theduran--2020-04-04--Can Coronavirus Diplomacy Bring EU closer to Eurasia?

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Paul Antonopoulos , Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies… The European Union ( EU ) and the Eurasian Economic Union ( EEU ) , an association of post-Soviet states , effectively serve a similar function to each other as an economic bloc .
Unlike the 27-member EU , the EEU has only 5-members as many post-Soviet states allege it is nothing but an attempt to revive the Soviet Union , which the countries of the West do not want to promote .
The West ’ s resistance has brought no economic benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflected in the limited success of sanctions against Russia .
However , the credibility of the EU and the liberal orders continues to diminish as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Therefore , the coronavirus pandemic actually creates a unique opportunity for the EU and EEU to integrate into a single system , or at least move closer together .
Russia ’ s dominance of the EEU is both a positive and a negative for Eurasian integration .
Russia ’ s large market forms the basis of the integration potential of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sanctions and its participation in global geopolitics create risks for the Eurasian integration process .
However , Eurasian integration would be in the interest of EU as it will connect European states to new markets in Central and East Asia far more efficiently and quickly then by other means .
The EU claims that it works towards common markets and efficiency but does not seriously consider connecting Lisbon on the Atlantic Ocean to Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean .
The EU is losing its position as a top trading partner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just because of China ’ s growing importance .
As a trading partner of the EEU , China has already surpassed most of Europe .
The role of the EU as a trading partner of the whole EEU is due to the important role of the EU for Russia .
However , Russia has been slowly turning eastward from the EU for years now as the future leading economies of the world will shift from the West to Asia .
Coronavirus is certainly accelerating this reality as the entirety of the Anglosphere and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to handle the economic pressures of the pandemic .
This pandemic and economic downturn effectively means that only China and Russia will compete for investments in the extremely resource rich Central Asia .
As EU economies begin to recover in the aftermath of the coronavirus and their energy demands are not being met access to Central Asia may become a priority .
Ironically , Russia is the only means for the EU to enter the markets of the post-Soviet countries outside of Eastern Europe .
Therefore , with the liberal order severely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will have to be acknowledged in the West that the EEU project as a whole is a force for good and the EU will have to admit it made a mistake by not initially recognizing the EEU .
With this in mind , the EU must show independent foreign policy and resolve its disputes with Russia , even if Washington insists on enacting hostiles relations with Moscow .
As the EU originally began as an economic union without much of a political nature , by returning to their roots will mean naturally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy is the concentrated expression of politics , then mutual economic interests should be the foundation of reconciliation between Brussels and Moscow .
French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the leading voices in normalizing relations with Russia , despite his harsh rhetoric against Moscow time to time .
Let ’ s consider Macron ’ s Facebook post from last year where he said “ progress on many political and economic issues is evident , for we ’ re trying to develop Franco-Russian relations .
I ’ m convinced that , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a security and trust architecture between the European Union and Russia.
” With Macron stressing that Russia is part of Europe , he expanded on General de Gaulle ’ s famous phrase that Europe stretches “ from Lisbon to the Urals , ” to say that Europe extended to Vladivostok , close to the North Korean border .
Macron is one of the most powerful voices in Europe and strongly endorses a weakening of U.S. influence in Europe through various means , including criticism of NATO and suggestion to have it replaced with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s vision of Lisbon to Vladivostok as a common space is the best way to avoid a crisis on the Eurasian landmass .
For countries like Ukraine who are stuck between both East and West , the integration of the EU and EEU would actually serve as a stabilizing factor .
Therefore , as the coronavirus has exposed weaknesses in the liberal globalized order , an opportunity has actually emerged where the EU and EEU can more closely align and integrate .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Paul Antonopoulos, Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies…
The European Union (EU) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), an association of post-Soviet states, effectively serve a similar function to each other as an economic bloc. Unlike the 27-member EU, the EEU has only 5-members as many post-Soviet states allege it is nothing but an attempt to revive the Soviet Union, which the countries of the West do not want to promote. The West’s resistance has brought no economic benefit to it and this geopolitical duel was reflected in the limited success of sanctions against Russia. However, the credibility of the EU and the liberal orders continues to diminish as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the coronavirus pandemic actually creates a unique opportunity for the EU and EEU to integrate into a single system, or at least move closer together.
Russia’s dominance of the EEU is both a positive and a negative for Eurasian integration. Russia’s large market forms the basis of the integration potential of the EEU, however, limited economic growth, sanctions and its participation in global geopolitics create risks for the Eurasian integration process. However, Eurasian integration would be in the interest of EU as it will connect European states to new markets in Central and East Asia far more efficiently and quickly then by other means. The EU claims that it works towards common markets and efficiency but does not seriously consider connecting Lisbon on the Atlantic Ocean to Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean.
The EU is losing its position as a top trading partner of the EEU, and it’s not just because of China’s growing importance. As a trading partner of the EEU, China has already surpassed most of Europe. The role of the EU as a trading partner of the whole EEU is due to the important role of the EU for Russia. However, Russia has been slowly turning eastward from the EU for years now as the future leading economies of the world will shift from the West to Asia.
Coronavirus is certainly accelerating this reality as the entirety of the Anglosphere and Western Europe head towards a severe recession unable to handle the economic pressures of the pandemic. This pandemic and economic downturn effectively means that only China and Russia will compete for investments in the extremely resource rich Central Asia. As EU economies begin to recover in the aftermath of the coronavirus and their energy demands are not being met access to Central Asia may become a priority. Ironically, Russia is the only means for the EU to enter the markets of the post-Soviet countries outside of Eastern Europe. Therefore, with the liberal order severely damaged in the face of coronavirus, it will have to be acknowledged in the West that the EEU project as a whole is a force for good and the EU will have to admit it made a mistake by not initially recognizing the EEU.
With this in mind, the EU must show independent foreign policy and resolve its disputes with Russia, even if Washington insists on enacting hostiles relations with Moscow. As the EU originally began as an economic union without much of a political nature, by returning to their roots will mean naturally a change in foreign policy. If the economy is the concentrated expression of politics, then mutual economic interests should be the foundation of reconciliation between Brussels and Moscow.
French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the leading voices in normalizing relations with Russia, despite his harsh rhetoric against Moscow time to time. Let’s consider Macron’s Facebook post from last year where he said “progress on many political and economic issues is evident, for we’re trying to develop Franco-Russian relations. I’m convinced that, in this multilateral restructuring, we must develop a security and trust architecture between the European Union and Russia.” With Macron stressing that Russia is part of Europe, he expanded on General de Gaulle’s famous phrase that Europe stretches “from Lisbon to the Urals,” to say that Europe extended to Vladivostok, close to the North Korean border. Macron is one of the most powerful voices in Europe and strongly endorses a weakening of U.S. influence in Europe through various means, including criticism of NATO and suggestion to have it replaced with a European military.
