocalypse of the week was.
When the war in Bosnia made it harder for Americans to visit Medjurgorje — lo and behold! — the Virgin was suddenly said to be appearing in Athens, Georgia, or Scottsdale, Arizona or somewhere else. (Even Enfield, CT, in 1994. Made the front page of the Journal Inquirer.)
My Evangelical friends had their experiences of this. Some people thought everything a sign that the end is near. End-times prophecies abounded.
Channeled into the Divine Mercy
Most of that faded out. Where did all that energy go? I think the answer is that it was mostly channeled into a desire for God’s mercy and healing. For Catholics, that took the form of devotion to the Divine Mercy, as it was taught by a Polish nun named Faustina. For Evangelicals, it took the form of re-energized preaching of mercy and forgiveness.
Here is a prayer to illustrate the Divine Mercy devotion. “Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It.”
Isn’t that re-energized belief in God’s mercy Christianity at its best? The unhealthy energy was channeled into something healthy. When an alleged visionary appeared locally a few years ago, no one we knew from the homeschool or pro-life movements even showed up. Those same folks all love the Divine Mercy devotion.
COVID-19 gives us a new reason to ask if God is punishing us. Connecticut in particular. I don’t know if the virus expresses Divine Wrath. If it does, I don’t know why it does. Those who say they know for sure deserve our skepticism.
But I am mystified by those who dismiss the possibility out of hand. You really can’t know for certain that it’s not Divine Wrath, either. Especially given what we know from Scripture. God does punish us with diseases and other natural disasters. Here is a great teaching on that subject.
And the state of Connecticut has certainly said no to God in the strongest way possible. Is God punishing us now? Is the virus worse in Connecticut because of the decisions we’ve made as a state and the lives we lead? That would make sense.
Turn to God’s Mercy
But I don’t know. But we do know what to do. Repent. Ask God for His mercy. This we should do anyway, virus or no virus. When we take the log out of our own eye, we can turn to the world and tell it to repent.
The world needs to repent, even if God is not directly punishing us with COVID-19. When you call others to repent, tell them about God’s mercy. Tell those you can about Jesus. That we should do, in season and out of season. As Pope Benedict said: “Jesus Christ is divine mercy in person. To find Christ means to find the mercy of God.”
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-05-04--When You’re Not as Heroic as You Hoped You’d Be

It ’ s only natural as we read or watch adventure stories to imagine what we would do .
Maybe it ’ s just me , but I bet a lot of us tend to flatter ourselves , even subconsciously , as we picture ourselves in the story we ’ re consuming .
We identify with the hero .
Any character who acts less than heroic probably earns harsh judgment .
( I , for one , enjoy yelling such judgments at my TV screen and book pages . )
I can ’ t believe he ’ s frozen up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
What a coward .
I ’ d never do that .
How can they not see that they ’ re on the wrong side ?
It ’ s plain to see who ’ s good and who ’ s bad here .
As I wrote a few years ago in honor of The Hobbit ’ s 80th publication anniversary , real “ adventures ” aren ’ t as enticing as the adventures we read about in stories .
The adventures in the stories are actually crises in the story world .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , things aren ’ t so clear cut .
Information can be muddled or hard to come by .
Discerning which “ side ” is right is difficult even for those with strong convictions .
In fact , people with similar convictions end up bitterly disagreeing .
And we ’ re not always as brave or helpful as we wished we were .
When I ’ m the Main Character , I ’ m Not So Heroic Since the pandemic hit our shores , I ’ ve experienced the gamut of emotions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really don ’ t like .
I ’ ve been afraid to the point of anxiety .
Other times I ’ ve boasted of my moral convictions at the expense of loving my neighbor .
I ’ ve allowed stress to unravel Christlike attitudes in myself .
I ’ ve gone from being convinced that one “ side ” is correct , to being unsure , to being exasperated to the point of not caring .
I had a short burst of charitable energy , then lost stamina and became self-focused again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
In short , I ’ m not the hero I wanted to be .
But I was never meant to be a hero .
None of us were — not on our own .
In greatest story ever told — the true story of which we ’ re all a part — God uses average people .
He chooses Gideon , the least important man of the weakest family .
He chooses Moses , an orphan who had killed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impediment .
God chooses Esther , who was afraid for her life .
Look through the Bible , and you ’ ll see that God tends to use those the world overlooks .
The ones who are weak , afraid , a mess .
People like us .
The sooner we realize we ’ re not cut out for heroics , the better .
Then we can truly offer ourselves up to God as the vessels we are .
We can ask for his courage to flow through us , for his wisdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength to not “ grow weary of doing good ” — no matter the “ adventure .
”

