Our last blog post, ‘Our Microbial 9/11’ concerned the possibilities that our government would use the excuse of the current pandemic to seize greater control over our lives, with little public objection. Sadly, there are many examples that these fears have been realized.
Yet there are signs of daylight in our pandemic tunnel. A crisis can bring forward new ideas and perspectives that may improve our freedom in the long run. The financial collapse of 2008 put a large number of people out of work. Many of those people started new businesses, innovating out of necessity. The wake of that financial crises brought us hundreds of startups including Uber, Air BNB, Slack, Instagram, What’sApp and Square. This time we are likely to see new ways of protecting supply chains and protecting our health systems. In 2012, the Journal of Financial Economics wrote, “progress and crisis are intimately related”.
The current crisis has affected where and how we work and learn. The situation has opened our eyes to new possibilities. Companies who have resisted allowing employees to work from home are now realizing that people can be even more productive with flexible hours and generate savings as well.
Home Schoolers have long insisted that the idea not only works but can be better than public school educations. Millions of Americans are learning this firsthand now, and many may choose to keep doing this even after the current crisis.
The myth of reusable cups and shopping bags being safer and more environmentally friendly has suddenly been dispelled as Starbucks and others move to a sensible and safe use of disposables. People are beginning to realize that reusing dirty bags and cups is a bad idea, as is the ability of governments to mandate use.
The embarrassing monopoly held by the Pennsylvania State Stores is suddenly at the forefront of social media posts in the state. People see their neighbors enjoying the freedom to have a cocktail while they are unable to even pay the inflated prices (and reduced selections) of the government-controlled stores with no convenient on-line shopping. It is time to end this ridiculous system. More Pennsylvanians than ever will be ready to support this move towards economic freedom.
There are reports in every major paper of how American businesses are speeding innovation to make devices they were not geared to build, and at lightening speeds. New drugs are being tested, medical companies are collaborating with foreign competitors, research is in higher gear than we have experienced in decades.
For every hoarder of paper product there seem to be dozens of citizens going out of their way to volunteer to bring food and medications to elderly neighbors, stock food banks, and support local businesses with take out purchases. People all over the country are sewing face masks at home to donate to hospitals in their area. This positive thinking and the spirit of volunteerism is at the very core of what Libertarians stand for. Times like these can change how we all think and act for a long time to come.
As Libertarians, we are naturally concerned about the virtual impossibility of gaining ballot access across the country without the ability to collect petition signatures. But the rules for gaining access to the ballot has always been controlled by the major parties and has long been grossly unfair to parties like ours. This may be our best opportunity to push for fair access on ballots and in debates. We may well be seeing the end of old-school in-person primaries and elections, giving way to more open and innovative ways of choosing candidates. Now is the time to push for fairer rules that will improve everyone’s freedom.
Perhaps most importantly are the headlines appearing everywhere, even in very traditional news outlets, expressing concern over the negative impact that political power grabs may have. Freedom of movement, personal tracking, the ability to be safe without following universal curfews are all things that have been brought to the forefront. Social media is buzzing with debates about government overreach – many people who never understood what Libertarians stood for are finding themselves in sympathy with our views.
Perhaps we will look back on these dark days as the beginning glimmer of the bright light of freedom – in schools, businesses, and government. This may be the best opportunities Libertarians have ever had to improve our prospects for individual freedom. Let’s hope we make the most of it.