The EEU’s vision of Lisbon to Vladivostok as a common space is the best way to avoid a crisis on the Eurasian landmass. For countries like Ukraine who are stuck between both East and West, the integration of the EU and EEU would actually serve as a stabilizing factor. Therefore, as the coronavirus has exposed weaknesses in the liberal globalized order, an opportunity has actually emerged where the EU and EEU can more closely align and integrate.
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theduran--2020-04-04--When It’s Over, Will We Be the Same America?

“ Depend upon it , sir , when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight , it concentrates his mind wonderfully , ” said Samuel Johnson .
And as it is with men , so it is with nations .
Monday , Dr. Deborah Birx , White House coronavirus response coordinator , projected some 100,000 to 200,000 U.S. deaths from the pandemic , “ if we do things almost perfectly.
” She agreed with Dr. Anthony Fauci ’ s estimate that , if we do “ nothing , ” the American dead could reach 2.2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice as many dead as have perished in all our wars from the American Revolution to the Civil War , World War I and II , and Korea and Vietnam .
This does indeed concentrate the mind wonderfully .
Now add to this slaughter of our countrymen a market plunge steeper than the 1929 Crash and a 1930s-style Depression .
Wall Street analysts are talking of a wipeout of 30 % of our GDP and unemployment reaching 35 % .
On March 3 , Super Tuesday , we were caught up in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s stunning victory in South Carolina , which broke the momentum of Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ wins in Iowa , New Hampshire and Nevada .
What March 2020 produced and what it appears to portend is a sea change in U.S. history , an inflection point , an event after which things never return to what they were .
The coronavirus crisis seems to be one of those epochal events that alter the character of the country and the course of the republic .
Consider what has happened in three weeks .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and balanced budgets , approved with but a single dissent a $ 2 trillion emergency bill .
There is talk now of a second $ 2 trillion bill , this one for infrastructure .
In a single month then , a Republican Senate and president grew the federal budget by 50 % and are looking to double that .
For years , Democrats raised alarms about Trump ’ s poaching of the powers of the other branches .
Now Democrats are demanding to know why Trump has not shut down the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latent dictatorial powers to order U.S. companies to produce what the nation ’ s hospitals demand .
Democrats who long accused Trump of xenophobia and racism for seeking to close the borders to migrants entering the country illegally are now silent as Trump closes America to the world .
First Amendment free press champions are calling for Trump ’ s White House briefings not to be carried on TV because the president is spouting propaganda and lies .
The problem : The people are watching and approving of what the media think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a crisis will jettison lifelong beliefs like this readily , how enduring will their professed belief in democracy itself prove ?
The president thinks this will be a V-shaped recession , that once the economy hits bottom and turns up , it will soar , as in 1946 when pent-up demand from World War II was unleashed and America began to churn out cars and consumer good as rapidly as it had weapons of war .
Perhaps .
But put me down as a skeptic .
You can ’ t go home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , followed by what is coming in April and May , will have lasting impacts on the hearts and minds of this generation .
That once-insatiable appetite for Chinese-made goods at the mall — will it really return ?
Will Americans , after having “ socially distanced ” for months from family and friends , be reassured of their safety and pack into restaurants in July ?
Observing the carrier Theodore Roosevelt in Guam offloading scores of sailors infected with coronavirus , will Americans be up for a clash with a China that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South China Sea ?
Will Americans who survive this crisis care whether Iranian-backed Shiites dominate Iraq or Saudi-backed Sunni prevail in Yemen ?
If March shocked this nation as severely as 9/11 , what is coming may be even more sobering .
Are millions of unemployed workers without the cash to pay for or to find medicine and groceries likely to stay indoors for weeks or months ?
All those criminals being given early release from virus-infested jails and prisons without the means to provide for themselves and their families , how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheltering in place ?
Will MS-13 and its thousands of members , and its rival gangs that live off narcotics sales , comply ?
Americans have done well in staying home in March .
Will they do so through April , May and perhaps June ?
Or will the system gradually break down just as the second wave of the virus in the fall appears ?
In times of crisis in America , there is a tradition of self-sacrifice .
But there have also almost always been not a few whose mindset is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do You Appreciate Reading Our Emails and Website ?
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The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Via Patrick J. Buchanan…
If March shocked this nation as severely as 9/11, what is coming may be even more sobering.
“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully,” said Samuel Johnson.
And as it is with men, so it is with nations.
Monday, Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, projected some 100,000 to 200,000 U.S. deaths from the pandemic, “if we do things almost perfectly.” She agreed with Dr. Anthony Fauci’s estimate that, if we do “nothing,” the American dead could reach 2.2 million.
That 2 million figure would be twice as many dead as have perished in all our wars from the American Revolution to the Civil War, World War I and II, and Korea and Vietnam.
This does indeed concentrate the mind wonderfully.
Now add to this slaughter of our countrymen a market plunge steeper than the 1929 Crash and a 1930s-style Depression. Wall Street analysts are talking of a wipeout of 30% of our GDP and unemployment reaching 35%.
What a difference a month can make.
On March 3, Super Tuesday, we were caught up in the 14 primary contests after Joe Biden’s stunning victory in South Carolina, which broke the momentum of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
What March 2020 produced and what it appears to portend is a sea change in U.S. history, an inflection point, an event after which things never return to what they were.
The coronavirus crisis seems to be one of those epochal events that alter the character of the country and the course of the republic.
Consider what has happened in three weeks.
The Republican Party, the party of small government and balanced budgets, approved with but a single dissent a $2 trillion emergency bill. There is talk now of a second $2 trillion bill, this one for infrastructure.
In a single month then, a Republican Senate and president grew the federal budget by 50% and are looking to double that.
For years, Democrats raised alarms about Trump’s poaching of the powers of the other branches. Now Democrats are demanding to know why Trump has not shut down the economy by presidential decree and not used his latent dictatorial powers to order U.S. companies to produce what the nation’s hospitals demand.
Democrats who long accused Trump of xenophobia and racism for seeking to close the borders to migrants entering the country illegally are now silent as Trump closes America to the world.
First Amendment free press champions are calling for Trump’s White House briefings not to be carried on TV because the president is spouting propaganda and lies. The problem: The people are watching and approving of what the media think the people ought not see.
If people in a crisis will jettison lifelong beliefs like this readily, how enduring will their professed belief in democracy itself prove?
