theduran--2020-03-31--The Post-Coronavirus World Will Be Far Worse than the Pre-Coronavirus World

Signs , especially in the United States , are that the post-coronavirus-plagued world will have even more inequality of wealth , within each nation , than existed prior to the plague .
Billionaires are demanding to be included in the bailouts by their governments ; and , because billionaires financed the careers of the successful politicians who won seats in their country ’ s legislature , those demands are almost certain to be complied with .
Only the least-corrupt nations will be able to recover fully from the current plague .
In the United States , one Party , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be concerned about the sharp growth of wealth-inequality that has occurred after 1980 ; but the other Party , the Democrats , do make that pretense ; and so a deal is being worked out in the U.S. Congress that both Parties tout as being a ‘ balanced ’ bailout bill , because it will bail out both the megacorporations that the billionaires own and control , and the public — their workers ( especially the ones that those billionaires are now laying off ) .
Because of the enormous give-aways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be soaring out of control , and ultimately paper money will plunge in value , which will bring on a global depression that will be even worse than 1929 .
Some governments will find ways to nationalize the wealth of billionaires and perhaps also of centi-millionaires in order to fund the continuing needs of the public , and there will be a scramble by many of those super-rich to relocate to countries where they still will be able to bribe enough government officials so as to provide safe haven for their accumulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by any of the industrialized countries that aren ’ t totally corrupt , but the most extremely corrupt industrialized countries will experience massive capital-flight and a future as a “ third world ” nation , under extended martial law .
On March 22nd , Zero Hedge headlined “ ‘ Stop The Coronavirus Corporate Coup ’ : Here Is A List Of Everyone Demanding A Bail Out ” and Matt Stoller listed the many different categories of mega-corporate lobbyists who were urging the Senators and Representatives , whose campaigns they fund , to bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other news-sites that republished or linked to that list were other alternative-news sites , not any of the mainstream ones .
This was a major news-report , which deserved to become a top topic of public conversation , but that didn ’ t happen ; and here is an example of what it said ( and which the rest of the press were hiding ) : Mitch McConnell wants big business to rule , so he ’ s playing a trick .
He is refusing aid to workers .
Democrats are negotiating with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social welfare .
McConnell knows Dems won ’ t pay attention to corporate bailouts if he takes the public hostage , and Democrats know that they can hand out favors to big business if they just talk about how they got larger checks for workers .
So McConnell will put a bill down in front of Nancy Pelosi , with some good stuff like unemployment insurance , but also the really ugly stuff to hand over America to big business .
The corporatists in the Democratic Party will tell her “ Pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to do something right now !
” And because she doesn ’ t have the votes from within her own caucus because of these corporatists , and because she doesn ’ t particularly care if America is sold off to big business , she will do that .
It ’ s a song-and-dance routine , performed by the two “ good cop , bad cop ” political Parties ( both being fascist ) , in order to satisfy not only the audience ( the voters ) but the producers ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I headlined “ Triage Starts in Government Bailouts : Who will get the money ?
” at Strategic Culture , and submitted that news-report to all U.S. major news-media and most of the minor ones .
24 hours later , it was picked-up by only a few minor , very courageous , ones : The 21st Century , The Duran , Free World Economic Report , The Russophile , and Verity Weekly .
The corruption is so pervasive that all of the news-media that 99.99 % of the public rely upon for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news of the impending massive public subsidies to America ’ s billionaires by America ’ s ‘ public representatives ’ — shoveling the public ’ s money to the billionaires as bailouts .
Stoller was obviously correct that the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate , Mitch McConnell , “ is refusing aid to workers ” and ( though Stoller — being himself a Democrat — didn ’ t use nearly such direct language to say ) the Democratic Party ’ s leader in the House was trying to wrangle enough of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( all sorts of workers , and , here , especially the most important ones , such as nurses , police , etc . )
so that congressional Democrats would be able to give the billionaires what they demand , while still getting enough aid out to everybody else in order for congressional Democrats to be able to hold their congressional seats after November 3rd .
( In America , keeping the poor away from the voting-booths , and undercounting the votes that they do cast , are usually insufficient in themselves so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so as to supply the bumper-sticker benefits to non-billionaires that will be needed if Congress isn ’ t to become 100 % Republican . )
In a profoundly corrupt country , over 99 % of the press will filter-out such basic details of the true extent of the corruption , because , otherwise , the revolution that results will be against the aristocracy , instead of against the public itself ( and producing martial law ) , and a revolution like that could produce actual democracy , which the few people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They much prefer , if a revolution is coming , that it be clearly against the public ( and result in martial law , which will protect only themselves ) , not against themselves .
In fact , such a country has a government almost solely in order to protect the aristocrats from the public , and almost not at all in order to protect the public from the aristocracy .
Interestingly , the very next day , on March 22nd , my headlined news-report was “ Coronavirus Cases Soaring Much Faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even that report had no takers in America ’ s major ‘ news ’ media , despite its being merely a presentation of the statistical data , which discredited the U.S. Government in comparison with almost all of the other governments in the world .
( Only Turkey and Luxembourg had even worse figures at that time , but they were just beginning to count their coronavirus cases . )
On March 25th , I headlined “ Coronavirus : Why Russians Are Lucky to Be Led by Putin ” , and wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , America will have the world ’ s largest total number of cases , if Italy won ’ t .
And after yet another day , the U.S. will almost certainly have the world ’ s largest total number of cases.
” Both statements came to pass .
On March 26th , America ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published their projection of the rise and subsiding of the coronavirus-19 in the U.S. , and predicted that this country would end up with 460,000 cases and 81,114 deaths from the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would virtually end by July 1st .
I headlined about that , on March 28th , “ Projection : U.S. Coronavirus Deaths to = China ’ s Total Coronavirus Cases ” .
Though all of these news-reports are major , and deal with the news-event that is currently obsessing all of the world ’ s news-media — which is the coronavirus plague — the news-media that are owned or otherwise controlled by America ’ s billionaires rejected them all and are doing everything else that they possibly can to delay , if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from reaching America ’ s voters , and this is happening during an election year .
The Jeff-Bezos-owned liberal neoconservative Washington Post reliably reported on March 28th that “ in private discussions , the president has been driven much more by economic concerns , according to people involved in internal debates or briefed on them .
Trump has long viewed the stock market as a barometer for his own reelection hopes.
” Safety of the American people is a secondary concern for him .
That was being reported by a Democratic Party billionaire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it actually indicates is America ’ s being controlled by its billionaires , of both Parties .
The public , here , actually don ’ t count .
Under conditions such as this , one can easily understand — with this type of information , which is being hidden from the public — only politicians who satisfy the wants of the nation ’ s billionaires stand even so much as a chance to win seats in Congress or other high elective office .
The public are so misinformed that they are like horses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driven by a master to whom they are expendable and replaceable , not objects of authentic and caring concern for their welfare .
Everything has a price to such a master , who will grab at any chance to replace any of the public by a cheaper alternative , so long as “ the job gets done ” — to satisfy their own unlimited greed .
The deception of the public is so extreme that America ’ s Establishment are so brazen as to blame China and Russia for the “ disinformation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime is utterly shameless .
These bailouts of billionaires will destroy what little was left of a democratic future for America — and for any other nation that happens to be nearly as corrupt .
Is this to be the long-term impact of coronavirus-19 ?
Is there an alternative likely scenario ?
Perhaps the coronavirus plague won ’ t spread as uncontrollably as is feared , but even if that is the case , what justification exists for bailing out any of the super-rich , in response to an emergency that is causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing that .
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author , most recently , of They ’ re Not Even Close : The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records , 1910-2010 , and of CHRIST ’ S VENTRILOQUISTS : The Event that Created Christianity .

