activistpost--2020-03-16--1,000 Michigan Children to Receive $80m for Being Sexually Abused in State Institutions

A massive lawsuit representing over 1,000 children who were held and sexually abused in the Michigan corrections system was recently settled as state officials agreed to pay $ 80 million to the victims .
The lawsuit began in 2013 and has been an uphill battle for the plaintiffs as the state fought them every step of the way .
The massive payout comes after hundreds of children came forward with claims that they were sexually assaulted and harassed by corrections officers as well as incarcerated adults while in the state ’ s care in detention centers across the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Michigan Department of Corrections ( MDOC ) director and a spokesperson for the current attorney general cited the costs of litigation as their reason for settling — not guilt .
“ We ’ ve got to look at the length of time that we ’ ve been dealing with this and the amount of resources that frankly will be spent continuing to draw this out , ” Heidi Washington , the MDOC director , said during the call .
Through a statement read by her spokesperson , Attorney General Dana Nessel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended against this lawsuit and has exhausted every single legal argument over the years , in the end , it was clear that continuing to engage in protracted litigation was not in the best interest of the people of this state.
” In response to the state ’ s inability to believe the hundreds of alleged victims , the attorney who filed the lawsuit , Deborah LaBelle said the “ state took dozens of depositions of youth who under oath told consistent and compelling reports of sexual assaults in addition to many many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never received and most of whose reports of rape were never even investigated .
The only way to assert the [ defendants ] could not corroborate is to take the unsupported position that scores of young people were lying about the sexual assaults that happened to them in Michigan ’ s prisons when they were placed , without supervision , in cells and units with adults when they were 15 , 16 , and 17 years old .
To simply deny the credible and consistent reports of these young sexual abuse survivors is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short of admitting guilt , Nessel did concede that the state has made significant changes since 2013 during former Attorney General Bill Schuette ’ s term , in order to combat the child sex abuse .
“ I believe prisoners are entitled to be treated with respect and basic human dignity , ” Nessel said , referring to Heidi Washington , who became prisons director after the lawsuit was filed .
“ I know MDOC has made significant strides under the leadership of Director Washington and that the past seven years of litigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration or the current reality of life inside Michigan ’ s prison system.
” “ I would agree that during that the trajectory of this case the department has responded to the allegations and improved conditions , ” said LaBelle .
According to the Associated Press , LaBelle has formed a committee to determine how the money will be paid out to the victims which is a pool of around 1,000 current and former incarcerated children .
She explained that the children who received the worst abuse , like rape , will receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have heard from hundreds , so we know it was widespread and there was a great deal of harm , ” LaBelle said .
“ Youth who were subjected to penetrative assaults qualify for the most .
Those who were subjected to sexual harassment , touching , will receive less because the severity of the injuries was different.
” Also , teens who were kept in solitary confinement — which has recently been classified as torture that can make children more dangerous — are eligible to receive part of the settlement as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarcerate children convicted of certain crimes under Michigan law , “ what they didn ’ t have to do ” is subject children to sexual assaults by both staff and incarcerated adults , LaBelle said .
“ What they didn ’ t have to do is put children in solitary confinement for months on end .
So I think that also the fact that they paid $ 80 million in damages … means that they have to recognize the kind of harm they did.
” According to The Appeal , in addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Corrections to take steps to improve safety for children in adult facilities .
According to a packet explaining the settlement to plaintiffs provided to The Appeal by LaBelle , those steps include the creation of a Youthful Offender Policy directive “ to improve conditions for any youthful offender in the custody of the MDOC , enhance a culture of humane treatment , eliminate the risk that a youth will be subject to sexual abuse by staff or adult prisoners , and work toward eliminating the use of segregation or isolation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of the use of force against incarcerated children ; reporting and tracking of complaints of sexual abuse , harassment , and retaliation ; and elimination of the previous requirement that incarcerated children file a grievance or exhaust administrative remedies before being able to file complaints under the Prison Rape Elimination Act .
Despite the push to reform Michigan ’ s problem of child rape in prison , LaBelle says little is being done .
“ I ’ ve heard better language from them , but … I ’ m not sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address issues of criminal justice and youth justice with this administration , ” LaBelle said .
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA .
This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state .
Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world .
Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project .
Follow @ MattAgorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Minds .
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By Matt Agorist
A massive lawsuit representing over 1,000 children who were held and sexually abused in the Michigan corrections system was recently settled as state officials agreed to pay $80 million to the victims. The lawsuit began in 2013 and has been an uphill battle for the plaintiffs as the state fought them every step of the way.
The massive payout comes after hundreds of children came forward with claims that they were sexually assaulted and harassed by corrections officers as well as incarcerated adults while in the state’s care in detention centers across the state.
Despite the size of the settlement, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) director and a spokesperson for the current attorney general cited the costs of litigation as their reason for settling — not guilt.
“We’ve got to look at the length of time that we’ve been dealing with this and the amount of resources that frankly will be spent continuing to draw this out,” Heidi Washington, the MDOC director, said during the call. Through a statement read by her spokesperson, Attorney General Dana Nessel said that although her office had “vigorously defended against this lawsuit and has exhausted every single legal argument over the years, in the end, it was clear that continuing to engage in protracted litigation was not in the best interest of the people of this state.”
In response to the state’s inability to believe the hundreds of alleged victims, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, Deborah LaBelle said the “state took dozens of depositions of youth who under oath told consistent and compelling reports of sexual assaults in addition to many many more, who asked for help they never received and most of whose reports of rape were never even investigated. The only way to assert the [defendants] could not corroborate is to take the unsupported position that scores of young people were lying about the sexual assaults that happened to them in Michigan’s prisons when they were placed, without supervision, in cells and units with adults when they were 15, 16, and 17 years old. To simply deny the credible and consistent reports of these young sexual abuse survivors is to retraumatize them.”
Though she stopped short of admitting guilt, Nessel did concede that the state has made significant changes since 2013 during former Attorney General Bill Schuette’s term, in order to combat the child sex abuse.
“I believe prisoners are entitled to be treated with respect and basic human dignity,” Nessel said, referring to Heidi Washington, who became prisons director after the lawsuit was filed. “I know MDOC has made significant strides under the leadership of Director Washington and that the past seven years of litigation do not reflect the values of her administration or the current reality of life inside Michigan’s prison system.”
“I would agree that during that the trajectory of this case the department has responded to the allegations and improved conditions,” said LaBelle.
According to the Associated Press, LaBelle has formed a committee to determine how the money will be paid out to the victims which is a pool of around 1,000 current and former incarcerated children. She explained that the children who received the worst abuse, like rape, will receive more of the settlement.
“We have heard from hundreds, so we know it was widespread and there was a great deal of harm,” LaBelle said. “Youth who were subjected to penetrative assaults qualify for the most. Those who were subjected to sexual harassment, touching, will receive less because the severity of the injuries was different.”
Also, teens who were kept in solitary confinement — which has recently been classified as torture that can make children more dangerous — are eligible to receive part of the settlement as well.
Although the department was required to incarcerate children convicted of certain crimes under Michigan law, “what they didn’t have to do” is subject children to sexual assaults by both staff and incarcerated adults, LaBelle said. “What they didn’t have to do is put children in solitary confinement for months on end. So I think that also the fact that they paid $80 million in damages … means that they have to recognize the kind of harm they did.”
According to The Appeal, in addition to monetary relief, the settlement requires the Department of Corrections to take steps to improve safety for children in adult facilities. According to a packet explaining the settlement to plaintiffs provided to The Appeal by LaBelle, those steps include the creation of a Youthful Offender Policy directive “to improve conditions for any youthful offender in the custody of the MDOC, enhance a culture of humane treatment, eliminate the risk that a youth will be subject to sexual abuse by staff or adult prisoners, and work toward eliminating the use of segregation or isolation of youth.” Other requirements will include a review of the use of force against incarcerated children; reporting and tracking of complaints of sexual abuse, harassment, and retaliation; and elimination of the previous requirement that incarcerated children file a grievance or exhaust administrative remedies before being able to file complaints under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
Despite the push to reform Michigan’s problem of child rape in prison, LaBelle says little is being done.
“I’ve heard better language from them, but … I’m not sure that we have the kind of commitment yet to address issues of criminal justice and youth justice with this administration,” LaBelle said.
Article source: The Free Thought Project
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.
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activistpost--2020-03-16--Prison Labor To Produce 100,000 Gallons Of Hand Sanitizer In NY

