[Lnc-business] the national response to the pandemic

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

I will get with you and with anyone else who wishes off-list.  Let me know.

*In Liberty,*

* Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
(part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If anyone
found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social faux
pas), please contact me privately and let me know. *



On Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 12:18 PM Richard Longstreth <
richard.longstreth at lp.org> wrote:

> My time is limited today however I would love the opportunity to review in
> advance. Historically, resolutions don't fair well on this committee and I
> hope anyone interested will help craft language.
>
> If you get it done without me, I'll be happy to contribute to your rough
> draft later tonight or tomorrow morning
>
> Richard Longstreth
> Region 1 Representative (AK, AZ, CO, HI, KS, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
> Libertarian National Committee
> richard.longstreth at lp.org
> 931.538.9300
>
> Sent from my Mobile Device
>
> On Sun, Apr 26, 2020, 09:57 Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
> wrote:
>
>> I am going to be putting forth some resolution language later today.
>> Would you like to work with me on it off list?
>>
>> *In Liberty,*
>>
>> * Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
>> (part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
>> communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If anyone
>> found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social faux
>> pas), please contact me privately and let me know. *
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 10:10 AM Richard Longstreth via Lnc-business <
>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I like the article and share some of your sentiment. What response or
>>> action are you seeking? I agree that we can do more, however, I do know
>>> we
>>> are regularly putting things out there. I appreciate you sharing the
>>> piece
>>> by Wes, but I was unaware that you were requesting any action or response
>>> even after reviewing your orginal email. It seemed like you were just
>>> sharing an article to me.
>>>
>>> On Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 12:10 AM Caryn Ann Harlos via Lnc-business <
>>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Some members have written me on this asking if this email received any
>>> > responses.  Unfortunately it has not which is disappointing to them and
>>> > myself.  Bumping in case it was missed.
>>> >
>>> > *  In Liberty,*
>>> > * Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
>>> > (part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
>>> > communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If anyone
>>> > found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social
>>> faux
>>> > pas) in an actual email, please contact me privately and let me know.
>>> *
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Mon, Apr 6, 2020 at 9:44 AM Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > We have done fantastic on certain issues, but to be honest, I think
>>> we
>>> > are
>>> > > doing lackluster on addressing the civil rights violations and
>>> government
>>> > > overreach in its mandates.  We should be screaming bloody hell rather
>>> > than
>>> > > at best quietly whimpering.  This piece by Wes Benedict is exactly
>>> what
>>> > we
>>> > > need:
>>> > >
>>> > > Libertarian Prescription for Coronavirus
>>> > >
>>> > > PRESS RELEASE - AUSTIN – March 18, 2020
>>> > >
>>> > > True, most Libertarians aren’t doctors. Our remedies are for the
>>> > > government.
>>> > >
>>> > > People are rightly concerned about the current coronavirus outbreak.
>>> A
>>> > > March 13, 2020 New York Times article quoting the CDC says that, in
>>> the
>>> > > worst-case scenario, as many as 214 million Americans might get
>>> infected
>>> > > and 1.7 million could die. Other experts expect far fewer infections
>>> and
>>> > > deaths once better data on infection rates becomes available, and as
>>> > people
>>> > > change their behaviors to prevent the spread of the virus.
>>> > >
>>> > > Wes Benedict, founder of the Libertarian Booster PAC, commented, “In
>>> > times
>>> > > of crisis, Americans are too quick to reach for the government as a
>>> > default
