investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--FL – Online CARES portal closes after 30 minutes; 15,000 residents apply for $1,000 stimulus check

The portal for the Orange County online CARES Act stimulus check portal closed within 30 minutes after its launch Monday @ @ @ @ @ again reopened its stimulus check portal to aid residents who are facing economic struggles in @ @ @ @ @ , which allowed residents to apply for a one time payment of $ 1,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ 8 a.m. the portal reached its 15,000 applicant capacity after 30 minutes of service , @ @ @ @ @ .

The portal for the Orange County online CARES Act stimulus check portal closed within 30 minutes after its launch Monday morning.
The county once again reopened its stimulus check portal to aid residents who are facing economic struggles in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed residents to apply for a one time payment of $1,000.
However, after opening at 8 a.m. the portal reached its 15,000 applicant capacity after 30 minutes of service, according to the County website.
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🍊@OrangeCoFL's CARES Act for Individual & Families is still open. Approx 10,000 of the 15,000-user capacity has already been reached. Apply now. Direct link: t.co/OpSJjGWZMZ — Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) November 16, 2020
www.orlandosentinel.com/coronavirus/jobs-economy/os-ne-orange-county-cares-portal-to-reopen-for-1000-checks-20201116-dvb7vsyv2zd47mowyrjwy76ecu-story.html
h/t AT


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--China to conduct military training in the South China Sea from Nov 17 to Nov 30; entry will be prohi

China to conduct military training in the South China Sea from Nov 17 to Nov 30; entry will be prohibited

China will conduct military training in the # SouthChinaSea from Nov 17 to Nov 30 ; entry will be prohibited @ @ @ @ @ Safety Administration .
( file pic ) pic.twitter.com/DXM3prt1UW

China will conduct military training in the #SouthChinaSea from Nov 17 to Nov 30; entry will be prohibited, according to Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/DXM3prt1UW
— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) November 16, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--New DoD Adviser: Get Rid of the Marine Corps

Retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor , newly-appointed as a senior adviser at the Pentagon , has a track record of making controversial statements .
But his most provocative of all might be a proposal to do away with the U.S. Marine Corps .
In a 2012 opinion piece for Time Magazine , Macgregor , a decorated veteran of the Gulf War , argued that the Corps was living on its past glories and was unsuited for combat on today ’ s battlefield , with the possible exception for pushover enemies .
www.military.com/daily-news/2020/11/12/new-dod-adviser-has-made-controversial-proposal-get-rid-of-marine-corps.html There are currently about 180,000 Marines .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force smaller , and go back to its roots as a sea-born force both are already underway .
This leads to the flexibility to increase on the already high standards .
The Corps has just disbanded ALL tank units , as they will not be needed in a South China Sea conflict .
They have done a good job of heading off all the politically correct crap over the years .
But , they will probably succumb just like everyone else .
Women in combat etc , women training with men – If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the downside guaranteed .
They have the fewest blacks and the fewest woman , and well , we can ’ t have that can we .

Retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor, newly-appointed as a senior adviser at the Pentagon, has a track record of making controversial statements. But his most provocative of all might be a proposal to do away with the U.S. Marine Corps.
In a 2012 opinion piece for Time Magazine, Macgregor, a decorated veteran of the Gulf War, argued that the Corps was living on its past glories and was unsuited for combat on today’s battlefield, with the possible exception for pushover enemies.
www.military.com/daily-news/2020/11/12/new-dod-adviser-has-made-controversial-proposal-get-rid-of-marine-corps.html
There are currently about 180,000 Marines. A case can be made to make the force smaller, and go back to its roots as a sea-born force both are already underway. This leads to the flexibility to increase on the already high standards.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The Corps has just disbanded ALL tank units, as they will not be needed in a South China Sea conflict.
They have done a good job of heading off all the politically correct crap over the years. But, they will probably succumb just like everyone else. Women in combat etc, women training with men – If Biden/Harris get in, shit will accelerate to the downside guaranteed. They have the fewest blacks and the fewest woman, and well, we can’t have that can we.
h/t AggregateThreat


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--FB, AMZN, AAPL Technical Analysis

FB, AMZN, AAPL Technical Analysis

FB has been trending in an upward channel divided by a top and bottom half .
On Monday last week it has broken through the middle into the bottom half , tested the 55 EMA ( green line ) and passed the test , meaning it held the level .
$ 270.50 will be the key level to watch this week .
If it can hold $ 270.50 it has room to test $ 280 , if that is claimed , then room to the middle of the channel at $ 285.30 .
If that level can be claimed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not hold the $ 276.50 level , then room to test last days ’ lows around $ 274 .
If that level is broken to the downside , then it has room to test the 55 EMA ( green line ) at $ 269.50 .
It is also the bottom of the channel , so will be a very strong level to test .
If it breaks that with conviction to the downside then room down to $ 259 and lower .
Overall Sentiment : Neutral/Bullish Options : If it holds $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 290 Calls : If it can not hold looking at Nov 27 $ 265 Puts .
AMZN has been one of those stocks impacted positively by the pandemic .
It has been performing very well in the last months .
Nevertheless it has been in consolidation mode recently trading between $ 2870 and $ 3550 .
At th moment the stock has been rejected by the 55 EMA ( green line ) to the downside , and is now slowly retracing back up to test it .
The key level to watch for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If it can hold $ 3110 , then it has room to the 55 EMA ( green line ) at $ 3160 .
If it can reclaim that level then room to test $ 3225 .
If it can claim that level , then room to $ 3289 .
If it can not hold $ 3110 then room down to test $ 3080 .
If that level can not hold , then room down to $ 3020 , and if that doesn ’ t hold , then room to test ercent lows at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a strong support at $ 2871 .
Overall Sentiment : Netural/Bullish Options : If it can hold $ 3110 , then looking at NOV 27 $ 3200 Calls : If it can not hold the NOV 27 $ 3110 then looking at $ 3050 Puts Apple is the most popular stock out there .
After an incredible run it has been consolidating between the $ 100 and $ 135 range , getting tighter and tighter as the weeks pass since it hit All Time Highs early September .
It is currently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above the 118 support .
$ 118 and $ 115 will be key level to watch this week .
If it can hold the $ 118 level with conviction , room to $ 121.50 , and if it holds that it can test $ 125 which is recent highs .
If it can not hold $ 118 then it will go down to $ 115 and test the 55 EMA ( green line ) .
If it can not hold that then room to $ 112.25 .
Overall Sentiment : Neutral Options : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Nov 20 $ 125 Calls : If it can not hold $ 118 looking at $ 115 Puts , if it starts to fall hard then roll into $ 110 ( lots of volume and cheap ) Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before making any investment decision .

by maxoptionstrading
FB Analysis
FB has been trending in an upward channel divided by a top and bottom half. On Monday last week it has broken through the middle into the bottom half, tested the 55 EMA (green line) and passed the test, meaning it held the level. $270.50 will be the key level to watch this week.
If it can hold $270.50 it has room to test $280, if that is claimed, then room to the middle of the channel at $285.30. If that level can be claimed, then room to $292.50
If it cannot hold the $276.50 level, then room to test last days’ lows around $274. If that level is broken to the downside, then it has room to test the 55 EMA (green line) at $269.50. It is also the bottom of the channel, so will be a very strong level to test. If it breaks that with conviction to the downside then room down to $259 and lower.
Overall Sentiment: Neutral/Bullish Options: If it holds $276.50 then looking at NOV 27 $290 Calls: If it cannot hold looking at Nov 27 $265 Puts.
FB Chart: www.tradingview.com/x/UoLXYMaY/
AMZN
AMZN has been one of those stocks impacted positively by the pandemic. It has been performing very well in the last months. Nevertheless it has been in consolidation mode recently trading between $2870 and $3550. At th moment the stock has been rejected by the 55 EMA (green line) to the downside, and is now slowly retracing back up to test it. The key level to watch for this week will be $3110.
If it can hold $3110, then it has room to the 55 EMA (green line) at $3160. If it can reclaim that level then room to test $3225. If it can claim that level, then room to $3289.
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If it cannot hold $3110 then room down to test $3080. If that level cannot hold, then room down to $3020, and if that doesn’t hold, then room to test ercent lows at $2951.70. Next level after that is a strong support at $2871.
Overall Sentiment: Netural/Bullish Options: If it can hold $3110, then looking at NOV 27 $3200 Calls: If it cannot hold the NOV 27 $3110 then looking at $3050 Puts
Chart: www.tradingview.com/x/G0uvHnf4/
AAPL
Apple is the most popular stock out there. After an incredible run it has been consolidating between the $100 and $135 range, getting tighter and tighter as the weeks pass since it hit All Time Highs early September. It is currently, trying to reclaim and trade on levels above the 118 support. $118 and $115 will be key level to watch this week.
If it can hold the $118 level with conviction, room to $121.50, and if it holds that it can test $125 which is recent highs.
If it cannot hold $118 then it will go down to $115 and test the 55 EMA (green line). If it cannot hold that then room to $112.25.
Overall Sentiment: Neutral Options: If it can hold $118 looking at the Nov 20 $125 Calls: If it cannot hold $118 looking at $115 Puts, if it starts to fall hard then roll into $110 (lots of volume and cheap)
Chart: www.tradingview.com/x/yOMyBAvw/
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Thanksgiving Canceled? Sweeping New Lockdown Restrictions In Washington State, Akron and Chicago

Thanksgiving Canceled ?
Sweeping New Lockdown Restrictions In Washington State , Akron and Chicago # Breaking # Lockdown # News @ @ @ @ @

Thanksgiving Canceled? Sweeping New Lockdown Restrictions In Washington State, Akron and Chicago #Breaking #Lockdown #News #Rise #Thanksgiving t.co/XITwy2DGPE
— Dahboo7 (@dahboo7) November 16, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--A surge in electric vehicle purchases in China is drawing investors. They need a reality check.

