activistpost--2020-09-02--Michigan Supreme Court Decision Delivers Win for Man Who Had His House Stolen Over $8 Tax Debt

“ You have a situation where people owe eight dollars and they lost their house .
How is that equitable ?
” In a recent unanimous decision , the Michigan Supreme Court confirmed what FEE readers , and anyone with an ounce of common sense for that matter , always knew : It isn ’ t .
That ’ s not too big a surprise .
You could hear the incredulity in Justice Richard H. Bernstein ’ s voice when he posed the question above to Oakland County attorneys at oral argument last November .
For those unfamiliar with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan ’ s practice of foreclosing on people ’ s homes to satisfy small tax debts and pocketing the resultant profits ( leaving the former homeowners with nothing ) .
Uri Rafaeli , for example , owed only $ 8.41 ( about the cost of a Chipotle burrito ) .
To get after that pocket change , the government took his house and sold it for $ 24,500 .
They kept every penny for themselves .
The practice is called home equity theft , and in some form or another , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 states .
Thanks to the Michigan Supreme Court ’ s July decision in Rafaeli , Michigan is no longer among them .
The opinion is a forceful defense of property rights .
Even the Magna Carta , the opinion noted , prohibited tax collectors from holding onto the excess property of debtors .
And the same principle has always been true in Michigan , even though it was violated by the state ’ s tax code .
Quoting celebrated legal scholar and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas M. Cooley , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private property is a sacred right … it was the old fundamental law , springing from the original frame and constitution of the realm.
” The court also took care to eviscerate the government ’ s defense of home equity theft .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income Oakland County argued that taking Mr. Rafaeli ’ s home and keeping the profits was a legitimate exercise of their taxing power—a favorite argument among defenders of home equity theft in other states , too .
The court recognized that , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adjust the benefits and burdens of economic life to promote the common good , ” home equity theft is something else entirely .
It requires some taxpayers “ alone to bear public burdens which , in all fairness and justice , should be borne by the public as a whole.
” That language , quoted from the US Supreme Court ’ s decision in Armstrong v. US , defines the quintessential takings violation .
With these considerations in mind , the Michigan Supreme Court saw the government ’ s argument for exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor attempt at disguising a physical taking of property requiring just compensation as an arbitrary and disproportionate tax.
” The ultimate takeaway is a victory for justice , fairness , equity , and common sense : “ [ G ] overnment shall not collect more in taxes than are owed , nor shall it take more property than is necessary to serve the public.
” Victims of home equity theft in Michigan finally can get some justice .
Mr. Rafaeli , for example , may now return to the trial court and fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his property .
Others in a similar situation , like Erica Perez—from whom the government stole more than $ 100,000 of equity to satisfy a $ 114 debt—are now well-positioned to get back what they ’ re owed , as long as they do so within the right time frame .
Another bright spot is that counties in Michigan will no longer be incentivized to foreclose homes over tiny debts .
It has been frustratingly common for Michigan counties to fail to give proper notice of delinquency , for example , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out why : until now they stood to gain a windfall at the tax debtor ’ s expense .
Because they no longer can reap huge profits from minor mistakes , we can hope to see fewer foreclosures overall in the future .
None of this bodes well for the treasuries of the dozen other states that practice home equity theft .
The Michigan decision isn ’ t legally binding on those states , but much of its logic applies with equal force .
States that do not want to see themselves subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They even can work with my organization , Pacific Legal Foundation ( PLF ) , to implement legislative reform and avoid such an outcome , as Montana did last year .
But the longer they wait , the more likely they are to end up in court .
The victory in Michigan is worth celebrating , but the work is not done .
PLF has launched a nationwide campaign to end home equity theft in the states where it is still practiced , and we intend to restore justice to every last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Sacramento , CA-based attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation focusing on property rights , economic liberty , and the First Amendment .
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By David Deerson
“You have a situation where people owe eight dollars and they lost their house. How is that equitable?”
In a recent unanimous decision, the Michigan Supreme Court confirmed what FEE readers, and anyone with an ounce of common sense for that matter, always knew: It isn’t.
That’s not too big a surprise. You could hear the incredulity in Justice Richard H. Bernstein’s voice when he posed the question above to Oakland County attorneys at oral argument last November.
For those unfamiliar with the case, Rafaeli v. Oakland County concerned Michigan’s practice of foreclosing on people’s homes to satisfy small tax debts and pocketing the resultant profits (leaving the former homeowners with nothing). Uri Rafaeli, for example, owed only $8.41 (about the cost of a Chipotle burrito). To get after that pocket change, the government took his house and sold it for $24,500. They kept every penny for themselves.
The practice is called home equity theft, and in some form or another, it’s the law of the land in 12 states. Thanks to the Michigan Supreme Court’s July decision in Rafaeli, Michigan is no longer among them.
The opinion is a forceful defense of property rights. Even the Magna Carta, the opinion noted, prohibited tax collectors from holding onto the excess property of debtors. And the same principle has always been true in Michigan, even though it was violated by the state’s tax code.
Quoting celebrated legal scholar and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Thomas M. Cooley, the court reaffirmed that the “right to private property is a sacred right … it was the old fundamental law, springing from the original frame and constitution of the realm.”
The court also took care to eviscerate the government’s defense of home equity theft.
Oakland County argued that taking Mr. Rafaeli’s home and keeping the profits was a legitimate exercise of their taxing power—a favorite argument among defenders of home equity theft in other states, too. The court recognized that, while the taxing power may be used “to adjust the benefits and burdens of economic life to promote the common good,” home equity theft is something else entirely. It requires some taxpayers “alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole.”
That language, quoted from the US Supreme Court’s decision in Armstrong v. US, defines the quintessential takings violation. With these considerations in mind, the Michigan Supreme Court saw the government’s argument for exactly what it is: “an exceedingly poor attempt at disguising a physical taking of property requiring just compensation as an arbitrary and disproportionate tax.”
The ultimate takeaway is a victory for justice, fairness, equity, and common sense: “[G]overnment shall not collect more in taxes than are owed, nor shall it take more property than is necessary to serve the public.”
Victims of home equity theft in Michigan finally can get some justice. Mr. Rafaeli, for example, may now return to the trial court and fight to get just compensation for the theft of his property. Others in a similar situation, like Erica Perez—from whom the government stole more than $100,000 of equity to satisfy a $114 debt—are now well-positioned to get back what they’re owed, as long as they do so within the right time frame.
Another bright spot is that counties in Michigan will no longer be incentivized to foreclose homes over tiny debts. It has been frustratingly common for Michigan counties to fail to give proper notice of delinquency, for example, and it’s not hard to figure out why: until now they stood to gain a windfall at the tax debtor’s expense. Because they no longer can reap huge profits from minor mistakes, we can hope to see fewer foreclosures overall in the future.
None of this bodes well for the treasuries of the dozen other states that practice home equity theft. The Michigan decision isn’t legally binding on those states, but much of its logic applies with equal force.