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.
Eric Zuesse, originally posted at Strategic Culture
Signs, especially in the United States, are that the post-coronavirus-plagued world will have even more inequality of wealth, within each nation, than existed prior to the plague. Billionaires are demanding to be included in the bailouts by their governments; and, because billionaires financed the careers of the successful politicians who won seats in their country’s legislature, those demands are almost certain to be complied with. Only the least-corrupt nations will be able to recover fully from the current plague.
In the United States, one Party, the Republicans, doesn’t even pretend to be concerned about the sharp growth of wealth-inequality that has occurred after 1980; but the other Party, the Democrats, do make that pretense; and so a deal is being worked out in the U.S. Congress that both Parties tout as being a ‘balanced’ bailout bill, because it will bail out both the megacorporations that the billionaires own and control, and the public — their workers (especially the ones that those billionaires are now laying off). Because of the enormous give-aways to the billionaires, deficit-spending by the government will be soaring out of control, and ultimately paper money will plunge in value, which will bring on a global depression that will be even worse than 1929. Some governments will find ways to nationalize the wealth of billionaires and perhaps also of centi-millionaires in order to fund the continuing needs of the public, and there will be a scramble by many of those super-rich to relocate to countries where they still will be able to bribe enough government officials so as to provide safe haven for their accumulated wealth. Graduated exit-taxes will be instituted by any of the industrialized countries that aren’t totally corrupt, but the most extremely corrupt industrialized countries will experience massive capital-flight and a future as a “third world” nation, under extended martial law.
On March 22nd, Zero Hedge headlined “‘Stop The Coronavirus Corporate Coup’: Here Is A List Of Everyone Demanding A Bail Out” and Matt Stoller listed the many different categories of mega-corporate lobbyists who were urging the Senators and Representatives, whose campaigns they fund, to bail out their respective industries. The few other news-sites that republished or linked to that list were other alternative-news sites, not any of the mainstream ones. This was a major news-report, which deserved to become a top topic of public conversation, but that didn’t happen; and here is an example of what it said (and which the rest of the press were hiding):
Mitch McConnell wants big business to rule, so he’s playing a trick. He is refusing aid to workers. Democrats are negotiating with him to try to get unemployment assistance and social welfare. McConnell knows Dems won’t pay attention to corporate bailouts if he takes the public hostage, and Democrats know that they can hand out favors to big business if they just talk about how they got larger checks for workers.
So McConnell will put a bill down in front of Nancy Pelosi, with some good stuff like unemployment insurance, but also the really ugly stuff to hand over America to big business. The corporatists in the Democratic Party will tell her “Pass the corporate coup bill, after all we have to do something right now!” And because she doesn’t have the votes from within her own caucus because of these corporatists, and because she doesn’t particularly care if America is sold off to big business, she will do that.
It’s a song-and-dance routine, performed by the two “good cop, bad cop” political Parties (both being fascist), in order to satisfy not only the audience (the voters) but the producers (the billionaires).
On March 21st, I headlined “Triage Starts in Government Bailouts: Who will get the money?” at Strategic Culture, and submitted that news-report to all U.S. major news-media and most of the minor ones. 24 hours later, it was picked-up by only a few minor, very courageous, ones: The 21st Century, The Duran, Free World Economic Report, The Russophile, and Verity Weekly. The corruption is so pervasive that all of the news-media that 99.99% of the public rely upon for their ‘news’ were filtering out the news of the impending massive public subsidies to America’s billionaires by America’s ‘public representatives’ — shoveling the public’s money to the billionaires as bailouts.
Stoller was obviously correct that the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate, Mitch McConnell, “is refusing aid to workers” and (though Stoller — being himself a Democrat — didn’t use nearly such direct language to say) the Democratic Party’s leader in the House was trying to wrangle enough of the desperately needed funds for the American public (all sorts of workers, and, here, especially the most important ones, such as nurses, police, etc.) so that congressional Democrats would be able to give the billionaires what they demand, while still getting enough aid out to everybody else in order for congressional Democrats to be able to hold their congressional seats after November 3rd. (In America, keeping the poor away from the voting-booths, and undercounting the votes that they do cast, are usually insufficient in themselves so as to prevent a Republican landslide, and so as to supply the bumper-sticker benefits to non-billionaires that will be needed if Congress isn’t to become 100% Republican.)
In a profoundly corrupt country, over 99% of the press will filter-out such basic details of the true extent of the corruption, because, otherwise, the revolution that results will be against the aristocracy, instead of against the public itself (and producing martial law), and a revolution like that could produce actual democracy, which the few people who fund politicians’ careers fear the most. They much prefer, if a revolution is coming, that it be clearly against the public (and result in martial law, which will protect only themselves), not against themselves. In fact, such a country has a government almost solely in order to protect the aristocrats from the public, and almost not at all in order to protect the public from the aristocracy.
Interestingly, the very next day, on March 22nd, my headlined news-report was “Coronavirus Cases Soaring Much Faster in U.S. Than in Other Countries” and even that report had no takers in America’s major ‘news’ media, despite its being merely a presentation of the statistical data, which discredited the U.S. Government in comparison with almost all of the other governments in the world. (Only Turkey and Luxembourg had even worse figures at that time, but they were just beginning to count their coronavirus cases.)
On March 25th, I headlined “Coronavirus: Why Russians Are Lucky to Be Led by Putin”, and wrote that “within just three more days, America will have the world’s largest total number of cases, if Italy won’t. And after yet another day, the U.S. will almost certainly have the world’s largest total number of cases.” Both statements came to pass. On March 26th, America’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published their projection of the rise and subsiding of the coronavirus-19 in the U.S., and predicted that this country would end up with 460,000 cases and 81,114 deaths from the disease, and that America’s epidemic would virtually end by July 1st. I headlined about that, on March 28th, “Projection: U.S. Coronavirus Deaths to = China’s Total Coronavirus Cases”.
Though all of these news-reports are major, and deal with the news-event that is currently obsessing all of the world’s news-media — which is the coronavirus plague — the news-media that are owned or otherwise controlled by America’s billionaires rejected them all and are doing everything else that they possibly can to delay, if not to block entirely, the crucial information from reaching America’s voters, and this is happening during an election year. The Jeff-Bezos-owned liberal neoconservative Washington Post reliably reported on March 28th that “in private discussions, the president has been driven much more by economic concerns, according to people involved in internal debates or briefed on them. Trump has long viewed the stock market as a barometer for his own reelection hopes.” Safety of the American people is a secondary concern for him. That was being reported by a Democratic Party billionaire against Republican Party billionaires, but what it actually indicates is America’s being controlled by its billionaires, of both Parties. The public, here, actually don’t count.
Under conditions such as this, one can easily understand — with this type of information, which is being hidden from the public — only politicians who satisfy the wants of the nation’s billionaires stand even so much as a chance to win seats in Congress or other high elective office. The public are so misinformed that they are like horses with blinders on and which are being driven by a master to whom they are expendable and replaceable, not objects of authentic and caring concern for their welfare. Everything has a price to such a master, who will grab at any chance to replace any of the public by a cheaper alternative, so long as “the job gets done” — to satisfy their own unlimited greed. The deception of the public is so extreme that America’s Establishment are so brazen as to blame China and Russia for the “disinformation” about the cornoavirus-19 pandemic. The U.S. regime is utterly shameless.
These bailouts of billionaires will destroy what little was left of a democratic future for America — and for any other nation that happens to be nearly as corrupt.
Is this to be the long-term impact of coronavirus-19? Is there an alternative likely scenario? Perhaps the coronavirus plague won’t spread as uncontrollably as is feared, but even if that is the case, what justification exists for bailing out any of the super-rich, in response to an emergency that is causing widespread suffering? And yet, America is doing that.
—————
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.
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theduran--2020-04-01--US should stop sanctions against Iran amidst coronavirus pandemic

