Smaller Turkey, Higher Price
One-quarter of Americans plan to skip Thanksgiving dinner this year to save money, survey finds By Andrew Moran
73%
MORE EXPENSIVE WEEK 44, 2022
Editor’s Note
The Rising Toll of Inflation i n f l at i o n i s a f f e c t i n g e v e r y pa r t o f s o c i e t y .
Food prices have jumped by more than 11 percent and energy prices by nearly 20 percent from a year ago. These rising prices are affecting upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations. More than one-third of Americans are scaling back their gatherings, settling for a smaller holiday dinner, according to a survey by Personal Capital. “Some hosts are tightening their budgets by trimming the guest list, editing the menu, or asking for contributions. Others are skipping the holiday altogether,” the report stated. Exactly a year ago, we published our first infographic that highlighted how inflation caused the price of basic foods to rise. On pages 24 and 25 of this edition of Epoch Insight, you will find an overview of the increases, including a 73 percent jump in the average cost per pound of an 8- to 16-pound turkey. Essentials such as butter and white potatoes have risen by 26.6 percent and 27.7 percent, respectively. In this edition of Epoch Insight, read about the causes of the sharp price increases and what we can expect ahead.
Jasper Fakkert Editor-in-Chief
JASPER FAKKERT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHANNALY PHILIPP LIFE & TRADITION, TRAVEL EDITOR
ON THE COVER The impact of inflation is being felt across America this year. How bad is it, and what’s behind it? MAREN CARUSO/GETTY IMAGES
CHRISY TRUDEAU MIND & BODY EDITOR CRYSTAL SHI HOME, FOOD EDITOR SHARON KILARSKI ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR BILL LINDSEY LUXURY EDITOR FEI MENG ILLUSTRATOR SHANSHAN HU PRODUCTION CONTACT US THE EPOCH TIMES ASSOCIATION INC. 229 W.28TH ST., FL.7 NEW YORK, NY 10001 SUBSCRIPTIONS READEPOCHINSIGHT.COM GENERAL INQUIRIES, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR HELP.THEEPOCHTIMES.COM ADVERTISING ADVERTISENOW@EPOCHTIMES.COM (USPS21-800)IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE EPOCH MEDIA GROUP, 9550 FLAIR DR. SUITE 411, EL MONTE, CA 91731-2922. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT EL MONTE, CA, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE EPOCH TIMES, 229 W. 28TH STREET, FLOOR 5, NEW YORK, NY 10001.
2 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Contents
vol. 2 | week 44 | 2022
14 | Census Errors
51 | Tax Reform
Population miscounts have given blue states an extra three Electoral College votes.
The fate of Trump tax cuts depends on the midterm elections.
52 | Tax Policies
16 | Gun Control
The latest misconception is that tax cuts create inflation.
An Oregon ballot measure would bring about the nation’s strictest gun control.
53 | Financial Crisis
Is trouble brewing underneath the bond market?
18 | Midterm Elections
High consumer prices are giving Republicans more traction with voters.
54 | Trojan Horse
20 | Regulation Burden The Biden administration adds hundreds of billions in costs and 200 million hours of paperwork.
26 | Bugging Out
How to prepare to leave quickly and survive 72 hours during a disaster.
42 | Zoning Reform
The midterms could deal a blow to the progressive push for high-density housing.
48 | Government
Spending The elections will serve as a referendum on inflation.
49 | Foreign Policy
The Saudis are favoring China, their biggest new customer, above America.
50 | Recession
Weakening household finances are a major drag on economic growth.
The TikTok threat to national security, and China’s surveillance dystopia.
Features 22 | Inflation Thanksgiving dinner this year will cost a lot more. THE LEAD
30 | Expensive, Deadly Each year, 12 million Americans seeking outpatient care are misdiagnosed. 34 | Illegally Fired A Christian physician assistant was laid off after objecting to gender-altering procedures, lawyers say. 40 | Triggering Psychosis High potency cannabis is harming young people, a doctor says.
No matter your position, take ownership at work, and you’re sure to shine.
60 | An Italian Delight This hilltop estate in Matera is a selfcontained resort.
62 | The Other Rome
Come along and explore the gems of Rome most tourists never see.
65 | Trust Me
A few suggestions on how to be known as a reliable, honorable person.
44 | Pornographic Books Activists fight to keep sexually explicit books in schools.
66 | Celebration
Canadian national David DePape, the man who allegedly attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, is an illegal immigrant, U.S. officials have confirmed. According to charging documents and the motion to detain, DePape broke into the Pelosi residence early Oct. 28 and assaulted Paul Pelosi in front of police officers who responded to a 911 call placed by Pelosi. JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
58 | Think Like a Boss
How to bring the holiday spirit to your home, inside and out.
72 | Holiday Gift Ideas We’ll make it easy to find something for everyone on your list.
E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 3
SPOTLIGHT Spectacular Festival HERDERS TRY TO CONTROL THEIR CAMEL at the annual Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, India, on Nov. 2. Held each November for around 14 days, the fair attracts thousands of camels, horses, and cattle and is visited by more than 400,000 people. PHOTO BY HIMANSHU SHARMA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
SHEN YUN SHOP
Great Culture Revived. Fine Jewelry | Italian Scarves | Home Decor
ShenYunShop.com
6 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Tel: 1.80 0.208.2384
NAT ION • WOR L D • W H AT H A P P E N E D T H I S W E E K
The Week
Week 44
People stand in line to buy marijuana products from Good Chemistry in Denver on March 23, 2020. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CIAGLO/GETTY IMAGES
Sharp Rise in Marijuana-Related Psychosis
40
2020 Census Errors Affect Elections
Health Care Worker Illegally Fired
Fight to Keep the Children Safe
Miscounts of populations favor blue states and hurt red states. 14
A Christian physician assistant gets laid off over her belief. 34
Parents confront school libraries for providing pornographic books. 44
INSIDE E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 7
The Week in Short US
y n a w o l a t o n l i w r e t i w T“ d e m r o ft a l p - e d s a w o h w r e t i Tw g n i t a l o i v r o f m r o ft a l p n o k c a b s e l u r raelc a e v a h e w l i t nu .os g n i od r of s ecorp
41%
of registered U.S. voters have voted or plan to vote before Nov. 8, up from 34 percent during the 2018 midterms, a Gallup poll finds.
” Elon Musk, owner, Twitter
“The looming diesel crisis will have a ripple effect on our supply chains and the cost of goods. Unleash American energy.” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), on the Biden administration’s energy policies that have created a shortage of distillate fuel oil.
The Department of Agriculture will direct $73 million in grants to small and medium-sized meat and poultry processors to expand their capacity, and deliver more funds through lending programs, Secretary Tom Vilsack says.
The Federal Register, a book of federal rules and regulations, was expanded by 45 percent in 2021, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
$16 MILLION
Pennsylvania taxpayers have unknowingly paid more than $16 million under Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration to fund sexreassignment and gendertransition services for children.
10.7 MILLION — There were 10.7 million job openings at the end of September, up from August’s reading of 10.1 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
8 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
THIS PAGE FROM TOP: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE MET MUSEUM/VOGUE, J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE-POOL/GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT PAGE FROM TOP: MANDEL NGAN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES
$73 Million
45%
The Week in Short US EXECUTIVE BRANCH
White House Deletes Post After Getting FactChecked on Twitter THE WHITE HOUSE on Nov.
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell departs after speaking at the Federal Reserve in Washington on Nov. 2. INFLATION
Fed Raises Interest Rates by Another 0.75 Percentage Points to Cool Inflation THE FEDER AL RESERVE has raised the benchmark federal funds rate by 75
basis points, to a target range of 3.75 to 4 percent, in line with market expectations. The decision came as the Fed’s policy-making arm, the Federal Open Market Committee, concluded its two-day policy meeting. This was the sixth rate increase this year and represented the fourth consecutive 75 basis-point boost in 2022. Interest rates are now the highest they have been since January 2008.
2 deleted a Twitter post after it was fact-checked for making an inaccurate claim about the recently announced Social Security cost-ofliving adjustment (COLA). “Seniors are getting the biggest increase in their Social Security checks in 10 years through President Biden’s leadership,” the now-deleted White House Twitter post said. However, the post failed to mention that the COLA adjustment was due to surging, decades-high inflation. COLA adjustments have been added automatically every year for decades by federal law, and the adjustments aren’t contingent on any Biden administration policies.
VACCINE
Interest on Government Debt Set to Exceed Defense Spending
Risk of Heart Inflammation in Children Elevated From Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine: Study
THE UNITED STATES is on pace to
THE RISK OF HEART inflammation
spend more to maintain its debt than on its own military. In the third quarter, the federal government spent more than $184 billion on interest payments on its debt. That means an annual cost exceeding $730 billion. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense 2022 budget was about $720 billion. Interest payments have skyrocketed U.S. Army trainees at Fort Jackson in over the past two years, due to massive increases in government spending during Columbia, S.C., on Sept. 29. the COVID-19 pandemic and interest rate increases enacted by the Federal Reserve in an attempt to curb inflation. Interest payments in the first three quarters of 2022 reached nearly $500 billion, compared to less than $430 billion in the year-earlier period, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
in children as young as 12 is elevated after receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to a study. Researchers with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other institutions analyzed data from the FDA’s Biologics Effectiveness and Safety Initiative and looked for safety signals after Pfizer vaccination for children aged 5 to 17 between 2021 and mid-2022. They found that myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, and pericarditis, a related condition, met the threshold for a safety signal for children aged 12 to 17 after doses two and three.
ECONOMY
E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 9
The Week in Short World ASIA
North Korea Missile Lands off South Korean Coast for First Time NORTH KOREA FIRED at least 23
A perimeter fence surrounds a forced reeducation center in Dabancheng, Xinjiang region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. HUMAN RIGHTS
missiles into the sea on Nov. 2, including one that landed less than 40 miles off South Korea’s coast, which South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol described as “territorial encroachment” and Washington denounced as “reckless.” It was the first time a ballistic missile had landed near the South’s waters since the peninsula was divided in 1945, and the most missiles fired by the North in a single day. South Korea issued rare air raid warnings and launched its own missiles in response.
50 Countries Urge China to Release Detained Uyghurs SOME 50 COUNTRIES have signed a joint statement at the U.N. General
Assembly urging China to uphold its human rights obligations and release all those “arbitrarily deprived of their liberty” in Xinjiang. The nations—which include the United States, Japan, Britain, Australia, Germany, and Israel—made up the largest group of countries to publicly condemn China’s ongoing human rights abuses. They referred to a U.N. report detailing crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. The signatory countries urged China to promptly release all detained individuals in Xinjiang, urgently clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members, and facilitate safe contact and reunion.
People watch a news report on North Korea’s ballistic missile launch, in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov. 2. EUROPE
Ukraine Grain Export Deal Back on Track
RUSSIA SAYS it will resume its partici-
EUROPE
THE UNITED KINGDOM has dismissed the Kremlin’s claims that British
military “specialists” played a role in a September attack on a strategic energy pipeline linking Russian gas fields to Northern Europe. “We’re carefully monitoring the situation, but it is right to not be drawn into these sorts of distractions, which is part of the Russian playbook,” a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters. Russia claims to have evidence that British operatives, working in tandem with Ukrainian forces, took part in an Oct. 29 drone attack on Russian naval vessels docked in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. The Russian Defense Ministry also alleged that the same unit of British “specialists” took part in the “planning, provision, and implementation” of September’s dramatic pipeline attack. It has yet to provide any evidence for the claims, however. 10 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
THIS PAGE FROM L: THOMAS PETER/REUTERS, YONHAP VIA REUTERS
UK Rejects Russian ‘Sabotage’ Claims
pation in a deal freeing up grain exports from war-torn Ukraine, reversing a move that world leaders said threatened to exacerbate global hunger. Moscow announced the sudden reversal after Turkey and the United Nations helped keep Ukrainian grain flowing for several days without a Russian role in inspections. The Russian defense ministry justified the change by saying it had received guarantees from Kyiv not to use the Black Sea grain corridor for military operations against Russia. Kyiv did not immediately comment on that, but has previously denied using the agreed shipping corridor as a cover for attacks.
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The Week in Photos 1. Boats during a sandstorm in the city of Basra, Iraq, on Nov. 2. 2. Ukrainian artillerymen fire a gun-howitzer on the front line near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Oct. 31, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. 3. Afghan farmers harvest rice in a field in Qarghayi, Laghman Province, on Oct. 31. 1.
4. A girl begins to cry after winning a costume contest at the Proctor Plaza Community Center in Houston on Oct. 31.
2.
5. A woman walks in a maple forest at Nishat Garden in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India, on Nov. 1. 6. People disperse from a vehicle belonging to the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that was set on fire overnight by angry residents, in Kanyaruchinya, DRC, on Nov. 2.
3.
6. 4.
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6.
5. 5.
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The U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 22, 2018.
R E P R E S E N TAT I O N
2020 Census Errors Favor Blue States
Population miscounts have given blue states 3 extra congressional seats, Electoral College votess
R
By Petr Svab epublican-leaning states have been shortchanged at least three congressional seats and Electoral College votes because their populations were undercounted in the 2020 census. Democrat-leaning states received at least one extra seat and vote because of census overcounts and kept at least two that they should have lost, according to an analysis of the Census Bureau’s post-census survey. The bureau acknowledged the errors but stated that there’s no way to correct them until the next census in 2030. Several experts and at least one lawmaker have expressed concern over the errors.
14 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
“It’s consistently undercounting red states and consistently overcounting blue states,” said Hans von Spakovsky, head of the Election Law Reform Initiative at the conservative Heritage Foundation. He called it “a very odd coincidence,” noting that “so far, the Census Bureau hasn’t really explained how and why they made these mistakes.” It appears that the first to sound the alarm over the issue back in June was Fair Lines America (FLA), a conservative-leaning nonprofit focused on redistricting issues. “It’s obviously concerning that there’s a pattern in the error of the census,” said Adam Kincaid, executive director of FLA
and the National Republican Redistricting Trust. The Census Bureau identified 14 states with statistically significant errors in the census count. Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas—all Republican-dominated, except for Illinois—were undercounted. Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Utah—all Democrat-dominated save for Ohio and Utah—were overcounted. For comparison, no state saw a significant error in the 2000 and 2010 censuses. The 2020 error pattern still holds when including states in which the miscount didn’t reach statistical significance.
Election Census
Among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, only two Democrat-leaning states registered an undercount: Illinois and Maryland. On the other hand, 12 Democrat-leaning states saw overcounts of at least 1 percent, compared to five Republican-leaning states: Alaska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia. States with no clear-cut leaning, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, tended to have relatively accurate counts.
However, such factors don’t answer why the errors benefited Democrats so consistently, Kincaid and von Spakovsky said. Some of the states with the most protracted lockdowns, such as Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Connecticut, where census workers would have been expected to have the greatest troubles overcoming COVID-related restrictions, had some of the most accurate counts.
Unanswered Questions
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The 2020 Census was unprecedented in several ways. Due to COVID-19 policies, census workers were initially blocked from knocking on the doors of people who didn’t respond to the census online or by mail. A large number of people temporarily moved during the lockdowns. Access was limited at facilities where the virus was spreading particularly fast, such as nursing homes, as well as prisons to some extent. College students were largely sent home. The Census Bureau tried to fill gaps in coverage by guessing how many people lived in a given location by using administrative records, such as driver’s license data. All these factors presented additional challenges that could explain why this census was particularly inaccurate.
“It’s consistently undercounting red states and consistently overcounting blue states.” Hans von Spakovsky, head, Election Law Reform Initiative, The Heritage Foundation
The bureau has yet to fully explain what methods it used to navigate those challenges. For example, how did it ensure that the administrative records it
A census volunteer helps out in New York on Sept. 17, 2020. The Census Bureau identified 14 states, all Democrat-dominated except for Ohio and Utah, with statistically significant census overcount errors.
used in fact reflected reality? “We don’t have good answers for those things,” Kincaid said. His group tried to obtain further data and answers from the bureau through Freedom of Information Act requests, but most of the information was denied on confidentiality grounds, he said. “What the pattern suggests is that there is some sort of issue with the methodology that seems to favor blue states over red states, and I continue to believe that it’s important for the Census Bureau to open up its books and be more transparent,” Kincaid said. The lack of transparency is particularly pernicious when combined with the lockdown challenges that seem to have made the process more opaque. “It opened the door for more bias, whether intentional or unintentional,” Kincaid said. Von Spakovsky urged Congress to launch investigations into the matter and get answers from the bureau “so we can decide whether this was intentional bias or whether it just was bad procedures and bad practices. It’s got to be one or the other.” “You certainly can’t have this happen again, and Congress needs to figure out whether there’s any way they can fix this,” he said. So far, there appears to be only one lawmaker asking questions about the issue—Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas). He called the issue “deeply concerning for the legitimacy of our Democracy,” in an Oct. 24 letter to Census Bureau Director Robert Santos. “This wasn’t a coincidence because things like this don’t just happen. The swamp in Washington has an agenda. They want Democrats in power and won’t let anything get in their way,” Nehls said in an Oct. 24 statement. “We must get to the bottom of what happened. When Republicans take back the House majority, we will use our oversight authority to investigate the Census Bureau and determine how and why these significant errors happened to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” The Census Bureau didn’t respond to emailed questions. Attempts to reach the National Democratic Redistricting Committee for comment were unsuccessful. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 15
B A L L O T M E AS U R E
Strict Gun Control on Oregon Ballot
Includes permits, 10-round magazine restrictions, and publicly available owner database By Scottie Barnes Protesters with firearms at a rally at the Oregon Capitol in Salem on Sept. 7, 2020.
