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pompano fish ELON MUSK HAS been accused of censoring far-right accounts that have differing views on immigration to him. The owner of X, formerly Twitter, is in the midst of a row online centred around the United States’ H1-B visas that allow companies to bring foreigners with specific qualifications into the country. The permits are widely used in Silicon Valley, and Musk – who himself came to the United States from South Africa on an H1-B – is a fervent advocate. It’s a major rift among incoming US President Donald Trump’s hardcore backers. It started when Trump named venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as his adviser on artificial intelligence, triggering a racially charged backlash that brought up Krishnan’s past for green cards for skilled workers. Musk, who bankrolled Trump’s campaign for a second term in office, said bringing in engineering talent from abroad was “essential for America to keep winning”. Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by Trump as Musk’s co-chair on a new advisory board on government efficiency, suggested that companies prefer foreign workers because they lack an “American culture,” which he said venerates mediocrity. “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he posted, warning that, without a change in attitude, “we’ll have our asses handed to us by China.” This view has unsurprisingly sparked backlash among some fervent anti-immigration Republicans – a stance embedded in Trump’s presidential campaign. Last night, Musk called some anti-immigration Republicans , adding they were “hateful, unrepentant racists” who would “absolutely be the downfall of the Republican Party if they are not removed”. At least 14 conservative accounts who criticised Musk’s pro-legal immigration views said X revoked their blue tick, a verification badge given to premium account holders, according to Sky News’ US partner NBC News. When Musk bought the site in 2022, so began a marked change in how it operated and the type of views that were promoted. He described it as a policy of “freedom of speech” but not “freedom of reach”, meaning negative posts wouldn’t be banned but would be less likely to appear on feeds. He also said this policy would apply to individual tweets and not entire accounts. Some users say that when they click into posts marked as spam, they are not spam at all, but regular posts. Skepticism over the benefits of immigration is a hallmark of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement and Musk and his peer’s remarks angered some supporters who accused them of ignoring US achievements in technological innovation. In what appears to be a pointed post, incoming White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller in which Trump marveled at the American “culture” that had “harnessed electricity, split the atom, and gave the world the telephone and the Internet.” It should be noted, however, that it was Englishman Michael Faraday who discovered that an electric current could be produced by passing a magnet through a copper wire and Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealander, who first split the atom. Alexander Graham Bell was a British subject in Canada when he invented the telephone. Trump voiced opposition to H1-B visas during his successful first run for the White House in 2016, calling them “unfair for our workers” while acknowledging that he used foreign labor in his own businesses. He placed restrictions on the system when he took office, but the curbs were lifted by President Joe Biden.

Army of SOYA volunteers ensures everybody gets a ChristmasWhy education needs reform

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.A new Grenadian revolution has begun!'Something for everyone': Two sisters open Ren & Co. home decor boutique on north side of North Platte

The Minnesota Vikings have 13 wins this season and yet the performance is not enough. The biggest regular season matchup in years is scheduled for Sunday against the Green Bay Packers . A win puts them in play for the NFC’s top seed during Week 18. Thankfully they go into the contest with a clean bill of health. The Demon returns for Minnesota Vikings Brian Flores ’ defense has been without Ivan Pace Jr. since Week 12 against the Chicago Bears . He was placed on injured reserve and just had his practice window opened this week . After logging a week’s worth of full practices, he has been activated for Sunday’s matchup. The #Vikings have activated LB Ivan Pace Jr. from IR. He will enter tomorrow without a game designation. LB Jamin Davis has been waived. pic.twitter.com/CEwqtm4Y9p Last season, as an undrafted rookie, Ivan Pace Jr. quarterbacked the Vikings defense wearing the green dot. This year he has ceded those responsibilities to Blake Cashman, but remains as important as ever. In nine games, Pace Jr. has a career-best three sacks. He has recorded 59 tackles and has hit the opposing quarterback six times. His six tackles for loss are four more than he recorded last season in 17 games, and he took a fumble recovery to the house. Ivan Pace Jr. starts in the B gap and makes the tackle on the screen. He beat Andrew Thomas, who had a head start on him by alignment, to the spot to make the play. pic.twitter.com/1kQXdjV7hq The return of Pace Jr. is a significant boost for the Vikings defense. He missed the first game against Green Bay this year and is locked in to help Cashman slow Josh Jacobs on Sunday. Minnesota’s rush defense showed up against Seattle and will need to do so again on Sunday. With Pace Jr. elevated to the active roster, Minnesota waived Jamin Davis. The former 19th overall pick played in four games for Minnesota. He recorded a single sack despite logging just 21 total defensive snaps. Minnesota couldn’t be healthier going into the game against Green Bay. Veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau is the only player ruled out. He had been inactive often until Stephon Gilmore missed time with an injury . This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.Punjab presents slew of demands to boost infra at pre-budget meeting with Sitharaman

BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) has long been praised for its ability to extinguish fires swiftly, thanks to the inclusion of PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid). Despite its effectiveness, the presence of PFOS has raised serious concerns about environmental pollution and potential risks to public health – according to a new article by China News Network. In an effort to address these issues, the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO) of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in partnership with the World Bank and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has launched the "Reduction and Phase-Out of PFOS in Priority Sectors Project in China." This program aims to develop and implement safer, more sustainable alternatives for firefighting across the country. Beyond simply improving fire suppression technology, the initiative is designed to protect ecosystems, safeguard public health, and foster a greener future for generations to come. Through innovative research and collaborative action, China is making significant strides in managing and ultimately eliminating the use of PFOS in firefighting foam. PR Contact Name: Wen Tianxia Email: guojixinwenbu@chinanews.com.cn Phone Number: +86(010)68315046 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65c26b6b-0ff4-4f12-9794-882d1f71bdb6 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Swift's daily impact on Vancouver may have exceeded 2010 games, says industry figure VANCOUVER — Taylor Swift's three-night run at BC Place, closing out the pop star's global Eras Tour, generated daily economic impact for Vancouver that could rival the 2010 Olympics and smashed data streaming records, industry figures say. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press Dec 9, 2024 3:07 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour concert, in Vancouver on December 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER — Taylor Swift's three-night run at BC Place, closing out the pop star's global Eras Tour, generated daily economic impact for Vancouver that could rival the 2010 Olympics and smashed data streaming records, industry figures say. The CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association, Ian Tostenson, said the shows that ended Sunday had an effect that went far beyond other concert or sporting events in the city. Tostenson said Monday that his group estimates there was a $25 million boost for Metro Vancouver’s establishments for each of the three show days. In comparison, a sold-out, highly anticipated Vancouver Canucks playoff game brings an estimated $3 million a day in economic impact, Tostenson said. “In the context of comparing to anything else, it’s not even believable almost — it’s such a huge impact,” Tostenson said. “I was out a little bit on Friday and Saturday, and every place I went to was absolutely lined up and packed.” Tostenson said the concerts rivalled the Olympics in drawing fans from regions far beyond what a typical playoff hockey game would, and while it is difficult to compare the 2010 Winter Games to the Taylor Swift weekend, the events were in the same magnitude in daily impact on restaurants. “The financial impact of the Olympics was massive, (but) it was spread out over a couple weeks in different venues and stuff,” he said. “So, you didn't sort of feel this concentration that you saw with Taylor Swift.” Tostenson also said Swifties bumped up business across Metro Vancouver all weekend, with one major restaurant owner with multiple locations reporting full capacity not just at its downtown location but also in North Vancouver and Olympic Village. He credits the festive mood brought by fans that had an emotional effect on people in general, which in turn has a major impact on restaurants, an industry built largely on discretionary spending. People consume more when the mood is right, he said. “From a financial point of view, the Olympics probably had a bigger impact,” Tostenson said. “But ... I'm going to venture to estimate that this, on a daily basis compared to the Olympics, was stronger.” Telecommunications giant Rogers said data used during the last show was enough to stream Swift's entire music catalogue 9,450 times. It said in a statement that fans on the company's network set a Canadian record when they used more than 11 terabytes of mobile data in just a few hours at BC Place. The company's chief technology officer Mark Kennedy said Monday that is the equivalent of uploading 307,000 photos and 2,180 hours of video streaming. The previous record was set Nov. 21, when fans at Swift's concert