shoebat--2020-07-30--Zimbabwean Government Pays Reparations To White Farmers Discriminated Against During Mugabe Rule

There is a lot of talk about racism in the western world right now , but racism is not dependent on any one race , as it is a human problem and has been with man since the days after Eden .
There also is no one form of it , and it can affect anybody , since sin knows no preference save for exploiting a given situation .
During the years of the Bush wars and following the victory of Robert Mugabe ’ s ZANU , he began a campaign of terrorism and eventually the mass confiscations of land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own racialist program .
The result of this was a lot of people were killed or had their possessions stolen , and because most of these people were farmers and the black Zimbabweans overall did not know how to farm , Mugabe plunged his country into a state of starvation that caused agony for millions .
Prior to his death , Mugabe begged the farmers he expelled to come back , but they refused .
Zimababwe has continued to plead with them ever since to do this , but very few have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust the current government .
However , in a very interesting move that is most likely a part of this drive to bring back the old farmers , those farmers who were discriminated against are going to collect reparations from the Zimbabwean government , who also has said that if they are interested , the government will help them secure farmland to farm again .
Zimbabwe ’ s government on Wednesday signed a deal with former white farmers to pay them billions of dollars in compensation roughly two decades after they lost their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the government does not readily have the money , the farmers will be part of a team tasked with raising the cash .
About 4,000 farmers lost large swathes of land when Zimbabwe ’ s late leader Robert Mugabe launched the often-chaotic land reform program which he said was aimed at addressing colonial-era land inequities .
White farmers had owned the majority of prime farmland .
Agricultural land now belongs to the government .
According to the agreement , signed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa ’ s official residence and witnessed by representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.5 billion compensation is not for the land but for infrastructure such as wells , irrigation equipment and buildings .
The farmers initially wanted over $ 5 billion .
The full payment is expected to be done within five years .
But it is unclear if the former farmers will receive the money given that Zimbabwe is financially troubled and burdened with a huge debt .
The government will borrow on international markets and the farmers will be part of a “ joint resource mobilization committee ” tasked with raising the money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who took power in 2017 after Mugabe was forced to resign , has encouraged former white farmers to apply for pieces of land .
The president said the latest developments have brought closure .
( source ) This sort of reparations is justified because it is a recent , historically speaking , event .
The people who were affected by the ZANU are still alive- they can remember life before the ZANU , and life after .
This situation is completely different from the “ reparations ” crowd in the US consisting largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is true that the ancestors of many American blacks were slaves , the current American blacks alive today all the way to their great-great grandfathers and beyond were not slaves , so while it may be a part of collective historical memory , they were not directly affected by slavery and neither were the more recent four or five generations of people .
They have no claim to reparations for something that happened to a distant ancestor , for if one takes this logic , what is to say that the Italians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Goths ) for the sacking of the Roman Empire , or the Chinese against the Mongols for the invasions of China ( Yuan dynasty ) , or even back to the Dravidians making claims against the Iranians ( Aryans ) for invading India ?
It was a horrible thing what happened to the white farmers of Zimbabwe , and that should not be forgotten .
However , to the credit of the Zimababwean government , and while it is certainly being made for political reasons , it is good that something is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that perhaps by doing this , there can be a start of reconciling a real peace between white and black Zimbabweans to the point that , working together they can make Zimbabwe into what it used to be , which was a food-producing power of Africa .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
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There is a lot of talk about racism in the western world right now, but racism is not dependent on any one race, as it is a human problem and has been with man since the days after Eden. There also is no one form of it, and it can affect anybody, since sin knows no preference save for exploiting a given situation.
During the years of the Bush wars and following the victory of Robert Mugabe’s ZANU, he began a campaign of terrorism and eventually the mass confiscations of land and property from Zimbabwean whites out of his own racialist program. The result of this was a lot of people were killed or had their possessions stolen, and because most of these people were farmers and the black Zimbabweans overall did not know how to farm, Mugabe plunged his country into a state of starvation that caused agony for millions.
Prior to his death, Mugabe begged the farmers he expelled to come back, but they refused. Zimababwe has continued to plead with them ever since to do this, but very few have responded, for naturally they do not trust the current government. However, in a very interesting move that is most likely a part of this drive to bring back the old farmers, those farmers who were discriminated against are going to collect reparations from the Zimbabwean government, who also has said that if they are interested, the government will help them secure farmland to farm again.
Zimbabwe’s government on Wednesday signed a deal with former white farmers to pay them billions of dollars in compensation roughly two decades after they lost their land in often violent invasions. But because the government does not readily have the money, the farmers will be part of a team tasked with raising the cash. About 4,000 farmers lost large swathes of land when Zimbabwe’s late leader Robert Mugabe launched the often-chaotic land reform program which he said was aimed at addressing colonial-era land inequities. White farmers had owned the majority of prime farmland. Agricultural land now belongs to the government. According to the agreement, signed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s official residence and witnessed by representatives of the former farmers, the $3.5 billion compensation is not for the land but for infrastructure such as wells, irrigation equipment and buildings. The farmers initially wanted over $5 billion. The full payment is expected to be done within five years. But it is unclear if the former farmers will receive the money given that Zimbabwe is financially troubled and burdened with a huge debt. The government will borrow on international markets and the farmers will be part of a “joint resource mobilization committee” tasked with raising the money, according to the agreement. Mnangagwa, who took power in 2017 after Mugabe was forced to resign, has encouraged former white farmers to apply for pieces of land. The president said the latest developments have brought closure. (source)
This sort of reparations is justified because it is a recent, historically speaking, event. The people who were affected by the ZANU are still alive- they can remember life before the ZANU, and life after. This situation is completely different from the “reparations” crowd in the US consisting largely of an Afro-American bloc, for while it is true that the ancestors of many American blacks were slaves, the current American blacks alive today all the way to their great-great grandfathers and beyond were not slaves, so while it may be a part of collective historical memory, they were not directly affected by slavery and neither were the more recent four or five generations of people. They have no claim to reparations for something that happened to a distant ancestor, for if one takes this logic, what is to say that the Italians could not make claims against the Swedes (Goths) for the sacking of the Roman Empire, or the Chinese against the Mongols for the invasions of China (Yuan dynasty), or even back to the Dravidians making claims against the Iranians (Aryans) for invading India?
It was a horrible thing what happened to the white farmers of Zimbabwe, and that should not be forgotten. However, to the credit of the Zimababwean government, and while it is certainly being made for political reasons, it is good that something is being done for the farmers, and that perhaps by doing this, there can be a start of reconciling a real peace between white and black Zimbabweans to the point that, working together they can make Zimbabwe into what it used to be, which was a food-producing power of Africa.
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shoebat--2020-07-30--US GDP Drops By Almost One-Third In Three Months In Worst Economic Report EVER

