Systemic Racism?

Racism does exist, and is wrong. No doubt. But accusing everyone of racism, regardless of their actual beliefs and actions is, too. Moreover, it creates irreconcilable camps, as it renders any effort of an individual to improve insufficient. This is a recipe for intentional division, not for justice, equality or peaceful unity.

This article analyzes the situation in America and debunks the accusation that our country in 2020 is systematically racist.

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/what-is-systemic-racism-really/

Norwegian Official: Shutdown was Counterproductive

The director of the Norwegian public health agency, Camilla Stoltenberg, has the guts and integrity to admit what most other leaders don’t have the persona to concede: “We made a mistake.”

Her agency published a report with a striking conclusion: the Wuhan-coronavirus never spreaded as fast as had been feared, and when the lockdowns were ordered, the virus was already retreating naturally.

While most government officials still cling to outdated models and data from months ago, or point to artificially inflated numbers (as many countries, including the U.S. count every person who dies with Covid or even just Covid-like symptoms, as a Covid-death, not just people who died of Covid), Norway is doing the right thing and coming clean with its citizens.

This is important, because for one thing, there is no point in keeping restrictions on place that are not needed. For another, should another epidemic come along at some point (there are several different flu strains going around every winter, for example), it is important not to repeat mistakes that have ruined millions of businesses and are projected to cause over 100 Million people to starve to death this year, according to the UN (more than ten times as many as without the shutdowns).

Every mayor, governor, prime minister or president should learn a lesson from Ms. Stoltenberg.

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/norway-health-chief-lockdown-was-not-needed-to-tame-covid

The Beauty of a Republic: The Voter has a Choice

The riots have seen the two major parties in the U.S. fall squarely into two camps: one that wants to end the riots, ban Antifa and which supports the people’s right to protect themselves, and one that supports the riots, calls on people to join them, opposes banning Antifa, wants to ban individuals’ rights to defend themselves and is hesitant to curtail the riots. Whichever one supports: there is a party supporting your position. And November is only five months away.

https://spectator.org/a-very-real-silent-majority-will-reelect-trump/

Jobs Coming Back

First signs of recovery are already visible. How quick and complete it will be, remains to be seen, as many businesses did not survive the draconian shutdown measures and will never again create jobs. But among the ones who did, many are now in need for workers again, as they are allowed to open up again.

The numbers also vary depending on jurisdiction, as some cities and states chose to keep restrictions in place, thus preventing a complete return to a normal economy, while others allowed more freedom throughout the crisis. But overall, the numbers are encouraging.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/job-report-shock-may-payrolls-rose-25-million-crushing-expectations-75-million-drop

More Tennessee Counties Urge Governor Lee to Lift all Restrictions, Given That the Curve has Long Been Flattened

Maury county mayor Andy Ogles joined a growing list of county mayors voicing their discontent with keeping outdated restrictions in place, despite the original goals having been over-accomplished a long time ago.

Ogles stresses that at this point, the measures are doing more harm than good and urges the governor to allow counties to decide for themselves what measures they want to take.

https://tennesseestar.com/2020/06/05/maury-county-mayor-ogles-asks-gov-lee-to-lift-all-covid-19-restrictions-there/

Signs That Political Division in America Might be Easing

As the contradictions in the policies of many governors and mayors, especially Democrats, are becoming increasingly obvious to everyone, some people are beginning to question their affiliation.

For months (remember, it was only supposed to be two weeks), we were told that we cannot go to work or to church, or we’d be murderers. Then we were supposed to dehumanize ourselves and each other by covering our faces and always stay at least 6ft apart from each other. However, the very same policymakers who implemented these rules, now call on people to attend mass protests which have seen cities across the country vandalized and looted. Apparently, a mass gathering of a few thousand people is less dangerous than a church congregation of eighty, or a workplace of twenty.

On the tail end of this, we are witnessing a phenomenon we haven’t seen in a long time: an increasing number of people with more mixed views. I.e. individuals who hold both traditional Democratic and traditional Republican views.

E.g. people who believe in police reform and social causes, may disapprove of their neighborhood being destroyed and purchase a firearm for the first time in their lives (and be grateful that they have the right to protect themselves and their families). People who initially supported measures to “flatten the curve”, may feel betrayed by their leaders as the goalposts kept shifting and the lockdowns extended until there was no job to go back to. Even people who supported the rallies, before they turned violent, can’t help but be confused, why their mayors and governors approve of these mass gatherings while still keeping other Covid-restrictions in place.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/opinions/trump-message-strikes-a-chord-jennings/index.html