A quick review of the numbers : Passenger vehicle sales rose 9.5 % in October from a year earlier , and have grown every month since May .
Green cars , like hybrids and pure electrics , are standouts : Sales are up more than 50 % .
Stock prices for companies like BYD Co. and NIO Inc. have more than doubled this year .
New model launches have boosted sentiment as local automakers incline toward carbon-free .
Beijing wants such cars to account for 20 % of all sales by 2025 .
There ’ s no doubt that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where electric cars and even more expensive hydrogen-powered vehicles dominate .
But here ’ s the reality right now .
Gasoline-powered auto sales are rising , too , around 6 % , with 1.9 million manufactured domestically sold in September .
1 This segment accounts for around 90 % of passenger cars sold monthly in the world ’ s largest market , where over 20 million autos were sold last year .
Sport utility vehicles and other traditional-engine models that were beginning to find favor pre-slowdown aren ’ t seeing a big rebound @ @

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-11-15/china-s-electric-vehicle-surge-excites-investors-but-look-again
A quick review of the numbers: Passenger vehicle sales rose 9.5% in October from a year earlier, and have grown every month since May. Green cars, like hybrids and pure electrics, are standouts: Sales are up more than 50%. Stock prices for companies like BYD Co. and NIO Inc. have more than doubled this year. New model launches have boosted sentiment as local automakers incline toward carbon-free. Beijing wants such cars to account for 20% of all sales by 2025.
There’s no doubt that the path is toward a greener future, where electric cars and even more expensive hydrogen-powered vehicles dominate. But here’s the reality right now. Gasoline-powered auto sales are rising, too, around 6%, with 1.9 million manufactured domestically sold in September. 1 This segment accounts for around 90% of passenger cars sold monthly in the world’s largest market, where over 20 million autos were sold last year. Sport utility vehicles and other traditional-engine models that were beginning to find favor pre-slowdown aren’t seeing a big rebound yet.
…
…


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Bull vs bear case

Bull vs bear case

What did I miss? pic.twitter.com/yzdehF4gwu
Trend line break, retest, and go Seasonality Fed Low rates
PHILADELPHIA TO BAN ALL INDOOR GATHERINGS AS CORONAVIRUS SURGES THROUGHOUT UNITED STATES -CITY HEALTH COMMISSIONER
Outdoor riots still allowed.
— Silver Watchdog (@Silver_Watchdog) November 16, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Where Covid-19 Has Already Killed More Than One Person Per Thousand

Here are the nations with over 5 million population that have the lowest death-rates from the disease : Here are the U.S. states with the lowest death-rates from the disease : Vermont ( 1 per 10,576 ; or .95 per ten thousand , or .095 per thousand ) Alaska ( 1 per 7,951 — the explosion of the disease started only recently there ) In order properly to understand these numbers ( such as the low death-rates in some African countries ) , an important underlying variable is the median age of the land ’ s population , because , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burundi is only 17 , and , therefore , San Marino , where the median age is 44.4 , is naturally likely to have a vastly higher death-rate from this disease .
Apples should be compared with apples , not with oranges .
However , the median age in Vermont is 42.8 ( America ’ s third-highest ) , and in Maine is 44.9 ( America ’ s highest ) , and yet both states have America ’ s lowest two death-rates from this disease ; so , governmental policies and their public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important than is the physical population .
Nature isn ’ t everything ; nurture can be an even bigger determinant of success or failure .
Furthermore , all three of the highest death-rate countries have incredibly polarized and therefore dysfunctional ‘ democratic ’ governments , and this means that they are especially likely to fail to have unity — and therefore effectiveness — in responding to an emergency , which this evolving event is .
Slow response and adjustment to it is then like no response , because it comes too late , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Marino ’ s economy is at least 50 % tourism-based , which is the sector that is the hardest hit by the pandemic , as a consequence of which , the pressures to underestimate the pandemic ’ s danger are especially large there .
If the daily death-rate from it will be soaring in the near-term future , then the public will become increasingly afraid to be anywhere with strangers ; and , consequently , all modes of employment that require employees to be physically near strangers will need to pay higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to remain in business , and the local economy will therefore be in a downward spiral unless and until that situation becomes reversed .
does unpatriotic , and democratic socialism is obligatory for the Government to adhere to , regardless of whether or not that country ’ s existing leaders adhere to it , or publicly acknowledge the fact that their Constitution is actually social-democratic , and not ( and certainly not purely ) capitalistic .
Consequently , the economy will likely be hit hard now , either way .
During an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitable in the short term , regardless of whether the government acts or not .
But during the long term , carefully calibrated scientifically calculated measures to reduce the spread of the epidemic are optimal ( for the long term benefits ) , and anything that impedes this is therefore a threat against the entire public .
Whereas a threat against the general public is acceptable to a psychopath ( or “ sociopath ” ) and is consistent with pure capitalism ( “ libertarianism ” or “ neoliberalism ” ) , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ social democratic ” ) person , or to a patriot in a country that asserts the general welfare to be among its fundamental priorities ( such as the U.S. Constitution in its General Welfare Clause and especially in its most-fundamental passage , the Preamble , which asserts the ultimate objectives which that Constitution is directed at serving ) .
Therefore , in the latter type of country , pure capitalism is actuallypatriotic , and democratic socialism isfor the Government to adhere to , regardless of whether or not that country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly acknowledge the fact that their Constitution is actually social-democratic , and ( and certainly not ) capitalistic .
Abraham Lincoln said : “ Labor is prior to , and independent of , capital .
Capital is only the fruit of labor , and could never have existed if labor had not first existed .
Labor is the superior of capital , and deserves much the higher consideration.
” So , he certainly was a social democrat .
And Lincoln ’ s hero , Thomas Jefferson , wrote , on 12 November 1816 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Logan of Philadelphia , about the “ profligacy ” of England ’ s government , wasting resources to prop up its international corporations , which Jefferson said had brought about “ the ruin of its people ” in order to benefit those aristocrats .
He said , “ This ruin [ in England ] will fall heaviest , as it ought to fall , on that hereditary aristocracy which has for generations been preparing the catastrophe [ meaning creating the catastrophe ( by corrupting the government ) , not meaning to prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we shall take warning from the [ English ] example [ e.g.
, the British East India Company ] and crush in it ’ s birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
” So , he too was hostile toward capitalism and favorable toward democratic socialism .
America ’ s Founders — including even its last Founder , Lincoln — supported democracy , and opposed aristocracy , or rule by the controlling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s America — in regard to both its Democratic Party and its Republican Party — is controlled by its billionaires ; and , so , this nation is now definitely an aristocracy , instead of a democracy . )
Foreign Affairs , and National Geographic recently natural herd immunity might become able to protect a nation ’ s population , would not a synthetic herd immunity from an effective vaccine be preferable — and much faster ?
It will prevent the millions of deaths , and even more millions of cases , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists — if such a natural herd immunity ever will exist .
This is the purpose of the policies in the lands that have thus far been the most effective at keeping down the amounts of disease and death from Covid-19 .
This is a holding action , so as to save the health and the lives of millions of people who would otherwise be unnecessarily wasted while the world waits for a vaccine .
The “ natural herd immunity ” approach isn ’ t only psychopathic , it is grossly inefficient .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for pure capitalism regarding this virus is “ herd immunity , ” the idea ( which has been endorsed in the neoliberal Council on Foreign Relations ’ s prestigious journal , and also by U.S. President Donald Trump ) , which is that if a sufficiently high percentage of the population become infected with it and survive , then they will automatically be immune from catching the disease in the future , and so anyone else ( the never-infected ) will become less likely to catch the disease from others .
Like other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it trusts to nature as being optimal , and accepts unlimited “ survival of the fittest , ” and rejects social democracy or any general-welfare constitution ( such as America has and which is being routinely violated by America ’ s own Government ) .
However , the assumption that everyone who survives an infection from this virus is immune against becoming infected with it again , has not been established , and there are also many other falsehoods in applying the “ natural herd immunity ” concept to this particular virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still not yet understood .
Asrecently explained , “ Banking on natural infection to control the outbreak would lead to months , if not years , of a dismaying cycle in which cases subside and then surge.
” Furthermore , even if the idea that aherd immunity might become able to protect a nation ’ s population , would not aherd immunity from an effective vaccine be preferable — and much faster ?
It willthe millions of deaths , and even more millions of cases , that would be suffered until a natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herd immunity everexist .
This is the purpose of the policies in the lands that have thus far been the most effective at keeping down the amounts of disease and death from Covid-19 .
This is a holding action , so as to save the health and the lives of millions of people who would otherwise be unnecessarily wasted while the world waits for a vaccine .
The “ natural herd immunity ” approach isn ’ t only psychopathic , it is grossly inefficient .
A personal friend emailed me with objections against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neoliberal ” ) policies regarding coronavirus-19 ( covid-19 ) .
He especially argued that we both share views that the Government in our own country is deeply corrupt , and I replied : remained — the # 1 state in controlling the spread of this virus .
Success needs both the right leadership and the right public , and failure has resulted where either or both were lacking .
That ’ s irrelevant because the data convince me that the types of policies that countries such as China and Taiwan and Vietnam and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then Vermont pursued — all with strong compliance from their respective publics — have worked , and that the policies that countries such as U.S. and Brazil and Belgium and Chile pursued have failed .
Peru is an especially interesting case because its President wanted to impose the necessary measures but wasn ’ t able to , for many reasons , but especially because nothing was able to “ create this new culture of respect for the rules to learn how to live with the virus ” ( as the euphemistic BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s failure ) .
The situation in Peru was the exact opposite of the situation in Vermont , where the public virtually pushed the Governor by accusing him of NOT imposing masking requirements etc .
at the very beginning , and he quickly recognized and rectified his error and as a result Vermont quickly became — and has since— the # 1 state in controlling the spread of this virus .
Success needs both the right leadership and the right public , and failure has resulted where either or both were lacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement : “ I really can not sympathize with those who are fearing for their own lives because of a virus with a 99 % survival rate .
They shouldn ’ t be doing the thinking for the rest of us.
” : I couldn ’ t disagree more with that libertarian viewpoint .
Public health — especially when the issue is a communicable disease , an epidemic or a potential epidemic — relies ( above all ) on the obligation of every individual in the society to NOT engage in behaviors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an obligation and not ONLY a right in such a situation .
When a vaccine doesn ’ t yet exist , then the obligation — of every individual in the society to NOT engage in behaviors that HELP to spread the disease — isn ’ t an obligation to be vaccinated ( since that ’ s not yet even possible ) but it is instead an obligation to adhere to masking requirements and other necessary behaviors to minimize the spread of the communicable disease .
The libertarian attitude produces mass-injury , mass-death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling a communicable disease , where the OBLIGATION to society is not recognized , but only the individual RIGHT is recognized — that is psychopathic and irresponsible .
Already , 251,256 Americans have died from this new virus and 11,226,038 have been diagnosed as being ill from it and many who have survived the initial illness are having potentially life-threatening organ-failures from it and tens of millions of Americans reasonably fear going to work as barbers or restaurants or hotels or medical workers etc.
, and yet you say “ I really can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their own lives because of a virus with a 99 % survival rate .
They shouldn ’ t be doing the thinking for the rest of us.
” That statement isn ’ t only blind to half the reality about this virus but is callous , which I know that you are not .
So , it shocked me .
( Furthermore , already over 2 % of Americans who have been diagnosed as having this disease have died from it and that percentage keeps rising ; so whether in the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of the world than the Spanish flu did is still an open question , and vaccines against it will largely determine the answer . )
You instead are choosing to dismiss the relevant data , which are the actual policy-outcomes in the 200+ countries throughout the world — including different policies in each of those countries .

