investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Money Printing Can’t Trump A Depression

Money Printing Can’t Trump A Depression

The Atlanta Fed ’ s GDP Now Estimate for Q2 Economic growth is minus 41.9 % .
Thirty-nine million people filed Initial Jobless Claims in the past nine weeks .
Continuing Jobless Claims ( including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ) surged to over 31 million individuals .
US home construction fell by 30.2 % in April .
The fiscal deficit in April ( which is always a surplus month ) was minus $ 738 billion !
Yes , unfortunately , we are in a depression .
But that fact is not at all reflected in stocks .
The total market capitalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of GDP .
That level is at the ceiling of the ratio ’ s history , and it is purely due to unprecedented central bank actions .
However , even that eye-popping level is understating things by a great deal because the ratio is calculated using a denominator based on previously reported GDP data , which has since crashed .
But it is critical to note that money printing has its limitations even when governments are buying stocks .
Look at a chart comparing the S & P 500 vs. Japanese stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares ( CNYA ) .
As you can see , the S & P 500 is up 34 % in the past 5 years , even though the Fed hasn ’ t yet resorted to buying stocks .
For now , it has instead bought everything else , including junk bonds .
In contrast , the PBOC and BOJ have purchased everything , including stocks .
In the case of Japan , its central bank has been buying equities since 2013 , and the Communist/Dictatorship that controls China has commanded the PBOC to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And yet , China ’ s shares are up a paltry 13 % , while Japanese stocks have actually made zero progress throughout the past five years .
Meanwhile , both of those country ’ s indexes are still 50 % off of their all-time highs .
The truth is that central bank equity purchases do not at all guarantee there will be a roaring bull market , but they can support stocks even when an economy has become zombified .
Indeed , Mr. Powell is breaking records in his attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Federal Reserve , which is a proxy for the amount of debt monetization undertaken by the central bank , has skyrocketed by $ 3.2 trillion ( from September 2019 through today ) –that is a grand total of only eight months .
This compares to a $ 3.7 trillion increase in Fed money printing from the start of the great recession ( in December 2007 ) , through 2018–which is a total of over ten years .
Nevertheless , the bluffing game is over for central banks , as they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to normalcy .
Perhaps this is what the gold market has been sniffing out over the past 20 years .
The precious metal has soared by over 500 % since 2000 , while the S & P 500 has merely doubled in the past two decades .
The fact that gold has trounced the S & P proves that the faith in fiat currencies is collapsing , and the Wuhan virus has expedited this process .
The current illusion of stock market prosperity has three predicates .
The first is that there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the virus dissipates in the context of imminent therapies and vaccines .
The second is that inflation is far off in the future , which will enable the Fed to control the level of long-term interest rates much more easily .
And , the third is that central banks will have no interest in letting up on the monetary throttle for a very long time .
The second and third conditions are indeed far off in the future .
However , whether or not we have a successful reopening of the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus ; and that verdict will be known in the very near future .
This begs the question : even though the predicted economic depression has arrived , where do markets go from here ?
We should all understand that in the longer term , a viable economy can not be engendered through the process of diluting the purchasing power of a currency and falsifying asset prices .
But what will happen to stocks while we wait for stagflation to run intractable ?
To help answer that question , we must monitor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
The hope is for a viable treatment and/or a vaccine by the fall .
On the subject of vaccines , it should be noted that Moderna Pharmaceutical made positive comments about finding an effective and safe vaccine on May 18 , which sent the Dow up 900 points .
However , it is very disturbing that Moderna only partially released results of an interim Phase 1 trial without any specific data on neutralizing antibody counts ; and then conveniently announced a $ 1.34 billion stock offering the following day .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine was robust , then why not wait a few more weeks until the Phase 1 trial data could be fully released , with peer-reviewed status , and then make the secondary offering at a much higher price ?
It also should be noted that the Wuhan virus is a coronavirus .
The common cold is also a type of coronavirus , and so is SARS and MERS .
These differ from the influenza virus , and there has never been a vaccine approved for any coronavirus…ever .
In addition , vaccines normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure both their safety and efficacy .
Nevertheless , President Trump wants one ready to disseminate in just a few months ’ timeframe .
The President ’ s “ operation warp speed ” is seeking 100 million vaccine doses by November .
But a vaccine not only must not harm people , it also can not give them a false sense of protection .
Despite all this , Moderna has amazingly created its mRNA-1273 vaccine within just two months from the first breakout of this novel virus .
In any event , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it is imperative to analyze the capacity levels within the leisure and hospitality sector to determine how consumers are responding to being let out of lockdown .
For example , airlines breakeven at 75 % capacity but are currently flying at just around 28 % , with bookings plunging by 95 % .
According to the WSJ , after the 9/11 terrorist attacks , it took three years before airline capacity recovered ; eight years before the average fare got back to what it was in 2000 , and it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
Looking at hotels , occupancy on the island of Oahu , for example , during the week ending April 6 was down 90 % .
Turning to the foodservice industry , regulators are requiring restaurants to open at between 25 % -50 % capacity ; but they need around an 80 % capacity level to breakeven .
Analyzing the rate of change with this data will be critical to determine how to correctly allocate the portfolio according to the appropriate economic cycle .
Our IDEC Model currently has the portfolio positioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold , and 10 % TIPs .
Our 50 % cash hoard is being used to generate income right now until we can determine the quality of the reopening .
Much more will be known during June , and I will analyze how the 20 components of the IDEC Model react to it and then take the appropriate action .
Michael Pento is the President and Founder of Pento Portfolio Strategies , produces the weekly podcast called , “ The Mid-week Reality Check ” and Author of the book “ The Coming Bond @ @ @ @

