activistpost--2020-12-29--Saudi Court Slams Jail Term to Iconic Female Activist Despite Global Criticism

Prominent Saudi human rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul , whose detention since 2018 had stoked global criticism , was sentenced to nearly six years in prison on December 28 by the kingdom ’ s notorious terrorism court in an alarming development to her years-long fight for freedom .
According to her sister , Lina , Loujain should be released by March 2021 , having already served the majority of her sentence as pre-trial detention , as she shares in a tweet : Lina also mentioned in another tweet that her sister Loujain “ cried when she heard the sentence today ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentence and ask for another investigation regarding torture ” .
According to local press citing the court ’ s ruling , 31-year-old Loujain was found guilty of “ committing acts criminalized under Article 43 of the Law on Combating Terrorism Crimes “ , including engaging with foreign , hostile entities , and using the internet to serve and support an external agenda inside the kingdom , with the aim of harming public order .
Loujain ’ s sentence comes after a rushed trial deemed flawed by international human rights groups .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail term of up to 20 years which the public prosecutor demanded on December 17 , it is expected to draw added condemnation of the kingdom which is already grappling with a grim record of human rights violations , both within its territories and beyond .
Loujain has been at the forefront of campaigns demanding women ’ s right to drive and is a leading figure in the calls to put an end to the male guardianship system which treats Saudi women as second-class citizens .
Become an Activist Post Patron for just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Observers have opined that the shorter sentence is a reflection of the anticipated changes in leadership in Washington DC .
Donald Trump ’ s administration remains a staunch supporter of Saudi ’ s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman , who is commonly known by his initials – MBS , and has turned a blind eye to the harrowing human rights record that quickly became associated with the prince .
US president-elect Joe Biden has stated his administration will be taking a less lenient position towards Riyadh ’ s human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Loujain ’ s sentence by his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan : In May 2018 , Loujain was kidnapped in the United Arab Emirates and , along with other female activists , was detained for months before the coming into effect of a breakthrough royal decree , which they had long campaigned for , that allowed women to drive .
After her extradition to the Saudi kingdom , Hathloul remained in pre-trial detention , with alleged periods of solitary confinement , a suspension of family visits , and torture .
She had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to see her family .
It was only on 24 November that her family was told that her long-delayed trial was to begin the following day , giving her parents , who are her legal representatives , only one day to prepare .
On November 25 , Loujain ’ s case was referred from criminal court to the Specialised Criminal Court on accusations of harming national security through cooperating with foreign entities .
Since it began a month ago , the trial had garnered a lot of criticism .
Having become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kingdom , Hathloul ’ s incarceration had cast global doubt over the sincerity of Riyadh ’ s rapid social , cultural and economic reforms , led by MBS .
In fact , global solidarity with Hathloul and her female colleagues , along with the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi which is believed to have been ordered by MBS , and the Saudi role in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen , have all tarnished the young prince ’ s image and increased pressure on Riyadh ’ s Western allies to re-evaluate ties with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family she was subjected to electric shocks , whippings , and sexual harassment , and her family also alleges that that she was offered freedom if she agreed to say she was not tortured .
Calls for a transparent and unbiased investigation into Hathloul ’ s claim of abuse and torture have fallen on deaf ears .
The judge ’ s denial of Loujain ’ s claims of torture triggered a hashtag on Twitter last week that brought together sympathizers who defended her claim .
Another female Saudi activist , Mayaa al-Zahrani received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dahlia Kholaif — I ’ ve been telling stories of the Middle East for 14 years .
I ’ m a staunch believer in the power of words , and despite all odds , a human-enthusiast .
Please don ’ t hesitate to share your story .
@ Dee_Kholaif is my social media handle Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By Dahlia Kholaif
Prominent Saudi human rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul, whose detention since 2018 had stoked global criticism, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison on December 28 by the kingdom’s notorious terrorism court in an alarming development to her years-long fight for freedom.
According to her sister, Lina, Loujain should be released by March 2021, having already served the majority of her sentence as pre-trial detention, as she shares in a tweet:
BREAKING : Today @LoujainHathloul was sentenced to
-5 years and 8 months in prison
– A suspension of 2 years and 10 months in addition to the time already served (since May 2018) which would see her release in approximately two months.
-5 years travel ban
Note: 👇🏽 — Lina Alhathloul لينا الهذلول (@LinaAlhathloul) December 28, 2020
Lina also mentioned in another tweet that her sister Loujain “cried when she heard the sentence today”, and that she “will appeal the sentence and ask for another investigation regarding torture”.
According to local press citing the court’s ruling, 31-year-old Loujain was found guilty of “committing acts criminalized under Article 43 of the Law on Combating Terrorism Crimes“, including engaging with foreign, hostile entities, and using the internet to serve and support an external agenda inside the kingdom, with the aim of harming public order.
Loujain’s sentence comes after a rushed trial deemed flawed by international human rights groups. Although the sentence is down from the maximum jail term of up to 20 years which the public prosecutor demanded on December 17, it is expected to draw added condemnation of the kingdom which is already grappling with a grim record of human rights violations, both within its territories and beyond.
Loujain has been at the forefront of campaigns demanding women’s right to drive and is a leading figure in the calls to put an end to the male guardianship system which treats Saudi women as second-class citizens.
Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, tweeted:
I’m receiving disturbing reports that #Saudi WHRD Loujain Al Hathloul has been convicted & given a prison sentence by an anti-terrorism court. She should be immediately released. Defending human rights is not terrorism @patrickwintour @jongambrellAP @NiAolainF @sebusher pic.twitter.com/uH2xTRvFMM — Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) December 28, 2020
Human Rights Watch’s Executive Director Kenneth Roth reacted by saying:
The Saudi government denies Loujain al-Hathoul was prosecuted for campaigning for women’s right to drive "but instead for mounting a campaign to undermine the royal family." That's because the Saudi crown prince views any political activism as a threat. https://t.co/RlJV1m2ugo pic.twitter.com/UY1K5dWhmb — Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) December 28, 2020
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Observers have opined that the shorter sentence is a reflection of the anticipated changes in leadership in Washington DC. Donald Trump’s administration remains a staunch supporter of Saudi’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, who is commonly known by his initials – MBS, and has turned a blind eye to the harrowing human rights record that quickly became associated with the prince.
Our Washpost edtorial says the conviction of Loujain al Hathloul is a travesty–and also a sign that international pressure on MBS can work. @LinaAlhathloul https://t.co/8UUGOZLs4U — Jackson Diehl (@JacksonDiehl) December 28, 2020
US president-elect Joe Biden has stated his administration will be taking a less lenient position towards Riyadh’s human rights abuses, a stand which was reiterated following Loujain’s sentence by his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:
Saudi Arabia’s sentencing of Loujain al-Hathloul for simply exercising her universal rights is unjust and troubling. As we have said, the Biden-Harris administration will stand up against human rights violations wherever they occur. — Jake Sullivan (@jakejsullivan) December 28, 2020
In May 2018, Loujain was kidnapped in the United Arab Emirates and, along with other female activists, was detained for months before the coming into effect of a breakthrough royal decree, which they had long campaigned for, that allowed women to drive. After her extradition to the Saudi kingdom, Hathloul remained in pre-trial detention, with alleged periods of solitary confinement, a suspension of family visits, and torture. She had resorted to staging a hunger strike in order to see her family.
It was only on 24 November that her family was told that her long-delayed trial was to begin the following day, giving her parents, who are her legal representatives, only one day to prepare. On November 25, Loujain’s case was referred from criminal court to the Specialised Criminal Court on accusations of harming national security through cooperating with foreign entities.
Transferring @LoujainHathloul 's case to the "Terrorism" court doesn't make her a terrorist.
It exposes though the brutality & hypocrisy of #Saudi authorities that instrumentalise "women empowerment" to whitewash their image, while prosecuting women activists under sham charges. https://t.co/zTsl2162hp — Amnesty Gulf (@amnestygulf) November 25, 2020
Since it began a month ago, the trial had garnered a lot of criticism.
I am concerned that Saudi Arabia is seeking the maximum jail sentence for women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul. She, as well as the other activists, should be immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against them dropped. — U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (@SenateForeign) December 17, 2020
Having become a symbol for political prisoners in the oil-rich kingdom, Hathloul’s incarceration had cast global doubt over the sincerity of Riyadh’s rapid social, cultural and economic reforms, led by MBS. In fact, global solidarity with Hathloul and her female colleagues, along with the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi which is believed to have been ordered by MBS, and the Saudi role in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, have all tarnished the young prince’s image and increased pressure on Riyadh’s Western allies to re-evaluate ties with the kingdom.