I
f Oregon voters approve a pending ballot measure, the state would have the strictest gun laws in the nation—which opponents claim would virtually end the legal sale of firearms in the state. The Reduction of Gun Violence Act (Measure 114) would require a permit to obtain any type of firearm. Magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds would be outlawed. Commonly used pump shotguns would be banned. And state police would be required to maintain an electronically searchable, publicly available database of all permit applications. Backers of the measure, including a coalition of faith-based leaders and Ceasefire Oregon, say the new restrictions 16 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
would help prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands, as well as reduce gun homicides, suicides, and trafficking. The ballot measure is currently polling at 51 percent. But opponents say the measure is poorly written, and the explanatory language in the voters’ pamphlet is misleading. They argue that the measure would create a bureaucratic nightmare that would only impact law-abiding gun owners, be impossible to comply with, violate the Second Amendment, and put an onerous burden on law enforcement. Although the pamphlet states that the “financial impact is ‘indeterminate,’” opponents claim that it would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. “The main problem with the ‘Reduc-
tion of Gun Violence Act’ is it doesn’t address violent crime,” Aoibheann Cline, National Rifle Association of Oregon state director wrote. “That’s because it ignores criminals who break the law and instead penalizes law-abiding citizens. “The law fails to mandate sentences for gun-related criminals or put an end to the soft-on-crime policies that have made many Oregon cities into nightmares.” The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) cites the burden that the measure would place on financially-strapped law enforcement agencies. The measure would enact a law that requires a permit issued by a local law enforcement agency in order to purchase any type of firearm. Applicants would have to pay a fee, be fingerprint-
Oregon 2nd Amendment
ed, complete safety training, and pass a criminal background check. “This measure will require law enforcement agencies to create and operate a massive permit-to-purchase and training program out of local budgets,” OSSA President and Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson said in a video message shared on social media. “It will move very scarce resources away from protecting our communities to doing background checks and issuing permits at a time when crime is skyrocketing and law enforcement numbers are at their lowest in decades.” Leonard Williamson, an Oregon trial attorney who specializes in firearms law and served on the Explanatory Statement Committee, shares OSSA’s concerns. “In order to obtain the permit, an applicant would have to show up with a Guns are on display at Roseburg Gun Shop in Roseburg, Ore., on Oct. 2, 2015. If the firearm to demonstrate the ability to measure is approved, state police would be required to maintain a publicly available load, fire, unload, and store the firearm,” database of all permit applications. Williamson told The Epoch Times. “But you can’t get a firearm without cense gun sales would cease until purA record high of more than $1 billion the permit. And under Oregon’s highly chase permits could be issued, potenwas collected in the past year and has restrictive gun storage laws, tially putting gun shops out yet to be distributed to the states, Findno one can legally loan a fireof business,” she said. lay noted. arm to another. That creates In Oregon, the sporting Those economic contributions to the an impassable barrier.” arms and ammunition instate budget would cease unless a court The permit and training produstry is responsible for 3,668 grants a legal injunction. MILLION grams also create an unfunded jobs with an average wage of “I don’t think you’ll find any precedent LOCAL LAW mandate with no enforcement $59,541 per year and a total in U.S. history in which a citizen has to enforcement would need to measures, opponents claim. economic contribution to the go through so many hoops to exercise shift about $30 “The measure calls upon the state of $1.78 billion annually, Constitutional rights,” Williamson said. million of their Oregon State Police to come up Michael Findlay, the National “This is the first of its kind, and, if it passbudgets to fund with these [permitting and Shooting Sports Foundation’s es, it will wind up in court.” the programs. training] programs, but there’s director of government afTaxpayers will pay for the litigation. no consequence if they don’t, fairs, told The Epoch Times. “Unless the Oregon Attorney General’s and there’s no timeframe for The loss of that revenue Office argues that the measure is consticoming up with them,” said could have a devastating imtutional, they would be required to deH.K. Kahng, an engineer and pact on fish and wildlife confend any legal challenge to the measure ROUNDS NRA firearms instructor. servation funding through at taxpayer expense,” Williamson said. Nelson said implementing the Pittman–Robertson Act. The June 23 Supreme Court ruling in IF THE MEASURE is approved, the measure would cost local Enacted in 1937, that meaNew York State Rifle and Pistol Association magazines law enforcement agencies sure collects an 11 percent fedv. Bruen held that the right of law-abiding capable of more than $49 million aneral excise tax on all firearms, American citizens to keep and bear “comholding more than nually, with expected permit ammunition, and archery mon firearms” in public is protected by 10 rounds would fees covering only $19.5 milequipment. Those funds are the Second Amendment, he said. be outlawed. lion. That means local law enthen remitted to states. “The firearms and magazines impactforcement would need to shift Oregon is among the top 10 ed by the Oregon measure are all ‘comabout $30 million of their budrecipients of those funds. mon firearms,’” Williamson said. gets to fund the programs. “Pittman–Robertson funding brought Although Williamson said it’s imposAmy Patrick, policy director for the $44 million to the Oregon Department sible to anticipate the cost to taxpayers Oregon Hunters Association, told The of Fish and Wildlife in the last biento litigate the measure, the Bruen case Epoch Times that it will take at least two nium,” Patrick said. “Those funds are took five years. years to set up the permitting system. specifically used for fish and wildlife The costs could easily run into the “In the meantime, federal firearm liconservation.” millions, he said.
$30
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People walk past the New York Stock Exchange in the city’s financial district on June 26, 2017.
MIDTERMS 2022
ECONOMIC WOES PUSH GOP CANDIDATES AHEAD High consumer prices are giving Republicans more traction with voters By Dan M. Berger
R
ecent polls show an increased likelihood of a “red wave” election, likely tied to voters settling on key issues that favor Republicans: the economy and inflation. Republican candidates have relentlessly tied both issues to the Biden administration and Democratic Party policies. Predictions early in 2022 favored the GOP taking a decisive congressional majority. Democrats retook momentum as social issues favoring them surged to prominence in the spring. The most notable was the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to an abortion for almost half a century. 18 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
The issue galvanized many women, a significant segment of the Democratic base, and gave the party’s candidates something to rail at and rally around. So what happened? “The Dobbs decision is starting to play itself out. It’s a case of peaking too early,” said Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina. “Typically, midterm elections are referendums on the president and the president’s party, and when you have daily reminders at the gas pumps and grocery store, it’s hard to overcome.” Favoring abortion is, to some extent, already baked into both parties, he said. That means the Democrats stood
to gain few undecided voters because those who care deeply about abortion rights already vote for them. “The economy has not been improving,” said North Carolina Republican strategist Paul Shumaker. “And it’s not about gas prices. It’s about prices at the grocery store. “When gas went down in price, the inflation index did not decrease. It was due to consumer prices in the grocery store. They were more impactful. Everyone doesn’t have to drive, but they have to eat.” The decrease in gas prices led the Biden White House to try to message around that. “It was ... a diversion,” Shumaker said.
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Elections Economy
“Now, with grocery prices high and petroleum prices starting to increase going into the election, it’s a perfect storm for Democrats. Their failure to address it with messaging makes them seem even more disconnected on the economic front. “Their efforts to use social issues like abortion to fix turnout have failed.” Economic issues register as firmly among independents and undecided voters as they do among Republicans, according to Shumaker. “I’m usually pessimistic,” he said. “But right now, I believe there’s a red wave in North Carolina, and it’s a tall red wave.” A New York Times/Siena poll released
on Oct. 17 found that 44 percent of votSenate wouldn’t turn, and Biden would ers called the economy or inflation the survive it all,” Goodman said. top issue for them, compared with 36 “Now, the Dobbs decision has faded percent in July. Only 5 percent in memory, and we’re back of likely voters said abortion to the economy and, I would was their top issue. argue, crime” also favoring Inflation is at 8.3 perthe GOP. cent, the highest in 40 But with rising crime years. A 30-year home rates in New York paired mortgage went for 3 with controversial cashpercent a year ago; it’s less bail policies there, at 7 percent now, drastiit has swayed at least one cally increasing monthly high-profile race: that for payments and cutting how New York governor between Michael Bitzer, a political much money home buyers science professor at Catawba incumbent Democrat Kathy can afford to borrow and to Hochul and Republican conCollege in Salisbury, N.C. pay for a house. gressman Lee Zeldin. Pending home sales—those under In their only scheduled debate on Oct. contract but not having closed yet— 25, Zeldin pressed Hochul repeatedly have fallen nearly every month for the about crime. past year, often by double-digit per“I don’t know why that’s so important centages. to you,” Hochul finally responded in As of August, egg prices were up by what could prove to be a defining mo39.8 percent from a year earlier. Breakment in that campaign. fast cereal rose by 16.4 percent, milk Goodman said, “It was inconceivby 17 percent, butter by 24.6 percent, able a month ago that the incumbent coffee by 17.6 percent, and potatoes by governor would have a challenge from 15.2 percent. Zeldin.” The nation’s trucks run on diesel fuel, Hochul had previously polled ahead and the federal government reported of Zeldin by as many as 20 points. that the country had only 25 days’ worth “Now, the chatter is that Zeldin has of diesel reserves as of Oct. 14. A shorta shot at doing a Pataki, coming from age already looms in the southeast. nowhere to beat a sitting incumbent,” Republican strategist Adam GoodGoodman said. man described to The Epoch Times He referred to former New York Gov. the political impact the Dobbs deciGeorge Pataki, a Republican first electsion had. ed in an upset victory over three-term “Suddenly, the Democrats who were incumbent Mario Cuomo in 1994. Patadown and out had something to cheer ki was an obscure state legislator withabout. It changed the prognostications out much name recognition across the from a huge [Republican] tsunami to a state, and Cuomo had led by 10 points takeover by maybe only 15 seats and the two weeks before the election. People shopping in New York City on Nov. 2, 2020. A poll found that 44 percent of U.S. voters called the economy or inflation the top issue for them.
E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 19
B I G G OV E R N M E N T
Biden Adds Burdensome Regulations
Hundreds of billions in costs, 200 million hours of paperwork added: think tank By Petr Svab fter nearly two years in power, the Biden administration has pushed forth regulations that will cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars and require an army of bureaucrats to crunch the related paperwork, according to a tally by the conservative American Action Forum (AAF). The first two years of an administration usually see a quieter regulatory climate, since it takes time to draft and implement new rules, according to Dan Bosh, AAF’s director of regulatory policy. As of Oct. 14, the Biden administration lagged its predecessors regarding the number of finalized rules; President Joe Biden’s 436 pales in comparison to President Barack Obama’s 625 and even President Donald Trump’s 483. In terms of regulatory burden, however, Biden has no competition. His new regulations will cost nearly $310 billion to put into practice, while Obama’s were estimated to cost just above $200 billion, and Trump’s were expected to cut costs by about $3 million. Meanwhile, Biden’s regulations added the burden of an estimated 193 million annual office hours of paperwork. That’s almost 2 1/2 times the burden added by the Obama administration in its first 22 months and 443 times what the Trump administration added in the same period. The Biden administration was able to quickly run up the regulatory tab partly by reversing much of Trump’s deregulation, particularly car emissions rules that were proposed by Obama and then 20 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
The federal bureaucracy has little incentive to perform retrospective reviews of regulation costs, an expert says. Regulation Costs of Presidential Admins: Biden: $310 billion Obama: $200 billion Trump: -$3 million
443 TIMES THE BIDEN
administration’s regulations added an estimated 193 million annual office hours of paperwork in the first 22 months of his presidency, 443 times what the Trump administration added in the same period.
The 101 freeway at rush hour in Los Angeles on Sept. 17, 2019. President Joe Biden’s car emissions regulation package is estimated to cost about $180 billion.
Politics Executive Branch
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ANNA MONEYMAKER-POOL/GETTY IMAGES, MICHAEL B. THOMAS/GETTY IMAGES, CHRIS KLEPONIS-POOL/GETTY IMAGES, ROBYN BECK/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate at the White House on April 23, 2021. Biden pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. mate was accurate,” Bosh said. “But they also don’t do a good job of even just looking to see, ‘Did we actually accomplish what we said the goal of the regulation was?’” While there are some requirements for retrospective review, they’re poorly structured and lack penalties for noncompliance, so there’s little incentive for agencies to perform the reviews, he said. The Biden administration has yet to confirm its regulatory czar at the Office of Management and Budget. When that position is filled, perhaps by the end of the year or early next year, the regulatory machine is expected to crank up a notch. “By not having that role filled yet ... I think they really held themselves back on the number of rules that they can put out,” Bosh said, noting that this is “surprising for an administration” that openly stated its plan to “use regulatory authority to the maximum extent possible.” The most prominent rules would be likely to drop next year, Bosh said. “This is typically when we would see heightened regulatory activity,” he said. One regulation already in the pipescrapped by Trump. That package alone tion benefits to some people who used line would impose carbon emission is estimated to cost some $180 billion. or were expected to use some forms of reductions on power plants, which Another hefty rule requires welfare was expected to cost Bosh said is likely to impose a sigcompanies to report their over $350 million to imnificant economic burden that “beneficial owners,” meanplement. The rule got would translate into higher ing people who own at least tied up in courts until electricity prices. The govern25 percent of a company or Biden abandoned it. ment, however, would need to exercise significant control The cost estimates find a way around this year’s over it. Requiring more than are produced by the Supreme Court decision in 30 million companies to federal bureaucracy West Virginia v. EnvironmenPresident Barack >> provide the names, addressitself and so are liketal Protection Agency that Obama in Former President es, birthdays, and photo ID ly to be underestirestricted the government’s Washington Donald Trump in of all such persons will cost mations, according avenues to regulating carbon on Oct. 5, 2016. Mendon, Ill., more than $22 billion in the to Bosh. It’s difficult emissions. on June 25. first year (2024) and as much to gauge how the Another expected rule as $84 billion over a decade, according costs will play out in reality, would impose stricter methto Federal Registry records. and the government isn’t of much help ane emission restrictions on the oil On the other hand, Biden also tossed on the issue. and gas industry, putting further presout some costly Trump rules. Trump’s “They don’t do a good job evaluating sure on gasoline prices—a hot-button public charge rule that denied immigratheir regulations to see if the cost estivoter issue. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 21
One-quarter of Americans plan to skip Thanksgiving dinner this year to save money, according to a survey.
I N F L AT I O N
This Thanksgiving Will Be More Expensive 25 percent of Americans plan to skip the holiday to save money
I
By Andrew Moran
t’s going to cost a lot more to feast on turkey, ham, and mashed potatoes at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the typical Thanksgiving dinner includes the staples of a 16-pound turkey, a gallon of milk, potatoes, ham, and dinner rolls. 22 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data show that an 8- to 16-pound turkey cost $1.99 per pound on Oct. 21, up from $1.15 at the same time last year. That represents almost a 75 percent increase. The price of boneless ham increased 13.6 percent in September from a year ago to $5.50 per pound, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show.
The cost of white potatoes has spiked 27.7 percent to $1.02 per pound, while the cost of a loaf of white bread has increased 10.7 percent to $1.75 a pound. The price of a gallon of fresh whole milk has surged 16.6 percent to $4.18. The prices of a wide range of miscellaneous ingredients have also increased at a significant rate over the past year, including butter (26.6 percent), flour (24.2 percent), spices and seasoning (13.8 percent), sugar (17.1 percent), sauces and gravies (16.3 percent), and coffee (15.7 percent). Overall, food prices have soared over the last year, with the BLS food index climbing at an annualized pace of 11.2 percent. Grocery store prices increased 13 percent year-over-year in September, while the cost of visiting a restaurant has risen 8.5 percent compared to the same time a year ago.
The Lead Economy
11.2% FOOD PRICES
have soared over the past year, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics food index climbing at an annualized pace of 11.2 percent.
75%
THE COST OF
an 8- to 16-pound turkey has increased by almost 75 percent from a year ago, data show.
88%
OF AMERICANS
say they will eliminate at least one dish from the dinner table, a survey shows.
Inflated food prices have been driven by a broad array of factors, including volatile weather conditions in key growing areas, the Ukraine–Russia conflict, surging energy prices and labor costs, and the bird flu.
FROM L: ELENA VESELOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK, SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES
Bird Flu The continuous bird flu outbreak has affected the price and supply of turkey, chicken, and eggs. The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus usually becomes prevalent in the colder months, but commercial turkey producers contended with the flu in July, the time of year when farmers begin raising flocks for the coming holiday season. So far this year, nearly 48 million birds have been affected, with the disease detected in 42 states. The only way to limit its spread is to kill entire flocks, which can
Grocery store prices spiked 13 percent year-over-year in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. consist of about 15,000 birds. The issue isn’t limited to the United States. A vast number of bird flu cases are being reported in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Millions of birds have been culled as a result. Experts believe that transmission has increased immensely over the past year, and the illness is spreading to mammals at a faster pace. Scientists are unsure why the outbreak is intensifying, but some theories argue that mutations have allowed the virus to replicate and infect a variety of bird species. “All of us are feeling the pain of higher prices at the grocery store,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. “HPAI outbreaks in the spring and an uptick in cases in the fall are taking a toll, but farmers remain dedicated to ensuring America’s food supply remains strong.” Meanwhile, another aspect has been the notable 8.1 percent year-over-year increase in turkey feed prices. That’s in addition to the rising energy, fertilizer, and labor costs that farmers are now facing. The USDA’s latest Farm Sector Income Forecast anticipates record-high overall production costs, which are projected to skyrocket nearly 18 percent to $437.4 billion this year.