>>> > > solver of problems. Politicians wanting to appear to be ‘doing
>>> something’
>>> > > are all too eager to act, but they have a long history of doing
>>> things
>>> > that
>>> > > make situations worse, both in the short term and the long term.
>>> > >
>>> > > “Libertarians believe that free people and free markets are best
>>> equipped
>>> > > to respond to crisis situations. Often government remedies, which
>>> might
>>> > > make us feel good, get us hooked and cause long-term damage. The war
>>> on
>>> > > poverty, war on terror, war on drugs, and other government responses
>>> to
>>> > > perceived threats have given us restrictions and programs that
>>> rarely get
>>> > > revoked. We don’t need a new expensive freedom-killing war on viruses
>>> > which
>>> > > may kill more people than it helps by reducing economic development
>>> > > worldwide.”
>>> > >
>>> > > Benedict added, "Instead of asking what new program or law is needed
>>> in
>>> > > response to every problem like the coronavirus, we should be asking,
>>> > 'What
>>> > > existing laws are adding to the problem?'"
>>> > >
>>> > > Below are activities the government should avoid, followed by
>>> > > prescriptions for activities the government should take.
>>> > >
>>> > > Governments should avoid the following:
>>> > >
>>> > > Mandatory restaurant and other business closings. People should be
>>> free
>>> > to
>>> > > decide for themselves what risks they are willing to take. I’d highly
>>> > > recommend most senior citizens and those with weakened immune
>>> systems do
>>> > > their best to stay away from restaurants and stores. Many already do
>>> that
>>> > > during flu outbreaks. But it’s wrong for the government to force
>>> > businesses
>>> > > to close, and doing that now sets a dangerous precedent.
>>> > >
>>> > > Quarantines and limits on public assembly. Quarantines can backfire.
>>> > > People who might be sick may avoid getting tested for fear of being
>>> held
>>> > > against their will. At-risk individuals have the choice to isolate
>>> > > themselves and use extra caution as they do during flu outbreaks.
>>> Healthy
>>> > > individuals are free to avoid public gatherings as well, but they
>>> should
>>> > > not be able to prevent others from assembling.
>>> > >
>>> > > Carriers of the disease can create risks for vulnerable individuals.
>>> > > However, Libertarian tenets of personal freedom and personal
>>> > responsibility
>>> > > put the onus on the at-risk individual to stay isolated, rather than
>>> > demand
>>> > > that the rest of the world change their behavior.
>>> > >
>>> > > The power to quarantine is very dangerous, because it amounts to
>>> > > imprisonment without a crime. That same power could be used in the
>>> future
>>> > > by government officials who want to get dissidents out of the way.
>>> The
>>> > > First Amendment protects people’s right to assemble, for good reason.
>>> > >
>>> > > As an example, the City of Austin has banned gatherings of more than
>>> 10
>>> > > people. That’s wrong, violates the Constitution, should be reversed
>>> > > immediately, and should never be done again.
>>> > >
>>> > > Bailouts and other financial rescues. Government should avoid
>>> causing a
>>> > > financial pandemic on top of the disease pandemic. Forcing
>>> businesses to
>>> > > close, monkeying with interest rates, quantitative easing, promising
>>> > > bailouts, and other subsidies only make the financial problems worse
>>> in
>>> > the
>>> > > short and long run. The world has suffered disease outbreaks in
>>> recent
>>> > > years such as Ebola, SARS, MERS, and swine flu. A new contagious
>>> disease
>>> > > outbreak should be a surprise to no one. It’s the responsibility of
>>> > > individuals and businesses to be prepared for occurrences like this.
>>> We
>>> > > should not punish prudent businesses by taxing them and giving that
>>> money
>>> > > to businesses that might otherwise fail.
>>> > >
>>> > > Things government should do:
>>> > >
>>> > > 1. Remove price-gouging restrictions to help suppliers meet demand
>>> and
>>> > > avoid shortages.
>>> > > 2. Pass legislation to restrict the power of local officials to close
>>> > > businesses and limit group sizes.
>>> > > 3. Suspend the minimum wage so the unemployed can more easily find
>>> > > alternative work, and so businesses teetering on bankruptcy can
>>> survive.
>>> > > 4. Raise the threshold for filing a 1099 for contract work (currently