in Toronto used 7.4 terabytes of data on the Rogers network. Music industry publication Pollstar also said Monday that Swift's 149-show worldwide tour brought in revenue of US$2.2 billion in its 20-month run. Vancouver Police thanked residents and visitors for a "safe and memorable weekend." Const. Tania Visintin said in a social media post that police spent months preparing for the shows. "We've had so much fun meeting people of all ages from all around the world, trading friendship bracelets and showing what a great city it can really be when we all look out for one another," she said. Thirteen Swift-themed lighting installations were set up at locations around the city to celebrate the singer's arrival. Suzanne Walters, a spokeswoman for Destination Vancouver, said most of the lit-up letters will be coming down over the next few days, but the “Swiftcouver” display downtown will stay until Dec. 13 — Swift’s birthday. Walters said the letters will be reused for holiday displays over the month of December and then be part of a pool of rentable supplies. Swift told the 60,000 fans in BC Place at Sunday's show that they were part of a tour seen by 10 million people, and that it was the most thrilling chapter of her life to date. She said the legacy of the tour will be "a space of joy and togetherness and love" that the fans have created. Swiftie Alaina Robertson echoed Swift's sentiments after the show, saying she shed lots of tears watching the "once in a lifetime" spectacle. Robertson — who travelled from Camas, Wash., for the show and wore a "Reputation" inspired outfit along with a temporary silver bedazzled snake tattoo — said she doesn't think any other concert will be able to compare. "It's going to be hard to beat," she said of the show. "She's changing the world of music. She's changing entertainment entirely, and to be at the tour with the crowd here, getting to do the friendship bracelets, getting to get dressed up — it's just love and joy and friendship, and it's been really magical to be a part of it." Fan accounts on social media platform X have posted photos showing a number of television and music stars at BC Place Sunday night, including actors Jenna Fischer, Aubrey Plaza and Jesse Tyler Ferguson as well as Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. — With files from Ashley Joannou, Brieanna Charlebois and The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More Entertainment News 10 new TV shows from 2024 that are worth watching before the new year Dec 9, 2024 3:14 PM 'Looking for the Weinstein of Quebec': impresario Gilbert Rozon's civil trial begins Dec 9, 2024 2:58 PM Jay-Z says lawsuit accusing him of raping a child at awards after-party is part of an extortion ploy Dec 9, 2024 2:38 PM Featured FlyerTuesday, December 10, 2024 Amidst ongoing innovations, shifting consumer preferences, and global challenges, the meetings and events sector is rapidly transforming. Catherine Chaulet, President and CEO of Global DMC Partners, oversees the world’s largest network of independent Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and specialized event service providers. From her vantage point, Chaulet has pinpointed ten critical trends that event professionals should be aware of as we approach 2025. “Overall, the MICE industry is embracing a future that values intentionality, resilience, and sustainability while balancing the transformative potential of technology with the irreplaceable power of human connection,” stated Chaulet . “As planners navigate these trends, the focus will remain on creating meaningful, forward-thinking events.” Planners are Choosing Increasingly Varied Destinations Event planners are venturing beyond traditional locales in search of novel and underexplored destinations, with a growing interest in secondary and exotic places across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Additionally, overtourism is prompting destinations to highlight less frequented areas. Portugal, for instance, is promoting regions outside of Lisbon, presenting MICE groups with unique opportunities to discover lesser-known areas, thus alleviating pressure on more frequented cities and aligning with sustainability initiatives. Constraints in the Supply Chain Influence Costs and Availability Challenges in the supply chain, from shortages in airline parts to notable bankruptcies like Spirit Airlines’, are not likely to lead to lower prices as demand still exceeds supply. The need to reroute flights around conflict areas also affects both logistics and costs. As a response, many planners are choosing 4-star hotels over 5-star ones, focusing more on the quality of the destination experiences rather than luxurious accommodations. This shift helps in budget optimization while still providing quality stay experiences that fulfill attendee expectations. Geopolitical Uncertainty Affects Event Planning With ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic instability, event planners are adopting flexible, last-minute planning strategies to avoid potential cancellations. Seasonal Flexibility Increases Regions traditionally off-limits during certain seasons are now considered all-year-round destinations. For instance, the milder weather in Boston during early spring reduces risks associated with event planning, helping planners avoid high season rates while offering attractive settings. Sustainability Gains Importance