States that do not want to see themselves subject to expensive lawsuits ought to take note. They even can work with my organization, Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), to implement legislative reform and avoid such an outcome, as Montana did last year.
But the longer they wait, the more likely they are to end up in court.
The victory in Michigan is worth celebrating, but the work is not done. PLF has launched a nationwide campaign to end home equity theft in the states where it is still practiced, and we intend to restore justice to every last one of them.
Source: FEE.org
David Deerson is a Sacramento, CA-based attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation focusing on property rights, economic liberty, and the First Amendment.
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activistpost--2020-09-02--In Unprecedented Move, CDC Halts Most Rental Evictions Until End Of 2020

In an unprecedented move on Tuesday , with Congress unable to reach a common ground on virtually any stimulus extension , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled today it would temporarily – at least through the end of 2020 – suspend most rental evictions for Americans struggling to pay rent due to the pandemic , in a step which CNN dubbed was “ broader than eviction protections already in place.
” The move comes as negotiations on further coronavirus aid have been stalled as Republicans and Democrats refuse to budge on topline numbers for what a new relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call with reporters , officials said the order will apply to Americans who qualified for direct payments under the CARES Act .
To be sure there are some hurdles : renters will have to prove that they ’ ve taken “ best efforts possible to seek government assistance to make their rental payments , ” and will have to “ declare that they are unable to pay rent due to Covid financial hardship , ” and must show they “ will likely become homeless or move into congregate housing settings if they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a problem for anyone willing to live rent free indefinitely .
Renters will also have to fill out several forms , found on the CDC ’ s website , and give them directly to their landlords to qualify for the program .
“ This will be a declaration presented to the landlord , if that landlord approaches a tenant with an intent to evict , ” an official said .
Because the move is federally mandated , there would be “ criminal penalties ” if the landlord chose to ignore the declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in courts , possibly leading to legal actions that could show up on background checks or credit reports .
And while landlords are being effectively stripped of most if not all of their rights with this extraordinary intervention , they will still be able to remove tenants for “ committing criminal acts , threatening the health and safety of other residents , damaging property or other health and safety considerations , ” an official added although good luck getting through to the local police station and reporting a crime in a country where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the pinnacle of progressive thought .
“ To the extent that there is a dispute between the landlord and the renter about whether or not an eviction protection is in place here , it can be filed , and that would be for the local courts , which are not federal to adjudicate , ” an official said , without clarifying how long before defunding the local courts becomes the next progressive ideal .
On the other hand , in places like Portland they won ’ t even have to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioting is released the next day with the blessing of the judicial branch so they can resume rioting post haste .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income Under the CARES Act , only renters in federally backed rental units were protected from eviction .
“ This covers any rental unit in United States , so long as the renter meets those requirements , where they ’ ve demonstrated that they are at risk of becoming evicted , ” an official said .
There ’ s also currently a moratorium on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortgages .
Realizing that this was nothing short of an invitation to stop paying rent , a CDC official said point blank this “ is not an invitation to stop paying rent.
” It was unclear how many in the audience laughed .
“ The order makes clear that a renter who can not pay his or her full rent should pay an amount that is not unduly burdensome , and as close to payment as possible.
” The landlords are surely holding their breath ( their best and only recourse… although if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surely get a Fed bailout too ) .
As for those asking just why on earth a decision to halt evictions is being made by the CDC and not say… Congress , an official said “ the CDC director has authority to take measures that he ’ s reasonably necessary to mitigate the spread of communicable disease.
” Congress has delegated broad authority to HHS , the Surgeon General and CDC , to take reasonable efforts to combat the spread of communicable diseases , and frankly I think it makes sense for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know for any given situation or scenario what steps will be needed to stop the spread , ” an administration official said .
“ I think , in this particular order , the CDC has made a very compelling case that it is quite problematic at this particular time .
It ’ s focused on this particular pandemic , which is obviously the uniquely powerful grasp in the nation ’ s entire history in terms of the effect it ’ s had that for a bunch of reasons in particular , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point of people social distancing and building , sort of a safe space themselves over the past few months , and also the fact that if people get kicked out , they may end up in overcrowded congregated living facilities or homeless shelters , and that is a potential recipe for a big spread of COVID-19 .
Asked why that authority wasn ’ t being used to enact a federal mask mandate , officials refused to answer because the question didn ’ t “ have to do with the call at hand.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision , deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern said the action “ means that people struggling to pay rent due to the coronavirus will not have to worry about being evicted and risk further spreading of or exposure to the disease due to economic hardship , ” and attacked Democrats on the hill .
Officials did not answer questions about how that legal action could impact credit or future housing options .
And with that , we now wait for the CDC to start sending unemployment benefits and buying Apple bonds .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19 Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By Tyler Durden
In an unprecedented move on Tuesday, with Congress unable to reach a common ground on virtually any stimulus extension, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled today it would temporarily – at least through the end of 2020 – suspend most rental evictions for Americans struggling to pay rent due to the pandemic, in a step which CNN dubbed was “broader than eviction protections already in place.” The move comes as negotiations on further coronavirus aid have been stalled as Republicans and Democrats refuse to budge on topline numbers for what a new relief package would cost.
In a phone call with reporters, officials said the order will apply to Americans who qualified for direct payments under the CARES Act.
To be sure there are some hurdles: renters will have to prove that they’ve taken “best efforts possible to seek government assistance to make their rental payments,” and will have to “declare that they are unable to pay rent due to Covid financial hardship,” and must show they “will likely become homeless or move into congregate housing settings if they are evicted”, but that should not be a problem for anyone willing to live rent free indefinitely.
Renters will also have to fill out several forms, found on the CDC’s website, and give them directly to their landlords to qualify for the program.
“This will be a declaration presented to the landlord, if that landlord approaches a tenant with an intent to evict,” an official said. Because the move is federally mandated, there would be “criminal penalties” if the landlord chose to ignore the declaration. But it could still end up in courts, possibly leading to legal actions that could show up on background checks or credit reports.
And while landlords are being effectively stripped of most if not all of their rights with this extraordinary intervention, they will still be able to remove tenants for “committing criminal acts, threatening the health and safety of other residents, damaging property or other health and safety considerations,” an official added although good luck getting through to the local police station and reporting a crime in a country where defunding the local law enforcement is seen as the pinnacle of progressive thought.
“To the extent that there is a dispute between the landlord and the renter about whether or not an eviction protection is in place here, it can be filed, and that would be for the local courts, which are not federal to adjudicate,” an official said, without clarifying how long before defunding the local courts becomes the next progressive ideal. On the other hand, in places like Portland they won’t even have to do that: after all, everyone arrested for rioting is released the next day with the blessing of the judicial branch so they can resume rioting post haste.
Under the CARES Act, only renters in federally backed rental units were protected from eviction. “This covers any rental unit in United States, so long as the renter meets those requirements, where they’ve demonstrated that they are at risk of becoming evicted,” an official said. There’s also currently a moratorium on evictions for federally backed, single-family home mortgages.
