What Did We Learn in 2020?
Pandemics are like margin calls, exposing in a moment the pre-existing weakness of various positions and institutions.
So what did Peter Suderman, Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie learn about over these godawful last 12 months? Among the lessons confessed on today's Reason Roundtable podcast: that there's nothing noble about a "noble lie," that "personal responsibility" has more meanings than are evident upon first glance, that we have given teachers unions enough power for them to derail their own gravy trains, and that (more thankfully!) humans are resilient and resourceful creatures.
Other topics gnawed on in today's discussion: President Donald Trump's about-face on corona-stimulus, the yin and yang of Soul/Wonder Woman 1984, and whether we should abort baby L. Ron Hubbard in the woods.
Audio production by Ian Keyser and Regan Taylor.
Music: "Nowadays" by Teo Laza.
Relevant links from the show:
"2020: An Awful Year With a Legacy We Won't Soon Escape," by J.D. Tuccille
"Trump Gets None of His Demands in the Spending Bill but Signs It Into Law Anyway," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
"Employed, Middle Class Americans Don't Need More 'Free' Stimulus Money," by Eric Boehm
"Trump Threatens to Sink COVID-19 Relief Bill Unless Congress Cuts Wasteful Spending, Spends More on $2,000 Stimulus Checks," by Christian Britschgi
"COVID Relief Bill Includes $25 Billion in Rental Assistance, 1-Month Extension of the CDC's Eviction Moratorium," by Christian Britschgi
"Congress Legalizes Smokey Bear Impersonations," by Billy Binion
"Congress Blocks School Choice in New Stimulus Package," by Eric Boehm
"Giant New Spending and COVID-19 Relief Bill Also Creates 2 New Museums and a Library, References Dalai Lama Controversy," by Robby Soave
"The FDA Could Double COVID-19 Vaccine Availability Immediately," by Ronald Bailey
"Trump Administration Should Immediately Launch an Operation Warp Speed for COVID-19 Testing," by Ronald Bailey
"Americans Are Sick of Arbitrary COVID-19 Restrictions," by Jacob Sullum