Sustainability is becoming a crucial aspect of MICE events, driving efforts to minimize waste, utilize local produce, and deliver experiences that benefit local communities and economies. These sustainable practices are not just beneficial for the environment but also enhance cultural appreciation and support economic growth. Personalization Through AI Enhances Experiences Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing event planning, from personalized agendas to innovative engagement strategies. In 2025, there will be a significant focus on using AI to enhance event experiences while maintaining the human element essential to the industry. The Value of In-Person Meetings Despite technological advancements, the inherent value of in-person interactions remains a pillar of the MICE industry. The necessity for direct contact is particularly recognized in fostering relationships, creativity, and innovation, although the pharmaceutical sector continues to favor virtual meetings due to their often urgent nature. Addressing the Needs of a Diverse Audience Event planners are increasingly accommodating a diverse and multigenerational audience by integrating various meeting aspects like adjustable seating, downtime, and accessible options including closed captioning. Advancing Beyond Basic Wellness Wellness at events is evolving from traditional relaxation activities to include high-performance living programs inspired by athlete recovery techniques, offering advanced diagnostics and specialized recovery plans that enhance both physical and mental well-being. The Evolution of Event Fashion The trend towards comfort in event attire continues, with attendees opting for stylish yet comfortable outfits like custom-designed, fashionable sneakers, moving away from traditional business wear and expressing individuality and company identity through their clothing choices. “As the meetings and events industry faces unprecedented complexities, DMCs have become indispensable partners for planners navigating the road ahead,” shared Chaulet . “From managing geopolitical risks to uncovering secondary destinations and crafting bespoke, sustainable experiences, DMCs bring local expertise, creative solutions, and logistical precision to every event. In 2025, planners should lean on DMCs to ensure seamless execution, unlock hidden gems, and deliver experiences that resonate deeply with attendees while respecting the unique challenges of each destination.”

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned by a trade union not to impose “blunt headcount targets” for the size of the Civil Service but Government sources insisted there would be no set limit, although the number “cannot keep growing”. Departments have been ordered to find 5% “efficiency savings” as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, potentially putting jobs at risk. The size of the Civil Service has increased from a low of around 384,000 in mid-2016, and the Tories went into the general election promising to reduce numbers by 70,000 to fund extra defence spending. Any reduction under Labour would be more modest, with the Guardian reporting more than 10,000 jobs could be lost. A Government spokesman said: “Under our plan for change, we are making sure every part of government is delivering on working people’s priorities — delivering growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, rebuilding Britain and securing our borders in a decade of national renewal. “We are committed to making the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness new technologies.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union said: “We need a clear plan for the future of the civil service that goes beyond the blunt headcount targets that have failed in the past. “This plan needs to be developed in partnership with civil servants and their unions, and we look forward to deeper engagement with the government in the coming months.” A Government source said: “The number of civil servants cannot keep growing. “But we will not set an arbitrary cap. “The last government tried that and ended up spending loads on more expensive consultants.” The Government is already risking a confrontation with unions over proposals to limit pay rises for more than a million public servants to 2.8%, a figure only just over the projected 2.6% rate of inflation next year. Unions representing teachers, doctors and nurses have condemned the proposals. In the face of the union backlash, Downing Street said the public sector must improve productivity to justify real-terms pay increases. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s vital that pay awards are fair for both taxpayers and workers.” Asked whether higher pay settlements to staff would mean departmental cuts elsewhere, the spokesman said: “Real-terms pay increases must be matched by productivity gains and departments will only be able to fund pay awards above inflation over the medium-term if they become more productive and workforces become more productive.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises. “And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings. “The Government must now engage unions and the millions of public sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.”

iOS 18.2.1: Apple’s Next iPhone Update Is Coming! Which iPhones Will SupportBoxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.