via pentoport
The Atlanta Fed’s GDP Now Estimate for Q2 Economic growth is minus 41.9%.
Thirty-nine million people filed Initial Jobless Claims in the past nine weeks. Continuing Jobless Claims (including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) surged to over 31 million individuals.
US home construction fell by 30.2% in April.
The fiscal deficit in April (which is always a surplus month) was minus $738 billion!
Yes, unfortunately, we are in a depression. But that fact is not at all reflected in stocks.
The total market capitalization of equities is now back to 140% of GDP. That level is at the ceiling of the ratio’s history, and it is purely due to unprecedented central bank actions. However, even that eye-popping level is understating things by a great deal because the ratio is calculated using a denominator based on previously reported GDP data, which has since crashed. But it is critical to note that money printing has its limitations even when governments are buying stocks.
Look at a chart comparing the S&P 500 vs. Japanese stocks (EWJ) and China’s shares (CNYA).
As you can see, the S&P 500 is up 34% in the past 5 years, even though the Fed hasn’t yet resorted to buying stocks. For now, it has instead bought everything else, including junk bonds. In contrast, the PBOC and BOJ have purchased everything, including stocks. In the case of Japan, its central bank has been buying equities since 2013, and the Communist/Dictatorship that controls China has commanded the PBOC to support the market since at least 2015. And yet, China’s shares are up a paltry 13%, while Japanese stocks have actually made zero progress throughout the past five years. Meanwhile, both of those country’s indexes are still 50% off of their all-time highs.
The truth is that central bank equity purchases do not at all guarantee there will be a roaring bull market, but they can support stocks even when an economy has become zombified.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Indeed, Mr. Powell is breaking records in his attempt to reflate the market. The balance sheet of the Federal Reserve, which is a proxy for the amount of debt monetization undertaken by the central bank, has skyrocketed by $3.2 trillion (from September 2019 through today) –that is a grand total of only eight months. This compares to a $3.7 trillion increase in Fed money printing from the start of the great recession (in December 2007), through 2018–which is a total of over ten years.
Nevertheless, the bluffing game is over for central banks, as they can no longer pretend there is a pathway to normalcy. Perhaps this is what the gold market has been sniffing out over the past 20 years. The precious metal has soared by over 500% since 2000, while the S&P 500 has merely doubled in the past two decades. The fact that gold has trounced the S&P proves that the faith in fiat currencies is collapsing, and the Wuhan virus has expedited this process.
The current illusion of stock market prosperity has three predicates. The first is that there will be a robust reopening of the economy as the virus dissipates in the context of imminent therapies and vaccines. The second is that inflation is far off in the future, which will enable the Fed to control the level of long-term interest rates much more easily. And, the third is that central banks will have no interest in letting up on the monetary throttle for a very long time. The second and third conditions are indeed far off in the future. However, whether or not we have a successful reopening of the economy depends entirely on the progression of the virus; and that verdict will be known in the very near future.
This begs the question: even though the predicted economic depression has arrived, where do markets go from here? We should all understand that in the longer term, a viable economy cannot be engendered through the process of diluting the purchasing power of a currency and falsifying asset prices. But what will happen to stocks while we wait for stagflation to run intractable? To help answer that question, we must monitor the number of new Wuhan virus infections and deaths.
The hope is for a viable treatment and/or a vaccine by the fall. On the subject of vaccines, it should be noted that Moderna Pharmaceutical made positive comments about finding an effective and safe vaccine on May 18, which sent the Dow up 900 points. However, it is very disturbing that Moderna only partially released results of an interim Phase 1 trial without any specific data on neutralizing antibody counts; and then conveniently announced a $1.34 billion stock offering the following day. If the company’s confidence in the vaccine was robust, then why not wait a few more weeks until the Phase 1 trial data could be fully released, with peer-reviewed status, and then make the secondary offering at a much higher price?
It also should be noted that the Wuhan virus is a coronavirus. The common cold is also a type of coronavirus, and so is SARS and MERS. These differ from the influenza virus, and there has never been a vaccine approved for any coronavirus…ever. In addition, vaccines normally take years to develop in order to ensure both their safety and efficacy. Nevertheless, President Trump wants one ready to disseminate in just a few months’ timeframe. The President’s “operation warp speed” is seeking 100 million vaccine doses by November. But a vaccine not only must not harm people, it also cannot give them a false sense of protection. Despite all this, Moderna has amazingly created its mRNA-1273 vaccine within just two months from the first breakout of this novel virus.
In any event, the economy is now in the reopening phase, and it is imperative to analyze the capacity levels within the leisure and hospitality sector to determine how consumers are responding to being let out of lockdown. For example, airlines breakeven at 75% capacity but are currently flying at just around 28%, with bookings plunging by 95%. According to the WSJ, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it took three years before airline capacity recovered; eight years before the average fare got back to what it was in 2000, and it was six years before airlines turned profitable once again. Looking at hotels, occupancy on the island of Oahu, for example, during the week ending April 6 was down 90%. Turning to the foodservice industry, regulators are requiring restaurants to open at between 25%-50% capacity; but they need around an 80% capacity level to breakeven.
Analyzing the rate of change with this data will be critical to determine how to correctly allocate the portfolio according to the appropriate economic cycle. Our IDEC Model currently has the portfolio positioned in 25% stocks, 15% gold, and 10% TIPs. Our 50% cash hoard is being used to generate income right now until we can determine the quality of the reopening. Much more will be known during June, and I will analyze how the 20 components of the IDEC Model react to it and then take the appropriate action.
Michael Pento is the President and Founder of Pento Portfolio Strategies, produces the weekly podcast called, “The Mid-week Reality Check” and Author of the book “The Coming Bond Market Collapse.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--$500 million of the bailout money to Moderna a critical injection to facilitate its development or P

$ 500 million of the bailout money to Moderna a critical injection to facilitate its development or Ponzi scheme ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ SheepleAnalytic you are not # fintwit says Joe Biden… ( 3rd try to get @ @ @ @

$500 million of the bailout money to Moderna a critical injection to facilitate its development or Ponzi scheme? If you don't follow @SheepleAnalytic you are not #fintwit says Joe Biden…(3rd try to get it right)…t.co/Yc0t08MuzU
— Dave Collum (@DavidBCollum) May 27, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--After hours trading gains. Decades in the making. “Who are those guys?”

After hours trading gains .
Decades in the making .

After hours trading gains. Decades in the making.
“Who are those guys?” pic.twitter.com/yNgFnuffZ5
— Rich Kleinbauer (@RMKOutFront) May 27, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--The UN Had To Step In To Allow Venezuela To Sell Gold Held (Supposedly) In Bank of England Vaults

( Silver Doctors Editors ) It seems like Venezuela will be able to sell some gold after all .
If you ’ re picking-up where this story left off , or if you ’ re new to this story , here ’ s where we left off with in this ongoing saga : Which brings us to reporting today , from Reuters ( bold added for emphasis and commentary ) : CARACAS ( Reuters ) – Venezuela has reached a deal with the U.N. Development Programme ( UNDP ) to destine part of its gold in Bank of England accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic , its central bank governor said on Wednesday .
The deal comes after Venezuela ’ s central bank made a legal claim earlier this month to try to force the Bank of England to hand over part of the 31 tonnes of gold in accounts belonging to the government of President Nicolas Maduro , whom Britain does not recognize as Venezuela ’ s legitimate leader due to allegations he rigged his 2018 re-election .
“ It ’ s not my word , it ’ s not me saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine and medical equipment , ” Ortega said in an interview in his downtown Caracas office .
“ It ’ s the United Nations who is saying that .
They are not going to be involved in anything dark that is not neutral and independent.
” Of course Bank of England declined to comment .
In fact , it ’ s safe to say the BOE wants this story to go away as soon as possible .

(Silver Doctors Editors) It seems like Venezuela will be able to sell some gold after all.
If you’re picking-up where this story left off, or if you’re new to this story, here’s where we left off with in this ongoing saga:
Which brings us to reporting today, from Reuters (bold added for emphasis and commentary):
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CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela has reached a deal with the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) to destine part of its gold in Bank of England accounts toward the purchase of food and medicine during the coronavirus pandemic, its central bank governor said on Wednesday.
The deal comes after Venezuela’s central bank made a legal claim earlier this month to try to force the Bank of England to hand over part of the 31 tonnes of gold in accounts belonging to the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom Britain does not recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader due to allegations he rigged his 2018 re-election.
Central bank Governor Calixto Ortega told Reuters that under the arrangement, the UNDP would receive the funds directly, a move meant to assuage concerns about potential corruption.
“It’s not my word, it’s not me saying that I am going to buy food, medicine and medical equipment,” Ortega said in an interview in his downtown Caracas office. “It’s the United Nations who is saying that. They are not going to be involved in anything dark that is not neutral and independent.”
Any program would still require the Bank of England to release the gold. The UNDP did not respond to a request for comment. The Bank of England declined to comment.
Of course Bank of England declined to comment.
In fact, it’s safe to say the BOE wants this story to go away as soon as possible.
Developing…


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--To Help the Economy, Wear a Mask

