Free Republic

In the early days of the outbreak, pundits rushed to the ramparts of Twitter to proclaim that “there are no libertarians in a pandemic.” However, this glee at the apparent failure of markets was soon dashed as more evidence accumulated showing that government intervention was actually the main impediment to success. From an economic standpoint, the channels by which government failure accumulated were legion: Centralizing and restricting testing: the most egregious failure of government has been in its approach to testing, especially in countries not named Germany or South Korea. Highly centralized testing labs (especially in the UK), command and...

In certain counties, first responders (police) are allowed to enter stores before others and make their purchases without any rationing. As Orwell wrote, some pigs are more equal. Everyone should have to live under the same rules, ESPECIALLY THE POLICE. To allow them special privileges and to escape the inconveniences associated with this lockdown is disgusting. Law enforcement must understand what it is like to live like those they have power over. To allow them special privilege is license for abuse and makes them more inclined to enforce laws that have no impact on them what so ever. . It...

What have you heard or noticed of crime in your area? I am in the north bay area of CA and the newspaper, news, and police sites are reporting absolutely nothing concerning crime. I know someone on a small town force and they said there is an uptick in crime. I know private security firms that are arming more of their officers, and someone on this site said there were armed security personnel at the local grocery. What is your knowledge and perception of crime during the lockdowns?

A suspected coronavirus sufferer in Kenya was beaten by a group of youths armed with stones and later died in hospital. The man, named locally as George Kotini Hezron, was going home after visiting a bar in the village of Msambweni in Kwale County when he was attacked yesterday. Residents suspected him of having the virus and decided to set upon him as he walked home at around 9pm, according to local media. The vigilante mob argued with Hezron and accused him of having the deadly disease and threw stones at him before fleeing.

“If you want to establish a framework of martial law which is ultimate authority and enforcement, we have the capacity to do that, but we are not at this moment thinking that is a necessity,” Newsom said.

7-Eleven’s plan to demolish one of its east Santa Rosa stores and several surrounding buildings to build a sleek new convenience store and add gas pumps has sparked opposition from activists who oppose new fossil fuel outlets in Sonoma County. Texas-based 7-Eleven aims to replace the existing shop at Highway 12 and Middle Rincon Road with a new 24-hour convenience store and at least six gas pumps, according to an application filed with Santa Rosa planning officials. Designs call for demolishing the store, a martial arts studio and at least one adjacent home, forcing longtime tenants to find another place...

Are there any differences between the standard alert on an alert equipped NOAA radios and the SAME ALert on an NOAA radio? If so, what are the differences? Thanks

Years ago, some sharp person here set me straight on how one gallon of fuel, approximately 8 lbs, could produce gases weighing more than the original fuel by combining with other atmospheric gases. Now I read CA wants to ban all gas-powered lawn tools to include golf courses and athletic fields as one mower produces more pollution than 43 new cars driven 12,000 miles a year (516,000 miles total). Most lawn mowers are single cylinder and most cars are 4 cylinders but a great many are 6 or 8 and car cylinders are a much larger displacement than lawnmowers and...

TEHRAN—Colin Kaepernick sent his workout video to Iran after learning they may have recently opened up a position but has yet to receive a phone call. Kaepernick condemned American attacks on Iranian terrorists last week, inciting rumors that he may have found a team interested in him in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But Iranian officials have dispelled the rumors, stating clearly and unequivocally that "we have no interest in signing Kaepernick at this time, but we wish him well in his future endeavors." "It's disappointing to see that Iran is as hateful as America," a downcast Kaepernick said in...

A ‘population overage’ EDITOR: While our global warming crisis is very real, it is only a symptom of the pervasive effects of population growth. It ought to be obvious, for example, that our so-called housing shortage is actually a population overage, and that the housing developments being readied as resolution will exacerbate climate degradation. Our flawed society, interpreting us as superior to nature and fabricating an economic system based on perpetual growth, cann only leave us confused and unable to fully grasp our dire circumstances. The truth that we have historically clung to was never real, and those chickens are...

Hillary Clinton Slams Trump For Not Taking A More 'Hands-Off' Approach To Embassy Attack WASHINGTON, D.C—Hillary Clinton has slammed President Trump on Twitter for not taking a more "hands-off" approach to the protests in Iraq that threatened American lives at the embassy there. After Trump quickly sent Marines to defend Americans trapped at the embassy, Clinton immediately blasted him for taking such "rash, uncalled-for" action when he could have just "waited around a while to see what happens." "If I were president, I definitely would have let things play out," she said. "Sending American troops to protect American lives seems...

A new standard EDITOR: In response to the article about Sheriff Mark Essick firing a deputy (“Sheriff calls conduct ‘extremely troubling,’ ” Saturday), I wish to put this thought out there: Times have changed. In the past, one who wore a military or police uniform was required to be brave enough to risk their lives, and we use to say, “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.” But today society needs to hire brave women and men who would rather be carried by six than judged by 12. New candidates need to be asked that question and be...

Does anyone have a link to the video of Obama reciting the Muslim call to prayer? I am fairly certain it was on one of the morning news shows the day after the election.

Can anyone find the video of Pelosi (AKA Explosi) freaking out when a reporter asked if the Affordable Care Act was constitutional? Her response was, "ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!" Funny how these negative videos are lost or buried.

I remember seeing a couple of sites/articles on how if one were to pay the same amount into a private retirement fund or annuity investment how much more one would get in return than they would from social security. Can someone help locate such a site/article? Thanks.

Hours after electricity was restored Saturday to all Bay Area PG&E customers, officials with the utility said their crews had located at least 50 instances of weather-related damage to power equipment within outage zones, including 13 in the North Bay — about half of them in Sonoma County. Another 100 or so cases around the greater Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada foothills were still being evaluated Saturday but are suspected of resulting from the same gusting winds that prompted the utility to shut off power to about 800,000 customers Wednesday in a controversial effort to prevent catastrophic wildfires. Power...

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is planning to visit San Quentin State Prison north of San Francisco on Saturday to meet with inmates and have them lead him on a tour of the facility — a rare peek behind bars for a White House hopeful. The former Texas congressman will spend part of his time with inmates who are close to finishing their sentences, discussing ways to improve the “re-entry” process into society and to combat recidivism. He will also conduct an interview with “Ear Hustle,” a podcast produced by inmates inside the all-male prison that is California’s...

What an ego, dreaming about how in the future she can look back on how she saved the world. Her video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9uTH0iprVQ What her meaningful work reminds me of, from "The Killing Fields." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFZSGqGL3f4

Has anyone seen the movie, "The Mustang?" I have a 14, almost 15-year-old girl interested in seeing it (Horse crazy). She has seen and enjoyed "Horse Soldiers," "True Grit," (Both versions) and other movies more adult-like in their content. Is this movie appropriate for her?

I work for a Cal Fire dozer contractor and would like to have a GPS system on the dozer. We are often in heavy smoke, in the dark, on mountainous terrain and having a GPS that shows a topographical map might be a life saver. I am thinking of a used IPad because there are a number of them available in the $50-$150 range (This will almost certainly be a throw away use as the vibration of the dozer and the filth we work in will likely kill it. Because it is a throw away, I am looking at inexpensive.)...