New York is quickly becoming an epicenter for the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United States , while state and local governments are scrambling to address the concerns of sick or worried residents .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrote an open letter to Donald Trump in the New York Times this week , urging the president to assist the state in its growing outbreak , and calling for military troops to build makeshift hospitals for the incoming wave of coronavirus patients .
Cuomo announced in a previous press conference that the state will be producing 100,000 gallons of hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other government agencies , but admitted that the state would be relying on prison labor to produce the items .
The sanitizers will not be available to the general public , only for specific government agencies , and they will have to pay at least $ 6 for each bottle , although Cuomo promises that it will be a “ superior ” quality than those typically seen on the market .
They will be manufactured by inmates at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington county , which is near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Businesses across the state may be forced to close down , as lawmakers are warning against people crowding into small areas like bars and restaurants .
Similar measures are being considered across the entire country , as confirmed cases and deaths continue to rise in different areas .
New York has had 3 official deaths from the illness and under 1,000 confirmed cases , but officials estimate that these numbers are far higher due to the fact that they can ’ t test all of the people who are sick .
Testing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought up in his open letter to the president , and many other regions in the United States are also facing similar challenges with properly diagnosing coronavirus patients .
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By John Vibes
New York is quickly becoming an epicenter for the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United States, while state and local governments are scrambling to address the concerns of sick or worried residents. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrote an open letter to Donald Trump in the New York Times this week, urging the president to assist the state in its growing outbreak, and calling for military troops to build makeshift hospitals for the incoming wave of coronavirus patients.
Cuomo announced in a previous press conference that the state will be producing 100,000 gallons of hand sanitizer for schools, prisons, transportation systems, and other government agencies, but admitted that the state would be relying on prison labor to produce the items.
The sanitizers will not be available to the general public, only for specific government agencies, and they will have to pay at least $6 for each bottle, although Cuomo promises that it will be a “superior” quality than those typically seen on the market.
They will be manufactured by inmates at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington county, which is near the state’s border with Vermont.
Businesses across the state may be forced to close down, as lawmakers are warning against people crowding into small areas like bars and restaurants.
Similar measures are being considered across the entire country, as confirmed cases and deaths continue to rise in different areas. New York has had 3 official deaths from the illness and under 1,000 confirmed cases, but officials estimate that these numbers are far higher due to the fact that they can’t test all of the people who are sick.
Testing is one of the main issues that Cuomo brought up in his open letter to the president, and many other regions in the United States are also facing similar challenges with properly diagnosing coronavirus patients.
Article source: Truth Theory
IMAGE CREDIT: Sakhorn Saengtongsamarnsin
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activistpost--2020-03-16--Philippines Is First Country To Halt Its Market “Until Further Notice”

Following two weeks of relentless market turmoil , traders were wondering which country ’ s stock market would be shut down first .
Moments ago we got the answer when the Philippine Stock Exchange announced it is suspending trading “ until further notice ” after the country ’ s President Rodrigo Duterte expanded a month-long lockdown to the entire main island of Luzon .
“ Mass transport suspension and work suspension in the private sector plus the mandate of the government to stay at home constrained us to suspend trading and clearing & settlement for now , ” said PSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surely welcomes the opportunity to take a break from the crash in the country ’ s stock market which has wiped out just over a third of market values in since the November highs .
Earlier on Monday , the CEO of Borsa Italiana , Raffaele Jerusalmi , denied rumors that Italy ’ s stock market would shut even as the rest of the country is effectively on lockdown , when Ansa quoted him as saying that future decisions on closing stock markets “ at aggregate level ” are in theory possible but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jerusalmi did not say any such moves were imminent or comment on whether they ’ ve been discussed at any level .
“ If there was a decision at the global level , it could be done , but it is not up to us ” , suggesting that the Philippine closure was a rogue decision , although now that one nation ’ s market is offline it is far more likely that the rest of the world will promptly follow in “ coordinated fashion ” , especially if Trump fails to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timed 3:30 p.m. press conference today , timed strategically to coincide with the traditional last 30-minute market ramp .
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By Tyler Durden
Following two weeks of relentless market turmoil, traders were wondering which country’s stock market would be shut down first. Moments ago we got the answer when the Philippine Stock Exchange announced it is suspending trading “until further notice” after the country’s President Rodrigo Duterte expanded a month-long lockdown to the entire main island of Luzon.
“Mass transport suspension and work suspension in the private sector plus the mandate of the government to stay at home constrained us to suspend trading and clearing & settlement for now,” said PSE Chief Operating Officer Roel Refran, who surely welcomes the opportunity to take a break from the crash in the country’s stock market which has wiped out just over a third of market values in since the November highs.
Full PSE statement below:
Who’s next?
Earlier on Monday, the CEO of Borsa Italiana, Raffaele Jerusalmi, denied rumors that Italy’s stock market would shut even as the rest of the country is effectively on lockdown, when Ansa quoted him as saying that future decisions on closing stock markets “at aggregate level” are in theory possible but would be up to governments acting collectively. Jerusalmi did not say any such moves were imminent or comment on whether they’ve been discussed at any level.
“If there was a decision at the global level, it could be done, but it is not up to us”, suggesting that the Philippine closure was a rogue decision, although now that one nation’s market is offline it is far more likely that the rest of the world will promptly follow in “coordinated fashion”, especially if Trump fails to spark a BTFD panic with his appropriately timed 3:30 p.m. press conference today, timed strategically to coincide with the traditional last 30-minute market ramp.
Article source: ZeroHedge
Image: Pixabay
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activistpost--2020-03-16--IMF Prepares $1 Trillion Bazooka

