Top Three Takeaways – June 29th, 2021

Top Three Takeaways – June 29th, 2021

1. Another Day, another unconstitutional act by the CDC. In fairness this is just the latest extension and most recent example of the blatant abuse of power by the Centers for Disease Control. And it’s all in this AP headline: CDC extends eviction moratorium a month, says it’s last time. On back of Florida’s win against the unconstitutional “no sail” order holding the cruise industry hostage – we continue to have them hold the rental market hostage. Now that our eyes are fully open to the extent of abuses by government agencies over our rights during the pandemic the headline of that story should truly sound absurd. Let alone the fact that’s it’s happening. An unelected body of scientists in Atlanta get to determine when tenants don’t have to pay their landlords? Seriously, that’s bat crap crazy nonsense you’d expect out of some health agency in a third-world dictatorship. Instead, it’s been, and it remains our reality. When the CDC’s abuse of power was struck down, I mentioned the CDC was regularly still engaged unconstitutional activity and it’s clear that the agency under Rochelle Walensky didn’t think twice about the unconstitutional use of edicts after their smackdown on the cruise industry. It appears unless Florida stands ready to sue around each unconstitutional edict, they’re inclined to keep them coming. But how kind to only do this moratorium for one more time. The number one lesson from this pandemic must be never again. As in never again should we ever cede our rights, freedoms and businesses to power hungry politicians in the name of a virus or whatever they decide is an emergency. Let alone scientists in labs in Atlanta. In the grand scheme of pandemic absurdity, that’s as absurd as it gets. 
2. Missing the point? Speaking of the CDC, back at the day job...they recently produced a study on the staggering rise in suicides and attempted suicides in adolescents, especially females where attempted suicides have spiked 51% year over year. The shocking increase is no doubt a byproduct of the pandemic as the CDC suggests but are they and those who continue to unpack this study missing the bigger point? According to the CDC: Suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach that is adapted during times of infrastructure disruption, involves multisectoral partnerships and implements evidence-based strategies to address the range of factors influencing suicide risk. But is it really so complicated or has it become that complicated because we’ve removed the most important factor from the conversation and from the lives of these girls? Faith. In September of 2018, Harvard completed a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology which showed the following: By the age of 20 those raised with religious practices average being 18% happier, 30% more likely to help others and 33% less likely to engage in substance abuse. Even more notably, having faith in one’s life in any capacity provided benefit, the more involved with one’s faith one was, the greater the benefit, with those who prayed daily faring the best overall. Naturally suicide rates were far lower for those with faith as well. In early December, I referenced this as we saw suicide rates spiking. It’s little surprise that at a time when the average child in our society was the most removed from faith, including commonly the ability to attend religious services, suicide rates spiked. Sure, the CDC can make it complicated, but Harvard’s previous research made it rather clear. The closer to God one is, especially early in one’s life, the less likely they are to commit suicide with the inverse also being true. It remains true and painfully obvious that the further removed from God our society becomes, the worse the outcomes will be. It’s my hope that one day people come back to what’s most important. It would fix a lot of what ails our society. Speaking of matters of faith...
3. Keep it & continue to use it to pray for Surfside. More details emerged Monday suggesting that as recently as April 9th the Champlain Towers South association president warned that concrete deterioration had accelerated, and repairs were needed.