Realizing that this was nothing short of an invitation to stop paying rent, a CDC official said point blank this “is not an invitation to stop paying rent.” It was unclear how many in the audience laughed. “The order makes clear that a renter who cannot pay his or her full rent should pay an amount that is not unduly burdensome, and as close to payment as possible.”
The landlords are surely holding their breath (their best and only recourse… although if they hold it long enough they will surely get a Fed bailout too).
As for those asking just why on earth a decision to halt evictions is being made by the CDC and not say… Congress, an official said “the CDC director has authority to take measures that he’s reasonably necessary to mitigate the spread of communicable disease.”
Congress has delegated broad authority to HHS, the Surgeon General and CDC, to take reasonable efforts to combat the spread of communicable diseases, and frankly I think it makes sense for those authorities abroad because we don’t know for any given situation or scenario what steps will be needed to stop the spread,” an administration official said. “I think, in this particular order, the CDC has made a very compelling case that it is quite problematic at this particular time. It’s focused on this particular pandemic, which is obviously the uniquely powerful grasp in the nation’s entire history in terms of the effect it’s had that for a bunch of reasons in particular, that the home has been sort of the focal point of people social distancing and building, sort of a safe space themselves over the past few months, and also the fact that if people get kicked out, they may end up in overcrowded congregated living facilities or homeless shelters, and that is a potential recipe for a big spread of COVID-19.
Asked why that authority wasn’t being used to enact a federal mask mandate, officials refused to answer because the question didn’t “have to do with the call at hand.”
Finally, confirming the political nature of the decision, deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern said the action “means that people struggling to pay rent due to the coronavirus will not have to worry about being evicted and risk further spreading of or exposure to the disease due to economic hardship,” and attacked Democrats on the hill.
Officials did not answer questions about how that legal action could impact credit or future housing options.
And with that, we now wait for the CDC to start sending unemployment benefits and buying Apple bonds.
Read from CDC: Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19
Source: Zerohedge
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activistpost--2020-09-03--Michigan Supreme Court Decision Delivers Win for Man Who Had His House Stolen Over $8 Tax Debt


activistpost--2020-09-03--Richard Gage Delivers Updates on 9/11 Truth — Interview With James Corbett

Richard Gage of AE911Truth.org joins us to discuss the various actions , inquests , studies , documentaries and conferences that are happening around the 19th anniversary of 9/11 .
• AE911Truth Who We Are • A Tailor-Made Opportunity to Get the 9/11 Evidence into Court : Help This Family Obtain a New Inquest into the Death of Their Son • The Campaign for a Fresh Inquest into the Death of Geoffrey Thomas Campbell on September 11 , 2001 : A Summary • When is the News Not the News ?
– # PropagandaWatch • University Study Finds Fire Did Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 • Short Version of New Documentary SEVEN Begins Airing Today on PBS Watch on Archive / BitChute / LBRY / Minds / YouTube or Download the mp4 Visit James Corbett at CorbettReport.com .
Subscribe to his channel on YouTube and Bitchute , and support him on Patreon .
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Provide , Protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By The Corbett Report
Richard Gage of AE911Truth.org joins us to discuss the various actions, inquests, studies, documentaries and conferences that are happening around the 19th anniversary of 9/11.
SHOW NOTES:
?
Watch on Archive / BitChute / LBRY / Minds / YouTube or Download the mp4
Visit James Corbett at CorbettReport.com. Subscribe to his channel on YouTube and Bitchute, and support him on Patreon.
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Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-09-03--FDA Warns Some Hand Sanitizers Packaged to Look like Food and Drinks With Scents that Tempt Children

FDA Warns Some Hand Sanitizers Packaged to Look like Food and Drinks With Scents that Tempt Children to Ingest Them

FDA warnings and recalls on toxic , blinding , and deadly hand sanitizers continue to increase .
Recently , they also started warning that some brands are being mistaken for food or drinks since they are packaged to look like “ beer cans , children ’ s food pouches , water bottles , juice bottles and vodka bottles.
” How do you like them apples ?
FDA Warns of Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol and Those Packaged to Look Like Food and Drinks The FDA ’ s list of hand sanitizers containing methanol has grown to over 100 — and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s confusing to kids and adults .
In recent weeks , the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has identified over 100 products that contain methanol , a type of wood alcohol that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin .
Now the FDA has issued a new warning — this time , it ’ s not about the contents of certain hand sanitizers , but about how they ’ re packaged , NBC News investigative and consumer correspondent Vicky Nguyen reported Thursday morning on TODAY .
The FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packaged to look like food and drinks , specifically those “ packaged in beer cans , children ’ s food pouches , water bottles , juice bottles and vodka bottles.
” As an example of the confusion , the FDA said it received a report of a customer who bought a bottle they thought was drinking water , but turned out to be hand sanitizer .
The agency is also warning parents to avoid hand sanitizer with food scents like chocolate or raspberry because they may be more tempting to children to ingest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers ( AAPCC ) , calls to poison control are up 70 % over last year due to exposure to hand sanitizer .
At least 15 people in Arizona and New Mexico have been hospitalized or have died from sanitizer ingestion .
To avoid accidental ingestion , follow these tips from the AAPCC : • Place products out of sight on a high shelf where children can not see or reach them .
• Avoid brightly packaged hand sanitizers that may be tempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in water bottles or other containers that can be easily confused .
• Save the number of poison control ( 1-800-222-1222 ) in your phone — or post on your refrigerator in case of emergency .
If you think you or someone else has ingested sanitizer , call immediately .
Don ’ t wait for symptoms to develop .
FDA warns of hand sanitizers containing methanol Recently , the FDA expanded its recall of sanitizers to include more than 75 brands .
Most of the products were made in Mexico , but sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the demand for hand sanitizer at all time high early in the pandemic in March and April — and established brands becoming hard to find — unproven and poorly produced alternatives flooded the market .
In a recent warning in late July , the agency said it had established an import alert to prevent certain hand sanitizers from entering the United States and is encouraging retailers to stop selling the products .
The initial press release on this topic issued on June 19 , highlighted nine hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain methanol .
According to the release , samples of the Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ were tested .
The Lavar Gel product “ contains 81 % methanol and no ethyl alcohol , ” while CleanCare No Germ “ contains 28 % methanol.
” In early July , the organization identified additional hand sanitizer products containing methanol : By July 8 , several dozen more products had been added to the list for either containing methanol or for being created in a facility where other contaminated products were made and have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brands include : • KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer ( labeled with Greenbrier International Inc. ) Questions about methanol contamination in hand sanitizer ?
Visit FDAs searchable list to help you identify whether a firms ’ hand sanitizer product is being recalled or has potential or confirmed .
On July 15 , BJ ’ s Wholesale Club directed customers who purchased BLUMEN Clear Advance Hand Sanitizer to reach out to the manufacturer ’ s website for a refund .