Director of Advocacy at @BIRDBahrain_ Sayed Ahmed AlWadaei tweeted:
Hathloul had told her family she was subjected to electric shocks, whippings, and sexual harassment, and her family also alleges that that she was offered freedom if she agreed to say she was not tortured.
Loujain was on a hunger strike for 2 weeks (started Oct 26) during which she was checked on regularly. After the 2 weeks they began waking her up every 2hours at night. It exhausted her psychologically, she said she had horrible nightmares and therefore broke her hunger strike. https://t.co/7iRed0vpJl — Lina Alhathloul لينا الهذلول (@LinaAlhathloul) November 25, 2020
Calls for a transparent and unbiased investigation into Hathloul’s claim of abuse and torture have fallen on deaf ears. The judge’s denial of Loujain’s claims of torture triggered a hashtag on Twitter last week that brought together sympathizers who defended her claim.
I like this hashtag which translates to: Loujain Is No Liar #لجين_لاتكذب#LoujainAlHathloul and jailed women rights activist are confronting ruthless and brutal jailer. No secret about that. — Fadi Al-Qadi (@fqadi) December 23, 2020
Another female Saudi activist, Mayaa al-Zahrani received the same sentence as Loujain’s.
Today #SaudiArabia's SCC (terrorism court) also sentenced human rights defender Mayaa al-Zahrani to 5 years and 8 months in prison, with 2 years and 10 months suspended, exactly the same as for @LoujainHathloul. pic.twitter.com/JYiT27WnFZ — ALQST for Human Rights (@ALQST_En) December 28, 2020
Dahlia Kholaif — I’ve been telling stories of the Middle East for 14 years. I’m a staunch believer in the power of words, and despite all odds, a human-enthusiast. Please don’t hesitate to share your story.
@Dee_Kholaif is my social media handle
Source: Global Voices
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activistpost--2020-12-29--$600 Stimulus Checks Won’t Pull America Out Of This Mess

Well , it looks like we are going to get $ 600 stimulus payments from the federal government after all .
Oh goody !
For the millions of Americans who are on the brink of being evicted from their homes , that will be enough for about half a mortgage payment or about half a month of rent .
Many are referring to this as America ’ s “ let them eat cake moment ” , and that probably is not too far off target .
As our politicians spend hundreds of billions of dollars on other nonsense , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them for tossing a few hundred bucks our way .
But the truth is that $ 600 dollars does not go as far as it once did .
20 years ago , it would have bought more groceries than any of us could have possibly put into a single vehicle , but today it will buy about two carts of food and maybe a tank of gas .
If we are going to go “ full Weimar ” and destroy any hope of ever getting our national finances under control , we might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to smile about .
But while you get a measly $ 600 , the federal government is spending $ 6,900,000 on a “ smart toilet ” which can actually recognize a user ’ s “ analprint ” … In his latest report on federal government waste , a project he completes every year , Sen. Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) highlights $ 54.7 billion in government spending that he deems wasteful .
Among the items noted this year is the creation of a $ 6.9 million “ smart toilet , ” which operates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can identify a user ’ s “ analprint.
” As explained in The Festivus Report 2020 , researchers at Stanford University used $ 6,973,057 in funds granted through the National Cancer Institute , which is part of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) to create a so-called “ smart toilet.
” Just when I think that it can ’ t possibly get any worse , the federal government comes up with even more bizarre ways to waste our tax dollars .
At least if we were only spending what we brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But instead , we have been stealing more than $ 100,000,000 dollars from future generations of Americans every single hour of every single day ever since Barack Obama first entered the White House .
I am not just picking on the Democrats .
At this point most Republicans have abandoned any pretense of fiscal responsibility , and that fact makes me sick to my stomach .
Today , we are 27.5 trillion dollars in debt , and soon it will be 30 trillion dollars .
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are going to liquidate the nation anyway , let ’ s give people checks that are so large that they will be dancing in the streets .
Because giving people $ 600 checks in this economic environment is essentially the equivalent of spitting into Niagara Falls .
Let me try to illustrate what I am talking about .
Right now , there are 12 million U.S. renters that are more than $ 5,000 behind on their rent and utilities… Okay , so let ’ s assume that all of those people get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the end , on average they will still be about $ 5000 behind on their payments , and the start of a new month is right around the corner .
And there are millions of other Americans that are living so close to the edge financially that they have been putting their rent payments on a credit card… Yes , $ 600 will help .
But not much .
For 32-year-old Jo Marie Hernandez , $ 600 might buy a little bit of time , but what she really needs is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even imagine the emotional pain that she must be going through right now .
When you have a young child and you are about to be thrown out into the streets , nothing else really matters… Sadly , there are millions and millions of other Americans that are facing similar scenarios right now .
This is what an economic depression looks like , and economic conditions are going to continue to deteriorate moving forward .
Many on the left are assuming that future stimulus checks will be bigger once Joe Biden gets into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar that we borrow makes our long-term problems even worse .
Our national debt continues to spiral wildly out of control , the money supply is shooting up at an exponential rate , and we are mired in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s despite unprecedented government intervention .
This is the big meltdown that everyone has been waiting for , and we are still only in the very early chapters .
So no , $ 600 stimulus payments won ’ t actually fix anything .
But hopefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. economy continues to relentlessly steamroll toward oblivion .
***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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , Twitter and Gab .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Michael Snyder
Well, it looks like we are going to get $600 stimulus payments from the federal government after all. Oh goody! For the millions of Americans who are on the brink of being evicted from their homes, that will be enough for about half a mortgage payment or about half a month of rent.
Many are referring to this as America’s “let them eat cake moment”, and that probably is not too far off target. As our politicians spend hundreds of billions of dollars on other nonsense, we are supposed to be deeply grateful to them for tossing a few hundred bucks our way. But the truth is that $600 dollars does not go as far as it once did. 20 years ago, it would have bought more groceries than any of us could have possibly put into a single vehicle, but today it will buy about two carts of food and maybe a tank of gas.
If we are going to go “full Weimar” and destroy any hope of ever getting our national finances under control, we might as well make the checks big enough to smile about.
But while you get a measly $600, the federal government is spending $6,900,000 on a “smart toilet” which can actually recognize a user’s “analprint”…
In his latest report on federal government waste, a project he completes every year, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) highlights $54.7 billion in government spending that he deems wasteful. Among the items noted this year is the creation of a $6.9 million “smart toilet,” which operates with three cameras, one of which can identify a user’s “analprint.” As explained in The Festivus Report 2020, researchers at Stanford University used $6,973,057 in funds granted through the National Cancer Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a so-called “smart toilet.”
Really?
Just when I think that it can’t possibly get any worse, the federal government comes up with even more bizarre ways to waste our tax dollars.
At least if we were only spending what we brought in I could live with that. But instead, we have been stealing more than $100,000,000 dollars from future generations of Americans every single hour of every single day ever since Barack Obama first entered the White House.
I am not just picking on the Democrats. At this point most Republicans have abandoned any pretense of fiscal responsibility, and that fact makes me sick to my stomach.
Today, we are 27.5 trillion dollars in debt, and soon it will be 30 trillion dollars.
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $1 per month at Patreon.
If we are going to liquidate the nation anyway, let’s give people checks that are so large that they will be dancing in the streets.
Because giving people $600 checks in this economic environment is essentially the equivalent of spitting into Niagara Falls.
Let me try to illustrate what I am talking about. Right now, there are 12 million U.S. renters that are more than $5,000 behind on their rent and utilities…
The newest data from Moody’s Analytics shows about 12 million renters are now at least $5,850 behind in rent and utilities payments — and eviction protections expire in weeks.
Okay, so let’s assume that all of those people get $600 payments on a timely basis.
In the end, on average they will still be about $5000 behind on their payments, and the start of a new month is right around the corner.
And there are millions of other Americans that are living so close to the edge financially that they have been putting their rent payments on a credit card…
There’s been as much as a 70% percent increase from last year in people paying rent on a credit card, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. “If you’re putting your rent payments on to a credit card, that shows you’re really at risk of eviction,” says Shamus Roller, executive director of the nonprofit National Housing Law Project. “That means you’ve run out of savings; you’ve probably run out of calls to family members to get them to loan you money.”
Yes, $600 will help.
But not much.
For 32-year-old Jo Marie Hernandez, $600 might buy a little bit of time, but what she really needs is a new job…
Jo Marie Hernandez doesn’t know how she and her 4-year-old daughter will survive after her unemployment aid lapsed this weekend. Hernandez, who lives in Olean, New York, is on the brink of losing her home in days after she lost her job as a customer service associate at a gas station in the spring. Enduring prolonged unemployment, she’s struggled to make ends meet and has nothing left in savings to keep her afloat.
I can’t even imagine the emotional pain that she must be going through right now.
