It was very obvious to see this happening when the major chain retailers were allowed to remain open while small businesses were ordered to close.

It killed my 27 year old commercial cleaning business. We had 4 office buildings in the city the moment covid locked down we lost all our contracts because there was no one in the buildings , everyone was working from home. I worked so hard to make the business flourish and under trump i had three amazing years we almost doubled our income.then boom. All gone.

It’s heartbreaking what the elite politicians did to small businesses over the last 2 years.

They put small businesses out of business on purpose you’re completely right

This was part of the plan. Wealth Distribution as well as power.

Your right Victor, I'm a retired truck driver up here in Canada and I've seen more small businesses disappear than ever before. It sure not the easy living I was use to. Makes you wonder where it's all going. It's sad! 😒👎

As a small business owner who had the luck to be in a state where we weren't forced to shutter, I am so heartened to hear Prof. Hanson's spot-on assessment. We are grateful to have survived what appears to be the worst of the pandemic power grab, but feel hollowed and footnoted in history, as so much chaff spat out by the thresher. Thank you for remembering those whose livelihoods - and dignity - were torn so callously away, for nothing.

I work in a factory in MN. We did not shut down but they did a lot of ridiculous "social distancing" procedures that curtailed production enormously. We got lots of new employees, including one I worked with from Houston who did interior work on people's kitchens and some other rooms. He started from helping friends and relatives and grew into a business with a decent sized customer list with employees of his own. During the lockdowns he lost his customers and business because he wasn't allowed to go into people's houses anymore to work. Contractor work like his didn't disappear completely, but some were allowed to continue and others were just screwed. He ended up moving in with relatives here and finding a much less rewarding job. He does great work here but it's still sad to see people's lives turned upside down because of this attack on the small business people that were successful enough to not have a boss aside from their customers. There are many thousands, perhaps millions of families affected negatively in similar ways from this Covid attack while the powerful ones just attain more and more clout.

We need to boycott the corportations and support small business even if we have to pay a little more... freedom always has a price!

"How COVID Lockdowns Killed Small Businesses". Include me in that too. Cost me over 100 grand and tax man tens of thousands. Fortunately I was coming up to retirement so had some funds to live on but would have been a disaster for a younger person. Politicians are clueless.

As an essential small business, it all but put us out of business. Even though we could operate, people were not spending their money because they were uncertain of the future, furloughed, let go, etc. This was all so well calculated. Sure wish I wasn’t so naive and saw this coming. And sadly, I am often at odds with a very dear friend of mine who believes we should ALL follow any “rules”, he believes main media, and thinks if anything should change, then we ALL need to be on board with it, otherwise people should expect penalties for not following. All I can do is SMH. This did so much collateral and consequential damages that it’s incalculable.

V.D. Hanson is truly an AMERICAN Treasure. I tell everyone to listen to this man.

The government hates small business. During the days of Affirmative Action from 1970 to present, employment was controlled by the Unemployment Office. The Unemployment Office enforced Affirmative Action. It was difficult for me to find employment through the Unemployment Office. Small business was my main source of employment.

Canadian truckers are leading the way. We must all follow to preserve our Liberties from the tyrants who created this attack on human dignity.

We had many small businesses here in Michigan that defied the shutdowns and they were fined heavily by the state. It was absolutely sickening. Turned me into a tax revolter.

The top 1% now has more money than the entire middle class 60%. This has never happened before.

As the legislature did absolutely nothing to stop this travesty of justice. Thanks for sharing.

I learn something new every single time I listen to this brilliant man talk. Thank you sir

I appreciate this man so much. Thank you for sharing this with us. What he says is true.

Its a lot cheaper for big business to shut down the competition than it costs to buy them out or try to compete one on one

I find it interesting that the government drove all business to the large corporations, provide tax incentives, and bailouts while if you owned a small business the government would give you a LOAN.

This man knows what he is talking about. We need him in DC.

The term, "managed decline" keeps rolling around in my head...

This was a crime against humanity. We won’t forget.

I said this right from the start- obvious.!