Eric Zuesse, originally posted at Strategic Culture
As-of November 15th, more than one person per thousand had already died from the Covid-19 virus (coronavirus-19) in the nations of
and in the U.S. states of
New Jersey (1.9 per thousand)
New York (1.7 per thousand)
Massachusetts (1.5 per thousand)
Connecticut (1.3 per thousand)
Louisiana (1.3 per thousand)
Mississippi (1.2 per thousand)
Rhode Island (1.2 per thousand)
(Nationwide, the U.S. death-rate is 759 per million or .759 per thousand.)
Here are the nations with over 5 million population that have the lowest death-rates from the disease:
Cambodia (0)
Laos (0)
Burundi (1 per 12,015,509)
Taiwan (1 per 3,404,638)
Vietnam (1 per 2,790,141)
Papua (1 per 1,286,790)
Thailand (1 per 1,164,395)
Sri Lanka (1 per 487,406)
Niger (1 per 355,300)
Uganda (1 per 347,734)
Rwanda (1 per 326,650)
Mozambique (1 per 318,834)
Burkina Faso (1 per 315,011)
China (1 per 310,869)
DRC (1 per 286,454)
Benin (1 per 284548)
Singapore (1 per 209,535)
Ivory Coast (1 per 211,189)
South Sudan (1 per 190,525)
New Zealand (1 per 200,084)
Here are the U.S. states with the lowest death-rates from the disease:
Vermont (1 per 10,576; or .95 per ten thousand, or .095 per thousand)
Maine (1 per 8,617)
Alaska (1 per 7,951 — the explosion of the disease started only recently there)
Hawaii (1 per 6,378)
Oregon (1 per 5,723)
Furthermore, all three of the highest death-rate countries have incredibly polarized and therefore dysfunctional ‘democratic’ governments, and this means that they are especially likely to fail to have unity — and therefore effectiveness — in responding to an emergency, which this evolving event is. Slow response and adjustment to it is then like no response, because it comes too late, in an emergency situation. Moreover, San Marino’s economy is at least 50% tourism-based , which is the sector that is the hardest hit by the pandemic, as a consequence of which, the pressures to underestimate the pandemic’s danger are especially large there.
As that same website which I’ve cited for the coronavirus death-rates also shows, worldwide the daily death rate from the disease, which was 67 on 2 March 2020, soared to 8,534 by the time of 17 April 2020, and didn’t exceed that number until 4 November 2020 at 9,152, despite the world’s having been taking increasing measures to reduce the spread of the disease. However, since the global death-rate from the virus has finally broken through the initial peak of 8,534, we can now expect either greatly increased measures to be taken against the disease’s spread, or else the daily death-rate from it to be soaring, in at least the near-term future.
If the daily death-rate from it will be soaring in the near-term future, then the public will become increasingly afraid to be anywhere with strangers; and, consequently, all modes of employment that require employees to be physically near strangers will need to pay higher and higher wages in order to be able to remain in business, and the local economy will therefore be in a downward spiral unless and until that situation becomes reversed.
does unpatriotic, and democratic socialism is obligatory for the Government to adhere to, regardless of whether or not that country’s existing leaders adhere to it, or publicly acknowledge the fact that their Constitution is actually social-democratic, and not (and certainly not purely) capitalistic. Consequently, the economy will likely be hit hard now, either way. During an epidemic, harm to the economy is inevitable in the short term, regardless of whether the government acts or not. But during the long term, carefully calibrated scientifically calculated measures to reduce the spread of the epidemic are optimal (for the long term benefits), and anything that impedes this is therefore a threat against the entire public. Whereas a threat against the general public is acceptable to a psychopath (or “sociopath”) and is consistent with pure capitalism (“libertarianism” or “neoliberalism”), it is not acceptable to a democratic socialist (“social democratic”) person, or to a patriot in a country that asserts the general welfare to be among its fundamental priorities (such as the U.S. Constitution in its General Welfare Clause and especially in its most-fundamental passage, the Preamble , which asserts the ultimate objectives which that Constitution is directed at serving). Therefore, in the latter type of country, pure capitalism is actuallypatriotic, and democratic socialism isfor the Government to adhere to, regardless of whether or not that country’s existing leaders adhere to it, or publicly acknowledge the fact that their Constitution is actually social-democratic, and(and certainly not) capitalistic.
Abraham Lincoln said: “Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” So, he certainly was a social democrat. And Lincoln’s hero, Thomas Jefferson, wrote, on 12 November 1816, to his long-time friend, Dr. George Logan of Philadelphia, about the “profligacy” of England’s government, wasting resources to prop up its international corporations, which Jefferson said had brought about “the ruin of its people” in order to benefit those aristocrats. He said, “This ruin [in England] will fall heaviest, as it ought to fall, on that hereditary aristocracy which has for generations been preparing the catastrophe [meaning creating the catastrophe (by corrupting the government), not meaning to prepare for the catastrophe]. I hope we shall take warning from the [English] example [e.g., the British East India Company] and crush in it’s birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country.” So, he too was hostile toward capitalism and favorable toward democratic socialism. America’s Founders — including even its last Founder, Lincoln — supported democracy, and opposed aristocracy, or rule by the controlling owners of corporations. But today’s America — in regard to both its Democratic Party and its Republican Party — is controlled by its billionaires; and, so, this nation is now definitely an aristocracy, instead of a democracy.) (For examples:.” So, he certainly was a social democrat. And Lincoln’s hero,, wrote, on 12 November 1816, to his long-time friend, Dr. George Logan of Philadelphia, about the “profligacy” of England’s government, wasting resources to prop up its international corporations, which Jefferson said had brought about “the ruin of its people” in order to benefit those aristocrats. He said,[in England][meaning creating the catastrophe (by corrupting the government), not meaning to prepare for the catastrophe].[English][e.g., the British East India Company].” So, he too was hostile toward capitalism and favorable toward democratic socialism. America’s Founders — including even its last Founder, Lincoln — supported democracy, and opposed aristocracy, or rule by the controlling owners of corporations. But today’s America — in regard to both its Democratic Party and its Republican Party — is controlled by its billionaires; and, so, this nation is now definitely an aristocracy,a democracy.)
Foreign Affairs, and National Geographic recently natural herd immunity might become able to protect a nation’s population, would not a synthetic herd immunity from an effective vaccine be preferable — and much faster? It will prevent the millions of deaths, and even more millions of cases, that would be suffered until a natural herd-immunity exists — if such a natural herd immunity ever will exist. This is the purpose of the policies in the lands that have thus far been the most effective at keeping down the amounts of disease and death from Covid-19. This is a holding action, so as to save the health and the lives of millions of people who would otherwise be unnecessarily wasted while the world waits for a vaccine. The “natural herd immunity” approach isn’t only psychopathic, it is grossly inefficient. One argument that is being put forth for pure capitalism regarding this virus is “herd immunity,” the idea (which has been endorsed in the neoliberal Council on Foreign Relations’s prestigious journal, and also by U.S. President Donald Trump), which is that if a sufficiently high percentage of the population become infected with it and survive, then they will automatically be immune from catching the disease in the future, and so anyone else (the never-infected) will become less likely to catch the disease from others. Like other libertarian (or “neoliberal) thinking, it trusts to nature as being optimal, and accepts unlimited “survival of the fittest,” and rejects social democracy or any general-welfare constitution (such as America has and which is being routinely violated by America’s own Government). However, the assumption that everyone who survives an infection from this virus is immune against becoming infected with it again, has not been established, and there are also many other falsehoods in applying the “natural herd immunity” concept to this particular virus — a virus whose epidemiological characteristics are still not yet understood . Asrecently explained , “Banking on natural infection to control the outbreak would lead to months, if not years, of a dismaying cycle in which cases subside and then surge.” Furthermore, even if the idea that aherd immunity might become able to protect a nation’s population, would not aherd immunity from an effective vaccine be preferable — and much faster? It willthe millions of deaths, and even more millions of cases, that would be suffered until a natural herd-immunity exists — if such a natural herd immunity everexist. This is the purpose of the policies in the lands that have thus far been the most effective at keeping down the amounts of disease and death from Covid-19. This is a holding action, so as to save the health and the lives of millions of people who would otherwise be unnecessarily wasted while the world waits for a vaccine. The “natural herd immunity” approach isn’t only psychopathic, it is grossly inefficient.
A personal friend emailed me with objections against my opposition to libertarian (or “neoliberal”) policies regarding coronavirus-19 (covid-19). He especially argued that we both share views that the Government in our own country is deeply corrupt, and I replied:
——
remained — the #1 state in controlling the spread of this virus. Success needs both the right leadership and the right public, and failure has resulted where either or both were lacking. That’s irrelevant because the data convince me that the types of policies that countries such as China and Taiwan and Vietnam and Cambodia and Myanmar and then New Zealand and then Vermont pursued — all with strong compliance from their respective publics — have worked, and that the policies that countries such as U.S. and Brazil and Belgium and Chile pursued have failed. Peru is an especially interesting case because its President wanted to impose the necessary measures but wasn’t able to, for many reasons , but especially because nothing was able to “create this new culture of respect for the rules to learn how to live with the virus” (as the euphemistic BBC obliquely phrased the core reality behind Peru’s failure). The situation in Peru was the exact opposite of the situation in Vermont, where the public virtually pushed the Governor by accusing him of NOT imposing masking requirements etc. at the very beginning, and he quickly recognized and rectified his error and as a result Vermont quickly became — and has since— the #1 state in controlling the spread of this virus. Success needs both the right leadership and the right public, and failure has resulted where either or both were lacking.
I said in response to his statement: “I really can not sympathize with those who are fearing for their own lives because of a virus with a 99% survival rate. They shouldn’t be doing the thinking for the rest of us.”:
I couldn’t disagree more with that libertarian viewpoint. Public health — especially when the issue is a communicable disease, an epidemic or a potential epidemic — relies (above all) on the obligation of every individual in the society to NOT engage in behaviors that HELP to spread the disease. Vaccination is an obligation and not ONLY a right in such a situation. When a vaccine doesn’t yet exist, then the obligation — of every individual in the society to NOT engage in behaviors that HELP to spread the disease — isn’t an obligation to be vaccinated (since that’s not yet even possible) but it is instead an obligation to adhere to masking requirements and other necessary behaviors to minimize the spread of the communicable disease. The libertarian attitude produces mass-injury, mass-death, mass-disability, and mass-unemployment, in handling a communicable disease, where the OBLIGATION to society is not recognized, but only the individual RIGHT is recognized — that is psychopathic and irresponsible.
only “a virus with a 99% survival rate”: it is only on the latter (the fatality-rate) is blind to an important half of the reality regarding this virus. Furthermore: you are false to say that this is“a virus with a 99% survival rate”: it is a vastly more-contagious virus than the Spanish flu which was the other mega-pandemic since 1900, but it has a lower mortality-rate; and, so, for you to focuson the latter (the fatality-rate) is blind to an important half of the reality regarding this virus.
Already, 251,256 Americans have died from this new virus and 11,226,038 have been diagnosed as being ill from it and many who have survived the initial illness are having potentially life-threatening organ-failures from it and tens of millions of Americans reasonably fear going to work as barbers or restaurants or hotels or medical workers etc., and yet you say “I really can not sympathize with those who are fearing for their own lives because of a virus with a 99% survival rate. They shouldn’t be doing the thinking for the rest of us.” That statement isn’t only blind to half the reality about this virus but is callous, which I know that you are not. So, it shocked me. (Furthermore, already over 2% of Americans who have been diagnosed as having this disease have died from it and that percentage keeps rising; so whether in the final analysis this plague will kill a higher percentage of the world than the Spanish flu did is still an open question, and vaccines against it will largely determine the answer.)
You instead are choosing to dismiss the relevant data, which are the actual policy-outcomes in the 200+ countries throughout the world — including different policies in each of those countries.
—————