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Lucas Leiroz , research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro… Washington is not willing to delay its plans to eternalize its hegemonic power , even in the face of an unprecedented global crisis .
Currently , one of the main American targets is Iran , which , in the midst of the devastating crisis of COVID-19 , will now have to face the fury of the US , which do not intend to retreat in the imposition of international sanctions against Tehran .
The Persian country is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With more than 2,700 dead , Iran is trying to survive the pandemic .
Despite the huge number of victims , the country is already beginning to show signs of stability .
President Hassan Rouhani assured the world that the country has a strong health system and is able to cope with the rapid progression of the disease .
State health insurance would cover 90 % of coronavirus-related patient costs , including donations and low-interest loans to those affected by COVID-19 .
Altogether , 20 % of the national budget is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this priority given to fighting the pandemic is not universal , with some countries more concerned with continuing their geopolitical ambitions to the detriment of human well-being .
The United States has repeatedly announced that international sanctions against Iran will not end , regardless of the state of crisis caused by the global pandemic .
In the past three months , US sanctions against Iran ’ s oil and industry have increased exponentially , due to escalating tensions between the two countries .
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has publicly stated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran because of the alleged “ violation of its nuclear commitments ” .
Previously , American sanctions had been imposed in 2018 , following the unilateral withdrawal of the US from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran .
Reasonably claiming that Tehran had violated the terms of the agreement , Washington initiated a series of coercive measures that , over the past few two years , cost Iran about $ 200 billion , according to official Tehran data , directly damaging the country ’ s economy and weakening strategic sectors .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to be minimized in favor of international cooperation against a common problem .
Taking into account that the US has an even greater number of cases than Iran and that everything indicates that it will surpass the number of deaths , it would be reasonable that the Trump administration was less concerned with punishing another country and more interested in acting against the virus , be it helping other countries or just increasing their efforts to control internal chaos .
However , the White House and the Pentagon do the exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued but increased , with the US on March 26 adding a list of 5 organizations and 15 individual people to the list of those sanctioned for “ collaboration with Iran ” .
Clearly , the United States is interested in increasing and aggravating the crisis , not in reducing it .
Despite this , Iran has shown itself to be increasingly strong .
Foreign sanctions , although cruel to the country ’ s economy , have forced Iran to develop previously weaker sectors , strengthening the country as a whole .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spoke in this regard , stating that “ Iran has benefited from US sanctions .
This made us self-sufficient in all areas ” .
Looking at it comparatively , the US , being the largest economy in the world , demonstrates a much greater strategic fragility , since the pandemic grows exponentially in its territory , even under conditions much more economically favorable than Iran .
Indeed , economic sanctions play a unique strategic role on the international scenario : generating instability and damaging the lives of the people affected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a weak and inefficient formula when applied to strong and organically structured nations , with millennia of tradition and nurtured by great popular support for their governments , as is the case with the Islamic Republic of Iran .
As Jeffrey Sachs , professor of sustainable development at Columbia University , wrote to Chinese media : “ The US should immediately suspend all economic sanctions on countries that are struggling to deal with the disease ( … ) US economic sanctions have caused millions of people to suffer , and soon they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not far more .
Exacerbating civilians ’ suffering to try to change their government ’ s conduct is ethically wrong and prohibited by international law .
Pursuing this strategy during the worst health crisis the world has faced in modern times demonstrates reckless disregard for human life and contempt for the norms of civilized behavior .
” Finally , we must wait to see what will be the next steps of the US in its desperate search for the preservation of the global hegemony .
If the American government is more interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting the virus than punishing foreign nations , the most correct measure is an immediate end to sanctions .

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 Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro…
Washington is not willing to delay its plans to eternalize its hegemonic power, even in the face of an unprecedented global crisis. Currently, one of the main American targets is Iran, which, in the midst of the devastating crisis of COVID-19, will now have to face the fury of the US, which do not intend to retreat in the imposition of international sanctions against Tehran.
The Persian country is one of the most affected by the catastrophe. With more than 2,700 dead, Iran is trying to survive the pandemic. Despite the huge number of victims, the country is already beginning to show signs of stability. President Hassan Rouhani assured the world that the country has a strong health system and is able to cope with the rapid progression of the disease. State health insurance would cover 90% of coronavirus-related patient costs, including donations and low-interest loans to those affected by COVID-19. Altogether, 20% of the national budget is being directed towards controlling the pandemic.
However, this priority given to fighting the pandemic is not universal, with some countries more concerned with continuing their geopolitical ambitions to the detriment of human well-being. The United States has repeatedly announced that international sanctions against Iran will not end, regardless of the state of crisis caused by the global pandemic. In the past three months, US sanctions against Iran’s oil and industry have increased exponentially, due to escalating tensions between the two countries. US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has publicly stated that Washington intends to recover global restrictions on Tehran because of the alleged “violation of its nuclear commitments”.
Previously, American sanctions had been imposed in 2018, following the unilateral withdrawal of the US from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Reasonably claiming that Tehran had violated the terms of the agreement, Washington initiated a series of coercive measures that, over the past few two years, cost Iran about $200 billion, according to official Tehran data, directly damaging the country’s economy and weakening strategic sectors.
In a situation of humanitarian catastrophe, secondary tensions are expected to be minimized in favor of international cooperation against a common problem. Taking into account that the US has an even greater number of cases than Iran and that everything indicates that it will surpass the number of deaths, it would be reasonable that the Trump administration was less concerned with punishing another country and more interested in acting against the virus, be it helping other countries or just increasing their efforts to control internal chaos. However, the White House and the Pentagon do the exactly opposite. Sanctions against Iran not only continued but increased, with the US on March 26 adding a list of 5 organizations and 15 individual people to the list of those sanctioned for “collaboration with Iran”. Clearly, the United States is interested in increasing and aggravating the crisis, not in reducing it.
Despite this, Iran has shown itself to be increasingly strong. Foreign sanctions, although cruel to the country’s economy, have forced Iran to develop previously weaker sectors, strengthening the country as a whole. The Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spoke in this regard, stating that “Iran has benefited from US sanctions. This made us self-sufficient in all areas”. Looking at it comparatively, the US, being the largest economy in the world, demonstrates a much greater strategic fragility, since the pandemic grows exponentially in its territory, even under conditions much more economically favorable than Iran.
Indeed, economic sanctions play a unique strategic role on the international scenario: generating instability and damaging the lives of the people affected by the measures. However, this seems to be a weak and inefficient formula when applied to strong and organically structured nations, with millennia of tradition and nurtured by great popular support for their governments, as is the case with the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Jeffrey Sachs, professor of sustainable development at Columbia University, wrote to Chinese media: “The US should immediately suspend all economic sanctions on countries that are struggling to deal with the disease (…) US economic sanctions have caused millions of people to suffer, and soon they could kill tens of thousands, if not far more. Exacerbating civilians’ suffering to try to change their government’s conduct is ethically wrong and prohibited by international law. Pursuing this strategy during the worst health crisis the world has faced in modern times demonstrates reckless disregard for human life and contempt for the norms of civilized behavior. ”
Finally, we must wait to see what will be the next steps of the US in its desperate search for the preservation of the global hegemony. If the American government is more interested in taking care of its own people and fighting the virus than punishing foreign nations, the most correct measure is an immediate end to sanctions.
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theduran--2020-04-01--What Happens After the Pandemic

What Happens After the Pandemic

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PANDEMIC – published in Serbian daily “ Politika ” on 25.3.2020 .
Authored by Nebojša Katić… Paradoxical though it might sound , to the Western political and economic establishments , COVID-19 is a gift .
The pandemic will invariably have devastating economic consequences , but a financial crisis was inevitable and imminent even before it emerged .
The start of this crisis was evident back in September 2019 .
The pandemic will now serve as a convenient cover-up of this fact , whilst inconvenient questions will be swept under the rug .
In this way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed on the economic model of the West , which has not changed one iota since the Big Recession of 2008/2009 .
Nor will it be blamed on brutal austerity measures , nor on the stagnating incomes of the majority of workers .
Nor on the shameless neglect of the astronomical rise in inequality .
No , the system is working perfectly – it ’ s this new virus , see , that ’ s to blame .
Western nations , as well as those aspiring to their example , will now have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destructive economic and social politics for another decade , at least .
People ’ s endurance will be tested to its limit , as we are manipulated into believing that the sole purpose of existence now is merely staying alive , and little more .
There is a systematic whipping up of hysteria which has brought the world into a state of collective paralysis , thereby enabling every totalitarian experiment to be carried out with no resistance .
All big economic crises , since the triumph of neoliberalism in the 80s through to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same way – a combined and unchecked massive increase of public , state and corporate debt .
In the second half of 2019 , global debt reached an incredible $ 350 trillion and surpassed 320 % of global GDP .
Both figures are far higher than they were in 2008 when a crisis on an unprecedented scale occurred .
The system has been practising short-termism for a decade now – money is constantly being printed , whilst interest rates are being held lower than ever before seen in modern times .
Debts can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones , however , the unsustainable growth of corporate debt is beginning to collapse the financial system from within .
In the US , a serious cash-flow crisis last September catalysed yet further printing of money on an enormous scale .
International organisations , as well as global media , feigned ignorance .
And then the virus came .
Unlike previous crises which were essentially crises of demand , the one we are experiencing today is simultaneously a crisis of both demand and supply because a large part of industry ( particularly services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is usually seen only in periods of economic sanctions and wartime .
Many countries in the West right now intend to print several trillion dollars , euros , pounds , etc .
– and that ’ s just for starters .
No one will question this enormous injection of new money .
No one will notice that during crises , money inexplicably seems to appear and is always available for bank and corporate bailouts .
It is always available for acquiring weapons , for carrying out military exercises and brutal military interventions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ welfare , for medical equipment , for health- and care-worker salaries , for academic research and education .
Western systems are excellent at „ creating “ financial derivatives , tools for time-wasting by way of social media and various Hollywood-branded brain-washing , soul-destroying materials .
They only falter when it comes to caring for human beings – when they need protecting with facemasks , ventilators , increased hospital capacity , medicines and other tangible remedies .
After the pandemic has passed and the dead have been counted , a new wave of economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporations will be bailed out , but everyone else will be reeling from irreparable damage .
Unemployment will soar and the most vulnerable will be hardest hit – the millions who have neither health nor social insurance , nor savings – only debt .
No one will count the victims of poverty , nor will we see daily tolls of the affected and dying as a direct result of it .
This crisis will yet again impoverish small and weak economies .
Capital , which is already fleeing developing countries , will withdraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their knees as they become incapable of rescuing their own citizens and industries .
No one will notice how powerful countries that are subsidising their own companies with trillions , using the pandemic as a cover , are plainly breaking the basic market rules – rules that they created .
And then these same countries , along with the IMF , will offer „ aid “ in the form of credit , thereby handing already indebted countries a new financially obliging noose .
In exchange for “ coloured paper ” – dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading their tangible , real assets – manufactured goods , property and resources .
Domestic experts , lovers of the small state and a free market , will painstakingly explain that this is by no means daylight robbery , no , this is merely the West magnanimously investing its hard-earned savings .
Unfortunate and incompetent governments will fall for the same old tricks and trust the same advisors .
As for the lowly citizens , they will be grateful just to have survived and still be breathing , albeit suffocating financially .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who believe that we will learn something from this pandemic and experience a sort of catharsis or rebirth , are fooling themselves .
After the pandemic , the world will be even more ruthless and cruel .