To Help the Economy, Wear a Mask

“ You can lead a horse to water but you can ’ t make him drink , ” says an old saying .
That ’ s right but , as I learned growing up in Texas , it doesn ’ t go far enough .
Horses recognize hazards their riders miss .
Maybe there ’ s a reason not to drink that water .
I say that because , with all 50 states starting to reopen , the US economy is waking up .
Politicians say it ’ s our patriotic duty to get out and spend money .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horses to water the horses may not want to drink .
Simply letting businesses open doesn ’ t necessarily bring customers back , particularly when they sense danger .
Thirsty horses won ’ t drink water they think is poisoned .
You have to show them it ’ s clean .
Some think states are reopening the economy too fast , others think too slow .
Both are wrong .
Government can ’ t reopen the economy because the government didn ’ t close it .
Consumers and businesses began closing down long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ leaders ” simply claimed credit for what was already happening anyway .
Studies are now beginning to quantify this .
State-level data shows most of the US consumer spending decline happened 10–20 days ahead of official orders .
It also shows little recovery so far , though reopening has only just begun in most states .
A European study shows similar patterns .
Using bank payment card data , researchers compared spending in Sweden—widely noted for imposing only mild restrictions—and neighboring Denmark , which took more extensive measures .
Compared to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in closed-down Denmark fell 29 % , vs. a 25 % decline in relatively open Sweden .
That suggests the government orders had some effect on spending ( reducing it an additional four percentage points in Denmark ) but the drop was mostly consumer choice .
If so , the spending won ’ t come back simply because people can go out shopping again .
Americans celebrated Memorial Day weekend as best they could .
Many stayed home .
Others went to the usual lakes and beaches .
News stories showed packed boardwalks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks the governor had recommended ( but not required ) .
When a virus spreads easily long before you show any symptoms , masks should be common courtesy .
Many in the US see it as an attack on their freedom .
“ I should be able to risk my life if I want to , ” the thinking goes .
Fair enough , but that ’ s not how a pandemic works .
It ’ s impossible to risk only your own life .
Exposing yourself to a contagious virus necessarily forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory this is called a “ collective action problem.
” An act that would help everyone , if widely followed , also has individual costs , so some people don ’ t do it .
Then no one gets the benefit .
But masks do more than just protect against the virus .
If widely worn , they send a message : “ It ’ s safe to come out now.
” The economy will not recover until almost everyone gets that message .
• Suppose , once we get all the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced US consumer spending by 30 % .
• Further suppose two-thirds of that spending comes back once full reopening is allowed .
So now consumer spending is off only 10 % from the prior baseline .
That ’ s still an economic catastrophe .
It spells deep recession , high unemployment , and many business failures .
Much of the missing consumption belongs to people who , concerned about the virus , aren ’ t re-engaging with the economy .
Why are they concerned ?
Well , one reason is they keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is really dangerous or not , most Americans believe it is dangerous .
This affects their economic activity .
That belief has to change or “ reopening the economy ” won ’ t work .
President Trump and some governors are treating this as a political problem , similar to getting votes .
The problem : 51 % doesn ’ t win this kind of contest .
They need 95 % or more , which isn ’ t likely , given how many Americans distrusted them even before the pandemic .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , or are otherwise careless , they aren ’ t stimulating the economy .
They are depressing it even more by convincing other people to stay home .
What would change minds ( and behavior ) ?
At this point , we have no good options .
The US waited too long to employ the measures that succeeded elsewhere .
But it would help if more people would simply wear masks in public , even if not legally required .
It may be the best thing any of us can do for @ @ @

by John Mauldin
“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,” says an old saying.
That’s right but, as I learned growing up in Texas, it doesn’t go far enough. Horses recognize hazards their riders miss. Maybe there’s a reason not to drink that water.
I say that because, with all 50 states starting to reopen, the US economy is waking up. Politicians say it’s our patriotic duty to get out and spend money.
In other words, they’re leading horses to water the horses may not want to drink.
Simply letting businesses open doesn’t necessarily bring customers back, particularly when they sense danger.
Thirsty horses won’t drink water they think is poisoned. You have to show them it’s clean.
Photo: Pxfuel
Reopening Isn’t Enough
Some think states are reopening the economy too fast, others think too slow. Both are wrong.
Government can’t reopen the economy because the government didn’t close it. Consumers and businesses began closing down long before they were ordered to. Political “leaders” simply claimed credit for what was already happening anyway.
Studies are now beginning to quantify this. State-level data shows most of the US consumer spending decline happened 10–20 days ahead of official orders. It also shows little recovery so far, though reopening has only just begun in most states.
A European study shows similar patterns. Using bank payment card data, researchers compared spending in Sweden—widely noted for imposing only mild restrictions—and neighboring Denmark, which took more extensive measures.
Compared to the same period in 2019, consumer spending in closed-down Denmark fell 29%, vs. a 25% decline in relatively open Sweden.
That suggests the government orders had some effect on spending (reducing it an additional four percentage points in Denmark) but the drop was mostly consumer choice.
If so, the spending won’t come back simply because people can go out shopping again.
Missing Message
Americans celebrated Memorial Day weekend as best they could. Many stayed home. Others went to the usual lakes and beaches. News stories showed packed boardwalks and parks, with few wearing the masks the governor had recommended (but not required).
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Photo: Pxhere
When a virus spreads easily long before you show any symptoms, masks should be common courtesy. Many in the US see it as an attack on their freedom. “I should be able to risk my life if I want to,” the thinking goes.
Fair enough, but that’s not how a pandemic works. It’s impossible to risk only your own life. Exposing yourself to a contagious virus necessarily forces your choice on others.
In game theory this is called a “collective action problem.” An act that would help everyone, if widely followed, also has individual costs, so some people don’t do it. Then no one gets the benefit.
But masks do more than just protect against the virus. If widely worn, they send a message: “It’s safe to come out now.”
The economy will not recover until almost everyone gets that message.
How to Stimulate
Let’s consider some ballpark numbers.
Suppose, once we get all the data, the shutdowns turn out to have reduced US consumer spending by 30%.
Further suppose two-thirds of that spending comes back once full reopening is allowed.
So now consumer spending is off only 10% from the prior baseline. That’s still an economic catastrophe. It spells deep recession, high unemployment, and many business failures.
Much of the missing consumption belongs to people who, concerned about the virus, aren’t re-engaging with the economy. Why are they concerned?
Well, one reason is they keep seeing unmasked people everywhere.
Whether the virus is really dangerous or not, most Americans believe it is dangerous. This affects their economic activity. That belief has to change or “reopening the economy” won’t work.
President Trump and some governors are treating this as a political problem, similar to getting votes.
The problem: 51% doesn’t win this kind of contest. They need 95% or more, which isn’t likely, given how many Americans distrusted them even before the pandemic.
So when people go out in public without masks, or are otherwise careless, they aren’t stimulating the economy. They are depressing it even more by convincing other people to stay home.
What would change minds (and behavior)? At this point, we have no good options. The US waited too long to employ the measures that succeeded elsewhere.
But it would help if more people would simply wear masks in public, even if not legally required. It may be the best thing any of us can do for the economy.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--US seized Chinese-built transformer – but nobody knows why

US Federal Government authorities seized a 226-tonne electricity transformer made by Chinese company Jiangsu Huapeng Transformer Company at Houston port last summer and took it to Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque , New Mexico , for unspecified reasons , The Wall Street Journal reports .
The lab , which is operated by Honeywell International , handles contract work for the US Energy Department associated with threats to national security , the report added .
A US representative of the company , Jim Cai , told the newspaper that it had sold more than 7000 such transformers in the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unaware of what had happened to the transformer until he was asked for comment by the WSJ .
US President Donald Trump on 1 May signed an executive order for the DoE to find and ban devices from the power grid made by foreign countries that were considered a threat to national security .
A report in Politico said Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette had recently played down concerns from industry that new clean energy projects could be inconvenienced by the order .
Xi Jingping SAYS TO PREPARE FOR WAR The President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army to prepare for armed combat , claiming the coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on national security .
On Tuesday , President Xi Jinping said China must ensure its military is strong because the coronavirus pandemic has had a “ profound ” effect on the world situation and China ’ s security .
State media China Daily reports Xi instructed the military to gear up combat preparation and conduct battle drills in a flexible manner .
“ The armed forces must improve operational capability in each and every aspect , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying out training procedures under COVID-19 precautionary measures , he added .

