When will this mess from the pandemic be over? Focus on the idea that it will end, not what that date will be.

We will prevail. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

When will we be done with this stay-at-home restriction?

When will the economy recover?

When will we be back to “normal?”

 

I don’t know the dates for any of those transitions.

I have a suggestion for you.

 

Don’t set a specific date in your mind. Instead firmly set in your mind that this mess will end, we will get through it, we will survive, and we will thrive at the end.

What is the danger of setting a date in your mind and having faith it will be over on that date?

Let me introduce you to the Stockdale paradox.

Admiral James Stockdale was an American pilot shot down during the Vietnam war. He was a prisoner in North Vietnam for 7 1/2 years, routinely subject to brutal torture, legs broken twice during interrogation, and held in solitary confinement during four of those years with his legs locked in a metal stock each night. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor a few years after his release.

I think we should listen to him. His physical courage and moral courage are a role model for all of us.

For one explanation of the phenomenon he described check out article titled The Stockdale Paradox.

 

Who did not come home from captivity?

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by Jim Ulvog on March 25, 2020, 11:39 am  •  Permalink
Posted in Other stuff

Posted by Jim Ulvog on March 25, 2020, 11:39 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2020/03/25/when-will-this-mess-from-the-pandemic-be-over-focus-on-the-idea-that-it-will-end-not-what-that-date-will-be/

Capitalism or fascism? Which economic system will better resolve the supply shortages?

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

How do we get enough of the respirators, personal protective equipment, and medicine we need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic?

Fascinating to watch the press conference Saturday 3/21/20 with various federal officials and members of the coronavirus task force.  Most fascinating feature was looking at the various comments and questions/answers from an economics perspective. Thought about Friday’s briefing as well.

Here is the difference in perspective I perceived: do we rely on capitalism or fascism as our model to get things done?

Underlying the comments from all the federal officials is the idea that the private sector can figure out how to provide everything we need.

The common thread underlying a huge portion of the questions from media is the idea that the federal government should tell which specific companies how much of which specific products to produce, specify they price they will charge, and provide the addresses for where to send each pallet of supplies.

In other words, should we use a capitalist model to provide goods we need or should we use the fascist model?

As a thumbnail description, in the fascist economic model the means of production are owned by the private sector but the central planning authority tells companies how much of which product to produce. In contrast, the next step away from freedom is communism, in which the means of production are owned by the government and a central planning agency decides how much of each specific product to produce.

Capitalism?

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by Jim Ulvog on March 22, 2020, 5:29 pm  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom, Economics
Tagged , ,

Posted by Jim Ulvog on March 22, 2020, 5:29 pm

https://freedomismoral.com/2020/03/22/capitalism-or-fascism-which-economic-system-will-better-resolve-the-supply-shortages/

Didn’t ever expect I’d personally experience Soviet Union and Venezuelan style grocery stores.

Chaika 3 (on redscale film) – Queue by Jaroslav A. Polak is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). Lines like this outside a grocery store were normative in the Soviet Union.

In the Soviet Union and Venezuela, grocery shopping involved/involves listening for rumors of which store got a shipment overnight, standing in line for hours, looking at lots of empty shelves, and going to the store daily to see if what you need might actually be on the shelf today.

If you have been awake the last seven days, you know that is what grocery shopping looks like in the U.S. today.

The difference between the Evil Empire and the worker’s paradise of Venezuela on one hand and the United States on the other hand is that the supply chain in the U.S. is still stocking the shelves and in a week or two or three will have them filled up.

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by Jim Ulvog on March 18, 2020, 9:42 am  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom, Economics
Tagged ,

Posted by Jim Ulvog on March 18, 2020, 9:42 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2020/03/18/didnt-ever-expect-id-personally-experience-soviet-union-and-venezuelan-style-grocery-stores/

Gettysburg Address.

A tribute to the memory and legacy of Abraham Lincoln as we remember his birth on February 12, 1809.

The Gettysburg Address, presented at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, California on February 8, 2020.

 

 

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by Jim Ulvog on February 12, 2020, 9:57 am  •  Permalink
Posted in political freedom, religious freedom
Tagged

Posted by Jim Ulvog on February 12, 2020, 9:57 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2020/02/12/gettysburg-address/

“Silent Monks Sing the Hallelujah Chorus”

Perhaps a couple weeks late, but too good not to mention:

Credited to the South Kitsap High School vocal group in Port Orchard, Washington.

Hat tip: Behind the Black.