It’s only natural as we read or watch adventure stories to imagine what we would do. Maybe it’s just me, but I bet a lot of us tend to flatter ourselves, even subconsciously, as we picture ourselves in the story we’re consuming. We identify with the hero. Any character who acts less than heroic probably earns harsh judgment. (I, for one, enjoy yelling such judgments at my TV screen and book pages.)
Why isn’t she fighting back?
I can’t believe he’s frozen up like that. Move, you idiot!
What a coward. I’d never do that.
How can they not see that they’re on the wrong side? It’s plain to see who’s good and who’s bad here.
As I wrote a few years ago in honor of The Hobbit’s 80th publication anniversary, real “adventures” aren’t as enticing as the adventures we read about in stories. The adventures in the stories are actually crises in the story world. And when we face crisis in the real world, things aren’t so clear cut.
Information can be muddled or hard to come by. Discerning which “side” is right is difficult even for those with strong convictions. In fact, people with similar convictions end up bitterly disagreeing. And we’re not always as brave or helpful as we wished we were.
When I’m the Main Character, I’m Not So Heroic
Since the pandemic hit our shores, I’ve experienced the gamut of emotions and reactions, a lot of which I really don’t like. I’ve been afraid to the point of anxiety. Other times I’ve boasted of my moral convictions at the expense of loving my neighbor. I’ve allowed stress to unravel Christlike attitudes in myself. I’ve gone from being convinced that one “side” is correct, to being unsure, to being exasperated to the point of not caring. I had a short burst of charitable energy, then lost stamina and became self-focused again.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In short, I’m not the hero I wanted to be. But I was never meant to be a hero. None of us were — not on our own.
Who God Uses
In greatest story ever told — the true story of which we’re all a part — God uses average people. He chooses Gideon, the least important man of the weakest family. He chooses Moses, an orphan who had killed, run away, and had a speech impediment. God chooses Esther, who was afraid for her life.
Look through the Bible, and you’ll see that God tends to use those the world overlooks. The ones who are weak, afraid, a mess. People like us.
The sooner we realize we’re not cut out for heroics, the better. Then we can truly offer ourselves up to God as the vessels we are. We can ask for his courage to flow through us, for his wisdom to guide us, and for his strength to not “grow weary of doing good” — no matter the “adventure.”
Liberty McArtor, former staff writer for The Stream, is a freelance writer in the great state of Texas, where she lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with her husband and son. Follow Liberty on Twitter @LibertyMcArtor, or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com.


thestream--2020-05-05--A Poorer Economy Means a Sicker World

A Poorer Economy Means a Sicker World

A number of economists and commentators have argued that government-imposed social distancing laws should be relaxed sooner rather than later : Brutal government restrictions have led to collapsing output , skyrocketing unemployment , and long lines for welfare funded by ballooning government debt .
The response to this argument , in some circles , has been disgust .
After all , what kind of person would risk people ’ s lives in the name of the economy ?
But here is where the discussion has cratered into a false dichotomy .
The idea that this debate is about a trade-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents a widespread and frustratingly tragic misunderstanding of why economic growth matters .
The first reason , amongst many , is that economic growth is how we save more lives tomorrow than we can today .
A growing economy means that , over time , the community will enjoy increasing real incomes .
As incomes grow , people will spend a smaller portion of their money on necessities and a larger share on their personal wellbeing and health .
This , in turn , encourages more capital investment in health and a larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into nursing and medicine .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Therefore , if our economy grows quickly , a larger share of our wealth will be redirected towards the healthcare system .
Growing demand for healthcare services encourages innovation , entrepreneurship , and medical research , all of which means that more lives will be saved tomorrow , the next day , next year , and years into the future .
Conversely , if economic growth collapses , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future .
Lower growth today means fewer lives saved next year .
The IMF is anticipating that the global economy will contract by three percent this year as a consequence of the ongoing pandemic and national government policy responses ( social-distancing laws ) .
A three percent contraction means that the world loses roughly $ 9 trillion ( USD ) .
According to a 2019 report from the currently maligned World Health Organization , roughly ten percent of global GDP is spent on health .
In other words , a contraction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s healthcare services will lose $ 900 billion ( USD ) .
How many lives could we have saved with an extra $ 900 billion ?
How many lives will not be saved because the health industry is going to lose $ 900 billion ?
Economic recessions cost lives .
Not just today , but in the years to come as medical technology that would have been developed stays in incubation and health insurance that would have been affordable is just a bit too expensive .
This line of reasoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real suffering inflicted by lost jobs and ongoing unemployment .
It does not consider the human cost of being unable to pay rent or mortgage payments .
It does not consider the mental health and domestic abuse problems exacerbated by keeping people inside .
Much of the human suffering created by these lockdown laws is almost impossible to quantify .
To be clear , I am not arguing that governments should relax all social distancing measures overnight .
A recent paper from economists at the New York Federal Reserve Bank has found evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be better for the economy in the long run than allowing COVID-19 to run rampant through the population .
Maintaining certain lockdown laws for the next few months may be the optimal policy choice .
My point is that , in terms of saving lives , it is not at all clear which option is superior .
Sacrificing economic growth in the name of stopping the spread of COVID-19 will lead to deaths .
Prioritizing economic growth over slowing down COVID-19 will also lead to deaths .
Both options are horrible .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill the fewest and it is not a simple equation to solve .
To claim that the best policy choice is obvious is to massively oversimplify a complex world .
Mitchell Harvey is a Teaching Associate and Research Assistant in the Monash University Economics Department .