If the Great Depression was bad , then this right now is the ‘ Greater Depression ’ , as millions of jobs are being lost , people are getting poorer , work is becoming scarcer , and desperation is everywhere .
According to a recent report from NPR , the US GDP has dropped by almost one-third in three months , making it the worst economic report ever in the history of the country .
The coronavirus pandemic triggered the sharpest economic contraction in modern American history , the Commerce Department reported Thursday .
Gross domestic product — the broadest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an annual rate of 32.9 % in the second quarter as restaurants and retailers closed their doors in a desperate effort to slow the spread of the virus , which has killed more than 150,000 people in the U.S .
The economic shock in April , May and June was more than three times as sharp as the previous record — 10 % in 1958 — and nearly four times the worst quarter during the Great Recession .
Horrific , ” said Nariman Behravesh , chief economist at IHS Markit .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” Another 1.43 million people filed for state unemployment last week , an increase of 12,000 , the Labor Department reported Thursday .
It was the second week in a row of increased unemployment filings and shows that the economic picture continues to remain grim .
GDP swings are typically reported at an annual rate — as if they were to continue for a full year — which can be misleading in a volatile period like this .
The overall economy in the second quarter was 9.5 % smaller than during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sharp drop in March and April , economic activity began to rebound in May and June , although that recovery remains halting and could be jeopardized by a new surge of infections .
( source ) Trump still has the lead in the polls , but there is a reason why Trump is up against Biden , because it is going to be very difficult for Biden to get elected .
From the perspective of history , this will fall on Trump ’ s shoulders , as such things often do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up the situations for this to happen entirely on his own , but some things , such as the COVID-19 “ stimulus checks ” , he certainly did , and that has absolutely contributed a notable portion to the current chaos .
However , Trump or not , these economic numbers are what I have been constantly warning about .
You need to get yourself prepared NOW .
I can not say that enough , because given how I have been predicting based on our models that there is a strong chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this virus , it will not be anything new per se in essence , but it will be a continuation of the economic death spiral that the US is going through- job losses , layoffs , and the infamous “ Christmas Slay Ride ” that I have written about in that retail sales are going to plummet because people do not have spare monies to spend and since most retail income is generated in the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas , it will mean that a lot of stores and businesses will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good thing in this economically hellish situation is that because there is a lot that one can see coming into formation as we speak , there is still time to prepare for it .
This means that while the troubles will not be able to be stopped , a lot of the serious heartaches can be decreased or avoided completely in some cases if people are willing to work together or make necessary sacrifices by way of working extra so to create a financial cushion which can help lessen the impact of economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
The hour is late , but there is still time to make things better than what they will be if nothing is done .
But it will not last forever , and if this is the worse economic report ever , what is going to be said when the second wave hits with the same effects ?
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
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If the Great Depression was bad, then this right now is the ‘Greater Depression’, as millions of jobs are being lost, people are getting poorer, work is becoming scarcer, and desperation is everywhere. According to a recent report from NPR, the US GDP has dropped by almost one-third in three months, making it the worst economic report ever in the history of the country.
The coronavirus pandemic triggered the sharpest economic contraction in modern American history, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic activity — shrank at an annual rate of 32.9% in the second quarter as restaurants and retailers closed their doors in a desperate effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 150,000 people in the U.S. The economic shock in April, May and June was more than three times as sharp as the previous record — 10% in 1958 — and nearly four times the worst quarter during the Great Recession. Horrific,” said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Markit. “We’ve never seen anything quite like it.” Another 1.43 million people filed for state unemployment last week, an increase of 12,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It was the second week in a row of increased unemployment filings and shows that the economic picture continues to remain grim. GDP swings are typically reported at an annual rate — as if they were to continue for a full year — which can be misleading in a volatile period like this. The overall economy in the second quarter was 9.5% smaller than during the same period a year ago. After a sharp drop in March and April, economic activity began to rebound in May and June, although that recovery remains halting and could be jeopardized by a new surge of infections. (source)
Trump still has the lead in the polls, but there is a reason why Trump is up against Biden, because it is going to be very difficult for Biden to get elected.
From the perspective of history, this will fall on Trump’s shoulders, as such things often do. It is true that he did not set up the situations for this to happen entirely on his own, but some things, such as the COVID-19 “stimulus checks”, he certainly did, and that has absolutely contributed a notable portion to the current chaos.
However, Trump or not, these economic numbers are what I have been constantly warning about.
You need to get yourself prepared NOW. I cannot say that enough, because given how I have been predicting based on our models that there is a strong chance that there will be a second round of this virus, it will not be anything new per se in essence, but it will be a continuation of the economic death spiral that the US is going through- job losses, layoffs, and the infamous “Christmas Slay Ride” that I have written about in that retail sales are going to plummet because people do not have spare monies to spend and since most retail income is generated in the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas, it will mean that a lot of stores and businesses will be forced to close.
The only good thing in this economically hellish situation is that because there is a lot that one can see coming into formation as we speak, there is still time to prepare for it. This means that while the troubles will not be able to be stopped, a lot of the serious heartaches can be decreased or avoided completely in some cases if people are willing to work together or make necessary sacrifices by way of working extra so to create a financial cushion which can help lessen the impact of economic blows caused through no fault of their own.
The hour is late, but there is still time to make things better than what they will be if nothing is done. But it will not last forever, and if this is the worse economic report ever, what is going to be said when the second wave hits with the same effects?
print


shoebat--2020-07-30--Billy Graham’s Son Warns That The US Faces ‘All Out Socialism’ If People Do Not Vote For Politicians

Billy Graham’s Son Warns That The US Faces ‘All Out Socialism’ If People Do Not Vote For Politicians Who “Love This Country”

The famed American Protestant evangelist Franklin Graham has warned according to the Christian Post that American faces “ all-out socialism ” if leaders are not elected- alluding to President Trump and the Republican party -who “ love this country.
” Prominent evangelist Franklin Graham warned of “ all-out socialism ” if Americans do not vote for leaders who “ love this country , defend the Constitution , & support law & order.
” In a Twitter thread Monday , Graham warned about the consequences of complacency from evangelical conservatives and “ every person who loves this country.
” He pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controlled by liberal , socialist-leaning leadership ” as a harbinger of things to come on a national level if “ this kind of leadership wins in local , state & national elections in November.
” “ If this kind of leadership wins in local , state & national elections in November , we ’ ll see more of this , which would lead to the demise of our nation as we know it , ” said Graham , son of the late evangelist Billy Graham .
In a subsequent tweet , he described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , as “ an example of what will take place in other cities if Americans do not take a stand in defense of the nation—through the power of the vote.
” “ Socialism is dangerous , and we have a party and many politicians who are flirting with all-out socialism , ” he stressed .
“ I would encourage every person who loves this country to pray & to turn out by the millions to vote .
Don ’ t just watch the news & be depressed—stand up for America !
Vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend the Constitution , & support law & order .
Most importantly , pray.
” During the previous election in 2016 , Graham made a similar warning , saying that America ’ s new enemies are “ progressives ” and “ godless secularism.
” He also described the presidential election taking place that year as the “ most critical in our lifetime.
” In an op-ed Tuesday , Dr. James Dobson , psychologist and founder of the Christian organization Focus on the Family , echoed Graham ’ s concerns about the perils of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ capitalism versus socialism ” as one of several reasons why “ the stakes are high this election year.
” “ Socialism limits enterprise and creates undue reliance on the state , ” he said .
“ Socialism , at its core , is a secular framework that installs government as ‘ god.
’ It has no use for faith , freedom , or the will of the people.
” The aforementioned Twitter thread sent out by Graham is not his first effort to motivate evangelical Christians to go to the polls this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documentary film called “ Trump 2024.
” The movie , which organizers hope will be shown at 1,500 theaters across the country , warns of socialism and the End Times if President Donald Trump is not re-elected this fall .
( source ) For those who have not paid attention , the US is already socialist .
This is not an exaggeration , for we have been for a long time .
Indeed , the first major step towards this was taken back in the 1930s under FDR ’ s New Deal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Security and Wagner Acts of 1935 that respectively created the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board that banned “ unauthorized ” strikes .
The US has been on the road to socialism since , depending on one ’ s age , from the time of one ’ s grandparents or great grandparents were children .
The biggest advancement of socialism , barring the recent COVID-10 stimulus checks and soon to be a second round of them , was the TARP bailouts of 2008 .
This was outright socialism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 checks is that the government is bailings out corporations and citizens ( by way of helping fund expenses ) instead of just corporations .
The point I am making is that socialism has been here for a long time , and the merger of state and corporate power by way of government ownership in corporations upon taking the recent COVID-19 checks for companies is textbook fascism .
It does not matter who wins because the outcome is already decided .
One can talk about the Constitution , “ my rights ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other platitude , but these are all meaningless because they avoid discussion of the core issue , which is that fascism , or a form of nationalized socialism , is already here and in power .
It is just a matter if it has a Republican or Democrat flavor .
The change already happened , and nobody noticed it , as they were too busy clamoring for their “ Trump stacks ” to go out and spend on the latest trinkets and the money printers printed and the gap between rich and poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

The famed American Protestant evangelist Franklin Graham has warned according to the Christian Post that American faces “all-out socialism” if leaders are not elected- alluding to President Trump and the Republican party -who “love this country.”
Prominent evangelist Franklin Graham warned of “all-out socialism” if Americans do not vote for leaders who “love this country, defend the Constitution, & support law & order.” In a Twitter thread Monday, Graham warned about the consequences of complacency from evangelical conservatives and “every person who loves this country.” He pointed to the “chaos erupting in cities controlled by liberal, socialist-leaning leadership” as a harbinger of things to come on a national level if “this kind of leadership wins in local, state & national elections in November.” “If this kind of leadership wins in local, state & national elections in November, we’ll see more of this, which would lead to the demise of our nation as we know it,” said Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham. In a subsequent tweet, he described the violence and unrest in Portland, Oregon, as “an example of what will take place in other cities if Americans do not take a stand in defense of the nation—through the power of the vote.” “Socialism is dangerous, and we have a party and many politicians who are flirting with all-out socialism,” he stressed. “I would encourage every person who loves this country to pray & to turn out by the millions to vote. Don’t just watch the news & be depressed—stand up for America! Vote for leaders who love this country, defend the Constitution, & support law & order. Most importantly, pray.” During the previous election in 2016, Graham made a similar warning, saying that America’s new enemies are “progressives” and “godless secularism.” He also described the presidential election taking place that year as the “most critical in our lifetime.” In an op-ed Tuesday, Dr. James Dobson, psychologist and founder of the Christian organization Focus on the Family, echoed Graham’s concerns about the perils of socialism. He listed the battle between “capitalism versus socialism” as one of several reasons why “the stakes are high this election year.” “Socialism limits enterprise and creates undue reliance on the state,” he said. “Socialism, at its core, is a secular framework that installs government as ‘god.’ It has no use for faith, freedom, or the will of the people.” The aforementioned Twitter thread sent out by Graham is not his first effort to motivate evangelical Christians to go to the polls this fall. The evangelist appeared in a documentary film called “Trump 2024.” The movie, which organizers hope will be shown at 1,500 theaters across the country, warns of socialism and the End Times if President Donald Trump is not re-elected this fall. (source)
For those who have not paid attention, the US is already socialist.
This is not an exaggeration, for we have been for a long time. Indeed, the first major step towards this was taken back in the 1930s under FDR’s New Deal, as well as the passage of the Social Security and Wagner Acts of 1935 that respectively created the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board that banned “unauthorized” strikes. The US has been on the road to socialism since, depending on one’s age, from the time of one’s grandparents or great grandparents were children.
The biggest advancement of socialism, barring the recent COVID-10 stimulus checks and soon to be a second round of them, was the TARP bailouts of 2008. This was outright socialism, and the difference between then and the COVID-19 checks is that the government is bailings out corporations and citizens (by way of helping fund expenses) instead of just corporations.
The point I am making is that socialism has been here for a long time, and the merger of state and corporate power by way of government ownership in corporations upon taking the recent COVID-19 checks for companies is textbook fascism.
It does not matter who wins because the outcome is already decided. One can talk about the Constitution, “my rights”, “my guns”, or any other platitude, but these are all meaningless because they avoid discussion of the core issue, which is that fascism, or a form of nationalized socialism, is already here and in power. It is just a matter if it has a Republican or Democrat flavor.
The change already happened, and nobody noticed it, as they were too busy clamoring for their “Trump stacks” to go out and spend on the latest trinkets and the money printers printed and the gap between rich and poor grew even wider.
print