When you have a young child and you are about to be thrown out into the streets, nothing else really matters…
“I only have $100 left to my name. My whole world is shattered,” says Hernandez, 32, who was forced to put her car up for sale. “We can’t wait a few weeks for help. We’re starving and will be out on the street soon.”
Sadly, there are millions and millions of other Americans that are facing similar scenarios right now.
This is what an economic depression looks like, and economic conditions are going to continue to deteriorate moving forward.
Many on the left are assuming that future stimulus checks will be bigger once Joe Biden gets into the White House. But every additional dollar that we borrow makes our long-term problems even worse.
Our national debt continues to spiral wildly out of control, the money supply is shooting up at an exponential rate, and we are mired in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s despite unprecedented government intervention.
This is the big meltdown that everyone has been waiting for, and we are still only in the very early chapters.
So no, $600 stimulus payments won’t actually fix anything.
But hopefully they will ease the suffering slightly as the U.S. economy continues to relentlessly steamroll toward oblivion.
***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, Twitter and Gab.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-29--New Exposé Shows UK’s COVID Response was Rife with Corruption and Cronyism

The United States government ’ s COVID-19 policy response has proven rife with waste , fraud , and abuse at every turn .
From $ 10 million for gender programs in Pakistan being tied to a COVID relief bill to the expanded unemployment system ’ s runaway corruption by fraudsters , American pandemic governance in 2020 has seemed like a never ending cycle of fiscal irresponsibility .
Yet a new exposé by the New York Times shows that the fraudulent and flawed nature of the US ’ s COVID response is not an outlier by any stretch .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom ’ s COVID response was riddled with cronyism and corruption .
The Times analyzed roughly 1,200 government contracts , worth $ 22 billion in sum , that were dolled out for Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) and other pandemic-related purchases during the immediate aftermath of the outbreak .
At least $ 11 billion—nearly half—went to suspicious contractors .
Roughly $ 5 billion went to companies with a clear connection to a politician .
Nearly $ 6 billion went to companies with no prior experience in the goods they were contracted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And more than $ 5 billion was given to companies with controversial pasts including alleged tax evasion , allegations of human rights violations , and more .
The below graphic from the Times sums up this suspect spending well .
Not all of this was necessarily fraudulent or corrupt—but a lot of it sure must be .
And this just represents a small slice of the total waste .
Many of the contracts that were doled out actually couldn ’ t be viewed by the Times because the UK government is eschewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even worse .
House of Lords member Paul Deighton was put in charge of PPE and “ helped the government award billions of dollars in contracts—including hundreds of millions to several companies where he has financial interests or personal connections , ” the Times reports .
The government also created a “ VIP lane ” that allowed companies recommended by government officials to get fast-tracked contracts that were 10 times more likely to be approved .
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $ 1 per month at Patreon .
The Times notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that government officials were engaged in illegal conduct… but there is ample evidence of cronyism , waste and poor due diligence.
” This corrupt government approach stands in stark contrast to how goods are distributed by the market .
In a free market , millions of customers make buying decisions based on their personal appraisal of costs and benefits .
So , the overall market outcome is determined by widely dispersed decision-making .
This makes it much harder for any one corporation or special interest group to rig a sweetheart deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending their own money , nor are they spending it on themselves .
This means that their decisions regarding who gets what are less driven by economic factors and more driven by political factors .
What ’ s more , large government contracts are often determined by a relatively small number of people relative to the free market .
Together , these conditions make corruption and favoritism , also known as cronyism , inevitable .
“ Cronyism is the substitution of political influence for free markets , ” Mercatus Center economist David R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when government has a lot of power over private-sector decisions and when the government officials in power have great discretion over how to use it.
” “ The more power the government has over the economy , the more allocation of resources will depend on political connections , ” he concludes .
“ The way to eliminate cronyism is to have free markets and little government control.
” As we can see , the British government ’ s horrific misuse of taxpayer funds is not a one-off incident caused by particularly bad actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rather , it ’ s just another example of the endemic favoritism and waste that inevitably corrupts all government spending .
The reality is that big government initiatives will always end up funnelling money to the well-off and well-connected .
And that ’ s a lesson worth remembering long after the COVID-19 pandemic fades .
Brad Polumbo ( @ Brad_Polumbo ) is a libertarian-conservative journalist and Opinion Editor at the Foundation for Economic Education .
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By Brad Polumbo
The United States government’s COVID-19 policy response has proven rife with waste, fraud, and abuse at every turn. From $10 million for gender programs in Pakistan being tied to a COVID relief bill to the expanded unemployment system’s runaway corruption by fraudsters, American pandemic governance in 2020 has seemed like a never ending cycle of fiscal irresponsibility.
Yet a new exposé by the New York Times shows that the fraudulent and flawed nature of the US’s COVID response is not an outlier by any stretch.
In its efforts to procure supplies to fight the coronavirus, Britain has awarded thousands of contracts worth billions of dollars. Much of that money has gone to politically connected companies, a New York Times analysis found. https://t.co/5tEO7yZQlY — The New York Times (@nytimes) December 17, 2020
According to the new investigative reporting, the United Kingdom’s COVID response was riddled with cronyism and corruption. The Times analyzed roughly 1,200 government contracts, worth $22 billion in sum, that were dolled out for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other pandemic-related purchases during the immediate aftermath of the outbreak. At least $11 billion—nearly half—went to suspicious contractors.
Roughly $5 billion went to companies with a clear connection to a politician. Nearly $6 billion went to companies with no prior experience in the goods they were contracted to produce, including jewellers and fashion designers. And more than $5 billion was given to companies with controversial pasts including alleged tax evasion, allegations of human rights violations, and more.
The below graphic from the Times sums up this suspect spending well.
Not all of this was necessarily fraudulent or corrupt—but a lot of it sure must be. And this just represents a small slice of the total waste. Many of the contracts that were doled out actually couldn’t be viewed by the Times because the UK government is eschewing normal transparency requirements.
The details get even worse.
House of Lords member Paul Deighton was put in charge of PPE and “helped the government award billions of dollars in contracts—including hundreds of millions to several companies where he has financial interests or personal connections,” the Times reports. The government also created a “VIP lane” that allowed companies recommended by government officials to get fast-tracked contracts that were 10 times more likely to be approved.
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The Times notes that “there is no evidence to suggest that government officials were engaged in illegal conduct… but there is ample evidence of cronyism, waste and poor due diligence.” This corrupt government approach stands in stark contrast to how goods are distributed by the market.
In a free market, millions of customers make buying decisions based on their personal appraisal of costs and benefits. So, the overall market outcome is determined by widely dispersed decision-making. This makes it much harder for any one corporation or special interest group to rig a sweetheart deal.
Government officials, however, are not spending their own money, nor are they spending it on themselves. This means that their decisions regarding who gets what are less driven by economic factors and more driven by political factors. What’s more, large government contracts are often determined by a relatively small number of people relative to the free market.
Together, these conditions make corruption and favoritism, also known as cronyism, inevitable.
“Cronyism is the substitution of political influence for free markets,” Mercatus Center economist David R. Henderson explains. “It comes about when government has a lot of power over private-sector decisions and when the government officials in power have great discretion over how to use it.”
“The more power the government has over the economy, the more allocation of resources will depend on political connections,” he concludes. “The way to eliminate cronyism is to have free markets and little government control.”
As we can see, the British government’s horrific misuse of taxpayer funds is not a one-off incident caused by particularly bad actors or some especially corrupt group of politicians. Rather, it’s just another example of the endemic favoritism and waste that inevitably corrupts all government spending.
The reality is that big government initiatives will always end up funnelling money to the well-off and well-connected. And that’s a lesson worth remembering long after the COVID-19 pandemic fades.
Source: FEE
Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a libertarian-conservative journalist and Opinion Editor at the Foundation for Economic Education.
Image: Pixabay
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activistpost--2020-12-31--2020:  The Year In Which Comforting American Myths Were Ravaged

Thanks in large part to Covid lockdowns , this year has left vast wreckage in its wake , with ten million jobs lost , more than 100,000 businesses and dozens of national chains bankrupted or closed .
Up to 40 million people could face eviction in the coming months for failing to pay rent , and Americans report that their mental health is at record low levels .
But the casualty list for 2020 must also include many of the political myths that shape Americans ’ lives .
Perhaps the biggest myth to die this year was that Americans ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rights .
After the Covid-19 pandemic began , governors in state after state effectively placed scores of millions of citizens under house arrest – dictates that former Attorney General Bill Barr aptly compared to “ the greatest intrusion on civil liberties ” since the end of slavery .
Politicians and government officials merely had to issue decrees , which were endlessly amended , in order to destroy citizens ’ freedom of movement , freedom of association , and freedom of choice in daily life .
Los Angeles earlier this month banned almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ordering four million people to “ to remain in their homes ” in a futile effort to banish a virus .