Can Americans Afford Thanksgiving? With the annual inflation rate above 8 percent, real wage growth (inflation-adjusted) still in negative territory, and consumers exhausting their pandemic-era savings, can Americans afford Thanksgiving this year? According to a recent Personal Capital survey, one-quarter of Americans plan to skip Thanksgiving dinners this year to save money. Others are adjusting their plans to adapt to the increasing cost of living. The survey showed that more than one-third of Americans planned to have smaller dinners, while 88 percent said they would eliminate at least one dish from the dinner table. Another quarter of consumers would budget $100 at most for their 2022 Thanksgiving dinner. “As the holidays creep closer and food prices continue to rise, this year’s food-centered festivities may require an extra focus on finances. Some hosts are tightening their budgets by trimming the guest list, editing the menu, or asking for contributions. Others are skipping the holiday altogether,” the report states. With the national average price for a gallon of gasoline at nearly $4 again, visiting family members for Thanksgiving might also be an exorbitant trip, adding to the growing cost of the holiday. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 23
FRESH WHOLE MILK: +16.6%**
SPICES AND SEASONING: +13.8%***
RISING
THIS THAN
WHITE POTATOES: +27.7%** BUTTER: +26.6%***
Other Products SUGAR: +17.1%***
COFFEE: +15.7%*** WHITE BREAD: +10.7%** * PERCENTAGE INCREASE OCT. 2021–OCT. 2022 SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ** PERCENTAGE INCREASE SEPT. 2021–SEPT. 2022 SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS *** PERCENTAGE INCREASE SEPT. 2021–SEPT. 2022 SOURCE: U.S. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
TURKEY: +73%*
FLOUR: +24.2%***
COSTS
SAUCES AND GRAVIES: +16.3%***
NKSGIVING
PHOTO BY LAURIPATTERSON/GETTY IMAGES
A bug out bag should be customized according to personal needs and goals. Some items to consider, as laid out below at Mountain Scout Survival School in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., could include (from L to R, top to bottom): a bullet-proof shield that slides into a backpack, an item for leisure time (such as this flute), a hatchet, a Tyvek bag for sleeping, a knife, a lighter, twine, a hand chain saw, bandanas, a first aid kit, water and water purification system(s), a portable GPS device, a drinking cup, and a headlamp. PHOTO BY SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES
PREPAREDNESS
A GOOD
BUG-OUT BAG
IS ESSENTIAL
How to prepare to leave quickly and survive 72 hours during a disaster BY ALLAN STEIN
B
UGGING OUT” is a term
widely used in military circles for quickly vacating a dangerous location with minimal supplies. Among survivalists and “preppers,” a “bug-out bag” is anything containing items crucial to survival, usually for a minimum of three days. “Generally, it is a bag for when you need to leave a location to stay safe. It has the essential basic supplies to make that happen,” said survival instructor 26 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Craig Caudill of Bug Out Bag Academy (BugOutBagAcademy.com). The online emergency-preparedness academy was founded in 2013 by Missouri resident Andrew Pontius to help educate people on how to build bug-out bags and survival kits. Pontius said the essence of a bug-out bag is that it’s something readily accessible and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Optimally, it contains all the fundamental ingredients for survival—shelter, water, food, a heat source, first aid,
and clothing. Provided it meets all these requirements, “it can be anything you make it,” Caudill told The Epoch Times. Building a bug-out bag, he said, doesn’t have to be complicated.
Easy to Prepare “In fact, we believe it should be a fun and enjoyable experience,” he said. “After all, having a solid bug-out plan and knowing that you’re planning well in advance should help put your mind at
ease about [disaster] scenarios.” Caudill said a bug-out bag can come in a variety of forms; it can be a simple hiker’s backpack or a duffel bag—or even a guitar case—so long as it contains the critical survival ingredients. The general rule is that it should be able to carry one through a disaster scenario for a minimum of 72 hours. “The general belief is, that’s the average amount of time it would take you to be able to be located or rescued during a wide-scale disaster,” Pontius told The
Epoch Times. He said that the first thing to consider is one’s physical location and the most likely natural or man-made emergency to occur. “Is it going to be a wildfire? Is it going to be a hurricane? Is it going to be a tornado? That sort of thing,” he said. In September, the Denver Office of Emergency Management’s (DOEM’s) DenverREADY program hosted two community fairs, handing out around 600 bug-out bags within the Denver metro
area. The event coincided with National Preparedness Month. Each backpack consisted of a basic first-aid kit, scissors, duct tape, a whistle, a flashlight, batteries, an AM/FM radio, matches, a memo book, tissues and paper towels, triple antibiotic cream, hydrogen peroxide, and a can opener. In addition to bug-out bags, DenverREADY gave out drawstring swag bags, which included items such as ice scrapers, heating and cooling packs, reusable straws, water bottles, collapsible E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 27
Life Disasters
Rescue workers evacuate a man following a flash flood in Helmetta, N.J., on Aug. 22, 2021.
Survival Essentials Of all the essentials in a bug-out bag, food, water, heat, and shelter are the most important for survival, Caudill said. 28 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
“If you don’t have something to take care of your body heat—your body regulation—you’re not going to make it,” he said. Bug Out Bag Academy lists 75 essentials for an authentic bug-out bag. However, Caudill and Pontius caution that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. First and foremost is hydration, since the human body can survive only about three days without water. Contents should include at least three
“If you don’t have something to take care of your body heat—your body regulation— you’re not going to make it.” Craig Caudill, survival instructor, Bug Out Bag Academy
liters of drinking water, a bottle or canteen, water filters and a purification system, and three water purification tablets. Next comes food and food preparation. Items may include six protein and calorie-dense energy bars, dehydrated meals, stove fuel, and cooking and eating utensils. The bug-out bag should also contain a lightweight long-sleeved shirt, convertible zip-off pants, underwear, three pairs of woolen socks, a medium-weight fleece, working gloves, and a rain poncho. Shelter and bedding can be a tarp or tent, a sleeping bag, a ground pad, and a woolen blanket for added warmth. Bug Out Bag Academy also recommends tossing into the mix a lighter, an iron rod to create sparks for lighting camp fires, three pieces of fuel, and waterproof storage. A well-stocked bug-out bag should include first-aid and trauma kits, a Mylar survival blanket, insect repellent, a knife, an ax, an LED flashlight,
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP L: TOM BRENNER/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, ELENABSL/ SHUTTERSTOCK, JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES, BUGOUTBAGACADEMY.COM
bowls, and other items. “Through our fairs, we focused heavily on education, providing a vast array of educational materials on what goes in bug-out bags,” Mikayla Ortega, DOEM’s marketing and communications manager, told The Epoch Times. “We have been clear through our efforts, going as far as setting up a demonstration table to tell people how to build out their kits, as our bags are starter kits for folks who may not be able to afford basic supplies otherwise. “The vision of our office is to become a national model in shaping and sustaining a culture of preparedness, as prepared communities create resilient communities. We believe giving resources and education directly to residents shows our commitment to our community.”
Life Disasters
batteries, candles, a cell phone, and a two-way radio. While natural disasters are a fact of life, Caudill said, supply chain disruptions and food availability appear high on the global radar in 2022. “That is our biggest threat right now. It’s coming. It’s coming in a large-scale way,” he said. Pontius said bug-out kits purchased online are a good place to start, but they lack supplies to meet specific individual needs—prescription medications, for example. “I definitely wouldn’t stop [with a ready-made bug out bag]. Don’t let that be your main go-to in case of a big emergency,” Pontius said. Perhaps the most critical element of any bug-out plan is having the mindset and determination to create one in the first place. Despite red flags of a worsening economy, inflation, and supply chain issues, many people have yet to start preparing for the prospect of hard times. “I believe it is human nature to put off potentially difficult times until they hit,” said Jonathan Jones, who co-founded The Provident Prepper (TheProvidentPrepper.org) with his wife, Kylene. “In a world so full of distractions and the enticement to ‘eat, drink, and be merry,’ many people choose to live it up now with the intent to, perhaps at some point, take a few steps to be more prepared.” As events unfold worldwide, Jones said, he has “never seen so many alarm bells going off all at once.” “It is moral and natural for there to be challenges ... but our nation and world are in a state of commotion that I have never before observed,” he said. “There are some that will never listen and, for whatever reason, want nothing to do with preparedness. Others see the wisdom in preparedness, but it never makes it up the priority list to get action.”
Mind Over Emergency Matters Jones said that some people adopt a prepared mindset if they have someone they trust to help them work toward preparedness goals. Kylene Jones believes “everyone is
(Above) An example of a survivial kit. (Left) A bug-out bag should be able to carry a person through a disaster scenario for a minimum of 72 hours, a survival instructor says.
worth the effort.” “We share our message of self-reliance with everyone willing to listen,” she told The Epoch Times. “It’s that old saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ We try to provide as much information as possible to make preparation a sensible idea and doable for everyone.” Having a handy bug-out bag is but a first step toward preparing for any disas-
ter—natural or man-made, Caudill said. Things appear to be changing rapidly, he added, and “there’s a considerable amount of concern that’s not dramatic.” “It’s based on good information that there are some challenging times ahead,” he said. “The reason for that is multivariable. War hasn’t happened on a large scale in a while. Humans tend to make that happen regularly.” E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 29
HEALTH CARE
MEDICAL MISDIAGNOS IS EXPENSIVE,
DEADLY 12 million Americans seeking outpatient care are misdiagnosed each year BY AUTUMN SPREDEMANN
30 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Nation Medicine
T
HE PROSPECT OF WALKING INTO
a hospital or clinic and receiving a misdiagnosis is something that fills most patients with dread. An incorrect medical assessment can be, at best, a hassle, or at worst, expensive, dangerous, and even deadly. Such diagnostic errors are a reality for 12 million Americans seeking outpatient care yearly. One Johns Hopkins study revealed that out of 6,000 patients across the United States, health practitioners misdiagnosed 1 out of every 71 cancer cases. The same report showed that 1 out of 5 cancers were also misclassified. Errors like these can result in dangerously delayed or ineffective treatment. Known as the “big three” within the medical community, the top conditions subject to misdiagnosis are cancers, vascular events, and infections. In another evaluation of 538 patient diagnostic errors, 28 percent were life-threatening, resulted in death, or created permanent disability. Medical misdiagnosis has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States. One estimate suggests more than 250,000 deaths per year in the United States can be attributed to mistakes in the diagnostic process. Concurrently, faulty assessments are costing the economy billions of dollars. In 2009, a report put the cost of unnecessary medical services resulting from misdiagnoses at $750 billion annually. Even today, research points to wasteful clinical services as a critical driver of excess health spending, accounting for upward of 15.7 percent of total national health spending.
Terrible Price to Pay
A doctor checks on a COVID-19 patient at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, Calif., on Sept. 2, 2021. PHOTO BY APU GOMES/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
When it comes to diagnosing health issues, there are multiple areas where things can go wrong. Danielle Miller, CEO of health consulting firm Stars and Stripes Consulting LLC, told The Epoch Times that multiple factors across the entire spectrum of health care services are contributing to the misdiagnosis problem. Those factors include “[errors] in diagnostic testing results, incomplete evaluation or history of the patient, premature diagnosis made without completing appropriate diagnostic testing, and evaluation due to guidelines and teaching ... just to name a few,” Miller said. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which threw another wrench into an industry already struggling with accurate diagnostics. “Telemedicine was mass adopted in a short time frame during the pandemic. This led to many incomplete and error prone systems being used,” E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 31
Nation Medicine
(Above) A medical technologist points at the screen of a PCR analysis machine at Quest Diagnostics in Indianapolis on Feb. 9. (Right) Health care staff review a patient’s CT scan at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Feb. 8, 2018.
32 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
$38.8 BILLION
A STUDY EXAMINING 25 YEARS
of U.S. malpractice claims revealed diagnostic error payouts totaled $38.8 billion between 1986 and 2010.
250,000 DEATHS
PER YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES
may be attributed to mistakes in the diagnostic process, one estimate suggests.
THE BIG 3 THE TOP CONDITIONS SUBJECT TO MISDIAGNOSIS ARE
cancers vascular events infections
of arrival, John was put on a ventilator—despite lacking respiratory symptoms—after the staff induced a medical coma. The following day, John tested positive for COVID-19. Gratke and her daughter also tested positive for the virus. “It was all about COVID after that. Everything was COVID. They didn’t even look at other possibilities,” Gratke said. John remained in a coma until Oct. 11, when he slowly regained consciousness. The long recovery process began, but his wife noted the doctors still wouldn’t discuss what else might have caused John to go into cardiac arrest on that fateful September night. “The rest played out like a bad dream,” she said. John’s recovery was slow and then began to backslide near the end of October, when he presented with flu-like symptoms again. “I helped roll him on his side one day because he said he was in pain, and there was a nasty infected bed sore,” Gratke said. Despite that John appeared to obviously be suffering from an infection, as Gratke maintains, the attending physician disagreed, concluding the flu symptoms were more likely to be “long COVID” related. Undeterred,
CLOCKWISE FROM L: JON CHERRY/GETTY IMAGES, SAUL LOEB/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF STARS AND STRIPES CONSULTING LLC
Miller said, adding that “there was little to no widespread knowledge or education for appropriate evaluation and diagnosis with telehealth.” For some, diagnostic errors during the pandemic resulted in months of crippling medical bills and tragedy. In the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Dawn Gratke watched a misdiagnosis nightmare unfold over nearly four months that ultimately cost her husband’s life. “I couldn’t believe it then. I still can’t believe it,” Gratke told The Epoch Times. In September 2021, Gratke was convinced her husband, John, had gotten “some kind of bug.” He had classic flu symptoms, including fever and body aches, which Gratke was helping him manage at home since they didn’t appear to be serious. He had no respiratory symptoms at all, she said. Then, on the evening of Sept. 25, her husband went into cardiac arrest at their home. In a panic, she called 911. Paramedics were able to stabilize her husband after they arrived and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Gratke drove to the hospital along with their equally distraught teenage daughter, who had witnessed the horrifying event. Within a few hours
Nation Medicine
A nurse attends to patients in a COVID-19 intensive care unit at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles on Jan. 6, 2021. Gratke pressed for more tests, determined to get to the bottom of what was happening with her husband. After being diagnosed with a staph infection more than a week later, John was treated with antibiotics. However, it proved to be too little, too late. The infection had become systemic; it took two agonizing months for John to die amid a slew of failed attempts to stop the infection. The delayed diagnosis proved deadly for a man with an already weakened immune system. The same week the hospital began treating John with antibiotics, Gratke said the doctor admitted there was a possibility her husband had been fighting a different, non-COVID-19-related infection that had gone undetected upon his admission in September. On Jan. 8 of this year, Gratke felt her husband squeeze her hand for the last time. Their teenage daughter and their oldest son, who had returned from college, were in the hospital elevator on the way to see their father as he quietly slipped away. “My husband was essentially murdered,” she said. “They didn’t follow protocols, and they misdiagnosed his symptoms.” Gratke and her family are now suing the hospital for malpractice. One-third of all malpractice cases
resulting in death or permanent disability come from a delayed or inaccurate diagnosis.
Expensive Mistakes In a 2021 report published by the National Library of Medicine, the diagnostic process within the context of COVID-19 was admitted to be “complex and challenging” for health care professionals. “Although we have improved our capacity to make a more precise diagnosis, we still don’t have an explicit number of patients who are hospitalized for COVID alone,” Dr. William Schaffner,
“There was little to no widespread knowledge or education for appropriate evaluation and diagnosis with telehealth [during the COVID-19 pandemic].” Danielle Miller, former risk manager, Johns Hopkins
professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told The Epoch Times. He explained that despite improvements in testing since the onset of the pandemic, it remains problematic in some cases to determine to what extent COVID-19 plays a primary or secondary role in acute illness. At the same time, the cost of diagnostic errors continues to add up for Americans. Since 2011, family insurance premiums have risen 47 percent. Some industry insiders believe malpractice claims are contributing to this trend. “Every misdiagnosis leads to an increase in overall health care costs,” attorney Collen Clark, founder of Schmidt & Clark, told The Epoch Times. “Misdiagnosis leads to higher medical costs and higher income loss. It also negatively impacts insurance providers.” A study examining 25 years of U.S. malpractice claims revealed diagnostic error payouts totaled $38.8 billion between 1986 and 2010. Up to 18,000 claims are filed every year, with an average payout of more than $10,000 per lawsuit. For people like Gratke, though, the price of health care isn’t nearly as painful as the cost of misdiagnosis. “It cost me everything, losing John,” she said. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 33
Feature 1st Amendment
A protester calls for religious freedom outside the Supreme Court in Washington on April 28, 2015. PHOTO BY OLIVIER DOULIERY/GETTY IMAGES
34 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Feature 1st Amendment
EMPLOYMENT
Illegally Fired for Christian Beliefs Physician assistant fired for objecting to gender-altering medical procedures, lawyers say By Janice Hisle
f t e r l on gt i m e physician assistant Valerie Kloosterman disclosed her religious beliefs about gender identity, a diversity program leader called her “evil,” her lawyers say. Shortly thereafter, Kloosterman’s employer fired her, despite her unblemished 17-year record of conscientious patient care at a clinic. Kloosterman’s attorneys are asking the University of Michigan HealthWest (UMH-West) to reinstate her, grant her a religious accommodation, and spare others from “similar discrimination.” First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit public-interest law firm, represents Kloosterman. This summer, the firm won two U.S. Supreme Court rulings upholding religious freedom and has asked the court to consider hearing two more such cases this fall. Kloosterman, a 42-year-old married mother of four (including triplets), was dismissed more than a year ago. She turned to First Liberty in a last-ditch effort to get her job back, according to Jordan Pratt, senior counsel at the firm’s office in Washington. Kloosterman’s attorneys accuse UMH-West of violating her rights to freedom of speech, religious expression, and nondiscrimination in employment, as guaranteed by state and federal law. “Before firing Ms. Kloosterman, Michigan Health blatantly denigrated her religious beliefs, attempted to compel her to speak against her conscience, discriminated against her for her religious beliefs, and refused to reasonably accommodate her religious beliefs,” First Liberty wrote in a Sept. 27 letter. The firm sent the letter to UMH-West in an attempt to avoid legal action but stands ready to proceed, Pratt said. Kloosterman’s former employer has asked for more time to draft a detailed response to the 11-page letter. Chris Zoladz, head of public relations and communications for UMH-West, wrote in an emailed statement to E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 35
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The Epoch Times on Oct. 4: “University of Michigan Health-West is committed to providing appropriate medical treatment to all patients and respects the religious beliefs of its employees. Our organization does not discuss personnel issues and as such, has no further comment.”
