activistpost--2020-12-10--Bracing For A Very Painful Year: 38% Of Americans Say That They Will Spend 2021 In “Survival Mode”

If nearly 40 percent of the entire nation anticipates spending the next 12 months in “ survival mode ” , that is not a good sign for what the coming year will bring .
Traditionally , Americans have looked forward to the turn of the year with tremendous optimism , but this time around things are very , very different .
2020 brought us the COVID pandemic , tremendous violence and civil unrest in our major cities , and the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
Sadly , a large chunk of the country is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because one recent survey found that 38 percent of all Americans plan to spend 2021 in “ survival mode ” … The biggest reason why so many anticipate being in “ survival mode ” is because of the financial problems that they experienced this year .
According to that same survey , a whopping 68 percent of all Americans say that they experienced some sort of “ financial setback ” in 2020… As I keep reminding my readers , Americans have filed more than 70 million new claims for unemployment benefits this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have been able to keep their jobs have fallen on very hard times .
Another new survey found that approximately one-third of all full-time workers in the U.S. “ have experienced a pay cut ” in 2020… If you were employed throughout all of 2020 and you are still able to pay all of your bills on time , you should be very thankful for your blessings , because you are now in the minority .
For most Americans , the past 12 months have been exceedingly painful , and this new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic suffering long into 2021 .
Some industries that were absolutely devastated by the first round of lockdowns are officially in panic mode at this point .
For example , we have already permanently lost approximately 17 percent of all of the restaurants in the entire country , and the National Restaurant Association is warning that 10,000 more could permanently shut down “ in the next three weeks ” … About 17 % of America ’ s restaurants have already permanently closed this year , with thousands more on the brink according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association is publicly pleading with Congress to pass new stimulus to help the industry that has been damaged by the pandemic .
The group said Monday that 10,000 restaurants could close in the next three weeks , in addition to the 110,000 that have already shuttered in 2020 .
Even during the best of times , running a successful restaurant is exceedingly difficult .
The margins are razor thin , new competition is always popping up , and employees are constantly coming and going .
When you add a global pandemic on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become almost impossible for many eateries to keep going , and we are being told that the future for the industry looks quite “ bleak ” … • 87 % of full-service restaurants ( independent , chain , and franchise ) report an average 36 % drop in sales revenue .
For an industry with an average profit margin of 5 % -6 % , this is simply unsustainable .
83 % of full-service operators expect sales to be even worse over the next three months .
• Although sales are significantly lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their costs have not fallen by a proportional level .
59 % of operators say their total labor costs ( as a percentage of sales ) are higher than they were pre-pandemic .
• 58 % of chain and independent full-service operators expect continued furloughs and layoffs for at least the next three months .
Of course it isn ’ t just the restaurant industry that is laying off workers in large numbers .
Just about every day there are more major layoff announcements in the news , and many experts are expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we make the transition into 2021 .
Without paychecks coming in , millions of unemployed Americans are unable to pay the bills , and we are being warned that we could be facing a historic tsunami of evictions starting just after the holiday season… The day after Christmas , the extended unemployment benefits that have kept 12 million people and their families afloat are scheduled to expire .
Then , mere days after that cliff , on New Year ’ s Day , a national ban on renter evictions from the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lapse .
Overnight , an unprecedented bill of $ 70 billion in unpaid back rent and utilities will come due , according to estimates by Moody ’ s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi .
In all , up to 40 million people could be threatened with eviction over the coming months , research from the Aspen Institute says .
The politicians insist that they are keeping us caged up for our own good , but the truth is that they are absolutely destroying millions upon millions of lives in the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether or not the lockdowns have helped to prevent the spread of the virus , but what we do know is that thousands of businesses have been permanently destroyed , millions of jobs have been lost , more people are committing suicide , and Americans are increasingly engaging in self-destructive behaviors… If we can not even handle the COVID pandemic , how in the world is our society going to be able to handle what else is coming ?
As things continue to unravel all around us , people are going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans are already in “ survival mode ” , and the road ahead is certainly not going to get any easier .
***Michael ’ s new book entitled “ Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America ” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon .
*** About the Author : My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “ Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America ” is now available on Amazon.com .
In addition to my new book , I have written four others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beginning Of The End , Get Prepared Now , and Living A Life That Really Matters .
( # CommissionsEarned ) By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing , and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe .
I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog , End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News , and the articles that I publish on those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent websites all over the globe .
I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites , but I also ask that they include this “ About the Author ” section with each article .
The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only , and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal , business , financial or health decisions .
I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook , Twitter and Parler , and any way that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great help .
During these very challenging times , people will need hope more than ever before , and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can .
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 , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .

By Michael Snyder
If nearly 40 percent of the entire nation anticipates spending the next 12 months in “survival mode”, that is not a good sign for what the coming year will bring. Traditionally, Americans have looked forward to the turn of the year with tremendous optimism, but this time around things are very, very different. 2020 brought us the COVID pandemic, tremendous violence and civil unrest in our major cities, and the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Sadly, a large chunk of the country is anticipating more difficulties in the coming months, because one recent survey found that 38 percent of all Americans plan to spend 2021 in “survival mode”…
Of the 3,011 surveyed adults, over 38% said they will spend the year in “survival mode,” meaning they’ll focus on the day-to-day rather than long-term goals to try to get themselves and their families through 2021.
The biggest reason why so many anticipate being in “survival mode” is because of the financial problems that they experienced this year. According to that same survey, a whopping 68 percent of all Americans say that they experienced some sort of “financial setback” in 2020…
Although some respondents maintained their usual income over the past year, 68% had setbacks. Of those, 23% lost a job or household income; 20% had an unexpected non-health emergency; 18% had to provide unexpected financial aid to family or friends; and 16% had a health emergency in their family.
As I keep reminding my readers, Americans have filed more than 70 million new claims for unemployment benefits this year, but even many of those that have been able to keep their jobs have fallen on very hard times.
Another new survey found that approximately one-third of all full-time workers in the U.S. “have experienced a pay cut” in 2020…
Roughly 1 in 3 full-time workers have experienced a pay cut due to the coronavirus pandemic this year, according to a recent MagnifyMoney survey of 984 professionals surveyed Nov. 6 to 11.
If you were employed throughout all of 2020 and you are still able to pay all of your bills on time, you should be very thankful for your blessings, because you are now in the minority.
For most Americans, the past 12 months have been exceedingly painful, and this new round of lockdowns promises to extend the economic suffering long into 2021.
Some industries that were absolutely devastated by the first round of lockdowns are officially in panic mode at this point. For example, we have already permanently lost approximately 17 percent of all of the restaurants in the entire country, and the National Restaurant Association is warning that 10,000 more could permanently shut down “in the next three weeks”…
About 17% of America’s restaurants have already permanently closed this year, with thousands more on the brink according to a new report. The National Restaurant Association is publicly pleading with Congress to pass new stimulus to help the industry that has been damaged by the pandemic. The group said Monday that 10,000 restaurants could close in the next three weeks, in addition to the 110,000 that have already shuttered in 2020.
Even during the best of times, running a successful restaurant is exceedingly difficult. The margins are razor thin, new competition is always popping up, and employees are constantly coming and going.
When you add a global pandemic on top of all of that, it has become almost impossible for many eateries to keep going, and we are being told that the future for the industry looks quite “bleak”…
87% of full-service restaurants (independent, chain, and franchise) report an average 36% drop in sales revenue. For an industry with an average profit margin of 5%-6%, this is simply unsustainable . 83% of full-service operators expect sales to be even worse over the next three months.
For an industry with an average profit margin of 5%-6%, this is simply . Although sales are significantly lower for most independent and franchise owners, their costs have not fallen by a proportional level. 59% of operators say their total labor costs (as a percentage of sales) are higher than they were pre-pandemic.
The future remains bleak. 58% of chain and independent full-service operators expect continued furloughs and layoffs for at least the next three months.
Of course it isn’t just the restaurant industry that is laying off workers in large numbers.
Just about every day there are more major layoff announcements in the news, and many experts are expecting the job loss numbers to accelerate as we make the transition into 2021.
Without paychecks coming in, millions of unemployed Americans are unable to pay the bills, and we are being warned that we could be facing a historic tsunami of evictions starting just after the holiday season…
The day after Christmas, the extended unemployment benefits that have kept 12 million people and their families afloat are scheduled to expire. Then, mere days after that cliff, on New Year’s Day, a national ban on renter evictions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also set to lapse. Overnight, an unprecedented bill of $70 billion in unpaid back rent and utilities will come due, according to estimates by Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi. In all, up to 40 million people could be threatened with eviction over the coming months, research from the Aspen Institute says.
The politicians insist that they are keeping us caged up for our own good, but the truth is that they are absolutely destroying millions upon millions of lives in the process.
There is a lot of debate about whether or not the lockdowns have helped to prevent the spread of the virus, but what we do know is that thousands of businesses have been permanently destroyed, millions of jobs have been lost, more people are committing suicide, and Americans are increasingly engaging in self-destructive behaviors…
Overall, one in three Americans report binge drinking during the coronavirus pandemic. The average person also reports spending about four weeks in lockdown this year; spending 21 hours a day at home. More than seven in 10 people in the survey did not even leave their home for work.
If we cannot even handle the COVID pandemic, how in the world is our society going to be able to handle what else is coming?
As things continue to unravel all around us, people are going to be in great need of hope.
Millions of Americans are already in “survival mode”, and the road ahead is certainly not going to get any easier.
Image: Spiro Skouras
***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***
About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com. In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe. I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Parler, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help. During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-10--Senators Express Privacy Concerns Over Proctoring Apps