IMF Prepares $1 Trillion Bazooka

The IMF has just fired off a trillion-dollar “ bazooka ” of its own Monday morning .
In a blog post published minutes ago , IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva issued three “ policy prescriptions ” that she said should define a “ coordinated response ” from the developed economies in Europe and the US .
In addition to declaring that the IMF has $ 1 trillion in loan capacity ready to put to work to salve the economic damage caused by the outbreak , Georgieva encouraged governments to spend more , and asked the Fed to consider bulking up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks .
She also noted that the $ 42 billion that investors have pulled from EM markets is one of the biggest outflows in history , and will certainly ratchet up financial stressors .
Today , the IMF published a set of policy recommendations that can help guide countries in the difficult days ahead .
What more needs to be done ?
Three action areas for the global economy : Additional fiscal stimulus will be necessary to prevent long-lasting economic damage .
Fiscal measures already announced are being deployed on a range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in need .
We know that comprehensive containment measures—combined with early monitoring—will slow the rate of infection and the spread of the virus .
Governments should continue and expand these efforts to reach the most-affected people and businesses—with policies including increased paid sick leave and targeted tax relief .
Beyond these positive individual country actions , as the virus spreads , the case for a coordinated and synchronized global fiscal stimulus is becoming stronger by the hour .
During the Global Financial Crisis ( GFC ) , for example , fiscal stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of GDP , or over $ 900 billion in today ’ s money , in 2009 alone .
So , there is a lot more work to do .
In advanced economies , central banks should continue to support demand and boost confidence by easing financial conditions and ensuring the flow of credit to the real economy .
For example , the U.S. Federal Reserve just announced further interest rate cuts , asset purchases , forward guidance and a drop in reserve requirements .
Policy steps that we know have worked before—including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yesterday , major central banks took decisive coordinated action on monetary easing and opening of swap lines to lessen global financial market stresses .
Going forward , there may be a need for swap lines to emerging market economies .
As the Institute for International Finance said last week , investors have removed nearly $ 42 billion from emerging markets since the beginning of the crisis .
This is the largest outflow they have ever recorded .
So central banks ’ policy action in emerging-market and developing economies will need to balance the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversals and commodity shocks .
In times of crisis such as at present , foreign exchange interventions and capital flow management measures can usefully complement interest rate and other monetary policy actions .
Financial system supervisors should aim to maintain the balance between preserving financial stability , maintaining banking system soundness and sustaining economic activity .
This crisis will stress test whether the changes made in the wake of the financial crisis will serve their purpose .
Banks should be encouraged to use flexibility in existing regulations , for example by using their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renegotiation of loan terms for stressed borrowers .
Risk disclosure and clear communication of supervisory expectations will also be essential for markets to function properly in the period ahead .
All this work—from monetary to fiscal to regulatory—is most effective when done cooperatively .
Indeed , IMF staff research shows that changes in spending , for example , have a multiplier effect when countries act together .
What the IMF can do The IMF stands ready to mobilize its $ 1 trillion lending capacity to help our membership .
As a first line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its flexible and rapid-disbursing emergency response toolkit to help countries with urgent balance-of-payment needs .
These instruments could provide in the order of $ 50 billion to emerging and developing economies .
Up to $ 10 billion could be made available to our low-income members through our concessional financing facilities , which carry zero interest rates .
The Fund already has 40 ongoing arrangements—both disbursing and precautionary—with combined commitments of about $ 200 billion .
In many cases , these arrangements can provide another vehicle for the rapid disbursement of crisis financing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 more countries and will be following up with them in the coming days .
In addition , the Fund ’ s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust ( CCRT ) can help the poorest countries with immediate debt relief , which will free up vital resources for health spending , containment , and mitigation .
In this regard , I commend United Kingdom ’ s recent pledge of $ 195 million , which means the CCRT now has about $ 400 million available for potential debt relief .
Our aim , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost it to $ 1 billion .
In this way , the IMF can serve its 189 member countries and demonstrate the value of international cooperation .
Because , in the end , our answers to this crisis will not come from one method , one region , or one country in isolation .
Only through sharing , coordination , and cooperation will we be able to stabilize the global economy and return it to full health .
The markets were clearly unimpressed with last night ’ s coordinated policy response from central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ react to the IMF ’ s call for coordinated fiscal and monetary action ?
We saw a slight blip , that has already faded .
Despite throwing trillions at the market , nothing is stopping the freefall as it become clearer that what the market really wants is not a ‘ loan ’ to see it through but helicopter money…and once that has started , will it ever be allowed to stop ?
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patreon .
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Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Tyler Durden
The IMF has just fired off a trillion-dollar “bazooka” of its own Monday morning.
In a blog post published minutes ago, IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva issued three “policy prescriptions” that she said should define a “coordinated response” from the developed economies in Europe and the US. In addition to declaring that the IMF has $1 trillion in loan capacity ready to put to work to salve the economic damage caused by the outbreak, Georgieva encouraged governments to spend more, and asked the Fed to consider bulking up its dollar FX swap lines to emerging-market central banks. She also noted that the $42 billion that investors have pulled from EM markets is one of the biggest outflows in history, and will certainly ratchet up financial stressors.
Read the full post below:
Today, the IMF published a set of policy recommendations that can help guide countries in the difficult days ahead.
What more needs to be done?
Three action areas for the global economy:
First, fiscal.
Additional fiscal stimulus will be necessary to prevent long-lasting economic damage.
Fiscal measures already announced are being deployed on a range of policies that immediately prioritize health spending and those in need. We know that comprehensive containment measures—combined with early monitoring—will slow the rate of infection and the spread of the virus.
Governments should continue and expand these efforts to reach the most-affected people and businesses—with policies including increased paid sick leave and targeted tax relief.
Beyond these positive individual country actions, as the virus spreads, the case for a coordinated and synchronized global fiscal stimulus is becoming stronger by the hour.
During the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), for example, fiscal stimulus by the G20 amounted to about 2 percent of GDP, or over $900 billion in today’s money, in 2009 alone. So, there is a lot more work to do.
Second, monetary policy.
In advanced economies, central banks should continue to support demand and boost confidence by easing financial conditions and ensuring the flow of credit to the real economy. For example, the U.S. Federal Reserve just announced further interest rate cuts, asset purchases, forward guidance and a drop in reserve requirements.
Policy steps that we know have worked before—including during the GFC—are on the table. Yesterday, major central banks took decisive coordinated action on monetary easing and opening of swap lines to lessen global financial market stresses.
Going forward, there may be a need for swap lines to emerging market economies.
As the Institute for International Finance said last week, investors have removed nearly $42 billion from emerging markets since the beginning of the crisis. This is the largest outflow they have ever recorded.
So central banks’ policy action in emerging-market and developing economies will need to balance the especially difficult challenge of addressing capital flow reversals and commodity shocks. In times of crisis such as at present, foreign exchange interventions and capital flow management measures can usefully complement interest rate and other monetary policy actions.
Third, the regulatory response.
Financial system supervisors should aim to maintain the balance between preserving financial stability, maintaining banking system soundness and sustaining economic activity.
This crisis will stress test whether the changes made in the wake of the financial crisis will serve their purpose.
Banks should be encouraged to use flexibility in existing regulations, for example by using their capital and liquidity buffers, and undertake renegotiation of loan terms for stressed borrowers. Risk disclosure and clear communication of supervisory expectations will also be essential for markets to function properly in the period ahead.
All this work—from monetary to fiscal to regulatory—is most effective when done cooperatively.
Indeed, IMF staff research shows that changes in spending, for example, have a multiplier effect when countries act together.
What the IMF can do
The IMF stands ready to mobilize its $1 trillion lending capacity to help our membership. As a first line of defense, the Fund can deploy its flexible and rapid-disbursing emergency response toolkit to help countries with urgent balance-of-payment needs.
These instruments could provide in the order of $50 billion to emerging and developing economies. Up to $10 billion could be made available to our low-income members through our concessional financing facilities, which carry zero interest rates.
The Fund already has 40 ongoing arrangements—both disbursing and precautionary—with combined commitments of about $200 billion. In many cases, these arrangements can provide another vehicle for the rapid disbursement of crisis financing. We also have received interest from about 20 more countries and will be following up with them in the coming days.
In addition, the Fund’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) can help the poorest countries with immediate debt relief, which will free up vital resources for health spending, containment, and mitigation. In this regard, I commend United Kingdom’s recent pledge of $195 million, which means the CCRT now has about $400 million available for potential debt relief. Our aim, with the help of other donors, is to boost it to $1 billion.
In this way, the IMF can serve its 189 member countries and demonstrate the value of international cooperation. Because, in the end, our answers to this crisis will not come from one method, one region, or one country in isolation.
Only through sharing, coordination, and cooperation will we be able to stabilize the global economy and return it to full health.
* * *
The markets were clearly unimpressed with last night’s coordinated policy response from central banks, so how did the market react to the IMF’s call for coordinated fiscal and monetary action?
We saw a slight blip, that has already faded.
Despite throwing trillions at the market, nothing is stopping the freefall as it become clearer that what the market really wants is not a ‘loan’ to see it through but helicopter money…and once that has started, will it ever be allowed to stop?
Article source: ZeroHedge
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Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-03-16--Under Cover Of Coronavirus Congress Introduces Bill That Allows Gov To Control All Internet Content

By The Last American Vagabond While only one topic is dominating the news , there are other significant changes taking @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Cristián — The Last American Vagabond — takes a look at a proposal called @ @ @ @ @ none other than Lindsey Graham which would see all online messages scanned by government .
@ @ @ @ @ The Daily Wrap Up 3/13 .
Full Episode Can Be Seen Here : https : @ @ @ @ @ The EARN IT Bill Is the Government ’ s Plan to Scan Every Message Online @ @ @ @ @ TLAV ’ s independent news broadcast on YouTube or iTunes .
Follow on Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ Support at Patreon or PayPal .
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By The Last American Vagabond
While only one topic is dominating the news, there are other significant changes taking place in the background.
Ryan Cristián — The Last American Vagabond — takes a look at a proposal called the EARN IT bill by none other than Lindsey Graham which would see all online messages scanned by government.
Is this Internet Martial Law?
This is an excerpt of The Daily Wrap Up 3/13. Full Episode Can Be Seen Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crUXW…

Read: The EARN IT Bill Is the Government’s Plan to Scan Every Message Online
Visit TheLastAmericanVagabond.com. Subscribe to TLAV’s independent news broadcast on YouTube or iTunes. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Minds. Support at Patreon or PayPal.
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activistpost--2020-03-17--“Martial Law” Being Seen In U.S. and Europe Over COVID-19 Is The Bigger Threat