Dedication to Health Care Runs in Family
36 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Valerie Kloosterman, 42, was fired from her health care job at a Michigan clinic in 2021 after she raised religious objections to transgender pronoun use and genderaltering medical procedures, on Sept. 30.
Pronouns
family, and pediatric care, KloosterAs a longtime member of a United man encountered just two patients Reformed Church, Kloosterman bewho seemed to prefer pronouns diflieves that God created humans fering from their biological sex; as males and females, and no Kloosterman simply referred one should “attempt to erase to those patients by their or alter his or her sex,” her names and avoided prolawyers wrote. nouns, thus respecting their Kloosterman also believes wishes without compromisshe must speak and act in acing her beliefs. cordance with her religious Kloosterman’s lawyers beliefs. Therefore, she can- Jordan Pratt, senior cite a 2021 federal court not use “pronouns that confinding that “public colleges counsel for First tradict a person’s biological and universities violate the Liberty Institute, sex.” represents Valerie First Amendment when During her tenure at the they coerce their employKloosterman. clinic offering internal, ees to use sex-obscuring
PHOTO BY OLIVIER DOULIERY/GETTY IMAGES
The job loss hit Kloosterman especially hard because her career path followed those of her mother and grandmother; all three women worked in health care at the same location, Caledonia Health Center, a clinic south of Grand Rapids. “She’s a third-generation health care worker, and, in every sense of the word, an exemplary physician assistant,” Pratt told The Epoch Times on Oct. 3. He noted that Kloosterman and her husband have deep connections to Caledonia; they both grew up there and have been lifelong residents. The clinic is located in a community steeped in rural values that often conflict with big-city attitudes. Issues culminating in Kloosterman’s dismissal arose between May and June 2021, when her employer required her to complete a training module about sexual orientation and gender identity. Because of Kloosterman’s religious beliefs, she was unable to honestly “check the boxes” that affirmed the statements, the letter said. Kloosterman decided to disclose her dilemma to a UMH-West official and “to seek a reasonable accommodation for her religious beliefs,” her lawyers wrote. Someone with less integrity might have kept those personal beliefs secret and quietly complied with checking the boxes, Pratt said. No one might have ever known how she really felt. But Kloosterman “did not hide who she is,” Pratt said. “What an example of character and honesty.” Kloosterman’s disclosures revealed “her authentic self,” Pratt said. Such expression is often celebrated in diversity and inclusion programs. Yet, in an ironic twist, Kloosterman was fired because her beliefs differed from the prescribed views of UMH-West’s diversity program.
Feature 1st Amendment
pronouns” in jobs requiring freedom of expression. Further, the attorneys say, no patient had ever asked Kloosterman to provide the types of medical treatments that she opposes. Her role at the clinic was unlikely to put her in contact with people seeking such treatments. Even if that were to happen, Pratt said, UMH-West could easily accommodate Kloosterman’s religious beliefs. UMH-West has done so for other employees for nonreligious reasons, he said. For example, a male employee exempted himself from doing female pelvic exams, and one professional was permitted to tell patients that he’s opposed to prescribing opioids.
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Medical Rationale Kloosterman’s objections go beyond her religious beliefs. She took an oath to follow her own “independent medical judgment,” with which the employer has no right to interfere, according to her employment contract, her lawyers said. As a medical professional, Kloosterman believes that hormone therapy and gender-reassignment surgeries are “experimental,” lack validation in long-term studies, and carry risks of numerous side effects and complications, her lawyers wrote. In addition, using pronouns that “obscure or misrepresent a person’s sex” in a medical setting can result in patients missing sex-specific screenings such as mammograms and testicular exams, the letter said. After raising her religious concerns, Kloosterman met with UMH-West leaders twice in July 2021; at one of those meetings, a UMH-West official grew “hostile” toward Kloosterman, “visibly angry with tight fists and a flushed demeanor,” her attorneys wrote. That official told Kloostermann “she could not take the Bible or her religious beliefs to work with her, literally or figuratively.” In addition, he said “she was to blame for transgender suicides, and that she was ‘evil,’ and abusing her power as a health care provider,” her lawyers wrote. She was fired about a month after the final meeting. Later, UMH-West wrote a letter stating that her gen-
A person holding pins about gender pronouns in Laramie, Wyo., on Aug. 13.
Using pronouns that ‘obscure or misrepresent a person’s sex’ in a medical setting can result in patients missing sex-specific screenings, Valerie Kloosterman lawyers wrote in a letter. der-identity beliefs got her fired. Her former employer also alleged that Kloosterman altered medical records to change patients’ pronouns, a charge that Kloosterman continues to deny. Her lawyers wrote that Kloosterman “did not even have the ability to change” records, as a patient’s gender is pre-filled such medical forms, they say. “Only office staff had that ability,” the lawyers wrote.
Touting Diversity, Nondiscrimination Kloosterman believes that UMH-West staff made it clear that her religious beliefs put her in the crosshairs and led to her termination. The facility’s online nondiscrimination statement pledges that the health care system “does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.” The hospital’s diversity, equity, and inclusion webpage also says that “diversity is not reserved for specific groups.” UMH-West “has earned national recognition for a commitment to equity and inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer patients, families and employees,” its website says, citing a top rating from the Human Rights Campaign. Employee training is a major factor in that ranking. Topics of employee workshops have recently included “personal cultures, values, and beliefs,” “preferred gender pronouns,” and “religious beliefs and health care.”
The health clinic in Caledonia, Mich., where physician assistant Valerie Kloosterman worked for 17 years until she was fired. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 37
SPOTLIGHT
Hallowed Evening TWO PEOPLE DRESSED IN CHICKEN COSTUMES for Halloween cross Broadway in New York’s Times Square on Oct. 31. Halloween, which comes from All Hallows’ Eve or “hallowed evening,” is the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints’ Day. PHOTO BY GAGAN NAYAR/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
DRUG USE
Sharp Rise in MarijuanaRelated Psychosis High-potency cannabis triggering psychosis and schizophrenia in young people, doctor says
By Masooma Haq & Cindy Drukier
40 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
Edible cannabis products at Essence Vegas Cannabis Dispensary in Las Vegas on June 30, 2017. going down this pathway.” “The [National Institutes of Health] came out with a paper [recently] showing that kids that are exposed [to cannabis] in utero tend to have psychotic-like episodes by the time they’re 10 years of age,” Finn said.
Supercharged Ben Cort, author of “Weed, Inc.: The Truth About the Pot Lobby, THC, and the Commercial Marijuana Industry,”
“The idea here is absolutely not social justice, nor any sort of reform in a meaningful way. The intent here is to get richer.” Ben Cort, author
said the reason that drugmakers are increasing the THC content in cannabis products is to offset the tolerance threshold that existing users have developed to the compound. “The more problems the user [has], the higher the concentration they have to consume, and the more frequently they have to consume, just to come back to that dopamine baseline,” Cort said on “The Nation Speaks.” “It’s just inevitable that in a commercialized market that depends on problem use, you will end up with these 99.9 percent pure THC products. “They’ve so supercharged it [cannabis products] and changed fundamentally what it is, it’s become a really significant issue.” While cannabis-induced psychosis won’t affect most people after they halt their use, for some, it can persist for weeks or months before things return to normal, Finn said. “So this is potentially a very dangerous product, particularly if there’s a young person that is exposed.” There also aren’t enough placements available for the mental health care
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s drug legalization groups and the cannabis industry lobby to legalize marijuana across the United States, with legalization initiatives in five more states on Nov. 8 ballots, many experts warn that this will only increase the physical and mental harms from unregulated, high-potency cannabis. High-potency cannabis use is being linked to poisonings in young children, as well as to psychosis and schizophrenia in an increasing number of regular users, according to Dr. Ken Finn, president of the American Board of Pain Medicine and a vice president of the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis. “A lot of my colleagues that work in psychiatry and emergency medicine are seeing a sharp rise in marijuana-related psychosis,” Finn told NTD’s “The Nation Speaks” in an Oct. 1 interview. Data from Europe tie these mental health problems to high levels of the THC chemical in cannabis that causes people to feel high, Finn said. “The European data show that there’s a fivefold increase risk of first-episode psychosis with what they described as high-potency THC, which generally is about 10 percent. So we’re really in uncharted waters here [in Colorado, with THC potencies of between 40 percent to 60 percent], with all these states
Policy Mental Health
Five states that have legalizing cannabis on the Nov. ballot.
Allow marijuana retail sales Allow “medical” marijuana — smoked Do not allow recreational or “medical” marijuana Allow “medical” marijuana — non-smoked
WA MT
OR
ID NV
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UT
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SD NE
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KS OK
AZ TX
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ME VT NH MA WI NY CT MI RI PA IA NJ OH IL IN DC DE WV VA MD MO KY NC TN SC AR GA MS AL LA
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Marijuana Law in the United States.
needed, he said. “And in a very rare circumstance, sometimes [the psychosis] doesn’t reverse at all,” he added. “There’s a very strong correlation to cannabis use of high potency with schizophrenia, although the link of a causal effect hasn’t clearly been proven, but it’s strongly suspected.”
Growing Number of Problem Users Monitoring the Future’s panel study found that marijuana use by young adults aged 19 to 30 increased significantly in 2021 compared to previous years, which, Cort said, shows a “lower perception of risk” in the community, although the actual risk has gone up. “The lower the perception of risk for any substance, the higher the use rate will be,” he said. “Any sort of industry that has addictive potential is absolutely dependent on the ‘problem user.’” Just as in the alcohol industry, where roughly 20 percent of consumers drink 80 percent of the alcohol, 7 percent of the consumers who buy cannabis represent 76 percent of sales, he said.
SOURCE:: SMART APPROACHES TO MARIJUANA
According to a study by researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the New York University School of Medicine, states in which recreational marijuana use is legal have seen a 26 percent increase in use among young adults, as well as an increase in the number of problem users.
An Unregulated Industry “Poison control calls are skyrocketing across the country in states that have both medical and recreational [cannabis] programs, particularly in the zero to 5 age group,” Finn said. He’s concerned that, because the industry has circumvented the Food and Drug Administration’s drug development process, many of the products available tend to be contaminated with fungicides, anticoagulants, rodenticides, or heavy metals, and sometimes are mislabeled. In addition, many cannabis products labeled to contain CBD—a secondary chemical in cannabis that helps with relaxation but doesn’t elicit euphoric states of mind—may actually contain THC, Finn said. Children will accidentally get hold of edible cannabis products that often look like candy but, because they’re unregulated, are of super high-THC potency, Cort said. A factor that contributes to children
ending up in the hospital is that edibles are sold by weight, not potency.
Profit “Multinational corporate interests,” which care a lot about profit, are behind the cannabis industry, Cort said. “The idea here is absolutely not social justice, nor any sort of reform in a meaningful way. The intent here is to get richer.” Many of the organizations that advocate for legalizing marijuana and other drugs say it would promote social and racial justice because it would prevent black and brown people from going to jail for drug offenses, and instead help them to access treatment for their addiction. They claim that legalizing marijuana would also create jobs, save on health costs, and make the products safer than what would otherwise become a black market. The marijuana industry has little to no regulation and is similar to how the tobacco industry used to be before the public was made aware of the health risks, and some guardrails were put in place, Cort said. “The only thing that changed, both the opiate world with the pharmaceutical companies and the tobacco companies, was tort,” he said. “It really is going to take massive lawsuits to change any of this, because these people making money hand over fist are absolutely not going to change it on their own accord.” E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 41
POLITICS
Progessive Housing Agenda Midterms could deal a blow to zoning reform promoting high-density housing News Analysis
C
By Greg Isaacson
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plan is using federal funds to encourage local communities to make more land available for rental housing. The administration has stated that it will use competitive grant programs under the Department of Transportation (DOT) to reward jurisdictions for having land-use policies that promote density and boost housing supply. The DOT has released three applications for such programs this year, totaling nearly $6 billion in funding.
1 Million
BIDEN’S HOUSING SUPPLY ACTION Plan aims to tackle the U.S. housing shortage by financing the production of nearly 1 million affordable homes. Many Democratic lawmakers think this sweeping agenda doesn’t go far enough. In an open letter published in August, members of the New Democrat Coalition, a caucus in the House, called on Biden “to take further actions
to promote better zoning, planning, permitting, and affordable housing development,” primarily through the DOT and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). So far, a closely divided Senate has acted as a brake on these expansive policy plans. Biden’s proposal to invest more than $150 billion in housing, including $1.75 billion in grants designed to fight single-family zoning, ran aground when Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) pulled his support for the Build Back Better Act after it was passed by the House in November 2021. Biden’s 2023 budget also called for $10 billion in HUD grants for states and localities that have dismantled barriers to affordable housing, but neither chamber of Congress took up the proposal. A draft fiscal year 2023 funding bill released by the House Appropriations Committee in June provides a total of $62.7 billion for HUD, but none of that money is explicitly linked to zoning reform.
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hallenges to single-family zoning are gathering steam nationwide, but an ambitious progressive agenda to promote high-density housing could suffer a major setback if Democrats lose control of Congress in the November midterm elections. The stakes include billions of dollars in federal grants and hundreds of thousands of housing units, as President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers push for more federal action to encourage construction of affordable dwellings in suburbs and other communities. For example, the Biden administration has doubled down on its calls for zoning reform, saying in an Oct. 7 statement that it “continues to urge state and local governments to reduce needless barriers to housing production, especially restrictive zoning and land use regulations.” The White House is also urging Congress to advance its housing agenda by passing investments in construction and preservation, as well as measures to end “exclusionary” zoning in states and localities. The vast majority of U.S. communities have such zoning policies, including minimum lot-size requirements to control density. Biden’s Housing Supply Action Plan, a bundle of administrative and legislative goals first announced in May, aims to tackle the U.S. housing shortage by financing the production of nearly 1 million affordable homes. Key to the
A house under construction in Culver City, Calif., on Nov. 21, 202
Housing Market Midterms
Policy Center, AFFH also leaves communities vulnerable to being sued by the administration or activist nonprofits for not meeting the policy’s nebulous definition of “fair housing.”
Local Moves
Executive Action Republican victories in Congress this month could further derail legislative efforts to remake local zoning policies. While control of the Senate is a toss-up, Republicans are strongly favored to retake the House, according to many election experts. Regardless of the outcome of the midterms, the campaign to impose high-density housing on American neighborhoods will likely continue by other means. Last year, for example, Biden quietly revived the Fair Housing Act’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) provision, an Obamaera housing regulation that critics charge would effectively federalize suburban zoning policies. The 2015 regulation, which former President Donald Trump killed off in 2020, requires state and local governments that receive HUD funds to prove they’re addressing “significant disparities in housing needs and in access to opportunity” and replacing “segregated living patterns with racially balanced
living patterns,” among other far-reaching requirements. In effect, the rule transfers zoning authority from 1,200 jurisdictions that accept HUD money to the federal government. According to Stanley Kurtz, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public
Efforts to scrap single-family zoning are moving forward at the state and local levels, spurred by housing activists who argue that lifting restrictions on higher-density housing is a crucial step in addressing the nation’s shortage of shelter. California effectively abolished single-family zoning last year by allowing up to four dwellings to be built on almost any parcel, regardless of local zoning rules. Oregon passed a similar law in 2019. Cities such as Minneapolis and Tacoma, Washington, have also liberalized their zoning regulations. Gainesville, Florida, is poised to vote next week on a controversial plan to allow multifamily units in single-family neighborhoods. Soaring home prices and rents in recent years have fueled concerns that there’s too little housing for sale or rent in large parts of the United States. Moody’s Analytics estimates that the country is facing a shortfall of 1.5 million homes, driving a low vacancy rate of 4.5 percent. A rapidly cooling housing market, however, is boosting the inventory of homes for sale, which should alleviate this shortage.
Voters cast their ballots in the Ohio primary election at a polling location at Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Dublin, Ohio, on May 3. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 43
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS IN SCHOOLS
BY JACKSON ELLIOTT
Activists fight to keep sexually explicit books in schools, parents say
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“Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, which has drawings of people having sex; “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George Johnson, which gives a vivid description of two male children having sex; and “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Perez, which includes at least one passage describing a sexual assault against a minor. Content that parents might find disturbing in those books and others often found in school libraries is detailed in reports on an independent review site called BookLooks. That organization endeavors to help parents “find out what objectionable content may be in your child’s book before they do.”
Opposing Porn Is Racist? Attempts to remove books from school libraries is “about white supremacy,” the BookRiot guide says. “It’s about power.