Later in July , more than two dozen more types of contaminated hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including multiple products produced by Mexican company Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV .
Some of the products were labeled as being anti-bacterial .
Some of the products added include : By late July , several other hand sanitizers produced in Mexico were also recalled , including : • Hand sanitizer ( labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp. ) , manufactured by Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV In total , there are currently over 100 types of hand sanitizer listed on the FDA ’ s site .
“ Methanol is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be used due to its toxic effects , ” said the FDA release .
“ Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment , which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.
” According to the CDC , 15 deaths and several hospitalizations in Arizona and New Mexico from May to June , 2020 are believed to be linked to methanol in hand sanitizers , though the brands have not been confirmed .
It ’ s believed that some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than applied to the skin .
The FDA warns that “ substantial methanol exposure ” can result in nausea , vomiting , headache , blurred vision , permanent blindness , seizures , coma , permanent damage to the nervous system or even death .
Those who are most at risk for these symptoms , according to the FDA , are “ young children who accidentally ingest these products ” and “ adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol ( ethanol ) substitute.
” If you are using hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that does not contain methanol and contains at least 60 % ethanol .
However , the FDA recommends that people wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds , as opposed to using hand sanitizer .
This story was updated on August 28 to include information about the FDA ’ s warning about sanitizers packaged to look like food and drinks , and has been updated several times in July and early August to reflect further recalls .
This story first appeared on TODAY.com .
The FDA is supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are made available to the public .
Unfortunately , they fail to do so A LOT ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ) and have even been blamed for “ igniting ” the Opioid Crisis .
So how comfortable are you with the agency ’ s approval of biosensors implanted under the skin to detect illness or computer chips implanted inside human heads that were described by Elon Musk as “ a Fitbit in the skull ” ?
Subscribe to Activist Post for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
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Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
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By B.N. Frank
FDA warnings and recalls on toxic, blinding, and deadly hand sanitizers continue to increase. Recently, they also started warning that some brands are being mistaken for food or drinks since they are packaged to look like “beer cans, children’s food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles and vodka bottles.” How do you like them apples?
From NBC New York:
FDA Warns of Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol and Those Packaged to Look Like Food and Drinks
The FDA’s list of hand sanitizers containing methanol has grown to over 100 — and a new warning has been issued about packaging that’s confusing to kids and adults.
https://www.today.com/video/fda-issues-new-warning-about-packaging-of-hand-sanitizers-90792005702
In recent weeks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified over 100 products that contain methanol, a type of wood alcohol that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin.
Now the FDA has issued a new warning — this time, it’s not about the contents of certain hand sanitizers, but about how they’re packaged, NBC News investigative and consumer correspondent Vicky Nguyen reported Thursday morning on TODAY. The FDA advises to watch out for hand sanitizers packaged to look like food and drinks, specifically those “packaged in beer cans, children’s food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles and vodka bottles.”
As an example of the confusion, the FDA said it received a report of a customer who bought a bottle they thought was drinking water, but turned out to be hand sanitizer.
The agency is also warning parents to avoid hand sanitizer with food scents like chocolate or raspberry because they may be more tempting to children to ingest.
Sanitizer can be toxic when ingested. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), calls to poison control are up 70% over last year due to exposure to hand sanitizer. At least 15 people in Arizona and New Mexico have been hospitalized or have died from sanitizer ingestion.
To avoid accidental ingestion, follow these tips from the AAPCC:
Place products out of sight on a high shelf where children cannot see or reach them.
Avoid brightly packaged hand sanitizers that may be tempting to children — and avoid repackaging hand sanitizer in water bottles or other containers that can be easily confused.
Save the number of poison control (1-800-222-1222) in your phone — or post on your refrigerator in case of emergency. If you think you or someone else has ingested sanitizer, call immediately. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop.
FDA warns of hand sanitizers containing methanol
Recently, the FDA expanded its recall of sanitizers to include more than 75 brands. Most of the products were made in Mexico, but sold in stores throughout the United States. With the demand for hand sanitizer at all time high early in the pandemic in March and April — and established brands becoming hard to find — unproven and poorly produced alternatives flooded the market.
In a recent warning in late July, the agency said it had established an import alert to prevent certain hand sanitizers from entering the United States and is encouraging retailers to stop selling the products.
The initial press release on this topic issued on June 19, highlighted nine hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV, that were found to contain methanol.
According to the release, samples of the Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ were tested. The Lavar Gel product “contains 81% methanol and no ethyl alcohol,” while CleanCare No Germ “contains 28% methanol.”
In early July, the organization identified additional hand sanitizer products containing methanol:
Grupo Insoma’s Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented, 70% alcohol
Transliquid Technologies’ Mystic Shield Protection Hand Sanitizer
Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free and Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
Tropicosmeticos’ Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
By July 8, several dozen more products had been added to the list for either containing methanol or for being created in a facility where other contaminated products were made and have been recommended for recall. Some of those brands include:
Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)
MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer
Hello Kitty by Sanrio Hand Sanitizer
Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer
LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer
Questions about methanol contamination in hand sanitizer? Visit FDAs searchable list to help you identify whether a firms’ hand sanitizer product is being recalled or has potential or confirmed.
Questions about methanol contamination in hand sanitizer? Visit FDAs searchable list to help you identify whether a firms’ hand sanitizer product is being recalled or has potential or confirmed methanol contamination: https://t.co/GeUwr33Y6W pic.twitter.com/iqn8Lop6hD — FDA Drug Information (@FDA_Drug_Info) July 15, 2020
On July 15, BJ’s Wholesale Club directed customers who purchased BLUMEN Clear Advance Hand Sanitizer to reach out to the manufacturer’s website for a refund.
Later in July, more than two dozen more types of contaminated hand sanitizer were added to the list, including multiple products produced by Mexican company Real Clean Distribuciones SA de CV. Some of the products were labeled as being anti-bacterial. Some of the products added include:
Born Basic. Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer
Scent Theory – Keep It Clean – Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer
ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel
Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel
By late July, several other hand sanitizers produced in Mexico were also recalled, including:
Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer, manufactured by Maquiladora Miniara, SA de CV
DAESI hand sanitizer, manufactured by Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto
Hand sanitizer (labeled with Wet Look Janitorial and Gardening Corp.), manufactured by Soluciones Cosmeticas SA de CV
Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol (labeled with Resource Recovery & Trading LLC), manufactured by MXL Comercial SA de CV
In total, there are currently over 100 types of hand sanitizer listed on the FDA’s site.
“Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects,” said the FDA release. “Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.”
https://www.today.com/video/avoid-9-hand-sanitizers-containing-methanol-fda-warns-today-s-headlines-85803589575
According to the CDC, 15 deaths and several hospitalizations in Arizona and New Mexico from May to June, 2020 are believed to be linked to methanol in hand sanitizers, though the brands have not been confirmed. It’s believed that some of the hand sanitizer may have been ingested, rather than applied to the skin.