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Trump Allies Considering Raising $200 Million For Fox News Alternative

Thomas Hicks , a private equity investor is reportedly looking at raising money to purchase Newsmax Supporters of President Donald @ @ @ @ @ of millions of dollars to establish a right-of-center media company to rival Fox News .
@ @ @ @ @ by Thomas Hicks , a private equity investor and supporter of Trump .
Hicks aims @ @ @ @ @ 200 million to potentially buy a smaller news outlet and make it into a sizable @ @ @ @ @ News , building off of Trump ’ s contentious relationship with Fox , according to @ @ @ @ @ Trump has complained that Fox News ’ coverage of him and his administration is the @ @ @ @ @ the 2016 presidential election and 2020 .
Trump has needled Fox News on Twitter in @ @ @ @ @ and lesser-known right wing cable channels Newsmax and One America News Network ( OANN ) @

Thomas Hicks, a private equity investor is reportedly looking at raising money to purchase Newsmax
Supporters of President Donald Trump are considering raising hundreds of millions of dollars to establish a right-of-center media company to rival Fox News.
The effort is being led by Thomas Hicks, a private equity investor and supporter of Trump. Hicks aims to raise at least $200 million to potentially buy a smaller news outlet and make it into a sizable and direct competitor to Fox News, building off of Trump’s contentious relationship with Fox, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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Trump has complained that Fox News’ coverage of him and his administration is the “biggest difference” between the 2016 presidential election and 2020. Trump has needled Fox News on Twitter in recent months by promoting smaller and lesser-known right wing cable channels Newsmax and One America News Network (OANN).
www.dailywire.com/news/trump-allies-considering-raising-200-million-for-fox-news-alternative??utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dwtwitter


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Weather channel founder destroys the climate change narrative live on CNN

“ Climate change ” is about money – subsidies , carbon tax and carbon emissions trading .