The Rule of Law is another myth impaled by 2020 ’ s dire developments .
Courts have repeatedly struck down sweeping restrictions .
Federal judge William Stickman IV invalidated some of Pennsylvania ’ s restrictions in a September ruling : “ Broad population-wide lockdowns are such a dramatic inversion of the concept of liberty in a free society as to be nearly presumptively unconstitutional.
” After the Michigan Supreme Court effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she responded by issuing “ new COVID-19 emergency orders that are nearly identical to her invalidated emergency orders , ” as the Mackinac Center noted .
How many governors and mayors have you seen on the television news being led away in handcuffs after their arrest for violating citizens ’ rights this year ?
None .
Another myth that 2020 obliterated was the notion that politicians spending more than a hundred billion dollars every year for science and public health would keep Americans safe .
The Centers for Disease Control utterly botched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bogus tests to state and local health departments and taking a month and a half to do what the Thai government achieved in one day .
The Food and Drug Administration helped turn the coronavirus from a deadly peril into a national catastrophe .
Long after foreign nations had been ravaged and many cases had been detected in America , the FDA continued blocking private testing .
The FDA continued forcing the nation ’ s most innovative firms to submit to its command-and-control approach , notwithstanding the pandemic .
Become an Activist Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Patreon .
The benevolence and compassion of public school teachers was another myth that 2020 obliterated .
Teacher unions helped barricade school doors the same way that segregationist governors in the 1950s and 1960s refused to obey federal court orders to admit black students .
The Chicago Teachers Union proclaimed : “ The push to reopen schools is based in sexism , racism , and misogyny.
” Black and Hispanic students suffered much larger learning losses due to school shutdowns , leading former Education Secretary John King to warn of a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deluge of studies that showed that schools posed little risk of fueling the pandemic , teachers insisted that they were entitled to both their salaries and to stay at home as long as they considered necessary .
This was part of the collapse of the broader myth that the rulers and ruled have common interests .
Among other splits , the response to the pandemic divided Americans into those who work for a living , and those who “ work ” for the government .
Government employees in most states and at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to draw full pay even when they were no longer even required to show up for work .
One exception to this trend is government tax collectors , who continue commandeering as much as ever from citizens and property owners regardless of the collapse in public services in many places this year .
Another myth that perished in 2020 was that social media and the Internet could be a powerful propellant of free information .
Instead , the biggest players pulled the most strings to suppress criticisms or dissent from the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 18 , Twitter announced that , in response to Covid-19 , it would ban tweets guilty of “ denial of expert guidance ” or “ misleading content purporting to be from experts or authorities.
” The World Health Organization initially overestimated the Covid fatality rate by 50-fold but they remain Twitter-approved .
Facebook recently launched far more aggressive policies , including directly contacting anyone who liked or commented on a piece that was later ruled erroneous by Facebook guardians and is refusing any ads that discourages people from getting vaccinations .
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soumya Swaminathan for declaring on Monday that there was “ no evidence to be confident [ vaccine ] shots prevent transmission ” of Covid ?
Google sought to suppress any doubts about lockdowns : “ Most users in English-speaking countries , when they google ‘ Great Barrington Declaration ’ , will not be directed to the declaration itself but to articles that are critical of the declaration , ” a Spiked-Online analysis noted .
This year ’ s presidential election put a helluva dent in the credo that politicians rule with the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided the pretext to radically change voting procedures , spurring 65 million mostly unverified mail-in ballots .
The New York Times warned in 2012 that “ fraud in voting by mail is… vastly more prevalent than the in-person voting fraud that has attracted far more attention.
” Many states solved that problem by “ defining down fraud ” and expunging the verification procedures previously used to routinely invalidate 20 % or more of mailed-in ballots .
The controversies around mail-in ballots , questionable software , ballot harvesting and other practices mean that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s legitimacy even before he takes his oath of office .
Perhaps the saddest casualty of 2020 is the myth that average Americans cherish their personal freedom .
Politicians continually shifted the rationale for lockdowns – from flattening the curve , to ending “ community spread , ” to reducing cases to near zero .
Regardless of the proclaimed rationale , most people submitted without a fight , and usually without even a whimper .
Politicians and bureaucrats fanned mass fears which quickly ripened into hatred of anyone who did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cities across the country set up snitch lines that were soon deluged with complaints of people outside without a mask , meeting friends , or having more visitors in their homes than could fit in a phone booth .
Many , if not most , people quickly acquiesced to the “ new normal ” where any government hack who recited the phrase “ science and data ” became entitled to rule their lives with an iron fist .
As the Harvard International Review warned , “ The very methods that liberal democracies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus are the same tactics that authoritarian leaders use to dominate their people .
The tools that have been temporarily deployed in the fight against a once-in-a-lifetime disease may become permanent.
” That was written on May 23 , more than 15 million Covid cases ago – proof of the failure of lockdowns and pervasive restrictions to make Covid-19 vanish .
But the miserable batting average of officialdom will vanish into the Memory Hole if politicians launch a campaign to make Covid vaccinations mandatory , complete with boundless vilification of anyone who balks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long been a myth that we live in a self-governing republic rather than a Leviathan Democracy where citizens merely make cameo appearances every few years at the voting booth .
It is still possible that the catastrophic and pointless losses imposed by Covid crackdowns will finally awaken enough people to their growing subjugation .
But the most dangerous myth is that Americans will finally become safe after they cease making any efforts to leash their rulers .
James Bovard is the author of ten books , including Public Policy Hooligan , Attention Deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lost Rights : The Destruction of American Liberty .
He has written for the New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Playboy , Washington Post , New Republic , Reader ’ s Digest , and many other publications .
He is a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors , a frequent contributor to The Hill , and a contributing editor for American Conservative Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By James Bovard
Thanks in large part to Covid lockdowns, this year has left vast wreckage in its wake, with ten million jobs lost, more than 100,000 businesses and dozens of national chains bankrupted or closed. Up to 40 million people could face eviction in the coming months for failing to pay rent, and Americans report that their mental health is at record low levels. But the casualty list for 2020 must also include many of the political myths that shape Americans’ lives.
Perhaps the biggest myth to die this year was that Americans’ constitutional rights are safeguarded by the Bill of Rights. After the Covid-19 pandemic began, governors in state after state effectively placed scores of millions of citizens under house arrest – dictates that former Attorney General Bill Barr aptly compared to “the greatest intrusion on civil liberties” since the end of slavery. Politicians and government officials merely had to issue decrees, which were endlessly amended, in order to destroy citizens’ freedom of movement, freedom of association, and freedom of choice in daily life. Los Angeles earlier this month banned almost all walking and bicycling in the city, ordering four million people to “to remain in their homes” in a futile effort to banish a virus.
The Rule of Law is another myth impaled by 2020’s dire developments. Courts have repeatedly struck down sweeping restrictions. Federal judge William Stickman IV invalidated some of Pennsylvania’s restrictions in a September ruling: “Broad population-wide lockdowns are such a dramatic inversion of the concept of liberty in a free society as to be nearly presumptively unconstitutional.” After the Michigan Supreme Court effectively labeled Governor Gretchen Whitmer a lawless dictator, she responded by issuing “new COVID-19 emergency orders that are nearly identical to her invalidated emergency orders,” as the Mackinac Center noted. How many governors and mayors have you seen on the television news being led away in handcuffs after their arrest for violating citizens’ rights this year? None.
Another myth that 2020 obliterated was the notion that politicians spending more than a hundred billion dollars every year for science and public health would keep Americans safe.
The Centers for Disease Control utterly botched the initial testing regime, sending out bogus tests to state and local health departments and taking a month and a half to do what the Thai government achieved in one day. The Food and Drug Administration helped turn the coronavirus from a deadly peril into a national catastrophe. Long after foreign nations had been ravaged and many cases had been detected in America, the FDA continued blocking private testing. The FDA continued forcing the nation’s most innovative firms to submit to its command-and-control approach, notwithstanding the pandemic.
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $1 per month at Patreon.
The benevolence and compassion of public school teachers was another myth that 2020 obliterated. Teacher unions helped barricade school doors the same way that segregationist governors in the 1950s and 1960s refused to obey federal court orders to admit black students. The Chicago Teachers Union proclaimed: “The push to reopen schools is based in sexism, racism, and misogyny.”
Black and Hispanic students suffered much larger learning losses due to school shutdowns, leading former Education Secretary John King to warn of a “lost generation of students.” Despite a deluge of studies that showed that schools posed little risk of fueling the pandemic, teachers insisted that they were entitled to both their salaries and to stay at home as long as they considered necessary.