Last week , five Senators joined the chorus of privacy advocates , students , and teachers expressing concern over surveillance proctoring apps being used to watch students remotely during exams .
“ You must be able to demonstrate that you are respecting students ’ privacy , ” the Senators write–and so far , that just doesn ’ t seem to be the case .
Additionally , the letter notes that proctoring app features “ have flagged individuals with disabilities or physical conditions , such as tic disorders or muscle reflexes , as suspicious , ” and the apps ’ shortcomings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perpetuate discriminatory biases.
” The full letter [ pdf ] calls on proctoring companies to respond to these and other concerns , and describe what processes they are using to alleviate them .
EFF agrees that these apps pose a serious danger to students ’ privacy .
Surveillance shouldn ’ t be a prerequisite for an education .
Proctoring apps use monitoring techniques to supposedly determine whether a student is cheating–but in the process , they force students to surrender sensitive biometric information and video recordings of their private spaces .
These apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and exacerbate existing inequities in educational outcomes , especially for Black students .
While safeguarding student data and improving equity in educational tools are laudable goals , there is a far deeper and more sinister issue at play here—there is a growing student surveillance ecosystem , even beyond these proctoring apps .
Other tools that are gaining popularity with school administrations include facial recognition software and applications that monitor student social media activity , such as Bark , Social Sentinel , and GoGuardian .
Cloud-based educational platforms and school-provided devices often collect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary , store this information indefinitely , and sometimes even upload it to the cloud automatically .
Taken as a whole , these apps normalize and codify the use of surveillance in schools .
And remote proctoring apps aren ’ t just being used at the college level–some companies offer their services to high schools , too .
Schools should not be using surveillance tools on their students .
We already know that people who are being watched change their behavior and self-censor , and that it breaks down the trust among students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School should be about learning , making mistakes , and growing academically and as people .
This is nearly impossible in a school-enforced panopticon , where every facial expression and movement is monitored by algorithms , with the expectation that students are not to be trusted .
We are teaching our students to expect that spying is normal , and that the people they trust to guide their academic success will spy on them .
To Senators Blumenthal , Van Hollen , Smith , Warren , and Booker : Thank you , sincerely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your assessment of proctoring companies ’ responses to your letter , we urge you to consider the following : The product is surveillance .
There is no improving it .
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 , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Jason Kelley and Lindsay Oliver
Last week, five Senators joined the chorus of privacy advocates, students, and teachers expressing concern over surveillance proctoring apps being used to watch students remotely during exams. “You must be able to demonstrate that you are respecting students’ privacy,” the Senators write–and so far, that just doesn’t seem to be the case. Additionally, the letter notes that proctoring app features “have flagged individuals with disabilities or physical conditions, such as tic disorders or muscle reflexes, as suspicious,” and the apps’ shortcomings “fall heavily on vulnerable communities and perpetuate discriminatory biases.” The full letter [pdf] calls on proctoring companies to respond to these and other concerns, and describe what processes they are using to alleviate them.
EFF agrees that these apps pose a serious danger to students’ privacy. Surveillance shouldn’t be a prerequisite for an education. Proctoring apps use monitoring techniques to supposedly determine whether a student is cheating–but in the process, they force students to surrender sensitive biometric information and video recordings of their private spaces. These apps invade students’ biometric and data privacy, and exacerbate existing inequities in educational outcomes, especially for Black students.
While safeguarding student data and improving equity in educational tools are laudable goals, there is a far deeper and more sinister issue at play here—there is a growing student surveillance ecosystem, even beyond these proctoring apps. Other tools that are gaining popularity with school administrations include facial recognition software and applications that monitor student social media activity, such as Bark, Social Sentinel, and GoGuardian. Cloud-based educational platforms and school-provided devices often collect far more information on students than is necessary, store this information indefinitely, and sometimes even upload it to the cloud automatically. Taken as a whole, these apps normalize and codify the use of surveillance in schools. And remote proctoring apps aren’t just being used at the college level–some companies offer their services to high schools, too.
Schools should not be using surveillance tools on their students. We already know that people who are being watched change their behavior and self-censor, and that it breaks down the trust among students, teachers, and school administrations. School should be about learning, making mistakes, and growing academically and as people. This is nearly impossible in a school-enforced panopticon, where every facial expression and movement is monitored by algorithms, with the expectation that students are not to be trusted. We are teaching our students to expect that spying is normal, and that the people they trust to guide their academic success will spy on them.
To Senators Blumenthal, Van Hollen, Smith, Warren, and Booker: Thank you, sincerely, for investigating these apps. In your assessment of proctoring companies’ responses to your letter, we urge you to consider the following: The product is surveillance. There is no improving it.
Source: EFF.org
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-10--James Corbett on COVID-19, The Great Reset, and Problem-Reaction-Solution

In this powerful interview , John Bush talks to James Corbett of The Corbett Report to shine light on how COVID-19 has accelerated the insiders ’ plans to usher in a technocratic and authoritarian global government .
By better understanding the plans and agenda of the global elite , we can more effectively strategize on how to opt out and insulate ourselves from the “ Great Reset ” .
Topics in the interview include 9/11 , COVID tyranny , vaccines , the 2030 Agenda , The Great Reset , agorism , solutions , and the elite ’ s strategy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blockchain technology simultaneously offers hope for decentralization while also providing a means for those in power to better track , trace , and control the public .
Listen to the podcast version here – https : //livefreenow.show/lfn-63-james-corbett-on-covid-19-the-great-reset-and-problem-reaction-solution/ More episodes of the Live Free Now Show here – http : //livefreenow.show John Bush is a radical activist , entrepreneur , and father of two based in Austin , TX .
He owns and operates Brave Botanicals which offers high quality kratom and CBD .
In 2014 , he founded the Freedom Cell Network which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through small groups to secure their sovereignty .
He is the host of the Live Free Now Show .
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 , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By John Bush
In this powerful interview, John Bush talks to James Corbett of The Corbett Report to shine light on how COVID-19 has accelerated the insiders’ plans to usher in a technocratic and authoritarian global government.
By better understanding the plans and agenda of the global elite, we can more effectively strategize on how to opt out and insulate ourselves from the “Great Reset”.
Topics in the interview include 9/11, COVID tyranny, vaccines, the 2030 Agenda, The Great Reset, agorism, solutions, and the elite’s strategy of problem-reaction-solution.
The two also explore how blockchain technology simultaneously offers hope for decentralization while also providing a means for those in power to better track, trace, and control the public.
Follow James’ work here – https://www.corbettreport.com/
Listen to the podcast version here – https://livefreenow.show/lfn-63-james-corbett-on-covid-19-the-great-reset-and-problem-reaction-solution/
More episodes of the Live Free Now Show here – http://livefreenow.show
John Bush is a radical activist, entrepreneur, and father of two based in Austin, TX. He owns and operates Brave Botanicals which offers high quality kratom and CBD. In 2014, he founded the Freedom Cell Network which currently has over 5,000 people working together through small groups to secure their sovereignty. He is the host of the Live Free Now Show.
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-09--In Stunning Rebuke, LA Judge Strikes Down “Abusive” Outdoor Dining Ban As Lacking “Science, Evidence

In Stunning Rebuke, LA Judge Strikes Down “Abusive” Outdoor Dining Ban As Lacking “Science, Evidence Or Logic”