The president thinks this will be a V-shaped recession, that once the economy hits bottom and turns up, it will soar, as in 1946 when pent-up demand from World War II was unleashed and America began to churn out cars and consumer good as rapidly as it had weapons of war.
Perhaps. But put me down as a skeptic. You can’t go home again. The shattering events of March, followed by what is coming in April and May, will have lasting impacts on the hearts and minds of this generation.
That once-insatiable appetite for Chinese-made goods at the mall — will it really return? Will Americans, after having “socially distanced” for months from family and friends, be reassured of their safety and pack into restaurants in July?
Observing the carrier Theodore Roosevelt in Guam offloading scores of sailors infected with coronavirus, will Americans be up for a clash with a China that is even today asserting its claims to the South China Sea?
Will Americans who survive this crisis care whether Iranian-backed Shiites dominate Iraq or Saudi-backed Sunni prevail in Yemen?
If March shocked this nation as severely as 9/11, what is coming may be even more sobering.
Are millions of unemployed workers without the cash to pay for or to find medicine and groceries likely to stay indoors for weeks or months?
All those criminals being given early release from virus-infested jails and prisons without the means to provide for themselves and their families, how will they react to weeks of mandatory sheltering in place?
Will MS-13 and its thousands of members, and its rival gangs that live off narcotics sales, comply?
Americans have done well in staying home in March. Will they do so through April, May and perhaps June? Or will the system gradually break down just as the second wave of the virus in the fall appears?
In times of crisis in America, there is a tradition of self-sacrifice.
But there have also almost always been not a few whose mindset is that of the Fort Lauderdale spring-breakers.
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theduran--2020-04-04--Army Corps reviews backup medical sites, jobless claims rise

Meanwhile , the number of jobless Tennesseans continued to swell as more companies lay off workers .
New unemployment claims climbed to about 94,500 last week , the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday .
Late Wednesday , the Army Corps said its Memphis district has been asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials to assess possible locations for alternate care facilities in West Tennessee .
Reviews of six sites have been completed , spokesman Jim Pogue said in an emailed statement .
FEMA will select the sites and the Corps of Engineers may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the statement said .
Sites include large arenas , a former shopping mall , and an existing medical care facility .
FedExForum in Memphis and University of Tennessee athletics facilities are under consideration , according to officials and news reports .
Hospitals are preparing for a surge of coronavirus patients by seeking more supplies such as masks , ventilators and beds .
Residents are urged to follow social distancing rules and stay home as much as possible as virus patient counts rise .
Still , officials worry the need for key supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee ’ s health department has reported 2,683 cases of the coronavirus and 24 deaths .
Shelby County , which includes Memphis , has seen 638 cases and five deaths .
Earlier this week , Gov .
Bill Lee ordered all non-essential businesses to close .
However , the Republican held off from mandating Tennesseans to stay home .
Instead , the executive order only urges the public to do so .
Lee has argued he is resisting a statewide mandate because he wants to “ protect personal liberties ” despite receiving thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals that such efforts would help curb the virus ’ spread .
In Chattanooga , Mayor Andy Berke issued a strict stay-at-home order .
Unlike Lee ’ s order , Berke is mandating that residents stay home by restricting all non-essential travel and suspending access to city-owned public spaces .
In Memphis , the need for volunteer medical staff , ventilators and hospital beds is growing , said Dr. Manoj Jain , an infectious disease physician and member of Shelby County ’ s coronavirus task force .
Hospitals need three times the existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of regular hospital beds , and four times the number of intensive care beds , Jain said , citing state-level data .
Memphis ’ four major hospital systems are considering new strategies such as putting two coronavirus patients in one room , converting regular rooms to intensive care rooms , and using ventilators from anesthesia and surgical rooms for COVID-19 treatment , Jain said .
A logistics group is working to find face masks for doctors and nurses .
And testing capacity is increasing , Jain said .
“ It ’ s always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ahead of us of such magnitude , ” Jain said in a phone interview .
Around the state , layoffs in the restaurant , hotel , retail and other industries have led to a stark increase in unemployed workers .
The numbers released Thursday more than double the 39,100 new unemployment claims from the previous week .
Three weeks ago — before cities and counties began issuing orders closing non-essential businesses — only 2,700 unemployment claims were filed in Tennessee .
The large bump in claims caused the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2,000 % increase in usage .
Technicians added capacity to the system to improve responsiveness , officials said .
Some of the biggest recent temporary layoffs include more than 880 workers at automotive parts maker ABC Technologies in Sumner County ; 830 people at hotel company Chartwell Hospitality in Sevier , Williamson and Davidson counties ; and 222 workers with auto parts manufacturer Takahata Precision Tennessee in Scott County .
Colleges and universities have closed and shifted to online learning .
The University of Tennessee system says summer session classes at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the new coronavirus outbreak .
In most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness and may be life-threatening .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Meanwhile, the number of jobless Tennesseans continued to swell as more companies lay off workers. New unemployment claims climbed to about 94,500 last week, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday.
Late Wednesday, the Army Corps said its Memphis district has been asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials to assess possible locations for alternate care facilities in West Tennessee.
Reviews of six sites have been completed, spokesman Jim Pogue said in an emailed statement. FEMA will select the sites and the Corps of Engineers may then get asked to build the facilities, the statement said.
Sites include large arenas, a former shopping mall, and an existing medical care facility. FedExForum in Memphis and University of Tennessee athletics facilities are under consideration, according to officials and news reports.
Hospitals are preparing for a surge of coronavirus patients by seeking more supplies such as masks, ventilators and beds. Residents are urged to follow social distancing rules and stay home as much as possible as virus patient counts rise. Still, officials worry the need for key supplies and medical staff will exceed capacity.
Tennessee’s health department has reported 2,683 cases of the coronavirus and 24 deaths. Shelby County, which includes Memphis, has seen 638 cases and five deaths.
The number of patients at Memphis area hospitals is increasing, said Doug McGowan, the city’s chief operating officer, during an online news conference.
Earlier this week, Gov. Bill Lee ordered all non-essential businesses to close. However, the Republican held off from mandating Tennesseans to stay home. Instead, the executive order only urges the public to do so.
Lee has argued he is resisting a statewide mandate because he wants to “protect personal liberties” despite receiving thousands of pleas from doctors and other medical professionals that such efforts would help curb the virus’ spread.
In Chattanooga, Mayor Andy Berke issued a strict stay-at-home order. Unlike Lee’s order, Berke is mandating that residents stay home by restricting all non-essential travel and suspending access to city-owned public spaces.
In Memphis, the need for volunteer medical staff, ventilators and hospital beds is growing, said Dr. Manoj Jain, an infectious disease physician and member of Shelby County’s coronavirus task force.