This was part of the collapse of the broader myth that the rulers and ruled have common interests. Among other splits, the response to the pandemic divided Americans into those who work for a living, and those who “work” for the government. Government employees in most states and at the federal level have been the Untouchables, continuing to draw full pay even when they were no longer even required to show up for work. One exception to this trend is government tax collectors, who continue commandeering as much as ever from citizens and property owners regardless of the collapse in public services in many places this year.
Another myth that perished in 2020 was that social media and the Internet could be a powerful propellant of free information. Instead, the biggest players pulled the most strings to suppress criticisms or dissent from the latest Covid policies promulgated by officialdom. On March 18, Twitter announced that, in response to Covid-19, it would ban tweets guilty of “denial of expert guidance” or “misleading content purporting to be from experts or authorities.”
The World Health Organization initially overestimated the Covid fatality rate by 50-fold but they remain Twitter-approved. Facebook recently launched far more aggressive policies, including directly contacting anyone who liked or commented on a piece that was later ruled erroneous by Facebook guardians and is refusing any ads that discourages people from getting vaccinations. Will they ban WHO’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan for declaring on Monday that there was “no evidence to be confident [vaccine] shots prevent transmission” of Covid? Google sought to suppress any doubts about lockdowns: “Most users in English-speaking countries, when they google ‘Great Barrington Declaration’, will not be directed to the declaration itself but to articles that are critical of the declaration,” a Spiked-Online analysis noted.
This year’s presidential election put a helluva dent in the credo that politicians rule with the “consent of the governed.” The pandemic provided the pretext to radically change voting procedures, spurring 65 million mostly unverified mail-in ballots. The New York Times warned in 2012 that “fraud in voting by mail is… vastly more prevalent than the in-person voting fraud that has attracted far more attention.” Many states solved that problem by “defining down fraud” and expunging the verification procedures previously used to routinely invalidate 20% or more of mailed-in ballots. The controversies around mail-in ballots, questionable software, ballot harvesting and other practices mean that a record number of Americans will doubt Joe Biden’s legitimacy even before he takes his oath of office.
Perhaps the saddest casualty of 2020 is the myth that average Americans cherish their personal freedom. Politicians continually shifted the rationale for lockdowns – from flattening the curve, to ending “community spread,” to reducing cases to near zero. Regardless of the proclaimed rationale, most people submitted without a fight, and usually without even a whimper. Politicians and bureaucrats fanned mass fears which quickly ripened into hatred of anyone who did not comply with the latest edict.
States and cities across the country set up snitch lines that were soon deluged with complaints of people outside without a mask, meeting friends, or having more visitors in their homes than could fit in a phone booth. Many, if not most, people quickly acquiesced to the “new normal” where any government hack who recited the phrase “science and data” became entitled to rule their lives with an iron fist.
As the Harvard International Review warned, “The very methods that liberal democracies are currently using to effectively fight the virus are the same tactics that authoritarian leaders use to dominate their people. The tools that have been temporarily deployed in the fight against a once-in-a-lifetime disease may become permanent.” That was written on May 23, more than 15 million Covid cases ago – proof of the failure of lockdowns and pervasive restrictions to make Covid-19 vanish. But the miserable batting average of officialdom will vanish into the Memory Hole if politicians launch a campaign to make Covid vaccinations mandatory, complete with boundless vilification of anyone who balks at the injection.
Perhaps it has long been a myth that we live in a self-governing republic rather than a Leviathan Democracy where citizens merely make cameo appearances every few years at the voting booth. It is still possible that the catastrophic and pointless losses imposed by Covid crackdowns will finally awaken enough people to their growing subjugation. But the most dangerous myth is that Americans will finally become safe after they cease making any efforts to leash their rulers.
Source: AIER
James Bovard is the author of ten books, including Public Policy Hooligan, Attention Deficit Democracy, The Bush Betrayal, and Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Playboy, Washington Post, New Republic, Reader’s Digest, and many other publications. He is a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors, a frequent contributor to The Hill, and a contributing editor for American Conservative
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Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-31--Boston Dynamics’ Robots Learn How To Dance In Creepy New Video

On Tuesday , Boston Dynamics uploaded a video to YouTube of their robots creepily dancing to The Contours ’ Do You Love Me .
The video shows Atlas , Spot , and Handle – Boston Dynamics ’ top robots , performing moves choreographed to the music .
The dance starts with Atlas , a bipedal humanoid robot , dancing to the music , and before you know it , another Atlas joins in .
Then out of nowhere , robodog Spot hops in and starts dancing with the crew .
About halfway through the video , Handle , a warehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as everyone is getting down with the catchy tune .
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Tesla ’ s Elon Musk chimed in this morning after he watched the video .
He tweeted : The robots are impressive .
They dance with remarkable accuracy , performing moves that only baby boomers would know how to do .
This is not the first time that the robotics company has demonstrated the dance capabilities of its machines .
In 2018 , it published a video titled “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down with some funk .
Maybe the elaborate dance party was celebrating the recent acquisition of Boston Dynamics by Hyundai .
“ This is the beginning of The Terminator , ” one commentator said on YouTube .
Another said , “ Only need to get a human skin then there goes backup dancers job.. welcome to the unemployed.
” Also Read Activist Post ’ s Chronicle : The Evolution of Humanoid Robots Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By Tyler Durden
On Tuesday, Boston Dynamics uploaded a video to YouTube of their robots creepily dancing to The Contours’ “Do You Love Me.”
The video shows Atlas, Spot, and Handle – Boston Dynamics’ top robots, performing moves choreographed to the music.
The dance starts with Atlas, a bipedal humanoid robot, dancing to the music, and before you know it, another Atlas joins in. Then out of nowhere, robodog Spot hops in and starts dancing with the crew.
About halfway through the video, Handle, a warehouse robot, slides into the frame – as everyone is getting down with the catchy tune.
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $1 per month at Patreon.
Tesla’s Elon Musk chimed in this morning after he watched the video. He tweeted:
“Snake-head dog had my undivided attention until winder-head ostrich came gliding through all nonchalant.”
Box CEO Aaron Levie tweeted:
“We’ve collectively learned nothing from sci-fi movies. This is definitely the moment we’re supposed to turn back.”
We’ve collectively learned nothing from sci-fi movies. This is definitely the moment we’re supposed to turn back. pic.twitter.com/i5QVGEeZ6G — Aaron Levie (@levie) December 29, 2020
The robots are impressive. They dance with remarkable accuracy, performing moves that only baby boomers would know how to do.
This is not the first time that the robotics company has demonstrated the dance capabilities of its machines. In 2018, it published a video titled “UpTown Spot,” where Spot got down with some funk.
Maybe the elaborate dance party was celebrating the recent acquisition of Boston Dynamics by Hyundai.
“This is the beginning of The Terminator,” one commentator said on YouTube.
Another said, “Only need to get a human skin then there goes backup dancers job.. welcome to the unemployed.”
Watch Full Video Here:
Also Read Activist Post’s Chronicle: The Evolution of Humanoid Robots
Source: Zero Hedge
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activistpost--2020-12-30--Cost Of Doing Business: Big Banks Have Paid $195 Billion In Fines Since 2000

Often times when the “ too big to fail ” banks are caught with their hands in the cookie jar ( or placing the entire global economy on the precipice of collapse , as was the case in 2008 ) , nobody goes to jail and the banks wind up paying a hefty fine and putting the “ youthful indiscretions ” behind them .
This inevitably leads to jokes about how paying fines is part of the cost of doing business for big banks .
But it isn ’ t until you aggregate the sums paid over the last 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report published this weekend , that one can really see just how much these fines actually are becoming a cost of doing business for banks .
Over the last 20 years , the six largest U.S. banks have paid out nearly $ 200 billion in fines and penalties .
Advocacy group Better Markets found that Bank of America , Citigroup , Goldman Sachs , JPMorgan Chase , Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo have paid $ 195 billion , collectively , since 2000 .
The group claims the numbers show banks behavior deteriorating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the global financial crisis than prior to it .
There were 85 major legal complaints against banks between 2000 and 2008 .
Between 2008 and 2012 , that number was 110 cases , most of which were mortgage related .
But since 2012 , the group found that there has been another 204 legal actions .
Banks like JP Morgan are repeating past mistakes , too .
In October , the bank paid $ 920 million for manipulation of the metals market – this comes after the bank admitted AML failings in 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FX markets .
JP Morgan was second only to Bank of America in fines and penalties .
Bank of America has paid $ 91 billion for 86 legal cases since 2000 , while JP Morgan has paid slightly over $ 40 billion as a result of 83 cases .
B of A says most of those fines were “ mortgage-related issues that predated Bank of America ’ s acquisitions of companies more than 10 years ago ” .
Goldman Sachs has also entered into massive multi-billion dollar settlements , most notably for looting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you compare the fines to the combined $ 1.3 trillion in net income the banks have earned over the same 20 years , it becomes clear : the “ cost of doing business ” in the investment banking world is well worth it .