US Federal Government authorities seized a 226-tonne electricity transformer made by Chinese company Jiangsu Huapeng Transformer Company at Houston port last summer and took it to Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for unspecified reasons, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The lab, which is operated by Honeywell International, handles contract work for the US Energy Department associated with threats to national security, the report added.
A US representative of the company, Jim Cai, told the newspaper that it had sold more than 7000 such transformers in the past two decades to numerous international customers.
Cai was unaware of what had happened to the transformer until he was asked for comment by the WSJ.
US President Donald Trump on 1 May signed an executive order for the DoE to find and ban devices from the power grid made by foreign countries that were considered a threat to national security.
A report in Politico said Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette had recently played down concerns from industry that new clean energy projects could be inconvenienced by the order.
www.itwire.com/government-tech-policy/us-seized-chinese-built-transformer-–-but-nobody-knows-why.html
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Xi Jingping SAYS TO PREPARE FOR WAR
The President of China has urged the country’s army to prepare for armed combat, claiming the coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on national security.
On Tuesday, President Xi Jinping said China must ensure its military is strong because the coronavirus pandemic has had a “profound” effect on the world situation and China’s security.
State media China Daily reports Xi instructed the military to gear up combat preparation and conduct battle drills in a flexible manner.
“The armed forces must improve operational capability in each and every aspect,” Xi said.
The military must practice carrying out training procedures under COVID-19 precautionary measures, he added.
www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/05/chinese-president-xi-jinping-tells-military-to-prepare-for-war-boosts-defence-budget.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--As the Economic Cycles Turn

As the Economic Cycles Turn

I had a chance to catch up with my friend Neil Howe at my recent Strategic Investment Conference about the “ Fourth Turning ” —a recurring generational cycles theory that Neil helped to write the book on , quite literally .
In his view , it ’ s ongoing right now .
Specifically , in the cycles of history , we are in a crisis era that ’ s comparable to the 1930s and 1940s .
Neil believes it began in 2007- ‘ 08 and will climax in the coming decade .
Fourth Turnings usually include a war , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neil said it ’ s possible our current problems will get resolved in a “ kinetic ” way , as Fourth Turnings tend to spur great thinking and creative problem-solving .
I probed Neil on whether we will see a larger and more intrusive government arise from this period .
He thinks absolutely so , but may not intrusively “ big ” with big , semi-contractual spending commitments like Social Security—a child of the last Fourth Turning .
This period could spawn more such programs because very few people , and clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them as “ intrusive ” or big government .
Don ’ t think of it an entitlement .
Or a depression , for that matter .
My friend Felix Zulauf is watching what ’ s happening in the world with great interest from his hedge fund in Switzerland .
He isn ’ t bullish , but he also doesn ’ t foresee a Great Depression-like scenario here in the US .
He listed three key differences between then and now .
• There was no social welfare in the 1930s .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of GDP in some countries .
• We entered this recession with much larger government deficits than at the bottom of the Great Depression .
• The demographic picture is quite different , with low birth rates and/or negative population growth in some places today .
Felix expects to see something more like post-1989 Japan , with essentially no growth for many years and a nationalized bond market .
Attempts to increase employment will make the economy less efficient .
He also pointed out that , with negative bond yields , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than they earn .
This means we are redistributing wealth from future generations to current retirees .
The result will be a population that , in real terms , gets poorer over time .

by John Mauldin
I had a chance to catch up with my friend Neil Howe at my recent Strategic Investment Conference about the “Fourth Turning”—a recurring generational cycles theory that Neil helped to write the book on, quite literally.
In his view, it’s ongoing right now. Specifically, in the cycles of history, we are in a crisis era that’s comparable to the 1930s and 1940s. Neil believes it began in 2007-‘08 and will climax in the coming decade.
Fourth Turnings usually include a war, but these are not all gloom and doom. Neil said it’s possible our current problems will get resolved in a “kinetic” way, as Fourth Turnings tend to spur great thinking and creative problem-solving.
I probed Neil on whether we will see a larger and more intrusive government arise from this period. He thinks absolutely so, but may not intrusively “big” with big, semi-contractual spending commitments like Social Security—a child of the last Fourth Turning.
This period could spawn more such programs because very few people, and clearly most voters, don’t think of them as “intrusive” or big government.
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Don’t think of it an entitlement. Or a depression, for that matter.
My friend Felix Zulauf is watching what’s happening in the world with great interest from his hedge fund in Switzerland. He isn’t bullish, but he also doesn’t foresee a Great Depression-like scenario here in the US.
He listed three key differences between then and now.
There was no social welfare in the 1930s. Now transfer payments are as much as 40% of GDP in some countries. We entered this recession with much larger government deficits than at the bottom of the Great Depression. The demographic picture is quite different, with low birth rates and/or negative population growth in some places today.
Felix expects to see something more like post-1989 Japan, with essentially no growth for many years and a nationalized bond market. Attempts to increase employment will make the economy less efficient. He also pointed out that, with negative bond yields, many pension funds having to pay out more than they earn.
This means we are redistributing wealth from future generations to current retirees. The result will be a population that, in real terms, gets poorer over time.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Veteran suing NC governor over lockdown condemns ‘hypocritical’ leadership

Michael Pastelak a veteran of the United States Army who served in Afghanistan is challenging the North Carolina governor over @ @ @ @ @ # Tucker

Michael Pastelak a veteran of the United States Army who served in Afghanistan is challenging the North Carolina governor over lockdown policies. #FoxNews #Tucker
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investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Let’s Make Sure This Crisis Doesn’t Go to Waste

A stock market crash wasn ’ t 1929 ’ s only big event .
Coca-Cola ( KO ) launched a new slogan : “ The Pause That Refreshes.
” Coke ’ s marketers sensed the economy was headed down .
How do you sell a completely unnecessary beverage to a struggling country ?
It ’ s simple , really : You remind consumers that treating themselves is important , too .
Now , in 2020 , the entire world is paused .
COVID-19 is horrible in more ways than I can count : lost lives , suffering , job destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it is refreshing .
But the word has other meanings .
For instance , if you are working on a spreadsheet and refresh your screen , you see new , and possibly better , numbers .
Could this crisis , as bad as it is , “ refresh ” the world and solve some of our problems ?
Maybe .
Speaking at Mauldin Economics ’ first-ever virtual Strategic Investment Conference in May , Eurasia Group and G-Zero Media ’ s Ian Bremmer said it ’ s possible .
Long before this pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a “ geopolitical recession.
” The old order has been breaking down without a clear replacement , leaving what he calls a “ G-Zero World.
” Part of the problem relates to a Milton Friedman quote : “ Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.
” Think of the global institutions that arose from World War II and its aftermath : NATO , the UN , the World Bank , International Monetary Fund , the EU , etc .
Some have outlived their usefulness .
Other need major reforms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they developed constituencies that fight hard to preserve them .
The same is true within national governments .
In the US , we have institutions like the Federal Reserve , Social Security , Medicare and assorted regulatory agencies .
They do some good things and could do more .
But none work as originally intended .
Ian suggested the pandemic might have a silver lining if the failures it exposes let us replace failed institutions with better ones , more suited to current needs .
Which institutions to whom ?
Take your pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control market outcomes .
Which means we don ’ t really have “ markets ” as such anymore .
This has to stop but I see no chance the Fed will change course voluntarily .
• The sudden ejection of millions from their jobs exposed huge shortcomings in the US safety net programs .
A top-to-bottom overhaul might let them work better and cost less .
• Our inability to provide adequate COVID-19 testing and get protective gear to medical workers revealed serious problems .
Not just in the healthcare industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and FDA that govern it .
The regulatory processes clearly impede progress , and it has been made manifest for all to see .
• Across the pond , the EU ’ s prized openness and solidarity proved less so in a crisis .
Members like Italy had to largely fend for themselves .
The alliance needs a major overhaul if it is to survive .
• Numerous emerging market states are heavily indebted and completely unprepared to handle this crisis in large part because the IMF made them so .
That has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few things we could “ refresh ” in the coming months and years .
I don ’ t know if it will happen but , as Rahm Emmanuel famously said , we shouldn ’ t let a good crisis go to waste .
Heck , this one could still bring positive change .
Just ask any of the 40 economic and investing all-stars who presented at Mauldin Economics ’ recent virtual Strategic Investment Conference .
We have all the video footage , slides and transcripts in one easy-to-access space .
You really need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in store for our post-coronavirus world .