NYC ’ s governor Andrew Cuomo wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times begging President U.S. Donald Trump to enact martial law .
Meanwhile , other states have already taken shocking martial law measures without an official declaration , showing our potential unconstitutional future under fears of the coronavirus that likely won ’ t go away after the pandemic has subsided .
All over the U.S. there seems be this new trend — military and police now acting as if we are under martial law without a formal declaration of such .
Yet , here we have NYC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially declare martial law by utilizing the military for the COVID-19 pandemic and federalize shutdowns .
“ Slowing the spread of coronavirus is a function of testing and reducing the density of public gatherings .
So first , Mr. President , you must stop the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from overregulating the testing process , and authorize states to certify a wider array of testing labs and methods , ” Cuomo writes .
Cuomo goes on to express that Trump should utilize the Army Corps of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical centers .
To sum up what Trump can do to defend against the spread of the coronavirus Cuomo writes , “ In short : Localize testing , federalize shutdowns and task the Army Corps of Engineers to expand hospital capacity.
” While building hospital beds in existing facilities and using the military to do so isn ’ t a bad idea , forced quarantines would be expanding the police state .
NYC hasn ’ t yet gone into “ martial law mode , ” but other states have basically enacted it in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed in heavily infected areas .
According to reports , the National Guard has been deployed so far to six states with many more expected to follow .
Beyond that , there are reports that Kentucky has a patient who refused to self isolate .
As a result , the state took things into their own hands by suspending his rights and police are now guarding him armed 24/7 at his house .
If that ’ s not enough , there was a video posted online of New Orleans ’ police in several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and disperse immediately .
Then there is the curfew in New Jersey for residents and forced closure of restaurants and certain stores in other states like — California , Ohio , Illinois , Massachusetts and Washington , with more following suit .
What ’ s more is the U.S. isn ’ t the only one .
The UK and Italy have declared a nationwide lockdown ; in other words , imposing martial law on its citizens , as well as France which followed suit , deploying 100,000 police to enforce a national quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to spread we can expect more quarantines and police state actions across the world in other countries .
Back in the U.S. gun sales are skyrocketing in several states as fear of uncertainty from the virus and stock market collapse takes over American citizens seeking protection in the form of arming themselves , as LA Times reported .
Yes , everywhere you look the police state is increasing all in the name of the coronavirus , arguably one of the world ’ s most infectious diseases in history .
Still , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely remain long after the pandemic has stopped and the virus has run its course .
That ’ s the everlasting effect that COVID-19 will have on our society .
The coronavirus is now classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization , and it may very well be a legitimate health concern for all of us around the world .
But it ’ s the government ’ s response that should worry us all more in the long run .
Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post .
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By Aaron Kesel
New York governor Andrew Cuomo wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times begging President U.S. Donald Trump to enact martial law. Meanwhile, other states have already taken shocking martial law measures without an official declaration, showing our potential unconstitutional future under fears of the coronavirus that likely won’t go away after the pandemic has subsided.
All over the U.S. there seems be this new trend — military and police now acting as if we are under martial law without a formal declaration of such. Yet, here we have NYC’s governor Cuomo begging Trump to essentially declare martial law by utilizing the military for the COVID-19 pandemic and federalize shutdowns.
“Slowing the spread of coronavirus is a function of testing and reducing the density of public gatherings. So first, Mr. President, you must stop the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from overregulating the testing process, and authorize states to certify a wider array of testing labs and methods,” Cuomo writes.
Cuomo goes on to express that Trump should utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to transform existing facilities into temporary medical centers.
States cannot build more hospitals, acquire ventilators or modify facilities quickly enough. At this point, our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to leverage its expertise, equipment and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories — to serve as temporary medical centers. Then we can designate existing hospital beds for the acutely ill.
To sum up what Trump can do to defend against the spread of the coronavirus Cuomo writes, “In short: Localize testing, federalize shutdowns and task the Army Corps of Engineers to expand hospital capacity.”
While building hospital beds in existing facilities and using the military to do so isn’t a bad idea, forced quarantines would be expanding the police state. The whole state of New York, hasn’t yet gone into “martial law mode,” but other states have basically enacted it in the form of the National Guard being deployed in heavily infected areas. According to reports, the National Guard has been deployed so far to six states including New York in New Rochelle, with many more states expected to follow. Beyond that, there are reports that Kentucky has a patient who refused to self isolate. As a result, the state took things into their own hands by suspending his rights and police are now guarding him armed 24/7 at his house. If that’s not enough, there was a video posted online of New Orleans’ police in several cop cars demanding citizens leave the streets and disperse immediately.
🚔 “Your actions are jeopardizing public health.” – New Orleans Police as they clear crowds from Bourbon Street. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/Q2T0M5WrcC — Brantly Keiek (@BrantlyWx) March 16, 2020
Then there is the curfew in New Jersey for residents and forced closure of restaurants and certain stores in other states like — California, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington, with more following suit.
“Effective tonight, all other non-essential retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses MUST CLOSE after 8:00 PM,” said Murphy. “All non-essential and non-emergency travel in New Jersey is strongly discouraged between the hours of 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM This will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. We want everyone to be home –- and not out,” he added.
What’s more is the U.S. isn’t the only one. The UK and Italy have declared a nationwide lockdown; in other words, imposing martial law on its citizens, as well as France which followed suit, deploying 100,000 police to enforce a national quarantine in the country. As this pandemic continues to spread we can expect more quarantines and police state actions across the world in other countries.
Back in the U.S. gun sales are skyrocketing in several states as fear of uncertainty from the virus and stock market collapse takes over American citizens seeking protection in the form of arming themselves, as LA Times reported.
Yes, everywhere you look the police state is increasing all in the name of the coronavirus, arguably one of the world’s most infectious diseases in history. Still, these measures being put into place now will likely remain long after the pandemic has stopped and the virus has run its course. That’s the everlasting effect that COVID-19 will have on our society. The coronavirus is now classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and it may very well be a legitimate health concern for all of us around the world. But it’s the government’s response that should worry us all more in the long run.
**By [@An0nkn0wledge](https://steemit.com/@an0nkn0wledge)**
Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post. Support us at Patreon. Follow us on Minds, Steemit, SoMee, BitChute, Facebook and Twitter.
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activistpost--2020-03-16--Countries That Have Stopped 5G Now Include New Guinea and Slovenia

In 2017 , doctors and scientists asked for a worldwide moratorium on 5G due to biological and environmental risks .
Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals getting sick where it was turned on ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
In February 2019 the telecom industry gave U.S. congressional testimony that they have NO scientific evidence that it ’ s safe .
Worldwide opposition continues to increase due to biological and environmental risks and MUCH MORE ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
Many cities , countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , filing lawsuits and issuing moratoriums .
Thanks to Environmental Health Trust for compiling an international list of where 5G has been halted or delayed .
5G opposition and warnings continue to increase in the U.S. as well ( see 1 , 2 , 3 ) .
Lawsuits have been filed ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
In December 2019 , doctors , scientists , engineers , and public advocates asked President Trump for a moratorium on 5G .
More bad news : it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All sources of cell phone and wireless WiFi radiation – 1G through 4G – are harmful too .
Exposure can increase cancer risk and much more .
In fact , pollution from all sources of Electromagnetic Radiation ( “ Electrosmog ” ) is harmful .
Experts insist we should be reducing sources of Electrosmog – not increasing it .
Despite all of this , the “ Race to 5G ” continues worldwide and includes satellites blasting 5G and WiFi from space .
Activist Post reports regularly about 5G and other sources of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit our archives and the following websites : Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By B.N. Frank
In 2017, doctors and scientists asked for a worldwide moratorium on 5G due to biological and environmental risks. Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals getting sick where it was turned on (see 1, 2, 3, 4). In February 2019 the telecom industry gave U.S. congressional testimony that they have NO scientific evidence that it’s safe. Worldwide opposition continues to increase due to biological and environmental risks and MUCH MORE (see 1, 2, 3, 4). Many cities, countries, and organizations have taken action including banning it, filing lawsuits and issuing moratoriums.
Thanks to Environmental Health Trust for compiling an international list of where 5G has been halted or delayed.
5G opposition and warnings continue to increase in the U.S. as well (see 1, 2, 3). Lawsuits have been filed (see 1, 2, 3, 4). In December 2019, doctors, scientists, engineers, and public advocates asked President Trump for a moratorium on 5G.
More bad news: it’s not just 5G that isn’t safe. All sources of cell phone and wireless WiFi radiation – 1G through 4G – are harmful too. Exposure can increase cancer risk and much more. In fact, pollution from all sources of Electromagnetic Radiation (“Electrosmog”) is harmful. Experts insist we should be reducing sources of Electrosmog – not increasing it. Despite all of this, the “Race to 5G” continues worldwide and includes satellites blasting 5G and WiFi from space.

Activist Post reports regularly about 5G and other sources of unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites:
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.
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activistpost--2020-03-17--Spanish Police Are Using Drones to Yell at Those Disobeying Quarantine

Spanish police are taking a page out of China ’ s Orwellian playbook by using drones to patrol and yell at their civilians who are disobeying the CoViD-19 quarantine .
The country issued a state of emergency on Friday , and on Saturday the government ordered everyone in the country to stay home for all but the most crucial trips outdoors , according to Business Insider .
Now , much like China did earlier this year , Spanish police are using drones to demand that citizens stay indoors without having to approach them and risk spreading the virus .
Video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a radio and urging people walking through a Madrid park to go home .
That message is then relayed into a drone utilizing a loudspeaker flying overhead demanding Spain ’ s citizens quarantine themselves inside their homes .
In Spain , all schools , restaurants , bars , sports venues , and cultural centers have been ordered closed , and social gatherings are also forbidden under declaration of a National Emergency .
Spain has been one of Europe ’ s hardest hit countries , after Italy , with a death total of 509 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Johns Hopkins map at the time of this report .
Most of Spain ’ s cases have been recorded in the Madrid region , according to the Spanish Health Ministry .
“ We won ’ t hesitate to use all the measures we have at our disposal to look out for your safety and everyone ’ s safety , ” the city ’ s police department said on Twitter .
“ Although some of you will give us a hard time.
” Spain ’ s prime minister Pedro Sanchez called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combat the CoViD-19 virus , the Independent reported .
“ I want to tell the workers , the self-employed and businesses that the government of Spain is going to do everything in its power to cushion the effects of this crisis , ” Sanchez said .
“ Spain is demonstrating in these critical hours that it has the capacity to overcome adversity.
” “ We are facing very difficult weeks of efforts and sacrifices .
Some important rights must be limited if we want to beat the virus , ” Sanchez also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the quarantine in Spain can be fined up to €600,000 and face prison time for their negligence .
The state of emergency will last two weeks , though may be extended if the situation warrants .
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Get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