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Provide , Protect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Tyler Durden
Often times when the “too big to fail” banks are caught with their hands in the cookie jar (or placing the entire global economy on the precipice of collapse, as was the case in 2008), nobody goes to jail and the banks wind up paying a hefty fine and putting the “youthful indiscretions” behind them. This inevitably leads to jokes about how paying fines is part of the cost of doing business for big banks.
But it isn’t until you aggregate the sums paid over the last 2 decades, which FT did in a report published this weekend, that one can really see just how much these fines actually are becoming a cost of doing business for banks. Over the last 20 years, the six largest U.S. banks have paid out nearly $200 billion in fines and penalties.
Advocacy group Better Markets found that Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo have paid $195 billion, collectively, since 2000. The group claims the numbers show banks behavior deteriorating, as they have endured more fines since the global financial crisis than prior to it.
There were 85 major legal complaints against banks between 2000 and 2008. Between 2008 and 2012, that number was 110 cases, most of which were mortgage related. But since 2012, the group found that there has been another 204 legal actions.
Better Markets chief executive Dennis Kelleher said:
They’re all major legal actions . . . It’s not like it was a ‘broken windows’ theory post-crash where prosecutors are fining every little violation. If they were held to higher standards they all would have been put out of business because the recidivism is really quite shocking.
He continued:
It’s absolutely shocking that JPMorgan has now pleaded guilty to three separate criminal charges for egregious years-long criminal conduct.
Banks like JP Morgan are repeating past mistakes, too. In October, the bank paid $920 million for manipulation of the metals market – this comes after the bank admitted AML failings in 2014 and pleaded guilty in 2015 to manipulating FX markets.
JP Morgan was second only to Bank of America in fines and penalties. Bank of America has paid $91 billion for 86 legal cases since 2000, while JP Morgan has paid slightly over $40 billion as a result of 83 cases. B of A says most of those fines were “mortgage-related issues that predated Bank of America’s acquisitions of companies more than 10 years ago”.
Goldman Sachs has also entered into massive multi-billion dollar settlements, most notably for looting Malaysia’s 1MDB development fund.
When you compare the fines to the combined $1.3 trillion in net income the banks have earned over the same 20 years, it becomes clear: the “cost of doing business” in the investment banking world is well worth it.
Source: Zero Hedge
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activistpost--2020-12-30--Outlook 2021: Supply/Demand Fundamentals for Precious Metals

The supply and demand fundamentals for precious metals markets got thrown into disarray this year , leading to heightened volatility – first on the downside , then on the upside .
Although gold and silver will finish 2020 below their highs for the year , gold is still headed for an annual return of close to 25 % ; silver around 45 % .
Can hard assets investors look forward to further price appreciation in 2021 ?
Yes , but…there are some near-term risks to the favorable long-term supply/demand outlook .
Assuming economic conditions begin normalizing next year , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users – to increase .
Mine production would likely rebound as well .
The mining industry , like many others , faced unprecedented operational challenges in 2020 due to COVID disruptions .
Many mines around the world were forced to scale back or suspend production in the first half of the year .
By the third quarter , mining output among major producers began to ramp back up .
Overall , though , the top 20 gold miners will finish 2020 with an estimated 5 % drop in output .
The mining industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whether it fully recovers to pre-COVID numbers remains to be seen .
While mine supply is likely to increase versus 2020 , so is consumer demand for refined precious metals products such as jewelry .
Investment demand for bullion will , as usual , be a wild card that could move the market at the margins .
A related wild card is the coronavirus .
Epidemiologists hope something close to herd immunity can be reached via mass vaccinations .
But the virus remains unpredictable and could mutate into multiple new strains .
Virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks emanating from the Federal Reserve ’ s unrestrained printing press are all potential catalysts for safe-haven investment buying of precious metals .
Silver Made a Historic Low in 2020… Will It Make a New Record in 2021 ?
A massive surge of investment demand hit the bullion market this spring as panic gripped Wall Street and bargain hunters came out in droves .
What occurred was a once-in-a-generation event .
Some markets reached unprecedented extremes that defied centuries of recorded history .
For example , crude oil futures traded deeply into negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got historically oversold versus gold , as the gold silver ratio spiked to as high as a never before seen 130:1 .
Near the absolute bottom of the market on March 17th , we wrote , “ Never has silver been as cheap to acquire in real terms as it is today .
Never has the silver market traded so wildly disconnected from its fundamentals.
” That article suggested we had hit “ peak fear ” – out of which “ a new uptrend in silver , and a corresponding narrowing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to extend for years.
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The very next day , March 18th , silver hit its absolute low point for the year at $ 11.75/oz .
It went on to spike up to nearly $ 30/oz in August .
A less dramatic 2021 may be in store .
Even so , a global economic recovery and return to some semblance of normalcy would help stimulate demand for industrial metals as well as silver , platinum , and palladium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the months ahead is the move away from fossil fuels and toward electrification .
Solar power and battery technologies are experiencing explosive growth , and with that growth comes a need for lots more copper , nickel , silver , and strategic metals .
In fact , solar panels are one of the fastest growing sources of silver demand .
The “ green ” programs of the incoming Biden administration , coupled with ongoing fiscal and monetary stimulus being into the economy , could have the unintended consequence of stimulating metals markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than supply .
Some analysts expect to see widening supply deficits for silver and platinum in 2021 .
According to Bloomberg Intelligence commodity strategist Mike McGlone , silver will head toward a new record high on improving fundamentals and gathering technical strength .
Silver investors should expect some volatility and perhaps some surprises on the way to an eventual new high in dollar terms above $ 50/oz .
It may happen next year .
It may take a bit longer .
Having a long-term horizon is crucial to being able to participate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bull market .
A new nominal high in silver will just be the first major milestone in a bull market that could go up many multiples from here before being expensive or overvalued in real terms .
Stefan Gleason is President of Money Metals Exchange , a precious metals dealer recently named “ Best in the USA ” by an independent global ratings group .
A graduate of the University of Florida , Gleason is a seasoned business leader , investor , political strategist , and grassroots activist .
Gleason has frequently appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , FoxNews , and CNBC and in hundreds of publications such as the Wall Street Journal , The Street , and Seeking Alpha .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
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Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Stefan Gleason
The supply and demand fundamentals for precious metals markets got thrown into disarray this year, leading to heightened volatility – first on the downside, then on the upside.
Although gold and silver will finish 2020 below their highs for the year, gold is still headed for an annual return of close to 25%; silver around 45%.
Can hard assets investors look forward to further price appreciation in 2021?
Yes, but…there are some near-term risks to the favorable long-term supply/demand outlook.
Assuming economic conditions begin normalizing next year, we would expect demand – especially from industrial users – to increase. Mine production would likely rebound as well.
The mining industry, like many others, faced unprecedented operational challenges in 2020 due to COVID disruptions. Many mines around the world were forced to scale back or suspend production in the first half of the year.
By the third quarter, mining output among major producers began to ramp back up. Overall, though, the top 20 gold miners will finish 2020 with an estimated 5% drop in output.
The mining industry is issuing optimistic guidance for 2021. Whether it fully recovers to pre-COVID numbers remains to be seen.
While mine supply is likely to increase versus 2020, so is consumer demand for refined precious metals products such as jewelry. Investment demand for bullion will, as usual, be a wild card that could move the market at the margins.
A related wild card is the coronavirus. Epidemiologists hope something close to herd immunity can be reached via mass vaccinations. But the virus remains unpredictable and could mutate into multiple new strains.
Virus risks, political risks, and inflation risks emanating from the Federal Reserve’s unrestrained printing press are all potential catalysts for safe-haven investment buying of precious metals.
Silver Made a Historic Low in 2020… Will It Make a New Record in 2021?
A massive surge of investment demand hit the bullion market this spring as panic gripped Wall Street and bargain hunters came out in droves.
What occurred was a once-in-a-generation event. Some markets reached unprecedented extremes that defied centuries of recorded history.
For example, crude oil futures traded deeply into negative territory for a day. And silver got historically oversold versus gold, as the gold silver ratio spiked to as high as a never before seen 130:1.
Near the absolute bottom of the market on March 17th, we wrote, “Never has silver been as cheap to acquire in real terms as it is today. Never has the silver market traded so wildly disconnected from its fundamentals.”
That article suggested we had hit “peak fear” – out of which “a new uptrend in silver, and a corresponding narrowing of the gold:silver ratio, can be expected to extend for years.”
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The very next day, March 18th, silver hit its absolute low point for the year at $11.75/oz. It went on to spike up to nearly $30/oz in August.
A less dramatic 2021 may be in store. Even so, a global economic recovery and return to some semblance of normalcy would help stimulate demand for industrial metals as well as silver, platinum, and palladium.
