Author: LPChesco

Pennsylvania’s Governor Wolf has now tested positive for the latest viral scourge. He says he has no symptoms, and like anyone becoming infected, we wish him a safe and speedy recovery.

Yet this now gives us pause. Here we have the top politician in our state who, along with his chief medical officer, has presented himself as the very authority on avoiding the virus. More than almost any other state, Pennsylvania endures business shutdowns, school closures, onerous fines, and declarations aimed at preventing the freedom to travel or assemble, even in our own living rooms. How can such a wise politician succumb to the very problem he knows expertly?

Unlike so many other ‘expert’ officials, Wolf did not appear to be dining in French restaurants, vacationing in Mexico, or traveling to see relatives for the holidays. Perhaps someone in his sphere of experts slipped into Delaware to avoid our state’s onerous alcohol taxes and brought back more than bourbon.

This concerned the Science Committee of the Libertarian Party of Chester County, so we paid a visit to our laboratories in order to consult with our Science Officers. After passing through the usual decontamination baths, ultraviolet light tunnel, and underwear change, we consulted with the team to research the problem.

Using our modified Commodore 64 system to cruise the web using touchless thought control, evidence at first was confusing. There appeared to be little correlation between the genius of Wolf’s mandates and public rates of illness. How can this be? Governors are medical experts – they told us so.

We decided to look deep into the numbers using our proprietary combination of Lotus 123 and Visicalc. (This program takes years of study but works unlike anything we know). We looked closely at public infection rates, and the numbers were confusing:

            Teachers/Students rate of infection: 1% (Brown University Study, September)

            Flight Attendants:                               1% (Airline Union Study)

            Health Care Workers:                         2% (Ohio Heath Care System)

            Pennsylvania Overall Rate:                 3.4% (Statista)

These numbers appeared too low, considering the economic and schooling damage being ordered. We decided to expand our study by looking at various rates of infection by profession when we stumbled across Ballotpedia’s report….on politicians.

We found that there were hundreds of politicians who have been infected in the federal government and at local levels. Here is a set of relative few people in authority, many of them instructing their constituents on how to avoid infection, sadly becoming infected (although many had few or no symptoms, including heads of major nations).

But one number stood out on our glowing blue Visicalc sheets – U.S. Governors.

Seven state governors have contracted the virus that we know of, including the latest report in Pennsylvania. That represents a 14% rate among U.S. governors. Clearly, this indicates the dangers of this particular occupation, among the highest rate our science team has discovered.

Accordingly, the LPCC is working on a new set of voluntary guidelines designed to minimize risk among Pa. residents. The recommendations include:

            Avoid all contact with state governors whenever possible.

Enjoy family and friend holiday parties without the presence of a governor.

            If a governor is in line at the supermarket, choose Self-Checkout instead.

            When a governor speaks on TV, mute the sound (you cannot be too careful)

            After touching a governor, grab a hot shower and take Vitamin D

            Do not allow governors to light your Chanukah candles or decorate Christmas Tree

Most of these are common-sense suggestions, but there is one that we have that differs from the views of our chief state executive. We recommend that our governor crosses state lines at the earliest possibility and remains quarantined in a separate state until expiration of term of office. This way, both the executive and constituents will be safer.

We hope you enjoyed our Modest Proposal (a Holiday Blog Edition by the LPCC) and with you all a happy Chanukah and a Merry Christmas.

UK residents will begin receiving vaccine in a few days, but not you.

When talk of a quickly available Covid vaccine began, government health experts scoffed at the very idea that such a medicine could possibly be developed in fewer than a few years. Some estimates placed vaccine availability at four or even five years away. When a certain politician asserted that a vaccine could be ready before the end of this year, the guffaws from the knowing experts were deafening.

But the private sector rose to the occasion, using cutting-edge techniques to create vaccines not only quickly, but with an effective rate far better than typical vaccines of this kind. This new approach to medical solutions will likely alter the way we approach medial research and development for the better.

But while the UK will begin administering a vaccine created by the American company, Pfizer and partners, Americans will not receive injections. In fact, the FDA will not even schedule a panel to discuss the vaccine until December 10^th. This date is for a review, not an approval.