I ask that everyone go to drug store and buy a box or bag of masks and have the pharmacy read the notices on them about how the do not protect the user or those around them from germs and viruses. Ask the cashier as well

I tried telling anyone that would listen, right from the first week of lockdown here in UK, that we had a choice: we could break out of this stranglehold on trade; or we must prepare ourselves for life under totalitarian, collectivist rule and a life of abject misery.

We need to stop intercoursing with STATE OF... federal corporate franchises. Return to private business and keep the "state" out.

VDH is one of the best out there tbh...I do not even agree with him on every single detail but he is the kind of clear thinker we all need

👍🏿 Hanson and Hillsdale College. I take advantage of their free courses. 👍🏿🇺🇲🙏🏿🇺🇲🙏🏿

...and it further empowered big tech and major retailers. Sadly, this was the plan.

This is effect means, the “ localist” movement we’ve been experiencing for years was effectively working. Nothing says “scary” to a large corp than a contented city and/or town. Whole small towns are being purchased at record levels by the likes of Berkshire intended to cash in on “ cozy”.

Small businesses like hairdressers, small hardware stores, etc had to close. But everything else like Home Depot, Amazon, large grocery retailers were all deemed “essential”.

yep, had to shut down my 17 year old buisness ....then try someone to give me work when i was my own boss for 17 years and 45 years old

VDH, one of the clearest minds and voices around right now. I enjoy hearing him speak. Thanks for bringing him to us.

The biggest unanswered question is are we going to vote these POS politicians out of office that did this to us. Trumps tweets don't seem so bad now, do they.

Right! We knew this all along, but were demonized for saying so!

The foundation of Fascism… small businesses were closed as big business is easier to regulate which is the intention of the fascist state

Some not so small businesses too. Golden Corral closed in our town and is still closed. The drive thru chains struck gold with long lines every day and the prices for the food about doubled.

they complied, no resistance most were even buying the narrative I have 0 pity!

Intentionally for sure.

The real “Great Reset”.

I hope American Atty's are watching and listening to Canadian Atty ViVa Frei. He has been critical to his following in educating and leading us to a clear understanding (I am American and deeply passionate with the Feedom Convoy, have been 18 days). Viva Frei is passionate, intelligent and very funny. Speaks French, English fluently and some Hebrew, definitely some Yidish. The USA needs what he's delivering during our Convoy that will be heading out to DC on March 1, 2022. I've only learned what I truly amazing and fine College Hillsdale is recently. Thank you for who you are and what you stand for. Your integrity is impeccable.

The Walmart where I live was and remains crampacked since this pandemic. Walmart's response has been to close the entry doors on one end so everyone had to come and go in the same place. They also closed the store down, not only during the night, but also in the late evening. This resulted in making everyone safer. NOT!

Everyone should boycott Amazon and there will be need again for the small businesses.Tides need to change and only we can change it !!

There were long lines just to get into the superstore s

Same in the UK, the government hates small business. We got no help during lockdown in the UK.

God Bless VDH.

"Follow the money". Politicians, governments, and big businesses working together to take over our economy? Living in small towns I see how many places shuttered their doors while Amazon is prospering in ways never before seen.

Destroyed businesses while helping mega corporations

I've taken several courses from this guy at Hillsdale college. He knows what he's talking about he's a very good educator.

Victor David Hansen is my Favorite read in Epoch Times

I don’t really understand that part of it so now I’m thinking that was intentional

Absolute brilliance! God bless this man and NOT the following populace.

Small business shifted online awhile ago. The pandemic accelerated that even more. The smart ones adapted quickly, others were stuck at brick and mortar stores. Some may not have a choice based on the business they are in.

I remember they even shut down a lady in NJ who was selling things online and then shipping them... but never shut down Amazon, which does the same thing.

When covid hysteria began in March of 2020 police were rousting beachcombers and lone Surfers, telling them they had to get off the beach. Beachcomber: "Where should we go?" Police: "Over there to that Walmart."

Those in charge need to go to jail !! That is theft !!!

In my local Wegmans everybody in my towns around me I was a really small it was like sardines in there

American people hope one day “build buck better “ dictators will be prosecuted for this crime!