by John Mauldin
A stock market crash wasn’t 1929’s only big event. Coca-Cola (KO) launched a new slogan: “The Pause That Refreshes.”
Coke’s marketers sensed the economy was headed down. How do you sell a completely unnecessary beverage to a struggling country? It’s simple, really: You remind consumers that treating themselves is important, too.
Now, in 2020, the entire world is paused. COVID-19 is horrible in more ways than I can count: lost lives, suffering, job destruction, shattered dreams and more.
None of it is refreshing. But the word has other meanings.
For instance, if you are working on a spreadsheet and refresh your screen, you see new, and possibly better, numbers.
Could this crisis, as bad as it is, “refresh” the world and solve some of our problems? Maybe.
Speaking at Mauldin Economics’ first-ever virtual Strategic Investment Conference in May, Eurasia Group and G-Zero Media’s Ian Bremmer said it’s possible.
Long before this pandemic, Ian was saying the world is in a “geopolitical recession.” The old order has been breaking down without a clear replacement, leaving what he calls a “G-Zero World.”
Part of the problem relates to a Milton Friedman quote: “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Think of the global institutions that arose from World War II and its aftermath: NATO, the UN, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the EU, etc.
Some have outlived their usefulness. Other need major reforms. But all still exist because over time they developed constituencies that fight hard to preserve them.
The same is true within national governments. In the US, we have institutions like the Federal Reserve, Social Security, Medicare and assorted regulatory agencies.
They do some good things and could do more. But none work as originally intended.
Ian suggested the pandemic might have a silver lining if the failures it exposes let us replace failed institutions with better ones, more suited to current needs.
Which institutions to whom? Take your pick.
The Federal Reserve is trying to control market outcomes. Which means we don’t really have “markets” as such anymore. This has to stop but I see no chance the Fed will change course voluntarily.
The sudden ejection of millions from their jobs exposed huge shortcomings in the US safety net programs. A top-to-bottom overhaul might let them work better and cost less.
Our inability to provide adequate COVID-19 testing and get protective gear to medical workers revealed serious problems. Not just in the healthcare industry, but also the agencies like the CDC and FDA that govern it. The regulatory processes clearly impede progress, and it has been made manifest for all to see.
Across the pond, the EU’s prized openness and solidarity proved less so in a crisis. Members like Italy had to largely fend for themselves. The alliance needs a major overhaul if it is to survive.
Numerous emerging market states are heavily indebted and completely unprepared to handle this crisis in large part because the IMF made them so. That has to change.
Those are just a few things we could “refresh” in the coming months and years. I don’t know if it will happen but, as Rahm Emmanuel famously said, we shouldn’t let a good crisis go to waste.
Heck, this one could still bring positive change.
Just ask any of the 40 economic and investing all-stars who presented at Mauldin Economics’ recent virtual Strategic Investment Conference. We have all the video footage, slides and transcripts in one easy-to-access space. You really need to hear for yourself what’s in store for our post-coronavirus world.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Meet the Governors that Sent Infected Patients to Nursing Homes

Alex Jones breaks down the list of governors who sent infected patients to nursing homes , then tried to blame @ @ @ @ @ .

Alex Jones breaks down the list of governors who sent infected patients to nursing homes, then tried to blame the horrible decision on Trump.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Arizona sues Google, alleging it violated privacy and improperly tracked location data even when use

Arizona sues Google, alleging it violated privacy and improperly tracked location data even when users had turned off the setting

Arizona has sued Google over claims that it illegally collected location data from users without their permission , according to @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s attorney general Mark Brnovich argued that Google kept location tracking running in @ @ @ @ @ weather and other apps , along with searches , even if users turned the feature @ @ @ @ @ that Google made it too complicated to completely disable tracking , forcing users to dig @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When consumers try to opt out of Google ’ s collection of location @ @ @ @ @ continuing to find misleading ways to obtain information and use it for profit , ” @ @ @ @ @ The state is asking the court to force Google to pay back Arizona profits earned @ @ @ @ @ data , as well as potential fines of up to $ 10,000 per violation .

Arizona has sued Google over claims that it illegally collected location data from users without their permission, according to the Washington Post. The state’s attorney general Mark Brnovich argued that Google kept location tracking running in the background for mapping, weather and other apps, along with searches, even if users turned the feature off.
The state argued that Google made it too complicated to completely disable tracking, forcing users to dig into granular Android system settings. “When consumers try to opt out of Google’s collection of location data, the company is continuing to find misleading ways to obtain information and use it for profit,” Brnovich told The Post. The state is asking the court to force Google to pay back Arizona profits earned through ads that monetized the data, as well as potential fines of up to $10,000 per violation.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF COMMITTING YOURSELF TO DECIDE ON WHAT’S TRUE:

IT ’ S COME TO THIS : Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg knocks Twitter for fact-checking Trump , says private @ @ @ @ @ ‘ the arbiter of truth .
’

Hmm, no fact check on this so I guess it must be true! pic.twitter.com/PuN15LADJQ
— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) May 27, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--All world leaders, Pelosi, McConnel, Gang of 8 taking hydroxychloriquine

President of El Salvador Announces That He is Taking Hydroxychloroquine , Says ‘ Most World Leaders ’ Doing the Same @ @ @ @ @ 27 , 2020 at 12:40pm Bukele told reporters on Tuesday that “ most world leaders @ @ @ @ @ and has questioned why world leaders are being advised to use it while the public @ @ @ @ @ use it as a prophylaxis , President Trump uses it as a prophylaxis , most @ @ @ @ @ leaders use it as a prophylaxis , ” said Bukele .
1 .
This confirms @ @ @ @ @ @ POTUS announced he was taking HCQ .
In mid-January , all World Leaders were @ @ @ @ @ .
This advisory extended to the Speaker of the House , the Senate Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ the Gang of 8… Why are leaders being advised to take it and the masses @ @ @ @ @ is Pelosi taking it and publicly saying Trump is crazy for doing the same ?
@ @ @ @ @ had been advising the leaders to take HCQ ?
?

BREAKING: President Bukele of El Salvador says world leaders have been advised to take HCQ to prevent COVID, and most are doing so! “While the rest of the world is being advised not to. Why? That’s a question worth asking. Isn’t it?” Bukele wrote.t.co/VDlpULzfeq — TruthHammer⭐⭐⭐ (@TruthHammer888) May 27, 2020
www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/05/president-el-salvador-announces-taking-hydroxychloroquine-says-world-leaders/
President of El Salvador Announces That He is Taking Hydroxychloroquine, Says ‘Most World Leaders’ Doing the Same
By Cassandra Fairbanks
Published May 27, 2020 at 12:40pm
Bukele told reporters on Tuesday that “most world leaders” are doing the same and has questioned why world leaders are being advised to use it while the public is not.
“I use it as a prophylaxis, President Trump uses it as a prophylaxis, most of the world’s leaders use it as a prophylaxis,” said Bukele.
1. This confirms what my source indicated when @POTUS announced he was taking HCQ. In mid-January, all World Leaders were advised to begin HCQ treatments. This advisory extended to the Speaker of the House, the Senate Majority Leader and the remaining members of the Gang of 8… t.co/Og7FXADY71 — Eric Sevareid, CBS News (@sevareidcbsnews) May 27, 2020
Eric Sevareid, CBS News
@sevareidcbsnews
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1. This confirms what my source indicated when @POTUS
announced he was taking HCQ. In mid-January, all World Leaders were advised to begin HCQ treatments. This advisory extended to the Speaker of the House, the Senate Majority Leader and the remaining members of the Gang of 8…
Why are leaders being advised to take it and the masses being warned off?
Why is Pelosi taking it and publicly saying Trump is crazy for doing the same?
Who (not WHO) had been advising the leaders to take HCQ??
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--These big banks may be at risk of dividend cuts after the Federal Reserve’s stress tests

Sell-side analysts have expressed confidence during the coronavirus crisis that most banks will be able to maintain their dividends through @ @ @ @ @ But now we ’ re about to see the results of the Federal Reserve ’ @ @ @ @ @ Analysts at Keefe , Bruyette and Woods don ’ t expect any dividend cuts among @ @ @ @ @ the supervisory stress tests .
They expect dividends to remain unchanged , and for all @ @ @ @ @ repurchase any shares until at least the end of 2020 .
However , the analysts @ @ @ @ @ , acknowledged in a report on May 26 that investors are concerned about the possibility @ @ @ @ @ .
The analysts wrote that if the Fed were to make certain changes to its @ @ @ @ @ scenario , detailed below , their dividend forecasts for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS , @ @ @ @ @ C , -3.98 % and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. JPM , -1.52 % would @ @ @ @ @ ”