The reason is that the FDA takes all of the data that has been produced by pharmaceutical experts in Pfizer, along with the thousands of pages of test results and then review that raw data all over again, from the start, replicating the evaluations that have already been tested and published.

According to the New York Times, no other major country works this way. Instead, regulators work with the company experts and rely on their analysis to guide drug approvals. Only in the US do we repeat the painstaking work of the private sector experts before approving the use of a drug – even this one.

The UK is lucky, moving quickly to get this medication to their population. The EU, while not constrained by FDA type approvals has a different government problem. The European Medicines Agency must now seek separate approvals from twenty-seven member countries before allowing the use of the vaccine.

Libertarian presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen made FDA approvals a major part of her platform and talked about the importance of getting government out of the way of the scientists at most of her stump speeches. “When I am elected president,” she declared at her Philadelphia stop,” I will remove FDA oversight over efficacy of drugs. Their job will be only to review the safety of a medicine, and public will choose the most effective cures.”

The first UK doses are expected to be given to hospital workers beginning at 7 pm, Monday, December 7th. No one knows when we will see a vaccine. The US has ordered 100 million doses to be stored in freezers, as the clock continues to tick. The private sector has risen to the challenge and performed with spectacular results. The government now stands in the way of improving the health of their population because of the need to control things they have no business doing. Libertarians have pointed out for decades how inefficient agencies like the FDA are. Today we are seeing just how dangerous this inefficiency can be.

Kerry McDonald said it accurately: “When we get to the point where individuals find it ‘natural’ for the government to tell us how to take turns eating our Thanksgiving turkey, a pandemic is the least of our concerns.”

Indeed, the lunacy is so pervasive that one must wonder how much sanity remains in the general population. The land of the free and home of the brave has turned into the land of the fearfully obedient.

McDonald was writing for the Foundation for Economic Education. Her brief essay — Absurd Thanksgiving Guidelines Reveal an Astonishing Level of Government Overreach, found here < https://fee.org/articles/absurd-thanksgiving-guidelines-reveal-an-astonishing-level-of-government-overreach/?utm_source=zapier > — gives several examples of the overreach, including California’s stay at home order and curfew, prohibiting more than two households getting together for the traditional holiday dinner (and mentioning the governor’s hypocrisy of going out to dinner with 12 people while he had ordered such activity to n more than 10 people).

She mentioned the order from the governor of Vermont prohibiting people from gathering with those outside their household until mid-December. But he amended that order to allow residents to go for socially-distanced walks with one person from outside the household.

After referencing a New York Times article that gave statistics showing social gatherings account for only a small fraction of increases in COVID cases, she referenced Cambridge, Mass. There, residents were told not to talk without wearing masks and to “take turns eating or drinking so that two people are not simultaneously unmasked.”

It becomes deeply telling when McDonald links to a Boston Globe article mentioning a 32-year-old Cambridge resident who said it’s “natural” for people to follow a government’s lead. Doing otherwise “puts more undue burden on the individual’ to determine what is safe,” the person is quoted as saying.

Yes, a 32-year-old said being responsible for one’s actions about his or her health is an “undue burden.” We have seen this attitude right here in Chester County, where people have commonly posted approval for local authorities making decisions that belong to the individual. By encouraging local supervisors and mayors to commit clear violations of the Pennsylvania constitution, we are setting ourselves up for a future of constant erosion of freedom.

Yes, a pandemic involving a virus is a serious thing, but a pandemic of government overreach is worse. Worse yet, is the fact that so many people will acquiesce to the ludicrous prattling of politicians who have no idea what they’re talking about

And so it continues. Power tripping governors are at it again. A new round of nonscientific restrictions are spewing forth from those who know nothing but want to be seen as protective, while simply being authoritarian.