By Aaron Kesel
Spanish police are taking a page out of China’s Orwellian playbook by using drones to patrol and yell at their civilians who are disobeying the CoViD-19 quarantine.
The country issued a state of emergency on Friday, and on Saturday the government ordered everyone in the country to stay home for all but the most crucial trips outdoors, according to Business Insider. Now, much like China did earlier this year, Spanish police are using drones to demand that citizens stay indoors without having to approach them and risk spreading the virus.
Police in Spain have been using drones to check the streets for anyone ignoring Spanish orders to stay home during the coronavirus outbreak On Saturday, the country’s 47 million citizens were ordered to stay indoors except for necessary tripshttps://t.co/Yqcy5K9OLC pic.twitter.com/jmLlQfQYXc — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 15, 2020
Video from the BBC shows police speaking into a radio and urging people walking through a Madrid park to go home. That message is then relayed into a drone utilizing a loudspeaker flying overhead demanding Spain’s citizens quarantine themselves inside their homes.
In Spain, all schools, restaurants, bars, sports venues, and cultural centers have been ordered closed, and social gatherings are also forbidden under declaration of a National Emergency. Spain has been one of Europe’s hardest hit countries, after Italy, with a death total of 509 deaths and 11,000 cases of infections according to the Johns Hopkins map at the time of this report.
Most of Spain’s cases have been recorded in the Madrid region, according to the Spanish Health Ministry.
“We won’t hesitate to use all the measures we have at our disposal to look out for your safety and everyone’s safety,” the city’s police department said on Twitter. “Although some of you will give us a hard time.”
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez called for unity and cooperation announcing the new measures to combat the CoViD-19 virus, the Independent reported.
No dudaremos en utilizar todos los medios de los que disponemos para velar por tu #seguridad y la de tod@s, aunque algunos todavía nos lo pongan difícil…#YoMeQuedoEnCasa #COVID19#EstamosPorTi#DronPMM pic.twitter.com/8mKYaAekhB — Policía Municipal de Madrid (@policiademadrid) March 14, 2020
“I want to tell the workers, the self-employed and businesses that the government of Spain is going to do everything in its power to cushion the effects of this crisis,” Sanchez said. “Spain is demonstrating in these critical hours that it has the capacity to overcome adversity.”
“We are facing very difficult weeks of efforts and sacrifices. Some important rights must be limited if we want to beat the virus,” Sanchez also said.
Those who break the rules of the quarantine in Spain can be fined up to €600,000 and face prison time for their negligence.
The state of emergency will last two weeks, though may be extended if the situation warrants.
By Aaron Kesel | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.
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activistpost--2020-03-17--Bullion Demand SURGES, Mostly Cleaning Out Dealer Inventories

There will be many people who look at gold and silver prices and assume lots of gold bugs are selling .
They couldn ’ t be more wrong .
The disconnect between paper prices for precious metals and demand in the bullion markets has never been clearer .
Nervous investors are frantically buying coins , rounds , and bars .
Dealer shelves quickly emptied of more popular products and delays are now being quoted on many products – especially in silver .
The U.S. Mint stopped accepting orders temporarily for the silver American Eagle , Investors have coped with bottlenecks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has been a few years .
The truth is that the production capacity for fabricated silver and gold products has always been too small to cope with massive demand surges .
Buying demand for physical gold and silver during the past week was unprecedented , and it is becoming almost unmanageable .
Dealer shelves are suddenly looking a lot like the bottled water section at Costco .
In a sense , we are seeing a perfect storm of events driving demand : • Silver spot prices dropped over $ 4.00 per ounce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 175/oz .
The largest drops came during the last three trading days .
Bargain hunters have been out in droves .
• Many bullion investors focused on making preparations for the coronavirus and added to their metal stacks .
• The turmoil in equity markets is driving massive interest in physical metal as a safe haven .
• The Federal Reserve announced a multi-trillion dollar repo and bond purchasing program – and slashed short term rates to zero .
Plenty of metal investors wonder if the wheels are finally coming off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is obviously a failed policy ; print oceans of money and hand it out to Wall Street banks .
• To cap it off , news of the U.S. Mint suspending sales of the silver American Eagle spread through the market Friday .
Lots of people rushed to get their hands on available stocks .
Demand for silver has been particularly heated .
The gold/silver ratio , the gold price divided by the silver price , has surged to an all-time high of 115 to 1 .
Like all preparations , buying physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets are quiet and prices are low .
The past few years were characterized by low premiums and plentiful inventory .
Mints and refiners had excess capacity and some – including Elemetal and Republic Metals – are now gone .
Last week , that all changed .
Premiums , both bid and ask , spiked on silver products and gold is likely not be too far behind .
Investors trying to take advantage of the low silver prices may find they are instead paying a price similar , or even higher , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ago , despite the $ 3.00 decline in the underlying spot price .
Order volume on Friday and through to today has been well more than five times our typical activity – something we have not seen before .
Mints and refiners will not be able to keep up with anywhere near that level of demand .
However , Money Metals ’ relationships with suppliers is among the strongest in the industry .
Money Metals Exchange has all hands on deck to fulfill customer orders .
We do our very best to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for delivery before their order is placed .
That said , we do expect more surprises from the manufacturers struggling to meet demand .
Ramping production requires people and equipment – neither of which can be procured at a moment ’ s notice .
If you are thinking about a bullion purchase , consider gold which offers better availability and is behind silver in terms of the premium increases .
Moreover , most silver items now come with some additional delay .
Clint Siegner is a Director at Money Metals Exchange , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the USA ” by an independent global ratings group .
A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon , Siegner puts his experience in business management along with his passion for personal liberty , limited government , and honest money into the development of Money Metals ’ brand and reach .
This includes writing extensively on the bullion markets and their intersection with policy and world affairs .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SoMee , Flote , Minds , Twitter , and Steemit .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Clint Siegner
There will be many people who look at gold and silver prices and assume lots of gold bugs are selling. They couldn’t be more wrong.
The disconnect between paper prices for precious metals and demand in the bullion markets has never been clearer. Nervous investors are frantically buying coins, rounds, and bars. Dealer shelves quickly emptied of more popular products and delays are now being quoted on many products – especially in silver.
The U.S. Mint stopped accepting orders temporarily for the silver American Eagle, Investors have coped with bottlenecks at the U.S. Mint before, but it has been a few years. The truth is that the production capacity for fabricated silver and gold products has always been too small to cope with massive demand surges.
Buying demand for physical gold and silver during the past week was unprecedented, and it is becoming almost unmanageable.
Dealer shelves are suddenly looking a lot like the bottled water section at Costco.
In a sense, we are seeing a perfect storm of events driving demand:
Silver spot prices dropped over $4.00 per ounce in recent days, and gold lost about $175/oz. The largest drops came during the last three trading days. Bargain hunters have been out in droves.
Many bullion investors focused on making preparations for the coronavirus and added to their metal stacks.
The turmoil in equity markets is driving massive interest in physical metal as a safe haven.
The Federal Reserve announced a multi-trillion dollar repo and bond purchasing program – and slashed short term rates to zero. Plenty of metal investors wonder if the wheels are finally coming off as the Fed quintuples down on what is obviously a failed policy; print oceans of money and hand it out to Wall Street banks.
To cap it off, news of the U.S. Mint suspending sales of the silver American Eagle spread through the market Friday. Lots of people rushed to get their hands on available stocks.
Demand for silver has been particularly heated. The gold/silver ratio, the gold price divided by the silver price, has surged to an all-time high of 115 to 1.
Like all preparations, buying physical gold and silver is best done when markets are quiet and prices are low. The past few years were characterized by low premiums and plentiful inventory. Mints and refiners had excess capacity and some – including Elemetal and Republic Metals – are now gone.
Last week, that all changed. Premiums, both bid and ask, spiked on silver products and gold is likely not be too far behind. Investors trying to take advantage of the low silver prices may find they are instead paying a price similar, or even higher, for Silver Eagles than they would have a week ago, despite the $3.00 decline in the underlying spot price.
Order volume on Friday and through to today has been well more than five times our typical activity – something we have not seen before. Mints and refiners will not be able to keep up with anywhere near that level of demand. However, Money Metals’ relationships with suppliers is among the strongest in the industry.
Money Metals Exchange has all hands on deck to fulfill customer orders. We do our very best to inform customers of what they can expect for delivery before their order is placed. That said, we do expect more surprises from the manufacturers struggling to meet demand. Ramping production requires people and equipment – neither of which can be procured at a moment’s notice.
If you are thinking about a bullion purchase, consider gold which offers better availability and is behind silver in terms of the premium increases. Moreover, most silver items now come with some additional delay.
Clint Siegner is a Director at Money Metals Exchange, a precious metals dealer recently named “Best in the USA” by an independent global ratings group. A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, Siegner puts his experience in business management along with his passion for personal liberty, limited government, and honest money into the development of Money Metals’ brand and reach. This includes writing extensively on the bullion markets and their intersection with policy and world affairs.
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-03-17--Coronavirus Hysteria: “Liberals” for Fascism, Police State in Amerika