Hospitals need three times the existing number of ventilators, double the amount of regular hospital beds, and four times the number of intensive care beds, Jain said, citing state-level data.
Memphis’ four major hospital systems are considering new strategies such as putting two coronavirus patients in one room, converting regular rooms to intensive care rooms, and using ventilators from anesthesia and surgical rooms for COVID-19 treatment, Jain said.
A logistics group is working to find face masks for doctors and nurses. And testing capacity is increasing, Jain said.
“It’s always an uphill battle doing the task that’s ahead of us of such magnitude,” Jain said in a phone interview.
Around the state, layoffs in the restaurant, hotel, retail and other industries have led to a stark increase in unemployed workers. The numbers released Thursday more than double the 39,100 new unemployment claims from the previous week.
Three weeks ago — before cities and counties began issuing orders closing non-essential businesses — only 2,700 unemployment claims were filed in Tennessee.
The large bump in claims caused the state’s jobs website to experience problems due to a 2,000% increase in usage. Technicians added capacity to the system to improve responsiveness, officials said.
Some of the biggest recent temporary layoffs include more than 880 workers at automotive parts maker ABC Technologies in Sumner County; 830 people at hotel company Chartwell Hospitality in Sevier, Williamson and Davidson counties; and 222 workers with auto parts manufacturer Takahata Precision Tennessee in Scott County.
Colleges and universities have closed and shifted to online learning. The University of Tennessee system says summer session classes at all campuses will be delivered online in response to the new coronavirus outbreak.
In most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and may be life-threatening.
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theduran--2020-04-04--Yes Dan, There Is A Money Fairy (Part 2)

Back to our example , having repaid his debt , the bank takes a $ 10 fee – its profit – and the other $ 40 is credited to the customer ’ s regular account .
The big question is , if the banks can practise this sleight-of-hand for profit , why can ’ t our governments do so for the public good ?
The short answer is there are too many people on the take .
Think Deep State , Dan , then you will understand .
An inevitable result of this process is that the governments of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go progressively in hoc to the banking system .
There is a simple solution to this : what is created out of nothing can be returned to nothing , ditto bank debts .
This does not mean that every single debt owed to every bank in the world should be cancelled out of existence , but there is no reason much of this debt can not simply be written off .
True , a few people will have to take a haircut , but the banks have written off massive sums before in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments , and there is no reason they can ’ t be compelled to do so in the future .
Another thing that bothers Dan is negative interest rates .
The big question is not should there be positive or negative interest rates but why is interest paid at all ?
Traditionally , a bank has two functions : the strongroom function and the bookkeeping function .
People deposit their money in the bank because it is safer than keeping it under the mattress .
When paying other people for goods and services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so by cheque traditionally , or nowadays by bank card .
As the banks provide these two services , it is only right they should be remunerated for them .
So rather than the bank paying investors interest , they should charge reasonable sums for these services .
What then about lending money ?
There is no reason a bank can not lend REAL money , its own , for which it can charge a fee – not interest – or engage in profit-sharing under the Islamic principle of musharakah .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest on money conjured up out of thin air , nor does anyone else .
Usury should be banned , pure and simple .
There are today many ways entrepreneurs and ordinary people can borrow money , the former especially , through direct lending/borrowing of one sort or another .
Meanwhile , the central bank or better still Congress/Parliament should create all the money it needs for public works , and spend it into circulation debt-free .
With regard to the current crisis , the American Government has guaranteed finance of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money that need not be ( re ) paid because it was created to serve the people , though to prevent excessive inflation , some of it can if necessary be recouped through taxation then cancelled out of existence , something that need not affect ordinary people , certainly not those near the bottom of the food chain .
One other thing concerning our hypothetical example .
The customer who borrowed $ 1,000 for his project was succesful and made a handsome profit , but what if he hadn ’ t been ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bank created this new money out of thin air then sold it to him at interest .
He took all the risk ; the bank took no risk at all .
A few suggestions for further reading ; The Absurdity Of The National Debt by the Duke of Bedford .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Back to our example, having repaid his debt, the bank takes a $10 fee – its profit – and the other $40 is credited to the customer’s regular account.
The big question is, if the banks can practise this sleight-of-hand for profit, why can’t our governments do so for the public good? The short answer is there are too many people on the take. Think Deep State, Dan, then you will understand.
An inevitable result of this process is that the governments of the world, indeed all of us, go progressively in hoc to the banking system. There is a simple solution to this: what is created out of nothing can be returned to nothing, ditto bank debts. This does not mean that every single debt owed to every bank in the world should be cancelled out of existence, but there is no reason much of this debt cannot simply be written off.
True, a few people will have to take a haircut, but the banks have written off massive sums before in the past, including under pressure from governments, and there is no reason they can’t be compelled to do so in the future.
Another thing that bothers Dan is negative interest rates. The big question is not should there be positive or negative interest rates but why is interest paid at all?
Traditionally, a bank has two functions: the strongroom function and the bookkeeping function. People deposit their money in the bank because it is safer than keeping it under the mattress. When paying other people for goods and services, it is often more convenient to do so by cheque traditionally, or nowadays by bank card. As the banks provide these two services, it is only right they should be remunerated for them. So rather than the banks paying investors interest, they should charge reasonable sums for these services.
What then about lending money? There is no reason a bank cannot lend REAL money, its own, for which it can charge a fee – not interest – or engage in profit-sharing under the Islamic principle of musharakah. But a bank has no right to charge interest on money conjured up out of thin air, nor does anyone else. Usury should be banned, pure and simple.
There are today many ways entrepreneurs and ordinary people can borrow money, the former especially, through direct lending/borrowing of one sort or another. Meanwhile, the central bank or better still Congress/Parliament should create all the money it needs for public works, and spend it into circulation debt-free.
With regard to the current crisis, the American Government has guaranteed finance of up to $6 trillion dollars. That is money that need not be (re)paid because it was created to serve the people, though to prevent excessive inflation, some of it can if necessary be recouped through taxation then cancelled out of existence, something that need not affect ordinary people, certainly not those near the bottom of the food chain.
One other thing concerning our hypothetical example. The customer who borrowed $1,000 for his project was succesful and made a handsome profit, but what if he hadn’t been? He would have lost his house! The bank created this new money out of thin air then sold it to him at interest. He took all the risk; the bank took no risk at all.
A few suggestions for further reading;
Banking Without Interest by Muhammad Nejatullah Siddiqi
Honest Money by John Tomlinson
The Absurdity Of The National Debt by the Duke of Bedford.
Back to Part 1.