Consider New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. He now not only wants in-home gatherings limited to 10 for Thanksgiving dinner — with no hugging or kissing — now he’s also come out against singing and loud talking. < https://nj1015.com/murphy-administration-avoid-singing-loud-talking-at-thanksgiving-nj-top-news-for-1117/?trackback=fbshare_mobile >

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is ready to jail people for holding “large parties” or for not wearing masks. Violators could face up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,250 or both, according to one report. < https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/governor-who-ignored-nightly-riots-in-portland-threatens-jail-time-for-large-parties/ >

While some people in law enforcement won’t arrest people, others are asking for snitches to report on bars and restaurants violating any lockdown provision decreed by Brown.

And in Wisconsin, Gov. Tim Walz took matters further. No social gatherings with other households, no gatherings of more than 10 people, no in-person dining, sports, gyms, and anything else that brings people together, verboten, bowling alleys, Bingo halls, theaters, receptions, private parties, celebrations, and entertainment, bye-bye. Of course, stopping people from doing things that make life enjoyable is for their own good, said virtually every tyrant in world history. < https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/11/11/gov-tim-walz-announces-new-covid-19-restrictions-earlier-restaurant-and-bar-closing-times/ >

And let’s not forget the gross hypocrisy of California Gov. Gavin Newsom violated his own orders when he attended a birthday dinner at a posh Napa Valley restaurant with more than 10 people and no one wearing masks. This is the guy who told people they could eat at restaurants as long as they put a mask on between bites. (Good thing The French Laundry isn’t a “see food” restaurant.) As the New York Times said it in a headline, Newsom’s message is “Do as I say, not as I dine.” Newson apologized, calling his decision “a bad mistake.” We wonder if he means it was unsafe or he was disappointed that he was caught? (This is the same governor who closed public schools while sending his children to a private one.)

We’d be remiss by not mentioning California state legislators who attended a conference in Maui, Hawaii as California official were issuing guidance about not traveling out of state.

So far, there’s been no increase in Pennsylvania’s restrictions beyond a request for a mandatory test or 14-day self-quarantine if someone comes into Pennsylvania from another state, but even the administration knows that’s almost impossible.  What will they do, have the state police block traffic along Routes 202 or 95, or Creek Road to stop people entering from Delaware? Blockade the bridges from New Jersey? In the meantime, if you work out of state, you may travel back and forth every day, where is the logic?

And, of course, there’s also the Borough of West Chester with its $300 fine for not wearing a mask in public, even if you’re just walking along by oneself and not within any arbitrary antisocial distance.

So, who should people listen to, what should they do? Well, Chester County commissioners are telling people to apply for financial relief for childcare subsidies, according to a press release issued by the county on Nov. 19.

“The Commissioners announced the $10 million in childcare subsidies last month for Chester County families requiring childcare services. They also announced $5 million for childcare providers, understanding that they may see an increase in childcare enrollments and require assistance purchasing additional personal protective equipment, providing training and making needed changes to facilities,” the release said.

One must wonder how many families need the extra help because Gov. Tom Wolf this past spring decided that the income those families had, came from nonessential businesses and that the family breadwinner was engaged in a nonessential job. We note that Pennsylvania lawmakers just voted to use over a billion dollars in federal virus relief to plug a state budget gap, over the objections of restaurants and small business. https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2020/11/remaining-13-billion-in-coronavirus-cash-to-prop-up-pa-state-budget-rather-than-help-ailing-industries.html

As many of us foresaw months ago when the first lock downs were initiated, government action would force many people onto a taxpayer-funded dole. Yes, power hungry governors be trippin’, tripping over the bodies of lives they helped to devastate, and then doubled-down with more restrictions.

On October 7, 2020, Chester County Hospital CEO, Michael Duncan, held a Town Hall meeting, and most of the content was around the current COVID situation. Dr. Karen Pinsky, Chief Medical Officer, spent 30 minutes reviewing data that showed that COVID is consistent in terms of fatality and infection rates with a bad flu season.

On October 21, 2020, Dr. Pinsky gave expert testimony at the West Chester Borough Council meeting that led to the Council approving an ordinance that fines citizens for not wearing masks and also limits the number of guests that a private citizen may have in their house at any time. Mr. Duncan shared in his presentation that these issues should not be political, however, Dr. Pinsky’s testimony in support of the Mayor’s initial State of Emergency Declaration and the subsequent ordinance seem to suggest otherwise.  None of the data that Dr. Pinsky shared on October 7, 2020, warranted a State of Emergency; yet her testimony helped the Mayor to convince Council to approve it narrowly.