Former Congressman Ron Paul is right about the government and medical fear mongers inciting panic among the American population .
Bureaucrats and their media spokespeople are scaring Americans to accept unnecessary abridgments of their freedom .
And it ’ s very troubling now with the “ liberals ” and their calls for more fascism and controls , and pleas for censorship , just as it was with the warmongers after 9/11 .
Bernie Sanders recently accused Donald Trump ’ s alleged coronavirus “ unfactual information ” of “ exacerbating the crisis , ” and said that , “ the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether or not I ’ m president , is to shut this president up right now.
” But all Trump has done is to tell the truth about the coronavirus COVID-19 , that for most people is really no different from the seasonal flu .
The symptoms are similar , and for most people the symptoms are mild symptoms .
For Bernie and the media propagandists , everyone should just obediently believe the hype that implies that COVID-19 is as serious as Ebola , and shut up .
Like the neocon warmongers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 9/11 , the “ liberals ” will be going after any speech that doesn ’ t fall in line with the official narrative propaganda of COVID-19 .
After 9/11 , there were many instances of government-imposed censorship .
In the years after 9/11 , Sen. Lindsey Graham said , “ I wish we could find some way to hold people accountable .
Free speech is a great idea , but we ’ re in a war .
During World War II , you had limits on what you could do if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re At War ” thing .
We ’ re “ at war ” so Graham says censoring or stifling freedom of speech ( especially our criticism of those imbeciles in Washington ) is okey-dokey for him .
And Graham and his fellow statists also reject due process .
He said that if someone is accused of terrorism , then , “ If you ’ re an American citizen and you betray your country , you ’ re not going to be given a lawyer.
” Naturally statists who worship the high-and-mighty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re talking about those accused of “ betraying their country , ” not people who have been tried and convicted of such acts .
But soon the non-hysterical and non-irrational will be accused of “ terrorism ” or of “ giving people COVID-19 ” if we don ’ t go along with the hype and panic , and who knows what will happen then .
The “ liberals ” are now the ones with the “ We ’ re at War ” mentality , with the overblown , over-hyped “ War on Coronavirus.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009-2010 when Obama was President , now Trump is President .
That ’ s different .
So the Trump haters ’ inner Nazi is now showing in full glory .
Besides the president of France Emmanuel Macron saying , “ We are at war , ” here in the U.S. government parasites like Joe Biden and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo are calling for the military to get involved with COVID-19 .
As Becky Akers notes , Cuomo has already militarized New Rochelle .
( Oh , what will the Petries do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a New York Times op-ed , “ our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to leverage its expertise , equipment , and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories ” … ( For COVID-19 sufferers ?
Or for those who object to the “ liberal ” fascists and their police state ?
We just don ’ t know . )
And the president of Massachusetts General Hospital has said that “ we need to think about this in almost a war-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m sure that he and the doctors have their battle fatigues on , the ambulance tanks revved up , and ready for the kill .
In Massachusetts , the alleged birthplace of the American Revolution , the liberal Republican Gov .
Charlie Baker has ordered schools closed , a ban on gatherings of more than 25 sheeple , and he ’ s ordered restaurants and bars closed down .
Other U.S. state governors are doing the same , and some are ordering more extensive bans and closures .
The sheeple are responding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by flooding grocery stores and hoarding toilet paper and other goods , like it ’ s an impending blizzard or hurricane .
The restaurant closures will elicit more hysterical crowding of the grocery stores , so the fascists in control might consider closing them , too .
What then ?
The rulers just don ’ t get the freedom thing , do they ?
What , not let all the businesses be open and let the informed public make their own choice whether to voluntarily go into a restaurant or bar , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Voluntary ” doesn ’ t enter the vocabulary of a fascist , or socialist like Bernie Sanders who wants the government to control just about every aspect of everyday life , with all the people being compelled by force to comply .
OBEY !
With the stock market collapsing like in 2008 , and many people now losing their finances and with the business closings many people losing their necessary commerce and paychecks , I am hoping that someone takes these bureaucrats and their dictatorial orders to court .
And what if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaged in civil disobedience , and went about their lives as usual ?
What would Gov .
Charlie Baker do to them ?
Arrest them ?
And put them into over-crowded jails , putting them at risk of coronavirus COVID-19 ?
And all this hysteria and government conniving with a contagious virus , that , as Dr. Jeremy Faust of Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital and Harvard Medical School wrote , isn ’ t as deadly as the media are making it out to be .
Compared to Ebola , COVID-19 ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % is quite low , taking into account all the people who have probably already had it but because of mild symptoms assumed it was just a flu or cold and so didn ’ t bother reporting it or even going to the doctor .
It is mainly a serious problem for those who already have respiratory illnesses or other serious medical problems , and for the elderly whose immune systems are weaker because of age .
And by the way , because of the media ’ s sensationalizing COVID-19 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest situation , just how many strokes and heart attacks might happen ( or have happened ) because of all the stress and worry being inflicted onto people by fear mongers and the stock market collapse and uncertainty they have caused ?
Scott Lazarowitz is a libertarian writer and commentator .
Please visit his blog .
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Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , Flote , Minds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
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Op-Ed by Scott Lazarowitz
Former Congressman Ron Paul is right about the government and medical fear mongers inciting panic among the American population. Bureaucrats and their media spokespeople are scaring Americans to accept unnecessary abridgments of their freedom.
And it’s very troubling now with the “liberals” and their calls for more fascism and controls, and pleas for censorship, just as it was with the warmongers after 9/11.
Bernie Sanders recently accused Donald Trump’s alleged coronavirus “unfactual information” of “exacerbating the crisis,” and said that, “the first thing we have got to do, whether or not I’m president, is to shut this president up right now.”
But all Trump has done is to tell the truth about the coronavirus COVID-19, that for most people is really no different from the seasonal flu. The symptoms are similar, and for most people the symptoms are mild symptoms.
For Bernie and the media propagandists, everyone should just obediently believe the hype that implies that COVID-19 is as serious as Ebola, and shut up.
(However, while Ebola has a 90% mortality rate, coronavirus COVID-19 has a less then 1% mortality rate. That’s quite a difference, Bernie.)
Like the neocon warmongers and interventionists who censored criticism of government psychopaths after 9/11, the “liberals” will be going after any speech that doesn’t fall in line with the official narrative propaganda of COVID-19.
After 9/11, there were many instances of government-imposed censorship. In the years after 9/11, Sen. Lindsey Graham said, “I wish we could find some way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war. During World War II, you had limits on what you could do if it inspired the enemy.”
Note the “We’re At War” thing. We’re “at war” so Graham says censoring or stifling freedom of speech (especially our criticism of those imbeciles in Washington) is okey-dokey for him.
And Graham and his fellow statists also reject due process. He said that if someone is accused of terrorism, then, “If you’re an American citizen and you betray your country, you’re not going to be given a lawyer.”
Naturally statists who worship the high-and-mighty rulers do not understand that we’re talking about those accused of “betraying their country,” not people who have been tried and convicted of such acts.
But soon the non-hysterical and non-irrational will be accused of “terrorism” or of “giving people COVID-19” if we don’t go along with the hype and panic, and who knows what will happen then.
The “liberals” are now the ones with the “We’re at War” mentality, with the overblown, over-hyped “War on Coronavirus.” Unlike during the H1N1 crisis of 2009-2010 when Obama was President, now Trump is President. That’s different. So the Trump haters’ inner Nazi is now showing in full glory.
Besides the president of France Emmanuel Macron saying, “We are at war,” here in the U.S. government parasites like Joe Biden and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo are calling for the military to get involved with COVID-19. As Becky Akers notes, Cuomo has already militarized New Rochelle. (Oh, what will the Petries do now?)
Herr Cuomo wrote in a New York Times op-ed, “our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to leverage its expertise, equipment, and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories” … (For COVID-19 sufferers? Or for those who object to the “liberal” fascists and their police state? We just don’t know.)
And the president of Massachusetts General Hospital has said that “we need to think about this in almost a war-like stance,” so, I’m sure that he and the doctors have their battle fatigues on, the ambulance tanks revved up, and ready for the kill.
In Massachusetts, the alleged birthplace of the American Revolution, the liberal Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has ordered schools closed, a ban on gatherings of more than 25 sheeple, and he’s ordered restaurants and bars closed down. Other U.S. state governors are doing the same, and some are ordering more extensive bans and closures.
The sheeple are responding to the media and “officials” propaganda by flooding grocery stores and hoarding toilet paper and other goods, like it’s an impending blizzard or hurricane. The restaurant closures will elicit more hysterical crowding of the grocery stores, so the fascists in control might consider closing them, too. What then?
The rulers just don’t get the freedom thing, do they?
What, not let all the businesses be open and let the informed public make their own choice whether to voluntarily go into a restaurant or bar, or not?
No, NOT voluntary! “Voluntary” doesn’t enter the vocabulary of a fascist, or socialist like Bernie Sanders who wants the government to control just about every aspect of everyday life, with all the people being compelled by force to comply. OBEY!
With the stock market collapsing like in 2008, and many people now losing their finances and with the business closings many people losing their necessary commerce and paychecks, I am hoping that someone takes these bureaucrats and their dictatorial orders to court.
And what if business owners and their customers and patrons engaged in civil disobedience, and went about their lives as usual? What would Gov. Charlie Baker do to them? Arrest them? And put them into over-crowded jails, putting them at risk of coronavirus COVID-19?
And all this hysteria and government conniving with a contagious virus, that, as Dr. Jeremy Faust of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School wrote, isn’t as deadly as the media are making it out to be. Compared to Ebola, COVID-19’s mortality rate of probably less than 1% is quite low, taking into account all the people who have probably already had it but because of mild symptoms assumed it was just a flu or cold and so didn’t bother reporting it or even going to the doctor.
It is mainly a serious problem for those who already have respiratory illnesses or other serious medical problems, and for the elderly whose immune systems are weaker because of age.
And by the way, because of the media’s sensationalizing COVID-19, and with the fascism and militarism of this latest situation, just how many strokes and heart attacks might happen (or have happened) because of all the stress and worry being inflicted onto people by fear mongers and the stock market collapse and uncertainty they have caused?
Scott Lazarowitz is a libertarian writer and commentator. Please visit his blog.
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activistpost--2020-03-17--Is This What Peak Fear Looks Like?