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.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PANDEMIC – published in Serbian daily “Politika” on 25.3.2020. Authored by Nebojša Katić…
Paradoxical though it might sound, to the Western political and economic establishments, COVID-19 is a gift. The pandemic will invariably have devastating economic consequences, but a financial crisis was inevitable and imminent even before it emerged. The start of this crisis was evident back in September 2019. The pandemic will now serve as a convenient cover-up of this fact, whilst inconvenient questions will be swept under the rug.
In this way, the new financial crisis will not be blamed on the economic model of the West, which has not changed one iota since the Big Recession of 2008/2009. Nor will it be blamed on brutal austerity measures, nor on the stagnating incomes of the majority of workers. Nor on the shameless neglect of the astronomical rise in inequality. No, the system is working perfectly – it’s this new virus, see, that’s to blame.
Western nations, as well as those aspiring to their example, will now have the perfect excuse to continue implementing their destructive economic and social politics for another decade, at least. People’s endurance will be tested to its limit, as we are manipulated into believing that the sole purpose of existence now is merely staying alive, and little more. There is a systematic whipping up of hysteria which has brought the world into a state of collective paralysis, thereby enabling every totalitarian experiment to be carried out with no resistance.
All big economic crises, since the triumph of neoliberalism in the 80s through to today, have been brought about the same way – a combined and unchecked massive increase of public, state and corporate debt. In the second half of 2019, global debt reached an incredible $350 trillion and surpassed 320% of global GDP. Both figures are far higher than they were in 2008 when a crisis on an unprecedented scale occurred.
The system has been practising short-termism for a decade now – money is constantly being printed, whilst interest rates are being held lower than ever before seen in modern times. Debts can only be paid off by incurring new ones, however, the unsustainable growth of corporate debt is beginning to collapse the financial system from within. In the US, a serious cash-flow crisis last September catalysed yet further printing of money on an enormous scale. International organisations, as well as global media, feigned ignorance. And then the virus came. Unlike previous crises which were essentially crises of demand, the one we are experiencing today is simultaneously a crisis of both demand and supply because a large part of industry (particularly services) has ceased. That particular combination is usually seen only in periods of economic sanctions and wartime.
Many countries in the West right now intend to print several trillion dollars, euros, pounds, etc. – and that’s just for starters. No one will question this enormous injection of new money. No one will notice that during crises, money inexplicably seems to appear and is always available for bank and corporate bailouts. It is always available for acquiring weapons, for carrying out military exercises and brutal military interventions. It is only ever unavailable for social welfare, for medical equipment, for health- and care-worker salaries, for academic research and education. Western systems are excellent at „creating“ financial derivatives, tools for time-wasting by way of social media and various Hollywood-branded brain-washing, soul-destroying materials. They only falter when it comes to caring for human beings – when they need protecting with facemasks, ventilators, increased hospital capacity, medicines and other tangible remedies.
After the pandemic has passed and the dead have been counted, a new wave of economic victims will emerge. Big banks and corporations will be bailed out, but everyone else will be reeling from irreparable damage. Unemployment will soar and the most vulnerable will be hardest hit – the millions who have neither health nor social insurance, nor savings – only debt. No one will count the victims of poverty, nor will we see daily tolls of the affected and dying as a direct result of it.
This crisis will yet again impoverish small and weak economies. Capital, which is already fleeing developing countries, will withdraw even faster. Developing economies will be on their knees as they become incapable of rescuing their own citizens and industries. No one will notice how powerful countries that are subsidising their own companies with trillions, using the pandemic as a cover, are plainly breaking the basic market rules – rules that they created.
And then these same countries, along with the IMF, will offer „aid“ in the form of credit, thereby handing already indebted countries a new financially obliging noose. In exchange for “coloured paper” – dollars and euros – developing countries will continue trading their tangible, real assets – manufactured goods, property and resources. Domestic experts, lovers of the small state and a free market, will painstakingly explain that this is by no means daylight robbery, no, this is merely the West magnanimously investing its hard-earned savings. Unfortunate and incompetent governments will fall for the same old tricks and trust the same advisors. As for the lowly citizens, they will be grateful just to have survived and still be breathing, albeit suffocating financially. I’m afraid that those kind souls who believe that we will learn something from this pandemic and experience a sort of catharsis or rebirth, are fooling themselves. After the pandemic, the world will be even more ruthless and cruel.
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theduran--2020-04-01--UAE’s Rapprochement With Syria Aimed Against Turkey

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Paul Antonopoulos , Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies… In the midst of the coronavirus crisis , Syria ’ s President Bashar al-Assad and Abu Dhabi ’ s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan , the head of United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) , spoke by phone on Friday in the first such communication since the Syrian War began in 2011 .
This shows a metamorphosis of alliances and geopolitics in the Middle East and the wider region considering the UAE was one of the main backers of terrorist organizations who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , for more than a year , the UAE has been sending signals showing a change in policy towards Syria .
The phone call was after a long series of rapprochement that began in late 2018 with the reopening of the Emirati embassy in Damascus .
“ I have discussed with the Syrian president… updates on the coronavirus .
I assured him of the support of the UAE and its willingness to help the Syrian people , ” Prince Mohammed said on Twitter .
“ Humanitarian solidarity during trying times supersedes all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not stand alone.
” A diplomatic source close to the case was quoted by the Lebanese daily L ’ Orient-Le Jour as saying the “ Westerners , the Americans and French particularly , were against ” a Syrian-Emirati rapprochement .
According to the diplomatic source , the UAE is trying to gain favours from Moscow and has already won dozens of contracts , including in armaments , gas and infrastructure , but also with space cooperation .
This is part of a broader geostrategic context and the stakes go far beyond Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UAE has acknowledged that Russia has taken a greater interest in the region , in particular in Syria and Libya .
Relations between the Gulf monarchies and the United States , traditional allies , have greatly deteriorated in recent years .
The gradual disengagement of American forces from the region , but especially the lack of support from Washington against Turkey , made the monarchies with the exception of Qatar , lose the confidence they once had in the United States .
According to the diplomatic source quoted by L ’ Orient-Le Jour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to Beijing and Moscow , and the Crown Prince ’ s phone call to Assad is evidence of that .
The call also comes as relations with Iran softened , especially seen with the many Emirati delegations who visited Iran last year , however this has not softened the UAE ’ s brutal Yemeni policy .
None-the-less , this suggests a change in foreign policy that appeals to Moscow .
It appears then that the UAE ’ s turn around in its Syria policy serves two purposes : first – to strengthen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form an anti-Turkish bloc .
As Turkey actively pursues for the establishment of a neo-Ottoman Empire , the UAE is aggressively undermining the project as it opposes the Muslim Brotherhood , an organization that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has openly supported and backed in Syria , Libya and Egypt .
The UAE recognized the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in 2014 after the fundamentalist group made plans to infiltrate and destabilize the Gulf country to take control – the main reason for the ever-increasing deterioration in relations between the UAE and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been actively pursuing to counter Turkish influence across the region .
As part of its efforts to create an anti-Turkish block , the UAE have strengthened their relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt .
Both Saudi Arabia and Egypt fear being taken over by Muslim Brotherhood rule .
However , the UAE ’ s pursuit of countering Turkey has not been reduced to only the Islamic world .
Greece , considered the “ Old Enemy ” by the Turks , received 11 tons of medical aid from the UAE on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that relations “ began as economic cooperation , but thanks to the trust that was developed , it evolved into a strong bond.
” This came as a working meeting of the Greece-UAE Broader Strategic Cooperation Forum was held in Athens on February 19 following the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ’ visit to UAE .
In 2019 and 2020 , the UAE and Greece has conducted joint military drills and military heads have been meeting each other often in a clear directive against Turkey .
In Libya , the UAE has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army in their struggle against the Muslim Brotherhood government in Tripoli , headed by the ethnic Turk Fayez al-Sarraj who has the full backing of Erdoğan .
The UAE ’ s material assistance has been crucial in the success of the Libyan National Army ’ s battle against Muslim Brotherhood forces , a clear demonstration that the UAE are willing to directly check Turkey ’ s ambitions to exert its influence and power across the region .
By securing close relations with Greece and directly countering Turkey in Libya , the UAE ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in formulating an anti-Turkish bloc , with itself at the head .
While Turkey has acted to strangulate countries who oppose its hegemony in the region , it now appears that it is the UAE who is pressurizing Turkey and isolating it .
There is every chance that the UAE will begin sending material aid to Syria that will be crucial in its future battles to expel the Turkish military and their jihadist proxies from Syrian territory .
This will once again undermine Turkey ’ s efforts to dominate Syria and be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move that Erdoğan would not have expected .