“Climate change” is about money – subsidies, carbon tax and carbon emissions trading.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--China’s Social Credit Score

China’s Social Credit Score

China is supposedly instituting a social credit score system .
The more good deeds you do—online and offline—the more points @ @ @ @ @ misdeeds you do , the more points you lose .
Talk badly about the government @ @ @ @ @ .
Speak highly of the government ?
You gain points .
The more points you @ @ @ @ @ you have in society ( and vice versa ) .
It has been rumored that @ @ @ @ @ be coming to the US ( ? )
—though not necessarily via the government .
@ @ @ @ @ Cuban who in a YouTube video said that people are already being tracked for what @ @ @ @ @ and that there may be a sort of reward for better behavior .

China is supposedly instituting a social credit score system. The more good deeds you do—online and offline—the more points you accrue. The more misdeeds you do, the more points you lose.
Talk badly about the government online? You lose points. Speak highly of the government? You gain points.
The more points you have, the more advantages you have in society (and vice versa).
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It has been rumored that a version of this may be coming to the US(?)—though not necessarily via the government. I think it was Mark Cuban who in a YouTube video said that people are already being tracked for what they do and say online and that there may be a sort of reward for better behavior.
h/t goodnewsies


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--CNN says we need to cancel Christmas

CNN says we need to cancel Christmas

• Fauci warned that when a vaccine arrives ‘ it ’ s not going to be a light switch ’ @ @ @ @ @ replied : ‘ So , not until the second or third quarter of 2021 , @ @ @ @ @ not going to be possible ?
’ • That means that normal holidays could resume @ @ @ @ @ Tim Pool : CNN Says Christmas Is CANCELED , Fauci Says NEW Lockdown Will Last @ @ @

CNN's Jake Tapper this morning: "Christmas is probably not gonna be possible." pic.twitter.com/z56ifNCr3G — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 15, 2020
Fauci warned that when a vaccine arrives ‘it’s not going to be a light switch’
CNN’s Tapper replied: ‘So, not until the second or third quarter of 2021, though? Christmas is probably not going to be possible?’
Infectious diseases expert confirmed normality wouldn’t arrive until Q2/Q3 ’21
That means that normal holidays could resume Labor Day or Thanksgiving 2021
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8953175/Tapper-suggests-Christmas-not-going-possible-Fauci-tells-Covid-rules-2021.html
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Tim Pool: CNN Says Christmas Is CANCELED, Fauci Says NEW Lockdown Will Last FOR A YEAR
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Only one of the things in this picture is illegal in Oregon

Only one of the things in this picture is illegal in Oregon pic.twitter.com/1mSTeCxIPI
— Rogan O’Handley 🇺🇸 (@DC_Draino) November 15, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--‘Forever War’ Returns: Biden’s Pentagon Team Puts the Military-Industrial Complex Back in Command

A knot of hawks Leading the team is Kathleen Hicks , an undersecretary of defense in the Obama administration , and an employee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) , a think tank funded by a host of NATO governments , oil firms , and weapons makers Northrop Grumman , Boeing , Lockheed Martin , Raytheon , and General Atomics .
The latter firm produces the Predator drones used by the Obama administration to kill hundreds of civilians in at least four Middle-Eastern countries .
Hicks was a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US troops from Germany , claiming in August that such a move “ benefits our adversaries.
” Two other members of Biden ’ s Pentagon team , Andrew Hunter and Melissa Dalton , work for CSIS and served under Obama in the Defense Department .
Also on the team are Susanna Blume and Ely Ratner , who work for the Center for a New American Security ( CNAS ) .
Another hawkish think-tank , CNAS is funded by Google , Facebook , Raytheon , Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin .
Three more team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Terri Tanielian – were most recently employed by the RAND corporation , which draws funding from the US military , NATO , several Gulf states , and hundreds of state and corporate sources .

Excerpt:
A knot of hawks
Leading the team is Kathleen Hicks, an undersecretary of defense in the Obama administration, and an employee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think tank funded by a host of NATO governments, oil firms, and weapons makers Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Atomics. The latter firm produces the Predator drones used by the Obama administration to kill hundreds of civilians in at least four Middle-Eastern countries.
Hicks was a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw a number of US troops from Germany, claiming in August that such a move “benefits our adversaries.”
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Two other members of Biden’s Pentagon team, Andrew Hunter and Melissa Dalton, work for CSIS and served under Obama in the Defense Department.
Also on the team are Susanna Blume and Ely Ratner, who work for the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Another hawkish think-tank, CNAS is funded by Google, Facebook, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Three more team members – Stacie Pettyjohn, Christine Wormuth and Terri Tanielian – were most recently employed by the RAND corporation, which draws funding from the US military, NATO, several Gulf states, and hundreds of state and corporate sources.
www.rt.com/usa/506737-biden-pentagon-team-military-industry/


“All-In?”

Ah it ’ s that time of the year again .
Everybody is piling into stocks .
Valuations who cares .
It ’ s the end of year seasonality when stocks always go up , the Fed has our back , multiple vaccines are just around the corner , Wall Street paints a rosy picture into next year ( as Wall Street always does ) so what ’ s to worry .
Let ’ s go all in stocks .
Everyone has to decide for themselves of course what is a good risk versus reward proposition and as markets are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of November I thought it might be worth pointing out a few data sets that may give some pause here .
First off perhaps the most obvious : Since the end of the October these markets have been running from one open gap to the next never filling any price action .
We see this in a lot of index charts , but just highlighting the action here on $ DIA the ETF that track the $ DJIA : I ’ ve spoken about open gaps before filling and seeing 6 open gaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recall seeing .
Not all gaps fill , but most do and chasing 6 open gaps up seems a proposition of poor risk/reward in the short term at least , especially in context of the broader picture .
Firstly note that 86 % of S & P 500 components are above the 200MA .
A rare reading , the last reading of such magnitude was in January .
Markets then dipped a little , proceeded to make new highs on a lower reading and the rest is history : Not suggesting a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic readings of the sort have led to pullbacks and corrections many of which have hit the 200MA eventually .
In context it is notable that $ SPX is currently trading over 15 % above its 200MA at the moment : $ SPX last connected with its 200MA in June so the extension is getting long in the tooth .
Note also , despite the Moderna news today echoing the Pfizer vaccine news from last Monday $ SPX has so far not managed to invalidate the rejection candle of last week .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market has bullish sentiment .
AAII bull/bear sentiment has not been this ecstatic since the beginning of the year : And asset managers also all back in long : And when I say they are piling all in , they are piling all in with the largest weekly inflows into equities ever : With markets at some of the highest valuations ever : Whatever metric you want to use these markets are not cheap , not at all , but of course I don ’ t see Wall Street mention valuations when outlining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No , this market is back to euphoria : The only people not really buying into the euphoria appear to be insiders .
They are selling into the euphoria : Six open gaps in November , some of the highest global valuations ever , the largest equity inflows ever , vastly bullish sentiment readings and equity positioning , with markets again vastly extended in time and price above key moving averages and shorts having left the building .
If you think that ’ s a good risk/reward proposition to the long side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets have work to do to the downside and that includes some gap filling .
I ’ m not saying markets can ’ t keep drifting higher into OPEX week and $ VIX futures expiration , but extreme strength can be a selling opportunity just as extreme weakness can be a buying opportunity .
As it stands the bull targets outlined previously were reached last Monday and today ’ s gap up has not managed to produce new highs .
Perhaps that will change , but if it doesn ’ t that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Especially if one is all in stocks .
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Authored by Sven Henrich via NorthmanTrader.com,
Ah it’s that time of the year again. Everybody is piling into stocks. Valuations who cares. It’s the end of year seasonality when stocks always go up, the Fed has our back, multiple vaccines are just around the corner, Wall Street paints a rosy picture into next year (as Wall Street always does) so what’s to worry. Let’s go all in stocks.
Everyone has to decide for themselves of course what is a good risk versus reward proposition and as markets are drowning in optimism here in the middle of November I thought it might be worth pointing out a few data sets that may give some pause here.
First off perhaps the most obvious: Since the end of the October these markets have been running from one open gap to the next never filling any price action. We see this in a lot of index charts, but just highlighting the action here on $DIA the ETF that track the $DJIA:
I’ve spoken about open gaps before filling and seeing 6 open gaps in 2 weeks is not something I recall seeing. Not all gaps fill, but most do and chasing 6 open gaps up seems a proposition of poor risk/reward in the short term at least, especially in context of the broader picture.
Firstly note that 86% of S&P 500 components are above the 200MA. A rare reading, the last reading of such magnitude was in January. Markets then dipped a little, proceeded to make new highs on a lower reading and the rest is history:
Not suggesting a similar drop here of course but note high optimistic readings of the sort have led to pullbacks and corrections many of which have hit the 200MA eventually.
In context it is notable that $SPX is currently trading over 15% above its 200MA at the moment:
$SPX last connected with its 200MA in June so the extension is getting long in the tooth. Note also, despite the Moderna news today echoing the Pfizer vaccine news from last Monday $SPX has so far not managed to invalidate the rejection candle of last week.
And don’t kid yourself, this market has bullish sentiment.
AAII bull/bear sentiment has not been this ecstatic since the beginning of the year:
And asset managers also all back in long:
And when I say they are piling all in, they are piling all in with the largest weekly inflows into equities ever:
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With markets at some of the highest valuations ever:
Whatever metric you want to use these markets are not cheap, not at all, but of course I don’t see Wall Street mention valuations when outlining lofty price targets for 2021 and 2022.
No, this market is back to euphoria:
with shorts disappearing:
The only people not really buying into the euphoria appear to be insiders. They are selling into the euphoria:
Go figure.
Six open gaps in November, some of the highest global valuations ever, the largest equity inflows ever, vastly bullish sentiment readings and equity positioning, with markets again vastly extended in time and price above key moving averages and shorts having left the building.
If you think that’s a good risk/reward proposition to the long side be my guest.
My view remains markets have work to do to the downside and that includes some gap filling. I’m not saying markets can’t keep drifting higher into OPEX week and $VIX futures expiration, but extreme strength can be a selling opportunity just as extreme weakness can be a buying opportunity.
As it stands the bull targets outlined previously were reached last Monday and today’s gap up has not managed to produce new highs. Perhaps that will change, but if it doesn’t that in itself may be a consideration worth pondering. Especially if one is all in stocks.
* * *
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investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--15 Warning Signs to Identify a Toxic Work Environment Before Taking a Job