Is This What Peak Fear Looks Like?

The last few days have been like nothing most of us have ever experienced – or are likely to experience again in our lifetimes .
Panic has spread from the streets of Wuhan to the grocery stores of America ’ s heartland , from nursing homes to the Federal Reserve Board , from the stock market to the gold and silver markets .
Like other asset classes , the precious metals space is being rocked by rapidly accelerating developments , some of which haven ’ t occurred for decades and some of which haven ’ t occurred ever .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precious metals investors like never before .
Gold and silver are meant to provide safe haven from financial turmoil .
Safe haven demand for physical bullion has indeed surged .
The pace of buying has been so furious in recent days that some dealers are literally running out of product to sell , and the scarcity has driven premiums are sharply higher .
So why haven ’ t gold prices skyrocketed ?
For one thing , the bullion market is relatively small compared to the highly leveraged futures market that sets spot prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any given day for no other reason than panicked traders need to sell it in order to raise cash .
When comparing gold to other assets , however , the monetary metal is performing exactly as it should during a time of crisis .
Gold has risen strongly when measured against a crashing stock market over the past few weeks .
It has spiked to multi-decade highs versus both crude oil and silver .
The gold : silver ratio has now entered previously uncharted territory .
On Monday it spiked to 116:1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gold could buy a staggering 116 ounces of silver .
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 .
Never have the silver bullion and silver futures markets diverged so greatly .
Whereas shortages and premium spikes are taking hold in American Eagles and other popular silver bullion products , the opposite is occurring on the exchanges .
For example , one exchange-traded silver vehicle , Sprott Physical Silver Trust ( PSLV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record 10 % discount to its own net asset value .
On Monday , another inexplicable trading anomaly occurred .
On a day when the general stock market suffered a 13 % nosedive , the Silver Miners ETF ( SIL ) surged higher by 13 % — and it ’ s surged again today .
Yet spot silver prices had plunged by 12 % at the same time .
If silver is down double digits and the equity market is also down double digits , how in the world do silver mining equities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no sense , unless the markets are completely broken and totally arbitrary at this point .
Or unless big money counterintuitively flowed into the mining sector because the silver spot price has lost credibility .
Perhaps mining stock investors believe the actual physical silver market is already beginning to dictate higher prices ( as reflected in surging premiums for silver coins ) than what are being quoted in the paper market .
Perhaps we just witnessed a capitulation bottom in silver and at least a temporary peak in investor fear more broadly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the fear index for the stock market , spiked on Monday to exceed the fear levels registered during the depths of the financial crisis in 2008 .
When markets are driven by extreme fear , they don ’ t produce rational outcomes .
Strange , anomalous , and unprecedented price action in certain assets creates once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to profit as investors calm down and come to their senses .
For example , you may never again get an opportunity to buy silver at less than 1/100th of the quoted gold price .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain physical silver at all during moments like these .
Bargain hunters have cleared out coin dealers of most of their inventories .
The upshot is that a new uptrend in silver , and a corresponding narrowing of the gold : silver ratio , can be expected to extend for years .
You should have plenty of opportunities to buy on the way up before the metal becomes expensive .
There is no need to panic buy in fear of missing the bottom .
We don ’ t know whether it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that drags out and gets re-tested again in the weeks ahead .
The current economic crisis is much broader in scope than previous crises centered on Wall Street and the banking system .
The Fed can ’ t fix it by cutting rates to zero and pumping more doses of Quantitative Easing into the bond market .
This is a Main Street crisis triggered by an invisible killer that will claim many more victims .
President Trump and his top medical advisors now fully expect the number of infections to grow and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get worse before it gets better .
Will the carnage on Wall Street and in metals markets get worse , too ?
Nobody knows for sure .
Nobody could have foreseen that a black swan event like a global pandemic would trigger a near total shutdown of the economy .
What we do know is that every other panic selling event in recorded history has produced fantastic buying opportunities for investors who didn ’ t lose their shirts or their minds .
This one will likely be no different .
Stefan Gleason is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , Flote , Minds , Twitter , and Steemit .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Stefan Gleason
The last few days have been like nothing most of us have ever experienced – or are likely to experience again in our lifetimes.
Panic has spread from the streets of Wuhan to the grocery stores of America’s heartland, from nursing homes to the Federal Reserve Board, from the stock market to the gold and silver markets.
Like other asset classes, the precious metals space is being rocked by rapidly accelerating developments, some of which haven’t occurred for decades and some of which haven’t occurred ever.
These unprecedented times are testing the mettle of precious metals investors like never before.
Gold and silver are meant to provide safe haven from financial turmoil. Safe haven demand for physical bullion has indeed surged. The pace of buying has been so furious in recent days that some dealers are literally running out of product to sell, and the scarcity has driven premiums are sharply higher.
So why haven’t gold prices skyrocketed? For one thing, the bullion market is relatively small compared to the highly leveraged futures market that sets spot prices. Gold can get pulled down on any given day for no other reason than panicked traders need to sell it in order to raise cash.
When comparing gold to other assets, however, the monetary metal is performing exactly as it should during a time of crisis. Gold has risen strongly when measured against a crashing stock market over the past few weeks. It has spiked to multi-decade highs versus both crude oil and silver.
The gold:silver ratio has now entered previously uncharted territory. On Monday it spiked to 116:1. Put another way, a single ounce of gold could buy a staggering 116 ounces of silver.
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. Never have the silver bullion and silver futures markets diverged so greatly.
Whereas shortages and premium spikes are taking hold in American Eagles and other popular silver bullion products, the opposite is occurring on the exchanges. For example, one exchange-traded silver vehicle, Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV), briefly traded down to a record 10% discount to its own net asset value.
On Monday, another inexplicable trading anomaly occurred. On a day when the general stock market suffered a 13% nosedive, the Silver Miners ETF (SIL) surged higher by 13% — and it’s surged again today. Yet spot silver prices had plunged by 12% at the same time.
If silver is down double digits and the equity market is also down double digits, how in the world do silver mining equities rise by double digits?
It makes no sense, unless the markets are completely broken and totally arbitrary at this point. Or unless big money counterintuitively flowed into the mining sector because the silver spot price has lost credibility.
Perhaps mining stock investors believe the actual physical silver market is already beginning to dictate higher prices (as reflected in surging premiums for silver coins) than what are being quoted in the paper market.
Perhaps we just witnessed a capitulation bottom in silver and at least a temporary peak in investor fear more broadly. The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index for the stock market, spiked on Monday to exceed the fear levels registered during the depths of the financial crisis in 2008.
When markets are driven by extreme fear, they don’t produce rational outcomes.
Strange, anomalous, and unprecedented price action in certain assets creates once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to profit as investors calm down and come to their senses. For example, you may never again get an opportunity to buy silver at less than 1/100th of the quoted gold price.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to obtain physical silver at all during moments like these. Bargain hunters have cleared out coin dealers of most of their inventories.
The upshot is that a new uptrend in silver, and a corresponding narrowing of the gold:silver ratio, can be expected to extend for years. You should have plenty of opportunities to buy on the way up before the metal becomes expensive.
There is no need to panic buy in fear of missing the bottom. We don’t know whether it will be a “V”-shaped bottom or one that drags out and gets re-tested again in the weeks ahead.
The current economic crisis is much broader in scope than previous crises centered on Wall Street and the banking system. The Fed can’t fix it by cutting rates to zero and pumping more doses of Quantitative Easing into the bond market.
This is a Main Street crisis triggered by an invisible killer that will claim many more victims. President Trump and his top medical advisors now fully expect the number of infections to grow and the strain on the medical system to get worse before it gets better.
Will the carnage on Wall Street and in metals markets get worse, too? Nobody knows for sure. Nobody could have foreseen that a black swan event like a global pandemic would trigger a near total shutdown of the economy.
What we do know is that every other panic selling event in recorded history has produced fantastic buying opportunities for investors who didn’t lose their shirts or their minds. This one will likely be no different.
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.
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-03-17--I Could Face Six Months in Jail for Walking to the Beach