Additionally, Dr. Pinsky failed to share other important information regarding mortality rates in our County. For example, in the month of September in Chester County, 11 people died from COVID, 2 people committed suicide, 20 people died of accidents (including overdoses, car accidents, falls, drowning, and choking), and 84 people died of natural causes. Upon review of this data and in my opinion, COVID is not the emergent public health emergency, instead it appears that the mental health and substance abuse crises are a far greater risk to our community. Additionally, domestic violence and child abuse are on the rise.

My reaction to Dr. Pinsky’s testimony at the Borough Council meeting was first, disagreement with her conclusions, and second, a large question as to why she was involving herself in a highly politicized situation. I do not think that the Hospital’s staff should testify on behalf of a political figure, particularly one who is running for a higher office in a highly contentious race.  I was concerned that Jeanne Casner from the Chester County Department of Health was going to testify at the meeting and was informed from the County Commissioners that she would not be testifying.  I personally think that was a correct decision.

We should be able to trust our doctors with our physical health and well-being, and if we can’t, then we need to find a new doctor.  Equally as important, we need to trust our physicians with upholding our constitutional rights as well as our mental health.  Dr. Pinsky as the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital has a responsibility to focus on the public health issues faced by all community members, and her testimony should never advocate for a restriction of our individual freedoms.

As the death rate from the virus continues to decline, despite an increase in the number of cases, our doctors and health care administrators have a responsibility to uphold the constitution that governs our behavior. And while they may recommend to their patients a certain course of action that may include quarantine or avoiding crowded places, they have no business testifying at a government meeting with the same advice that subsequently becomes law.  I personally will reconsider using Chester County Hospital or other Penn Medicine locations as a result of their irresponsible actions.

It was gratifying to read about a restaurateur standing up to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. And he did it in a slightly earthy manner.

“We ain’t paying crap,” said Mike Mangano, the owner of Taste of Sicily. He made the comment when he learned that the Wolf administration wants to fine him $10,000 for reopening his restaurant in Palmyra, Pa. before the governor gave permission.

The governor ordered all nonessential businesses to close down in March. Like other small business owners, Mangano complied but later decided to reopen without a waiver or any other type of permission in May. He also opened up without requiring patrons to wear masks, stay anti-socially apart from one another, and without any special plastic barriers installed in the restaurant. So, Wolf decided to hit him with that hefty $10K fine — because the Mangano wanted to provide for his family and stay off the government dole.

His response?

“Some rob you with a gun, while others rob you with a pen,” Mangano is quoted as saying. “There’s absolutely no fear here. We’re going to continue to come to work, and the governor ain’t going to do anything about it…We ain’t paying crap.”

Even better than that response was the fact that a judge agreed with Mangano. Judge Carl Garvey opined, “…the family-owned business was treated in an unconstitutional manner and that they would not be liable for any arbitrarily assigned fines from Wolf’s administration.”

Arbitrary indeed. Wolf’s decree over what businesses were essential and nonessential was willy-nilly with no scientific backing. Recall that Wolf exempted his own former business, a cabinet supply company.

Now the governor is trying to say the increase of COVID-19 cases in the state can be attributed to restaurants and bars. But Mangano is undeterred.

“We don’t care what the repercussions may be…We want the world to see how ridiculous it is for being penalized to go to work.,” he said.

Figuratively thumbing one’s nose at a governor is not the same magnitude as throwing a bunch of tea in Boston Harbor, but the spirit is the same. It says “no” to bad, overreaching, and arbitrary governance.

It’s too bad other people don’t flip off those “in charge” when government types violate their rights. During the past few weeks, even on warm and sunny days, people are walking the streets of West Chester with masks on. They’re not congregating, just walking along. Why the masks outdoors? Because the mayor decreed everyone had to wear a mask in public or be fined $300, an order well beyond the mayor’s range of legitimate power.