Thank you Professor Hanson, And we must not forget that the Tech industry has been shutting down large Companies for years now. Take a look at the Department Stores and other businesses that were successful because they were designed around the concept of people and families leaving home and going to the Mall to spend time browsing, shopping, eating and just being together as family and friends; doing so THE AMERICAN WAY. The Tech sector has taken from us a Blessing ,and turned it into a curse, and did so with our own Blessings. We the people gave in to the manipulative culture of laziness and individual gratification, and the MONSTERS of the Globalists Tech Industry took advantage of our weakness for the SELF, and got us to DESTROY a way of life that has served us well for hundreds of years. Let us look back at the days of the Department Stores, Restaurants, and other Businesses that Created the Concept of the Mall, The place where hundreds of peoples and families met Daily to enjoy being with Friends and family. Are we satisfied with sitting on our behinds watching Television programs that are funded by these same people who seduced us to support their online service at the Cost of FAMILY TOGETHERNESS, Exercise and peace of mind, and not to forget the discontent and loneliness that our children are suffering because of Big tech coming between us and them. GOD bless and deliver America from evil.

We have been castrated and we will do likewise or die trying...yours truly your patriot queen.... Lady Liberty 🗽❤

I work for Walmart. At our store, we are seeing daily sales figures that we would see only on Black Friday and weekends between Black Friday and Christmas.

Not only did it destroy small business, it handicapped healthy people & their livelihoods because people who might get sick... might get sick. THAT'S crazy.

To say that some businesses were not essential and had to be destroyed by shutting them down while big ones were open full of people moving about in spite of CV was evil.

Thank you for bringing these facts out.

That was the plan. Big companies comply. Small business can't afford it and won't comply.

The saddest part is that most Americans don't understand their Constitutional rights and its importance to sustain the freedom we enjoy, and neither of the 3 branches of the federal government made any effort to protect our Constitutional rights. In my opinion, lockdowns and mandates violates the Constitution and promotes bigger government. You know we practicing socialism when the government says large corporations are exempt from tyrannical COVID policies, but everyone else isn't. Luckily, governors like DeSantis and Noem tried their best to protect the freedoms and rights of their states from the federal government and local Democrat politicians.

They smashed businesses as deliberately and ruthlessly as vandals smash statues and store windows. They should be jailed.

I am in New Zealand and you can go anywhere and probably see 20% empty stores up for lease and the government tries to say everything is good. Shopping has gone up at least 25% to 50%. I lost my 34year career to the covid crisis 22 months ago and can't seem to land a job because of my age ( I am 60 now... the retirement age is 65.) and I am sure there's plenty of people in the same and worst circumstances.

I found it ridiculous that Walmart wouldn't let us get kids clothes, yet makeup aisles were open. Like clothes for my growing child aren't necessary?

In truth, the governments did not choose the corporations, instead the corporations choose the governments.

And there is two class of people that I blame for carrying out this whole joke. The cops, for enforcing it, and the sheep for giving into it.

when all this is over. id like to open my game shop at some point. was gonna try before the pandemic hit but scrapped that idea for now. when i plan to move out of nevada, hope to open one

We shut down 2 businesses, a small 3 truck trucking company and a small farm. There was limited freight to haul and what was available paid so low I would have to pay out of pocket... ie at a loss, in the red. 3 years in business, not strong and stable enough to have extended losses on every load. Farm, custom meat production... you order the exact type and kind of meat product, we bought and raised the animal until slaughter then you pick up at butcher. We had been in business 5 years. No one was looking to pay the price of $20 while finished chickens when uncertainty and Walmart had em for $7-8. And then all the peppers started buying chicks, destabilizing the chick market as breeders could not meet demand, price goes up blah blah blah. We knew several small businesses we hauled freight for, machine shops, electrical contractors, building contractors, other small manufacturing etc... all out of business. One guy who had a small welding business is still going, 1 out of 20 small businesses survived. People talk about supporting small businesss and that means a coffee stop or boutique or nail/salon but are clueless about all the others. Gone now, GONE!