shoebat--2020-07-31--Trump Floats The Idea Of Delaying Elections

The idea of “ delaying ” elections , even for something as serious as COVID-19 , is something that makes many people feel uneasy because of the possibility it could be abused easily , noting similar patterns in other nations .
If there is anything that floating such an idea will do , it is likely to lower a politician ’ s popularity , because people will regard such an act with suspicion .
It is with great interest then that Trump has floated the idea of “ delaying ” elections this year because of COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with deepening economic and public health crises , on Thursday floated the startling idea of delaying the Nov. 3 presidential election .
The notion drew immediate pushback from Democrats and Republicans alike in a nation that has held itself up as a beacon to the world for its history of peaceful transfer of power .
Trump suggested the delay as he pushed unsubstantiated allegations that increased mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic would result in fraud .
But shifting Election Day is virtually impossible and the very idea represented another bracing attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American political system .
The date of the presidential election — the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in every fourth year — is enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change .
Top Republicans in Congress quickly rebuffed Trump ’ s suggestion .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the election date is set in stone and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said the election “ should go forward ” as planned .
Regardless , the Constitution makes no provisions for a delay in the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Jan. 20 , 2021 .
“ With Universal Mail-In Voting ( not Absentee Voting , which is good ) , 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history , ” Trump tweeted Thursday .
“ It will be a great embarrassment to the USA .
Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
?
” In fact , only five states conduct elections entirely by mail , although more states expect to rely more heavily on mail-in ballots in November because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to send ballots to all registered voters for the fall election , but will also have in-person voting options available .
Trump ’ s tweet came just minutes after the government reported that the U.S. economy shrank at a dizzying 32.9 % annual rate in the April-June quarter , by far the worst quarterly plunge ever , as the coronavirus outbreak shut down businesses , threw tens of millions out of work and sent unemployment surging to 14.7 % .
With just over three months until Election Day , Trump trails in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some surveys even suggest traditionally Republican-leaning states could be in play .
While Trump has come back before after trailing consistently in the polls throughout 2016 , the survey data has raised the possibility that he could face a landslide loss if he doesn ’ t turn things around .
Trump has increasingly sought to cast doubt on November ’ s election and the expected pandemic-induced surge in mail-in and absentee voting .
He has called remote voting options the “ biggest risk ” to his reelection .
His campaign and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , which was once a significant advantage for the GOP .
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting and the states that use it exclusively say they have necessary safeguards in place to ensure that a hostile foreign actor doesn ’ t disrupt the vote .
Election security experts say that all forms of voter fraud are rare , including absentee balloting .
Most states are still finalizing their plans for November .
A small number of states sent ballots to voters during the primaries , but most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November .
Instead , voters will have to request an absentee ballot if they want to vote at home .
( source )

The idea of “delaying” elections, even for something as serious as COVID-19, is something that makes many people feel uneasy because of the possibility it could be abused easily, noting similar patterns in other nations. If there is anything that floating such an idea will do, it is likely to lower a politician’s popularity, because people will regard such an act with suspicion. It is with great interest then that Trump has floated the idea of “delaying” elections this year because of COVID-19.
President Donald Trump, lagging in the polls and grappling with deepening economic and public health crises, on Thursday floated the startling idea of delaying the Nov. 3 presidential election. The notion drew immediate pushback from Democrats and Republicans alike in a nation that has held itself up as a beacon to the world for its history of peaceful transfer of power.
Trump suggested the delay as he pushed unsubstantiated allegations that increased mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic would result in fraud. But shifting Election Day is virtually impossible and the very idea represented another bracing attempt by Trump to undermine confidence in the American political system.
The date of the presidential election — the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in every fourth year — is enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change.
Top Republicans in Congress quickly rebuffed Trump’s suggestion. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the election date is set in stone and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said the election “should go forward” as planned. Regardless, the Constitution makes no provisions for a delay in the end of Trump’s term — noon on Jan. 20, 2021.
“With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history,” Trump tweeted Thursday. “It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
In fact, only five states conduct elections entirely by mail, although more states expect to rely more heavily on mail-in ballots in November because of the virus outbreak. California has announced plans to send ballots to all registered voters for the fall election, but will also have in-person voting options available.
Trump’s tweet came just minutes after the government reported that the U.S. economy shrank at a dizzying 32.9% annual rate in the April-June quarter, by far the worst quarterly plunge ever, as the coronavirus outbreak shut down businesses, threw tens of millions out of work and sent unemployment surging to 14.7%.
With just over three months until Election Day, Trump trails in the polls nationally and across battleground states, and some surveys even suggest traditionally Republican-leaning states could be in play. While Trump has come back before after trailing consistently in the polls throughout 2016, the survey data has raised the possibility that he could face a landslide loss if he doesn’t turn things around.
Trump has increasingly sought to cast doubt on November’s election and the expected pandemic-induced surge in mail-in and absentee voting. He has called remote voting options the “biggest risk” to his reelection. His campaign and the Republican Party have sued to combat the practice, which was once a significant advantage for the GOP.
There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting and the states that use it exclusively say they have necessary safeguards in place to ensure that a hostile foreign actor doesn’t disrupt the vote. Election security experts say that all forms of voter fraud are rare, including absentee balloting.
Most states are still finalizing their plans for November. A small number of states sent ballots to voters during the primaries, but most states are not expected to do so in November. Instead, voters will have to request an absentee ballot if they want to vote at home. (source)


shoebat--2020-08-01--Virgin Islands Begins Formal Probe Of Assets Belonging To Epstein

The case against the notorious pedophile and pimp for the rich and powerful Jeffrey Epstein ’ s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has attracted international attention , and with that investigators are beginning to pry into more details about Epstein ’ s life , even after considerable attempts to bury discussion of the case .
In a story from ABC News , the veil of secrecy over Epstein ’ s businesses and bank accounts is finally starting to be lifted to public scrutiny .
The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is upping the ante in its quest to pierce the veil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth of financier Jeffrey Epstein , the deceased sex-offender who accrued a fortune of more than $ 650 million under mysterious circumstances .
At least ten financial institutions — including Deutsche Bank , JPMorgan Chase and Citibank — have been issued subpoenas in recent weeks from the office of USVI Attorney General Denise George , according to court filings reviewed by ABC News .
The subpoenas seek account records , transaction details and communications concerning Epstein , his estate , and more than 30 corporations , trusts and nonprofit entities connected to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein ’ s estate are locked in an increasingly acrimonious duel with George , who filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit against the estate in January , five months after Epstein died while in a federal jail in New York .
The complaint alleges that Epstein constructed a network of companies and individuals to enable and conceal his alleged sex-trafficking of girls and young women to Little St. James , his luxurious private island resort off the east coast of St. Thomas .
“ Epstein , through and in association with defendants , trafficked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captive underage girls and young women at his properties in the Virgin Islands , ” the suit said .
Several of the financial firms are also being asked for records concerning “ The Butterfly Trust , ” an Epstein-related entity that opened accounts at Deutsche Bank in 2014 and which listed several of Epstein ’ s alleged co-conspirators among its beneficiaries , according to a report from New York state regulators released earlier this month .
That report found that Deutsche Bank maintained its relationship with Epstein until late 2018 despite multiple “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that could have been related to his alleged sex-trafficking operation .
Epstein allegedly used the Butterfly Trust and various other accounts to “ send over 120 wires totaling $ 2.65 million to beneficiaries … including some transfers to alleged co-conspirators or women with Eastern European surnames , ” regulators noted , as well as to make “ lawsuit settlement payments to alleged victims , and rent , legal , and immigration expenses made to or on behalf of young ( albeit adult ) women , ” according to the report .
( @ @