Calling it anything less than that diminishes the responsibility there is on gatekeepers to uphold intellectual freedom and the First Amendment.” Teachers, librarians, and other educators are the “gatekeepers,” says the BookRiot website. The BookRiot guide blames news media for spotlighting parents’ concerns about books they deem too graphic to be made available to children. The tool kit suggests using local news media as “a tool of support” to help prevent parents from being successful in attempts to remove books from school libraries. It advises citizens, teachers, educators, librarians, and administrators to take specific actions to prevent parents from having books removed. BookRiot’s advice includes instructing citizens to “contact local media and lo-
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B
ooks th at conta in explicit sexual material should prevail over parents’ efforts to remove them from school libraries, according to a website that fights against what it calls “censorship” of books. BookRiot, which describes itself as “the largest independent editorial book site in North America,” offers a “How to Fight Book Bans and Challenges: An Anti-Censorship Tool Kit.” The guide advises how libraries can fight parents’ attempts to remove certain books from their shelves. BookRiot recommends books as part of its “commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the action steps we’re taking to walk the walk.” Some of the books the organization advocates for keeping in libraries include
Schools Censorship
A copy of “Sex Is a Funny Word” by Cory Silverberg, for readers aged 8 to 10, on display in the juvenile section of Patrick Henry Library in Vienna, Va., on Oct. 4.
Parents across America are learning that school libraries often have books with questionable content for young minds.
cal authorities about hate groups when they emerge. These groups work to target policies they don’t like with the goal of maintaining white supremacy. Call them out on social media, then follow it up with evidence of hateful actions where you can.” It tells educators and librarians to consider doing away with “Banned Books Week,” because highlighting books removed from school libraries draws attention to them. Instead, the site advises, they should display the books yearround and celebrate “a week dedicated to protecting the First Amendment.” In another article about working to fight “book banning,” BookRiot argues that showing children pictures of people having sex isn’t a problem. “Nude bodies and even nude bodies depicted in a consensual relationship
on page [sic] in a book for middle or high school students is not child pornography,” the article reads. Another article argues that, according to Supreme Court precedent, a work must be pornographic as a whole to qualify as pornography. “Cherry-picking pages and passages to prove obscenity isn’t how the law works,” BookRiot advises on its website. “In fact, ‘Gender Queer’ is a sterling example of how obscenity laws like the ones in the U.S. protect freedom of speech and expression. Indeed, sex is discussed and illustrated. But it is sliver [sic] of the story as a whole, constituting no more than two percent of the entire text.” Representatives of BookRiot didn’t respond by press time to a request for comment.
“So far, none of the law enforcement folks, including conservative ones, have an appetite for using the obscenity laws.” Jeff Childers, lawyer
Legal Protections According to lawyer Jeff Childers, a legal adviser to County Citizens Defending Freedom, BookRiot uses “straw man arguments.” A work is pornographic if it has porn in it, he said. The porn percentage doesn’t matter. “Imagine a kid’s Bible with a Penthouse centerfold in the middle of it. That would only be one page of obscene material,” he told The Epoch Times. But it would still be considered porn. BookRiot’s argument about pornography entirely misses the main point, Childers stated. Minors don’t have the same constitutional rights as adults, he said. And under the Constitution, local governments are permitted to prohibit some kinds of obscene speech. “The Supreme Court says you can pass an obscenity law right in your town. You can make an ordinance that says, ‘No obscene materials in the library,’” Childers said. “The Supreme Court has never said that school libraries have a right to present obscene materials to a minor if they capsulize it into a larger work.” Moreover, despite BookRiot’s claims, no one is trying to ban books, Childers said. Conservative activists want to remove pornographic books from public libraries to protect children, he said. “Nobody’s suggesting that the book E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 45
Schools Censorship
A rack in the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Tysons Corner Shopping Mall promotes “banned books” in McLean, Va., on Aug. 27.
be modified, that the book be burned, that the book be destroyed, that the book be blacklisted,” said Childers. “They know they’re in the wrong, so they’ve gone to this extreme form of the argument.” It’s unlikely that libraries will face legal consequences for having obscene books on their shelves, he added. Most authorities don’t want to prosecute librarians for obscenity. “So far, none of the law enforcement folks, including conservative ones, have an appetite for using the obscenity laws,” Childers said.
Parents Versus Pornography
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Fighting the System After discovering explicit content in school libraries, Petersen and other parents brought criminal allegations to the local sheriff’s office, as previously reported by The Epoch Times. School officials pulled the books from
“It honestly just shattered me to think about children, who maybe have experienced something like [child rape] in real life, reading it, as it’s being presented as entertainment.” Hannah Petersen, parent
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On the other hand, parents and activists have proven eager to confront libraries. According to figures from the American Library Association (ALA), a record-breaking 1,597 books were challenged or removed from libraries in 2021. “I thought, ‘This is abusive content for children to have, especially without parental consent,’” Polk County, Florida, parent Hannah Petersen told The Epoch Times about some of the explicit books found in her school district’s libraries. When she learned that some of the books included graphic descriptions of bestiality and child rape, she was shocked. “I thought maybe there would be a couple of swear words,” she said. “I just did not expect it to be what it was.” One book in Polk County’s libraries is “Forever” by Judy Bloom. It includes an
extremely graphic sex scene between minors, according to an analysis on BookLooks. It also offers the number for a Planned Parenthood hotline. Another book that Petersen found in school libraries in her community, “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, graphically describes children working in prostitution, according to BookLooks.
libraries and created a committee to reevaluate them. The committee included two parent-appointed representatives. The rest were school officials, Petersen said. Only the parents attempted to remove books, Petersen said. The others voted to keep the books in school. “The final determination was that they voted to keep the books in all schools,” Petersen said. “In fact, they even suggested some of the books be moved to a lower grade, and that younger children should have access to them. So we definitely felt defeated.” Petersen said schools should use an “opt-in” system for graphic books, only allowing children with permission from parents to check out books deemed problematic by some. Currently, parents must request that their children not get access to certain books they find objectionable. According to Polk County spokesman Kyle Kennedy, the schools’ book review ended with an agreement to create an “opt-out” system, in which parents get two opportunities per year to submit a list of books in the library that they don’t want their children to check out. However, this system only stops children from checking out books, he said. Any child can still read the book inside the library. “If the child is in the library, they’re not kept behind the desk,” he told The Epoch Times. The school hasn’t bought any more of the discussed books with graphic content, Kennedy said. Moreover, some of the books with graphic content got checked out and never returned. One of the worst discoveries of Petersen’s fight has been learning that children can take books from library shelves and read graphic descriptions of child rape. “It’s so graphic and in-depth,” she said, “that it honestly just shattered me to think about children, who maybe have experienced something like that in real life, reading it, as it’s being presented as entertainment.”
P OL I T IC S • E C ONOM Y • OPI N ION T H AT M AT T E R S
Perspectives
Week 44
President Joe Biden delivers remarks before signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 15, 2021. PHOTO BY KENNY HOLSTON/GETTY IMAGES
THE INFLATION MIDTERMS
THE ECONOMY IS SICK
FATE OF TRUMP TAX CUTS
There are many issues that starkly distinguish Democrats and Republicans. 48
Weakening household finances are hamstringing economic prospects. 50
If Democrats keep control of both chambers, they’ll let tax incentives expire. 51
INSIDE E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 47
THOMAS MCARDLE was a White House speechwriter for President George W. Bush and writes for IssuesInsights.com.
Thomas McArdle
The Inflation Midterms
Many issues starkly distinguish Democrats from Republicans
s democr ats increasingly have become the party of the hard left, they have simultaneously become the party of the easy lie. On Oct. 26, President Joe Biden claimed that Republicans’ determination to rein in the massive, automatic entitlements that are hurtling Social Security and Medicare toward bankruptcy will “make inflation worse.” This from a president who signed a nearly $400 billion green spending bill with over $450 billion in tax increases that is laughably called the “Inflation Reduction Act,” while now accusing Republicans of “lying like the devil.” A key feature of that law is its complex new 15 percent alternative minimum tax (AMT) that would add both to companies’ tax burdens and to their compliance workload. Recall the original AMT, passed in 1969, which was intended to affect a tiny group of the super rich whose accountants and lawyers found ways of avoiding taxes in a pre-Reagan, monstrous, labyrinthine tax code—fewer than 1 percent of taxpayers. By 2017, the AMT was hitting 62 percent of those making between a half-million and a million dollars a year, and plenty more in other brackets. For decades, Washington couldn’t muster the political will to do anything about it—until President Donald Trump’s tax cuts and reforms in his first year in office fixed the AMT. The Joint Committee on Taxation assures us that only about 150 taxpayers will be subject to the new corporate AMT. You can bet the house, the farm, the ranch, and the brier patch that the reality will be far uglier. And, as the financial legal experts at Vinson & Elkins note, under the law, “whether a corporation should no longer be subject to the [corporate AMT]” is “subject to approval of the Secretary of the Treasury.” Also under the authority 48 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
of the Treasury secretary is the new law’s use of the novel concept of using financial statement income to determine a firm’s tax liability. So it is baked in the cake that application of the new tax will be political; unpopular firms—say, oil and pharmaceutical companies— won’t be receiving any favors from the president’s appointee at Treasury. This is a tax intentionally formulated to be used by the executive branch as a political weapon, and is therefore a threat by which companies can be blackmailed to change their behavior on everything from environmentalism to abortion and sexual preference policies regarding personnel.
The voters’ choice is between the exasperation of 40-year-high inflation at the hands of Democrats who can’t stop enacting more and more spending and finding new ways to tax every year, and Republicans who are discovering that it’s popular to describe their plans for fiscal responsibility. Last year’s massively inflationary $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus spending bill, opposed by all Republicans in Congress, wasn’t enough for a legislature and White House controlled by Democrats. Even with swing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) from Trump-loving West Virginia spending months opposing further spending, the pressure finally caught up with him, and he and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) concocted the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed
in August with all Republicans in Congress voting in opposition. The entitlement reform proposals that Biden claimed are inflationary are exemplified by the plan being touted by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Johnson is now well ahead of his challenger for reelection in that purple state. Medicare and Social Security enjoy mandatory spending authorizations annually. This out-of-control spending is on track to drain Medicare funds dry in 2028, while the Social Security trust fund will begin defaulting in 2034. Johnson proposes that Medicare and Social Security be subject to annual budget deliberations— in other words, apply some fiscal sanity to these gargantuan programs for once, with the objective of saving them and keeping the programs’ promises to their beneficiaries, who have been paying into them all their working lives. As Johnson has put it, “our problem in this country is that more than 70 percent of our federal budget, of our federal spending, is all mandatory spending. It’s on automatic pilot ... you just don’t do proper oversight. You don’t get in there and fix the programs going bankrupt.” Since Johnson started talking about saving Social Security and Medicare, he’s pulled ahead of his opponent and surged in the polls. There are many issues starkly distinguishing Democrats and Republicans in the midterm elections awaiting the votes of the people in just a few days—not least the resurgence of violent crime and radical indoctrination against the will of parents in union-dominated public schools. But above all, the voters’ choice is between the exasperation of 40-year-high inflation at the hands of Democrats who can’t stop enacting more and more spending and finding new ways to tax every year, and Republicans who are discovering that it’s popular to describe their plans for fiscal responsibility.
ANDERS CORR is a principal at Corr Analytics Inc., publisher of the Journal of Political Risk. He is an expert in political science and government.
Anders Corr
The US Versus China and Saudi Arabia Beijing and Riyadh converge on oil, nuclear cooperation
F
or decades, saudi Arabia has allied with the United States based on the exchange of oil for security. The Saudis pump when oil prices get too high, and America promises to come to Saudi Arabia’s defense when, for example, Iraq or Iran start lobbing missiles. Thus, America never sinks too far into oil-starved recession and remains strong enough to stabilize the Middle East. Now however, the Saudis are leaning away from America and toward their biggest new customer: China. Riyadh is no longer pumping at Washington’s request, resulting in sky-high inflation, increased interest rates, and an impending recession. The deal is off, and the Biden administration is displeased. The roots of the breakup are macroeconomic. Saudi exports to the United States dropped to less than 460,000 barrels of oil per day in 2020 from 2.2 million per day in 2003. Saudi Arabia became China’s largest oil source in 2020, exporting almost 1.7 million barrels per day to the totalitarian country. Unfettered free trade is enabling an emerging Sino–Saudi alliance. On Oct. 21, the Chinese and Saudi energy ministers held a video conference during which they talked about greater oil and nuclear cooperation, as well as investment in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Such dialogue undercuts the Biden administration’s requests, including that Saudi Arabia counterbalance the BRI. Considering regional tensions with Iran, Riyadh’s discussions with Beijing could lead to talk of weapons production. Iran is proceeding with its plan to acquire a nuclear weapon, which might incentivize Saudi Arabia to do the same, especially if its alliance with the United States is in question. The Biden administration’s response to increased Saudi independence was
stark, and possibly self-defeating, as it implied the United States could downgrade its Saudi alliance. The Riyadh riposte was the reverse. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and now Saudi Arabia are saying that America’s global leadership is ending and a hypocritical Beijing-led “new type of international relations” is emerging, one in which the United States would be a follower rather than a leader.
That year, Saudi Arabia became China’s largest oil source, exporting almost 1.7 million barrels per day to the totalitarian country. Beijing is well on its way to replacing Washington as the world’s leading capital, both in terms of control over a larger gross domestic product (when considering purchasing power parity) and a larger navy. A world led by Beijing would be far more dangerous than what we have now, because Beijing seeks global hegemony, which the United States and its allies will not cede easily. The Saudis must see the United States as an existential competitor, in that the Biden administration targeted all authoritarian regimes publicly while hypocritically attempting to bring Iran’s 4 million barrels per day of oil capacity back onto global markets. That would decrease oil prices and threaten Saudi national security, a double whammy for Riyadh. Nor do the Saudis like Washington’s pressure on Beijing and Moscow. Riyadh would prefer to keep making money, while leaving politics at the door. President Joe Biden has taken the moral high road with the Saudis,
perhaps at the expense of short-term tactical considerations, by publicly and repeatedly raising the issue of the 2018 assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, which some allege included the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Trump administration, and Biden’s administration thereafter, worked to unite the Saudis and Israelis against Iran. Those are strategic moves that have a global effect, as Iran is allied with China. Yet, the Saudis are simultaneously moving toward China. Saudi Arabia leads the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+), oil producing nations that limit oil supplies and fix prices at higher levels. In October, the cartel decided to cut production by 2 million barrels in the context of already skyrocketing prices and a looming recession. They did this despite Biden’s appeals to increase production and combat inflation. The United States has attempted to use positive incentives to loosen this Gordian knot of authoritarian countries, but it must also be bolder in the use of disincentives. Anti-OPEC+ legislation known as NOPEC, for example, would remove sovereign immunity from OPEC+ countries so the U.S. attorney general could launch antitrust suits against them in U.S. courts. That could destroy the cartel and bring down the price of oil, which would help the U.S. economy. NOPEC could also increase emissions at a time of global warming. And it could help our biggest adversary, China, which is the world’s biggest importer of oil after the European Union. But the knot of China and its dictatorial allies is getting harder to undo. NOPEC and other tough measures are consistent with democracy and market principles and should be part of America’s grand strategy. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 49
Milton Ezrati
MILTON EZRATI is chief economist for Vested, a contributing editor at The National Interest, and author of “Thirty Tomorrows” and “Bite-Sized Investing.”
The Economy Is Sick
Weakening household finances are hamstringing economic prospects
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resident joe biden has tried hard to sound positive on the U.S. economy. He has told the American people that it’s doing better than most other economies. He is correct, but it means little to most Americans. After all, they live here, not in some other economy. And though they are aware U.S. economic conditions are better than elsewhere, they are still suffering from inflation and can see definite signs of economic weakness. Despite modest growth in the third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP), the consensus—of economists and the average man or woman on the street—is that this economy, if it’s not already, will soon be in a recession. The strain is evidently clear in household finances. It’s especially worrisome that people have begun to outspend the growth of their incomes. Normally, high levels of consumption signal economic strength, but not when, as now, they threaten household financial strength. It’s easy to understand why people are spending faster than they otherwise might. Inflation at near 40-year highs provides everyone with a huge inducement to buy before the prices rise again. The pressure is evident even with groceries. With these prices rising at more than 11 percent a year, householders are only rational to stock up on nonperishables and to cram their freezers as full as they can. The incentive is even stronger when it comes to big-ticket items such as cars, appliances, and what the government statisticians refer to as “durable goods.” With new car prices rising at about 9.5 percent a year, stretching to buy a year earlier than you might is almost like getting a 10 percent discount on the price you are likely to pay if you wait.
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But if such a rush to spend is rational, it’s also destructive. According to the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer outlays have risen at almost an 8 percent annual rate since January, but personal incomes have risen at only a 5.5 percent rate. Such a difference cannot persist for long.
Flows of money into savings have dropped 25 percent from what they were at the beginning of this year. Already, signs of financial distress are evident. According to the Federal Reserve, household levels of revolving credit—mostly credit cards—have accelerated tremendously. This debt load grew at an 18.1 percent annual rate in August, the most recent month for which data are available, far above the 8 percent rates of advance recorded this time last year. Measuring the same phenomenon from a different direction, the Commerce Department reports a major slowdown in household rates of saving. Flows of monies into savings have dropped 25 percent from what they were at the beginning of this year. As a percent of after-tax income, savings flows dropped from 4.7 percent this past January to a mere 3.5 percent in August, the most recent month for which data are available. True, money is still flowing into savings, and the rich always have a surplus with which to add to wealth. But the marked slowdown implies that many in the middle class and certainly among lower-income Americans have already given up saving. Since households already sustain
spending rates in excess of income growth, future consumption cutbacks are all but ensured. The growing debt load as well as savings shortfalls will further constrain the ability to spend. The inevitable consumer cutbacks will lead to layoffs, and the attendant loss of those incomes will further constrain spending. Since consumer spending constitutes some 70 percent of the U.S. economy, those cutbacks will all but ensure a major recessionary push in coming months and quarters. These matters raise a second and more fundamental concern. Heavy household debt levels will compete with business for the credit it needs to invest in new facilities and to expand the economy’s productive ability generally. The slowdown in flows of household savings will compound the problem. Especially because the Federal Reserve’s anti-inflation campaign is constraining the rate of new money creation, the financial system will depend more than usual on household savings to get business the credit it needs for expansion. It looks like the funds will not be there. According to a widely accepted rule of thumb, the two quarters of real declines in the nation’s GDP during this year’s first half signal that the economy is already in recession, though the modest third-quarter growth muddles the picture somewhat. If some refuse to acknowledge these clear signs of weakness, the deteriorating state of household finances suggests—and strongly so—that the economy will soon be in recession. And if the bad news of the first half does in fact signal that a recession has already begun, then the picture described here suggests—equally strongly—that the recession will extend into 2023. With inflation still raging, this coming year might well deserve the descriptor “stagflation.”