The FDA warns that “substantial methanol exposure” can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or even death. Those who are most at risk for these symptoms, according to the FDA, are “young children who accidentally ingest these products” and “adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute.”
If you are using hand sanitizer, make sure to use a product that does not contain methanol and contains at least 60% ethanol. However, the FDA recommends that people wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, as opposed to using hand sanitizer.
This story was updated on August 28 to include information about the FDA’s warning about sanitizers packaged to look like food and drinks, and has been updated several times in July and early August to reflect further recalls.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com.
The FDA is supposed to protect Americans from harmful products before they are made available to the public. Unfortunately, they fail to do so A LOT (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and have even been blamed for “igniting” the Opioid Crisis.
So how comfortable are you with the agency’s approval of biosensors implanted under the skin to detect illness or computer chips implanted inside human heads that were described by Elon Musk as “a Fitbit in the skull”?
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activistpost--2020-09-02--Free Lawsuit Template Available Now for Supporters of Health Freedom

There are increasing incidents of angry confrontations between those refusing to wear a mask and those who maintain that masks are protecting them from imminent illness and death .
Shaming has become a regular mechanism on social media , as the masked accuse the unmasked of endangering their lives .
In some stores , police are being called to resolve the presence of an unmasked shopper .
Sometimes the confrontations are turning violent .
In Manhattan Beach , a woman threw scalding coffee in a man ’ s bare face .
The violence is not contained to masked-on-unmasked assaults .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ another to wear her mask and was brutally assaulted by the unmasked , who threw her to the floor and broke her leg .
Become an Activist Post Patron for $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Amidst the rising tensions in confrontations between the masked and the mask refuseniks , an organization has stepped forward to offer a template for lodging a federal lawsuit claiming damages caused by forcing masks on or denying services to those unwilling or unable to wear them .
According to Frank Waldo at Fraudstoppers.org , the free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed against any business or government entity that mandates mask wearing .
To quote directly from the lawsuit , Count One in the lawsuit template references the Americans with Disabilities Act , and states that the exclusion due to refusal to don a mask constitutes a violation of the ADA , as the Plaintiff ’ s medical condition precludes mask wearing .
Count Two cites 42 USC 1983 , which refers to a flat out denial of civil liberties secured by the Constitution .
Count Three sites “ Intentional Infliction of Mental Distress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusing the Plaintiff normal access to the business or government location .
Fraudstoppers is offering a mediation service in these cases .
“ Let ’ s say you are suing Walmart for a hundred grand and they want to mediate , so we can go in there for you and wrap this up for , let ’ s say , a $ 10,000 Walmart gift card , ” says Waldo .
Fraudstoppers is a private paralegal organization which offers legal documents at wholesale prices for mortgage fraud and foreclosure defense litigation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , foreclosure defense advocacy groups and to pro se litigants .
In addition , Fraudstoppers provides : • And 3 Nationwide Attorney Networks with over 7000 licensed attorneys covering all 50 States , Canada , and the UK While the lawsuit template can be obtained for free from Fraudstoppers , the organization generally requires membership for its services .
Fraudstoppers is now offering a special and the use of a coupon code , “ exiled ” will get you a $ 100 deduction off the $ 347 membership at this time .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ overturning tables on the money changers since 2012 ” and has helped over 15,000 litigants .
This lawsuit , states Waldo , could potentially help not only to address the inherent legal issues but could also help with the financial devastation caused by the protocols surrounding the virus .
The template for the lawsuit can be downloaded from fraudstoppers.org .
Disclaimer : This article is not intended as legal advice ; it is offered for general informational purposes only .
Activist Post does not endorse Fraudstoppers , nor receive payment for recommending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research .
Janet Phelan is an investigative journalist and author of the groundbreaking exposé , EXILE .
Her articles previously appeared in such mainstream venues as the Los Angeles Times , Orange Coast Magazine , Long Beach Press Telegram , etc .
In 2004 , Janet “ jumped ship ” and now exclusively writes for independent media .
She is also the author of two collections of poetry—The Hitler Poems and Held Captive .
She resides abroad .
You are invited to support her work on Buy Me A Coffee here : https @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Janet Phelan
There are increasing incidents of angry confrontations between those refusing to wear a mask and those who maintain that masks are protecting them from imminent illness and death. Shaming has become a regular mechanism on social media, as the masked accuse the unmasked of endangering their lives.
In some stores, police are being called to resolve the presence of an unmasked shopper.
Sometimes the confrontations are turning violent. In Manhattan Beach, a woman threw scalding coffee in a man’s bare face.
The violence is not contained to masked-on-unmasked assaults. In this incident, a woman asked another to wear her mask and was brutally assaulted by the unmasked, who threw her to the floor and broke her leg.
Become an Activist Post Patron for $1 per month at Patreon.
Amidst the rising tensions in confrontations between the masked and the mask refuseniks, an organization has stepped forward to offer a template for lodging a federal lawsuit claiming damages caused by forcing masks on or denying services to those unwilling or unable to wear them.
According to Frank Waldo at Fraudstoppers.org, the free lawsuit template can be filled in and filed against any business or government entity that mandates mask wearing.
To quote directly from the lawsuit,
In enacting said mask mandates, Plaintiff proffers, these same municipalities have opened the door for discrimination against those with certain medical and other disabilities, which may prevent individuals, such as Plaintiff, from full compliance with said mandates.
Count One in the lawsuit template references the Americans with Disabilities Act, and states that the exclusion due to refusal to don a mask constitutes a violation of the ADA, as the Plaintiff’s medical condition precludes mask wearing. Count Two cites 42 USC 1983, which refers to a flat out denial of civil liberties secured by the Constitution. Count Three cites “Intentional Infliction of Mental Distress” as caused by the Defendant in refusing the Plaintiff normal access to the business or government location.
Fraudstoppers is offering a mediation service in these cases. “Let’s say you are suing Walmart for a hundred grand and they want to mediate, so we can go in there for you and wrap this up for, let’s say, a $10,000 Walmart gift card,” says Waldo.
Fraudstoppers is a private paralegal organization which offers legal documents at wholesale prices for mortgage fraud and foreclosure defense litigation. The organization provides tools and resources to attorneys, foreclosure defense advocacy groups and to pro se litigants. In addition, Fraudstoppers provides:
Mortgage Fraud Audits &Affidavits
Expert Witness Testimony
Legal Education & Training
Pro Se Paralegal Support
Professional Mediation Services
And 3 Nationwide Attorney Networks with over 7000 licensed attorneys covering all 50 States, Canada, and the UK
While the lawsuit template can be obtained for free from Fraudstoppers, the organization generally requires membership for its services. Fraudstoppers is now offering a special and the use of a coupon code, “exiled” will get you a $100 deduction off the $347 membership at this time.