The case against the notorious pedophile and pimp for the rich and powerful Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has attracted international attention, and with that investigators are beginning to pry into more details about Epstein’s life, even after considerable attempts to bury discussion of the case. In a story from ABC News, the veil of secrecy over Epstein’s businesses and bank accounts is finally starting to be lifted to public scrutiny.
The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is upping the ante in its quest to pierce the veil of secrecy that cloaked the life and wealth of financier Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex-offender who accrued a fortune of more than $650 million under mysterious circumstances.
At least ten financial institutions — including Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Citibank — have been issued subpoenas in recent weeks from the office of USVI Attorney General Denise George, according to court filings reviewed by ABC News. The subpoenas seek account records, transaction details and communications concerning Epstein, his estate, and more than 30 corporations, trusts and nonprofit entities connected to him.
The move comes as lawyers for Epstein’s estate are locked in an increasingly acrimonious duel with George, who filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit against the estate in January, five months after Epstein died while in a federal jail in New York. The complaint alleges that Epstein constructed a network of companies and individuals to enable and conceal his alleged sex-trafficking of girls and young women to Little St. James, his luxurious private island resort off the east coast of St. Thomas.
“Epstein, through and in association with defendants, trafficked, raped, sexually assaulted and held captive underage girls and young women at his properties in the Virgin Islands,” the suit said.
…
Several of the financial firms are also being asked for records concerning “The Butterfly Trust,” an Epstein-related entity that opened accounts at Deutsche Bank in 2014 and which listed several of Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators among its beneficiaries, according to a report from New York state regulators released earlier this month.
That report found that Deutsche Bank maintained its relationship with Epstein until late 2018 despite multiple “suspicious transactions” and “red flags” that could have been related to his alleged sex-trafficking operation.
Epstein allegedly used the Butterfly Trust and various other accounts to “send over 120 wires totaling $2.65 million to beneficiaries … including some transfers to alleged co-conspirators or women with Eastern European surnames,” regulators noted, as well as to make “lawsuit settlement payments to alleged victims, and rent, legal, and immigration expenses made to or on behalf of young (albeit adult) women,” according to the report. (source)


shoebat--2020-07-31--One-Third Of Restaurants Face Permanent Closure

I have been reporting on how small businesses have been severely impacted by the fallout from COVID-19 .
One of these industries that has been affected in the restaurant industry , for the industry is overbuilt because it is one of the last industries in the US where it is possible to make a profit , and with the decline in spending , even they can not pay their bills any more .
Bloomberg reports by way of MSN News that the restaurant industry is facing major contractions as just under a quarter million , or approximately one-third of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close because they can not meet their expenses .
A new forecast projects that one in three U.S. restaurants may close permanently this year , showing how the Covid-19 pandemic is decimating an industry that employs millions of Americans .
As many as 231,000 of the nation ’ s roughly 660,000 eateries will likely shut down this year , according to an estimate from restaurant consultancy Aaron Allen & Associates provided to Bloomberg News .
This will bring the industry ’ s steady growth to a halt and mark the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t climb .
Restaurants have already shed millions of jobs this year , economic data show .
In addition , Aaron Allen & Associates calculates that more than 8,000 restaurants in the U.S. have already been directly affected by an employee with coronavirus .
The forecast portends a fundamental change for an industry that for generations has been a bedrock of local economies .
Restaurants — long a key source of employment and income for Americans from all backgrounds — are facing new hurdles as data show that infection rates have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen sit-in dining , such as Georgia , Texas and Florida .
“ We ’ re talking a slow journey back for restaurants to be where they were before the pandemic , and that will take several years to work out , ” said University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin , who has studied consumer behavior for decades .
See Also : Add Rainstorms to the List of Restaurants ’ 2020 Headaches Covid-19 cases rose in tandem with customers entering restaurants , according to data provided to Bloomberg by Zenreach , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor traffic .
But after reports of rising cases emerged , walk-in traffic turned down , the data show .
That doesn ’ t necessarily mean going to restaurants is sparking more coronavirus spread , but it does show how comfortable customers in those markets feel about leaving the house in general .
These patterns — rising virus cases , retrenching customers , restaurants closing — may spark an enduring change in consumer behavior .
Additionally , capacity restrictions can make it difficult or impossible for restaurants to turn a profit .
Zenreach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk-in traffic in Georgia , Florida and Texas is currently at half of what it was a year ago .
But this includes an upturn of more than 20 % since May 1 , he said .
Miami ’ s mayor in July forbade indoor dining after a Covid-19 surge .
The governor of Texas , meanwhile , ordered restaurants to cut back to 50 % capacity .
In Atlanta and Houston , dozens of established eateries have shut down permanently despite their states being among the first to offer sit-down dining .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the level of in-person spending in restaurants was the strongest predictor of where new cases would emerge .
In a follow-up July report , the bank said the correlation still held but was weakening as consumers embraced more precautions such as wearing masks .
“ In every economic shock , you can not move forward until you have controlled the shock , ” he said , comparing Covid-19 to a devastating storm .
“ You want to get back to normal in the middle of a hurricane — it ’ s not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant closures will reverberate beyond the industry itself , which accounts for nearly 4 % of U.S. gross domestic product and employed about 8 % of America ’ s labor force before the pandemic .
On a personal level , Smith said he hasn ’ t been inside a restaurant since early March .
“ People are changing their behavior radically , ” he said .
( source )

I have been reporting on how small businesses have been severely impacted by the fallout from COVID-19. One of these industries that has been affected in the restaurant industry, for the industry is overbuilt because it is one of the last industries in the US where it is possible to make a profit, and with the decline in spending, even they cannot pay their bills any more. Bloomberg reports by way of MSN News that the restaurant industry is facing major contractions as just under a quarter million, or approximately one-third of the nation’s restaurants, may have to close because they cannot meet their expenses.
A new forecast projects that one in three U.S. restaurants may close permanently this year, showing how the Covid-19 pandemic is decimating an industry that employs millions of Americans.
As many as 231,000 of the nation’s roughly 660,000 eateries will likely shut down this year, according to an estimate from restaurant consultancy Aaron Allen & Associates provided to Bloomberg News. This will bring the industry’s steady growth to a halt and mark the first time in two decades that U.S. restaurant counts don’t climb. Restaurants have already shed millions of jobs this year, economic data show.
In addition, Aaron Allen & Associates calculates that more than 8,000 restaurants in the U.S. have already been directly affected by an employee with coronavirus.
The forecast portends a fundamental change for an industry that for generations has been a bedrock of local economies. Restaurants — long a key source of employment and income for Americans from all backgrounds — are facing new hurdles as data show that infection rates have spiked in the states that were first to reopen sit-in dining, such as Georgia, Texas and Florida.
“We’re talking a slow journey back for restaurants to be where they were before the pandemic, and that will take several years to work out,” said University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, who has studied consumer behavior for decades.
See Also: Add Rainstorms to the List of Restaurants’ 2020 Headaches
Covid-19 cases rose in tandem with customers entering restaurants, according to data provided to Bloomberg by Zenreach, which uses wireless signals from cell phones to monitor traffic. But after reports of rising cases emerged, walk-in traffic turned down, the data show. That doesn’t necessarily mean going to restaurants is sparking more coronavirus spread, but it does show how comfortable customers in those markets feel about leaving the house in general.
These patterns — rising virus cases, retrenching customers, restaurants closing — may spark an enduring change in consumer behavior. Additionally, capacity restrictions can make it difficult or impossible for restaurants to turn a profit.
Zenreach Chief Executive Officer John Kelly said restaurant walk-in traffic in Georgia, Florida and Texas is currently at half of what it was a year ago. But this includes an upturn of more than 20% since May 1, he said.
Miami’s mayor in July forbade indoor dining after a Covid-19 surge. The governor of Texas, meanwhile, ordered restaurants to cut back to 50% capacity. In Atlanta and Houston, dozens of established eateries have shut down permanently despite their states being among the first to offer sit-down dining.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. in June found the level of in-person spending in restaurants was the strongest predictor of where new cases would emerge. In a follow-up July report, the bank said the correlation still held but was weakening as consumers embraced more precautions such as wearing masks.
“In every economic shock, you cannot move forward until you have controlled the shock,” he said, comparing Covid-19 to a devastating storm. “You want to get back to normal in the middle of a hurricane — it’s not going to happen.”
The economic impact of restaurant closures will reverberate beyond the industry itself, which accounts for nearly 4% of U.S. gross domestic product and employed about 8% of America’s labor force before the pandemic.
On a personal level, Smith said he hasn’t been inside a restaurant since early March.
“People are changing their behavior radically,” he said. (source)