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theduran--2020-04-04--Yes Dan, There Is A Money Fairy (Part 1)

Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino ( pictured ) hosts one of the largest conservative shows on YouTube and other media .
His analyses of politics are often spot on , as are his pithy sayings .
Two of his favourites are : there is no power in yes .
The first is actually quite a profound statement , and if you don ’ t understand the second , think of how many times you ’ ve been told “ No !
” by bureaucrats and other jobsworths , then you will understand .
Dan has a third saying though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s no money fairy ” might be considered a derivative of Margaret Thatcher ’ s famous epigram : the problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people ’ s money .
That really is a dumb statement for a man who has an in-depth understanding of economics .
Or could it be that mainstream economics text books are as useful as The Book Of Mormon ?
You can read it , memorise it , understand it , but at the end of the day it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done with your years of study is waste your time .
The reality is that no government ever has to run out of money .
Governments fund themselves and public works primarily by three methods : taxation ; borrowing ; printing money .
Taxation is the method preferred by fiscal conservatives like Dan : tax and spend .
The problem with taxation is that it reduces both purchasing power and investment .
This is what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow progressives don ’ t or prefer not to understand when they advocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for governments to fund themselves is borrowing , from the public , from the banks , from other countries .
Why would anyone , any entity , lend money to a government ?
For interest is the simply answer .
The third method any government can use to raise funds is simply to print the damned stuff .
This can include minting coins – small change and relatively expensive ; printing notes – a lot cheaper , especially high denomination notes ; and creating it electronically .
The latter is to be preferred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason governments don ’ t simply create credit and keep creating it is because there must be a relationship with the amount of money in circulation and the stuff it can buy – goods and services .
Yet before the current crisis , we in the West and the rest of the so-called free world had such a shortage of money that the shops were full while people were going without .
In some places , that extends to housing .
There are plenty of homes to rent , but people can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the homeless can ’ t .
So why is there this shortage of money ?
The simply answer is that most of the money in existence is indeed created electronically .
By the banks .
Furthermore , the banks create this money ex nihilo , and then sell it at interest .
The left ignores this , and has done right back to Karl Marx .
His magnum opus has one mention of usury in its index .
One !
The International Socialist Review for April 1903 contains an article by Charles C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a rare exception .
A century and more later , communist publications like the Morning Star were still denying the reality that banks create money .
The great Major Douglas explained the technique of credit creation way back in the 1920s .
His two most important works Social Credit and The Monopoly Of Credit can both be found on-line , but here is the simple example he cited : A new bank opens with 10 depositors depositing $ 1,000 each – dollars for you , Dan !
The bank has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one borrows $ 1,000 for a big project , handing over the deeds to his house as security .
The bank then credits his account with $ 1,000 of NEW MONEY .
Note , this loan is not drawn against any of the other customer accounts , and as this is a new bank , don ’ t let anyone give you any flim-flam about fixed reserves .
The situation is now as follows : All ten customers have $ 1,000 in their accounts , while customer number one also has $ 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that $ 1,000 , all of it , and the bank now has $ 10,000 in deposits plus $ 1,000 owing .
Customer number one is successful ; having paid his staff and his suppliers , he sells his goods , gives some money to his wife for housekeeping , and deposits $ 1,050 into his overdraft account .
What happens now ?
The original loan of $ 1,000 is cancelled out of existence , literally .
This has been summed up as every bank loan creates money ; every repayment of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even expressed this as an equation .
Anyone who is skeptical should try arguing with the mathematics .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino (pictured) hosts one of the largest conservative shows on YouTube and other media.
His analyses of politics are often spot on, as are his pithy sayings. Two of his favourites are:
all debts are paid
and
there is no power in yes.
The first is actually quite a profound statement, and if you don’t understand the second, think of how many times you’ve been told “No!” by bureaucrats and other jobsworths, then you will understand.
Dan has a third saying though that is way off beam: “There’s no money fairy” might be considered a derivative of Margaret Thatcher’s famous epigram: the problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.
That really is a dumb statement for a man who has an in-depth understanding of economics. Or could it be that mainstream economics text books are as useful as The Book Of Mormon? You can read it, memorise it, understand it, but at the end of the day it is total rubbish, and all you have done with your years of study is waste your time.
The reality is that no government ever has to run out of money. Governments fund themselves and public works primarily by three methods: taxation; borrowing; printing money.
Taxation is the method preferred by fiscal conservatives like Dan: tax and spend. The problem with taxation is that it reduces both purchasing power and investment. This is what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow progressives don’t or prefer not to understand when they advocate soaking the rich.
The second method for governments to fund themselves is borrowing, from the public, from the banks, from other countries. Why would anyone, any entity, lend money to a government? For interest is the simply answer.
The third method any government can use to raise funds is simply to print the damned stuff. This can include minting coins – small change and relatively expensive; printing notes – a lot cheaper, especially high denomination notes; and creating it electronically. The latter is to be preferred because it is totally free.
The reason governments don’t simply create credit and keep creating it is because there must be a relationship with the amount of money in circulation and the stuff it can buy – goods and services. Yet before the current crisis, we in the West and the rest of the so-called free world had such a shortage of money that the shops were full while people were going without. In some places, that extends to housing. There are plenty of homes to rent, but people can’t afford to rent them, certainly the homeless can’t. So why is there this shortage of money?
The simply answer is that most of the money in existence is indeed created electronically. By the banks. Furthermore, the banks create this money ex nihilo, and then sell it at interest. The left ignores this, and has done right back to Karl Marx. His magnum opus has one mention of usury in its index. One! The International Socialist Review for April 1903 contains an article by Charles C. Hitchcock which includes some comment about usury. This is a rare exception. A century and more later, communist publications like the Morning Star were still denying the reality that banks create money.
The great Major Douglas explained the technique of credit creation way back in the 1920s. His two most important works Social Credit and The Monopoly Of Credit can both be found on-line, but here is the simple example he cited:
A new bank opens with 10 depositors depositing $1,000 each – dollars for you, Dan!
The bank has assets of $10,000.
Customer number one borrows $1,000 for a big project, handing over the deeds to his house as security. The bank then credits his account with $1,000 of NEW MONEY. Note, this loan is not drawn against any of the other customer accounts, and as this is a new bank, don’t let anyone give you any flim-flam about fixed reserves.
The situation is now as follows:
All ten customers have $1,000 in their accounts, while customer number one also has $1,000 in his overdraft account. He draws that $1,000, all of it, and the bank now has $10,000 in deposits plus $1,000 owing. Customer number one is successful; having paid his staff and his suppliers, he sells his goods, gives some money to his wife for housekeeping, and deposits $1,050 into his overdraft account. What happens now? The original loan of $1,000 is cancelled out of existence, literally. This has been summed up as every bank loan creates money; every repayment of a bank loan destroys money.
