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The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of destruction to civil liberties in the US, such as extensive new state imposed restrictions on the freedom to travel, associate, and work, to name a few.
And even if a cure for Covid-19 is found, the pandemic risk will continue--there will be other pandemics, as inevitable advances in biotechnology enable states, non-state actors, and even individuals to generate novel pathogens.
However, all is not lost for those who care about liberty.
The increased risk of pandemics will spur many other developments that will benefit the cause of liberty, such as:
* Massive investment in internet capacity (fiber optic, satellite internet), telerobotics, and AR/VR will enable a) many more people to work from home and earn a living while located in anywhere in the world and b) allow people to increasingly live in VR environments. Both developments will make it more difficult for companies/governments to control or monitor workers/citizens.
* Many parents will choose to withdraw their kids from state run K-12 schools altogether, and educate them either at home or in small, boutique schools. This will mean more support for school vouchers, better education, and less state indoctrination of children.
* The pandemic has accelerated the self-destruction of colleges and universities. Fewer and fewer parents will allow their children take on a lifetime of debt, and expose themselves to deadly virus for mere status signaling. This should mean much less state indoctrination, and less dependence on state funding for scientific research.
* Companies will become much more open to employees working from home, which will enable employees to live and work anywhere in the world. This will mean a waning of the progressive monocultures in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and New York.
* The collapse of national currencies due to hyperinflation caused by excessive pandemic spending will increase demand for cryptocurrencies, which should result in much less state control over the financial system in the long run.
* There's a much expanded interest in prepping, self-sufficiency, and local preparedness. This means that government imposed cuts to supply lines won't be so immediately devastating to the public in the future. (Albeit at a cost of increased prices for many goods and services.)
* There is less trust that cops, public health officials, and other government agents are willing and able to act in the best interests of the public. This could result in the public voting to reign in the government's power and scope of work, and might even spur demand for secessionist movements that promise better governance.
* The riots have spurred demand for long-needed reforms to pathological institutions like the police, prison, and court systems.
* Finally, many more people will be interested in seasteading, as a means of escaping both pandemics and the social unrest / totalitarianism that has accompanied the pandemic. This is the one I'm most excited about, as it holds the most promise for fostering the most radical reforms.
And even if a cure for Covid-19 is found, the pandemic risk will continue--there will be other pandemics, as inevitable advances in biotechnology enable states, non-state actors, and even individuals to generate novel pathogens.
However, all is not lost for those who care about liberty.
The increased risk of pandemics will spur many other developments that will benefit the cause of liberty, such as:
* Massive investment in internet capacity (fiber optic, satellite internet), telerobotics, and AR/VR will enable a) many more people to work from home and earn a living while located in anywhere in the world and b) allow people to increasingly live in VR environments. Both developments will make it more difficult for companies/governments to control or monitor workers/citizens.
* Many parents will choose to withdraw their kids from state run K-12 schools altogether, and educate them either at home or in small, boutique schools. This will mean more support for school vouchers, better education, and less state indoctrination of children.
* The pandemic has accelerated the self-destruction of colleges and universities. Fewer and fewer parents will allow their children take on a lifetime of debt, and expose themselves to deadly virus for mere status signaling. This should mean much less state indoctrination, and less dependence on state funding for scientific research.
* Companies will become much more open to employees working from home, which will enable employees to live and work anywhere in the world. This will mean a waning of the progressive monocultures in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and New York.
* The collapse of national currencies due to hyperinflation caused by excessive pandemic spending will increase demand for cryptocurrencies, which should result in much less state control over the financial system in the long run.
* There's a much expanded interest in prepping, self-sufficiency, and local preparedness. This means that government imposed cuts to supply lines won't be so immediately devastating to the public in the future. (Albeit at a cost of increased prices for many goods and services.)
* There is less trust that cops, public health officials, and other government agents are willing and able to act in the best interests of the public. This could result in the public voting to reign in the government's power and scope of work, and might even spur demand for secessionist movements that promise better governance.
* The riots have spurred demand for long-needed reforms to pathological institutions like the police, prison, and court systems.
* Finally, many more people will be interested in seasteading, as a means of escaping both pandemics and the social unrest / totalitarianism that has accompanied the pandemic. This is the one I'm most excited about, as it holds the most promise for fostering the most radical reforms.
▶ Watch on YouTube