shoebat--2020-07-31--Eurozone Economically Collapses During COVID-19

America is suffering loudly from the COVID-19 induced economic problems , but Europe is also doing terrible , as AP News reports that the Eurozone has practically collapsed as a result of the pandemic , meaning major problems for the German economy , which has suffered tremendous losses .
The economy of the 19-country eurozone shrank by a devastating 12.1 % in the April-June period from the quarter before – the largest drop on record – as coronavirus lockdowns shut businesses and hampered consumer spending .
Economists say the worst of the downturn is past as many restrictions have eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawn out and vulnerable to renewed virus outbreaks .
Spain , which along with Italy was among the first to get hit hard by the spread of the virus , suffered the region ’ s heaviest drop at 18.5 % .
France , Italy and Portugal also endured steep declines , but no country escaped the impact of the pandemic .
For the currency union as a whole it was the biggest decline since the records started in 1995 .
The broader 27-country European Union , not all of whose members use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The decline in Europe compares with a 9.5 % quarter-on-quarter drop in the United States , which unlike Europe has not yet been able to get its contagion numbers firmly down yet and whose economic recovery is in doubt .
European governments are countering the recession with massive stimulus measures .
EU leaders have agreed on a 750 billion-euro recovery fund backed by common borrowing to support the economy from 2021 .
National governments have stepped in with loans to keep businesses afloat and wage support programs that pay workers ’ salaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Central Bank is pumping 1.35 trillion euros in newly printed money into the economy , a step which helps keep borrowing costs low .
Germany , the largest of the countries that use the euro , went through a 10.1 % decline , the biggest since records started in 1970 .
In France , the startling plunge of 13.8 % in April-June was the third consecutive quarter of contraction in France ’ s worsening recession .
The pain has been so damaging to jobs and industries that the government is talking down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tick upward again .
Finance minister Bruno Le Maire called on French people to spend more to help the economy recover .
“ All the growth in GDP seen in the 2010-2019 decade has been wiped out in five months , ” said Marc Ostwald , chief economist at ADM Investor Services International .
In Italy ’ s case , economists said it wiped out about 30 years of growth .
( source ) Europe and really , Germany is in a LOT of trouble , and she knows .
Indeed , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to in Europe if one had only one nation to follow since Germany is the largest creditor of the Mediterranean nations as well as historically possesses military ambitions and acts on them .
The son of the former Nazi Governor of Poland Hans Frank warned that if Germany were to see heavy economic problems for five to ten years , National Socialism would inevitably return .
In his words , “ do not trust Germany , ” and in his words , “ as long as our economy is great and as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very democratic , but let ’ s wait and see if we have heavy economic problems , and the lake is a swamp , and a sea and will swallow again everything.
” COVID-19 is not going away .
The irony is that the US is in the best position to weather the crisis .
Germany will be annihilated by the economic changes , and this is already beginning .
Be very careful and watch Germany , for as the people become poor and their anger at migrants , which is already very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually transform from nationalism to militarism .
The twentieth century is preparing to repeat again .
It is very unlikely that individuals can stop this , but one can prepare wisely for the future , which for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear , and know German history , means that war is on the horizon again , just as the economic death of the Weimar Republic paved the way for the rise of the Third Reich .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

America is suffering loudly from the COVID-19 induced economic problems, but Europe is also doing terrible, as AP News reports that the Eurozone has practically collapsed as a result of the pandemic, meaning major problems for the German economy, which has suffered tremendous losses.
The economy of the 19-country eurozone shrank by a devastating 12.1% in the April-June period from the quarter before – the largest drop on record – as coronavirus lockdowns shut businesses and hampered consumer spending. Economists say the worst of the downturn is past as many restrictions have eased, but that the recovery will be drawn out and vulnerable to renewed virus outbreaks. Spain, which along with Italy was among the first to get hit hard by the spread of the virus, suffered the region’s heaviest drop at 18.5%. France, Italy and Portugal also endured steep declines, but no country escaped the impact of the pandemic. For the currency union as a whole it was the biggest decline since the records started in 1995. The broader 27-country European Union, not all of whose members use the euro, saw output sag 11.9%. The decline in Europe compares with a 9.5% quarter-on-quarter drop in the United States, which unlike Europe has not yet been able to get its contagion numbers firmly down yet and whose economic recovery is in doubt. European governments are countering the recession with massive stimulus measures. EU leaders have agreed on a 750 billion-euro recovery fund backed by common borrowing to support the economy from 2021. National governments have stepped in with loans to keep businesses afloat and wage support programs that pay workers’ salaries while they are furloughed. The European Central Bank is pumping 1.35 trillion euros in newly printed money into the economy, a step which helps keep borrowing costs low. … Germany, the largest of the countries that use the euro, went through a 10.1% decline, the biggest since records started in 1970.
In France, the startling plunge of 13.8% in April-June was the third consecutive quarter of contraction in France’s worsening recession. The pain has been so damaging to jobs and industries that the government is talking down the possibility of another nationwide lockdown as infections tick upward again. Finance minister Bruno Le Maire called on French people to spend more to help the economy recover. “All the growth in GDP seen in the 2010-2019 decade has been wiped out in five months,” said Marc Ostwald, chief economist at ADM Investor Services International. In Italy’s case, economists said it wiped out about 30 years of growth. (source)
Europe and really, Germany is in a LOT of trouble, and she knows. Indeed, she is the only nation worth paying attention to in Europe if one had only one nation to follow since Germany is the largest creditor of the Mediterranean nations as well as historically possesses military ambitions and acts on them.
The son of the former Nazi Governor of Poland Hans Frank warned that if Germany were to see heavy economic problems for five to ten years, National Socialism would inevitably return. In his words, “do not trust Germany,” and in his words, “as long as our economy is great and as long as we make money, everything is very democratic, but let’s wait and see if we have heavy economic problems, and the lake is a swamp, and a sea and will swallow again everything.”
COVID-19 is not going away. The irony is that the US is in the best position to weather the crisis. Germany will be annihilated by the economic changes, and this is already beginning.
Be very careful and watch Germany, for as the people become poor and their anger at migrants, which is already very strong, will continue to grow and eventually transform from nationalism to militarism.
The twentieth century is preparing to repeat again. It is very unlikely that individuals can stop this, but one can prepare wisely for the future, which for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and know German history, means that war is on the horizon again, just as the economic death of the Weimar Republic paved the way for the rise of the Third Reich.
.
print


shoebat--2020-07-31--Couple Takes Down NORWEGIAN Flag From Business After Americans Complain, Mistake It For Confederate

Couple Takes Down NORWEGIAN Flag From Business After Americans Complain, Mistake It For Confederate Battle Flag