According to Frank Waldo, Fraudstoppers has been “overturning tables on the money changers since 2012” and has helped over 15,000 litigants. This lawsuit, states Waldo, could potentially help not only to address the inherent legal issues but could also help with the financial devastation caused by the protocols surrounding the virus. The template for the lawsuit can be downloaded from fraudstoppers.org.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended as legal advice; it is offered for general informational purposes only. Activist Post does not endorse Fraudstoppers, nor receive payment for recommending their services. Please do your own research.
Image: Pixabay
Janet Phelan is an investigative journalist and author of the groundbreaking exposé, EXILE. Her articles previously appeared in such mainstream venues as the Los Angeles Times, Orange Coast Magazine, Long Beach Press Telegram, etc. In 2004, Janet “jumped ship” and now exclusively writes for independent media. She is also the author of two collections of poetry—The Hitler Poems and Held Captive. She resides abroad. You are invited to support her work on Buy Me A Coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JanetPhelan
Become a Patron!
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-09-03--The Economy Continues To Unravel Despite All Stimulus Measures

Since the pandemic lockdowns were first implemented in the US I have been more concerned with the government and central bank response than the virus itself .
As I have noted in past articles , the pandemic restrictions and subsequent economic and social crisis events they help to create will cause far more deaths than Covid-19 ever will .
Not only that , but the actions of the Federal Reserve continue to con the American public into believing that there is some kind of “ plan ” to stop the crash that THEY engineered .
The only agenda of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long term ; they have no intention of actually preventing any disaster .
This is evidenced in comments by voting members of the Fed , including Neel Kashkari who recently argued for the enforcement of hard lockdowns for at least six weeks in the US , all because the US savings rate was going up .
Meaning , because Americans are saving more in order to protect themselves from economic fallout , Kashkari thinks we should be punished with an economic shutdown that would force us to spend whatever we have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how that works ?
Fed members and government officials demand hard lockdowns , depleting public savings and destroying small businesses .
Then , the public has to beg the Fed and the government for more and more stimulus measures so that they can survive .
The people and the system become dependent on a single point of support – fiat money creation and welfare .
Yet , the evidence suggests that this strategy is failing to do much of anything except stall the inevitable for a very short time .
If the goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic as much as possible , then the strategy should be to keep the economy as open as possible and let the virus run its course .
By initiating lockdowns , all we are doing is extending the economic damage over the span of years instead of months .
We can deal with the comparatively minimal deaths associated with the virus ; we can not handle the disaster that is about to befall the financial system .
The small business sector appears to be the most fragile element of the economy right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to shore up small businesses failed miserably , with data showing only 13 % to 19 % of applicants getting a loan of any kind .
Over 64 % of small businesses that received a loan are also worried about being approved for loan forgiveness .
In other words , of the few small business owners that got a PPP loan more than half do not have the ability to pay the loan back if they end up not qualifying for exemption .
This problem does not seem to be affecting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are enjoying incredible cash infusions from the Fed through overnight loans as well as Fed stimulus propping up stock markets ( at least for now ) .
Tech companies in particular are enjoying a rush of investment as the assumption in the daytrading world is that the central bank will not allow these companies to fail .
Maybe they are right , but stock markets today DO NOT reflect the health of our system in any way .
Stock tickers are a placebo , a Pavlovian trigger for the public , a tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is improving merely because share values are going up .
This is not the case .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income Small businesses in the US account for around 50 % of all employment and job creation .
They are a vital part of the economy .
Yet , government and central bank measures seem to have left them out in the cold to die .
To be sure , the $ 600 weekly unemployment enhancement created through the CARES Act passed in March did boost consumer spending , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , TVs , cellphones , etc .
Spending on services declined though , which is where the majority of small businesses make their money .
And , considering the fact that most durable goods are manufactured overseas , this means that the majority of stimulus dollars that went to consumers did not go into the US economy , but foreign exporters like China .
Now , the unemployment enhancement has ended and its return is in question .
It will be interesting to see if the boost to purchases of goods will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Consumer spending rose in July by 1.9 % , but this was already a weak print compared to the increases during the previous two months .
Unemployment numbers have declined due to soft reopenings in numerous states , and at the very least some part-time jobs appear to be returning , but nowhere near the level needed to erase the millions of jobs lost since February after the initial lockdowns began .
If you count U-6 measurements and unemployed people who have been removed from the rolls for being jobless for too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to 30 % of working age Americans .
This is essentially Great Depression levels of joblessness .
US GDP has continued to decline by 32 % according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis ( despite statistical rigging by the Fed and government agencies ) , and while it ’ s possible that stimulus slowed the effects of GDP loss , there is no indication what the trillions of dollars created by the Fed have actually bought other than a few months of time and a massive bubble in the stock market .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions for any length of time , let alone almost two more months .
And , if you want to know what it means when elites in government and central banking call for a “ hard lockdowns ” , just look at Level 4 restrictions in places like Australia and New Zealand , where only one person can leave home at any given time , can only travel 3 miles from home and only for food and supplies , and anyone caught not wearing a mask is subject to arrest or a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Australia was arrested because of a Facebook post calling for protests over the lockdown restrictions .
She later had to take the post down and offered an apology , saying she did not know it was illegal to post such statements on social media : Yeah , this kind of Orwellian response will do wonders for any economic recovery , and this is what Kashkari is calling for in the US .
It ’ s almost as if the Fed and certain politicians WANT a financial collapse in America… The REAL solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the goal is truly to protect as many American lives as possible for the “ greater good ” , then the pandemic response must stop .
Luckily , it seems that more and more people are beginning to see through the facade and are rejecting the restrictions .
Even in Europe and Australia there have been some signs of protest and rebellion .
The problem is that , at least in terms of the economy , it may be too late .
We have to consider the fact that once a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like small businesses ) takes a massive hit like the one they have suffered over the past several months , many such businesses and jobs will simply not come back .
There are many reasons for this , but primarily it ’ s a matter of debt .
The average small business owner carries almost $ 200,000 in debt for 3-5 years before he reaches profitability or breaks even .
This is assuming that there are no major economic catastrophes in that time .
With the pandemic , the riots , the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take on much more debt with little guarantee of recovery in the next few years let alone the next few months .
Chapter 11 business bankruptcies in the US rose over 26 % in the first half of 2020 alone .
Even if lockdown restrictions were completely eradicated tomorrow , a large number of businesses would go bankrupt anyway .
The “ Retail Apocalypse ” has been growing over the past decade , LONG before the coronavirus was on issue .
Thousands of businesses shut down last year and tens of thousands more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus and lockdowns simply accelerated the existing decline .
This is why large banks are cutting off loans to business owners and consumers right now ; they know exactly where all this is headed .
Banks act as middlemen for the PPP loans financed by the Fed , yet those loans are not getting to most businesses .
Banks have also cut credit card lending in the past few months , and general lending has crashed .
All of this despite low interest rates for banks receiving stimulus injections from the Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going ?
They are keeping it for themselves , buying up hard assets as well as propping up the stock market .
As noted above , the elites have NO INTENTION of saving the economy , only themselves .