Some people — including members of the Libertarian Party of Chester County — complained, but Borough Council voted to uphold the measure. It was a narrow margin, though. A 4-3 margin upheld the decree that removed another element of free choice.

Too bad council didn’t overturn it. Even more, it’s too bad people docilely go along with such actions. If people are convinced that masks make them safe, they will wear them without being forced to do so. After all, good ideas don’t require force. Clear and honest information is what carries good ideas.

If people want to wear masks whenever they leave their home, that’s OK, it’s their business. But being forced is wrong and people need to stand up against arbitrary dictates.

While the mask mandate in West Chester doesn’t put people out of work and doesn’t force businesses to close, it has hurt local businesses and it’s still government overreach. As with all things governmental, force must be challenged. The world needs more people like Mike Mangano.

As of this writing, the presidential election has not taken place. Yet we can confidently predict the outcome, because we have a unique ability to see into the future. Here are some of our predictions for the nation and Chester County, Pa.

We predict that the government will continue to try to solve problems by spending trillions of dollars that it does not have. The result will be cost inflation resulting in a hidden ‘tax’ on the consumer for many years.

We predict that the U.S. will continue to send thousands of soldiers to overseas bases around the world and will work to prop up despots and their regimes, often against the wishes of the local populace.

Spying on the American public will become increasingly easier, as networks and electronics manufacturers are pressured to allow our government to watch in secret, under the guise of security. Government power will continue to shift towards the Executive branch, as Congress avoids their responsibilities, because winning reelection is more important than working for constituents.

The Federal Department of Education will continue to exist, even though it performs no useful function. The FDA will mandate proof of drug efficacy instead of simple safety, slowing the development of desperately needed treatments. Most other federal agencies will continue to draft thousands of pages of rules, restricting progress in every possible way.

Locally, communities will be run by politicians in desperate need of a basic civics course. They will continue to pass ridiculous laws that attempt to sidestep the Pennsylvania and United States constitutions. They have been emboldened by members of the community who have begged to trade their basic rights for a perception of action and safety, along with a desire to control the lives of others. The right to assemble and property rights will be under assault by politicians with no interest in protecting our most basic freedoms.

How, you may ask, can we confidently predict all this before a general election? The answer is easy – because both major parties are virtually identical in any meaningful way. They seek power and the ability to retain it, pretending to offer a choice to the voting public.

We support Jo Jorgensen for president, along with the slate of Libertarian state candidates, Jennifer Moore for Auditor General, Joseph Soloski for Treasurer, and Danial Wassmer for Attorney general. We support them, knowing that winning would be challenging. We are voting for people of principle who continue to move us towards our right to live in freedom.

With every election the Libertarian Party grows in percentage of votes and members of the party. Nowadays we have High School students contacting us to learn about protecting our most basic rights. Eventually, we will replace these old, tired parties with something new and also something old. A way of thinking that reflects the thinking of the brilliant creators of the Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

Predicting the future actions of politicians that only repeat what they have done for decades is easy. Therefore, it is our job, and the job of the voters to continue to head us towards the light of freedom.

Chester County Pa.’s borough of West Chester is known for its quaint downtown area, nearby West Chester University, and a host of excellent eateries. It is also becoming known as a platform for local politicians to exert power over the residents without regard for their personal liberties, and in some cases, ignoring our Pennsylvania Constitution.

While our state has relatively low cases of the novel virus, the borough area did experience a rise in infections recently. Much of this increase was centered on college-age people, so it was assumed that returning students were the major cause.

The mayor decided that this was a problem that needed to be solved by government and declared a state of emergency (practically unheard of for a town the size of West Chester). The mayor informed the residents that if the police caught anyone violating mask or assembly rules, they would be fined $300 per infraction. Many people have pointed out that this all exceeds the authority of a mayor, is largely unenforceable, and that even this declaration can only be in place for a matter of days, unless extended through lawful means. In other words, this is likely a publicity event to support the mayor’s effort to seek higher office. The mayor actually went on TV news and complained about being disappointed that only a $300 fine was permitted, when a much higher one would have been desirable.