Remember we must hang together or we will surely hang alone. First your guns then your freedom, GAME OVER.

During the the 2 yr run of the Spanish Flu, the country never went into lockdown. The people went about their business without disruption. Everything was open. There hasn't been anything like that since then until now. What has changed since then?

Victor Davis Hanson's message here is powerful because it is true.

I'm accountant. I had to work with so many bankruptcy attorneys for their financials

Even without the lockdowns it's likely many small businesses wouldn't have survived in certain parts of the country. There were/are still many people who are in self imposed lockdown, still afraid to go to restaurants and are still wearing masks where they're not mandated.

Lockdown was the way to destroy the middle class

Yes they did and then the politicians act like they do not know what they intentionally did.

Its time we stand up and end the insanity. The peoples convoy.

I am guessing more conservatives would be entrepreneurs, having hope in living "the American dream", that it is through personal efforts that you succeed, not handouts or big businesses.

Gee, if only we weren't saying this from day one.

TRUE , SMALL Businesses very much affected

I saw the plan from day one. As a sole practicing doctor I decided to not pay my office mortgage for almost the entire two year span of this stupidity. I didn’t even practice. I saved every dollar I had in the bank except paying the building power and utilities as to not feel as if legitimately cheating. I saw the release of the lockdown as hope for the stupid and yes I was correct another came quickly. All those people who survived spending all of their savings hats off I hope you recover. To all those who spent every last dime and then failed to get it going again I am sorry the government caused that scenario for you and you didn’t see it coming. I saw this coming and quickly did the math. I was shut down for a period of time that would have drained my savings paying that mortgage if we saw no clear end in sight. It would have ruined me. For any asking why I didn’t practice when deemed essential is because I refused to wear a mask and my patients were disapproving of that practice. I watched all of the humans I cared for turn zombie with fear and I am no zombie to irrationally based tyranny. As it turns out my mortgage company called finally and said hey we gotta do something. I told them I wasn’t going to be paying unless we worked somethings out and so we did. They lowered my then current 6 % mortgage to 2 % and set the first payment to start 6 months done the road. They cleared interest accrued and also took the principle and interest paid before I stopped and filled my escrow only flipping the current owed escrow into my loan. We were able to negotiate a great deal when we sat down and actually discussed what I saw and what was happening and I knew they were hurting with a mass loss of mortgage owners due to this plandemic. They were able to negotiate anything due to government helping them with adjustments but no clear bailout for them so they are stuck with the problems that were created except for the negotiation process being an out. I would have lost everything had I not made that decision. I knew it was a power grab and shift of wealth when I saw as you said Walmart Home Depot Lowe’s Kroger’s Amazon etc still open while we walked in and repeatedly held the self scanners of the person before me with no cleaning etc. pathetic to see. Sad to see how all those people working tirelessly without a vaccine were immediately jeopardized by their career when it was attempted to be mandated. Ridiculous. Just happy I saw it first

That is exactly what it was suppose to do. Total control. Wake up. Run to the open arms of Jesus.

And wearing masks is also killing small businesses.

Pretty sure millions of people found this out during the first 15 days. Thanks experts you pay so much attention to detail. 🙄

i worked for a nice little SAT prep company for a year and we did good work teaching high school students. the entire company is dead now

Is it a coincidence that any business that can’t afford a Supreme Court filing has had their constitutional rights infringed upon?

This Man's voice

They also allowed Liquor sales but no church prayers

because the actions were illegal, you can take legal action against your county if your business suffered during the illegal occupation.

REMEMBER JESUS CAN RAISE THE DEAD, READ JOB, THE DEVIL CAUSED JOB TO LOSE EVERYTHING FAMILY, RICHES, HE TRUSTED IN GOD STAYED FAITHFUL NEVER GAVE UP IN THE END HE GAINED BACK MORE THAN HE LOST

Not covid ... government did it !

Why can’t we have smart and well informed and magnificent man like hime for President?

But God forbid that we blocked the money flow off the big corporations when we block Bridges

Rise up and fight the liberals It’s only the beginning Fight Fight Fight!!!!!!!!