According to Gallup , 85 % of the world ’ s one billion full-time employees are unhappy at work .
While there are a number of reasons that contribute towards job dissatisfaction , a toxic work environment can have a significant impact on an employee ’ s performance , not to mention their physical and mental health .
But identifying red flags before accepting a job offer can be difficult ; companies often sell themselves as a model workplace , when in reality , their inner workings are hugely problematic .
Today ’ s graphic comes to us from resume.io @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look out for before , during , and after a job interview .
A toxic work environment diminishes productivity by breeding a culture of discrimination , disorganization , bullying , and may even be fueled by unethical or selfish motivations .
Luckily , prospective employees can avoid 40 hours of torment a week by probing the company ’ s culture before signing on the dotted line .
Here is a list of things to look out for : For better or worse , first impressions matter .
Although excitement levels may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay attention to potential missteps , even before the interview starts .
• Vague job description : There should be clarity around the roles and responsibilities associated with the job , even if it is a new role in the company .
• Negative reviews on Glassdoor : Company review platforms are quickly becoming an indispensable tool for jobseekers who are interested in learning more about previous and current employees ’ experiences .
• It took a long time to arrange an interview : Companies should show respect for the interviewee by getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Forgetting interviews : This could suggest that either the company has serious communication issues , or they do not prioritize interviewing potential employees .
• The interview starts late : Punctuality is not only expected from the person being interviewed , the interviewer should also be on time .
Adrenaline may be pumping when the interviewee is in the hot seat , but it ’ s crucial that they take stock of how the interviewers are conducting themselves .
• Unprepared interviewers : If the interview lacks structure , this could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of clear expectations for the role .
• No interest in listening : Both parties need to put their best foot forward in an interview , to make sure that the interviewee ’ s personality and skill set aligns with the company , and vice versa .
• Authoritarian interviewer : This may indicate a lack of respect for employees .
• Inability to communicate company values : If company values are embodied by employees , then they should be top of mind and easily communicated .
• Questions are skimmed over : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide comprehensive answers to any questions an interviewee may have .
In addition to assessing their own performance , interviewees should give careful consideration to how the entire interview experience went .
• Short interview : Either the company has already chosen another candidate , or they are desperate to fill the role as quickly as possible .
• Quiet workspace : A lack of teamwork or fearful employees could be the culprit for a silent office .
• No office tour : Companies should always give prospective employees a glimpse into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing them around and introducing them to the team .
• Job offer was given on the day of the interview : The company could be trying to restrict the interviewee doing further research into the company , or simply filling the role as quickly as possible .
• Delayed decision-making : Failing to get back to someone who has done an interview shows a lack of respect for their time or disorganization on the company ’ s end .
It ’ s also worth mentioning that mistakes can be made by anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scrutinize companies for small errors in judgement when most of the experience has been positive .
Regardless , if there are any looming uncertainties , it is up to the person being interviewed to ask .
Finding the Courage to Ask Questions When it comes to interviews , questioning the culture of the company is just as important as questioning the interviewee on their knowledge and skills .
Switching jobs is rarely an easy process , especially when jobseekers have come up against unforeseen challenges as a result of COVID-19 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to do their due diligence , and be brave enough to ask tough questions .
Otherwise , they may have to repeat the cycle all over again—much sooner than they would have thought .

by visualcapitalist
According to Gallup, 85% of the world’s one billion full-time employees are unhappy at work.
While there are a number of reasons that contribute towards job dissatisfaction, a toxic work environment can have a significant impact on an employee’s performance, not to mention their physical and mental health.
But identifying red flags before accepting a job offer can be difficult; companies often sell themselves as a model workplace, when in reality, their inner workings are hugely problematic.
How to Identify a Toxic Work Environment
Today’s graphic comes to us from resume.io and it illustrates the 15 warning signs to look out for before, during, and after a job interview.
Lifting the Corporate Veil
A toxic work environment diminishes productivity by breeding a culture of discrimination, disorganization, bullying, and may even be fueled by unethical or selfish motivations.
Luckily, prospective employees can avoid 40 hours of torment a week by probing the company’s culture before signing on the dotted line. Here is a list of things to look out for:
Before the Interview
For better or worse, first impressions matter. Although excitement levels may be high, it’s important to pay attention to potential missteps, even before the interview starts.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Vague job description: There should be clarity around the roles and responsibilities associated with the job, even if it is a new role in the company. Negative reviews on Glassdoor: Company review platforms are quickly becoming an indispensable tool for jobseekers who are interested in learning more about previous and current employees’ experiences. It took a long time to arrange an interview: Companies should show respect for the interviewee by getting back to them in a timely manner. Forgetting interviews: This could suggest that either the company has serious communication issues, or they do not prioritize interviewing potential employees. The interview starts late: Punctuality is not only expected from the person being interviewed, the interviewer should also be on time.
During the Interview
Adrenaline may be pumping when the interviewee is in the hot seat, but it’s crucial that they take stock of how the interviewers are conducting themselves.
Unprepared interviewers: If the interview lacks structure, this could signal a disorganized team and a lack of clear expectations for the role. No interest in listening: Both parties need to put their best foot forward in an interview, to make sure that the interviewee’s personality and skill set aligns with the company, and vice versa. Authoritarian interviewer: This may indicate a lack of respect for employees. Inability to communicate company values: If company values are embodied by employees, then they should be top of mind and easily communicated. Questions are skimmed over: Companies should be transparent and be willing to provide comprehensive answers to any questions an interviewee may have.
After the Interview
In addition to assessing their own performance, interviewees should give careful consideration to how the entire interview experience went.
Short interview: Either the company has already chosen another candidate, or they are desperate to fill the role as quickly as possible. Quiet workspace: A lack of teamwork or fearful employees could be the culprit for a silent office. No office tour: Companies should always give prospective employees a glimpse into what their day-to-day could look like by showing them around and introducing them to the team. Job offer was given on the day of the interview: The company could be trying to restrict the interviewee doing further research into the company, or simply filling the role as quickly as possible. Delayed decision-making: Failing to get back to someone who has done an interview shows a lack of respect for their time or disorganization on the company’s end.
It’s also worth mentioning that mistakes can be made by anyone, so it is perhaps not helpful to scrutinize companies for small errors in judgement when most of the experience has been positive.
Regardless, if there are any looming uncertainties, it is up to the person being interviewed to ask.
Finding the Courage to Ask Questions
When it comes to interviews, questioning the culture of the company is just as important as questioning the interviewee on their knowledge and skills.
“He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask questions, remains a fool forever.”
—Ancient Chinese proverb
Switching jobs is rarely an easy process, especially when jobseekers have come up against unforeseen challenges as a result of COVID-19.
But it is more important than ever for people to do their due diligence, and be brave enough to ask tough questions. Otherwise, they may have to repeat the cycle all over again—much sooner than they would have thought.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--The Unemployment Rate for Each Country Before More Coronavirus Lockdowns