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Darren415 I have followed Innovative Industrial Properties ( NYSE: IIPR ) closely since it went public, but I have never written about it at Seeking Alpha. There have been a lot of bullish articles on IIPR, but I have not been interested. With the big 420 Investor launched in 2013, just ahead of Colorado legalizing for adult-use. We have moved the service to Seeking Alpha. Historically, we have provided great coverage of the sector with model portfolios, videos and written material to help investors learn about cannabis stocks, and we are excited to be doing it here! Alan Brochstein, CFA, is one of the first investment professionals to focus exclusively on the cannabis industry. Alan got his start as a financial professional in the securities industry in 1986, managing investments in institutional environments until he founded AB Analytical Services in 2007 in order to provide independent consulting to registered investment advisors. He is also the managing partner of New Cannabis Ventures, a leading provider of relevant financial information in the cannabis industry since 2015. 420 Investor 420 Investor Learn More Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probeLast week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death on a New York City sidewalk in what was clearly a thoroughly planned-out attack. Over the next few days, as authorities hunted for the killer, online progressives did not try hard to hide their delight that a millionaire health insurance executive like Thompson was killed. Social media was flooded with posts and videos—with different ranges of subtlety—suggesting that Thompson, at the very least, did not deserve to be mourned because of all the health care his company has denied to poor and working people. Progressives framed the shooting as an act of self-defense on behalf of the working class. Before the alleged killer was caught Monday, they promised not to snitch if they saw the shooter themselves and fantasized about a working-class jury nullifying all charges, leading to other CEOs getting gunned down with impunity if they oversaw price increases. The narrative that these online progressives clearly subscribe to and perpetuate is one where, in the United States, healthcare is a totally unfettered, unregulated industry; where—because of a total lack of government involvement—wealthy CEOs charge whatever prices they want and then refuse to provide customers what they already paid for without facing any bad consequences. The characterization of healthcare and health insurance companies charging absurdly high prices while treating their customers terribly without the risk of losing them is spot on. But the idea that what caused this was a lack of government involvement in the healthcare system is completely delusional. And this delusion conveniently removes all the responsibility progressives bear for the nightmare that is the US healthcare system. Today, healthcare is one of the most heavily government-regulated industries in the economy—right up there with the finance and energy sectors. Government agencies are involved in all parts of the process, from the research and production of drugs, the training and licensing of medical professionals, and the building of hospitals to the availability of health insurance, the makeup of insurance plans, and the complicated payment processes. And that is nothing new. The US government has been intervening heavily in the healthcare industry for over a century. And no group has done more to bring this about than the progressives. It really began, after all, during the Progressive Era, when the American Medical Association maneuvered its way into setting the official accreditation standards for the nation’s “unregulated” medical schools. The AMA wrote standards that excluded the medical approaches of their competitors, which forced half of the nation’s medical schools to close. The new shortage of trained doctors drove up the price of medical services—to the delight of the AMA and other government-recognized doctor’s groups—setting the familiar healthcare affordability crisis in motion. Around the same time, progressives successfully pushed for strict restrictions on the production of drugs and, shortly afterward, to grant drug producers monopoly privileges. After WWII, as healthcare grew more expensive, the government used the tax code to warp how Americans paid for healthcare. Under President Truman, the IRS made employer-provided health insurance tax deductible while continuing to tax other means of payment. It didn’t take long for employer plans to become the dominant arrangement and for health insurance to morph away from actual insurance into a general third-party payment system. These government interventions restricting the supply of medical care and privileging insurance over other payment methods created a real affordability problem for many Americans. But the crisis didn’t really start until the 1960s when Congress passed two of the progressive’s favorite government programs—Medicare and Medicaid. Initially, industry groups like the AMA opposed Medicare and Medicaid because they believed the government subsidies would deteriorate the quality of care. They were right about that, but what they clearly didn’t anticipate was how rich the programs would make them. Anyone who’s taken even a single introductory economics class could tell you that prices will rise if supply decreases or demand increases. The government was already keeping the supply of medical services artificially low—leading to artificially high prices. Medicare and Medicaid left