EMEL AKAN is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times in Washington. Previously, she worked in the financial sector as an investment banker at JPMorgan.
Emel Akan
What Will Happen to Trump Tax Cuts? If Democrats keep control of both chambers, they’ll let tax incentives expire
BANNU MAZANDRA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
T
he tax reforms of 2017 made substantial changes to business taxes, including a permanent reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. Starting this year, however, some provisions of the tax law will expire, which will have an impact on corporate investment decisions. While Republicans want to maintain these measures, tax experts foresee a political battle after the November midterm elections over whether or not to keep them. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permitted a 100 percent bonus depreciation, which allowed companies to immediately deduct the full cost of most business investments, such as equipment and machinery. This is one of the most significant provisions in the tax law that incentivizes companies to invest, according to the right-leaning Tax Foundation. The provision is set to begin phasing out after the end of 2022 and will fully expire by the end of 2026. Other changes in the tax code affecting businesses this year include a switch to five-year amortization of research and development (R&D) expenses rather than an immediate write-off and a tighter interest deduction limitation. These changes are projected to deter business investments. According to a new report by the Tax Foundation, making these tax incentives permanent would boost long-term economic growth by 0.6 percent and national income by 0.5 percent. It would also increase wages by 0.5 percent and create 105,000 new full-time jobs. If Congress fails to extend these provisions, it will “increase tax burdens on businesses at a time when economic headwinds and broader uncertainty are higher than they have been in decades,”
Given the economic benefits of these incentives, there is bipartisan interest in extending or making them permanent. according to Tax Foundation experts. The midterm elections are crucial because if Democrats retain their congressional majorities, they’ve pledged to let the tax incentives expire, whereas Republicans have promised to make them permanent. On the fifth anniversary of the passage of the TCJA, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the ranking Republican member on the House Ways and Means Committee, released a new report on the impact of the tax cuts. One year after the law went into effect, “the growth in wealth of lower-income families outpaced that of the upper-class for the first time since 2007,” the report states, noting that the tax cuts led to the lowest jobless rate in 50 years and the strongest wage increase in a decade. According to Garrett Watson, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, the midterm elections will be critical in determining the future of
the business tax breaks. Given the economic benefits of these incentives, Watson believes that there’s bipartisan interest in extending or making them permanent, particularly the R&D tax incentive. And a deal can be reached after the election, he noted. “The big question will be if there is going to be a pairing of business taxes with some sort of expansion of social benefits,” Watson said. A big challenge is that Democrats are pushing for proposals such as “the Biden version of the child tax credit, which will cost north of $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years,” he said. That’s far greater than making all of the expiring business tax provisions permanent, according to Watson. The White House blames Republican congressional leaders for wanting to keep Trump’s tax cuts, stating that they’re driving up prices. “The tax cuts would increase inflation and fight the Federal Reserve’s effort to bring inflation down,” a senior administration official told reporters on Oct. 26. When asked if the Biden administration intends to keep some of the tax incentives that are about to expire, the official didn’t provide a clear answer. Instead of extending all the tax incentives without offsets, the president’s aim is “to make the tax system more equitable over time,” the official said. The TCJA also made substantial changes to individual income taxes and the estate tax. If not made permanent, almost all of these measures will expire after 2025. Tax rates could revert to 2017 levels in 2026, resulting in a greater tax burden for many families. The fate of individual taxes will be determined by political control in 2025, making the 2024 election more crucial from a tax standpoint, Watson said. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 51
DANIEL LACALLE is chief economist at hedge fund Tressis and author of “Freedom or Equality,” “Escape from the Central Bank Trap,” and “Life in the Financial Markets.”
Daniel Lacalle
No, Tax Cuts Don’t Cause More Inflation
Cutting taxes doesn’t add units of currency to the economy
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There has been a massive campaign against any tax cuts all over the world that adds to the view that all government spending is justified. nary and unjustified credit impulse. This is rarely if ever the case. A unit of currency in the hands of the government is certainly going to be spent, adding even more money into the system via debt and deficits. A unit of currency in the hands of those who earned it isn’t just likely to lead to a better capital allocation, it’s also fair. Inflation is a tax and a policy. Governments benefit from inflation, collecting higher receipts because of the inflation impact on tax revenues, while citizens suffer elevated prices, higher direct and indirect taxation, and lower real wages. If increasing the size of the government is always dangerous, it’s even more perilous in times of high inflation because the risk of malinvestment becomes a certainty. There has been a massive campaign against any tax cuts all over the
world, which adds to the view that all government spending is justified. The concepts of efficiency, saving, and prioritization have been abandoned, and the administrative state is perceived as an entity that can’t perform any of those measures and needs constantly rising revenues to undertake its duties, yet all is false. Taxes aren’t set because the government needs more revenues but to pay for services, and they’re adjusted to the reality of the economy. When the public sector becomes an all-consuming and never-saving entity, it doesn’t contribute to growth and productivity: It prevents it. Governments use any excuse to increase their size in the economy, and using constant emergencies or alleged crises is the easiest way to advance a confiscatory and extractive view of the economy in which citizens and businesses are viewed as cash machines for the political sector, and the private sector is at the service of the government and not the other way around. Tax cuts don’t increase inflation— it’s the giving of a bit more of the existing money to the ones who earned it. What increases inflation, always, is bloating government spending and perpetuating deficits and then monetizing them by printing constantly depreciated currencies. Government spending isn’t the engine of the economy. Tax hikes aren’t the only solution to bad administrations. Printing money isn’t a tool for growth but one for cronyism. Upside-down economics doesn’t work. We need to return to monetary and fiscal sanity. A tax wedge of almost 40 percent of income isn’t normal: It’s confiscatory. If we want to reduce inflation, we need to limit the uncontrolled policies of those that create it: central banks and governments.
EVA HAMBACH/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
he narrative to attack any tax cut and defend any increase in government size is reaching feverish levels. However, we must continue to remind citizens that the constant bloating of government spending and the increasing of the size of monetary interventions are some of the causes of the widespread impoverishment of the middle class. Constantly increasing taxes and diminishing the purchasing power of the currency is wiping out the middle class in most developed nations. Currency printing isn’t neutral, and it never is. It disproportionately benefits the government and massively hurts real salaries and deposit savings. It’s a massive transfer of wealth from savers to the indebted. The latest dogma is that tax cuts are negative because they boost inflation. However, it’s yet another fallacy predicated on the idea that money is better off in the pocket of the government. Inflation is the destruction of the purchasing power of a currency, not “rising prices.” Prices don’t rise in unison because of an exogenous factor such as a war unless the quantity of currency issued is higher than the growth in the productive sector. Cutting taxes doesn’t add units of currency to the economy. It’s the same quantity of currency, only a bit more of it ends up in the pocket of those who earned it. When governments reduce taxes, the citizens and businesses that have earned money have more in their pockets. Some might spend it, others might save it, which means investment, and others might take more credit. Tax cuts are only inflationary if they boost an extraordi-
Fan Yu
FAN YU is an expert in finance and economics and has contributed analyses on China’s economy since 2015.
Bond Market Trouble
There’s growing concern about a ‘liquidity crisis’ in bond market
ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES
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he u.s. treasury bond market has tumbled this year. That’s no surprise. Between the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes and quantitative tightening, 10-year Treasury yields have increased from 1.6 percent to more than 4.0 percent year to date. (Bond yields have an inverse relationship with bond prices.) But this doesn’t feel like a regular bond bear market. While the bond market appears calm on the surface, increasingly, there’s talk of a “liquidity crisis” brewing from too many forces acting in unison. In other words, a functioning market—no matter which direction it’s going—needs both active buyers and sellers. Today’s market has been whipsawing, with extremely low liquidity (meaning very, very few buyers at any price) and high volatility. And that could be bad news not just for the Treasury bond market, but for other financial markets. Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed concern that she was “worried about a loss of adequate liquidity.” On Oct. 20, Yellen’s staff even asked the Treasury Bond Auction Committee (a consortium of investment banks that run bond auctions) if the U.S. Treasury should begin buying some less-liquid bonds to provide liquidity. That’s an unusual and concerning request. The ICE BofAML MOVE Index, the de facto measure of bond market volatility, is at its highest since the middle of 2009—the thick of the last financial crisis. Yields on both two- and five-year bonds are at multi-decade highs. Let’s quickly examine what has been happening. Liquidity has been declining ever since the Fed began
The U.S. dollar will continue to strengthen as the Fed increases rates to battle inflation. That will cause other countries to intervene and defend their currencies. To do so, they will need to sell U.S. Treasury bonds, adding more downward pressure to bond prices. raising interest rates. The Fed’s ending quantitative easing—buying of bonds—and starting of quantitative tightening has worsened liquidity by taking out one of the market’s biggest purchasers of bonds. More interest rate hikes are expected to come. The U.S. dollar will continue to strengthen as the Fed increases rates to battle inflation. That will cause other countries to intervene and defend their currencies. To do so, they will need to sell U.S. Treasury bonds, adding more downward pressure to bond prices. In a vacuum, these moves all make sense individually. But all of these selling activities converging at once
could likely seize up the bond market. Remember: A sale can only occur between two willing parties. It’s unclear who will do the buying. The Financial Times also points out a little-known market structure problem that has yet to be tested. “Previously, the primary dealers (i.e., big banks) kept the treasuries market liquid in a crisis by acting as market makers. But after 2008, a string of regulatory reforms made it expensive to play this role,” the financial paper noted in an Oct. 20 report. “As a result, primary dealers’ transactions are now just 2 percent of the market, down from 14 percent in 2008.” In a note to clients, Bank of America analysts said that bond market liquidity is “fragile and vulnerable to shock.” There are a lot of risks facing the markets today. Persistent inflation, continued interest rate hikes, the U.S. and global economy, geopolitical challenges in Europe (Russia–Ukraine) and East Asia (China), and their effects on businesses, employment, and ultimately, the financial markets. The surging dollar is also threatening a traditional source of demand for U.S.-denominated assets. Sovereign wealth funds and foreign pension funds have historically been big buyers of U.S. assets, both equities and bonds. But the bear market in both of these asset classes, coupled with a very strong dollar, has dampened foreign demand. Foreign countries now need to sell U.S. dollar-denominated assets to defend their currencies. This is another under-the-radar source of liquidity drying up. At almost $24 trillion, the U.S. Treasury bond market is huge. But if this market seizes up and freezes, the consequences could be wide ranging and hard to prepare for. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 53
“TikTok is a national security threat to the United States. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.” Geoffrey Cain, author of “The Perfect Police State”
THOUGHT LEADERS
The TikTok Trojan Horse and China’s Surveillance Dystopia
I
Social media app is a threat to US national security, says author of ‘The Perfect Police State’
t’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Geoffrey Cain says. “Because TikTok, although the company denies it, is fundamentally obligated to follow the laws of China—laws created by the Chinese Communist Party.” In a recent episode of EpochTV’s “American Thought Leaders,” host Jan Jekielek speaks with Cain,
an award-winning journalist, technologist, and author of “The Perfect Police State: An Undercover Odyssey Into China’s Terrifying Surveillance Dystopia of the Future.” Cain recently testified before the U.S. Senate about TikTok and why he believes the social media app’s troubled emergence in the United States, its shadowy corporate structure, and its connection to China’s
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security and data laws make it a unique national security threat. JAN JEKIELEK: Recently,
you were in the U.S. Senate giving testimony about social media and national security, specifically about TikTok. What did you find? GEOFFREY CAIN: TikTok
is a national security threat to the United States. It’s a disaster waiting to happen,
because TikTok, although the company denies it, is fundamentally obligated to follow the laws of China— laws created by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). TikTok is an app that’s popular among Generation Z users. It’s the next wave of social media where anyone can create a short clip of themselves dancing to music or showing their cat. You can load up celebrities and see what they’re up to.
Nation Profile
The app seems harmless, but beneath the surface, there’s a lot going on. It was created five or six years ago by ByteDance, a Chinese company based in Beijing. Then, there’s the Council on Foreign Investment in the United States [CFIUS]. It’s charged with reviewing foreign investments that might pose some kind of national security risk. CFIUS has reviewed investments in semiconductors, surveillance cameras, and military weaponry and components. Now, TikTok is essentially a data-scooping machine. It’s getting your face, your voice, your behavior, your movements. It’s learning about you. Like all social media platforms, these systems are extremely profitable because they use that data to sell ads to consumers. And yet, there wasn’t even a CFIUS review at the beginning. That should sound alarm bells. Why did TikTok decide not to do that review? It’s as if they sneaked into the market to place their software in the hands of the next generation.
FROM L: BAO QIU/THE EPOCH TIMES, SEAN GALLUP/GETTY IMAGES
MR . JEKIELEK: Doesn’t
that somehow create an opportunity to do a CFIUS review? MR . CAIN: In 2020, the
Trump administration initiated a CFIUS review. President Donald Trump wanted to get TikTok banned. TikTok challenged this review in court and challenged some of the decisions. For the past year, TikTok has been under a CFIUS review, but they’ve been very quiet about it. It’s not clear what’s going to happen. According to
An ad for social media company TikTok in Berlin on Sept. 21, 2020. TikTok, some kind of agreement with the U.S. government will ensure that data sharing with China won’t be possible. That’s their claim, but I don’t totally believe it. One of the problems is that the TikTok algorithm decides what you see, and in the past, TikTok executives have admitted the app has been used to suppress bad news coming out of China. In 2019, a leaked moderation guideline showed ByteDance instructing TikTok moderators, including in America, to look for material that might look bad. That included anything that shows poverty, slums, poor people, and so-called ugly people. The moderation guidelines said: “You need to suppress this kind of material. We only want to see beautiful people who are happy and nice and attractive.” This was used to suppress news about the Uyghurs and human rights abuses in China. MR . JEKIELEK: Let’s jump
to the data gathering and what that creates. Please give me the picture. MR . CAIN: Here’s the prob-
lem. The Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that it wants to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, and that AI is going to be a major pillar of Chinese military and surveillance power. Xi has made it clear he’s building a surveillance state that will know everything that’s going on within China, and potentially outside of China, too. This is where the TikTok and the ByteDance connection becomes problematic. The Chinese Communist Party will see TikTok fundamentally as a Chinese company and one that needs to report to the government. The National Intelligence Law of China and National Security Law require people in China to take part in intelligence operations upon request. It doesn’t matter if TikTok says, and this is how they always respond, “We’re an American company, we’re separate, we’re based all over the world, we’re not the same as the Chinese company ByteDance.” But they also admit they have employees in China and these employees, as we know, are subject to the
harsh realities of the Chinese Communist Party. And the evidence that keeps coming out contradicts what they say under oath in front of U.S. senators. There are audio files where you could hear people talking about how they had to go through Chinese executives and developers to figure out how the data of Americans was being observed and used. TikTok has come out full blast trying to deny this is the case, but the audio files are there. One other piece of evidence is in TikTok’s own privacy policy, which says, “We can share data with our corporate group.” TikTok was pressed about this in a previous congressional hearing. The senator asked them three times, “What is the definition of your corporate group? Does this include ByteDance in China?” After dodging the question repeatedly, TikTok finally admitted, “Yes, our corporate group includes ByteDance.” That means, according to their own policies, they might share their data with the Chinese arm. MR . JEKIELEK: In “The
Perfect Police State,” you had a guide tell you the three steps toward a perfect police state. Please explain those. MR . CAIN: When I was
writing the book, I found that many of the Uyghurs I was talking to, including my guide in Xinjiang, were not just awash in propaganda. They were informed about events around the world and were very sharp on what was going on around them. My guide told me there
E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 55
Nation Profile
The TikTok algorithm decides what you see, and executives have admitted that the app has been used to suppress bad news coming out of China. was a three-step process toward a police state, and that he had been observing it very carefully. The first step was this process of ensuring that technology, these social media apps, were in the hands of everybody and were then used to blast misinformation at users about supposed terrorism and how the communist party must react. The Chinese government exploited a sea change in technology to feed people misinformation and to spy on them.
the guard looking at them, so they can only guess if they’re being watched at any moment. It’s a very good system for controlling the prison population, because everybody is scared of being watched, and nobody wants to get in trouble. This is the system the Chinese Communist Party set up in western China back in 2016 and 2017. It was a digital panopticon in which everybody was
constantly being watched by an artificial intelligence system, which was called the IJOP or the Integrated Joint Operations Platform. This platform would gather data from smartphones. It would gather data from cameras. This region had cameras that covered almost every square inch. They would track everybody and try to create this sense of fear that the party is watching and you have to fall in line. You never knew if you were going to be the next target. MR . JEKIELEK: A former
U.S. senator told me that at one point he really believed we could change China and help it become a more democratic, a more fair and open system. Then he said, “But I actually think they changed us.” And I agree with that. MR . CAIN: The Chinese
system has changed us.
