Our response to the Covid pandemic continues to be incoherent and ineffective. No matter how many interstate comparisons prove that lockdowns confer no permanent benefit, no matter how much economic devastation we endure and how many lives are ruined, we soldier on, refusing to learn from experience. Our panic-driven approach was originally in reaction to […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/iStock-1279308965-scaled.jpg17072560Thomas C. Pattersonhttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngThomas C. Patterson2021-02-17 06:00:182021-02-17 08:31:55Lockdown: Incoherent and Ineffective
It is a Sunday morning at Buffalo Ridge Park in Northeast Phoenix. The parking lot is full. Children play on city supplied appliances, sucking their thumbs, sliming up the swings and slides with spittle that they share with others, and having a wonderful time. People are walking their dogs. Their dogs sniff each other and their […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1848-scaled.jpg17072560Neland Nobelhttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngNeland Nobel2021-02-08 13:43:162021-02-08 15:54:00The Lockdown Brain is Locked Down
When lockdowns first happened, my initial thought was geeky, and only later did I begin to realize the implications for human rights and liberties. My thought was: this is going to be devastating for future capital investment. The basis of my fear was the knowledge that in almost all poor countries, property rights are insecure, […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/emptyvenue-800x508-1.jpg508800Jeffrey Tuckerhttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngJeffrey Tucker2021-02-08 06:00:172021-02-07 14:19:20Lockdowns Have Depleted Capital in All Forms
The virus is real but the measures we’re taking make no sense—unless you’re a government bully trying to consolidate power. Science is asking questions and accepting the answers. Superstition is when belief drives people to do silly things without evidence. Which method works better for authoritarians and bullies? The latter, of course, which is what’s […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1228808056-751x422-c-default.jpeg422751Peter Van Burenhttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngPeter Van Buren2021-02-04 01:00:302021-02-02 19:04:16COVID’s Legacy: Less Science, More Authoritarianism
The present Covid-inspired forced lockdowns on business and school closures are and have been counterproductive, not sustainable and are, quite frankly, meritless and unscientific. They have been disastrous and just plain wrong! There has been no good reason for this. These unparalleled public health actions have been enacted for a virus with an infection mortality […]
One of the few things where there is widespread agreement is about the fact that Social Security and Medicare are going broke unless something is done to stem the financial drain as the retirement rolls swell. Choices are raising taxes or cutting benefits. Neither alternative is palatable politically, so the problem is put off for […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/istockphoto-609930814-170667a.jpg339509Ken Veithttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngKen Veit2021-02-01 18:02:332021-02-01 19:32:57The Insecurity in Social Security
How often do you experience an emergency? Monthly? Weekly? Every day? More than likely, it’s pretty uncommon—as it should be. Maybe someone should tell the government. Because it seems like every time you read the news, some government official is declaring a new “state of emergency.” But these declarations stopped looking like real emergencies long […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/azfec-free-hm.jpeg600800Arizona Free Enterprise Clubhttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngArizona Free Enterprise Club2021-01-30 14:00:312021-01-29 14:13:08Emergency Orders Are Being Abused
Last fall, the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation (IHME) published a headline-grabbing study with a politically appealing claim: if Americans would simply mask up when they ventured out into public, over 120,000 lives could be saved by the beginning of next year. As Joe Biden takes office later this week, he is widely expected […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/pexels-photo-4392043.jpeg6671000Phillip W. Magnesshttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngPhillip W. Magness2021-01-20 06:00:452021-01-20 09:13:48The Empirical Case for a Mask Mandate Lacks Scientific Grounding
Another open season has come and gone in which eligible Americans could choose from a narrow array of federally subsidized health care plans under the Affordable Care Act. Despite the ACA’s manifest gaps and failures, a recent poll from the left-leaning Kaiser Family Foundation found that a solid majority – 55% – of respondents have a favorable […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/istockphoto-1197100291-170667a.jpg339509Chuck Donovanhttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngChuck Donovan2021-01-05 02:00:082021-01-03 15:23:46At 10 Years Old, the Affordable Care Act Is Aging Badly