those shortages in place and poured a ton of tax dollars into the healthcare sector—significantly increasing demand. The result was an easily predictable explosion in the cost of healthcare. Fewer and fewer people could afford healthcare at these rising prices, meaning more people required government assistance, which meant more demand, causing prices to grow faster and faster. Meanwhile, private health “insurance” providers were also benefiting from the mounting crisis. In a free market, insurance serves as a means to trade risk. Insurance works well for accidents and calamities that are hard to predict individually but relatively easy to predict in bulk, like car accidents, house fires, and unexpected family deaths. Health insurance providers were already being subsidized by all the taxes on competing means of payment, which allowed their plans to grow beyond the typical bounds of insurance and begin to cover easily-predictable occurrences like annual physicals. And, as the price of all of these services continued to shoot up, the costs of these routine procedures were becoming high enough to resemble the costs of emergencies—making consumers even more reliant on insurance. With progressives cheering on, the political class used government intervention to create a healthcare system that behaves as if its sole purpose is to move as much money as possible into the pockets of healthcare providers, drug companies, hospitals, health-related federal agencies, and insurance providers. But the party could not last forever. As the price of healthcare rose, the price of health insurance rose, too. Eventually, when insurance premiums grew too high, fewer employers or individual buyers were willing to buy insurance, and the flow of money into the healthcare system started to falter. The data suggests that that tipping point was reached in the early 2000s. For the first time since the cycle began back in the 1960s, the number of people with health insurance began to fall each year. Healthcare providers—who had seemingly assumed that the flow of money would never stop increasing—began to panic. Then came Barack Obama. Obama’s seminal legislative accomplishment—the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare—can best be understood as a ploy by healthcare providers and the government to keep the party going. Obamacare required all fifty million uninsured Americans to obtain insurance, and it greatly expanded what these “insurance” companies covered. Demand for healthcare shot back up, and the vicious cycle started back up again—which is why the bill enjoyed so much support from big corporations all across the healthcare industry. Before it was passed, economists were practically screaming that the Affordable Care Act would make care less affordable by raising premiums and healthcare prices while making shortages worse. Progressives dismissed such concerns as Reagan-era “free market fundamentalist” propaganda. But that is exactly what happened . Now, the affordability crisis is worse than ever as prices reach historic levels. And, because Obamacare brought American healthcare much closer to a single-payer system, the demand for healthcare far exceeds the supply of healthcare—leading to deadly shortages. There are literally not enough resources or available medical professionals to treat everyone who can pay for care. Also, the tax code and warped “insurance” market protect these providers from competition—making it almost impossible for people to switch to a different provider after their claims are unfairly denied. If it were simply greed, denying customers who already paid would be a feature in all industries. But it’s not. It requires the kind of policy protections progressives helped implement. And on top of all that, despite paying all this money, Americans are quickly becoming one of the sickest populations on Earth. This is one of the most pressing problems facing the country. A problem that requires immediate, radical change to solve. But it also requires an accurate and precise diagnosis—something that, this week, progressives demonstrated they are incapable of making. Related Articles Commentary | John Stossel: Your tax dollars not at work Commentary | After so many years of failure, time’s up for California Democrats Commentary | Vince Fong: We don’t need Newsom to lecture us. We need him to listen to us. Commentary | Deregulation rather than fossil fuel controls needed to fix California insurance market Commentary | The FBI has been political from the start The American progressive movement is responsible for providing the political class the intellectual cover they needed to break the healthcare market and transform the entire system into a means to transfer wealth to people like Brian Thompson. Now, they want to sit back, pretend like they’ve never gotten their way, that the government has never done anything with the healthcare market, and that these healthcare executives just popped up and started doing this all on their own—all so they can celebrate him being gunned down in the street. It’s disgusting. Brian Thompson acted exactly like every economically literate person over the last fifty years has said health insurance CEOs would act if progressives got their way. If we’re ever going to see the end of this century-long nightmare, we need to start listening to the people who have gotten it right, not those who pretend they are blameless as they fantasize online about others starting a violent revolution. Connor O’Keeffe ( @ConnorMOKeeffe ) produces media and content at the Mises Institute. This commentary is republished with permission from the Mises Institute.