Wow, the world has changed so much since the beginning of 2020. COVID-19 has dominated the headlines of every media outlet and a lot of countries have declared “state of emergency”. Every day my sons would ask me to check the Coronavirus Update for the most up to date numbers. Our lives have certainly been impacted by the outbreak, and I am sure it applies to everyone on earth.
At this moment, I am enjoying the opportunity to work from home everyday. For my family, it is another homeschooling day. However, other aspects of our lives have changed. Our church worship has moved to virtual. I wear a mask and gloves when I go grocery shopping. My family can hardly go outside and fellowship with other families. Swimming classes have been cancelled. Skating arena is closed. No more restaurants. Thankfully, we live in the country so at the minimum we still have some room to roam in the backyard.
During this crisis, we see people rushing to stock up toilet paper, water, sanitizer, wipes and food. People with shrewd entrepreneurship foresee the demand, scoop up the products at local Costo and resell them online for a nice profit. MSM would then label these people as “price gouger”.
Personally, I believe in free market which is much better than government interventionism and certainly far superior than socialism. In a free market society, price is determined by supply and demand. If a person acquires the product legally (either producing or purchasing wholesale) and resell them at a higher price, what is wrong with that? ALL businesses generate profit by buying low and selling high.
Think Costco. Don’t they buy in bulk from suppliers at a very low price and resell them to its members (that is you and me)? A free market system is the most efficient way of distributing goods to where it is most needed. If a bottle of hand sanitizer now costs $50 rather than $5, a logical person should think twice before dishing out the dough. Why do I need to pay so much? Is there any alternative product or method to achieve the same goal? In this case, it turns out that alcohol, vinegar and regular soap is almost as effective as the chemicals in the sanitizer bottle.
I do not blame those Amazon sellers. They go through the hassle of paying upfront for pallets of wipes, repacking them, listing them online and shipping them. If there are people willing to pay $50 for a bottle of hand sanitizer, then there is a market. As long as nobody is forced at a gunpoint to buy or sell, I personally believe no harm is done and government should not intervene.
What about price gouging of essentials like food staples? It is definitely hard to swallow the feeling of the need to pay an arm or leg for a small bag of rice during a disaster/famine/war, but that is reality; and human history concurs. This brings me again to the topic of “prepping”.
I have been an advocate of preparing for any type of disasters for several years. What is wrong with stocking up can food and toilet paper? MSM is inoculating the public with the idea of “hoarding” equals “selfish”. No. Hoarding by means of legal and honest way is not selfish at all.
In our society, each person has a fair chance to buy certain goods at any price in any amount. It is prudent and smart to stock up when something that you need goes on sale. It is plain common sense. In the COVID-19 situation, these “hoarders” are actually doing everyone a favor: since they have enough supplies, they don’t need to go out as often during lockdown to the stores. Whereby, they have much less chance infecting others or being infected with the virus. By stocking up beforehand, they are helping to “flatten the curve”.
Therefore, it is very important to have enough supplies for your family for at least 3 months. Do not rely on the government. Be responsible for yourself and your family.
Listen: we are not spreading fear or panic by preparing. If you know something bad and dangerous is coming and you prepare for it, you will have much less fear and panic when shtf.
I have met and heard Christians saying we don’t have to prepare because we rely on God. I totally agree that ultimately we are dependent on God’s provision every single moment. And it is our faith, not food nor gold nor guns, that could sustain us through the tribulation. However, to those who choose not to prepare, I would ask you this:
Do you save money in your banks for rainy days?
Do you purchase insurance against your automobile or home?
Do you purchase insurance against your business?
If you are a DIYer, do you keep extra hardware (screws, bolts, nuts, etc….) at home in case you run out?
Heck, even the government mandates that you purchase auto insurance if you drive and pay for employment insurance if you are employed (in Canada).
Therefore it is prudent and wise to prepare enough (3 months minimum) supplies for your family and some more to share during crisis. Do everything in your power to stock up and then trust in the Lord for the rest, knowing that one can never be prepared 100% for every adverse situation.
It is worth to read The Grasshoppers Are Swarming Mad That You Are Prepared For The Crash
I believe the COVID-19 is a rehearsal of what it would be like under one world government: The COVID World Order Is Coming.
Governments all over the world are suspending personal freedom and implementing draconian lockdowns. Businesses are forced to close within 48 hours of notice at the maximum. Millions are unemployed overnight. The government is now free to raise debt and rain helicopter money to everyone, thereby enslaving this and future generations by unlimited debt.
It is truly turbulent times that we live in.