(Cross-post from Nonprofit Update.)

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by Jim Ulvog on January 15, 2020, 7:37 am  •  Permalink
Posted in Other stuff, religious freedom

Posted by Jim Ulvog on January 15, 2020, 7:37 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2020/01/15/silent-monks-sing-the-hallelujah-chorus/

The 2010’s: best decade in history.

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Matt Ridley explains the best improvement in living standards for us humans over a single decade is the decade that ends today, 12/31/19.

He explained his point from multiple directions on 12/21/19 in Spectator: We’ve just had the best decade in human history. Seriously.

A few of his points that caught my interest:

The rate of extreme poverty in the world has dropped from 60% when he was born to under 10% in this decade. If you ache to seek less people in dirt eating poverty that is a wonderful thing.

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by Jim Ulvog on December 31, 2019, 7:05 am  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom, Economics, Pondering
Tagged , ,

Posted by Jim Ulvog on December 31, 2019, 7:05 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2019/12/31/the-2010s-best-decade-in-history/

Yet another consequence of central planning: systemic sexism

Empty store shelves. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Central planning is one of the major features of socialism. A major consequence of central planning is shortages. The widespread shortages are even more severe in the purest variation of central planning: communism.

Chelsea Follett points out The Shocking Sexism of Central Planning in Human Progress back on 12/6/17. She reports on a book How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed which explains that central planners in the Soviet Union placed low priority on many products that women needed.

Oh, Frederick Engels considered housework unmanly, so the burden of no washing machine, dryers, or other time saving devices fell on women. Severe shortages of makeup, hair dye, and even sanitary napkins (yes, you read that right, basic hygiene was not a production priority in the worker’s paradise) made for a harsh life for women.

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by Jim Ulvog on December 26, 2019, 9:32 am  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom, Economics
Tagged ,

Posted by Jim Ulvog on December 26, 2019, 9:32 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2019/12/26/yet-another-consequence-of-central-planning-systemic-sexism/

Life in Europe before the Industrial Revolution was dirty and disease-ridden.

Back in the 1820s, the upper class in San Diego had nice furniture but still used chamber pots which had to be dumped in the morning, Photo by James Ulvog.

There is a myth that rural life in the medieval ages before the industrial revolution was, if not good, then at least okay. In fact life then was a battle for survival.

The romantic idea of a plentiful past is pure fantasy – Marian Tupy at CapX – 2/13/19

This series of posts by Marian Tupy was kicked off as a response to one writer who disagreed with the assertion that the portion of people living in abject poverty has declined radically starting about 200 years ago. That particular author gives away his worldview by using Marxist terms. Thus we know why he refuses to acknowledge the existence and cause of rapid increases in wealth over the last 200 years. What, oh what, could have possibly caused that change?

I won’t dive in the to the responses. I will however provide a few tidbits from this article for insight of the severity of poverty in the past.

Prior to the 19th century, most people wore clothes made of wool, which not only itched but was also hard to clean, which increased disease transmission.

Keep in mind that concept of germs did not exist and most people lived under the same roof with their livestock, both to prevent theft and for mutual warmth. The animal droppings were used for fertilizer. All of that shot mortality rates skyhigh.

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by Jim Ulvog on August 5, 2019, 3:10 pm  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom
Tagged

Posted by Jim Ulvog on August 5, 2019, 3:10 pm

https://freedomismoral.com/2019/08/05/life-in-europe-before-the-industrial-revolution-was-dirty-and-disease-riden/

Memorial Day: gratitude for those who did not return

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

 

To family and friends of those who did not return, I humbly say:

My deepest condolences on your loss.

From someone who appreciates the price paid for the freedom I cherish everyday, please accept my thank you on behalf of your loved one who paid the price that my family and I can live free.

“Thank you” is so little, but it is all I have to give you.

 

 

“Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God” Tomb of Unknown Soldier 002 – Arlington National Cemetery – 2012 by Tim Evanson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

 

 

Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. Photo by James Ulvog.

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by Jim Ulvog on May 27, 2019, 9:30 am  •  Permalink
Posted in Pondering

Posted by Jim Ulvog on May 27, 2019, 9:30 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2019/05/27/memorial-day-gratitude-for-those-who-did-not-return/

A moment to pause on birthday of Abraham Lincoln

A few minutes of pausing to ponder the strength, wisdom, and legacy of Abraham Lincoln on his birthday.

 

 

Born February 12, 1809.

Hat tip: Behind the Black: Abraham Lincoln: A Tribute on His Birthday.