This has been a year of astonishing policy failure. We are surrounded by devastation conceived and cheered by intellectuals and their political handmaidens. The errors number in the thousands, so please consider the following little more than a first draft, a mere guide to what will surely be unearthed in the coming months and years. […]
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https://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/ravenman.jpeg13002048Phillip W. Magnesshttps://thepricklypear.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_v12_404x90.pngPhillip W. Magness2020-12-29 09:24:132020-12-29 11:47:29Twelve Times the Lockdowners Were Wrong
Lockdown: Incoherent and Ineffective
/in Economics, Featured, Healthcare, Liberty, Politics /by Thomas C. PattersonOur response to the Covid pandemic continues to be incoherent and ineffective. No matter how many interstate comparisons prove that lockdowns confer no permanent benefit, no matter how much economic devastation we endure and how many lives are ruined, we soldier on, refusing to learn from experience. Our panic-driven approach was originally in reaction to […]
The Lockdown Brain is Locked Down
/in Healthcare, Latest News, Politics /by Neland NobelIt is a Sunday morning at Buffalo Ridge Park in Northeast Phoenix. The parking lot is full. Children play on city supplied appliances, sucking their thumbs, sliming up the swings and slides with spittle that they share with others, and having a wonderful time. People are walking their dogs. Their dogs sniff each other and their […]
Lockdowns Have Depleted Capital in All Forms
/in Economics, Education, Featured, Healthcare, Latest News, Liberty /by Jeffrey TuckerWhen lockdowns first happened, my initial thought was geeky, and only later did I begin to realize the implications for human rights and liberties. My thought was: this is going to be devastating for future capital investment. The basis of my fear was the knowledge that in almost all poor countries, property rights are insecure, […]
COVID’s Legacy: Less Science, More Authoritarianism
/in Featured, Healthcare, Latest News, Politics /by Peter Van BurenThe virus is real but the measures we’re taking make no sense—unless you’re a government bully trying to consolidate power. Science is asking questions and accepting the answers. Superstition is when belief drives people to do silly things without evidence. Which method works better for authoritarians and bullies? The latter, of course, which is what’s […]
The Catastrophic Impact of Covid Forced Societal Lockdowns
/in Featured, Healthcare, Latest News, Liberty, Life Advocacy /by AIER Contributing AuthorsThe present Covid-inspired forced lockdowns on business and school closures are and have been counterproductive, not sustainable and are, quite frankly, meritless and unscientific. They have been disastrous and just plain wrong! There has been no good reason for this. These unparalleled public health actions have been enacted for a virus with an infection mortality […]
The Insecurity in Social Security
/in Economics, Healthcare, Latest News, Politics /by Ken VeitOne of the few things where there is widespread agreement is about the fact that Social Security and Medicare are going broke unless something is done to stem the financial drain as the retirement rolls swell. Choices are raising taxes or cutting benefits. Neither alternative is palatable politically, so the problem is put off for […]
Emergency Orders Are Being Abused
/in Economics, Featured, Healthcare, Liberty, Politics /by Arizona Free Enterprise ClubHow often do you experience an emergency? Monthly? Weekly? Every day? More than likely, it’s pretty uncommon—as it should be. Maybe someone should tell the government. Because it seems like every time you read the news, some government official is declaring a new “state of emergency.” But these declarations stopped looking like real emergencies long […]
The Empirical Case for a Mask Mandate Lacks Scientific Grounding
/in Education, Healthcare, Latest News, Politics /by Phillip W. MagnessLast fall, the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation (IHME) published a headline-grabbing study with a politically appealing claim: if Americans would simply mask up when they ventured out into public, over 120,000 lives could be saved by the beginning of next year. As Joe Biden takes office later this week, he is widely expected […]
At 10 Years Old, the Affordable Care Act Is Aging Badly
/in Economics, Healthcare, Liberty, Politics /by Chuck DonovanAnother open season has come and gone in which eligible Americans could choose from a narrow array of federally subsidized health care plans under the Affordable Care Act. Despite the ACA’s manifest gaps and failures, a recent poll from the left-leaning Kaiser Family Foundation found that a solid majority – 55% – of respondents have a favorable […]
Twelve Times the Lockdowners Were Wrong
/in Featured, Healthcare, Liberty, Politics /by Phillip W. MagnessThis has been a year of astonishing policy failure. We are surrounded by devastation conceived and cheered by intellectuals and their political handmaidens. The errors number in the thousands, so please consider the following little more than a first draft, a mere guide to what will surely be unearthed in the coming months and years. […]