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Why face masks might not be mandatory in Durham Region after all

July 8, 2020 by · Comments Off on Why face masks might not be mandatory in Durham Region after all 

You may have seen in the news that it will be mandatory to wear a mask in commercial establishments in the Durham Region starting at 12:01 AM on July 10. However, as the law stands right now, that is false news. Unless the law is changed/extended, there will be no requirement to wear a mask, and there will be no fines for businesses or their patrons. Here’s why. Read more

Is Your Government Playing Games with CoronaVirus and Covid-19 Names?

March 31, 2020 by · Comments Off on Is Your Government Playing Games with CoronaVirus and Covid-19 Names? 

In times of great fear and anxiety, uncertainty and confusion does not help. It is particularly unhelpful when the confusion is deliberate. I am referring to the widespread practice – particularly by governments and some in the mainstream media – of referring to the CoronaVirus, and to CoronaVirus testing, as “Covid-19” or “Covid-19 testing”. Read more

CoronaVirus, Ethics, and Government Policy (Part 2): The “Impossible Dilemma” Excuse For Economic Suicide

March 29, 2020 by · Comments Off on CoronaVirus, Ethics, and Government Policy (Part 2): The “Impossible Dilemma” Excuse For Economic Suicide 

North America is now weeks into governmental measures to keep “non-essential” businesses closed and to keep people in their homes. Fears and anxiety caused by the initial hoardings of toilet paper and other goods now are having to share the stage with fears and anxiety caused by the inevitable deepening economic devastation caused by those measures.

Faced with the rise of the latter fears, politicians are beginning to worry. On one hand, they have told the populace that it is right for us all to sacrifice for the good of the people who are vulnerable to the disease caused, in some, by the Coronavirus: Covid-19. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly obvious to all that the government’s shut-down of the economy is not practical. The question for politicians is: How do I now justify ending the governmental policy that I’ve already told everyone is the right and moral thing to do without being morally condemned for it? Alternatively, how do I justify not ending the shut-down without looking like I’m impractical? Read more

“Price Gouging” vs. Hoarding: Why Premier Doug Ford Owes Pusateri’s An Apology

March 26, 2020 by · Comments Off on “Price Gouging” vs. Hoarding: Why Premier Doug Ford Owes Pusateri’s An Apology 

Pusateri’s is a Toronto retailer that is being attacked on social media for reportedly charging $30 for one package of Lysol disinfectant wipes. Critics of the decision to set that price call it an instance of “price gouging” – i.e., charging more than the usual price during a time of usual-supply and unusually-high demand – and condemn it morally. Asked to weigh-in on what Pusateri’s was doing, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was “furious”, exclaimed that the pricing was “absolutely disgusting”, and advised that his government was “gonna come after [“price gougers”] hard” using emergency powers he has given himself in response to the spread of the Coronavirus. “They’re done! They’re gonna be gone!”, he exclaimed, referring to Pusateri’s as a “bad actor”. He, and the self-righteous anti-“price gouging” scolds, should have been thanking Pusateri’s for performing an essential function. Read more

The Coronavirus’ Dark-siders, Straddlers, and Light-siders: The Ethics of Good Public Policy

March 22, 2020 by · Comments Off on The Coronavirus’ Dark-siders, Straddlers, and Light-siders: The Ethics of Good Public Policy 

As the spread of the latest Coronavirus (SARS coronavirus 2, or “SARS-CoV-2”) continues, two purportedly opposing camps of policy wonks are forming, which I herein name “Dark-siders” and “Straddlers”. However, though their policy proposals differ, their respective proposals are founded upon the same ethical philosophy. For that reason, the policy proposals of the two camps ultimately will facilitate the same end. And, because the ethics underpinning their policies treats human nature as a thing to be defeated, rather than defended, their policies will be every bit as destructive as the illness they seek to address. There are collectivists who hope to take political advantage of the destruction caused by the government’s response to the Coronavirus. If the collectivists are to be thwarted – if individual freedom and capitalism are to prevail – the government must be careful to found its Coronavirus policies on a better ethical footing. It must come over to the Light-side. Read more

Epitaphs (Part 1)

January 17, 2020 by · Comments Off on Epitaphs (Part 1) 

1. Here lies Paul McKeever (there’s a first time for everything).

2. Here lies Paul McKeever. Somebody had to.

3. Please insert credit card here to speak with Paul McKeever. $295 for the first consultation. $350 per hour thereafter.

4. Here lies the former Paul McKeever. If you’re reading this, you waited too long.

5. Here lies Paul McKeever. Husband, father, philosopher, lawyer, documentarian, author, Past Master, leader of the Freedom Party of Ontario. Honest. Hardworking. Happy. You know: total asshole.

6. Paul McKeever. Nothing to see here, folks.

7. Farewell, Paul McKeever, King of the Arachnids. The body will decay, but your spirit lingers on.

8. Here lies Paul McKeever, Nigerian Prince. Died here with his $10.5M in gold bullion, 30′ down, when the walls caved in.

9. To commune with the spirit of Paul McKeever, visit amazon.com, and search Books for “Paul McKeever”.

10. Here lies Paul McKeever. Now get out of this graveyard, you mopey bastard, and earn some happiness!