If the stimulus is not getting to the main-street economy then the only purpose it serves is to give the public a false sense of comfort .
The people who gain the most from the ongoing pandemic chaos are establishment elites that want severe restrictions on personal liberty .
Not to mention , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the financial crisis that was already brewing due to central bank mismanagement of stimulus , inflation and interest rates .
The bottom line is , the banks do not want the crisis to end .
Why would they ?
The longer the panic continues , the more they benefit .
If you would like to support the work that Alt-Market does while also receiving content on advanced tactics for defeating the globalist agenda , subscribe to our exclusive newsletter The Wild Bunch Dispatch .
Learn more about it HERE .
After 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Reserve , it ’ s no secret that inflation is primed to soar .
If your IRA or 401 ( k ) is exposed to this threat , it ’ s critical to act now !
That ’ s why thousands of Americans are moving their retirement into a Gold IRA .
Learn how you can too with a free info kit on gold from Birch Gold Group .
It reveals the little-known IRS Tax Law to move your IRA or 401 ( k ) into gold .
Click here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can contact Brandon Smith at : [ email protected ] Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Brandon Smith
Since the pandemic lockdowns were first implemented in the US I have been more concerned with the government and central bank response than the virus itself. As I have noted in past articles, the pandemic restrictions and subsequent economic and social crisis events they help to create will cause far more deaths than Covid-19 ever will. Not only that, but the actions of the Federal Reserve continue to con the American public into believing that there is some kind of “plan” to stop the crash that THEY engineered.
The only agenda of the Fed is to increase the pain in the long term; they have no intention of actually preventing any disaster.
This is evidenced in comments by voting members of the Fed, including Neel Kashkari who recently argued for the enforcement of hard lockdowns for at least six weeks in the US, all because the US savings rate was going up. Meaning, because Americans are saving more in order to protect themselves from economic fallout, Kashkari thinks we should be punished with an economic shutdown that would force us to spend whatever we have been able to save.
Do you see how that works?
Fed members and government officials demand hard lockdowns, depleting public savings and destroying small businesses. Then, the public has to beg the Fed and the government for more and more stimulus measures so that they can survive. The people and the system become dependent on a single point of support – fiat money creation and welfare. Yet, the evidence suggests that this strategy is failing to do much of anything except stall the inevitable for a very short time.
If the goal was really to reduce the pain of the pandemic as much as possible, then the strategy should be to keep the economy as open as possible and let the virus run its course. By initiating lockdowns, all we are doing is extending the economic damage over the span of years instead of months. We can deal with the comparatively minimal deaths associated with the virus; we cannot handle the disaster that is about to befall the financial system.
The small business sector appears to be the most fragile element of the economy right now. The PPP loans that were supposed to shore up small businesses failed miserably, with data showing only 13% to 19% of applicants getting a loan of any kind. Over 64% of small businesses that received a loan are also worried about being approved for loan forgiveness. In other words, of the few small business owners that got a PPP loan more than half do not have the ability to pay the loan back if they end up not qualifying for exemption.
This problem does not seem to be affecting the corporate sector, however. International companies are enjoying incredible cash infusions from the Fed through overnight loans as well as Fed stimulus propping up stock markets (at least for now). Tech companies in particular are enjoying a rush of investment as the assumption in the daytrading world is that the central bank will not allow these companies to fail.
Maybe they are right, but stock markets today DO NOT reflect the health of our system in any way. Stock tickers are a placebo, a Pavlovian trigger for the public, a tool to make people believe that the situation is improving merely because share values are going up. This is not the case.
Small businesses in the US account for around 50% of all employment and job creation. They are a vital part of the economy. Yet, government and central bank measures seem to have left them out in the cold to die.
To be sure, the $600 weekly unemployment enhancement created through the CARES Act passed in March did boost consumer spending, primarily on durable goods such as computers, TVs, cellphones, etc. Spending on services declined though, which is where the majority of small businesses make their money. And, considering the fact that most durable goods are manufactured overseas, this means that the majority of stimulus dollars that went to consumers did not go into the US economy, but foreign exporters like China.
Now, the unemployment enhancement has ended and its return is in question. It will be interesting to see if the boost to purchases of goods will continue without that extra $600 weekly stimulus. Consumer spending rose in July by 1.9%, but this was already a weak print compared to the increases during the previous two months.
Unemployment numbers have declined due to soft reopenings in numerous states, and at the very least some part-time jobs appear to be returning, but nowhere near the level needed to erase the millions of jobs lost since February after the initial lockdowns began. If you count U-6 measurements and unemployed people who have been removed from the rolls for being jobless for too long, the REAL unemployment rate is closer to 30% of working age Americans. This is essentially Great Depression levels of joblessness.
US GDP has continued to decline by 32% according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (despite statistical rigging by the Fed and government agencies), and while it’s possible that stimulus slowed the effects of GDP loss, there is no indication what the trillions of dollars created by the Fed have actually bought other than a few months of time and a massive bubble in the stock market.
The economy cannot survive extreme lockdown conditions for any length of time, let alone almost two more months. And, if you want to know what it means when elites in government and central banking call for a “hard lockdowns”, just look at Level 4 restrictions in places like Australia and New Zealand, where only one person can leave home at any given time, can only travel 3 miles from home and only for food and supplies, and anyone caught not wearing a mask is subject to arrest or a $10,000 fine.
This mother in Melbourne, Australia was arrested because of a Facebook post calling for protests over the lockdown restrictions. She later had to take the post down and offered an apology, saying she did not know it was illegal to post such statements on social media:
Yeah, this kind of Orwellian response will do wonders for any economic recovery, and this is what Kashkari is calling for in the US. It’s almost as if the Fed and certain politicians WANT a financial collapse in America…
The REAL solution is to stop the lockdown restrictions altogether. If the goal is truly to protect as many American lives as possible for the “greater good”, then the pandemic response must stop. Luckily, it seems that more and more people are beginning to see through the facade and are rejecting the restrictions. Even in Europe and Australia there have been some signs of protest and rebellion. The problem is that, at least in terms of the economy, it may be too late.
We have to consider the fact that once a large portion of the business sector (like small businesses) takes a massive hit like the one they have suffered over the past several months, many such businesses and jobs will simply not come back. There are many reasons for this, but primarily it’s a matter of debt. The average small business owner carries almost $200,000 in debt for 3-5 years before he reaches profitability or breaks even. This is assuming that there are no major economic catastrophes in that time.
With the pandemic, the riots, the restrictions, etc., businesses will have to take on much more debt with little guarantee of recovery in the next few years let alone the next few months. Chapter 11 business bankruptcies in the US rose over 26% in the first half of 2020 alone.
Even if lockdown restrictions were completely eradicated tomorrow, a large number of businesses would go bankrupt anyway. The “Retail Apocalypse” has been growing over the past decade, LONG before the coronavirus was on issue. Thousands of businesses shut down last year and tens of thousands more are slated to close this year. The virus and lockdowns simply accelerated the existing decline.