Major Douglas even expressed this as an equation. Anyone who is skeptical should try arguing with the mathematics.
To Part 2.
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theduran--2020-04-04--Are the COVID related Church closures a mistake? – Part I

One of the most peculiar characteristics of the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on all of us is the massive campaign of social distancing that has led to the closures of churches or “ skeleton crew ” Christian religious services currently being practiced all across the world .
At first when churches began closing in Washington State , they were mainline Protestant congregations and their closure drew a lot of fierce criticism from other people , often from other confessions of Christianity , with the general message that this group was “ liberal ” , “ weak ” , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
But then it started taking place in Roman Catholic Churches .
Well , there is Francis for ya .
That guy is a weird bird for the Romans and he is a socialist liberal .
He is willing to overturn Church doctrine on gays too , so here is more proof that this man is an antiChristian in disguise .
But then it began happening in Orthodox communities across America .
Even some people who are not Orthodox but who know Orthodox Christians , know that this ancient church is extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for anything .
Yet a few weeks ago , synods of the Orthodox Church in America , the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate Greek Orthodox Church in the US all announced closures or “ skeleton crew ” services , which still had a priest serving with a minimum support team and no parishioners .
Since all these jurisdictions were pretty strongly American , many of us thought the ethnic churches , especially Russia , would not fold .
So , we watched .
And , we were disappointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church , the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia went to skeleton crews .
The Georgian patriarch fiercely proclaimed in Georgia that they would not close because of the virus .
But now the Georgian parishes in the US are indeed closed .
Finally , this week , the Patriarch of Moscow , Kirill I , preached in a sermon asking for his flock to not go to the churches for this week , until April 5th .
Now , with the coronavirus hitting Russia harder and harder each day , the civil authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” all the way to April 30th .
The Church authorities in Russia have not spoken clearly yet about what is to come ( Pascha , a.k.a .
“ Easter ” in the West , falls in Russia and the Orthodox world on April 19th this year ) .
But Patriarch Kirill did say this in an address to the people : In this difficult time , in the conditions when the government authorities are taking all possible measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection , I urge bishops , clergy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayers to the Lord to protect people from harmful harassment , and archpastors and pastors to continue to zealously worship and especially the Divine Eucharist – the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ , even in the absence of the flock due to the relevant recommendations of the authorities .
Truly – “ nothing should be preferred to the work of God ” ( Statute of the Monk Benedict of Nursia , chapter 43 ) .
Today , many of us are forced to assume the feat of being in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the place of your solitude become for you a desert of personal and family prayer work , according to the gospel word : But when you pray , enter your room and , having closed your door , pray to your Father , who is secret ; and your Father , who sees the secret , will reward you clearly ( Matthew 6 : 6 ) .
May the image of St. Mary of Egypt , who spent many years in solitary prayer in the desert , inspire us with this feat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to be together at our beloved Lenten services .
But we know that even the gates of hell can not prevail over the Church of Christ ( cf .
Matt .
16:18 ) … All over the world , it seems , Church worship has been radically reduced , and this at a time when it would logically seem that we ought to be praying much more , and together .
Now some countries , like Greece are actually arresting people for going to Church .
So , what is going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
We need to answer a few questions to start : • Is this happening only to Christians , or to adherents of all religious groups ?
• Is there any clear reason this is being done beyond the general “ to keep everybody safe ” ?
• Why is it that Christians are obeying the secular authorities ’ directives to close or restrict services ?
Knowing these may redefine the cloud of other questions we hear lately , but for now we must start with these as basic and hopefully strictly rational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only to Christians , or to adherents of all religious groups ?
The short answer is that it is indeed happening to all religious groups .
Wikipedia actually seems to be the best source for seeing this , so we have linked to their page on this subject here .
But to give some idea : Yes , everyone is affected .
Saudi Arabia closed Mecca ’ s Great Mosque and banned touching the Kaaba .
Touching the Black Stone is the ultimate feat for every Muslim , and now this can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely been canceled worldwide , though on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem prayers continue at this time .
Purim celebrations were canceled in many places .
The Western Wall did see a gathering of thousands of Jewish people to pray for the end of the pandemic , led by Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu .
Although some religious observances were in force in the beginning of March , by the 18th , shutdowns began .
After the Hindu festival of Holi was cautiously celebrated , India began locking down society there as elsewhere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrated at home due to the strict lockdown in India and elsewhere .
This remaining of the world ’ s “ big four ” religious groups has also taken on shutdowns .
Notably the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism suspended its program that allows visitors to experience monastic life in a great many temples .
So , it isn ’ t just Christianity , folks .
The virus is wreaking havoc in other religious communities as well .
2 .
Is there any clear reason this is being done beyond the general “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand that , we have to ask a different question : Why is COVID spreading so rapidly ?
For this we take excerpts from a piece which appears in full in Medical News Today : One of the main questions on scientists ’ and public health advisors ’ minds at this time is : Why is the new coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , spreading so quickly in countries around the globe ?
And why is this happening despite the ever-increasing volume of travel bans and restrictions ?
More and more researchers are getting behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the movement of people who are unaware of the fact that they have contracted the virus — either because they had mild symptoms or because they had no symptoms at all .
In a new preliminary study , Prof. Chaolong Wang and colleagues — from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan , China — argue that during the aggressive outbreak in their city , over 50 % of cases were non-confirmed , and that these may have included people with no or limited symptoms who had the potential to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet appeared in a peer reviewed journal , but it is currently available online .
In the new study , the researchers developed a method capable of predicting virus transmission patterns .
It took into account population movement , non-confirmed cases , and those in quarantine .
The estimates also took into account 25,961 confirmed COVID-19 cases that Chinese officials had recorded through February 18 , 2020 in the Hubei province .
However , the researchers calculate that the real number of COVID-19 cases by that date was actually closer to 36,798 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive spread in the region .
Many people , the researchers suggest , must have contracted the virus but remained unaware of it .
They therefore continued to maintain social contact .
“ By our most conservative estimate , at least 59 % of the infected individuals were out and about , without being tested and potentially infecting others , ” says lead study author Prof. Wu Tangchun .
“ This may explain why the virus spread so quickly in Hubei and is now circulating around the world , ” he adds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 % of infections were prevented in the time period after officials brought in social distancing interventions .
Other studies seem to point in a similar direction .