When people speak of the “ Confederate flag ” , most of them refer to the flag of the Second Confederate Navy , known as the “ stars and bars ” .
However , as a note of historical importance , there were actually three basic versions of the flag for the CSA , and eleven independent variants used during the Civil War .
Something also of interesting note is the general American blindness to historical nuance or difference in favor of reactionary politics based on propagandists or agent provocateurs rather than sound material .
Harper ’ s Magazine wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in 1964 entitled The Paranoid Style In American Politics , which I recommend as an insightful read into American psychology not as a merely recent phenomena , but something that is a long-standing pattern of behavior .
One can see this kind of behavior on display throughout history in carious forms , such as with the internment of Japanese people during World War II because “ Japanese are bad ” and in a far less discussed way , the internment of German Americans in World Wars I and II based on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , there is the mistreatment of Sikhs and Hindus at gas stations and convenience stores because they “ looked Muslim ” , and throughout American history , there is everything from riots and pogroms to vandalism and violence against priests , nuns , and Catholic Churches on the basis that the Church is a “ foreign entity trying to SUBVERT AMERICA ” and other insane claims rooted in fantasies of the mind and not any reality .
Unfortunately , there is no reasoning with people in the US when they begin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to assume a “ seek and destroy ” model that believes one should not examine , but destroy and self-justify first because of mob support , and then in the future when it is politically or socially expedient , give a meaningless apology .
Comedian JP Sears and his How to Get Angrier at People You Disagree With video .
This is unfortunately not just a comedic representation of the current situation in numerous areas , but is a long-standing problem in American life .
With that noted , there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Norwegian descent , and next to the American flag they would fly the Norwegian flag as a celebration of their heritage .
However , the couple has recently removed the flag after a series of complaints from numerous people who were unable to distinguish between the Norwegian and Second Confederate Naval flag according to the NY Post .
A Michigan couple took down a Norwegian flag from outside their bed and breakfast because it was regularly mistaken as a symbol of the Confederacy .
Greg and Kjersten Offenecker , who own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they removed both the Norwegian flag and an American flag posted outside their Civil War-era mansion last week following accusations of promoting racism in the largely conservative Michigan town .
The couple made the move after receiving “ at least a dozen hateful emails ” and twice as many comments about it , Kjersten Offenbecker told the Lansing State Journal .
“ I don ’ t see it because I grew up with the Norwegian flag , ” she told the newspaper .
“ To me they are two distinct flags.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9,000-square-foot mansion built in 1861 two years ago , started flying the Norwegian flag shortly after taking over the property .
Kjersten Offenbecker said they were still new in town when the owner of a downtown shop relayed to her that someone had mistaken the Norwegian flag as a Confederate one .
“ We were panicked initially because we were like , ‘ Oh my gosh .
This town thinks that we ’ re hanging the Confederate flag , ” said Kjersten , whose grandfather was born in Norway .
Both flags have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and symbols differ – the Norwegian flag features a blue Scandinavian cross , while the Confederate flag is comprised of a blue “ X ” with white stars .
Greg Offenbecker , a Navy vet who served in Desert Storm , said he was dumbfounded that some people regularly confused the two flags .
“ It bugs me as far as the stupidity of people , ” he told the newspaper .
“ Even if the flag is blowing in the wind or laying limp , there are no stars on it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the move in a July 20 statement on the bed and breakfast ’ s Facebook page , saying the removal was necessary given the “ current cultural climate ” and judgment by others based on their misconceptions .
“ I urge people to slow down and see the world through less jaded glasses , ” she wrote .
“ When we think of the worst before we have all the facts , we lose sight of all of [ the ] good [ that ’ s ] out there that we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us you would see that we are very proud Americans and very patriotic.
” Offenbecker also noted that she and her husband have adopted two black children whom they ’ ve taught “ not to judge on first glance or outward appearances.
” Some St. Johns residents , meanwhile , have since urged the couple to start flying their Norwegian flag again , but they ’ re refusing to do so unless there ’ s a way to make sure it won ’ t be mistaken again for a Confederate one , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve gotten a lot of support since taking it down but we took it down because we weren ’ t getting support , ” Kjersten Offenbecker told the newspaper .
( source ) It is clear from looking at the flags there is very little semblance save for color schema between the flags .
Yet the fact that people are persisting in harassing the couple is indicative of not only this particular trait of American behavior , but the fact that as a society , we have lost the ability in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are entering into a cycle of extremist and reactionary behavior that , decades later , will be decried as “ another dark period ” where “ mistakes were made ” , and historians will wonder “ how could people think this way ” , meanwhile people at the same time will be preparing to follow the next new Pied Piper and is deceptive flute to their destruction over a new and equally foolish issue .
The way to solve the problem is the same answer as always- not to demand an answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , think carefully through consequences , and respond in a balanced matter seeking mercy and justice for all .
It is the Christian way , not the way of reactionaries , tribalists , manipulators , exploiters , or revolutionaries who do not seek harmony , but imbalance in all things so to advance their own control over people .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

When people speak of the “Confederate flag”, most of them refer to the flag of the Second Confederate Navy, known as the “stars and bars”. However, as a note of historical importance, there were actually three basic versions of the flag for the CSA, and eleven independent variants used during the Civil War.
Something also of interesting note is the general American blindness to historical nuance or difference in favor of reactionary politics based on propagandists or agent provocateurs rather than sound material. Harper’s Magazine wrote a very important article about this pattern back in 1964 entitled The Paranoid Style In American Politics, which I recommend as an insightful read into American psychology not as a merely recent phenomena, but something that is a long-standing pattern of behavior.
One can see this kind of behavior on display throughout history in carious forms, such as with the internment of Japanese people during World War II because “Japanese are bad” and in a far less discussed way, the internment of German Americans in World Wars I and II based on the same patterns of thinking. In recent times, there is the mistreatment of Sikhs and Hindus at gas stations and convenience stores because they “looked Muslim”, and throughout American history, there is everything from riots and pogroms to vandalism and violence against priests, nuns, and Catholic Churches on the basis that the Church is a “foreign entity trying to SUBVERT AMERICA” and other insane claims rooted in fantasies of the mind and not any reality.
Unfortunately, there is no reasoning with people in the US when they begin to think like this, as the people tend to assume a “seek and destroy” model that believes one should not examine, but destroy and self-justify first because of mob support, and then in the future when it is politically or socially expedient, give a meaningless apology.
Comedian JP Sears and his How to Get Angrier at People You Disagree With video. This is unfortunately not just a comedic representation of the current situation in numerous areas, but is a long-standing problem in American life.
With that noted, there is a bed and breakfast in Michigan owned by people of Norwegian descent, and next to the American flag they would fly the Norwegian flag as a celebration of their heritage. However, the couple has recently removed the flag after a series of complaints from numerous people who were unable to distinguish between the Norwegian and Second Confederate Naval flag according to the NY Post.
A Michigan couple took down a Norwegian flag from outside their bed and breakfast because it was regularly mistaken as a symbol of the Confederacy. Greg and Kjersten Offenecker, who own The Nordic Pineapple in St. Johns, said they removed both the Norwegian flag and an American flag posted outside their Civil War-era mansion last week following accusations of promoting racism in the largely conservative Michigan town. The couple made the move after receiving “at least a dozen hateful emails” and twice as many comments about it, Kjersten Offenbecker told the Lansing State Journal. “I don’t see it because I grew up with the Norwegian flag,” she told the newspaper. “To me they are two distinct flags.” The couple, who bought the nearly 9,000-square-foot mansion built in 1861 two years ago, started flying the Norwegian flag shortly after taking over the property. Kjersten Offenbecker said they were still new in town when the owner of a downtown shop relayed to her that someone had mistaken the Norwegian flag as a Confederate one. “We were panicked initially because we were like, ‘Oh my gosh. This town thinks that we’re hanging the Confederate flag,” said Kjersten, whose grandfather was born in Norway. Both flags have the same colors, although their patterns and symbols differ – the Norwegian flag features a blue Scandinavian cross, while the Confederate flag is comprised of a blue “X” with white stars. Greg Offenbecker, a Navy vet who served in Desert Storm, said he was dumbfounded that some people regularly confused the two flags. “It bugs me as far as the stupidity of people,” he told the newspaper. “Even if the flag is blowing in the wind or laying limp, there are no stars on it. They look nothing alike.” Kjersten Offenbecker announced the move in a July 20 statement on the bed and breakfast’s Facebook page, saying the removal was necessary given the “current cultural climate” and judgment by others based on their misconceptions. “I urge people to slow down and see the world through less jaded glasses,” she wrote. “When we think of the worst before we have all the facts, we lose sight of all of [the] good [that’s] out there that we should find. If you got to know us you would see that we are very proud Americans and very patriotic.” Offenbecker also noted that she and her husband have adopted two black children whom they’ve taught “not to judge on first glance or outward appearances.” Some St. Johns residents, meanwhile, have since urged the couple to start flying their Norwegian flag again, but they’re refusing to do so unless there’s a way to make sure it won’t be mistaken again for a Confederate one, the Lansing State Journal reports. “We’ve gotten a lot of support since taking it down but we took it down because we weren’t getting support,” Kjersten Offenbecker told the newspaper. (source)
It is clear from looking at the flags there is very little semblance save for color schema between the flags. Yet the fact that people are persisting in harassing the couple is indicative of not only this particular trait of American behavior, but the fact that as a society, we have lost the ability in any way to disagree in a civil way and are entering into a cycle of extremist and reactionary behavior that, decades later, will be decried as “another dark period” where “mistakes were made”, and historians will wonder “how could people think this way”, meanwhile people at the same time will be preparing to follow the next new Pied Piper and is deceptive flute to their destruction over a new and equally foolish issue.
The way to solve the problem is the same answer as always- not to demand an answer immediately, but to take time to process, think carefully through consequences, and respond in a balanced matter seeking mercy and justice for all. It is the Christian way, not the way of reactionaries, tribalists, manipulators, exploiters, or revolutionaries who do not seek harmony, but imbalance in all things so to advance their own control over people.
print


shoebat--2020-07-31--COVID-19 Causes Massive Disruptions To Hajj And The Entire Muslim World