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by Jim Ulvog on February 12, 2018, 8:20 pm  •  Permalink
Posted in political freedom
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Posted by Jim Ulvog on February 12, 2018, 8:20 pm

https://freedomismoral.com/2018/02/12/a-moment-to-pause-on-birthday-of-abraham-lincoln/

What could possibly have caused the increase of income per person over last 200 years?

(Article cross-posted from Outrun Change because a few of the factors necessary for these changes to happen are property rights, economic freedom, and political freedom. In addition, it is capitalism, not socialism or communism that made these changes happen.)

Here is an approximation of annual per capita GDP from 1 AD through 1913:

I’ve long been amazed at the radical growth in per capita wealth over the last 200 years. That means since the Industrial Revolution.

Living in dirt-eating poverty as the normal way of life for essentially every person on the planet changed about 200 years ago, give or take.

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by Jim Ulvog on December 8, 2017, 8:49 am  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom, Economics, political freedom
Tagged , ,

Posted by Jim Ulvog on December 8, 2017, 8:49 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2017/12/08/what-could-possibly-have-caused-the-increase-of-income-per-person-over-last-200-years/

Who picked up the bill for our freedom?

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

For our freedom, I offer up a humble thank you to all who have gone before standing endless watch, slogging through the jungle mud, freezing in a foxhole, shooting Nazis with a machine gun at 30,000 feet, doing yet another round of dreary maintenance, brought home a life-long injury, or paying the ultimate price fighting to defeat the Confederacy.

Because of millions who did what had to be done, I can say what I wish without fear of being thrown in jail.

It seems so insufficient, but I’ll say it anyway – – Thanks.

 

“It is the soldier, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

 

It is the soldier, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

 

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

 

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

Jeremiah A. Denton Jr.

 

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by Jim Ulvog on November 11, 2017, 11:55 am  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom, political freedom, religious freedom
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Posted by Jim Ulvog on November 11, 2017, 11:55 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2017/11/11/who-picked-up-the-bill-for-our-freedom/

The last pieces of democracy slip away in Venezuela

The Venezuelan government has made its choice. Will that choice stand? Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

The elections in Venezuela were stacked.

Oh, by the way, what economic system produced this human suffering? What political system produced this all-but-in-name dictatorship?

  • Hints of the fraud before the election.
  • In spite of polling and expectations, a mere 5 opposition candidates won a governorship.
  • Oh, the few in the opposition who won are denied their position; initial reports said that government hacks were sworn into office instead.
  • Four of the five opposition governors actually sworn in.

(Cross post from my other blog, Outrun Change.)

10/15/17 – Wall Street Journal – Venezuela’s Latest Election Fraud – More details on how the election results were cooked. Reporter describes more details on manipulation.

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by Jim Ulvog on October 27, 2017, 7:25 am  •  Permalink
Posted in political freedom
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Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 27, 2017, 7:25 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/27/the-last-pieces-of-democracy-slip-away-in-venezuela/

Default watch on Venezuelan bonds

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Venezuela is in danger of defaulting on bond payments in the next few weeks.

10/17/17 – Miami Herald – Maduro faces financial nightmare in Venezuela – just in time for Halloween – The government has bond payments of $1B due on 10/27 and $1.2B due on 11/2.  Total due in next six weeks, which would be the end of November, is a total of $3.53B. Both S&P and Fitch are rating Venezuela as having a high probability to default within 6 months.

Here some more of the detailed numbers:

10/20/17 – CNBC – Venezuela is blowing debt payments ahead of a huge, make-or-break bill – Here is a schedule of upcoming required bond payments:

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by Jim Ulvog on October 23, 2017, 7:24 am  •  Permalink
Posted in economic freedom
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Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 23, 2017, 7:24 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/23/default-watch-on-venezuelan-bonds/

Why is it necessary to have a nuclear defense?

After reading my post on Nuclear launch protocol and timing, you may be wondering why the United States built these,

Minuteman II on static display at March Air Base Museum. Photo by James Ulvog.

and why we built 550, 450, and 50 of these,

Minuteman II, Minuteman III, Peacekeaper ICBMs on display at Warren AFB. “Ywwrn_1b” by gvgoebel is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

as well as why we had 1,000 of these spread across the country for several decades:

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by Jim Ulvog on October 20, 2017, 8:24 am  •  Permalink
Posted in political freedom
Tagged ,

Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 20, 2017, 8:24 am

https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/20/why-is-it-necessary-to-have-a-nuclear-defense/

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