Intellectual failure is at the heart of the alleged pandemic crisis, according to Jeffrey Tucker of the American Institute for Economic Research and the Foundation for Economic Education. A preoccupation with computer modelling, as a strategy for predicting things like climate change and pandemics, has led to a tragic departure from reality.

Across the world, this has led to unprecedented levels of economic intervention with some entire industries being shut down while others deemed essential being permitted to continue operating. Is this the latest step towards the controlled economy of the collectivist state? Is this the ‘mixed economy’ morphing into the command economy of tyranny?

Since wealth creation and innovation require economic and therefore political freedom, it is difficult to see any of this ending well. Job losses are mounting up and the picture of the damage will take more time to become apparent to many. But the longer-term implications for our freedom are perhaps easier to see.

Tucker has a more optimistic view of the future. He sees us ending up somewhere better than where we were before. I enjoyed the optimistic outlook during our discussion even if I remain unconvinced. From my perspective here in the UK insufficient people are interested in the truth. It has been summed up as “people haven’t suffered enough yet” by Darren Deogee of the People’s Public Trust. I wonder how much suffering is needed to precipitate widespread action in the form of dissent and refusal to cooperate, and if it can happen before that last bars of the cage are welded shut.

Find out more from Jeffrey at the Foundation for Economic Education and also the American Institute for Economic Research. Or pick up a copy of one of his many entertaining and informative books. He has written “Rightwing collectivism”, “Bourbon for Breakfast – living outside the Statist Quo”, And most recently “The Market Loves You – and why you should love it back”.

Nigel Howitt,

Treehouse Farm

June 24th 2020