A major trend set to accelerate in the months ahead is the move away from fossil fuels and toward electrification.
Solar power and battery technologies are experiencing explosive growth, and with that growth comes a need for lots more copper, nickel, silver, and strategic metals. In fact, solar panels are one of the fastest growing sources of silver demand.
The “green” programs of the incoming Biden administration, coupled with ongoing fiscal and monetary stimulus being into the economy, could have the unintended consequence of stimulating metals markets.
Demand can grow much more rapidly than supply. Some analysts expect to see widening supply deficits for silver and platinum in 2021.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence commodity strategist Mike McGlone, silver will head toward a new record high on improving fundamentals and gathering technical strength.
Silver investors should expect some volatility and perhaps some surprises on the way to an eventual new high in dollar terms above $50/oz. It may happen next year. It may take a bit longer.
Having a long-term horizon is crucial to being able to participate in the full magnitude of a precious metals bull market.
A new nominal high in silver will just be the first major milestone in a bull market that could go up many multiples from here before being expensive or overvalued in real terms.
Stefan Gleason is President of Money Metals Exchange, a precious metals dealer recently named “Best in the USA” by an independent global ratings group. A graduate of the University of Florida, Gleason is a seasoned business leader, investor, political strategist, and grassroots activist. Gleason has frequently appeared on national television networks such as CNN, FoxNews, and CNBC and in hundreds of publications such as the Wall Street Journal, The Street, and Seeking Alpha.
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activistpost--2020-12-30--American Communities Are Installing Affordable Municipal Broadband — Is Yours?

A group of telecom experts who call themselves “ The Irregulators ” are among the many organizations that have filed lawsuits against the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) for failing to protect Americans from the telecom industry .
The good news is that THEY WON !
Because of this , state utility commissions are able to divert taxpayer dollars to provide safer high-speed internet via fiber optics .
On a related note , New York City recently won a lawsuit against Verizon and now the company has to install half a million lines of fiber .
Big Telecom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadband .
It ’ s less profitable to them and more affordable to residents .
If your community hasn ’ t considered municipal broadband , be sure to share this information with your elected officials .
The quiet good news of the 2020 elections : Municipal broadband is expanding The voters in Chicago and Denver overwhelmingly voted for community broadband in a referendum in Chicago that directs the city to “ ensure that all the city ’ s community areas have access to broadband Internet.
” It ’ s a nonbinding resolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider broadband as a utility , potentially allowing for community-run networks .
The voters in Denver—83.5 % of them—declared the city should be exempt from a 2005 law passed by Colorado that restricts towns and cities from building their own networks .
That ALEC-inspired law had a loophole in the case of Colorado , one that lets cities and towns opt out of those restricts if the residents demand it by vote .
There are now 140 communities in Colorado that have spurned the law and championed citizen-built broadband .
Christopher Mitchell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Institute for Local Self-Reliance , told Vice that these votes are instructive .
“ I think the margin in Chicago and Denver is remarkable , ” Mitchell said .
“ When we work with communities where half the residents have a cable monopoly and the other half don ’ t have any broadband , the demand for something better is strong among both populations.
” Mitchell ’ s group says that 83 million Americans live in an area subject to a broadband monopoly , with Comcast being the usual culprit .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42 million who have no broadband access at all and the tens of millions who only have two choices , where again Comcast dominates .
“ For years , we have said this is a major concern for voters but local leaders remain too intimidated by the big monopoly cable and telephone companies to act on it , ” Mitchell said .
“ Maybe now we will see it taken more seriously.
” This could be the tipping point , though in 22 states it will require repealing those ALEC-inspired municipal broadband bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ captured ” agency for decades ( see 1 , 2 ) .
The regulatory body refuses to update 24-year-old federal radiation exposure guidelines despite repeated requests by doctors and scientists ( see 1 , 2 ) .
Lawsuits have been filed against them for NOT protecting the public from unsafe levels of radiation as well as 5G on Earth ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) and in space .
Municipalities have filed 5G lawsuits against the FCC as well .
Some have passed resolutions to ban deployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) and ordinances to limit and/or control installation .
Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC ) and several American tribal groups also filed a 5G lawsuit against the agency ( see 1 , 2 ) .
Additionally , state representatives in Hawaii and Illinois have introduced 5G bills to protect constituents .
American opposition to 5G continues to increase and has been the topic of several “ Dilbert ” cartoons .
Hard-wired internet connections are safer , more secure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( see 1 , 2 , 3 ) .
Cities worldwide AND entire countries have taken action to ban , delay , halt , and limit 5G installation AS WELL AS issue moratoriums due to health , safety , environmental and economic risks .
Americans opposed to 5G can sign a petition asking President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to stop deployment .
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Activist Post reports regularly about 5G and other unsafe technology .
For more information visit our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
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Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By B.N. Frank
A group of telecom experts who call themselves “The Irregulators” are among the many organizations that have filed lawsuits against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for failing to protect Americans from the telecom industry. The good news is that THEY WON! Because of this, state utility commissions are able to divert taxpayer dollars to provide safer high-speed internet via fiber optics.
On a related note, New York City recently won a lawsuit against Verizon and now the company has to install half a million lines of fiber.
Big Telecom and their proponents are NOT excited about municipal broadband. It’s less profitable to them and more affordable to residents. If your community hasn’t considered municipal broadband, be sure to share this information with your elected officials.
From Daily Kos:
The quiet good news of the 2020 elections: Municipal broadband is expanding The voters in Chicago and Denver overwhelmingly voted for community broadband in a referendum in Chicago that directs the city to “ensure that all the city’s community areas have access to broadband Internet.” It’s a nonbinding resolution, but it gives the city the authority to consider broadband as a utility, potentially allowing for community-run networks. The voters in Denver—83.5% of them—declared the city should be exempt from a 2005 law passed by Colorado that restricts towns and cities from building their own networks. That ALEC-inspired law had a loophole in the case of Colorado, one that lets cities and towns opt out of those restricts if the residents demand it by vote. There are now 140 communities in Colorado that have spurned the law and championed citizen-built broadband. Christopher Mitchell, director of community broadband networks for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, told Vice that these votes are instructive. “I think the margin in Chicago and Denver is remarkable,” Mitchell said. “When we work with communities where half the residents have a cable monopoly and the other half don’t have any broadband, the demand for something better is strong among both populations.” Mitchell’s group says that 83 million Americans live in an area subject to a broadband monopoly, with Comcast being the usual culprit. That’s on top of the estimated 42 million who have no broadband access at all and the tens of millions who only have two choices, where again Comcast dominates. “For years, we have said this is a major concern for voters but local leaders remain too intimidated by the big monopoly cable and telephone companies to act on it,” Mitchell said. “Maybe now we will see it taken more seriously.” This could be the tipping point, though in 22 states it will require repealing those ALEC-inspired municipal broadband bans. Read full article
The FCC has been a corrupt and “captured” agency for decades (see 1, 2). The regulatory body refuses to update 24-year-old federal radiation exposure guidelines despite repeated requests by doctors and scientists (see 1, 2). Lawsuits have been filed against them for NOT protecting the public from unsafe levels of radiation as well as 5G on Earth (see 1, 2, 3, 4) and in space.
Municipalities have filed 5G lawsuits against the FCC as well. Some have passed resolutions to ban deployment until studies prove it’s safe (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and ordinances to limit and/or control installation. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and several American tribal groups also filed a 5G lawsuit against the agency (see 1, 2). Additionally, state representatives in Hawaii and Illinois have introduced 5G bills to protect constituents.
American opposition to 5G continues to increase and has been the topic of several “Dilbert” cartoons. Hard-wired internet connections are safer, more secure, and more reliable than 5G and WiFi (see 1, 2, 3). Cities worldwide AND entire countries have taken action to ban, delay, halt, and limit 5G installation AS WELL AS issue moratoriums due to health, safety, environmental and economic risks.
Americans opposed to 5G can sign a petition asking President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to stop deployment.
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $1 per month at Patreon.
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, Twitter and Gab.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-30--Recommended Films on Environmental Health and Cell Phone / Wireless Radiation Risks

There ’ s an old saying : “ Seeing is believing.
” That ’ s why documentary films are so important and popular .
Thanks to Environmental Health Trust for their list of recommended films ( including one narrated by actor/director Sean Penn ) that focus on environmental health as well as cell phone and wireless radiation risks .
These films and the topics are all compelling .
However , because the list is so extensive , Activist Post has chosen to only highlight 5 of these films .
Visit Environmental Health Trust HERE for more information .
Over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on environmental health issues from pesticides to flame retardants to climate change to wireless radiation .
This is just a shortlist of awesome films that will inspire you on environmental health issues .