Sell-side analysts have expressed confidence during the coronavirus crisis that most banks will be able to maintain their dividends through the expected economic recession. But now we’re about to see the results of the Federal Reserve’s annual stress-test process.
Analysts at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods don’t expect any dividend cuts among the large U.S. banks undergoing the supervisory stress tests. They expect dividends to remain unchanged, and for all the stress-tested banks not to repurchase any shares until at least the end of 2020.
However, the analysts, led by Brian Kleinhanz, acknowledged in a report on May 26 that investors are concerned about the possibility of regulators requiring dividend cuts. We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us! The analysts wrote that if the Fed were to make certain changes to its “severely adverse” stress-test scenario, detailed below, their dividend forecasts for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS, -2.23%, Citigroup Inc. C, -3.98% and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. JPM, -1.52% would be “at risk.” www.marketwatch.com/story/these-big-banks-may-be-at-risk-of-dividend-cuts-after-the-federal-reserves-stress-tests-2020-05-27


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--South Korea re-imposes some coronavirus restrictions after spike in new cases Museums, parks, and ar

South Korea re-imposes some coronavirus restrictions after spike in new cases Museums, parks, and art galleries will all be closed again from Friday for two weeks, with authorities struggling to identify transmission routes

South Korea has reimplemented strict lockdown measures in the capital Seoul following the biggest spike of new coronavirus infections in @ @ @ @ @ , parks , and art galleries will all be closed again from Friday for two @ @ @ @ @ Neung-hoo said .
Companies are being urged to reintroduce flexible working hours among other measures @ @ @ @ @ biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases in 53 days , in a country that appeared @ @ @ @ @ under control .
The new lockdown will take effect in the capital ’ s metropolitan @ @ @ @ @ to half of South Korea ’ s 51 million people .
It will remain in @ @ @ @ @

South Korea has reimplemented strict lockdown measures in the capital Seoul following the biggest spike of new coronavirus infections in nearly two months.
Museums, parks, and art galleries will all be closed again from Friday for two weeks, health minister Park Neung-hoo said. Companies are being urged to reintroduce flexible working hours among other measures.
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The move follows the biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases in 53 days, in a country that appeared to have brought the outbreak under control. The new lockdown will take effect in the capital’s metropolitan area, which is home to half of South Korea’s 51 million people. It will remain in place until June 14.
amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/28/south-korea-faces-return-to-coronavirus-restrictions-after-spike-in-new-cases?


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Why Does CNN Let Cuomo Interview His Brother? CNN Is Picking Ratings Over Ethics.

Instead of pressing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for answers , the cable network had his younger sibling ask him questions .
America doesn ’ t have a hereditary aristocracy—it just has members of the same families who occupy powerful positions from generation to generation .
Consider the Cuomo family .
Mario , the patriarch , rose from humble circumstances in Queens to become the governor of New York .
One of his sons , Andrew , now fills the same job ; Andrew ’ s younger brother , Chris , is a high-profile CNN anchor .
For a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview the governor , despite the obvious questions about whether any younger brother could ever conduct an evenhanded interview of his big brother .
( As anyone with siblings knows , the problem is as apt to be excessive toughness as going too easy . )
Chris Cuomo defended the topics of these interviews as nonpolitical , and insisted that the problem was one of appearance , not substance .
Still , CNN heeded the critics and banned Chris Cuomo from interviewing Andrew Cuomo from 2013 until March 2020 , amid the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the heart of the coronavirus story , the rules were relaxed , and the Cuomo brothers began speaking on air regularly .
The interviews were funny , as the brothers dredged up old beefs , and became poignant when Chris contracted COVID-19 .
It was easy to see what was gained : CNN got must-watch TV , and the governor ’ s office got a chance to humanize a politician more respected ( usually grudgingly ) than loved .
With a little distance , it ’ s clear what was lost too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubled response to the crisis .

Instead of pressing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for answers, the cable network had his younger sibling ask him questions.
America doesn’t have a hereditary aristocracy—it just has members of the same families who occupy powerful positions from generation to generation. Consider the Cuomo family. Mario, the patriarch, rose from humble circumstances in Queens to become the governor of New York. One of his sons, Andrew, now fills the same job; Andrew’s younger brother, Chris, is a high-profile CNN anchor.
For a time years ago, CNN allowed Chris to interview the governor, despite the obvious questions about whether any younger brother could ever conduct an evenhanded interview of his big brother. (As anyone with siblings knows, the problem is as apt to be excessive toughness as going too easy.) Chris Cuomo defended the topics of these interviews as nonpolitical, and insisted that the problem was one of appearance, not substance. Still, CNN heeded the critics and banned Chris Cuomo from interviewing Andrew Cuomo from 2013 until March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the New York governor at the heart of the coronavirus story, the rules were relaxed, and the Cuomo brothers began speaking on air regularly. The interviews were funny, as the brothers dredged up old beefs, and became poignant when Chris contracted COVID-19. It was easy to see what was gained: CNN got must-watch TV, and the governor’s office got a chance to humanize a politician more respected (usually grudgingly) than loved. With a little distance, it’s clear what was lost too: accountability for New York’s troubled response to the crisis.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Will You Be Able To Get Cash From Banks In A Crisis? Mike Maloney

If there ’ s a crisis will you be able to get any cash out of the bank ?
Will @ @ @ @ @ cash ?
Because , as of last March , it is no longer a requirement @ @ @ @ @ t required to have a single dollar bill .

If there’s a crisis will you be able to get any cash out of the bank? Will the banks even have any cash? Because, as of last March, it is no longer a requirement – the banks aren’t required to have a single dollar bill.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--We are getting very close to the point where fiat money doesn’t do anyone any good any more.

The good news is seen in the 3 charts below .
They show the bottom up forward EPS consensus increased @ @ @ @ @ ( h/t ) @ Not_Jim_Cramer 391 of 479 S & P 500 firms reporting earnings @ @ @ @ @ after they reported .
South America ’ s largest carrier LATAM airlines filed for U.S. @ @ @ @ @ just weeks after Colombia 's Avianca went bust .
Read more here : t.co/wpbQlSDPK7 pic.twitter.com/CcDB6SPhCO @ @ @ @ @ TRACK CONSUMER CONFIDENCE pic.twitter.com/5JysH8zfOL Over the last five years , through Q1 2020 , pre-tax @ @ @ @ @ % per annum , the lowest reading in over 50-years .
Profits have annualized less @ @ @ @ @ 2016. pic.twitter.com/YeS04tAI9x

twitter.com/hks55/status/1265758627673096192
The good news is seen in the 3 charts below. They show the bottom up forward EPS consensus increased in the past week. (h/t) @Not_Jim_Cramer
391 of 479 S&P 500 firms reporting earnings had their Q2 estimates lowered after they reported.
South America’s largest carrier LATAM airlines filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, just weeks after Colombia's Avianca went bust. Read more here: t.co/wpbQlSDPK7 pic.twitter.com/CcDB6SPhCO
THE STOCK MARKET USED TO TRACK CONSUMER CONFIDENCE pic.twitter.com/5JysH8zfOL
Over the last five years, through Q1 2020, pre-tax corporate profits have declined 2.9% per annum, the lowest reading in over 50-years.
Profits have annualized less than 2% growth since 2016. pic.twitter.com/YeS04tAI9x
— Eric Basmajian (@EPBResearch) May 28, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--The War Against Covid Treatments