For example , a statistical modeling analysis that appeared in the journal Eurosurveillance indicates that a significant number of people who contracted the virus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship remained asymptomatic .
In February , several passengers aboard the cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19 , which led to an outbreak of coronavirus infections on the vessel .
Almost immediately , the relevant authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state of quarantine for 14 days .
The authors of the Eurosurveillance analysis suggest that the high proportion of COVID-19 cases on the cruise ship may have had something to do with what they estimate was a significant number of asymptomatic cases .
In fact , they say that as many as 17.9 % of the cases may have produced no symptoms .
Although it remains unclear to what extent people with no or very mild symptoms really contribute to the spread of the virus , emerging evidence suggests that they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We break in for a moment to note that this newspiece appears to be dated March 24th .
A lot of new information has been made available , most notably that the virus is very contagious .
This then , is the logical strategy .
It still does not have assured success , because we do not really know everything about the communicability of the virus .
Just consider how much the narrative has changed since December and January until now .
We went from “ not communicable human to human ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as an example .
We now hear that the virus can go 27 feet .
This measurement is difficult to accept considering that the Brownian motion of even very calm air has molecules moving at something like 1500 feet per second .
A windy day logically ought to be able to propel a virus far beyond nine meters .
There isn ’ t enough solid data on this .
However , there is logic behind the notion of “ if you keep everyone at some distance from one another AND keep them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space inside a home ) , then many of the usual components that make something communicable are removed , and it might actually slow down the spread of the virus.
” This may be starting to work .
Italy ’ s growth curve is showing signs of flattening over the last six or seven days .
Austria is also experiencing a flattening trend , but South Korea has slow growth that is linear , and not exponential : However , most other nations are showing exponential or near-exponential growth in cases .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identical ; but the US simply has more cases than the Russian Federation does .
The United States has the highest number of reported confirmed cases in of any nation in the world at this time .
What is not clear from these charts is how much of the trend reflects the actual spread of the disease and how much reflects the increased penetration of testing for the virus .
Later reports will attempt to evaluate this mix to see how better to understand these charts .
All of this leads us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our questions : 3 .
Why is it that Christians are obeying the secular authorities ’ directives to close or restrict services ?
This is the most peculiar question , and the one that has all sorts of hysteria raging around it .
Historically , Christians have been known to be on the front lines , doing services as normal despite any plague .
Christians set the standard for caring for the sick , regardless of the faith of the sick person , and many Christian believers cared for plague victims , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves ( and many did , and many succumbed to it ) .
Foreign Policy ( FP ) has an excellent piece on this history , and the author makes a very clear case that what is going on now is wrong , in that closing churches and restricting attendance at services for the sake of some disease is absolutely counter to Christian tradition .
The writer , Lyman Stone , compellingly states : So , again , the question is “ Why this ?
Why now ?
” And then come all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from “ a Jewish plot to make a sacrifice on the Temple Mount ” to “ this is when the Illuminati move to seize control over all of us ” to “ These Christians have lost their faith in God.
” This obviously begs further investigation , and in Part II , we will try to accomplish this to some useful effect .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
One of the most peculiar characteristics of the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on all of us is the massive campaign of social distancing that has led to the closures of churches or “skeleton crew” Christian religious services currently being practiced all across the world. At first when churches began closing in Washington State, they were mainline Protestant congregations and their closure drew a lot of fierce criticism from other people, often from other confessions of Christianity, with the general message that this group was “liberal”, “weak”, “not placing Christ first” and so on.
But then it started taking place in Roman Catholic Churches. Well, there is Francis for ya. That guy is a weird bird for the Romans and he is a socialist liberal. He is willing to overturn Church doctrine on gays too, so here is more proof that this man is an antiChristian in disguise.
But then it began happening in Orthodox communities across America. Even some people who are not Orthodox but who know Orthodox Christians, know that this ancient church is extremely traditional, and not likely to bend for anything. Yet a few weeks ago, synods of the Orthodox Church in America, the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate Greek Orthodox Church in the US all announced closures or “skeleton crew” services, which still had a priest serving with a minimum support team and no parishioners. Since all these jurisdictions were pretty strongly American, many of us thought the ethnic churches, especially Russia, would not fold. So, we watched. And, we were disappointed. The Moscow Patriarchate and its sister Church, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia went to skeleton crews. The Georgian patriarch fiercely proclaimed in Georgia that they would not close because of the virus. But now the Georgian parishes in the US are indeed closed.
Finally, this week, the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill I, preached in a sermon asking for his flock to not go to the churches for this week, until April 5th. Now, with the coronavirus hitting Russia harder and harder each day, the civil authorities extended the one week “paid holiday” all the way to April 30th. The Church authorities in Russia have not spoken clearly yet about what is to come (Pascha, a.k.a. “Easter” in the West, falls in Russia and the Orthodox world on April 19th this year). But Patriarch Kirill did say this in an address to the people:
In this difficult time, in the conditions when the government authorities are taking all possible measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, I urge bishops, clergy, religious and lay people to strengthen their prayers to the Lord to protect people from harmful harassment, and archpastors and pastors to continue to zealously worship and especially the Divine Eucharist – the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, even in the absence of the flock due to the relevant recommendations of the authorities. Truly – “nothing should be preferred to the work of God” (Statute of the Monk Benedict of Nursia, chapter 43). Today, many of us are forced to assume the feat of being in our homes. To such I say: let the place of your solitude become for you a desert of personal and family prayer work, according to the gospel word: But when you pray, enter your room and, having closed your door, pray to your Father, who is secret; and your Father, who sees the secret, will reward you clearly (Matthew 6: 6). May the image of St. Mary of Egypt, who spent many years in solitary prayer in the desert, inspire us with this feat. These days, we lose the opportunity to be together at our beloved Lenten services. But we know that even the gates of hell cannot prevail over the Church of Christ (cf. Matt. 16:18)…
All over the world, it seems, Church worship has been radically reduced, and this at a time when it would logically seem that we ought to be praying much more, and together. Now some countries, like Greece are actually arresting people for going to Church.
So, what is going on here? Why is it this way?
We need to answer a few questions to start:
Is this happening only to Christians, or to adherents of all religious groups? Is there any clear reason this is being done beyond the general “to keep everybody safe”? Why is it that Christians are obeying the secular authorities’ directives to close or restrict services?
Knowing these may redefine the cloud of other questions we hear lately, but for now we must start with these as basic and hopefully strictly rational guideposts.
1. Is this happening only to Christians, or to adherents of all religious groups?
The short answer is that it is indeed happening to all religious groups. Wikipedia actually seems to be the best source for seeing this, so we have linked to their page on this subject here. But to give some idea: Yes, everyone is affected.