A Los Angeles judge has tentatively struck down the county ’ s ban on outdoor dining after the Public Health Department – led by Director Barbara Ferrer – failed to provide a scientific basis for the order .
According to The Real Deal , LA County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant overturned the county ’ s outdoor dining ban which went into effect on Nov. 25 , calling it an “ abuse ” of powers that are “ unsupported by any findings.
” “ The Restaurant Closure Order is an abuse of the Department ’ s emergency powers , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or logic , and should be adjudicated to be unenforceable as a matter of law , ” wrote Chalfant in a 73-page assessment which found that the county failed to perform a required risk-benefit analysis about the restriction .
Chalfant also noted in his assessment that COVID-19 cases traced back to bars and restaurants accounted for just 3.1 % of non-residential outbreaks , “ the vast majority of which were chain/fast food type restaurants , ” and were almost exclusively between employees rather than customers .
The closure “ ignores the outdoor nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says carries only moderate risk , ” he added .
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer , who was named in the lawsuit , declined to comment about the case when asked during a briefing Monday .
A spokesperson for Los Angeles County said in a statement Tuesday that “ Los Angeles County is committed to protecting the health and safety of its residents from a deadly virus that has claimed the lives of nearly 8,000 of our friends , family and neighbors and that has sickened more than 450,000 people just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s most populous county , with more than 10 million residents , reported 8,547 new cases on Tuesday alone .
Its five-day average shot to nearly 9,000 , almost double the five-day average for the day after Thanksgiving that triggered the local order .
The county also for the first time reported a daily hospitalization tally exceeding 3,000 .
–Politico Chalfant ’ s comments come days after a viral video highlighting how arbitrary and absurd restrictions are killing businesses , when the owner of the Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up outdoor dining tents across the parking lot from her shuttered business – due to the outdoor dining ban .
A GoFundMe was set up for owner Angela Mardsen which is currently over $ 182,000 as of this writing .
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 , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markets today .

By Tyler Durden
A Los Angeles judge has tentatively struck down the county’s ban on outdoor dining after the Public Health Department – led by Director Barbara Ferrer – failed to provide a scientific basis for the order.
According to The Real Deal, LA County Superior Court Judge James Chalfant overturned the county’s outdoor dining ban which went into effect on Nov. 25, calling it an “abuse” of powers that are “unsupported by any findings.”
“The Restaurant Closure Order is an abuse of the Department’s emergency powers, is not grounded in science, evidence, or logic, and should be adjudicated to be unenforceable as a matter of law,” wrote Chalfant in a 73-page assessment which found that the county failed to perform a required risk-benefit analysis about the restriction.
As Politico notes,
The tentative ruling to block the indefinite ban won’t have immediate practical consequences for Los Angeles-area restaurants, as the county is now under a temporary stay-home order tied to the region’s quickly diminishing ICU capacity. But it marks a symbolic and legal victory for those challenging the emergency powers flexed by state and local officials — and a rare setback for public health authorities facing a worsening crisis.
Chalfant also noted in his assessment that COVID-19 cases traced back to bars and restaurants accounted for just 3.1% of non-residential outbreaks, “the vast majority of which were chain/fast food type restaurants,” and were almost exclusively between employees rather than customers.
The closure “ignores the outdoor nature of the activity, which the CDC says carries only moderate risk,” he added.
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, who was named in the lawsuit, declined to comment about the case when asked during a briefing Monday. A spokesperson for Los Angeles County said in a statement Tuesday that “Los Angeles County is committed to protecting the health and safety of its residents from a deadly virus that has claimed the lives of nearly 8,000 of our friends, family and neighbors and that has sickened more than 450,000 people just in L.A. County.” The nation’s most populous county, with more than 10 million residents, reported 8,547 new cases on Tuesday alone. Its five-day average shot to nearly 9,000, almost double the five-day average for the day after Thanksgiving that triggered the local order. The county also for the first time reported a daily hospitalization tally exceeding 3,000. –Politico
Chalfant’s comments come days after a viral video highlighting how arbitrary and absurd restrictions are killing businesses, when the owner of the Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill pointed out that the city had granted NBC permission to set up outdoor dining tents across the parking lot from her shuttered business – due to the outdoor dining ban.
Bar owner in Los Angeles CA is livid to see that mayor Garcetti has approved an outdoor dining area for a movie company directly across from her outdoor dining area (which was shut down) pic.twitter.com/jkUP2CWg35 — Jake Coco 💙🇺🇸🎶🐻 (@jakecoco) December 4, 2020
A GoFundMe was set up for owner Angela Mardsen which is currently over $182,000 as of this writing.
Source: Zero Hedge
Image: Pixabay
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-09--Canadian Restaurant Owner Charged With “Trespassing” After Reopening in Defiance of Lockdown Orders

At 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday , November 24 , Adam Skelly opened his BBQ restaurant in Toronto and began serving customers .
Under ordinary circumstances , this would have been unremarkable .
But on that day , it was an act of political defiance , because a recent lockdown order prohibited restaurants like his from providing indoor and outdoor dining services .
Skelly , a 33-year-old husband and father of two , was specifically ordered to close by Toronto Public Health later that day , but he opened again on Wednesday and made it clear that he would continue operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning the police changed the locks on the restaurant to bar his access , and when Skelly showed up later that morning he was met by a significant police presence .
Police allowed him into a back part of the building behind the restaurant , but then he and his employees secretly broke into the restaurant from the back and kicked down the newly locked front door .
A scuffle broke out as the crowd of customers briefly blocked the police from entering , but shortly thereafter the operation was shut down and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , and other supporters held a protest against the arrest .
Skelly was released on bail 30 hours later , with one of his bail conditions being that he isn ’ t allowed to post on social media .
In the days following the incident , a GoFundMe campaign for Skelly ’ s legal defense raised over $ 320,000 , demonstrating just how much support he has garnered .
As expected , Skelly is facing a number of charges , including intent to obstruct police and holding an illegal gathering .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s also facing a charge of trespassing .
Sure , he violated police orders and broke into the restricted area , yet this still brings up a really interesting question .
How can you “ trespass ” on your own property ?
From a legal perspective , the answer is fairly straightforward , because Toronto Public Health has been given the authority to shut down businesses that fail to comply with their edicts .
But philosophically , the answer is much more nuanced , because it forces us to grapple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In theory , property rights are the idea that you can do whatever you want with your property as long as it doesn ’ t interfere with someone else ’ s property .
It ’ s yours , after all , and what makes it yours is that you alone have the right to control its use .
The most basic property right is the right to be sovereign over your own body , which is known as self-ownership .
As economist Murray Rothbard once said , “ A man ’ s right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in himself.
” Rothbard ’ s point was that property rights are paramount because they constitute the necessary foundation of all other human rights .
The implication of self-ownership is that we also have a right to exercise sovereignty over the things we create or peacefully acquire .
If you own a phone , for example , you can determine how you configure it and where you keep it .
If you own a car , you get to decide who drives it and where it goes .
And if you own land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it ’ s used and who is allowed on the property—in theory .
In practice , property rights are not fully respected , even in many Western cultures , and Adam Skelly ’ s story is a perfect example of this .
If Skelly had full property rights , no one , not even the government , could dictate whether he could open his restaurant or who he could allow on the property .
But sadly , that ’ s exactly what they did , and when all was said and done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building .
What ’ s interesting about this framework is that it challenges us to reconsider how we classify certain government actions .
If full property rights were the law of the land , and assuming the government is not above the law , then even the police would have to respect Skelly ’ s sovereignty over his property .
The implication of such a framework is that police officers should be held accountable for violating rights just as much as if any private person had done it .
Ironically , then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could itself be construed as trespassing .
Property rights are undermined even in the best of times , but they tend to be especially disregarded when governments play the “ emergency ” card .
As Nobel-Prize-winning economist F. A. Hayek once remarked , “ ‘ Emergencies ’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
” In light of this , we need to reflect on the wisdom of creating massive exception clauses to limitations on governments that allow them to assume “ emergency powers ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what inevitably happens is that governments peddle fear and throw around the word “ emergency ” as an excuse to exercise more and more control .
But as we ’ ve all now experienced , the “ state of emergency ” has become the new normal , and the government is perfectly happy to keep their excessive powers in perpetuity .
As Hayek added , “ …once [ the safeguards of individual liberty ] are suspended it is not difficult for anyone who has assumed such emergency powers to see to it that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story , and countless others like it , are a reminder that it is not enough to merely pay lip service to freedom and property rights .
We must stand up for them , even ( and especially ) in times of crisis , or they will eventually be eroded away completely .
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 , MeWe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Patrick Carroll
At 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24, Adam Skelly opened his BBQ restaurant in Toronto and began serving customers. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been unremarkable. But on that day, it was an act of political defiance, because a recent lockdown order prohibited restaurants like his from providing indoor and outdoor dining services.
Skelly, a 33-year-old husband and father of two, was specifically ordered to close by Toronto Public Health later that day, but he opened again on Wednesday and made it clear that he would continue operating as normal. Then, early Thursday morning the police changed the locks on the restaurant to bar his access, and when Skelly showed up later that morning he was met by a significant police presence.
Police allowed him into a back part of the building behind the restaurant, but then he and his employees secretly broke into the restaurant from the back and kicked down the newly locked front door. A scuffle broke out as the crowd of customers briefly blocked the police from entering, but shortly thereafter the operation was shut down and Skelly was arrested.
Furious customers, staff, and other supporters held a protest against the arrest. Skelly was released on bail 30 hours later, with one of his bail conditions being that he isn’t allowed to post on social media. In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign for Skelly’s legal defense raised over $320,000, demonstrating just how much support he has garnered.
As expected, Skelly is facing a number of charges, including intent to obstruct police and holding an illegal gathering. But what’s surprising—and quite frankly confusing—is that he’s also facing a charge of trespassing. Sure, he violated police orders and broke into the restricted area, yet this still brings up a really interesting question.
How can you “trespass” on your own property?
From a legal perspective, the answer is fairly straightforward, because Toronto Public Health has been given the authority to shut down businesses that fail to comply with their edicts. But philosophically, the answer is much more nuanced, because it forces us to grapple with our notion of property rights.
In theory, property rights are the idea that you can do whatever you want with your property as long as it doesn’t interfere with someone else’s property. It’s yours, after all, and what makes it yours is that you alone have the right to control its use.
The most basic property right is the right to be sovereign over your own body, which is known as self-ownership. As economist Murray Rothbard once said, “A man’s right to personal freedom is his property right in himself.” Rothbard’s point was that property rights are paramount because they constitute the necessary foundation of all other human rights.
The implication of self-ownership is that we also have a right to exercise sovereignty over the things we create or peacefully acquire. If you own a phone, for example, you can determine how you configure it and where you keep it. If you own a car, you get to decide who drives it and where it goes. And if you own land, you have the right to decide how it’s used and who is allowed on the property—in theory.
In practice, property rights are not fully respected, even in many Western cultures, and Adam Skelly’s story is a perfect example of this.
If Skelly had full property rights, no one, not even the government, could dictate whether he could open his restaurant or who he could allow on the property. But sadly, that’s exactly what they did, and when all was said and done they actually seized (stole) the building.
What’s interesting about this framework is that it challenges us to reconsider how we classify certain government actions. If full property rights were the law of the land, and assuming the government is not above the law, then even the police would have to respect Skelly’s sovereignty over his property. The implication of such a framework is that police officers should be held accountable for violating rights just as much as if any private person had done it. Ironically, then, their interference with Skelly’s business could itself be construed as trespassing.
Property rights are undermined even in the best of times, but they tend to be especially disregarded when governments play the “emergency” card. As Nobel-Prize-winning economist F. A. Hayek once remarked, “‘Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.”
In light of this, we need to reflect on the wisdom of creating massive exception clauses to limitations on governments that allow them to assume “emergency powers” whenever they feel like it. Because what inevitably happens is that governments peddle fear and throw around the word “emergency” as an excuse to exercise more and more control.
But as we’ve all now experienced, the “state of emergency” has become the new normal, and the government is perfectly happy to keep their excessive powers in perpetuity. As Hayek added, “…once [the safeguards of individual liberty] are suspended it is not difficult for anyone who has assumed such emergency powers to see to it that the emergency persists.”
Skelly’s story, and countless others like it, are a reminder that it is not enough to merely pay lip service to freedom and property rights. We must stand up for them, even (and especially) in times of crisis, or they will eventually be eroded away completely.
Source: FEE.org
Image: Pixabay
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-09--56% Of Americans Say They Would Live In A Tiny Home