Does West Chester Borough have a problem with college students spreading disease? If they do, is it the government’s job to address the problem? Why wouldn’t the first choice to have been to seek assistance from the college itself? This is the institution that gives classes, issues degrees, approves fraternities, and collects thousands of dollars in fees from the students and their families. Surely this would have been a logical first step, after all, WCU is a school, and instructing students is what they do.

While many on social media have pointed out that the mayor has acted irresponsibly in this case, there are some who have applauded the effort – happy to shut down businesses and fine patrons who do not follow the rules they prefer. This is another sad example of what happens when politicians inflame the fears of the public so that the citizens willingly give up their rights, and look the other way when authority is exceeded.

And this works great for the politicians.

The borough has become a great spawning ground for power-hungry people who follow the orders of their party to achieve personal gain. A mayor becomes a state Representative. The State Representative becomes a State Senator. The Senator moves on to a national position, and then eventually may become governor. Pennsylvania has one of the most dictatorial leaders in the country, flaunting laws even when ordered by the courts to follow our constitution. These people do not need a constitution. They need fearful citizens willing to trade in their rights at any time.

Both major parties pull stunts like this mayor is doing. Because this is not about leadership, it is about power. Get it, hold it, never let go. This is why the Libertarian Part of Chester County is backing Jo Jorgensen for president, along with state candidates Daniel Wasserman for Attorney General, Jennifer Moore for Auditor General, and Joseph Soloski as State Treasurer. These are people who are working towards less intrusive government, and one that adheres to our Federal and State constitutions. Perhaps West Chester’s mayor can contact WCU and take a course on civics, in order to treat the residents with the freedom and respect they deserve.

A mob is quietly planning to sell drugs in Chester County, and generate massive profits from those sales. This mob is virtually guaranteed success because they plan to eliminate all competition and have a monopoly on those sales. The mob is a group of Pennsylvania politicians and they are ruled with an iron hand by Governor Wolf, the “Don” of the outfit.

The drug in question is recreational marijuana.

You may think that the governor thinks it is time to decriminalize the use of weed because of the enormous costs and ineffectiveness of the long-time War on Drugs. Or you may think that the governor feels that it is unjust to throw people in prison for simply possessing the substance. Or you may think that the ‘Don” feels that this would be an opportunity to grow private business and distribution legally, especially in this time of massive unemployment.

But you would be wrong.

Instead, Wolf sees money. Lots and lots of money. The governor has proposed that the sale of recreational marijuana be legalized to be sold only through the Pennsylvania State Store system – the antiquated monopoly that increases consumer prices, restricts selection, and drives Pennsylvanian’s to other states to buy their liquor. Here in Chester County we have it good, since Delaware is minutes away with lower prices, and better service and selection. But if you live further in the state you are out of luck.

According to union leader Wendall Young, this is why the State Stores bring in over half a billion dollars annually. Of that half billion dollars, over 80 percent is tax revenue. Sounds great? Not compared to lottery sales. This legalized gambling system had brought in over one billion dollars every year for nearly a decade.

According to the Daily Local News, Governor Wolf has fretted about Pennsylvania’s state coffers, now lower due to his ill-planned mandates to close business and reduce tax revenues. According to the paper, Wolf wants to use marijuana sales to “plug a hole”. He has noted that Colorado has so far raised $1.4 billion dollars from the sale of the drug, and he wants his share.

Some legislature members have pointed out the large numbers of prisoners languishing in prison due to the victimless crime of marijuana possession. But the governor has had little to say about these poor suckers. He has his sights on new suckers, and they are us.

When the state stores inevitably creates a the monopoly for drug sales, it will join other massive state monopolies of liquor and lottery. This puts Pennsylvania in the strange lead for monetizing gambling, drinking and drugs, while crushing any attempt to privatize these retail industries.

Even stranger is the fact that the state may be passing up revenue in the process. The Commonwealth Foundation has pointed out that privatization of the state stores would actually increase net tax revenues by retaining out of state shoppers and creating new retailers paying retail taxes. https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/fact-check-pennsylvanias-liquor-store-revenue

As usual, this is about control. When the state is permitted to eliminate competition and employ thousands of workers, the state controls more of what we do and how those workers will vote.