Unemployment numbers swelled around the world this past spring when countries slammed shut their economies to slow down the coronavirus .
With another wave of the pandemic hitting right now , here is where unemployment around the world stands as countries contemplate more closures .
• Unemployment rates are significantly higher in underdeveloped countries compared to advanced economies .
The worst rates are in South Africa ( 37 % ) , the West Bank and Gaza ( 32.2 % ) and the Bahamas ( 25.1 % ) .
• Singapore ( 3 % ) , the Czech Republic ( 3.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) have the lowest unemployment rates in the world , signaling how some economies are faring during the coronavirus pandemic .
• The US falls somewhere in the middle of the pack compared to the rest of the world .
With an unemployment rate hovering around 8.9 % , the US ranked 45 out of 103 countries .
• The two regions fairing relatively well compared to the rest of the world are Central and East European countries as well as parts of Asia .
The rate is 4.3 % in Germany and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the data for our worldwide map of unemployment at the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) .
The numbers represent the percentage of a country ’ s population that is out of work but looking for a job .
The countries with the highest observed unemployment rates are both at the center of our visual and sized the largest .
Conversely , countries with the lowest rates are located on the periphery and sized the smallest .
We also applied a color-coding schema by continent , providing an intuitive multi-dimensional view of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ranking of the worst countries for unemployment rates on each continent , where data is available .
The first and most glaring insight from our visual is how astonishingly high the unemployment rate is around much of the world .
An incredible 36 countries have unemployment rates in the double-digits .
The worst is South Africa at 37 % followed by the West Bank and Gaza ( 32.2 % ) and the Bahamas ( 25.1 % ) .
But unemployment rates are also extremely high in several developed and advanced economies as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Italy ( 11 % ) and Canada ( 9.7 % ) .
To be fair , the IMF data illustrate how many of these countries were struggling with high unemployment numbers before the coronavirus pandemic , suggesting that perhaps the virus is compounding an already bad economy for some people .
Our map also contains a few bright spots .
There are lots of countries with low , and occasionally extremely low , unemployment numbers .
Japan stands out as one of the largest economies in the world where the rate stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rate is only 3.8 % .
And for Germany , the economic powerhouse of the EU , unemployment is just 4.3 % .
The US falls right in the middle of the pack at 8.9 % .
There is one important caveat when it comes to unemployment numbers .
Throughout 2020 , the number of unemployed people , at least across much of the Western developed world , depended entirely on the extent to which governments locked down the economy to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
With the new increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already talk of more mandatory closures .
This will only drive the unemployment rates back to historically high numbers .
The coronavirus is causing long-term problems for a lot of people ’ s health .
This could count as a potential cause of future disability insurance claims if it keeps people from going back into the workforce .
If you are on the market for disability income insurance , our cost guide is a great place to start .

by howmuch
Unemployment numbers swelled around the world this past spring when countries slammed shut their economies to slow down the coronavirus. With another wave of the pandemic hitting right now, here is where unemployment around the world stands as countries contemplate more closures.
Use this visualization
Unemployment rates are significantly higher in underdeveloped countries compared to advanced economies. The worst rates are in South Africa (37%), the West Bank and Gaza (32.2%) and the Bahamas (25.1%).
Singapore (3%), the Czech Republic (3.1%) and Switzerland (3.2%) have the lowest unemployment rates in the world, signaling how some economies are faring during the coronavirus pandemic.
The US falls somewhere in the middle of the pack compared to the rest of the world. With an unemployment rate hovering around 8.9%, the US ranked 45 out of 103 countries.
The two regions fairing relatively well compared to the rest of the world are Central and East European countries as well as parts of Asia. The rate is 4.3% in Germany and 3.3% in Japan.
We found the data for our worldwide map of unemployment at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The numbers represent the percentage of a country’s population that is out of work but looking for a job. The countries with the highest observed unemployment rates are both at the center of our visual and sized the largest. Conversely, countries with the lowest rates are located on the periphery and sized the smallest. We also applied a color-coding schema by continent, providing an intuitive multi-dimensional view of the global unemployment situation.
Here’s a ranking of the worst countries for unemployment rates on each continent, where data is available.
The Highest Unemployment Rates in North America
1. Canada: 9.7%
2. United States: 8.9%
3. Mexico: 5.2%
The Highest Unemployment Rates in South America
1. The Bahamas: 25.4%
2. Belize: 25.1%
3. Costa Rica: 22%
4. Colombia: 17.3%
5. Dominican Republic: 16%
The Highest Unemployment Rates in Europe
1. North Macedonia : 20.2%
2. Greece: 19.9%
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina: 19%
4. Spain: 16.8%
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
5. Serbia: 13.4%
The Highest Unemployment Rates in Asia
1. West Bank and Gaza: 32.2%
2. Armenia: 22.3%
3. Turkey: 14.6%
4. Iran: 12.2%
5. Mongolia: 12%
The Highest Unemployment Rates in Africa
1. South Africa: 37%
2. Sudan: 25%
3. Mauritius: 21%
4. Algeria: 14.1%
5. Morocco: 12.5%
(Limited data available in Africa)
The Highest Unemployment Rates in Oceania
1. Fiji: 13.4%
2. Australia: 6.9%
3. New Zealand: 6%
(Limited data available in Oceania)
The first and most glaring insight from our visual is how astonishingly high the unemployment rate is around much of the world. An incredible 36 countries have unemployment rates in the double-digits. The worst is South Africa at 37% followed by the West Bank and Gaza (32.2%) and the Bahamas (25.1%). But unemployment rates are also extremely high in several developed and advanced economies as well, including Spain (16.8%) Italy (11%) and Canada (9.7%). To be fair, the IMF data illustrate how many of these countries were struggling with high unemployment numbers before the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting that perhaps the virus is compounding an already bad economy for some people.
Our map also contains a few bright spots. There are lots of countries with low, and occasionally extremely low, unemployment numbers. Japan stands out as one of the largest economies in the world where the rate stands at just 3.3%. China’s rate is only 3.8%. And for Germany, the economic powerhouse of the EU, unemployment is just 4.3%. The US falls right in the middle of the pack at 8.9%.
There is one important caveat when it comes to unemployment numbers. Throughout 2020, the number of unemployed people, at least across much of the Western developed world, depended entirely on the extent to which governments locked down the economy to stop the spread of the coronavirus. With the new increase of cases this fall, there is already talk of more mandatory closures. This will only drive the unemployment rates back to historically high numbers.
The coronavirus is causing long-term problems for a lot of people’s health. This could count as a potential cause of future disability insurance claims if it keeps people from going back into the workforce. If you are on the market for disability income insurance, our cost guide is a great place to start.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Google Vote Reminders Only Went to Liberals, Not Conservatives for at Least 4 Days—Dr Robert Epstein

During his 2020 election monitoring project , Dr. Robert Epstein found stark data showing Google election bias , he says @ @ @ @ @ only just started to pore through all the data that was collected .
In this @ @ @ @ @ a Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology , explains @ @ @ @ @ so far , and why he believes the public has the ability to stop big @ @ @ @ @ without legislative action .
This is American Thought Leaders 🇺🇸 , and I ’ m @ @ @

During his 2020 election monitoring project, Dr. Robert Epstein found stark data showing Google election bias, he says, and he’s only just started to pore through all the data that was collected.
In this episode, Dr. Epstein, a Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, explains what he’s found so far, and why he believes the public has the ability to stop big tech election bias, even without legislative action.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
This is American Thought Leaders 🇺🇸, and I’m Jan Jekielek.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Mike Adams Bombshell: The 2020 Election Took Place Under a Trump-Declared “National Emergency” That

Mike Adams Bombshell: The 2020 Election Took Place Under a Trump-Declared “National Emergency” That Set An Election Day Trap For The “Unauthorized Accessing of Election & Campaign Infrastructure”

We have another major bombshell for you here , regarding the 2020 election .
Despite the intense , malicious censorship @ @ @ @ @ ’ re really becoming known for in-depth analysis and research of current events , so @ @ @ @ @ as we continue to fight for the very survival of America , our constitutional republic @ @ @ @ @ the little-known executive order signed into existence on September 12 , 2018 , by President @ @ @ @ @ order , available at Whitehouse.gov , is entitled , “ Executive Order on Imposing Certain @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Interference in a United States Election.
” In that executive order , which almost @ @ @ @ @ the day it was signed , President Trump declares a national emergency .
That emergency @ @ @ @ @ this day , and the 2020 election was conducted under this state of emergency , @ @ @ @ @ to understand what ’ s coming next .