The War Against Covid Treatments

“ Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that is primarily used to treat malaria , arthritis and lupus , among other diseases .
It is available in tablets of 200 milligrams and is sold under the brand name Plaquenil in addition to its generic version .
According to the CDC , it can be prescribed to adults and children of all ages and can also be safely taken by pregnant women and nursing mothers .
Not according to the CDC .
While overdoses have occurred , similar to many other prescribed drugs , it is a regularly-prescribed treatment to combate malaria for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommends that adults and children should take one dose of hydroxychloroquine a week starting at least 1 week before traveling to their destination .
They should take one dose a week while there , and for 4 consecutive weeks after leaving .
The weekly dosage recommendation for adults is 400 milligrams .
For children , parents can consult their doctor who will prescribe dosage based on a child ’ s weight .
The child ’ s dose should not exceed the adult dose a week .
Initial Reports From Doctors in the Field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and especially in France , began to recognize that hydroxychloroquine seemed to be working on their Covid patients .
In one poll that surveyed 6,227 physicians in 30 countries , about 37 percent ( 2,300 doctors ) indicated : And the anecdotal recommendations from specific doctors were fast and furious in late March and early April : In New York , Dr. Mohammud Alam , an infectious disease specialist affiliated with Plainview Hospital , said 81 percent of infected covid patients he treated at three Long Island nursing homes recovered from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Smith , founder of The Smith Center for Infectious Diseases and Urban Health , said on “ The Ingraham Angle ” that he is optimistic about the use of antimalarial medications and antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients , calling it “ a game-changer.
” He pointed out that not a single COVID-19 patient of his that has been on the hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin regimen for five days or more has had to be intubated .
In Los Angeles , Dr. Anthony Cardillo said he has seen very promising results when prescribing hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely-ill COVID-19 patients .
“ Every patient I ’ ve prescribed it to has been very , very ill and within 8 to 12 hours , they were basically symptom-free , ” Cardillo told Eyewitness News .
“ So clinically I am seeing a resolution.
” In fact , the initial anecdotal results were so clear that doctors in Spain regularly made it part of their regimen for Covid patients .
When I first heard of hydroxychloroquine ’ s effectiveness , I remember remarking to a relative that “ the pharmaceutical companies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective treatment will get in their way of marketing a vaccine.
” Although I made the remark , I hoped for the best , and hoped that our medical professionals and doctors would win against political motivations to downplay the ( obvious ) effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine , because Donald Trump brought it up during a press conference , and financial conflicts of interest .
Early on , after China indicated that the common-sense regimen of hyper-doses of vitamin C seemed to work in their country , we consistently saw the mainstream media downplay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which also showed tremendous initial promise .
Instead , what we witnessed was the complete takeover of our healthcare apparatus to not only downplay the effectiveness of any treatment , but to step between doctors and patients , to actually prevent doctors from prescribing these therapies – even if they had no obvious harmful side-effects .
We even witnessed the FBI being made into a pawn in this battle , raiding a doctor ’ s office in Michigan that was providing vitamin C intravenously to patients .
And yet I still held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the way of therapies would not stop the most obvious and easy-to-prove beneficial drug : hydroxychloroquine .
Why would the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsor a study into hydroxychloroquine , you ask ?
It ’ s the concept of conflict of interest , along with ‘ controlled opposition ’ .
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation decided to sponsor a study in the UK at the University of Oxford that was looking at hydroxychloroquine .
Note that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are investors in big pharma – especially the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the powerful special interests – that have no interest in effective therapies – were able to find a way to stop all studies on hydroxychloroquine as a therapy for Covid .
What was their excuse ?
The reason quoted in most of the news sources is a “ Lancet study ” that concluded that not only was hydroxychloroquine not effective , but that patients were actually worse off with it , and some ended up dying at rates greater than the group that didn ’ t take hydroxychloroquine .
The authors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors of the study used field data collected from hundreds of hospitals , and , according to the authors , they ( somehow ? )
were able to effectively control for : All that despite the fact that only historical data from many different data sources and countries – all with varying degrees of how to report these other factors – was used .
So why have my suspicions been raised ?
As a patient ’ s health takes a turn for the worse , both patients and doctors are more willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I ’ m willing to bet that hydroxychloroquine is on that list .
So my question is ; were the two groups – those that didn ’ t receive and those that did – equivalent groups ?
Or has science once again fallen prey to both political and financial motivations for cratering potential therapies in favor of expensive research into something that has never been successfully done in the past ; creation of a vaccine for a Coronavirus strain ?
One of the Bloomberg articles I read while researching this topic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remdesivir “ reduced patients ’ recovery time from an average of 15 days to 11 days.
” So I decided to look up how much Remdesivir costs , and how profit-motivated may have been the company that sponsored that study .
I found that Remdesivir costs $ 9.32 to make , and that Gilead “ may ” charge up to $ 4,500 “ per treatment ” .
Unfortunately , there ’ s no money to be made with hydroxychloroquine .
Think for yourself : how has the media reacted to any potential good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not limited to : In fact , the only therapy that the media hasn ’ t attacked yet on the basis if concern for the safety of the patient is Remdesivir , whose profit margins exceed that of crack cocaine .
As public taxpayers and obvious stakeholders in the success of any potential therapy for Covid19 , we deserve more effort than “ well , one study indicated that it may not be effective , so I guess we ’ ll just throw it in the trash completely.
” My One Ask of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide for yourself how convenient the Lancet study was for the multi-billion-dollar vaccine and pharmaceutical industry .