Ask any major corporate CEO of any major company operating in China: “What do you think about China’s human rights record? Do you condemn the genocide of the Uyghurs? What is your stance on Tibet, on Taiwan, on Falun Gong, and on all these different groups?” They typically respond that they’re not diplomats. They’ll often say, “We’re not human rights activists, we’re just here to do business.” What they’re admitting is that they just want the money. A lot of big corporations are turning us into something more like China with this vow of silence that we are not allowed to criticize China or raise the problem of human rights, that we must take a vow of silence in exchange for profit. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
MR . JEKIELEK: What are
the other two steps? MR . CAIN: The second step
A woman walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2020.
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THIS PAGE: GREG BAKER/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
was to create artificial categories, looking for ways to separate the population, to move the Uyghur population, for example, to different areas from the majority Han Chinese population. The third step was what my guide called the panopticon, a very old term. Imagine there’s a circular prison camp with a guard post in the center and there’s one guard in this post who can see all of the prisoners because it’s a giant circle around him. But the prisoners can’t see
SCAN TO WATCH NOW
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The Advice Act Like an Owner
Control Your Destiny
Ultimately, achieving success is up to you By Jeff Minick
D
uring a recent visit with my brother, a retired chemist, he shared some advice that his first supervisor gave him over
35 years ago. “I’d been there for a few months,” Doug said, “when the guy called me into his office one day and told me I should think of my job and my work in the lab as my own little store in a mall, that I could do whatever I wanted with it. I could grow it and make it successful, or I could just put in my time and let it languish. It was all up to me.” That supervisor’s advice seemed as excellent a suggestion as any I’d ever heard for someone beginning a new job. To make that arrangement work, of course, both parties must be on the same page regarding the mission of the organization. In the Army, the staff sergeant commanding a squad of two rifle teams and the lieutenant colonel who has charge of a battalion have very different duties, but the ultimate mission of both of these infantry units—to close with and destroy the enemy—is the same. A key factor in the success of any mission is trust. The foreman of a large factory must trust the know-how and competency of his subordinates, and they must trust his leadership abilities and decision-making. Once these elements are in place, then everyone involved in an enterprise really can become the manager 58 E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022
of a little store in a mall. Instead of just showing up for work and dragging themselves through the day, they have a shared stake in the enterprise and the freedom to perform the job to the best of their abilities.
Both parties must be on the same page regarding the mission of the organization. Years ago, when I worked for a large restaurant as a waiter, the owner conducted monthly meetings for the wait staff. Here, her agenda might include new items on the menu or a review of customer suggestions from the past month, but she always came back to the mission—to serve up good food with a cheerful attitude and make the meal a pleasant experience. How we chose to do those things was up to us. The reward for our hustle, manners, and smiles came when the customer left the table with a handsome tip on it. The reward for the owner came when those same customers returned to the restaurant. This arrangement brings success to a multitude of enterprises. Growing a company, for instance, usually means hiring employees who bring initiative and their own skill sets and talents to the workplace. Once they understand the mission and trust is established, good managers cut them loose to do
their jobs to the best of their abilities. Conversely, supervisors who micromanage the men and women in their charge can easily do much more damage than good. They may see the trees, but their real job is to see the forest, the big picture, and leave the details to their subordinates. By doing so, they allow creativity to come into play and enhance a sense of pride among the employees, which in turn breeds success. The benefits of this shared sense of mission and trust can be seen as well in other scenarios. Raising children strong in body, mind, and spirit, for example, is best accomplished when mom and dad are on the same page. Both parents may bring different highlights into the picture—dad stresses table manners while mom imbues the children with nursery rhymes and fairy tales at bedtime—but both have the same endpoint in mind, and the kids themselves possess a clear sense of the meaning of family. “Brighten the corner where we are”: Those words from the old Ella Fitzgerald song apply here. And my brother? He took his supervisor’s words to heart and made a whopping success of his little store in the mall. Jeff Minick lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. He is the author of two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust on Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning as I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.”
T R AV E L • F O O D • L U X U R Y L I V I N G
Unwind
Week 44
We've collected some suggestions to help you embrace the holiday season by making your home the most festive and inspiring in the neighborhood. LEONARD ZHUKOVSKY/SHUTTERSTOCK
Make Your Home Shine for the Holidays CHOOSING HOLIDAY GIFTS for family and friends can be a challenge, so we’ve curated a selection sure to delight him, her, the kids, and even the pets, too. 72
WHILE YOU DEFINITELY want to see the most famous sights in Rome, save time for lesser-known, eminently intriguing areas such as Trastevere and Via del Corso. 62
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BEING TRUSTWORTHY is a noble goal, and one that is simple to attain, but it requires significant effort and commitment to maintain. 65
INSIDE E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 59
A Hilltop
Sanctuary
Located in an area of Italy occupied since prehistoric times, this estate is a luxurious modern marvel By Phil Butler
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The infinity pool and adjacent sunbathing and alfresco dining areas create a resort-like atmosphere.
Lifestyle Real Estate
H
COURTESY OF SOTHEBY’S CONCIERGE AUCTIONS
igh on a hilltop in southern italy is a delightful masseria—Italian for substantial farmhouse—set in the center of a picturesque 8.4-acre estate offering 360-degree views of the marvelous surrounding countryside. From the terraces of the three-bedroom, three-bath, 2,615-squarefoot home, owners and guests enjoy spectacular views wherever they may gaze. Designed by Massimo Acito, the residence features exquisite marble floors, vaulted ceilings, French doors, and arched doorways. At the center of the welcoming living spaces, a practical chef’s kitchen is equipped with Philippe Starck and Grohe fixtures, a glass-top dining table, Lady Cucine cabinetry, and Siemens appliances. Outside, an infinity edge pool adjoins large south- and west-facing terraces with stone cloisters, numerous shaded pergola seating areas, and a summer kitchen with a bar and a stone pizza oven. The terraces are accented by manicured lawns, gardens, and olive trees, all overlooking breathtaking panoramas. Notable and practical features include a six-kilowatt solar power system, a rainwater storage system, and a garage.
The estate is located outside of the UNESCO city of Matera, the oldest in Europe, which was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2019. Set in the Basilicata region, this area is an archeologist’s dream, renowned for cave dwellings discovered near the Gravina River that indicate the countryside has been inhabited for approximately 9,000 years. Matera offers a plethora of opportunities for enthusiasts of fine food, history, and even movie trivia; parts of the James Bond film “No Time to Die” were filmed there, including a scene in which Bond dives off the town’s Roman-era bridge. After a 007-worthy, Michelin five-star meal in Matera, wineries, citrus and olive groves, and the world-class beaches of the Ionian coast are but a short drive away. The property is scheduled for auction in November via Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions in cooperation with Gemma Bruce of The Viewing, with bidding taking place via the firm’s digital marketplace. Phil Butler is a publisher, editor, author, and analyst who is a widely cited expert on subjects ranging from digital and social media to travel technology.
MASSERIA MIMOSA MATERA, ITALY $1,381,000 • 3 BEDROOMS • 3 BATHS • 2,615 SQUARE FEET • 8.4 ACRES KEY FEATURES • PRIVATE ESTATE • IDYLLIC LOCATION • PANORAMIC VIEWS • INFINITY POOL AGENT SOTHEBY’S CONCIERGE AUCTIONS OLGA PAPOUI PROJECT MANAGER FOR SOTHEBY’S CONCIERGE AUCTION OLGA.PAPOUI@ CASOTHEBYS.COM
(Above) French doors provide easy access to manicured lawns, well-designed terraces, and the pool/entertainment area. (Top Right) The very airy master bedroom exudes serenity, inspired by the flowing hillsides and fields that surround the property. (Right) An aerial view reveals the estate’s very private location, surrounded by olive and citrus groves. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 61
Hidden Roman
When visiting the legendary city, check out these underappreciated sights Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
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Travel Italy
Gems O By Tim Johnson
nce, this city was the capital of the greatest empire the world has ever known. The Romans built aqueducts to channel water for public baths, latrines, and fountains, plus an extensive network of more than 250,000 miles of highways radiating out from the capital. The Italian capital still maintains many monuments to those glory days. The Colosseum remains the largest amphitheater on earth. The ruins of the Roman Forum, once the city’s bustling center of trade and commerce, retains many of its pillars and archways. Later additions also delight, such as Michelangelo’s masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; the soaring dome of St. Peter’s Basilica; and Trevi Fountain, where visitors gather to toss a coin that promises their return. Collectively, these form the heart and soul of any tourist visit to Rome. But once you tire of the crowds and long lines, what’s next? On several visits here, I’ve made a few discoveries.
Try Trastevere
Go to the Gardens
900 churches and 700 private chapels.
ROME
Rome is built on the River Tiber and surrounded by seven hills.
Only 10 percent of ancient Rome has been excavated. Every year, tourists toss roughly $1.7 million in coins into Trevi Fountain.
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Its name meaning “beyond the Tiber,” this increasingly trendy neighborhood is separated from the rest of Rome by the Tiber River. Multicultural and populated by the working class for most of its history, its tiny, winding cobblestone lanes once marked this district’s poverty, as they were too narrow for fancy carriages. They’re now lined with cool little boutiques, the tables out front arrayed with niche items, such as funny hats, cool trinkets, and hand-woven blankets. Ivy climbs the walls while sidewalk trattorias serve up steaming pasta. Along the way, pop into the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, a church that dates back to the fourth century, to enjoy the Pietro Cavallini mosaics. Two other sites—the Renaissance-era Villa Farnesina and the baroque Galleria Corsini—sit across from one another. Both house masterpieces—the former, frescoes by Raphael, and the latter, works by Titian and Caravaggio. Take your pick of many patio restaurants serving up cool spritzes. A late afternoon break with this distinctive drink that combines Aperol, Prosecco, club soda, and an orange slice is a favorite late afternoon activity here.
Rome has roughly
While the city isn’t known for its green spaces, the Botanical Garden of Rome is just a short walk away. Rome is hectic and heated. These gardens are the perfect escape. On a recent visit, on a particularly steamy day, I was happy to find a bench and a little refreshment in the shade. E P O C H I N S I G H T Week 44, 2022 63
Outdoor dining options abound, for both formal meals and the popular late-afternoon aperitivo. An urban enclave covering about 30 acres, the garden’s lands once belonged to a 17th-century queen of Sweden. Explore the Japanese garden, Mediterranean garden, rose garden, and one of the richest collections of bamboo in Europe. Ducking into the greenhouses is also worthwhile. One contains more than 400 species of orchid; plus, there are bubbling fountains, meandering pathways, and a tent that flutters with butterflies. After my afternoon garden reverie, I walked among subterranean bones at the catacombs, popped into shops along the bustling Via del Corso, and enjoyed sweeping views from the rambling hilltop park around Villa Borghese. Along the way, I drank from the “nasoni”—literally, “big nose”—2,500 water fountains that channel cold water pouring from a curved metal spout protruding from the front.
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After days of fast meals on the fly, it was time for a really excellent sit-down meal. I drilled down, researching little hole-in-the-wall spots within walking distance of my hotel. One stood out: Trattoria della Stampa, located on a back lane. As I approached, I noticed that the restaurateurs had displayed the fresh vegetables and herbs they planned to use for that night’s dinner. A table presented boxes of spring onions, basil, cucumbers, and of course, tomatoes. Under a curved roof, chef Roberto Cavalli sliced meat and set tiramisu at a little prep station right in the middle of the restaurant. I dove into the food, a caprese salad with the freshest, creamiest buffalo mozzarella I’ve ever tasted, followed by simple, beautiful pastas, including cacio e pepe, carbonara, and amatriciana, three of Rome’s signature dishes. Then, a chat with the chef was in order. He joined me out in the lane. Turns out, he’s a former professional soccer player who turned to the kitchen after retiring, earning a Michelin star along the way. “I have two passions: football and food,” he told me. “I grew up in the kitchens of my grandmother and my mother.” While he was answering my questions, a Ferrari roared by, squeezing through the small passage at a far too fast pace, almost clipping our shins. We both laughed heartily at the near-miss, slapped each other’s backs, and then slipped back into the restaurant, the warmth and lovely aromas of the main course still lingering, dessert almost on the way. Tim Johnson is based in Toronto. He has visited 140 countries across all seven continents.
If You Go Fly: Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport is Italy’s busiest hub. Getting Around: While individual neighborhoods are easily explored on foot, hopping across the city is best done on the metro system. Buses are a good option. Stay: Hotel degli Artisti sits within walking distance of the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, and a metro station. Take Note: Trastevere’s relative remoteness means there are no nearby metro lines, and bus stops can be a few blocks’ walk.
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The Botanical Garden of Rome offers a verdant oasis in the middle of the bustling city.
Treat Yourself at Trattoria della Stampa
How to Inspire Confidence Trust must be earned, and once in place, lived up to every day
As we go through our daily lives, we are presented with many opportunities to be a loyal confidant or coworker. A reputation for being dependable, reliable, and worthy of trust must be diligently protected to keep it intact. By Bill Lindsey
Transparency: 4 Not Just for Ghosts
1 Guard Private Information Being indiscreet with something you saw, overheard, or were told and sharing that information with others in the hopes they’ll like you usually has the exact opposite result. This behavior warns those you share the information with, as well as those who asked you not to share it, that you’re someone who can’t be trusted. If someone tries to share gossip with you, make it clear you don’t want to hear it.
CSA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
2 Show Up on Time If you promise to pick up a coworker on the way to the office or attend a neighbor’s holiday party or meet a friend at the movie theater, be there on time. Being trustworthy means doing what you’ve agreed to do. Don’t assume the other person will understand if you break a promise. If you tell someone you’ll do something and then realize you can’t, tell them ASAP and hope they’re understanding.
Being honest about your goals and abilities with co-workers, supervisors, and for those still in school, teachers allows them to understand you better and will, perhaps, inspire them to offer suggestions or assistance. As an example, if you’re unclear about how to perform a task at work, let your boss know sooner rather than later so he or she can provide the clarification or additional information you need to complete the assignment.
3
Nothing but the Truth
Earning a reputation for being trustworthy starts in grade school when the teacher asks why you didn’t do your homework and continues as you grow—telling a parent that you broke a lamp while playing inside or explaining to a boss why an assignment isn’t complete yet. It may seem hard to be completely honest sometimes, but the truth has a way of coming out, so it’s better if you’re completely upfront.
5 Be a True Friend Discreetly letting a friend know he has a piece of lettuce stuck in his teeth, remembering the birthday of someone who may be far away and infrequently seen, or simply listening to a coworker’s frustrations— without interrupting, being judgmental, or inappropriately sharing what she said—all help you to build a reputation as a reliable, trustworthy person. So too does offering a sincere and timely apology for any misdeed you may have knowingly or otherwise committed.
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Make your neighborhood more pleasant by transforming your home for the holidays.
Holiday Spirit —
SHOW YOUR
—
By Bill Lindsey
Decorating your home inside and out for the holidays is a great family project.
Lifestyle Creating a Winter Wonderland
I
n the 1920s, there was no internet or neighborhood shopping centers, meaning that holiday decorations were crafted from easily obtained materials. Today, we can have everything delivered, but consider some DIY projects to add some winter wow to your home. The easy place to begin to create a winter wonderland is the front yard. There are two ways to approach this. One is to buy premade decorations, such as inflatable trees, snowmen, penguins, polar bears, Santa’s sleigh with all eight reindeer, the Grinch, or even a giant snow globe housing a snowman family. The other option is to make many or all the decorations yourself, which can be a great opportunity to get the whole family involved and maybe some neighbors, too. We’ll cover both, so you can develop a plan that works best for you.
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Let It Snow An easy first step is to supersize your home’s holiday curb appeal by adding six-foot-tall Styrofoam candy canes wrapped with red ribbon. But before you run to the craft store for supplies, keep reading to see what else you need to add to the shopping list. Snow is a must, but if it isn’t actually snowing, there are other ways to get the desired effect, such as pouring fake snow around the bases of your trees; you can buy bags of it at craft and home improvement stores. Another option is to drape “snow blankets” around the bases of trees or wherever else you want to add this effect. But to get snow that allows the kids—and you—to make snow angels and to make your display the hit of the neighborhood, consider Instant Snow. Invented about 25 years ago by a Japanese company that used it for indoor snowboard parks, it’s now available to consumers in various sizes, from two-pound bags that make 25 gallons of cold, slippery, long-lasting, and very realistic snow, up to 40-pound bags that allow you to create 540 gallons of winter fun. It’s as close to the real thing as you can get, even up to the freezing temperatures and
Snow is a must, but if it isn’t actually snowing, there are other ways to get the desired effect. slipperiness, so be cautious when walking on it and consider shoveling a path. It can even be used to create a falling snow effect. A classic winter wonderland musthave is a snowman. If fake snow isn’t an option because you live in the South or you’re up north but nature isn’t cooperating, add three foam balls to the craft store shopping list: one large, one medium, and one small. How large? That’s up to you to decide as you examine what’s available in the store, but to get the maximum “we love it!” effect, consider the largest you can find that will fit in your car for the drive home. YouTube has many how-to videos that show how to transform Styrofoam balls into snowmen.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas For even more “wows,” use a projector to add images of Santa to the exterior walls of the house and place a few laser projectors to create the illusion of falling snowflakes or red and white sparkles dancing on trees, shrubs, and the house itself. Don’t skimp on safety; use extension cords that are either new or in excellent condition, and be careful how you route the cords to avoid creating a potential tripping hazard. Add big red-and-sparkly white bows to trees, and drape lengths of garland along the top of fences. Hang oversized ornaments you can buy ready to use, or make them from more of the same large foam balls you used to create the snowman. Add a string or two of twinkle lights from trees, and consider hanging icicle-shaped lights along the roofline to quickly and easily transform the front porch. Add a wreath and sleigh bells to the front door to give it a “wintry” look and sound. Drape curtain lights on the inside of windows facing onto the front yard to create a warm, cozy
EASY HOLIDAY
ACCENTS
A handmade wreath, maybe with sleigh bells, gives the front door a festive appearance.