Although the micro home movement isn ’ t necessarily new , many have put tiny homes on their radar since COVID-19 .
Whether it ’ s a weekend escape from city living , or even a tiny backyard office , these dwellings have seen a recent boom in popularity .
IPX 1031 recently did an extended analysis of the sector which is presented below , but here is a summary of what they found : • 56 % of Americans say they would live in a tiny home .
86 % of first-time home buyers would consider a tiny home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of home buyers would consider buying a tiny home as an investment property .
• Most appealing factors of tiny home living : 1 .
Affordability 2 .
Efficiency 3 .
Eco-friendliness 4 .
Minimalist lifestyle 5 .
The ability to downsize .
• 53 % of Americans can afford the median price for a starter home ( $ 233,400 ) vs. 79 % of Americans can afford the median price of a tiny home ( $ 30,000- $ 60,000 ) .
Below is the full survey report from IPX 1031 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tiny living , we surveyed 2,000 Americans across the country to find out how likely they would be to live in a tiny home and what amenities they would like to have in a tiny home .
We also analyzed Google search volume to determine where tiny homes are most popular around the country .
Living in a tiny home is certainly an adjustment that isn ’ t right for every lifestyle , but more than half of respondents say they would consider living in one .
Unique factors such as affordability ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) , eco-friendliness ( 48 % ) and the ability to live a minimal lifestyle ( 44 % ) are among the top reasons why respondents say they would like to live in a tiny home .
It ’ s also interesting to note that among those who have never owned a home , 86 % say they would consider buying a tiny home for their first home .
Considering that most tiny homes are 400 square feet or less , many can be built on wheels , which allow homeowners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents , 54 % would prefer their tiny home to be mobile and a majority ( 54 % ) would prefer that their home is under 400 square feet .
With such a small amount of living space , it ’ s no surprise that the ideal number of people to live in a tiny home is two .
In terms of amenities , heating/AC ( 60 % ) , kitchen space ( 58 % ) , designated bedroom ( 48 % ) , laundry ( 43 % ) and outdoor space with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most desired and “ must haves , ” according to respondents .
The price to purchase or build a tiny home can vary and depends on a number of factors .
Most tiny homes cost between $ 30,000 to $ 60,000 while the median price for a starter home is $ 233,400 , according to the National Association of Realtors .
Exactly half of respondents say they would spend less than $ 40,000 on a tiny home and 79 % say they would be able to buy or finance a tiny home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where Are Tiny Homes Most Popular ?
When most people think of tiny homes , images of a secluded lot in the woods or a home nestled near a lake come to mind .
We were curious to see where tiny homes are the most popular , so we analyzed Google search volume for more than 1,300 terms and keywords related to tiny homes .
The results show that tiny homes have seen the most interest in rural states such as Vermont , New Hampshire , Maine , Wyoming and Washington .
Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed the least interest in searches for tiny homes .
With a low cost to build and maintain , tiny homes could bring big profits for property investors .
According to respondents , 72 % would consider buying a tiny home to serve as an investment property .
Among those , 63 % say they would rent out their tiny home as a long-term rental while 37 % say they would rent their tiny home as a short-term rental .
On average , respondents say their ideal monthly rent would be set at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rental and $ 145 per night for a short-term rental .
With many Americans adapting to remote work or working from home , the concept of a tiny office ( or a “ backyard office ” ) is an appealing alternative to working inside a home office , kitchen or living room .
In fact , more than half ( 54 % ) say they would buy a tiny office and 62 % of remote workers would consider buying one .
Ideally , more than a quarter of respondents say they would spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backyard office .
With many Americans adapting to remote work or working from home , the concept of a tiny office ( or a “ backyard office ” ) is an appealing alternative to working inside a home office , kitchen or living room .
In fact , more than half ( 54 % ) say they would buy a tiny office and 62 % of remote workers would consider buying one .
Ideally , more than a quarter of respondents say they would spend less than $ 8,000 on a tiny backyard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Tyler Durden
Although the micro home movement isn’t necessarily new, many have put tiny homes on their radar since COVID-19. Whether it’s a weekend escape from city living, or even a tiny backyard office, these dwellings have seen a recent boom in popularity. IPX 1031 recently did an extended analysis of the sector which is presented below, but here is a summary of what they found:
56% of Americans say they would live in a tiny home. 86% of first-time home buyers would consider a tiny home for their first home.
72% of home buyers would consider buying a tiny home as an investment property.
Most appealing factors of tiny home living: 1. Affordability 2. Efficiency 3. Eco-friendliness 4. Minimalist lifestyle 5. The ability to downsize.
Most desired tiny home amenities: 1. Heating/AC 2. Kitchen space 3. Designated bedroom 4. Laundry 5. Outdoor space.
53% of Americans can afford the median price for a starter home ($233,400) vs. 79% of Americans can afford the median price of a tiny home ($30,000-$60,000).
Top states for tiny homes: 1. Vermont 2. New Hampshire 3. Maine 4. Wyoming 5. Washington 6. Idaho 7. Montana 8. Oregon 9. Rhode Island 10. Alaska.
Below is the full survey report from IPX 1031:
In order to get more insight on tiny living, we surveyed 2,000 Americans across the country to find out how likely they would be to live in a tiny home and what amenities they would like to have in a tiny home. We also analyzed Google search volume to determine where tiny homes are most popular around the country.
Tiny Home Lifestyle
Living in a tiny home is certainly an adjustment that isn’t right for every lifestyle, but more than half of respondents say they would consider living in one. Unique factors such as affordability (65%), efficiency (57%), eco-friendliness (48%) and the ability to live a minimal lifestyle (44%) are among the top reasons why respondents say they would like to live in a tiny home.
It’s also interesting to note that among those who have never owned a home, 86% say they would consider buying a tiny home for their first home.
The Ideal Tiny Home
Considering that most tiny homes are 400 square feet or less, many can be built on wheels, which allow homeowners to live a mobile lifestyle. According to respondents, 54% would prefer their tiny home to be mobile and a majority (54%) would prefer that their home is under 400 square feet.
With such a small amount of living space, it’s no surprise that the ideal number of people to live in a tiny home is two. In terms of amenities, heating/AC (60%), kitchen space (58%), designated bedroom (48%), laundry (43%) and outdoor space with a view (42%) are the most desired and “must haves,” according to respondents.
Tiny Home Budget
The price to purchase or build a tiny home can vary and depends on a number of factors. Most tiny homes cost between $30,000 to $60,000 while the median price for a starter home is $233,400, according to the National Association of Realtors. Exactly half of respondents say they would spend less than $40,000 on a tiny home and 79% say they would be able to buy or finance a tiny home rather than a traditional starter home.
Where Are Tiny Homes Most Popular?
When most people think of tiny homes, images of a secluded lot in the woods or a home nestled near a lake come to mind. We were curious to see where tiny homes are the most popular, so we analyzed Google search volume for more than 1,300 terms and keywords related to tiny homes.
The results show that tiny homes have seen the most interest in rural states such as Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Wyoming and Washington. Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York showed the least interest in searches for tiny homes.
Tiny Home Investment Property
With a low cost to build and maintain, tiny homes could bring big profits for property investors. According to respondents, 72% would consider buying a tiny home to serve as an investment property. Among those, 63% say they would rent out their tiny home as a long-term rental while 37% say they would rent their tiny home as a short-term rental. On average, respondents say their ideal monthly rent would be set at $900 per month for a long-term rental and $145 per night for a short-term rental.
Tiny Office
With many Americans adapting to remote work or working from home, the concept of a tiny office (or a “backyard office”) is an appealing alternative to working inside a home office, kitchen or living room. In fact, more than half (54%) say they would buy a tiny office and 62% of remote workers would consider buying one. Ideally, more than a quarter of respondents say they would spend less than $8,000 on a tiny backyard office.
With many Americans adapting to remote work or working from home, the concept of a tiny office (or a “backyard office”) is an appealing alternative to working inside a home office, kitchen or living room. In fact, more than half (54%) say they would buy a tiny office and 62% of remote workers would consider buying one. Ideally, more than a quarter of respondents say they would spend less than $8,000 on a tiny backyard office.
Source: Zero Hedge
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-09--Covid Policies Have Caused Industrial Consolidation