EHT often sponsors environmental film festivals in our hometown of Jackson Wyoming , followed by an expert Q and A .
We will add more over time .
So check back soon .
Interested in a list of great films on cell phones , wireless and cell towers ?
Check out our section on Films on EMFs .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links are used to help fund the lifesaving work EHT does to protect and promote healthier indoor and outdoor STINK !
is a must-watch for all .
It is amusing but goes straight to the point .
It opens with a pair of kids pajamas — and a single father trying to find out what that smell could possibly be .
But instead of getting a straight answer , director Jon Whelan stumbles on an even bigger issue in America , which is that some products on our store shelves are not safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that looks at how the manufacturing of doubt has become big business .
The film exposes pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals , pharmaceuticals , and climate change .
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Toxic Hot Seat follows a courageous group of firefighters , mothers , journalists and scientists , politicians and activists as they fight to expose a shadowy campaign that persuaded legislators that toxic flame retardants were critically needed .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retardants avoided a single fire death and growing evidence of their toxic legacy in our homes and bodies .
The campaign to require the widespread use of these unnecessary toxic chemicals has taken nearly 40 years to unravel .
Narrated by Sean Penn , the documentary “ The Human Experiment ” alleges a correlation between four decades of increased chemical use in the United States and health issues such as cancer , miscarriage , autism , and birth defects .
The film also contends that the American Chemistry Council lobbies for a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pocket and sabotages attempts at passing regulatory legislation .
This incredible documentary describes how the cellular telephone industry and its many allies have endeavored successfully to suppress public awareness of the growing body of research that finds biological effects of significance from exposure to the microwave radiation from cell phones and cell towers .
The power of industry is highlighted .
This French film has been translated into English .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , MeWe , Twitter and Gab .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By B.N. Frank
There’s an old saying: “Seeing is believing.” That’s why documentary films are so important and popular.
Thanks to Environmental Health Trust for their list of recommended films (including one narrated by actor/director Sean Penn) that focus on environmental health as well as cell phone and wireless radiation risks.
These films and the topics are all compelling. However, because the list is so extensive, Activist Post has chosen to only highlight 5 of these films. Visit Environmental Health Trust HERE for more information.
Films Inspiring change
Over the decades’ many films have been made on environmental health issues from pesticides to flame retardants to climate change to wireless radiation. This is just a shortlist of awesome films that will inspire you on environmental health issues. EHT often sponsors environmental film festivals in our hometown of Jackson Wyoming, followed by an expert Q and A.
We will add more over time. So check back soon.
Interested in a list of great films on cell phones, wireless and cell towers? Check out our section on Films on EMFs.
As a nonprofit organization, all proceeds from affiliate links are used to help fund the lifesaving work EHT does to protect and promote healthier indoor and outdoor
STINK!
STINK! is a must-watch for all. It is amusing but goes straight to the point. It opens with a pair of kids pajamas — and a single father trying to find out what that smell could possibly be. But instead of getting a straight answer, director Jon Whelan stumbles on an even bigger issue in America, which is that some products on our store shelves are not safe — by design.
Merchants of Doubt
An investigative documentary that looks at how the manufacturing of doubt has become big business. The film exposes pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and climate change.
Become an Activist Post Patron for just $1 per month at Patreon.
Toxic Hot Seat
Toxic Hot Seat follows a courageous group of firefighters, mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists as they fight to expose a shadowy campaign that persuaded legislators that toxic flame retardants were critically needed. In fact, there is no evidence that chemical flame retardants avoided a single fire death and growing evidence of their toxic legacy in our homes and bodies. The campaign to require the widespread use of these unnecessary toxic chemicals has taken nearly 40 years to unravel.
The Human Experiment
Narrated by Sean Penn, the documentary “The Human Experiment” alleges a correlation between four decades of increased chemical use in the United States and health issues such as cancer, miscarriage, autism, and birth defects.
The film also contends that the American Chemistry Council lobbies for a $720-billion-a-year industry that has politicians in its pocket and sabotages attempts at passing regulatory legislation.
Microwaves, Science & Lies
by Jean Heches and Nancy de Meritens
This incredible documentary describes how the cellular telephone industry and its many allies have endeavored successfully to suppress public awareness of the growing body of research that finds biological effects of significance from exposure to the microwave radiation from cell phones and cell towers. The power of industry is highlighted. This French film has been translated into English.
More movies:
EHT’s Film Picks on Cell Phones, EMF and Cell Towers
Women Make Movies
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Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, MeWe, Twitter and Gab.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-12-30--New Exposé Shows UK’s COVID Response was Rife with Corruption and Cronyism


activistpost--2020-12-30--Neurologists Say There is No Medical Justification for Police Use of Neck Restraints

Some police departments in the United States continue to teach officers that neck restraints are a safe method for controlling agitated or aggressive people , but that ’ s a dangerous myth , according to a Viewpoint written by three neurologists at Massachusetts General Hospital ( MGH ) in JAMA Neurology .
The killing of George Floyd , a Black man who died while being arrested in May 2020 after a police officer pressed a knee to his neck for more than eight minutes , helped spark a national conversation about racial injustice in the United States .
Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of Eric Garner in 2014 after police placed him in a chokehold .
Yet a number of other Americans have died during confrontations with police officers who used neck restraints , says MGH neurologist Altaf Saadi , MD , senior author of the Viewpoint column .
Along with coauthors Jillian M. Berkman , MD , and Joseph A. Rosenthal , MD , Ph.D. , Saadi was disturbed by the use of neck restraints by police departments in the United States .
They found that some prohibit chokeholds and other neck restraints , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of subduing allegedly uncooperative people during encounters .
Notably , some police agencies advise that carotid restraint—compressing the two large blood vessels on either side of the neck , which is known as a stranglehold—is a safe , nonlethal tactic that temporarily renders a person unconscious by reducing blood flow to the brain .
“ As a neurologist , I know that there is never a scenario where stopping the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is medically appropriate , ” says Saadi .
“ What shocked me most was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ techniques hides behind medical language , but lacks a real understanding of the pathophysiology of the significant harm they cause to an individual .
As neurologists , we are taught that ‘ time is brain , ’ because there ’ s such a rapid loss of human nervous tissue when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is reduced or stopped.
” In their Viewpoint , Saadi and her colleagues describe how carotid compression—which can occur with as few as 6 kilograms ( 13 pounds ) of force , or about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in stroke , seizure and death .
They call for the creation of a system for reporting on law enforcement ’ s use of neck restraints , including how often the technique is used and if it results in death or disability .
“ It ’ s in the public ’ s best interest to have this data , ” says Saadi .
She believes that increasing awareness about the impact of neck restraints could help curb their use .
Ultimately , says Saadi , there is no medical justification for neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , Twitter and Gab .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

Some police departments in the United States continue to teach officers that neck restraints are a safe method for controlling agitated or aggressive people, but that’s a dangerous myth, according to a Viewpoint written by three neurologists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in JAMA Neurology.
The killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died while being arrested in May 2020 after a police officer pressed a knee to his neck for more than eight minutes, helped spark a national conversation about racial injustice in the United States. Floyd’s death made headlines, as did that of Eric Garner in 2014 after police placed him in a chokehold. Yet a number of other Americans have died during confrontations with police officers who used neck restraints, says MGH neurologist Altaf Saadi, MD, senior author of the Viewpoint column.
Along with coauthors Jillian M. Berkman, MD, and Joseph A. Rosenthal, MD, Ph.D., Saadi was disturbed by the use of neck restraints by police departments in the United States. They found that some prohibit chokeholds and other neck restraints, but others teach the techniques for the purpose of subduing allegedly uncooperative people during encounters. Notably, some police agencies advise that carotid restraint—compressing the two large blood vessels on either side of the neck, which is known as a stranglehold—is a safe, nonlethal tactic that temporarily renders a person unconscious by reducing blood flow to the brain.
“As a neurologist, I know that there is never a scenario where stopping the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is medically appropriate,” says Saadi. “What shocked me most was that much of the literature supporting these techniques hides behind medical language, but lacks a real understanding of the pathophysiology of the significant harm they cause to an individual. As neurologists, we are taught that ‘time is brain,’ because there’s such a rapid loss of human nervous tissue when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is reduced or stopped.”
In their Viewpoint, Saadi and her colleagues describe how carotid compression—which can occur with as few as 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of force, or about the weight of a typical house cat—can result in stroke, seizure and death. They call for the creation of a system for reporting on law enforcement’s use of neck restraints, including how often the technique is used and if it results in death or disability.
“It’s in the public’s best interest to have this data,” says Saadi. She believes that increasing awareness about the impact of neck restraints could help curb their use. Ultimately, says Saadi, there is no medical justification for neck restraints in policing.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Image credit: CC0 public domain
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