While tourism is down worldwide , and governments and citizens alike try to deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic , it has had considerable effects on the Hajj , which is the one-in-a-lifetime-required pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims make during the month on the Islamic lunar calendar of Ramadan .
While millions of people usually come each year , that number is scarcely a thousand people , most of the residing in Saudi Arabia .
Likewise , the disruptions to the economic systems have caused food prices to increase and due to a lack of business in various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening the livelihoods of people all throughout the Muslim world as the AP reports .
Small groups of pilgrims performed one of the final rites of the Islamic hajj on Friday as Muslims worldwide marked the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday amid a global pandemic that has impacted nearly every aspect of this year ’ s pilgrimage and celebrations .
The last days of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia coincide with the four-day Eid al-Adha , or “ Feast of Sacrifice , ” in which Muslims slaughter livestock and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pandemic has pushed millions of people around the world closer to the brink of poverty , making it harder for many to fulfill the religious tradition of purchasing livestock .
In Somalia , the price of meat has slightly increased .
Abdishakur Dahir , a civil servant in Mogadishu , said that for the first time he won ’ t be able to afford goat for Eid because of the impact of the virus on work .
“ I could hardly buy food for my family , ” Dahir said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Life is getting tougher by the day.
” In some parts of West Africa , the price for a ram has doubled .
Livestock sellers , used to doing brisk business in the days before the holiday , say sales have dwindled and those who are buying can ’ t afford much .
“ The situation is really complicated by the coronavirus , it ’ s a tough market , ” Oumar Maiga , a livestock trader in Ivory Coast said .
“ We are in a situation we ’ ve never seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also been drastically impacted by the virus .
Last year , some 2.5 million pilgrims took part , but this year as few as 1,000 pilgrims already residing in Saudi Arabia were allowed to preform the hajj .
The Saudi Health Ministry said there have been no cases of the COVID-19 illness among this year ’ s pilgrims .
The government took numerous precautions , including testing pilgrims for the virus , monitoring their movement with electronic wristbands and requiring them to quarantine before and after the hajj .
Pilgrims were selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all had to be between 20 and 50 years of age .
In the Iraqi capital of Baghdad , streets were largely empty due to a 10-day lockdown imposed by authorities to prevent further spread of the virus .
Eid prayers in mosques were canceled .
“ We had hoped that the curfew would be lifted during the Eid period … we were surprised that the lockdown period included the Eid holiday and more , ” said Marwan Madhat , a Baghdad cafe owner .
“ This will cause losses.
” Kosovo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed mosques to limit the spread of the virus .
In Lebanon , Muslim worshippers prayed in mosques under tight security , despite a partial lockdown imposed on Thursday that will continue through Aug. 10 .
Worshippers at the Mohammad al-Amin Mosque in the capital , Beirut , spilled onto the street outside to maintain social distancing rules .
In Indonesia , home to the world ’ s largest population of Muslims , people were allowed to attend Eid prayers in mosques under strict health guidelines , including that they bring their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from one another .
Worshippers must wear masks and are not allowed to shake hands or hug .
Authorities in Indonesia also ordered that meat be delivered door-to-door to the poor to avoid long lines .
“ This outbreak has not only changed our tradition entirely , but has also made more and more people fall into poverty , ” said Agus Supriatna , an Indonesian factory worker who was laid off this year because of the pandemic .
Muslim leaders in Albania and Kosovo called on people “ to be careful ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , including limiting family visits .
A few days ahead of the holiday , Alioune Ndong in Senegal said he did not know how he ’ d come up with the money for his family ’ s feast .
He called on Senegal ’ s government to help struggling families like his .
“ COVID-19 has drained my money , ” said Ndong , a tailor based in the town of Mbour .
( source )

While tourism is down worldwide, and governments and citizens alike try to deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has had considerable effects on the Hajj, which is the one-in-a-lifetime-required pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims make during the month on the Islamic lunar calendar of Ramadan. While millions of people usually come each year, that number is scarcely a thousand people, most of the residing in Saudi Arabia. Likewise, the disruptions to the economic systems have caused food prices to increase and due to a lack of business in various sectors connected to the hajj, is threatening the livelihoods of people all throughout the Muslim world as the AP reports.
Small groups of pilgrims performed one of the final rites of the Islamic hajj on Friday as Muslims worldwide marked the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday amid a global pandemic that has impacted nearly every aspect of this year’s pilgrimage and celebrations.
The last days of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia coincide with the four-day Eid al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice,” in which Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.
The pandemic has pushed millions of people around the world closer to the brink of poverty, making it harder for many to fulfill the religious tradition of purchasing livestock.
In Somalia, the price of meat has slightly increased. Abdishakur Dahir, a civil servant in Mogadishu, said that for the first time he won’t be able to afford goat for Eid because of the impact of the virus on work.
“I could hardly buy food for my family,” Dahir said. “We are just surviving for now. Life is getting tougher by the day.”
In some parts of West Africa, the price for a ram has doubled. Livestock sellers, used to doing brisk business in the days before the holiday, say sales have dwindled and those who are buying can’t afford much.
“The situation is really complicated by the coronavirus, it’s a tough market,” Oumar Maiga, a livestock trader in Ivory Coast said. “We are in a situation we’ve never seen in other years.”
The hajj pilgrimage has also been drastically impacted by the virus. Last year, some 2.5 million pilgrims took part, but this year as few as 1,000 pilgrims already residing in Saudi Arabia were allowed to preform the hajj.
The Saudi Health Ministry said there have been no cases of the COVID-19 illness among this year’s pilgrims. The government took numerous precautions, including testing pilgrims for the virus, monitoring their movement with electronic wristbands and requiring them to quarantine before and after the hajj. Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal, and all had to be between 20 and 50 years of age.
…
In the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, streets were largely empty due to a 10-day lockdown imposed by authorities to prevent further spread of the virus. Eid prayers in mosques were canceled.
“We had hoped that the curfew would be lifted during the Eid period … we were surprised that the lockdown period included the Eid holiday and more,” said Marwan Madhat, a Baghdad cafe owner. “This will cause losses.”
Kosovo and the United Arab Emirates have also closed mosques to limit the spread of the virus.
In Lebanon, Muslim worshippers prayed in mosques under tight security, despite a partial lockdown imposed on Thursday that will continue through Aug. 10. Worshippers at the Mohammad al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut, spilled onto the street outside to maintain social distancing rules.
In Indonesia, home to the world’s largest population of Muslims, people were allowed to attend Eid prayers in mosques under strict health guidelines, including that they bring their own prayer mats and pray several feet apart from one another. Worshippers must wear masks and are not allowed to shake hands or hug.
Authorities in Indonesia also ordered that meat be delivered door-to-door to the poor to avoid long lines.
“This outbreak has not only changed our tradition entirely, but has also made more and more people fall into poverty,” said Agus Supriatna, an Indonesian factory worker who was laid off this year because of the pandemic.
Muslim leaders in Albania and Kosovo called on people “to be careful” in their festivities to avoid transmission of the virus, including limiting family visits.
A few days ahead of the holiday, Alioune Ndong in Senegal said he did not know how he’d come up with the money for his family’s feast. He called on Senegal’s government to help struggling families like his.
“COVID-19 has drained my money,” said Ndong, a tailor based in the town of Mbour. (source)


shoebat--2020-07-31--Turkey Tells Facebook And Twitter: Give Us The Data For Your Followers Or We Will Punish You With $1

Turkey Tells Facebook And Twitter: Give Us The Data For Your Followers Or We Will Punish You With $1.5 Million Fines

The government of Turkey wants to put severe restrictions on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter , such as providing the government with the data of Turkish citizens under the threat of $ 1.5 million fines .
A we read in a report from CNN : Turkey ’ s parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that regulates social media content in what is being criticized by rights groups as “ damaging ” to freedom of expression .
Here ’ s what it all means .
The bill imposes comprehensive regulations on social media , requiring foreign social media companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Twitter and Facebook — to have a representative in the country .
Under the new law , social media providers will be required to store domestic user data in Turkey , imposing fines of up to $ 1.5 million , as well as bandwidth restrictions and advertising bans , for failure to comply .
The government defends the bill as an effort to protect approximately 55 million users in Turkey from disinformation .
“ The bill was prepared with an innovative approach to protect users as opposed to curtailing them , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tweet .

By Theodore Shoebat
The government of Turkey wants to put severe restrictions on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, such as providing the government with the data of Turkish citizens under the threat of $1.5 million fines. A we read in a report from CNN:
Turkey’s parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that regulates social media content in what is being criticized by rights groups as “damaging” to freedom of expression. Here’s what it all means.
The bill imposes comprehensive regulations on social media, requiring foreign social media companies with over 1 million users — such as Twitter and Facebook — to have a representative in the country. Under the new law, social media providers will be required to store domestic user data in Turkey, imposing fines of up to $1.5 million, as well as bandwidth restrictions and advertising bans, for failure to comply.
The government defends the bill as an effort to protect approximately 55 million users in Turkey from disinformation. “The bill was prepared with an innovative approach to protect users as opposed to curtailing them,” Ismail Cesur, a presidential adviser said in a tweet.


shoebat--2020-07-31--New Report Reveals That Turkey Pressured Libyan Government To Allow Turkish Military To Invade Libya

New Report Reveals That Turkey Pressured Libyan Government To Allow Turkish Military To Invade Libya For Resources

Turkey was given rights over natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean on the Libyan coast , causing great concerns for Greece , Israel and Egypt who fear Turkish encroachment .
Now it turns out that Turkey pressured the Libyan government by being its only support against Khalifa Haftar ( who is backed by Egypt , Russia and France ) , thus giving it no choice but to give Turkey drilling rights .
As we read in a report from the Jerusalem Post : it now turns out that Ankara was pressuring Sarraj for a year for the energy and maritime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really ready to give support .
TURKEY ’ S CURRENT regime , which has increasingly jailed tens of thousands of dissidents and suppressed Kurdish civil rights in recent years , has been accused of working with extremists in northern Syria .
ISIS members are often found to have fled to Turkey or used it to transit to Idlib .
ISIS leader Abu Baqr al-Baghdadi was found in October 2019 in Syria close to the Turkish border .
ISIS members have even trafficked Yazidi genocide victims to Turkish-occupied Idlib province in Syria .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which operates in Turkish-occupied areas of Syria .
It now appears that Turkey will milk Libya economically .
The AP report says Ankara has given Tripoli a bill of $ 1.7 billion for money owed to Turkish companies .