A stack of boxes wrapped like presents— or even better, real presents—delivers an effective holiday feel to the room.
Hang sparkling ornaments on mantles, on a wall on a tree branch, or display them in a large glass bowl.
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Lifestyle Creating a Winter Wonderland
LIFESTYLE
WINTER WONDERS
Add Holiday Cheer to Your Home
1 A well-decorated Christmas tree, whether real or artificial, sets a holiday tone in any room. feel. To top off the exterior design, stash a portable stereo behind a bush to provide a musical backdrop, or go all out and dress your family like Dickens carolers, performing a set every hour or so to delight the neighbors.
A Home for the Holidays
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It can’t be a winter wonderland without snow and, happily for those down South, there are many faux snow options available, ranging from “This won’t fool Santa” to “I need a snow shovel” accurate.
2 Buy or DIY? There are many ready-to-use displays available with everything from animated carolers to dancing penguins, but you can also create your wonderland with some help from local craft stores and YouTube channels.
3 Sound Advice Use a portable stereo to add a holiday music backdrop to exterior decorations. Be sure to protect it from any winter weather (snow, rain, etc).
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Inside, you can decorate with sights, sounds, and scents. Essential oils, scented candles, and an arrangement of Christmas tree branches set the tone, but keep the flammable branches far from any source of flame or high heat. Next, bring the snow inside. Make an indoor snowman and other decorations by mixing two cups of frozen baking soda (pre-freeze it) and about one cup of chilled water. Pour the chilled baking soda into a mixing bowl and add water until you get to a fluffy consistency that’s easy to mold into snowballs or even a small snowman. Other methods replace the water with shaving cream or hair conditioner, mixing it into the chilled baking soda to create fake snow that smells great. You can also drizzle this faux snow over pine cones for indoor decorations. Display vintage ornaments in a large glass bowl as a dining table centerpiece or on a sideboard. If your home is small, consider a small Christmas tree, set on a table for height, to attain the
traditional atmosphere without overwhelming the room with a real tree. If you have room for it, a large tree is a must; to avoid the issues of real trees that drop needles and aren’t always ideally symmetrical, consider an artificial tree that looks like it just arrived from the North Woods, perfectly frosted with faux snow, such as one made by King of Christmas. Hang white pompoms found at the craft store from the mantle or over doors to give the indoors the look of snow without the mess of melting water. Use tape to attach paper snowflakes from the craft store to windows. No fireplace to use to hang stockings? Use a thin tree branch temporarily mounted to the wall to hold them. If you have a fireplace but don’t use it as intended, decorate it with a huge array of candles of all shapes and sizes to create a warm, mesmerizing effect. Cover sofas with faux sheepskin throws and holiday-themed throw pillows, which are also found at the craft store. Use eucalyptus to create an indoor garland to decorate walls and doorframes, and drape twinkle lights in the shape of a Christmas tree to transform a plain, open wall. The holidays are about making great memories, so get the entire family involved—that’s the best luxury of all.
Make It Snow
Courageous Reporting
We believe that investigating and exposing the truth is the only way that we can remain safe and free
CROSSFIRE HURRICANE ON MAY 25, 2017, The Epoch Times published an article headlined “Despite Allegations, No Evidence of Trump–Russia Collusion Found.” The article detailed that—despite a media frenzy at the time—no actual evidence had been uncovered that President Donald Trump or anyone associated with his campaign had colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. OUR REPORTING was proven accurate with the conclusion of the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. NOT ONLY DID WE NOT BUY INTO the false narrative that Trump colluded with Russia, but we have also been a leader in reporting on the irregular and apparently politicized nature of the FBI’s investigation of the Trump campaign. During the past five years, we have published dozens of articles on the topic, many of them exclusive.
ELECTION INTEGRITY FOLLOWING THE 2020 ELECTION, The Epoch Times was at the forefront of investigating and reporting on the questions surrounding the integrity of the election. Through our fact-based and independent reporting, we were able to uncover multiple irregularities.
ORIGINS OF COVID-19 ON APRIL 15, 2020, The Epoch Times published its documentary “Tracking Down the Origin of Wuhan Coronavirus.” The film, which received over 100 million views, explored the origins of the virus, including the possibility of a lab leak. It presents scientific data and interviews with top scientists and national security experts. YEARS AFTER THE RELEASE of this groundbreaking documentary, the possibility of a lab leak is considered by government officials and experts as the most likely explanation for the virus's spread.
CHINA THREAT SINCE ITS INCEPTION in the year 2000, The Epoch Times has been at the forefront of reporting on the infiltration of the United States by the Chinese Communist Party. Numerous times over the years, we've broken major China-related stories ahead of other news organizations. In 2003, The Epoch Times was the first media outlet to systematically and continuously report on the spread of SARS, well ahead of most other Western media. We were also the first to report on state-sponsored forced organ harvesting in China—one of the most underreported atrocities of our time—in
which prisoners of conscience are killed for their organs, which are then sold for profit on a large scale. THE EPOCH TIMES also published the editorial series “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,” revealing the true nature and history of the Communist Party and inspiring a movement that so far has seen more than 400 million Chinese people quit the Party and its affiliated organizations. Another of our series, “How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World,” systematically exposes the evil nature of communism, as well as the harm it has brought and continues to inflict on the United States and the world.
Epoch Booklist RECOMMENDED READING FICTION
‘Abominable’
By Dan Simmons
Thrills at Everest’s Peak Great stories need three things: a solid plot, memorable characters, and an engrossing setting. Simmons brings all three together in his novel about an attempt to summit Mount Everest while also trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of several climbers. LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY, 2013, 672 PAGES
‘Hawaii’
By James Michener
A Grand Tour of the Aloha State Your bank account may not allow for a vacation to the islands, but “Hawaii” is the next best thing. This thick novel is Michener’s first work to bring places and their people to life through fiction. We start with volcanoes forming the islands, then move hundreds of years through
This week, we feature novels ranging in locale from Hawaii to Mt. Everest and a revelatory history of the Third Reich’s abuse of pharmaceuticals.
history: the arrival of the Polynesians, then the Europeans and missionaries, and the Chinese, as well as the making of modern Hawaii. This heavily researched piece of historical fiction offers a grand respite from the blast of winter. DIAL PRESS REPRINT EDITION, 2002, 937 PAGES
HISTORY
‘Blitzed'
By Norman Ohler
High Times in Nazi Germany This revelatory book shows that the Third Reich was founded on drug abuse, ran on methamphetamines, and was led by an addict. Nazi armed forces systematically abused the methamphetamine Pervitin, allowing armored columns in Poland and France to keep moving and stay awake for days. Hitler’s doctor doped the leader with feelgood opioids and cocaine, warping his judgment. Eventually, Pervitin abuse burned out Germany’s armies, and Nazi leadership became too addled to realistically run the war. MARINER BOOKS REPRINT EDITION, 2018, 304 PAGES
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Are there books you’d recommend? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know at features@epochtimes.com
BIOGRAPHY
‘Astrid Lindgren'
By Jens Andersen
An Influential Children’s Book Author Anyone older than 50 probably read “Pippi Longstocking” as a child. In the 1950s and 1960s, virtually every child read it. This biography tells the life of “Pippi’s” Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren. The anti-authoritarian themes of her children’s book series were a swipe at Nazi Germany. Andersen reveals Lindgren as multidimensional, examining her forays into politics (as a tax-cutting reformer) and pacifist. His revelations of Lindgren’s life will surprise readers. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2018, 360 PAGES
NONFICTION
‘Medicare for All, Really?!’
By Rich Yurkowitz
How to Handle Health Care Costs Are health care costs in the United States
too high? Is Medicare for All the answer? Assembling facts and figures on where health care is today and where it’s headed, Yurkowitz, a health care actuary by profession, shares his knowledge and offers insights into these complex questions. He argues that the government shouldn’t get involved. AMPLIFY PUBLISHING, 2022, 352 PAGES
CLASSICS
‘The Rule of St. Benedict'
FOR KIDS
‘This Quiet Lady’
By Charlotte Zolotow
A Sweet MotherDaughter Story A little girl learns her mother’s story by looking through photographs of her from when she was a child until she became a mother. A lovely book for children, it may spark talk of Mom’s own past. Illustrated by Anita Lobel. This book is for ages 4 to 8. GREENWILLOW BOOKS, 2000, 24 PAGES
Edited by Timothy Fry
A Manual for an Ordered Life Sixth-century Europe was a place of warring kings and tribes. Into this chaos came Benedict of Nursia, a founder of monasteries, but even more importantly, the author of “The Rule of St. Benedict.” This code served other monastic orders, giving Benedict the title of Father of Western Monasticism. The rule became one of the foundation stones of European culture. Although it was designed for the monastic life, many Christians have relied on this guide to order their own lives. VINTAGE, 1998, 112 PAGES
‘Miss Rumphius’
By Barbara Cooney
Making the World More Beautiful This lovely tale of a woman who sets out to make the world a more beautiful place by planting lupine seeds everywhere she goes is both inspiring and heartwarming. She leaves a beautiful legacy for generations to come. This is a classic. PUFFIN BOOKS, 1985, 32 PAGES
Ian Kane is a U.S. Army veteran, filmmaker, and author. He enjoys the great outdoors and volunteering.
MOVIE REVIEWS
Epoch Watchlist
This week, we feature a heartwarming family favorite about a collie and her journey home and an inspiring drama about football and family.
NEW RELEASE
FAMILY PICK
‘The Blind Side’ (2009)
‘On the Line’ (2022)
THRILLER
Elvis Cooney (Mel Gibson), the popular host of an overnight radio show, is just settling into his nightly routine of taking phone calls when a mysterious man calls in and claims he’s at Cooney’s house. The man has kidnapped Cooney’s family and proceeds to force the radio host to play a deadly game in order to save them. This thriller begins with a slow burn and steadily ratchets up the tension as the game of cat-and-mouse escalates. It’s an entertaining movie filled with lots of suspenseful scenes, anchored by Gibson’s usual gravitas.
Release Date: Nov. 4, 2022 Director: Romuald Boulanger Starring: Mel Gibson, William Moseley, Kevin Dillon Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes MPAA Rating: R Where to Watch: Theaters
film was a big hit back in the 1940s and still strikes a resonant chord with animal lovers the world over. ADVENTURE | DRAMA | FAMILY
The Carraclough family is going through some hard financial times in England, so they sell their beloved collie,
Lassie, to a Scottish nobleman. Although transported to Scotland, Lassie manages to escape and embarks on the long, difficult journey home. This heartwarming
without being too sentimental. Parents should note that this film is not suitable for young children. BIOGRAPHY | DRAMA | SPORT
Release Date: Nov. 20, 2009 Directors: John Lee Hancock Starring: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw Running Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Where to Watch: HBO Max, DirecTV, Redbox
PITTED AGAINST A CATACLYSM
‘Earthquake’ (1974)
A BELOVED FAMILY ADVENTURE
‘Lassie Come Home’ (1943)
Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is a black teen who wanders the streets of Memphis, Tennessee. But his fortunes begin to change when someone helps him enroll in a Christian high school. Eventually, this leads to Oher being adopted by Leigh Anne Tuohy’s (Sandra Bullock) family and on his way to potentially playing professional football. This is a very moving and inspiring film that emphasizes the importance of family and good values,
Release Date: Oct. 7, 1943 Director: Fred M. Wilcox Starring: Roddy McDowall, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Taylor Running Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes Not Rated Where to Watch: DirecTV, Amazon, Vudu
Multiple storylines emerge, such as the challenging relationship between architect Stewart Graff (Charlton Heston) and his wife, Remy (Ava Gardner). Then, an earthquake of extreme magnitude hits Los Angeles with catastrophic results, and all fight to survive. In contrast to modern films that rely too much on computer effects, this film (and other epic disaster films of the 1970s) used highly creative effects. It
features dramatic situations, good pacing, and an allstar cast in multiple small roles. ACTION | DR AMA | THRILLER
Release Date: Nov. 15, 1974 Director: Mark Robson Starring: Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Where to Watch: DirecTV, Vudu, Apple TV
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Unwind Holiday Gift Guide
2022 Holiday Gift Guide:
Gifts to Delight Everyone on Your List By Bill Lindsey
FOR HIM
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1. A TOOL KIT FOR MR . FIX IT Our grandfathers carried pocketknives that they used every day, but this one goes far beyond slicing apples; he’ll be able to open bottles and cans at home or while camping. Plus, he can strip wire and loosen or tighten screws. The black G-10 scales ensure a tight grip, and the two-position pocket clip keeps it handy.
2. CLASSIC FASTENERS Inspired by the design of the iconic Cartier tank watch and crafted of sterling silver with a black lacquer accent, these cufflinks will keep shirt cuffs neatly fastened. The perfect accessory for a tuxedo, they’re equally well-suited to casual and office attire. His shirts with French cuffs will look amazing with this set.
Spyderco C208G ClipiTool Standard $100 Spyderco.com
Santos de Cartier Cufflinks $690 Cartier.com
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3. POP WITH PANACHE Sabering a champagne bottle is said to have been invented by Napoleon’s men to celebrate a military victory, and there are few things as impressive. With this saber, your guy can open champagne or sparkling wine with ease and style. Give him lots of room and enjoy. Made In Champagne Saber $199 MadeInCookware.com
4. BRING EVERYTHING Every guy needs a traditional duffel bag; this one combines plenty of room for clothes and personal items, and it fits in the airliner overhead compartment with room to spare. Premium brass hardware and zippers ensure many years of use, and the full-grain leather gets better looking with age. Kodiak Yukon 30L Weekender Duffel $399 KodiakLeather.com
FOR HER
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5. A PERFECT PEARL AND DIAMOND PENDANT She’ll be delighted when she sees her name on the unmistakable Tiffany blue box placed under the tree. She’ll be even happier to find this gorgeous 16-inch chain displaying a shimmering Akoya cultured pearl in a setting accented by a round, brilliant, 0.05-carat diamond.
6. TO THE MOON AND BA cK If you promised her the moon and the stars, this is a great start. The extremely realistically textured 3D moon floats slowly and magically above the walnut base, rotating attractively. Three lighting modes— soft, warm, and bright—help set the mood. We’ll help you give her the stars next year.
Tiffany Signature Pearls Pendant $900 Tiffany.com
Gingko Smart Moon Lamp $199 BespokePost.com
7. A WINE LOVER'S TOOLKIT For true wine connoisseurs, the act of presenting and preparing the bottle to be served is almost as important as the drinking of the wine itself. This collection of precision tools allows her to do it right when entertaining her friends—from the foil cutter to the pouring leaf. L’Atelier du Vin Oeno Collection 2 $240 VicesReserve.com
8. MAKE IT R AIN One of the best things about spas is their rainforest-type showers, so she’ll delight in using this every time she showers. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving, with extra-wide coverage, multiple spray settings that adjust from a mist to a muscle-soothing stream, and Bluetooth notifications when the water reaches her desired temperature. Hai Citron Smart Showerhead $249 GetHai.com
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Unwind Holiday Gift Guide
FOR THE FAMILY
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1. GET OUT OF JAIL FREE! Well before there was the internet, this classic game provided hours of rollicking entertainment for millions of families. Set in a burled wood cabinet with a faux leather rolling area with gold foil accents, this set revives the tradition of game night while teaching the basics of economics in a low-key manner.
3. FOOT-POWERED FUN A pedal-powered car is a toy that the kids will enjoy for years, zooming around the driveway. Since there’s no battery to wear out, they can drive it whenever they want and as far as they want, getting fresh air and healthy exercise. It’s built to last so your children’s children will be able to use it, too.
5. CUSTOM FOOD/WATER BOWL Your dog will enjoy meals or water even more when served in a handmade, personalized bowl. Individually crafted by skilled artisans, bowls are available in black or white in small size (5 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches) with up to five characters or medium size (seven inches by seven inches) with room for up to eight characters.
Monopoly Luxury Edition $299 WSGameCompany.com
Baghera Classic Pedal Car $320 Dillards.com
Otto Pet Dish $108 to $125 StyleUnionHome.com
2. COOK LIKE BETH DUTTON If John Wayne were still around, he would be a fan of the “Yellowstone” TV series, which has partnered with Lodge cast iron cookware to create the perfect gift for chefs. The 12-inch skillet is emblazoned with a steer and “Dutton Ranch,” while the 10 1/2-inch skillet features the Dutton Ranch brand.
4. THE NEXT MOZART Playing music is a great way for kids to spend quality time away from the internet, and it’s said to be a wonderful mental exercise as well. This compact, 30-key, high-quality instrument lets children spend many happy hours playing their favorite songs and composing their own masterpieces.
6. WARM KITTY, SOFT KITTY Cats naturally gravitate to warm places to nap, so they’ll love this cozy bed that automatically heats to their temperature when in use. The cover can be removed for washing, and the heater comes out for warm-weather use. It’s available in a 16-inch or 20inch diameter and in mocha or sage colors.
Lodge Yellowstone Skillet $29.95 to $36.95 LodgeCastIron.com
Hape Grand Piano $190 FAOSchwarz.com
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K&H Thermo-Kitty Heated Cat Bed $84.99 to $103.99 KHPet.com
SPYDERCO, MADE-IN, KODIAK LEATHER, CARTIER, TIFFANY, GINKO, L’ ATELIER DU VIN OENO, HAI, WS GAME COMPANY, LODGE CAST IRON, DILLARD’S, FAO SCHWARZ, STYLE UNION HOME, K&H
FOR PETS
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