Libertarians in Pennsylvania should not sit back and accept this mob rule that “Don” Wolf is attempting to impose because “he knows what’s good for us”. This may all be sales on vices, but they are our vices, and no state has the right to monopolize them. At the same time, we should demand the immediate release of all non-violent people incarcerated for possession and sale. It’s time to bring these people home from these dangerous prisons instead of keeping them wards of the state.

There are many good reasons for re-legalizing marijuana but raising money for the state through taxing is not one of those good reasons. Ultimately, legalization should be for the sake of liberty. That’s the best reason.

When it became obvious that Covid virus exposure could be dangerous, some health professionals knew that personal technology, in the form of our mobile phones, might help people stay safer. Yet many months after this realization, our ability to use this technology is virtually zero. The reason for this is consistent with how our governments have generally mishandled the health situation; with general incompetence.

On the one hand you have government agencies who are interested in exerting a large degree of control over the population. This includes knowing where everyone has been at all times, and correlating activity with virus exposure. Many people are understandably concerned about this approach. The Associated Press recently reported that immigrant communities, in particular, are suspicious of any government reason for monitoring their movements and have refused to participate in the various state apps that have been developed for phones. Others, like many Libertarians, simply do not trust the government with additional data about their activity.

Mobile phones use several different radios to function, including GPS, Wifi, and Bluetooth, as well as cellular signals. Most of these systems can pinpoint and record location, but Bluetooth cannot do this by itself. This is why two of our largest technology companies, Apple and Alphabet (Google) decided to use it. Two technology rivals agreed to use their own resources to cooperate on a system and offer it free of charge to anyone who wanted to use it.

This system does not track location, but when used by a large number of people, can inform the user if they have been in close proximity of an infected person. (Bluetooth works up to about 33 feet). When someone tests positive, they can allow the app to inform people who were in their proximity for up to the past 14 days. All data collected is encrypted and never transmitted anywhere. All data remains on the user’s phone and can be erased by the owner. The companies allowed other app makers to interact with the data, with the user’s permission and provided they had no GPS component.

While this system was less precise and data-rich than those employed in other countries (especially in Asia), it had the advantage of being anonymous and completely user-controlled. All that was needed to work was the cooperation of local health departments to promote the free app and help educate people on its use.

The UK recognized that the Apple-Google app was better than their own version and switched over. Yet today only five states have signed on. The reason? It offers too much privacy. Back in May, 2020 the Washington Post published a story that managed to misrepresent almost everything about the app. The Post supported the claim, “Health Officials Say It Will Be Practically Useless”. In the article, government officials complained bitterly about Apple and Google’s “unbending stance” to not undermine people’s right to privacy. Local officials demanded that the data be “shared automatically with health officials”.

In other words, unless this app made all user data available to ‘health officials’ then the states would not support the technology. How dare a private organization decide to prevent the state from collecting personal data! After all, you cannot trust people to decide what is in their own best interest. Once again, the private economy quickly builds an elegant solution, only to have it rejected by governments who only understand their own need to control others. Instead, many states have hired human ‘contact tracers’ to sit and make phone calls in a sad attempt to do what a free app can accomplish in seconds.

States have also spent millions to develop their own apps – each one different and not compatible with any other – a waste of taxpayer dollars and creating zero health benefits for the voters. The Wall Street Journal reported that a county in Wyoming purchased an app to protect visitors to Yellowstone National Park from virus contact. One the first day the park reopened, rangers counted license plates from 41 different states, rendering the county app useless.

FEE.org has pointed out that the wide number of contact tracing apps are operating without any updated privacy guarantees by governments. By allowing authorities a free pass because of the current health emergency may curtail personal freedoms for a long time to come. When people can control their data and how it is used, they can use technology to help protect their health and the health of others. It is also time for our state and federal authorities to update our right to privacy, especially when using new and developing technology.

China and other countries do not recognize personal rights and can require apps that reveal private information. The tech companies proposed an alternative that allows data to be secret and controlled by individuals. Our governments have opted to create an unusable mess that spends money and offers zero advantages.