By Theodore Shoebat
Turkey was given rights over natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean on the Libyan coast, causing great concerns for Greece, Israel and Egypt who fear Turkish encroachment. Now it turns out that Turkey pressured the Libyan government by being its only support against Khalifa Haftar (who is backed by Egypt, Russia and France), thus giving it no choice but to give Turkey drilling rights. As we read in a report from the Jerusalem Post:
it now turns out that Ankara was pressuring Sarraj for a year for the energy and maritime deal. Turkey was the only country really ready to give support.
“Islamists inside Sarraj’s administration” also supported the deal.
TURKEY’S CURRENT regime, which has increasingly jailed tens of thousands of dissidents and suppressed Kurdish civil rights in recent years, has been accused of working with extremists in northern Syria.
ISIS members are often found to have fled to Turkey or used it to transit to Idlib. ISIS leader Abu Baqr al-Baghdadi was found in October 2019 in Syria close to the Turkish border.
ISIS members have even trafficked Yazidi genocide victims to Turkish-occupied Idlib province in Syria. The US has carried out airstrikes against Al-Qaeda, which operates in Turkish-occupied areas of Syria.
It now appears that Turkey will milk Libya economically. The AP report says Ankara has given Tripoli a bill of $1.7 billion for money owed to Turkish companies.


shoebat--2020-08-02--Human Nature Proves The Trinity And That God Is Three

The Catholic Church Defends Murderers And Pedophiles And Is On The Road To Hell
The institution has become evil:...


shoebat--2020-08-01--Forget About The Chinese, American Social Credit Scores Are Already Here

For a while , I have reported and warned about the dangers of the Chinese “ social credit ” system , which “ scores ” people based on a variety of random characteristics , and how it is an incredibly dangerous thing because it allows for the creation of an electronic caste system that actively locks certain people out of certain social venues and classifies them into categories they are not necessarily able to escape from .
This is one of various warnings of the concept of the ‘ matrix ’ , where people are trapped in a sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elite ’ for their own benefit in a new system of slavery .
The Washington Post reports by way of Chron.com that this social credit system is already here and is being silently used in the US to judge consumers in a never-before-seen vacuum of data that is actively replicating what exists in China .
Operating in the shadows of the online marketplace , specialized tech companies you ’ ve likely never heard of are tapping vast troves of our personal data to generate secret “ surveillance scores ” – digital mug shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predict our future behavior .
The firms sell their scoring services to major businesses across the U.S. economy .
CoreLogic and TransUnion say that scores they peddle to landlords can predict whether a potential tenant will pay the rent on time , be able to “ absorb rent increases , ” or break a lease .
Large employers use HireVue , a firm that generates an “ employability ” score about candidates by analyzing “ tens of thousands of factors , ” including a person ’ s facial expressions and voice intonations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which considers where a job prospect lives and which web browser they use to judge how successful they will be at a job .
Brand-name retailers purchase “ risk scores ” from Retail Equation to help make judgments about whether consumers commit fraud when they return goods for refunds .
Players in the gig economy use outside firms such as Sift to score consumers ’ “ overall trustworthiness.
” Wireless customers predicted to be less profitable are sometimes forced to endure longer customer service hold times .
Auto insurers raise premiums based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apps that track driving styles .
Large analytics firms monitor whether we are likely to take our medication based on our propensity to refill our prescriptions ; pharmaceutical companies , health-care providers and insurance companies can use those scores to , among other things , “ match the right patient investment level to the right patients.
” Surveillance scoring is the product of two trends .
First is the rampant ( and mostly unregulated ) collection of every intimate detail about our lives , amassed by the nanosecond from smartphones to cars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of data – most of which we surrender voluntarily – includes our demographics , income , facial characteristics , the sound of our voice , our precise location , shopping history , medical conditions , genetic information , what we search for on the Internet , the websites we visit , when we read an email , what apps we use and how long we use them , and how often we sleep , exercise and the like .
The second trend driving these scores is the arrival of technologies able to instantaneously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers and high-speed communications systems such as 5G , which lead to the scoring algorithms that use artificial intelligence to rate all of us in some way .
The result : automated decisions , based on each consumer ’ s unique score , that are , as a practical matter , irreversible .
That ’ s because the entire process – the scores themselves , as well as the data upon which they are based – is concealed from us .
It is mostly impossible to know when one has become the casualty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a score is inaccurate , outdated or the product of biased or discriminatory code programmed by a faceless software engineer .
There is no appeal .
( source ) The main difference between the American and Chinese systems , it seems , will be that the Chinese system is openly brutal and repressive , while the American system allows a lot more , but still watches and operates in silence , and more nefariously , may “ attack ” at a more opportune time , and over specific matters , as opposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach .
In both model , nobody wins at all , because there is the surrendering of personal data , a loss of freedom , and the oppression of the common man to a small group of people unaccountable to anybody and for whom there is never enough power , as they ultimately desire not to be stewards of the world , but rather to overtake its creator and set themselves up in His place .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
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For a while, I have reported and warned about the dangers of the Chinese “social credit” system, which “scores” people based on a variety of random characteristics, and how it is an incredibly dangerous thing because it allows for the creation of an electronic caste system that actively locks certain people out of certain social venues and classifies them into categories they are not necessarily able to escape from. This is one of various warnings of the concept of the ‘matrix’, where people are trapped in a sort of controlling grid administered by a technocratic ‘elite’ for their own benefit in a new system of slavery.
The Washington Post reports by way of Chron.com that this social credit system is already here and is being silently used in the US to judge consumers in a never-before-seen vacuum of data that is actively replicating what exists in China.
Operating in the shadows of the online marketplace, specialized tech companies you’ve likely never heard of are tapping vast troves of our personal data to generate secret “surveillance scores” – digital mug shots of millions of Americans – that supposedly predict our future behavior. The firms sell their scoring services to major businesses across the U.S. economy. People with low scores can suffer harsh consequences. CoreLogic and TransUnion say that scores they peddle to landlords can predict whether a potential tenant will pay the rent on time, be able to “absorb rent increases,” or break a lease. Large employers use HireVue, a firm that generates an “employability” score about candidates by analyzing “tens of thousands of factors,” including a person’s facial expressions and voice intonations. Other employers use Cornerstone’s score, which considers where a job prospect lives and which web browser they use to judge how successful they will be at a job. Brand-name retailers purchase “risk scores” from Retail Equation to help make judgments about whether consumers commit fraud when they return goods for refunds. Players in the gig economy use outside firms such as Sift to score consumers’ “overall trustworthiness.” Wireless customers predicted to be less profitable are sometimes forced to endure longer customer service hold times. Auto insurers raise premiums based on scores calculated using information from smartphone apps that track driving styles. Large analytics firms monitor whether we are likely to take our medication based on our propensity to refill our prescriptions; pharmaceutical companies, health-care providers and insurance companies can use those scores to, among other things, “match the right patient investment level to the right patients.” Surveillance scoring is the product of two trends. First is the rampant (and mostly unregulated) collection of every intimate detail about our lives, amassed by the nanosecond from smartphones to cars, toasters to toys. This fire hose of data – most of which we surrender voluntarily – includes our demographics, income, facial characteristics, the sound of our voice, our precise location, shopping history, medical conditions, genetic information, what we search for on the Internet, the websites we visit, when we read an email, what apps we use and how long we use them, and how often we sleep, exercise and the like. The second trend driving these scores is the arrival of technologies able to instantaneously crunch this data: exponentially more powerful computers and high-speed communications systems such as 5G, which lead to the scoring algorithms that use artificial intelligence to rate all of us in some way. The result: automated decisions, based on each consumer’s unique score, that are, as a practical matter, irreversible. That’s because the entire process – the scores themselves, as well as the data upon which they are based – is concealed from us. It is mostly impossible to know when one has become the casualty of a score, let alone whether a score is inaccurate, outdated or the product of biased or discriminatory code programmed by a faceless software engineer. There is no appeal. (source)
The main difference between the American and Chinese systems, it seems, will be that the Chinese system is openly brutal and repressive, while the American system allows a lot more, but still watches and operates in silence, and more nefariously, may “attack” at a more opportune time, and over specific matters, as opposed to the hard, brutish “one-size-fits-all” approach. In both model, nobody wins at all, because there is the surrendering of personal data, a loss of freedom, and the oppression of the common man to a small group of people unaccountable to anybody and for whom there is never enough power, as they ultimately desire not to be stewards of the world, but rather to overtake its creator and set themselves up in His place.
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