By Fiona Harrigan and Peter C. Earle Yet another side effect of the government ’ s response to Covid-19 is shining through in recent business headlines .
In a widely-touted deal last week , Salesforce acquired Slack for over $ 27 billion .
The purchase is one of the largest ever in the software industry and is the largest cloud software deal ever .
While the Salesforce acquisition is one of the highest-profile deals in recent memory , it is only one of the latest in a long chain of consolidations that have occurred during the pandemic .
Since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mergers , acquisitions , and restructurings has been accelerating .
Firms normally take such actions when they see an opportunity to increase profits––for example , via economies of scale or increased productivity––or when the buy versus build proposition for a sought-after brand or product shifts .
That being said , the recent wave of activity is almost entirely the result of the first and second order effects of government policies .
There are three elements to this accelerated activity : the financial environment , lockdown effects , and varied commercial exposures .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always shape the pace and focus of corporate activity , the pandemic-era burst is driven by the asymmetric effects lockdowns have upon small firms and consumers––and comes at their expense .
Interest rates have been in historically low ranges for most of the last two decades , but with the stresses in the U.S. Treasury market ( which soon spread to other markets , in later phases seeing a withdrawal of liquidity from both the commercial paper and revolving loan markets ) , the Fed tilted back to near-ZIRP mode .
After lowering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday , March 15 , the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System dropped the Fed Funds rate from a target range of 1 % to 1.25 % to a 0 % to 0.25 % rate .
This was not only the result of an emergency unscheduled meeting––a sign of the level of exigence and panic––but was also a 150 basis point reduction , six times the normal rate-shifting increment .
The rate at the discount window was slashed from 2.75 % to 0.25 % , with the term length of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
After the stock market crash on March 16 , 2020 , and owing both to a tidal wave of liquidity and the realization that apocalyptic predictions never came to pass , an astronomical rise in U.S. equity markets began : Between March 16 , 2020 , and November 2 , 2020 , the S & P 500 rose 67.80 % , the Dow Jones Industrial Average 57.66 % , and NASDAQ a whopping 107.56 % .
With interest rates at Great Recession-era lows and equity prices rising at rates comparable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave rise to an acquisitive frenzy .
Large firms , both publicly-traded and private , seized upon opportunities to acquire particularly hard-hit companies in vulnerable sectors , spurred by the availability of loans at virtually 0 percent financing and/or pumped up stock values for equity-financed deals .
Just last week , for instance , Retail Ecommerce Ventures announced that it would buy Stein Mart for $ 6.02 million , with plans to relaunch the company online next year .
Stein Mart filed for bankruptcy in August due to what CEO Hunt Hawkins called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ significant financial distress ” brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic .
After 112 years of operation , the company could not weather this storm .
According to Thomas Vaughn , co-leader of Dykema ’ s Mergers & Acquisitions practice , “ …deal-makers see increasing opportunities for completing deals in the next 12 months ” despite ongoing economic uncertainty .
There are consolidation options open to many different types of actors , says Vaughn , “ whether you ’ re a strategic or financial-focused buyer or a seller hoping to cash out.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely tracked the business cycle ; small businesses are , for obvious reasons , usually hit harder than their larger competitors .
Not only are smaller firms thinly-capitalized and run on a shoestring budget , they are starkly undiversified as one-off establishments .
The Covid-19 lockdowns , in part owing to their sudden imposition and in part due to their unique nature ( namely , their not being driven by the liquidation of malinvestment ) , have been particularly devastating to small and micro-firms .
With the election threatening the introduction of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Joe Biden has commented that he would back a federal mask mandate––there was a rush to get deals consummated .
In the seven days prior to November 3rd , The price exacted by lockdowns is still being tallied , but the American Institute for Economic Research has been keeping a record of those costs over time .
Yet these , ruinous as they are , are only one factor..
The Covid-19-era economy has put once-secure companies at risk as government restrictions and changing consumer habits exact their damage .
In such economically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy-hitters alike see mergers and acquisitions as an effective way to develop their presence in the business world .
Government reactions to the pandemic have been strong driving influences , particularly those centered on lockdowns .
In some instances , as in the cases of Hertz , Brooks Brothers , Frontier Communications , Gold ’ s Gym , Ruby Tuesday , and Vision Group , firms that were formerly viable have become distressed owing to the effects of lockdowns or market reactions to lockdowns .
That being said , firms in certain sectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
Healthcare was an active field for corporate actions .
Already a fragmented industry , pharmaceuticals saw some major mergers surrounding vaccine development efforts and the transforming medical landscape .
Many companies have taken to selling off businesses to build their cash positions , creating speculation that some firms are gearing up to pursue acquisitions .
Among them are giants like Pfizer and Sanofi .
Drugmakers , emboldened by higher stock prices and considering the promise of the next Operation Warp Speed , have been snapping up competitors and complementary firms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regimens are good business : The oil exploration and drilling sectors were busy in the wake of the brief eruption of a free market in oil .
In early March of 2020 , Saudi Arabia and Russia engaged in a price war , effectively leading to a tidal wave of oil hitting the market at a time when Covid-19 lockdowns had driven demand for oil and petroleum products to its lowest level in generations ( perhaps ever , indeed , in the modern world ) with uncertain , varying reopening guidelines worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ production firms having filed for protection from creditors and vulture firms circling , a rapid decrease in the number of such firms is likely in the near- to medium-term .
Unsurprisingly , sectors that support today ’ s remote economy have seen some of the most drastic increases in mergers and acquisitions .
Technology media and telecom saw the most deals of any sector in the third quarter , with 760 deals totaling $ 301.2 billion .
These , too , owe almost entirely to the stay-at-home orders issued by governors and municipal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , entertainment , and retail businesses have been hit hard by the restrictions , particularly in major cities , the impact on firms is “ certainly not sector specific.
” Not only are firms with razor-thin margins and meager savings being ordered to close with little notice , but the consumption volumes and patterns of patrons have been severely altered as well .
U.S. Census Bureau data from the first half of 2020 verifies this : Between March and July 2020 , 50 percent of consumers reported a loss of income ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of small businesses reported revenue declines .
Consolidation at the “ top ” has been accompanied by a depression-tenor winnowing at the bottom .
This economic “ extinction-level event ” took root due to less competition and greater concentration .
This article is not a harangue against corporate size , the effects of consolidation , or the periodically tremendous rewards that accrue to investment banking , private equity , or vulture investment activity .
Nor does it seek to criticize rapid and unpredictable changes of taste for their effects upon firms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with distortions caused by government tinkering in financial markets and unintended ( however easily anticipatable ) consequences of social policies .
The purchase of Slack by Salesforce may well have happened absent lockdowns , office closures , and waves of fear sent coursing through the economy .
And in addition to what has been seen thus far , dealmakers project increasing opportunities in the coming year or two .
Meanwhile , the impact of the restrictions has devastated small firms , the engine of employment within the U.S. economy .
It has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which both first-time and prospective entrepreneurs will face : The next time a nasty virus appears in the United States––or any pathogen , really , that is perceived to be dangerous––there is a nonzero possibility that their entire livelihood and their life ’ s work will be swept away with the proverbial stroke of a pen .
It ’ s a stupefying state of affairs : For decades , anti-wealth activists , disingenuous social scientists , and political agitators have been asserting that the gap between the rich and poor has been increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , ignoring two distinguishing features of the wealth gap in the United States and most advanced industrial economies .
Not only is it not nearly as wide as alleged , but there is rapid turnover at the “ top , ” and a rising tide for all income levels .
In actuality , lockdown policies have deftly accomplished what the enemies of the market have long alleged capitalism and free markets do .
Not only have the anti-Covid policies artificially expedited the consolidation of firms and the harvesting of market share lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gap has increased .
Blue collar and administrative workers generally have fewer options for working at home than higher-paid , white collar and professional workers do .
Never before , even during periods where “ corporate greed ” or “ predatory practices ” have supposedly been out of control , has there been such a complete reversal of decades of economic progress made by lower income groups in such a short amount of time .
Nonpharmaceutical interventions––mostly lockdowns , which are structurally ( if unintentionally ) biased in favor of large businesses––alongside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy initiatives have , in a way that no conniving billionaire ever could have engineered , thrust the rich and firms with existing economic heft upward while crushing the poor , struggling workers , and minorities .
And with greater market power , barriers to entry will likely creep higher , making it more difficult for smaller or upstart firms to enter certain industries than prior to the policy-induced agglomeration of firms .
Although it will be some time before the precise macroeconomic and social effects can be analyzed , the post-lockdown trend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 as a Research Intern .
She is currently an associate contributor for Young Voices .
Her writing has been featured in the Wall Street Journal , the Orange County Register , and various other national and local outlets .
Prior to joining AIER , she worked for the Foundation for Economic Education .
Peter C. Earle is an economist and writer who joined AIER in 2018 and prior to that spent over 20 years as a trader and analyst in global financial markets on Wall Street .
His research focuses on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic history .
He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal , Reuters , NPR , and in numerous other publications .
Pete holds an MA in Applied Economics from American University , an MBA ( Finance ) , and a BS in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point .
Follow him on Twitter .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Fiona Harrigan and Peter C. Earle
Yet another side effect of the government’s response to Covid-19 is shining through in recent business headlines. In a widely-touted deal last week, Salesforce acquired Slack for over $27 billion. The purchase is one of the largest ever in the software industry and is the largest cloud software deal ever.
While the Salesforce acquisition is one of the highest-profile deals in recent memory, it is only one of the latest in a long chain of consolidations that have occurred during the pandemic. Since the pandemic began, the pace of corporate mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings has been accelerating. Firms normally take such actions when they see an opportunity to increase profits––for example, via economies of scale or increased productivity––or when the buy versus build proposition for a sought-after brand or product shifts.
That being said, the recent wave of activity is almost entirely the result of the first and second order effects of government policies. There are three elements to this accelerated activity: the financial environment, lockdown effects, and varied commercial exposures.
Though the prevailing financial environment and commercial exposure always shape the pace and focus of corporate activity, the pandemic-era burst is driven by the asymmetric effects lockdowns have upon small firms and consumers––and comes at their expense.
The Financial Environment
Interest rates have been in historically low ranges for most of the last two decades, but with the stresses in the U.S. Treasury market (which soon spread to other markets, in later phases seeing a withdrawal of liquidity from both the commercial paper and revolving loan markets), the Fed tilted back to near-ZIRP mode. After lowering interest rates on Tuesday March 3rd, on Sunday, March 15, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System dropped the Fed Funds rate from a target range of 1% to 1.25% to a 0% to 0.25% rate. This was not only the result of an emergency unscheduled meeting––a sign of the level of exigence and panic––but was also a 150 basis point reduction, six times the normal rate-shifting increment. The rate at the discount window was slashed from 2.75% to 0.25%, with the term length of loans secured by securities extended to 90 days.
After the stock market crash on March 16, 2020, and owing both to a tidal wave of liquidity and the realization that apocalyptic predictions never came to pass, an astronomical rise in U.S. equity markets began: Between March 16, 2020, and November 2, 2020, the S&P 500 rose 67.80%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average 57.66%, and NASDAQ a whopping 107.56%.
With interest rates at Great Recession-era lows and equity prices rising at rates comparable to the dot com era, the pandemic gave rise to an acquisitive frenzy. Large firms, both publicly-traded and private, seized upon opportunities to acquire particularly hard-hit companies in vulnerable sectors, spurred by the availability of loans at virtually 0 percent financing and/or pumped up stock values for equity-financed deals.
Just last week, for instance, Retail Ecommerce Ventures announced that it would buy Stein Mart for $6.02 million, with plans to relaunch the company online next year. Stein Mart filed for bankruptcy in August due to what CEO Hunt Hawkins called a “challenging” retail environment and “significant financial distress” brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. After 112 years of operation, the company could not weather this storm.
According to Thomas Vaughn, co-leader of Dykema’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice, “…deal-makers see increasing opportunities for completing deals in the next 12 months” despite ongoing economic uncertainty. There are consolidation options open to many different types of actors, says Vaughn, “whether you’re a strategic or financial-focused buyer or a seller hoping to cash out.”
Lockdowns
Historically, bankruptcy and insolvency filings have closely tracked the business cycle; small businesses are, for obvious reasons, usually hit harder than their larger competitors. Not only are smaller firms thinly-capitalized and run on a shoestring budget, they are starkly undiversified as one-off establishments. The Covid-19 lockdowns, in part owing to their sudden imposition and in part due to their unique nature (namely, their not being driven by the liquidation of malinvestment), have been particularly devastating to small and micro-firms.
With the election threatening the introduction of a sharp break from current policy––in particular, President-elect Joe Biden has commented that he would back a federal mask mandate––there was a rush to get deals consummated. In the seven days prior to November 3rd,
[c]ompanies…announced $143.1 billion of mergers and acquisitions globally…the highest for any week preceding a U.S. presidential vote since Bloomberg started collecting data. It’s more than double the tally for the run-up to the 2016 election.
The price exacted by lockdowns is still being tallied, but the American Institute for Economic Research has been keeping a record of those costs over time. Yet these, ruinous as they are, are only one factor..
Commercial Exposure
The Covid-19-era economy has put once-secure companies at risk as government restrictions and changing consumer habits exact their damage. In such economically upended times, new investors and pre-established heavy-hitters alike see mergers and acquisitions as an effective way to develop their presence in the business world.
Government reactions to the pandemic have been strong driving influences, particularly those centered on lockdowns. In some instances, as in the cases of Hertz, Brooks Brothers, Frontier Communications, Gold’s Gym, Ruby Tuesday, and Vision Group, firms that were formerly viable have become distressed owing to the effects of lockdowns or market reactions to lockdowns. That being said, firms in certain sectors have found new success in the pandemic economy.
Healthcare was an active field for corporate actions. Already a fragmented industry, pharmaceuticals saw some major mergers surrounding vaccine development efforts and the transforming medical landscape. Many companies have taken to selling off businesses to build their cash positions, creating speculation that some firms are gearing up to pursue acquisitions. Among them are giants like Pfizer and Sanofi. Drugmakers, emboldened by higher stock prices and considering the promise of the next Operation Warp Speed, have been snapping up competitors and complementary firms. Vaccines, testing kits, and treatment regimens are good business:
(Arthur) Wong expects to see more megamergers like drugmaker AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) $63 billion acquisition of rival Allergan and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (NYSE: BMY) $74 billion acquisition of biopharmaceutical company Celgene, which were both in 2019. A recent inquiry by AstraZeneca to rival Gilead Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) about a potential merger, which would be the largest healthcare deal ever, reported by Bloomberg, is evidence that merger interest hasn’t died down with the pandemic, Wong says.
The oil exploration and drilling sectors were busy in the wake of the brief eruption of a free market in oil. In early March of 2020, Saudi Arabia and Russia engaged in a price war, effectively leading to a tidal wave of oil hitting the market at a time when Covid-19 lockdowns had driven demand for oil and petroleum products to its lowest level in generations (perhaps ever, indeed, in the modern world) with uncertain, varying reopening guidelines worldwide. With over 40 major oil exploration and production firms having filed for protection from creditors and vulture firms circling, a rapid decrease in the number of such firms is likely in the near- to medium-term.
Unsurprisingly, sectors that support today’s remote economy have seen some of the most drastic increases in mergers and acquisitions. Technology media and telecom saw the most deals of any sector in the third quarter, with 760 deals totaling $301.2 billion. These, too, owe almost entirely to the stay-at-home orders issued by governors and municipal officials.
Although firms in the restaurant, entertainment, and retail businesses have been hit hard by the restrictions, particularly in major cities, the impact on firms is “certainly not sector specific.” Not only are firms with razor-thin margins and meager savings being ordered to close with little notice, but the consumption volumes and patterns of patrons have been severely altered as well. U.S. Census Bureau data from the first half of 2020 verifies this: Between March and July 2020, 50 percent of consumers reported a loss of income; and between April and May 2020, 74 percent of small businesses reported revenue declines. Consolidation at the “top” has been accompanied by a depression-tenor winnowing at the bottom. This economic “extinction-level event” took root due to less competition and greater concentration.
Conclusion
This article is not a harangue against corporate size, the effects of consolidation, or the periodically tremendous rewards that accrue to investment banking, private equity, or vulture investment activity. Nor does it seek to criticize rapid and unpredictable changes of taste for their effects upon firms. It has, instead, to do with distortions caused by government tinkering in financial markets and unintended (however easily anticipatable) consequences of social policies.
The purchase of Slack by Salesforce may well have happened absent lockdowns, office closures, and waves of fear sent coursing through the economy. And in addition to what has been seen thus far, dealmakers project increasing opportunities in the coming year or two. Meanwhile, the impact of the restrictions has devastated small firms, the engine of employment within the U.S. economy. It has also given rise to an existential risk factor which both first-time and prospective entrepreneurs will face: The next time a nasty virus appears in the United States––or any pathogen, really, that is perceived to be dangerous––there is a nonzero possibility that their entire livelihood and their life’s work will be swept away with the proverbial stroke of a pen.
It’s a stupefying state of affairs: For decades, anti-wealth activists, disingenuous social scientists, and political agitators have been asserting that the gap between the rich and poor has been increasing (despite copious evidence to the contrary), ignoring two distinguishing features of the wealth gap in the United States and most advanced industrial economies. Not only is it not nearly as wide as alleged, but there is rapid turnover at the “top,” and a rising tide for all income levels.
In actuality, lockdown policies have deftly accomplished what the enemies of the market have long alleged capitalism and free markets do. Not only have the anti-Covid policies artificially expedited the consolidation of firms and the harvesting of market share lost by smaller firms, but the wealth gap has increased. Blue collar and administrative workers generally have fewer options for working at home than higher-paid, white collar and professional workers do.
Never before, even during periods where “corporate greed” or “predatory practices” have supposedly been out of control, has there been such a complete reversal of decades of economic progress made by lower income groups in such a short amount of time.
Nonpharmaceutical interventions––mostly lockdowns, which are structurally (if unintentionally) biased in favor of large businesses––alongside a sudden, vastly expansive wave of monetary policy initiatives have, in a way that no conniving billionaire ever could have engineered, thrust the rich and firms with existing economic heft upward while crushing the poor, struggling workers, and minorities. And with greater market power, barriers to entry will likely creep higher, making it more difficult for smaller or upstart firms to enter certain industries than prior to the policy-induced agglomeration of firms. Although it will be some time before the precise macroeconomic and social effects can be analyzed, the post-lockdown trend is empirically clear.
Source: AIER
Fiona joined AIER in 2020 as a Research Intern. She is currently an associate contributor for Young Voices. Her writing has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Orange County Register, and various other national and local outlets. Prior to joining AIER, she worked for the Foundation for Economic Education.
Peter C. Earle is an economist and writer who joined AIER in 2018 and prior to that spent over 20 years as a trader and analyst in global financial markets on Wall Street. His research focuses on financial markets, monetary issues, and economic history. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, NPR, and in numerous other publications. Pete holds an MA in Applied Economics from American University, an MBA (Finance), and a BS in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Follow him on Twitter.
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-09--Charity Builds Dozens of Tiny Homes for the Homeless and The Gov’t Destroyed All Of It