We have another major bombshell for you here, regarding the 2020 election. Despite the intense, malicious censorship of Big Tech, we’re really becoming known for in-depth analysis and research of current events, so thank you for your support as we continue to fight for the very survival of America, our constitutional republic.
This story begins with the little-known executive order signed into existence on September 12, 2018, by President Donald J. Trump. That order, available at Whitehouse.gov, is entitled, “Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In that executive order, which almost no one has covered since the day it was signed, President Trump declares a national emergency. That emergency is still in play to this day, and the 2020 election was conducted under this state of emergency, which is a crucial point to understand what’s coming next.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-imposing-certain-sanctions-event-foreign-interference-united-states-election/


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-16--Get ready for the “Work From Home” Tax

Get ready for the “Work From Home” Tax

Once upon a time , long long ago in a dreamworld far far away , banks actually used to be capitalists .
They were wealth creators .
They wanted to do business with their customers .
They facilitated important trade and commerce .
They acted responsibly and conservatively with other people ’ s money .
Banks seem to routinely steal from their customers .
They gamble our savings away on ridiculous investment fads , treat us like criminal suspects , bury us in an absurd bureaucracy , and then charge us fees for the privilege of working with them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ many banks seem to have become full-blown Marxists .
I started noticing this last year when a number of bank CEOs , along with heads of other major corporations like Apple and General Motors , declared that they would no longer make business decisions prioritizing what ’ s in the best interest of their companies ’ shareholders .
Just a reminder– shareholders OWN the company .
The CEO works for the company .
And yet these CEOs , who essentially work for their shareholders , have unilaterally decided that shareholders are no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theme in politics as well , with Bernie Sanders , AOC , and Joe Biden calling for an end to “ shareholder capitalism.
” Don ’ t get me wrong– being a responsible corporate citizen , treating customers well , taking good care of employees , etc .
are all obvious things that are beneficial for any business long-term , and hence beneficial for the shareholders .
The key issue behind this movement , however , is the belief that shareholders shouldn ’ t be able to call the shots any longer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who should / should not be on a corporate board .
And the public ( i.e .
the Twitter mob ) gets a say what a company should / should not do .
Everyone else gets to tell you what you ’ re allowed to do with your own private property , i.e .
your shares in the company .
It ’ s no longer up to you .
This is decidedly anti-capitalist ; it ’ s effectively public ownership of what ’ s supposed to be private property .
Yet banks seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new ethos .
And now they have another feather in their cap : Just a few days ago , Germany ’ s Deutsche Bank ( one of the largest banks in the world ) released a paper proposing that people who have the ‘ privilege ’ of working from home should have to pay a 5 % tax to subsidize people who can ’ t .
This is a ‘ work from home ’ or ‘ remote worker ’ tax .
The report claims that this tax has been needed for years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious.
” So , regardless of your circumstances– even if you want to go back to the office but aren ’ t able to because your company sent everyone home– Deutsche Bank thinks you should have to pay up .
The report is even borderline insulting to remote workers , saying that they ’ re “ contributing less to the infrastructure of the economy whilst still receiving its benefits.
” So apparently all of us working from home are just lazy , good-for-nothing bums in the eyes of Deutsche Bank .
This ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Communist student newspaper , not one of the world ’ s biggest financial institutions .
If these people feel guilty that their remote work arrangements are unjust , there ’ s nothing preventing them from giving their entire paychecks away .
But for whatever reason they feel entitled to demand a pound of flesh from everyone else ’ s paycheck too .
Yet this is the world we live in now– where even the banks have become Marxists and every idiot feels empowered to propose public policy .
And it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be part of your Plan B… which may soon become your Plan A .
This is absolutely the case if you live anywhere in the West : your taxes are going up .
It ’ s already been happening in many cases at the local level .
In the Land of the Free , we ’ ve seen income taxes , property taxes , sales taxes , etc .
increase across the country .
The People ’ s Republic of California has even proposed a wealth tax , plus an exit tax for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s before considering the impact of tax increases at the national level .
The incoming presidential administration in the US has already pledged to raise taxes , including corporate profits tax , individual income tax , and capital gains tax .
It doesn ’ t matter that the evidence strongly opposes these decisions .
For example– over the past several decades , the US federal government ’ s tax revenue has consistently been about 16 % to 18 % of GDP , year in , year out .
In other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ of the economic pie is 16-18 % .
During that period , tax rates have been all over the board , from as low as 28 % ( for the highest individual rate ) to more than 90 % .
And yet the government ’ s slice of the pie has remained nearly constant .
The lesson here is pretty obvious : no matter how high , or low , tax rates go , the size of the slice relative to the rest of the pie remains the same .
So rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why not focus your efforts ( and tax policy ) on what might create the biggest pie ?
Duh .
But hey , why bother looking at data and history before making a decision… Another example is about capital gains tax rates ; the historical data show that raising capital gains rates actually REDUCES tax revenue .
You ’ d think they ’ d take a look at the mountain of evidence first .
But no .
They want to increase capital gains to as high as 40 % , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not going to be much different in many other countries , especially Europe .
Governments have all their Covid programs to pay for , so they need the money .
And now it ’ s clear that even the banks are on board , pushing for higher taxes .
So , again , tax planning absolutely needs to be part of your Plan B .
And fast .

by Simon Black
Once upon a time, long long ago in a dreamworld far far away, banks actually used to be capitalists.
They were wealth creators. They wanted to do business with their customers. They facilitated important trade and commerce. They acted responsibly and conservatively with other people’s money.
Now it’s a totally different story.
Banks seem to routinely steal from their customers. They gamble our savings away on ridiculous investment fads, treat us like criminal suspects, bury us in an absurd bureaucracy, and then charge us fees for the privilege of working with them.
And to add insult to injury, many banks seem to have become full-blown Marxists.
I started noticing this last year when a number of bank CEOs, along with heads of other major corporations like Apple and General Motors, declared that they would no longer make business decisions prioritizing what’s in the best interest of their companies’ shareholders.
Just a reminder– shareholders OWN the company. The CEO works for the company.
And yet these CEOs, who essentially work for their shareholders, have unilaterally decided that shareholders are no longer the priority.
This is a common theme in politics as well, with Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Joe Biden calling for an end to “shareholder capitalism.”
Don’t get me wrong– being a responsible corporate citizen, treating customers well, taking good care of employees, etc. are all obvious things that are beneficial for any business long-term, and hence beneficial for the shareholders.
The key issue behind this movement, however, is the belief that shareholders shouldn’t be able to call the shots any longer.
They believe the government gets a say who should / should not be on a corporate board. And the public (i.e. the Twitter mob) gets a say what a company should / should not do.
Everyone else gets to tell you what you’re allowed to do with your own private property, i.e. your shares in the company. It’s no longer up to you.
This is decidedly anti-capitalist; it’s effectively public ownership of what’s supposed to be private property. Yet banks seem perfectly willing to go along with this new ethos.
And now they have another feather in their cap:
Just a few days ago, Germany’s Deutsche Bank (one of the largest banks in the world) released a paper proposing that people who have the ‘privilege’ of working from home should have to pay a 5% tax to subsidize people who can’t.
This is a ‘work from home’ or ‘remote worker’ tax. The report claims that this tax has been needed for years, but “Covid has just made it obvious.”
So, regardless of your circumstances– even if you want to go back to the office but aren’t able to because your company sent everyone home– Deutsche Bank thinks you should have to pay up.
The report is even borderline insulting to remote workers, saying that they’re “contributing less to the infrastructure of the economy whilst still receiving its benefits.”
So apparently all of us working from home are just lazy, good-for-nothing bums in the eyes of Deutsche Bank.
This ‘research report’ seems more like something out of Communist student newspaper, not one of the world’s biggest financial institutions.
If these people feel guilty that their remote work arrangements are unjust, there’s nothing preventing them from giving their entire paychecks away.
But for whatever reason they feel entitled to demand a pound of flesh from everyone else’s paycheck too.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Yet this is the world we live in now– where even the banks have become Marxists and every idiot feels empowered to propose public policy.
And it’s also why TAX PLANNING must absolutely be part of your Plan B… which may soon become your Plan A.
This is absolutely the case if you live anywhere in the West: your taxes are going up. It’s already been happening in many cases at the local level.
In the Land of the Free, we’ve seen income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, etc. increase across the country.
The People’s Republic of California has even proposed a wealth tax, plus an exit tax for people who flee the state.
And that’s before considering the impact of tax increases at the national level.
The incoming presidential administration in the US has already pledged to raise taxes, including corporate profits tax, individual income tax, and capital gains tax.
It doesn’t matter that the evidence strongly opposes these decisions.
For example– over the past several decades, the US federal government’s tax revenue has consistently been about 16% to 18% of GDP, year in, year out.
In other words, the government’s ‘slice’ of the economic pie is 16-18%.
During that period, tax rates have been all over the board, from as low as 28% (for the highest individual rate) to more than 90%.
And yet the government’s slice of the pie has remained nearly constant.
The lesson here is pretty obvious: no matter how high, or low, tax rates go, the size of the slice relative to the rest of the pie remains the same.
So rather than try to make your slice bigger, why not focus your efforts (and tax policy) on what might create the biggest pie? Duh.
But hey, why bother looking at data and history before making a decision…
Another example is about capital gains tax rates; the historical data show that raising capital gains rates actually REDUCES tax revenue.
You’d think they’d take a look at the mountain of evidence first. But no. They want to increase capital gains to as high as 40%, and that’s just at the federal level.
It’s not going to be much different in many other countries, especially Europe. Governments have all their Covid programs to pay for, so they need the money.
And now it’s clear that even the banks are on board, pushing for higher taxes.
So, again, tax planning absolutely needs to be part of your Plan B. And fast.