>>> > > $600), to allow people needing help to hire willing contract workers
>>> > > without all of the federal paperwork hassles.
>>> > > 5. Remove tariffs to speed the flow of supplies internationally.
>>> > > 6. Remove CDC and FDA restrictions that prohibit rapid development
>>> and
>>> > > rollout of tests, immunizations, and treatments.
>>> > > 7. Relax immigration quotas and hurdles, to allow skilled foreign
>>> workers
>>> > > to come here and help us.
>>> > > 8. Remove economic sanctions on Iran, so they can more easily get
>>> what
>>> > > they need to save their own lives.
>>> > >
>>> > > Although Libertarians are famous for complaining about what
>>> government
>>> > > does wrong, there’s one area where the government is performing
>>> pretty
>>> > > well: free speech.
>>> > >
>>> > > Free speech is critical. We don’t want a situation like China where
>>> > people
>>> > > who contradict the government are subject to threats, censorship, or
>>> > > perhaps even worse.
>>> > >
>>> > > While it’s possible the media has created more panic than we need, or
>>> > > failed to warn us quickly enough, press freedom is crucial. And
>>> freedom
>>> > of
>>> > > the press means the freedom to be wrong. Our free media has grabbed
>>> > > America’s attention and has helped individuals stay informed so they
>>> can
>>> > > take voluntary action.
>>> > >
>>> > > Freedom of speech for every individual shall not be infringed. Free
>>> > speech
>>> > > means the right to criticize the president, Congress, and all
>>> government
>>> > > officials. Free speech also means the right to question experts, to
>>> > > disagree, and to debate and argue on social media without
>>> interference
>>> > from
>>> > > the government. Except for some defamation lawsuits and speech codes
>>> on
>>> > > campuses, America mostly does well respecting free speech.
>>> > >
>>> > > Benedict reaffirmed, “I know people are scared. Government reaction
>>> > scares
>>> > > me more than the virus itself. Now is not the time to panic and
>>> throw out
>>> > > our principles. Instead, now is the time to stand firmly on
>>> principle,
>>> > and
>>> > > remind ourselves what makes America great. Now is the time for us to
>>> take
>>> > > responsibility for our own health, and to voluntarily lend a hand to
>>> a
>>> > > neighbor. Free people, voluntary persuasion, and free markets are the
>>> > > surest, quickest, cheapest, and safest way for humanity to fight the
>>> > > coronavirus—not government coercion.”
>>> > >
>>> > > Wes Benedict is Founder of the Libertarian Booster PAC (
>>> > > libertarianboosterpac.org
>>> > > <
>>> >
>>> https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flibertarianboosterpac.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1dbid9csfAlK4llLikfxseRNl3IHBDamQtyzfAKAZXxo0_rfKbHjBjwiE&h=AT21NB0h2afLFWYA8Bh6_8WlS4sz7naQH5D9MriENq0-1MlzcJ4YjENK4gWwki8MwtzsWj9wkrjjbwp_aaPTTbwlhA373tRfoNSNESHMulxbWTbPuqc4S7DsLxl2svCJkRX1OmwnxqqvJEwifeJHTOPebEuTblt_z-ywfxkbyDSEXMd8tjpIHsCQrdW_uUVCU1mdF5IEWNnhAHr8VQqdzEvYpLf50_PqcwHHItiS7iLK35yie1wttR6cJvBU_QmqP_43DL-3fjPBlX5fWeab39gwssfOsFaYNdwgvB8XUm4w6lPZtBcy7ead22SgjG-VRvCmqsYg5n3nrrJd7QttZ7CHntxpddyb6RbgNj4xIcqWGOKEmiRC2o6V9u6LoN_xwn84cJ57HmgFKDUjdnP0Agahs9oq2V_KhQt7qRzK_bNmGX30nfsd5KaGk6y4cNOB_rfaf2TeUnX5hunEej3Of_oCFwvBk19bdTZdJxDiEDfvz47opljWj6Z428dmbCPFkJ9A4RPy7mvDCuA6aqGivl88chZ-sqrJ1DJlNQyMe9d1MsIkeIhJSL2NntPA6S6Y-wN7Wg_9JH4FdXGrmZ_3_ehLWhm2vI-kKiQ7ZfkuCrWHRcqNCgJ9pc3xua0TxPcsei6NP_V4NQ2T_cjG2qE
>>> > >)
>>> > > and former Executive Director of the Libertarian National Committee.
>>> > >
>>> > > Contact:
>>> > >
>>> > > Wes Benedict, Libertarian Booster PAC president
>>> > > wesbenedict at gmail.com
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > *  In Liberty,*
>>> > > * Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's
>>> Syndrome
>>> > > (part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
>>> > > communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If
>>> anyone
>>> > > found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social
>>> faux
>>> > > pas) in an actual email, please contact me privately and let me
>>> know.  *
>>> > >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Richard Longstreth
>>> Region 1 Representative (AK, AZ, CO, HI, KS, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
>>> Libertarian National Committee
>>> richard.longstreth at lp.org
>>> 931.538.9300
>>>
>>