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…
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the head of United Arab Emirates (UAE), spoke by phone on Friday in the first such communication since the Syrian War began in 2011. This shows a metamorphosis of alliances and geopolitics in the Middle East and the wider region considering the UAE was one of the main backers of terrorist organizations who fought to remove Assad from power. However, for more than a year, the UAE has been sending signals showing a change in policy towards Syria. The phone call was after a long series of rapprochement that began in late 2018 with the reopening of the Emirati embassy in Damascus.
“I have discussed with the Syrian president… updates on the coronavirus. I assured him of the support of the UAE and its willingness to help the Syrian people,” Prince Mohammed said on Twitter. “Humanitarian solidarity during trying times supersedes all matters, and Syria and her people will not stand alone.”
A diplomatic source close to the case was quoted by the Lebanese daily L’Orient-Le Jour as saying the “Westerners, the Americans and French particularly, were against” a Syrian-Emirati rapprochement. According to the diplomatic source, the UAE is trying to gain favours from Moscow and has already won dozens of contracts, including in armaments, gas and infrastructure, but also with space cooperation. This is part of a broader geostrategic context and the stakes go far beyond Syria and the UAE. Rather, the UAE has acknowledged that Russia has taken a greater interest in the region, in particular in Syria and Libya.
Relations between the Gulf monarchies and the United States, traditional allies, have greatly deteriorated in recent years. The gradual disengagement of American forces from the region, but especially the lack of support from Washington against Turkey, made the monarchies with the exception of Qatar, lose the confidence they once had in the United States. According to the diplomatic source quoted by L’Orient-Le Jour, the UAE is trying to get closer to Beijing and Moscow, and the Crown Prince’s phone call to Assad is evidence of that. The call also comes as relations with Iran softened, especially seen with the many Emirati delegations who visited Iran last year, however this has not softened the UAE’s brutal Yemeni policy. None-the-less, this suggests a change in foreign policy that appeals to Moscow.
It appears then that the UAE’s turn around in its Syria policy serves two purposes: first – to strengthen relations with Russia, second – to form an anti-Turkish bloc.
As Turkey actively pursues for the establishment of a neo-Ottoman Empire, the UAE is aggressively undermining the project as it opposes the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has openly supported and backed in Syria, Libya and Egypt. The UAE recognized the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in 2014 after the fundamentalist group made plans to infiltrate and destabilize the Gulf country to take control – the main reason for the ever-increasing deterioration in relations between the UAE and Turkey.
Since then, the UAE has been actively pursuing to counter Turkish influence across the region. As part of its efforts to create an anti-Turkish block, the UAE have strengthened their relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Both Saudi Arabia and Egypt fear being taken over by Muslim Brotherhood rule. However, the UAE’s pursuit of countering Turkey has not been reduced to only the Islamic world.
Greece, considered the “Old Enemy” by the Turks, received 11 tons of medical aid from the UAE on Thursday, with a Greek government press release stating that relations “began as economic cooperation, but thanks to the trust that was developed, it evolved into a strong bond.” This came as a working meeting of the Greece-UAE Broader Strategic Cooperation Forum was held in Athens on February 19 following the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to UAE. In 2019 and 2020, the UAE and Greece has conducted joint military drills and military heads have been meeting each other often in a clear directive against Turkey.
In Libya, the UAE has not held back in supporting the Libyan National Army in their struggle against the Muslim Brotherhood government in Tripoli, headed by the ethnic Turk Fayez al-Sarraj who has the full backing of Erdoğan. The UAE’s material assistance has been crucial in the success of the Libyan National Army’s battle against Muslim Brotherhood forces, a clear demonstration that the UAE are willing to directly check Turkey’s ambitions to exert its influence and power across the region.
By securing close relations with Greece and directly countering Turkey in Libya, the UAE’s rapprochement with Syria is another step in formulating an anti-Turkish bloc, with itself at the head. While Turkey has acted to strangulate countries who oppose its hegemony in the region, it now appears that it is the UAE who is pressurizing Turkey and isolating it. There is every chance that the UAE will begin sending material aid to Syria that will be crucial in its future battles to expel the Turkish military and their jihadist proxies from Syrian territory. This will once again undermine Turkey’s efforts to dominate Syria and be the main power in the region, a move that Erdoğan would not have expected.
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theduran--2020-04-01--Coronavirus can help Ukrainian healthcare system

On April 01 , the second stage of medical reform should come into force in Ukraine .
This event promises to go unnoticed against the backdrop of the main problem of this century – the coronavirus pandemic .
The author of the reform is Dr. Death .
Such a nickname among the people received the former Minister of Health of Ukraine Ulyana Suprun .
The proposed reform has been heavily criticized by the country ’ s population .
Many believe that it will kill the medical care system in Ukraine .
In light of the current situation with the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note that according to the results of the first stage of medical reform in the country , the system of sanitary and epidemiological services was completely eliminated .
It turns out that there are no professionals ready to fight the deadly virus in the country .
Faced with an active spread of infection , the country ’ s authorities immediately began to restore the abolished structure .
The selection of chief sanitary doctors in the regions is being carried out .
But this will take not a one day .
And not one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the adopted medical reform provides for the closure of a number of medical institutions , including a number of tuberculosis dispensaries .
This step is due to reduced funding for the counter tuberculosis service .
This year , the amount allocated for these needs should be reduced by five times compared to 2019 .
It turns out that in Ukraine there is no sanitary-epidemiological service .
The state program to combat tuberculosis is not fixed at the legislative level .
And this can lead to the fact that many infected with coronavirus can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Such a situation can lead to sad consequences not only in Ukraine itself .
It is necessary to pay attention to this at international sites .
It seems the country ’ s authorities are starting to think about it .
The main thing is not to be too late .
The epidemiological service killed by Ulyana Suprun is only beginning to be restored thanks to the coronavirus pandemic .
And in full it will not start functioning soon , given that in recent years , Ukrainian educational institutions have not released a @ @ @ @ @ @

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.
On April 01, the second stage of medical reform should come into force in Ukraine. This event promises to go unnoticed against the backdrop of the main problem of this century – the coronavirus pandemic.
The author of the reform is Dr. Death. Such a nickname among the people received the former Minister of Health of Ukraine Ulyana Suprun.
The proposed reform has been heavily criticized by the country’s population. Many believe that it will kill the medical care system in Ukraine.
In light of the current situation with the spread of coronavirus, I would like to note that according to the results of the first stage of medical reform in the country, the system of sanitary and epidemiological services was completely eliminated.
It turns out that there are no professionals ready to fight the deadly virus in the country. Faced with an active spread of infection, the country’s authorities immediately began to restore the abolished structure. The selection of chief sanitary doctors in the regions is being carried out. But this will take not a one day. And not one week.
And on April 1, the adopted medical reform provides for the closure of a number of medical institutions, including a number of tuberculosis dispensaries. This step is due to reduced funding for the counter tuberculosis service. This year, the amount allocated for these needs should be reduced by five times compared to 2019.
It turns out that in Ukraine there is no sanitary-epidemiological service. The state program to combat tuberculosis is not fixed at the legislative level. And this can lead to the fact that many infected with coronavirus can stay without treatment and any medical control.
Such a situation can lead to sad consequences not only in Ukraine itself. It is necessary to pay attention to this at international sites.
It seems the country’s authorities are starting to think about it. The main thing is not to be too late. The epidemiological service killed by Ulyana Suprun is only beginning to be restored thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. And in full it will not start functioning soon, given that in recent years, Ukrainian educational institutions have not released a single specialist in this industry.
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COVID19 vs Hantavirus

The statements , views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily @ @ @ @ @ .

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The Racism Hunters

What is the difference between the philosopher ’ s stone and racism ?
No matter how hard you search or where , you will never find the philosopher ’ s stone , while people of a certain political persuasion will find racism everywhere , whether it exists or not .
Ditto paid hacks .
When Donald Trump was asked by a dumb belle masquerading as a reporter why he alluded to Covid-19 as the Chinese virus , he replied simply “ Because it comes from China ” .
Stupidly she persisted , and he added that the Chinese ( Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on American soldiers .
The photograph at the top of this page is sadly not unique .
Politically correct airheads have been out in force pushing the same stupid message .
So… The childhood infection rubella is also known as German measles because it was first described clinically by a German physician .
German measles is far from unique , though very often a disease is named after the doctor who discovers or is the first to describe it .
Parkinson ’ s disease is named after James Parkinson ( 1755-1824 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a horrible disease is named after him ?
The English veterinary surgeon Arnold Leese was the author of a book on the diseases of the one-humped camel that was a standard work in India for half a century , and he was positively thrilled when the camel parasite thelazia leesie was named after him .
Racism , so-called , is often in the eye of the beholder , more often than not .
It is also not infrequently a total invention , as in the case of Jussie Smollett and many others before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as some women – feminists – find misogyny and sexism everywhere – so do persons of a particular political orientation find racism everywhere .
The easiest way to make the charge is to pick out some real or perceived statistical anomaly .
In the 1980s , law professor David Baldus was commissioned , ostensibly , to investigate alleged disparities in those sentenced to death for murder , in particular to ascertain if blacks were more likely to be sentenced to death than whites .
The real purpose of this study had nothing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather obvious attack on capital punishment .
The Baldus study was of necessity flawed because not all states have the death penalty .
Michigan abolished it for all crimes except treason way back in 1847 .
In 1851 , Wisconsin executed John McCaffary for the murder of his wife the previous year .
His public hanging was a gruesome event that is said to have led to abolition being signed into law in July 1853 .
So in Michigan and Wisconsin , a black serial killer can not be executed , while a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas can be .
Is that not discriminatory ?
Is it not unfair ?
Furthermore , even if the death penalty did discriminate against blacks , it definitely discriminates against men .
Only 16 women have been executed in the United States since 1976 .
Last year , all 22 people executed there were men .
While men do commit many more murders than women , the disparity is not that great , and , it should be added , there are some people who believe a woman should never be convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances .
Added to this are the ever expanding categories of racism , some of which beggar belief .
How about benign racism – people are nasty by being nice ?
Or systemic racism , which is said to be a reflection of disparities in wealth between various racial groups , blacks being at the bottom , as ever ?
Curiously though , this form of racism is very selective , because some of the wealthiest people in the United States are black .
Most of these appear to be concentrated in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t due to stereotyping or any such absurd rationalisation .
As Thomas Sowell and others have pointed out , if you compare any two population groups – by sex , race , nationality , religion , etc – there will be at times marked dissimilarities in income , crime rates , disease patterns , and everything else .
The cry of discrimination is used overwhelmingly by those of a leftist persuasion , and it is always accompanied by calls for more laws to combat this perceived discrimination , be it racial , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t go along with this must be a bigot , right ?
Or maybe to slightly misquote Donald Trump , sometimes a Chinese virus is just a Chinese virus .
One final thought concerning a real affront to a Chinese-American .
In 2014 , the American-born Ming Tong Liu decided to buy a restaurant in Lake Charles , Louisiana .
Many ethnic Chinese , many Asians , prefer whenever possible to deal in cash , including Mr Liu .
Driving through Alabama , he was stopped for travelling 10mph over the speed limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seized $ 75,195 under America ’ s Draconian civil asset forfeiture laws .
The money belonged not only to Mr Liu but to three other people including his two daughters .
He had to fight for ten months to get it back , which not only lost him the restaurant deal but left him thousands of dollars out of pocket .
Where were all these journalists and social justice warriors who are so offended by mere words when men like him are being treated worse than China treats its citizens ?

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.
What is the difference between the philosopher’s stone and racism?
No matter how hard you search or where, you will never find the philosopher’s stone, while people of a certain political persuasion will find racism everywhere, whether it exists or not. Ditto paid hacks.
When Donald Trump was asked by a dumb belle masquerading as a reporter why he alluded to Covid-19 as the Chinese virus, he replied simply “Because it comes from China”. Stupidly she persisted, and he added that the Chinese (Government) had tried to blame the outbreak on American soldiers.
The photograph at the top of this page is sadly not unique. Politically correct airheads have been out in force pushing the same stupid message. So…
The childhood infection rubella is also known as German measles because it was first described clinically by a German physician. German measles is far from unique, though very often a disease is named after the doctor who discovers or is the first to describe it. Parkinson’s disease is named after James Parkinson (1755-1824). Should he be flattered or insulted that a horrible disease is named after him? The English veterinary surgeon Arnold Leese was the author of a book on the diseases of the one-humped camel that was a standard work in India for half a century, and he was positively thrilled when the camel parasite thelazia leesie was named after him.
Racism, so-called, is often in the eye of the beholder, more often than not. It is also not infrequently a total invention, as in the case of Jussie Smollett and many others before him.
It is notable that just as some women – feminists – find misogyny and sexism everywhere – so do persons of a particular political orientation find racism everywhere. The easiest way to make the charge is to pick out some real or perceived statistical anomaly. In the 1980s, law professor David Baldus was commissioned, ostensibly, to investigate alleged disparities in those sentenced to death for murder, in particular to ascertain if blacks were more likely to be sentenced to death than whites. The real purpose of this study had nothing to do with race, it was a rather obvious attack on capital punishment.
The Baldus study was of necessity flawed because not all states have the death penalty. Michigan abolished it for all crimes except treason way back in 1847. In 1851, Wisconsin executed John McCaffary for the murder of his wife the previous year. His public hanging was a gruesome event that is said to have led to abolition being signed into law in July 1853. So in Michigan and Wisconsin, a black serial killer cannot be executed, while a white man convicted of a single murder in Texas can be. Is that not discriminatory? Is it not unfair?
Furthermore, even if the death penalty did discriminate against blacks, it definitely discriminates against men. Only 16 women have been executed in the United States since 1976. Last year, all 22 people executed there were men. While men do commit many more murders than women, the disparity is not that great, and, it should be added, there are some people who believe a woman should never be convicted of murder, no matter what the circumstances.
Added to this are the ever expanding categories of racism, some of which beggar belief. How about benign racism – people are nasty by being nice? Or systemic racism, which is said to be a reflection of disparities in wealth between various racial groups, blacks being at the bottom, as ever? Curiously though, this form of racism is very selective, because some of the wealthiest people in the United States are black. Most of these appear to be concentrated in the entertainments industry and sports. This isn’t due to stereotyping or any such absurd rationalisation. As Thomas Sowell and others have pointed out, if you compare any two population groups – by sex, race, nationality, religion, etc – there will be at times marked dissimilarities in income, crime rates, disease patterns, and everything else.
The cry of discrimination is used overwhelmingly by those of a leftist persuasion, and it is always accompanied by calls for more laws to combat this perceived discrimination, be it racial, religious, sexual…And anyone who doesn’t go along with this must be a bigot, right? Or maybe to slightly misquote Donald Trump, sometimes a Chinese virus is just a Chinese virus.
One final thought concerning a real affront to a Chinese-American. In 2014, the American-born Ming Tong Liu decided to buy a restaurant in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Many ethnic Chinese, many Asians, prefer whenever possible to deal in cash, including Mr Liu. Driving through Alabama, he was stopped for travelling 10mph over the speed limit. The police searched his vehicle and seized $75,195 under America’s Draconian civil asset forfeiture laws. The money belonged not only to Mr Liu but to three other people including his two daughters. He had to fight for ten months to get it back, which not only lost him the restaurant deal but left him thousands of dollars out of pocket. Where were all these journalists and social justice warriors who are so offended by mere words when men like him are being treated worse than China treats its citizens?
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COVID19 #STAYATHOME