This is why large banks are cutting off loans to business owners and consumers right now; they know exactly where all this is headed.
Banks act as middlemen for the PPP loans financed by the Fed, yet those loans are not getting to most businesses. Banks have also cut credit card lending in the past few months, and general lending has crashed. All of this despite low interest rates for banks receiving stimulus injections from the Fed. Where is all of the money going? They are keeping it for themselves, buying up hard assets as well as propping up the stock market. As noted above, the elites have NO INTENTION of saving the economy, only themselves.
If the stimulus is not getting to the main-street economy then the only purpose it serves is to give the public a false sense of comfort. The people who gain the most from the ongoing pandemic chaos are establishment elites that want severe restrictions on personal liberty. Not to mention, the virus and lockdowns offer a convenient scapegoat for the financial crisis that was already brewing due to central bank mismanagement of stimulus, inflation and interest rates. The bottom line is, the banks do not want the crisis to end. Why would they? The longer the panic continues, the more they benefit.
If you would like to support the work that Alt-Market does while also receiving content on advanced tactics for defeating the globalist agenda, subscribe to our exclusive newsletter The Wild Bunch Dispatch. Learn more about it HERE.
After 8 long years of ultra-loose monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, it’s no secret that inflation is primed to soar. If your IRA or 401(k) is exposed to this threat, it’s critical to act now! That’s why thousands of Americans are moving their retirement into a Gold IRA. Learn how you can too with a free info kit on gold from Birch Gold Group. It reveals the little-known IRS Tax Law to move your IRA or 401(k) into gold. Click here to get your free Info Kit on Gold.
You can contact Brandon Smith at: brandon@alt-market.com
Become a Patron!
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-09-03--Judge Rules NSA Spying Program Revealed By Snowden Was Illegal, Useless Against Terrorists

This week , a federal appeals court ruled that the NSA ’ s controversial spying program was illegal – the same program Edward Snowden released details about to journalists in 2013 .
The landmark ruling even added that the spying program may have been unconstitutional .
The court ’ s ruling was written by Judge Marsha Berzon , who decided that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act , or FISA , didn ’ t allow for the bulk collection of phone users ’ call records , as the US government claimed at the time .
“ The metadata collection exceeded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she wrote in her ruling .
The main problem is that FISA did not allow for bulk collection , only targeted collection of known suspects .
The law “ required the government to make a showing of relevance to a particular authorized investigation before collecting the records , ” according to Berzon .
Judge Berzon went on to say that there is no evidence that the spying program actually did anything to prevent a single case of terrorism , and that US officials misled the public about the program ’ s effectiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements of government officials created a contrary impression , that impression is inconsistent with the contents of the classified record , ” she wrote .
The NSA claims that they have since canceled the spying programs in question , but many privacy advocates suspect that they are still engaged in very similar activities , if not more invasive spying now that the technology has advanced .
On Wednesday , Edward Snowden posted about the ruling , saying that , “ I never imagined that I would live to see our courts condemn the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same ruling credit me for exposing them .
And yet that day has arrived.
” “ The decision also recognizes that when the government seeks to prosecute a person , it must give notice of the secret surveillance it used to gather its evidence .
This protection is a vital one given the proliferation of novel spying tools the government uses today , ” Toomey said , according to CNet .
It is not clear what implications this could have for Snowden ’ s criminal charges or his possible return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t hurt his case .
Snowden is still facing criminal charges under the Espionage Act .
He is currently living in exile in Russia , where he got stuck and remained while attempting to evade US authorities after the now-infamous leak .
Last year , Snowden published an eye-opening memoir about his time in the intelligence community and his decision to tell the world about the massive surveillance state that had been created by the United States government .
The book , called Permanent Record , quickly rose to the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released , but as expected , the United States government was not very happy that it was being published .
On the day that the book was released , the US government filed a lawsuit against Snowden , claiming that he violated non-disclosure agreements that he signed with both the CIA and NSA when he was employed with the agencies .
The information contained in the book must not be too sensitive at this point , because the lawsuit is not seeking to block publication of the book , but is looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made from the sales .
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By John Vibes
This week, a federal appeals court ruled that the NSA’s controversial spying program was illegal – the same program Edward Snowden released details about to journalists in 2013. The landmark ruling even added that the spying program may have been unconstitutional.
The court’s ruling was written by Judge Marsha Berzon, who decided that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, didn’t allow for the bulk collection of phone users’ call records, as the US government claimed at the time.
“The metadata collection exceeded the scope of Congress’s authorization,” she wrote in her ruling.
The main problem is that FISA did not allow for bulk collection, only targeted collection of known suspects. The law “required the government to make a showing of relevance to a particular authorized investigation before collecting the records,” according to Berzon.
Judge Berzon went on to say that there is no evidence that the spying program actually did anything to prevent a single case of terrorism, and that US officials misled the public about the program’s effectiveness.
“To the extent the public statements of government officials created a contrary impression, that impression is inconsistent with the contents of the classified record,” she wrote.
The NSA claims that they have since canceled the spying programs in question, but many privacy advocates suspect that they are still engaged in very similar activities, if not more invasive spying now that the technology has advanced.
On Wednesday, Edward Snowden posted about the ruling, saying that, “I never imagined that I would live to see our courts condemn the NSA’s activities as unlawful and in the same ruling credit me for exposing them. And yet that day has arrived.”
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Seven years ago, as the news declared I was being charged as a criminal for speaking the truth, I never imagined that I would live to see our courts condemn the NSA's activities as unlawful and in the same ruling credit me for exposing them. And yet that day has arrived. https://t.co/FRdG2zUA4U — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 2, 2020
ACLU senior staff attorney Patrick Toomey called Wednesday’s ruling a victory for privacy rights.
“The decision also recognizes that when the government seeks to prosecute a person, it must give notice of the secret surveillance it used to gather its evidence. This protection is a vital one given the proliferation of novel spying tools the government uses today,” Toomey said, according to CNet.
It is not clear what implications this could have for Snowden’s criminal charges or his possible return to the US, but this certainly can’t hurt his case.
Snowden is still facing criminal charges under the Espionage Act. He is currently living in exile in Russia, where he got stuck and remained while attempting to evade US authorities after the now-infamous leak.
Last year, Snowden published an eye-opening memoir about his time in the intelligence community and his decision to tell the world about the massive surveillance state that had been created by the United States government. The book, called Permanent Record, quickly rose to the top of the charts as soon as it was released, but as expected, the United States government was not very happy that it was being published.
On the day that the book was released, the US government filed a lawsuit against Snowden, claiming that he violated non-disclosure agreements that he signed with both the CIA and NSA when he was employed with the agencies.
The information contained in the book must not be too sensitive at this point, because the lawsuit is not seeking to block publication of the book, but is looking to intercept all of the money that is made from the sales.
Source: The Mind Unleashed
Image: EFF.org
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