Islam
Saudi Arabia closed Mecca’s Great Mosque and banned touching the Kaaba. Touching the Black Stone is the ultimate feat for every Muslim, and now this cannot be done.
Friday congregational prayers have largely been canceled worldwide, though on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem prayers continue at this time.
Judaism
Purim celebrations were canceled in many places. The Western Wall did see a gathering of thousands of Jewish people to pray for the end of the pandemic, led by Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu.
Hinduism
Although some religious observances were in force in the beginning of March, by the 18th, shutdowns began. After the Hindu festival of Holi was cautiously celebrated, India began locking down society there as elsewhere, and now all festivals are to be celebrated at home due to the strict lockdown in India and elsewhere.
Buddhism
This remaining of the world’s “big four” religious groups has also taken on shutdowns. Notably the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism suspended its program that allows visitors to experience monastic life in a great many temples.
So, it isn’t just Christianity, folks. The virus is wreaking havoc in other religious communities as well.
2. Is there any clear reason this is being done beyond the general “to keep everybody safe”?
To understand that, we have to ask a different question: Why is COVID spreading so rapidly? For this we take excerpts from a piece which appears in full in Medical News Today:
One of the main questions on scientists’ and public health advisors’ minds at this time is: Why is the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, spreading so quickly in countries around the globe? And why is this happening despite the ever-increasing volume of travel bans and restrictions? More and more researchers are getting behind the hypothesis that this is likely due to the movement of people who are unaware of the fact that they have contracted the virus — either because they had mild symptoms or because they had no symptoms at all. In a new preliminary study, Prof. Chaolong Wang and colleagues — from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China — argue that during the aggressive outbreak in their city, over 50% of cases were non-confirmed, and that these may have included people with no or limited symptoms who had the potential to remain socially active. The study has not yet appeared in a peer reviewed journal, but it is currently available online. In the new study, the researchers developed a method capable of predicting virus transmission patterns. It took into account population movement, non-confirmed cases, and those in quarantine. The estimates also took into account 25,961 confirmed COVID-19 cases that Chinese officials had recorded through February 18, 2020 in the Hubei province. However, the researchers calculate that the real number of COVID-19 cases by that date was actually closer to 36,798. This could explain the virus’s aggressive spread in the region. Many people, the researchers suggest, must have contracted the virus but remained unaware of it. They therefore continued to maintain social contact. “By our most conservative estimate, at least 59% of the infected individuals were out and about, without being tested and potentially infecting others,” says lead study author Prof. Wu Tangchun. “This may explain why the virus spread so quickly in Hubei and is now circulating around the world,” he adds. The researchers also suggest that upward of 90% of infections were prevented in the time period after officials brought in social distancing interventions. Other studies seem to point in a similar direction. For example, a statistical modeling analysis that appeared in the journal Eurosurveillance indicates that a significant number of people who contracted the virus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship remained asymptomatic. In February, several passengers aboard the cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19, which led to an outbreak of coronavirus infections on the vessel. Almost immediately, the relevant authorities declared that the ship would be entering a state of quarantine for 14 days. The authors of the Eurosurveillance analysis suggest that the high proportion of COVID-19 cases on the cruise ship may have had something to do with what they estimate was a significant number of asymptomatic cases. In fact, they say that as many as 17.9% of the cases may have produced no symptoms. Although it remains unclear to what extent people with no or very mild symptoms really contribute to the spread of the virus, emerging evidence suggests that they are at least able to pass it on.
We break in for a moment to note that this newspiece appears to be dated March 24th. A lot of new information has been made available, most notably that the virus is very contagious.
One preliminary study from Germany suggests that people had high viral loads in swabs taken from their noses and throats during their first week of symptoms after contracting the virus. This means that although they may initially experience few to no symptoms, people who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 may still be able to pass it on without realizing. Another study, this time in the journal JAMA, showed that one person who had no symptoms of infection actually passed the virus on to five other people. For these reasons, researchers maintain that social distancing is the most effective measure of containing the spread of the new coronavirus: Every person who limits their social contact can become a broken link in the chain of contagion.
This then, is the logical strategy. It still does not have assured success, because we do not really know everything about the communicability of the virus. Just consider how much the narrative has changed since December and January until now. We went from “not communicable human to human” for weeks to “highly contagious”, as an example. We now hear that the virus can go 27 feet. This measurement is difficult to accept considering that the Brownian motion of even very calm air has molecules moving at something like 1500 feet per second. A windy day logically ought to be able to propel a virus far beyond nine meters. There isn’t enough solid data on this.
However, there is logic behind the notion of “if you keep everyone at some distance from one another AND keep them in controlled environments (like the air space inside a home), then many of the usual components that make something communicable are removed, and it might actually slow down the spread of the virus.”
This may be starting to work. Italy’s growth curve is showing signs of flattening over the last six or seven days.
Austria is also experiencing a flattening trend, but South Korea has slow growth that is linear, and not exponential:
However, most other nations are showing exponential or near-exponential growth in cases. The US and Russia have curves that are identical; but the US simply has more cases than the Russian Federation does.
The United States has the highest number of reported confirmed cases in of any nation in the world at this time.
What is not clear from these charts is how much of the trend reflects the actual spread of the disease and how much reflects the increased penetration of testing for the virus. Later reports will attempt to evaluate this mix to see how better to understand these charts.
All of this leads us to a likely answer to the third of our questions:
3. Why is it that Christians are obeying the secular authorities’ directives to close or restrict services?
This is the most peculiar question, and the one that has all sorts of hysteria raging around it. Historically, Christians have been known to be on the front lines, doing services as normal despite any plague. Christians set the standard for caring for the sick, regardless of the faith of the sick person, and many Christian believers cared for plague victims, even if they wound up with the plague themselves (and many did, and many succumbed to it).
Foreign Policy (FP) has an excellent piece on this history, and the author makes a very clear case that what is going on now is wrong, in that closing churches and restricting attendance at services for the sake of some disease is absolutely counter to Christian tradition. The writer, Lyman Stone, compellingly states:
For Christians, it is better that we should die serving our neighbor than surrounded in a pile of masks we never got a chance to use. And if we care for each other, if we share masks and hand soap and canned foods, if we “are our brother’s keeper,” we might actually reduce the death toll, too.
So, again, the question is “Why this? Why now?” And then come all the conspiracy theories and intrigue, everything from “a Jewish plot to make a sacrifice on the Temple Mount” to “this is when the Illuminati move to seize control over all of us” to “These Christians have lost their faith in God.”
This obviously begs further investigation, and in Part II, we will try to accomplish this to some useful effect.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report