theduran--2020-04-01--Economic collapse, massive stimulus and massive debt (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the US and UK stimulus plans , as both countries face an economic collapse due to the Covid-19 lockdown .
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“ $ 6 Trillion ‘ rescue package , ’ unaffordable bailouts and buybacks : Bend over , here it comes again !
” authored by Mitchell Feierstein , via RT… Covid-19 lives , Capitalism dies : Oligarchs , buying influence in Washington and Westminster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians providing taxpayer-backed bailouts when their reckless highly leveraged bets go wrong .
Since 2010 , companies trading on the S & P 500 stock index spent over $ 5.3 trillion on stock buybacks .
Allowing companies to borrow money so they can buy back stock and issue dividends is wrong .
It destroys future growth and earnings , and it impairs a company ’ s ability to self-finance in a crisis while artificially pushing stock prices higher .
Share buybacks involve a conflict of interest because top executives owe a fiduciary duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercising stock options .
If the borrowed money was used to stimulate organic growth or maintain capital buffers to protect companies from economic recessions , executive pay would be less excessive and bailouts would not be needed .
Multi-billionaire Richard Branson owns the majority of shares in Virgin Atlantic airlines , an airline which will likely seek a £7.5 billion government bailout .
Had Branson deployed capital to strengthen Virgin Atlantic ’ s balance sheet rather than using leverage to purchase Flybe , which has since gone bankrupt , perhaps a bailout of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why shouldn ’ t Branson use the excessive compensation he took from his company to bail out his company ?
EasyJet ’ s Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his relatives own over thirty percent of EasyJet ’ s shares and have received more than $ 300 million in dividend payments while failing to adequately capitalize their company with “ buffers ” in the case of an economic recession .
Now Sir Stelios comes begging for taxpayer bailouts ?
Really ?
The UK needs to wake up .
Remember Gordon Brown , the PM who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” From 1999-2002 , Brown bailed out the Bullion Banks by selling all of the UK ’ s gold for an average of around US $ 275 an ounce .
At today ’ s prices that gold would be worth over $ 10 billion more than the price Brown sold it for .
In 2008 , Alistair Darling and Vince Cable bailed out Royal Bank of Scotland , Lloyds Bank and the Royal Mail .
Remember how RBS boss Fred “ The Shred ” Godwin destroyed RBS and walked away with over £20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pension is worth £17 million , yet UK taxpayers remain on the hook for those bank shares twelve years later .
In the USA , the government is about to launch ANOTHER bailout program worth at least US $ 6 trillion .
Warren Buffett , one of America ’ s richest men , is a majority shareholder in several of the US airline companies seeking bailouts — nearly all of whom used excessive leverage to repurchase shares and paid shareholders like Buffett hefty dividends and funded the incentive-based CEO bonus pools .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leverage goes wrong because CEOs suck the lifeblood out of their companies ?
After handing out trillions in bailouts and guarantees in 2008 , a furious public demanded answers .
Politicians in the UK and US governments held public inquires and promised that irresponsible corporate leaders would be held accountable and that similar bailouts would never happen again .
The 2020 $ 6 trillion bailout package tells us these promises were lies .
So , what created this mess ?
The financial system has too much debt , too much credit and too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostage and demand trillions in bailouts that no country can afford .
This is not capitalism .
Capitalism is simple .
You let winners win .
You let losers lose .
Regulate the whole show to the minimum degree realistically necessary to protect workers , consumers and citizens .
These simple rules have been forgotten .
Instead , we have an adulterated form of capitalism that , as far as finance is concerned , has no losers .
You ’ ve bought some stupid assets or made some stupid investments ?
Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you out .
The economy is looking weak ?
Don ’ t worry , central banks will roll those printing presses .
Your bank , airline or shale oil company is over-leveraged , badly run and insolvent ?
Don ’ t worry , your friend the President , Prime Minister , Central Banker , Exchequer or Treasury Secretary is bound to have a solution .
Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Catholicism without God .
Right now , we do not need bailouts — fewer bankruptcies will occur in the future if we require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s time to let capitalism be capitalism .

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.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the US and UK stimulus plans, as both countries face an economic collapse due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
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“$6 Trillion ‘rescue package,’ unaffordable bailouts and buybacks: Bend over, here it comes again!” authored by Mitchell Feierstein, via RT…
Covid-19 lives, Capitalism dies: Oligarchs, buying influence in Washington and Westminster, have become reliant upon bankers and politicians providing taxpayer-backed bailouts when their reckless highly leveraged bets go wrong.
Since 2010, companies trading on the S&P 500 stock index spent over $5.3 trillion on stock buybacks. Allowing companies to borrow money so they can buy back stock and issue dividends is wrong. It destroys future growth and earnings, and it impairs a company’s ability to self-finance in a crisis while artificially pushing stock prices higher. Share buybacks involve a conflict of interest because top executives owe a fiduciary duty to their companies and simultaneously profit from exercising stock options. If the borrowed money was used to stimulate organic growth or maintain capital buffers to protect companies from economic recessions, executive pay would be less excessive and bailouts would not be needed.
Multi-billionaire Richard Branson owns the majority of shares in Virgin Atlantic airlines, an airline which will likely seek a £7.5 billion government bailout. Had Branson deployed capital to strengthen Virgin Atlantic’s balance sheet rather than using leverage to purchase Flybe, which has since gone bankrupt, perhaps a bailout of Virgin Atlantic would not be necessary. Why shouldn’t Branson use the excessive compensation he took from his company to bail out his company?
EasyJet’s Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his relatives own over thirty percent of EasyJet’s shares and have received more than $300 million in dividend payments while failing to adequately capitalize their company with “buffers” in the case of an economic recession. Now Sir Stelios comes begging for taxpayer bailouts? Really?
The UK needs to wake up. Remember Gordon Brown, the PM who claimed he ended “Boom and Bust.” From 1999-2002, Brown bailed out the Bullion Banks by selling all of the UK’s gold for an average of around US$275 an ounce. At today’s prices that gold would be worth over $10 billion more than the price Brown sold it for. In 2008, Alistair Darling and Vince Cable bailed out Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank and the Royal Mail. Remember how RBS boss Fred “The Shred” Godwin destroyed RBS and walked away with over £20 million in compensation? Goodwin’s pension is worth £17 million, yet UK taxpayers remain on the hook for those bank shares twelve years later.
In the USA, the government is about to launch ANOTHER bailout program worth at least US$6 trillion. Warren Buffett, one of America’s richest men, is a majority shareholder in several of the US airline companies seeking bailouts — nearly all of whom used excessive leverage to repurchase shares and paid shareholders like Buffett hefty dividends and funded the incentive-based CEO bonus pools. Why should taxpayers be on the hook when leverage goes wrong because CEOs suck the lifeblood out of their companies?
After handing out trillions in bailouts and guarantees in 2008, a furious public demanded answers. Politicians in the UK and US governments held public inquires and promised that irresponsible corporate leaders would be held accountable and that similar bailouts would never happen again. The 2020 $6 trillion bailout package tells us these promises were lies.
So, what created this mess? The financial system has too much debt, too much credit and too much leverage. Oligarchs now hold taxpayers hostage and demand trillions in bailouts that no country can afford.
This is not capitalism. Capitalism is simple. You let winners win. You let losers lose. Regulate the whole show to the minimum degree realistically necessary to protect workers, consumers and citizens. These simple rules have been forgotten. Instead, we have an adulterated form of capitalism that, as far as finance is concerned, has no losers.
You’ve bought some stupid assets or made some stupid investments? Don’t worry, central banks will bail you out. The economy is looking weak? Don’t worry, central banks will roll those printing presses. Your bank, airline or shale oil company is over-leveraged, badly run and insolvent? Don’t worry, your friend the President, Prime Minister, Central Banker, Exchequer or Treasury Secretary is bound to have a solution.
Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Catholicism without God. Right now, we do not need bailouts — fewer bankruptcies will occur in the future if we require bonus claw-backs and make share buybacks illegal. It’s time to let capitalism be capitalism.
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theduran--2020-04-01--Brazilian government denies coronavirus severity