Several months ago , the Free Thought Project cofounders made a small donation to the groups Food Not Bombs and the Sidewalk Project who were raising funds to build tiny homes for the homeless in Las Vegas .
The group raised $ 16,000 and built 26 tiny homes for people who had previously been living on the streets .
It was an amazing feat put together by a handful of caring people trying to better their community .
But thanks to the City of North Las Vegas government , the tiny homes are no longer .
Police and city officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the homes .
All the hard work and dedication of the volunteers was wiped away in an instant , along with all the personal belongings of the ones living there .
“ Last week our local government destroyed the Houseless encampment we were building tiny homes for , that you both donated to help build , ” Joey Lankowski , who does homeless outreach with Food Not Bombs , told TFTP .
“ They destroyed all 26 homes were built.
” The City of Las Vegas claimed that the destruction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this right of way for NDOT , the property owner.
” Officials claimed that destroying the homes was necessary for “ the safety of those staying there and to the surrounding homes and businesses ” because of trash build up and two alleged crimes they claim are tied to the encampment .
But Lankowski says the government was threatened by the encampment because it was a self-sustaining community .
In an interview with NPR , Lankowski explained why this place was so important .
Lankowski said the city of Las Vegas doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County doesn ’ t want them sleeping on the Strip .
So , the area , which has been used by homeless people for a long time , is a good place to be .
In addition , there is a natural spring that allows people to get fresh water .
Lankowski and his group envisioned a self-sustaining community at the encampment .
They had a plan to put solar panels on the tiny huts for power , start gardens for free food , install compostable toilets for waste management and divert the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food , free water , free energy , free housing , ” he said , “ It really was going to be something beautiful and completely self-sufficient , self-sustaining and I think that ’ s what really scared the government.
” Now , these folks , who had a place to keep their belongings as they attempt to get back on their feet , are back on the streets looking for a place to go — ensuring unsafe conditions for all of them .
As for the trash build up , Lankowski said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but then the city stopped emptying them , which created the build up .
“ That ’ s how we knew a raid was coming , even before they told the residents , is that they would stop servicing the dumpsters and then trash would accumulate and then they could point to the trash and say , ‘ See , this is why we had to come in , ’ ” he said , “ It was a completely state-created problem and such an easy fix , just do your job – just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not just the homes that were lost in the raid .
Residents of the encampment were not allowed to grab their belongings , so that was all destroyed as well .
“ It ’ s not about the financial stuff , because I ’ m a hustler and can go get that stuff , ” one man said .
“ It ’ s my father ’ s watch , who is deceased .
It ’ s my mother ’ s last picture .
My birth certificate .
Who answers for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the raid , no one will be answering for it .
“ Imagine trying to get off the streets all these hoops you have to jump through and you ’ re so proud of yourself that you ’ re able to get these documents .
You ’ re finally ready to get help and then all of it gets thrown away , ” Lankowski said , “ That sense of helplessness and hopelessness is renewed and that ’ s what I saw that day.
” Adding to the egregious nature of the destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is goes against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines .
Destroying encampments like this one creates many problems , so the CDC recommends doing the opposite of what city officials did .
Perhaps this is the reason they didn ’ t want anyone to film the destruction .
Lankowski tells TFTP that he was arrested that day for filming police and government officials destroying the homes .
Food Not Bombs Las Vegas has since issued a list of demands from those who have been uprooted by the destruction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to defend the indefensible and watching them try to justify what they did , ” said Lankowski .
“ We are forcing them to explain themselves and they look terrible.
” We agree .
If you ’ d like to support the group in their rebuild , you can do so at this link .
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA .
This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world .
Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project .
Follow @ MattAgorist on Twitter , Steemit , and now on Minds .
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 , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counter Markets today .