A number of economists and commentators have argued that government-imposed social distancing laws should be relaxed sooner rather than later: Brutal government restrictions have led to collapsing output, skyrocketing unemployment, and long lines for welfare funded by ballooning government debt.
Discussing Economic Growth
The response to this argument, in some circles, has been disgust. After all, what kind of person would risk people’s lives in the name of the economy? But here is where the discussion has cratered into a false dichotomy. The idea that this debate is about a trade-off between saving lives and saving GDP numbers represents a widespread and frustratingly tragic misunderstanding of why economic growth matters. The first reason, amongst many, is that economic growth is how we save more lives tomorrow than we can today.
A growing economy means that, over time, the community will enjoy increasing real incomes. As incomes grow, people will spend a smaller portion of their money on necessities and a larger share on their personal wellbeing and health. This, in turn, encourages more capital investment in health and a larger share of the labor force can move into nursing and medicine.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Therefore, if our economy grows quickly, a larger share of our wealth will be redirected towards the healthcare system. Growing demand for healthcare services encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, and medical research, all of which means that more lives will be saved tomorrow, the next day, next year, and years into the future. Conversely, if economic growth collapses, we know that more people will die in the future. Lower growth today means fewer lives saved next year.
Three Percent GDP Contraction
The IMF is anticipating that the global economy will contract by three percent this year as a consequence of the ongoing pandemic and national government policy responses (social-distancing laws). A three percent contraction means that the world loses roughly $9 trillion (USD). According to a 2019 report from the currently maligned World Health Organization, roughly ten percent of global GDP is spent on health.
In other words, a contraction of three percent in global GDP means that the world’s healthcare services will lose $900 billion (USD). How many lives could we have saved with an extra $900 billion? How many lives will not be saved because the health industry is going to lose $900 billion? Economic recessions cost lives. Not just today, but in the years to come as medical technology that would have been developed stays in incubation and health insurance that would have been affordable is just a bit too expensive.
This line of reasoning does not even take into account the real suffering inflicted by lost jobs and ongoing unemployment. It does not consider the human cost of being unable to pay rent or mortgage payments. It does not consider the mental health and domestic abuse problems exacerbated by keeping people inside. Much of the human suffering created by these lockdown laws is almost impossible to quantify.
To be clear, I am not arguing that governments should relax all social distancing measures overnight. A recent paper from economists at the New York Federal Reserve Bank has found evidence suggesting that some lockdown provisions may actually be better for the economy in the long run than allowing COVID-19 to run rampant through the population. Maintaining certain lockdown laws for the next few months may be the optimal policy choice.
My point is that, in terms of saving lives, it is not at all clear which option is superior. Sacrificing economic growth in the name of stopping the spread of COVID-19 will lead to deaths. Prioritizing economic growth over slowing down COVID-19 will also lead to deaths. Both options are horrible. The challenge is working out which one will kill the fewest and it is not a simple equation to solve. To claim that the best policy choice is obvious is to massively oversimplify a complex world.
Mitchell Harvey is a Teaching Associate and Research Assistant in the Monash University Economics Department.
Originally published at FEE.org.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-05-05--Military Photo of the Day: Swearing in After Basic Training

Basic military trainees are sworn in during their graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas on April 16 @ @ @ @ @ to these warriors for volunteering to defend our freedom !
Support The Stream : Serving @ @ @ @ @ With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .

Basic military trainees are sworn in during their graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas on April 16, 2020.
Thank you to these warriors for volunteering to defend our freedom!
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.