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Lucas Leiroz , research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro ... Last week , a secret document from the Brazilian Intelligence Agency ( ABIN ) was leaked on internet and published by The Intercept website .
The document consists of a detailed report about the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil , taking an overall assessment of the crisis and pointing out truly catastrophic forecasts for the coming months , revealing that the Brazilian authorities already know and ignore several data in addition to those officially reported in media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 , more than 5,500 Brazilians will die infected by COVID-19 , in addition to a number of over 200 thousand cases of contamination .
The report also takes into account cases that have not been confirmed or officially reported by the media and authorities .
The document also presents a complex comparative study between the growth of the disease and the number of beds occupied in public hospitals in the country , feeding the worrying thesis that soon the Brazilian public health network will be on the verge of bankruptcy – or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected that in 15 days , from the delivery of the document , the collapse of the intensive care units of the public system will be decreed .
The document was submitted by the Agency to the appreciation of the Minister of the Office for Institutional Security , General Augusto Heleno , who , ironically , is infected , as well as 25 other people who participated in President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s entourage in his last visit to the US , at the beginning of March .
To further aggravate the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out two tests for the disease and refused to disclose the results of the tests , just stating in his own words that he is not infected .
Generating even more uncertainty , the Brazilian President announced that he carried out the exams using codenames , so that no one will be able to consult his results in the annals of the health networks .
Throughout Brazil and abroad , the reason for such a desire to hide the results of the tests is questioned , since it would have supposedly presented a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the belief that Jair Bolsonaro has coronavirus is growing .
However , neither the intelligence reports nor the confirmed cases in his own team seem to cause the Brazilian president to increase his precautions to avoid worsening the crisis in Brazil .
Bolsonaro continues to deny the seriousness of the virus and affirming that “ the economy can not stop because of a ‘ mild flu ’ , neglecting the WHO recommendations to take quarantine and social isolation measures .
Bolsonaro ’ s neoliberal agenda appear to be the government ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and health of the Brazilian people .
Recently , a law was passed allowing employers to pay half the wages of employees during the quarantine period , if companies choose to adopt it .
In a situation of widespread crisis , where millions of people can not work due to risks of contamination , the cut in wages can not generate any other result than more problems related to poverty and hunger , which will cause greater social chaos .
However , Bolsonaro is not only negligent in his speech , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pronouncements about the pandemic alternating between two theses : in one , he underestimates the disease , calling it “ mild flu ” , stating that “ only the elderly die ” and encouraging the population to resume their work routine carelessly ; in another , he claims that the Chinese government is behind the pandemic , and the virus being a biological weapon used by Beijing in search for economic benefits , as he has manifested in several conversations and private or small public meetings , as reported by his main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when both speeches are mixed and the President ’ s followers encourage the population to go to the streets because “ COVID-19 is a ‘ harmless Chinese flu ’ ” .
The sad thing about this situation is that more and more people take to the streets and , abandoned by the State , try to resume their daily tasks , contributing silently to the spread of the virus .
Recently , a study by the Imperial College London concluded that Brazil could reach the mark of 1 million dead , if control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the growth of the disease in Brazil compared to 20 other countries , in addition to other factors concerning the Brazilian social reality , more than 50 scientists signed the study report , which is absolutely ignored by the Brazilian authorities .
As part of his neoliberal policy , based on the discourse that “ the economy can not stop ” , Bolsonaro has irresponsibly urged the population to leave home , work and take to the streets protesting in favor of his government , emphatically reaffirming that the virus is harmless to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thus , we must ask : Will Bolsonaro be held legally responsible for the role he is playing in the spread of the virus ?
When Brazilians start to get sick and die massively because they have resumed their confident routines after the president ’ s speeches , what will be the measure to be taken against him ?
A government that ignores not only international recommendations , but also its own intelligence , can not be considered minimally prepared to lead a country in the midst of a global pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to review his main concepts and try to change this scenario while it is still possible .

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 Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro...
Last week, a secret document from the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) was leaked on internet and published by The Intercept website. The document consists of a detailed report about the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, taking an overall assessment of the crisis and pointing out truly catastrophic forecasts for the coming months, revealing that the Brazilian authorities already know and ignore several data in addition to those officially reported in media.
The ABIN report predicts that by April 6, more than 5,500 Brazilians will die infected by COVID-19, in addition to a number of over 200 thousand cases of contamination. The report also takes into account cases that have not been confirmed or officially reported by the media and authorities. The document also presents a complex comparative study between the growth of the disease and the number of beds occupied in public hospitals in the country, feeding the worrying thesis that soon the Brazilian public health network will be on the verge of bankruptcy – or even already officially inactive. It is expected that in 15 days, from the delivery of the document, the collapse of the intensive care units of the public system will be decreed.
The document was submitted by the Agency to the appreciation of the Minister of the Office for Institutional Security, General Augusto Heleno, who, ironically, is infected, as well as 25 other people who participated in President Jair Bolsonaro’s entourage in his last visit to the US, at the beginning of March. To further aggravate the situation of tension and instability, Bolsonaro carried out two tests for the disease and refused to disclose the results of the tests, just stating in his own words that he is not infected. Generating even more uncertainty, the Brazilian President announced that he carried out the exams using codenames, so that no one will be able to consult his results in the annals of the health networks. Throughout Brazil and abroad, the reason for such a desire to hide the results of the tests is questioned, since it would have supposedly presented a negative result. More and more, the belief that Jair Bolsonaro has coronavirus is growing.
However, neither the intelligence reports nor the confirmed cases in his own team seem to cause the Brazilian president to increase his precautions to avoid worsening the crisis in Brazil. Bolsonaro continues to deny the seriousness of the virus and affirming that “the economy cannot stop because of a ‘mild flu’, neglecting the WHO recommendations to take quarantine and social isolation measures. Bolsonaro’s neoliberal agenda appear to be the government’s top priority, far above the social well-being and health of the Brazilian people. Recently, a law was passed allowing employers to pay half the wages of employees during the quarantine period, if companies choose to adopt it. In a situation of widespread crisis, where millions of people cannot work due to risks of contamination, the cut in wages cannot generate any other result than more problems related to poverty and hunger, which will cause greater social chaos.
However, Bolsonaro is not only negligent in his speech, but also contradictory and unpredictable. The president makes his pronouncements about the pandemic alternating between two theses: in one, he underestimates the disease, calling it “mild flu”, stating that “only the elderly die” and encouraging the population to resume their work routine carelessly; in another, he claims that the Chinese government is behind the pandemic, and the virus being a biological weapon used by Beijing in search for economic benefits, as he has manifested in several conversations and private or small public meetings, as reported by his main advisors. The worst case scenario is when both speeches are mixed and the President’s followers encourage the population to go to the streets because “COVID-19 is a ‘harmless Chinese flu’”. The sad thing about this situation is that more and more people take to the streets and, abandoned by the State, try to resume their daily tasks, contributing silently to the spread of the virus.
Recently, a study by the Imperial College London concluded that Brazil could reach the mark of 1 million dead, if control measures are not taken immediately. Analyzing the growth of the disease in Brazil compared to 20 other countries, in addition to other factors concerning the Brazilian social reality, more than 50 scientists signed the study report, which is absolutely ignored by the Brazilian authorities.
As part of his neoliberal policy, based on the discourse that “the economy cannot stop”, Bolsonaro has irresponsibly urged the population to leave home, work and take to the streets protesting in favor of his government, emphatically reaffirming that the virus is harmless to anyone person under 60 years of age. Thus, we must ask: Will Bolsonaro be held legally responsible for the role he is playing in the spread of the virus? When Brazilians start to get sick and die massively because they have resumed their confident routines after the president’s speeches, what will be the measure to be taken against him?
A government that ignores not only international recommendations, but also its own intelligence, cannot be considered minimally prepared to lead a country in the midst of a global pandemic. Perhaps it is finally time for Bolsonaro to review his main concepts and try to change this scenario while it is still possible.
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