By Matt Agorist
Several months ago, the Free Thought Project cofounders made a small donation to the groups Food Not Bombs and the Sidewalk Project who were raising funds to build tiny homes for the homeless in Las Vegas. The group raised $16,000 and built 26 tiny homes for people who had previously been living on the streets. It was an amazing feat put together by a handful of caring people trying to better their community. But thanks to the City of North Las Vegas government, the tiny homes are no longer.
Police and city officials raided the camp last week and destroyed all the homes. All the hard work and dedication of the volunteers was wiped away in an instant, along with all the personal belongings of the ones living there.
“Last week our local government destroyed the Houseless encampment we were building tiny homes for, that you both donated to help build,” Joey Lankowski, who does homeless outreach with Food Not Bombs, told TFTP. “They destroyed all 26 homes were built.”
The City of Las Vegas claimed that the destruction of the homes was just as they maintain “this right of way for NDOT, the property owner.” Officials claimed that destroying the homes was necessary for “the safety of those staying there and to the surrounding homes and businesses” because of trash build up and two alleged crimes they claim are tied to the encampment.
But Lankowski says the government was threatened by the encampment because it was a self-sustaining community. In an interview with NPR, Lankowski explained why this place was so important.
Lankowski said the city of Las Vegas doesn’t want people camping downtown and Clark County doesn’t want them sleeping on the Strip. So, the area, which has been used by homeless people for a long time, is a good place to be. In addition, there is a natural spring that allows people to get fresh water. Lankowski and his group envisioned a self-sustaining community at the encampment. They had a plan to put solar panels on the tiny huts for power, start gardens for free food, install compostable toilets for waste management and divert the spring for more water.
“Free food, free water, free energy, free housing,” he said, “It really was going to be something beautiful and completely self-sufficient, self-sustaining and I think that’s what really scared the government.”
Now, these folks, who had a place to keep their belongings as they attempt to get back on their feet, are back on the streets looking for a place to go — ensuring unsafe conditions for all of them.
As for the trash build up, Lankowski said they had dumpsters on the site, but then the city stopped emptying them, which created the build up.
“That’s how we knew a raid was coming, even before they told the residents, is that they would stop servicing the dumpsters and then trash would accumulate and then they could point to the trash and say, ‘See, this is why we had to come in,’” he said, “It was a completely state-created problem and such an easy fix, just do your job – just service the dumpsters.”
Sadly, it’s not just the homes that were lost in the raid. Residents of the encampment were not allowed to grab their belongings, so that was all destroyed as well.
“It’s not about the financial stuff, because I’m a hustler and can go get that stuff,” one man said. “It’s my father’s watch, who is deceased. It’s my mother’s last picture. My birth certificate. Who answers for that?”
Because the government was behind the raid, no one will be answering for it.
“Imagine trying to get off the streets all these hoops you have to jump through and you’re so proud of yourself that you’re able to get these documents. You’re finally ready to get help and then all of it gets thrown away,” Lankowski said, “That sense of helplessness and hopelessness is renewed and that’s what I saw that day.”
Adding to the egregious nature of the destruction of the tiny homes is the fact that is goes against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Destroying encampments like this one creates many problems, so the CDC recommends doing the opposite of what city officials did.
If individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living unsheltered or in encampments to remain where they are. Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers. This increases the potential for infectious disease spread.
Perhaps this is the reason they didn’t want anyone to film the destruction. Lankowski tells TFTP that he was arrested that day for filming police and government officials destroying the homes.
Food Not Bombs Las Vegas has since issued a list of demands from those who have been uprooted by the destruction of the homes.
1. Land #HousingIsHealthcare We want land granted to us so that we can create a fully self-sustaining community for our unhoused neighbors. #HousingIsAHumanRight 2. Public Apology Mayor John Jay Lee, Mayor Goodman, Councilman Crear, Councilman Black, and the head of NDOT must issue an apology including restorative action steps to all parties victimized by Monday’s raid. 3. Make The People Whole Replace all documents, medications, and belongings stolen by the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. Monetary compensation must be given for all destroyed belongings that can not be replaced. 4. Restore All Community Raised Funds Repay the $16,000 worth of community funds used to build the 26 tiny homes that were destroyed so they can be rebuilt, and the residents rehoused. 5. #PovertyIsNotACrime Repeal any and all laws criminalizing the poor, i.e. the camping ban, vagrancy, panhandling, loitering, etc. 6. #HousingNotHandcuffs Drop all charges against members of our community, especially those relating to homelessness as well as any charges made against activists for defending the unhoused, i.e. trespassing, possession of a shopping cart, remaining in a park after hours, etc. 7. #ServicesNotSweeps Immediately end encampment demolitions. Stop evicting the unhoused in Las Vegas and destroying their homes. Use resources to help people, not hurt them. #StopTheSweeps 8. #FreeThemAll Release all incarcerated persons currently being held for charges relating to homelessness. 9. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs All future decision making regarding the unhoused in Las Vegas will include the voices and participation of the unhoused.
“We are watching them trying to defend the indefensible and watching them try to justify what they did,” said Lankowski. “We are forcing them to explain themselves and they look terrible.”
We agree. If you’d like to support the group in their rebuild, you can do so at this link.
Source: The Free Thought Project
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-09--Human Health and Environment Discussed During European Parliament Workshop on 5G

