I have long advocated that the US accepts all skilled, English-speaking and truly wannabe-American immigrants. People are the ultimate asset, because people actually generate wealth – so the more we have, the better. It is not as if America is overfull: we could add several billion people and not surpass the population density of England. And there are not billions of qualified people out there in any case.

With Brexit, the UK is doing a clean-slate immigration policy that I think is really promising.

I read this late yesterday afternoon as I was preparing to go out on the back patio and demolish a few brewskies. From my back patio, I have a tremendous view of the fields of corn and soybeans running into the foothills of southern Ohio; perfect for some thought and reflection. Even some unpleasant reflection.

It’s almost impossible to read stories like this about a combat veteran lost to suicide without thinking about my own experiences. While there’s no doubt that Master Sergeant Marckesano saw more action in one month than I saw during my entire 13 months in Vietnam, I did see enough to keep asking one simple question: WHY?

@jameslileks stormed out of the trenches in the July 6 issue of National Review on Dead Tree. If it does nothing else, his piece, Twinkling’s Canceled, Little Star, will get him the first slot in the train to the reeducation camp — or to that other camp. He finishes with a couple of uppercuts:

The accumulated accomplishments of humanity cast a bright light on their inability to accomplish anything except to accrue debt and tattoos, and they’ll feel better when all these reminders are pulled down.

When I read commentary in local matters associated with the COVID-19 epidemic, I am struck by the total breakdown in trust of authority. Our county was doing a pretty good job of communicating information about the local epidemic but lately, as cases rise again, they have failed in basic communication of relevant information. Or, when they provide relevant information, the actions of authorities seem to ignore the fundamental realities to which such information points. This is a breach of trust, and the consequences flowing forward are unclear.

My county is imposing greater restrictions than previously: in-person church is being banned again; masks are supposed to be worn in outdoor restaurants except when consuming food, masks are to be worn in extended-family gatherings. Mind you, I don’t think masks have become more effective than before. People who were exempt from wearing masks are now asked to weak face shields with cloth lining.

Once upon a time on Ricochet, I argued, repeatedly, in the words of Heinlein, “Man is not a rational animal. Man is a rationalizing animal.” I have pointed out countless times that people are governed more by their fears and insecurities than by their hopes and ambitions. Every time, I ran into staunch opposition, especially from self-described rational people.

This post is just to jump and down and scream, “See! I Wuz Right!” I think the events of the past few months have illustrated both of these primary points better than a thousand articles could have done. There are now countless posts and comments on this site (and everywhere, really), arguing that while precaution X, Y and Z may not make sense, we have to accept that the terrifying unknown trumps all logical argument.