President James Garfield was shot at a train station on July 2 , 1881 .
But it took 80 days for the best doctors in the country to complete his assassination .
These doctors decided that the most important thing was to remove the bullet .
So they stuck their dirty unwashed finger into the wound , cut incisions , and poked and prodded .
By September , the doctors had extended the small bullet wound to a 20-inch long gash .
It became a rotting , pus-ridden , extreme infection .
On September 19 , 1881 , in immense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you want to kill someone legally , hire them a personal doctor .
Extremely rich and powerful people from Garfield to Michael Jackson have made the mistake of thinking a personal doctor will keep them healthy .
But a doctor ’ s whole job is to intervene .
Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains this in his book Antifragile .
With medicine , the successes are prominently displayed , while the failures are hidden .
That leads people to believe that medical intervention is almost always beneficial .
In reality , medical intervention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential payoff is small .
Only in severe cases , when doing nothing would cause great harm , does medical intervention outweigh the risks .
The doctor , however , has a couple of incentives to intervene .
One is profit– they make more money .
But even the most honest doctor will err on the side of intervention .
Otherwise , if something happens to the patient , he could be blamed or even sued for negligence .
Unfortunately , politicians see themselves as society ’ s doctors .
Here in Puerto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the spread of Covid-19 .
The Governor issued an executive order forcing non-essential businesses closed .
There is a curfew from 9pm until 5am .
We can not leave home except for emergencies .
Even outside those hours , we are allowed to travel only for work , groceries , or medical reasons .
I could face six months in jail and a $ 5,000 fine for walking a quarter mile to the beach , and soaking up some Corona-killing ultra-violet and Vitamin D. I can look at this situation objectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position to handle an epidemic .
There are currently a handful of confirmed cases on the island , so the government is getting out ahead of a crisis .
From one perspective , it is actually a responsible move .
The government realizes how inept it would be at combating an epidemic , so it implements extreme measures to stop that from happening .
That ’ s what governments do , they react .
They have to protect their phony-baloney jobs , as Mel Brooks would say .
And to be fair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on by the public for not doing enough if things get out of hand .
Politicians have every incentive , personally , to act .
That ’ s why you see mayors and governors across the country acting like dictators to shut down social gatherings , bars , restaurants , and gyms .
But no one ever focuses on the whole picture .
The government ’ s sole aim is to stop the spread of Covid-19 .
The economic effect of quarantining millions of people is not part of the equation to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , entirely ignores the unintended negative consequences .
In the end , the government will report that they saved lives .
They will ignore how many lives were ruined by their draconian lock-down that will likely crash the economy .
And it ’ s worth noting that some of these powers seized by the government will never be rolled back , just like after 9/11 .
Look , this isn ’ t some personal tirade about being locked inside for two weeks .
Honestly , I couldn ’ t think of a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have a roof deck where I grow edible plants with an ocean view .
I have a bidet .
I have at least a month ’ s supply of non-perishable food ( and wine ) .
And I had it long before this week– I mean , I write for Sovereign Man and The Daily Bell , after all .
I work from home , I diversify my assets , and I have a Plan B .
The people who are going to be screwed by this big government “ do something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly , and the vulnerable who rely on service jobs , and live paycheck to paycheck .
In other words , the same exact people they are claiming to protect .
But as individuals , we don ’ t have to react emotionally , panic , and do something .
Sometimes the right thing to do is to sit back , wait , and see what happens .
When the smoke clears , people who are prepared will have plenty of opportunity to benefit from society ’ s fragility .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s more than prepping to be robust against , say , unexpected martial law .
It ’ s about being positioned to actually benefit from the economic turmoil these interventionistas create .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , Flote , Minds , Twitter , and Steemit .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of @ @ @ @

By Joe Jarvis
President James Garfield was shot at a train station on July 2, 1881.
But it took 80 days for the best doctors in the country to complete his assassination.
These doctors decided that the most important thing was to remove the bullet. So they stuck their dirty unwashed finger into the wound, cut incisions, and poked and prodded.
By September, the doctors had extended the small bullet wound to a 20-inch long gash. It became a rotting, pus-ridden, extreme infection.
On September 19, 1881, in immense pain, Garfield died of sepsis.
If you want to kill someone legally, hire them a personal doctor. Extremely rich and powerful people from Garfield to Michael Jackson have made the mistake of thinking a personal doctor will keep them healthy.
But a doctor’s whole job is to intervene.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains this in his book Antifragile.
With medicine, the successes are prominently displayed, while the failures are hidden. That leads people to believe that medical intervention is almost always beneficial.
In reality, medical intervention is often not worth the risk if the potential payoff is small. Only in severe cases, when doing nothing would cause great harm, does medical intervention outweigh the risks.
The doctor, however, has a couple of incentives to intervene. One is profit– they make more money.
But even the most honest doctor will err on the side of intervention. Otherwise, if something happens to the patient, he could be blamed or even sued for negligence.
Unfortunately, politicians see themselves as society’s doctors.
Here in Puerto Rico, we are on lockdown meant to stop the spread of Covid-19.
The Governor issued an executive order forcing non-essential businesses closed. There is a curfew from 9pm until 5am. We cannot leave home except for emergencies.
Even outside those hours, we are allowed to travel only for work, groceries, or medical reasons.
I could face six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for walking a quarter mile to the beach, and soaking up some Corona-killing ultra-violet and Vitamin D.
I can look at this situation objectively.
Puerto Rico is in absolutely no position to handle an epidemic. There are currently a handful of confirmed cases on the island, so the government is getting out ahead of a crisis.
From one perspective, it is actually a responsible move. The government realizes how inept it would be at combating an epidemic, so it implements extreme measures to stop that from happening.
That’s what governments do, they react. They have to protect their phony-baloney jobs, as Mel Brooks would say.
And to be fair, the politicians in office will get beat on by the public for not doing enough if things get out of hand. Politicians have every incentive, personally, to act.
That’s why you see mayors and governors across the country acting like dictators to shut down social gatherings, bars, restaurants, and gyms.
But no one ever focuses on the whole picture.
The government’s sole aim is to stop the spread of Covid-19. The economic effect of quarantining millions of people is not part of the equation to them.
The emotional rush to do something, entirely ignores the unintended negative consequences.
In the end, the government will report that they saved lives. They will ignore how many lives were ruined by their draconian lock-down that will likely crash the economy.
And it’s worth noting that some of these powers seized by the government will never be rolled back, just like after 9/11.
Look, this isn’t some personal tirade about being locked inside for two weeks.
Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better place to be on house arrest.
I have a roof deck where I grow edible plants with an ocean view. I have a bidet. I have at least a month’s supply of non-perishable food (and wine). And I had it long before this week– I mean, I write for Sovereign Man and The Daily Bell, after all.
I work from home, I diversify my assets, and I have a Plan B.
The people who are going to be screwed by this big government “do something” interventionism are the poor, the elderly, and the vulnerable who rely on service jobs, and live paycheck to paycheck.
In other words, the same exact people they are claiming to protect.
But as individuals, we don’t have to react emotionally, panic, and do something.
Sometimes the right thing to do is to sit back, wait, and see what happens. When the smoke clears, people who are prepared will have plenty of opportunity to benefit from society’s fragility.
That’s what being antifragile is all about. It’s more than prepping to be robust against, say, unexpected martial law. It’s about being positioned to actually benefit from the economic turmoil these interventionistas create.
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Article source: The Daily Bell
Image: Pixabay
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.