High-speed internet is achievable , safer and more secure with a wired internet connection ( see 1 , 2 ) .
There is research that has already determined exposure to 5G and other sources of wireless “ WiFi ” radiation are NOT SAFE .
Last year , the World Health Organization warned that high levels of Electromagnetic Fields ( aka “ Electrosmog ” ) could cause health issues in a significant percentage of the population .
Electrosmog includes 5G and wireless .
Exposure also affects animals ( see 1 , 2 ) , insects , and plants .
Cities worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , delayed , and stopped 5G installation due to health and safety risks .
Since 2017 doctors and scientists have been asking for moratoriums on deployment on Earth and in space ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after 5G has been installed ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
In 2019 , telecom executives gave U.S. congressional testimony that they had NO scientific evidence that 5G is safe .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last month the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report about the technology ’ s enormous challenges .
Recently , the European Parliament met to discuss 5G .
European Parliament Workshop on 5G Features Impacts to Human Health and Environment This is a must watch symposium as viewers can compare ICNIRP ’ s unsubstantiated statements to the expert scientists detailing impacts to humans , wildlife and the natural environment with published research .
& A FROM THE AUDIENCE AND CLOSING REMARKS To watch this at the European Parliament website please go to https @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5G continues to be promoted and installed in the U.S. and other locations worldwide .
Activist Post reports regularly about 5G and other unsafe technology .
For more information , visit our archives and the following websites : 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 , MeWe and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

By B.N. Frank
High-speed internet is achievable, safer and more secure with a wired internet connection (see 1, 2). There is research that has already determined exposure to 5G and other sources of wireless “WiFi” radiation are NOT SAFE. Last year, the World Health Organization warned that high levels of Electromagnetic Fields (aka “Electrosmog”) could cause health issues in a significant percentage of the population. Electrosmog includes 5G and wireless. Exposure also affects animals (see 1, 2), insects, and plants.
Cities worldwide as well as entire countries have banned, delayed, and stopped 5G installation due to health and safety risks. Since 2017 doctors and scientists have been asking for moratoriums on deployment on Earth and in space (see 1, 2, 3, 4). Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after 5G has been installed (see 1, 2, 3, 4). In 2019, telecom executives gave U.S. congressional testimony that they had NO scientific evidence that 5G is safe. The majority of scientists worldwide oppose deployment.
Last month the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report about the technology’s enormous challenges. Recently, the European Parliament met to discuss 5G.
From Environmental Health Trust:
European Parliament Workshop on 5G Features Impacts to Human Health and Environment
This is a must watch symposium as viewers can compare ICNIRP’s unsubstantiated statements to the expert scientists detailing impacts to humans, wildlife and the natural environment with published research.
PROGRAMME
Michèle Rivasi, MEP and STOA Panel Member
Member Ivo Hristov, MEP and STOA Panel Member
HEALTH IMPACT OF 5G
Fiorella Belpoggi , Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy
, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy Elisabeth Cardis, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Spain
Rodney Croft, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
Franz Karcher, DG Sante, European Commission
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF 5G
Arno Thielens, Ghent University – imec, Ghent, Belgium
Gerard Ledoigt, Clermont Université, Clermont-Ferrand, France
&A FROM THE AUDIENCE AND CLOSING REMARKS
Ivo Hristov, MEP and STOA Panel Member
Member Michèle Rivasi, MEP and STOA Panel Member
Member Moderator: David Gee, Institute of Environment, Health, and Societies, Brunel University, London, UK
To watch this at the European Parliament website please go to https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/panel-for-future-of-science-and-technology-workshop-on-5g_20201207-1000-SPECIAL-STOA_vd

Despite all of this, 5G continues to be promoted and installed in the U.S. and other locations worldwide.
Activist Post reports regularly about 5G and other unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites:
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, MeWe and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.