by blink3892938
What is hydroxychloroquine?
“Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that is primarily used to treat malaria, arthritis and lupus, among other diseases. It is available in tablets of 200 milligrams and is sold under the brand name Plaquenil in addition to its generic version. According to the CDC, it can be prescribed to adults and children of all ages and can also be safely taken by pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Source
Is Hydroxychloroquine Risky?
Not according to the CDC.
While overdoses have occurred, similar to many other prescribed drugs, it is a regularly-prescribed treatment to combate malaria for travelers:
When traveling, the CDC recommends that adults and children should take one dose of hydroxychloroquine a week starting at least 1 week before traveling to their destination. They should take one dose a week while there, and for 4 consecutive weeks after leaving.
The weekly dosage recommendation for adults is 400 milligrams. For children, parents can consult their doctor who will prescribe dosage based on a child’s weight. The child’s dose should not exceed the adult dose a week.
Source
Initial Reports From Doctors in the Field
Almost immediately, doctors around the world, and especially in France, began to recognize that hydroxychloroquine seemed to be working on their Covid patients.
In one poll that surveyed 6,227 physicians in 30 countries, about 37 percent (2,300 doctors) indicated:
“hydroxychloroquine (is) the best treatment for the novel coronavirus.”
And the anecdotal recommendations from specific doctors were fast and furious in late March and early April:
In New York, Dr. Mohammud Alam, an infectious disease specialist affiliated with Plainview Hospital, said 81 percent of infected covid patients he treated at three Long Island nursing homes recovered from the contagion.
In New Jersey, Dr. Stephen Smith, founder of The Smith Center for Infectious Diseases and Urban Health, said on “The Ingraham Angle” that he is optimistic about the use of antimalarial medications and antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients, calling it “a game-changer.” He pointed out that not a single COVID-19 patient of his that has been on the hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin regimen for five days or more has had to be intubated.
In Los Angeles, Dr. Anthony Cardillo said he has seen very promising results when prescribing hydroxychloroquine in combination with zinc for the most severely-ill COVID-19 patients. “Every patient I’ve prescribed it to has been very, very ill and within 8 to 12 hours, they were basically symptom-free,” Cardillo told Eyewitness News. “So clinically I am seeing a resolution.”
In fact, the initial anecdotal results were so clear that doctors in Spain regularly made it part of their regimen for Covid patients.
The Undoing of Hydroxychloroquine
When I first heard of hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness, I remember remarking to a relative that “the pharmaceutical companies are not going to like that! An effective treatment will get in their way of marketing a vaccine.”
Although I made the remark, I hoped for the best, and hoped that our medical professionals and doctors would win against political motivations to downplay the (obvious) effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, because Donald Trump brought it up during a press conference, and financial conflicts of interest.
Early on, after China indicated that the common-sense regimen of hyper-doses of vitamin C seemed to work in their country, we consistently saw the mainstream media downplay effective treatments, including that of zinc, which also showed tremendous initial promise.
Instead, what we witnessed was the complete takeover of our healthcare apparatus to not only downplay the effectiveness of any treatment, but to step between doctors and patients, to actually prevent doctors from prescribing these therapies – even if they had no obvious harmful side-effects.
We even witnessed the FBI being made into a pawn in this battle, raiding a doctor’s office in Michigan that was providing vitamin C intravenously to patients.
And yet I still held out hope that the powerful interests getting in the way of therapies would not stop the most obvious and easy-to-prove beneficial drug: hydroxychloroquine.
The Studies with Peculiar Sponsors
Why would the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsor a study into hydroxychloroquine, you ask?
It’s the concept of conflict of interest, along with ‘controlled opposition’. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation decided to sponsor a study in the UK at the University of Oxford that was looking at hydroxychloroquine. Note that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are investors in big pharma – especially the companies that produce vaccines.
the Gates Foundation’s support of the GAVI Alliance has incentivized manufacturers to increase production of specific vaccines. These incentives have resulted in payments of over $1 billion to Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Some reporters have described this arrangement as “a leg-up for pharmaceutical companies ‘seeking to expand into faster-growing, lower-income countries.’” However, as the German report notes, the non-governmental organization Doctors without Borders (MSF) has questioned the GAVI Alliance’s overall impact on vaccine affordability, stating that “the cost to fully immunize a child was 68 times more expensive in 2014 than it was in 2001.”
Source
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All hydroxychloroquine Studies Suspended: May 27th, 2020.
And today, the powerful special interests – that have no interest in effective therapies – were able to find a way to stop all studies on hydroxychloroquine as a therapy for Covid.
What was their excuse?
The reason quoted in most of the news sources is a “Lancet study” that concluded that not only was hydroxychloroquine not effective, but that patients were actually worse off with it, and some ended up dying at rates greater than the group that didn’t take hydroxychloroquine.
The oft-quoted “Lancet Study”
The authors of the Lancet study31180-6/fulltext) concluded:
“Treatment with any combination of the four drugs was associated with a higher risk of death than seen in 81,000 patients who didn’t receive them.”
The authors of the study used field data collected from hundreds of hospitals, and, according to the authors, they (somehow?) were able to effectively control for:
“…age, sex, race or ethnicity, underlying comorbidities, and disease severity at baseline”
All that despite the fact that only historical data from many different data sources and countries – all with varying degrees of how to report these other factors – was used.
Even the study’s authors acknowledged:
“observational studies cannot fully account for unmeasured confounding factors…”
So why have my suspicions been raised?
As a patient’s health takes a turn for the worse, both patients and doctors are more willing to ‘try something different or new’, and I’m willing to bet that hydroxychloroquine is on that list.
So my question is; were the two groups – those that didn’t receive and those that did – equivalent groups? Or has science once again fallen prey to both political and financial motivations for cratering potential therapies in favor of expensive research into something that has never been successfully done in the past; creation of a vaccine for a Coronavirus strain?
One of the Bloomberg articles I read while researching this topic proudly touted that a patented drug called Remdesivir “reduced patients’ recovery time from an average of 15 days to 11 days.”
So I decided to look up how much Remdesivir costs, and how profit-motivated may have been the company that sponsored that study. I found that Remdesivir costs $9.32 to make, and that Gilead “may” charge up to $4,500 “per treatment”.
Unfortunately, there’s no money to be made with hydroxychloroquine.
According to Good RX, the lowest price for the most common version of hydroxychloroquine is around $20.41 for 60 200 milligram tablets.
Source
Think for yourself: how has the media reacted to any potential good news about Covid, including, but not limited to:
Vitamin C Zinc hydroxychloroquine sunlight heat
In fact, the only therapy that the media hasn’t attacked yet on the basis if concern for the safety of the patient is Remdesivir, whose profit margins exceed that of crack cocaine.
As public taxpayers and obvious stakeholders in the success of any potential therapy for Covid19, we deserve more effort than “well, one study indicated that it may not be effective, so I guess we’ll just throw it in the trash completely.”
My One Ask of You
Use your own critical thinking and decide for yourself how convenient the Lancet study was for the multi-billion-dollar vaccine and pharmaceutical industry.
Sources
www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-05-27/france-bans-hydroxychloroquine-to-treat-covid-19
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-27/drug-touted-by-trump-rejected-for-covid-patients-in-france
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-22/hydroxychloroquine-linked-to-deaths-heart-risks-in-covid-study


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-28--Fed: Sharp economic decline in May leaves businesses ‘pessimistic’ about recovery…  Big bankruptcies

Fed: Sharp economic decline in May leaves businesses ‘pessimistic’ about recovery…  Big bankruptcies sweep nation… GDP -5%… TOTAL JOBLESS CLAIMS TOP 40 MILLION…

Fed : Sharp economic decline in May leaves businesses ‘ pessimistic ’ about recovery Economic activity “ sharply ” declined across the U.S. through May , leaving businesses “ highly uncertain ” about their futures and “ pessimistic about the potential pace of recovery , ” according to a Federal Reserve report released Wednesday .
The Fed ’ s May “ Beige Book ” — a monthly compilation of business activity reports from each of the system ’ s 12 districts — painted a dire picture of the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic as states began to gradually lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
The Fed reported a deep , nationwide plunge in consumer spending , manufacturing activity , travel and construction due to disruptions driven by the pandemic , sending shockwaves through the energy , real estate , auto , aerospace and agricultural industries .
While banks reported strong demand for emergency Small Business Administration ( SBA ) loans , a sharp drop in residential home sales and evaporating revenue from missed commercial real estate rent payments pose other threats to the financial sector .
Big Bankruptcies Sweep the U.S. in Fastest Pace Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first few weeks of the pandemic , it was just a trickle : companies like Alaskan airline Ravn Air pushed into bankruptcy as travel came to a halt and markets collapsed .
But the financial distress wrought by the shutdowns only deepened , producing what is now a wave of insolvencies washing through America ’ s corporations .
In May alone , some 27 companies reporting at least $ 50 million in liabilities sought court protection from creditors — the highest number since the Great Recession .
They range from well-known U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J .
Crew Group Inc. to air carriers Latam Airlines Group SA and Avianca Holdings , their business decimated as travelers stayed put .
In May 2009 , 29 major companies filed for bankruptcy , according to data compiled by Bloomberg .
And year-to-date , there have been 98 bankruptcies filed by companies with at least $ 50 million in liabilities — also the highest since 2009 , when 142 companies filed in the first four months .
Few people believe bankruptcies have by any means hit a peak .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see filings of at least the level we ’ re seeing for a while , ” said Melanie Cyganowski , a former bankruptcy judge now with the Otterbourg law firm .
New challenge : Workers who don ’ t want to come back to their jobs… Even In Well-To-Do Communities , Food Pantries See Surge In Demand…

Fed: Sharp economic decline in May leaves businesses ‘pessimistic’ about recovery
Economic activity “sharply” declined across the U.S. through May, leaving businesses “highly uncertain” about their futures and “pessimistic about the potential pace of recovery,” according to a Federal Reserve report released Wednesday.
The Fed’s May “Beige Book” — a monthly compilation of business activity reports from each of the system’s 12 districts — painted a dire picture of the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic as states began to gradually lift restrictions imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Fed reported a deep, nationwide plunge in consumer spending, manufacturing activity, travel and construction due to disruptions driven by the pandemic, sending shockwaves through the energy, real estate, auto, aerospace and agricultural industries.
While banks reported strong demand for emergency Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, a sharp drop in residential home sales and evaporating revenue from missed commercial real estate rent payments pose other threats to the financial sector.
Big Bankruptcies Sweep the U.S. in Fastest Pace Since May 2009
(Bloomberg) — In the first few weeks of the pandemic, it was just a trickle: companies like Alaskan airline Ravn Air pushed into bankruptcy as travel came to a halt and markets collapsed. But the financial distress wrought by the shutdowns only deepened, producing what is now a wave of insolvencies washing through America’s corporations.
In May alone, some 27 companies reporting at least $50 million in liabilities sought court protection from creditors — the highest number since the Great Recession. They range from well-known U.S. mainstays such as J.C. Penney Co. and J. Crew Group Inc. to air carriers Latam Airlines Group SA and Avianca Holdings, their business decimated as travelers stayed put.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In May 2009, 29 major companies filed for bankruptcy, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. And year-to-date, there have been 98 bankruptcies filed by companies with at least $50 million in liabilities — also the highest since 2009, when 142 companies filed in the first four months.
Few people believe bankruptcies have by any means hit a peak.
“I think we’re going to continue to see filings of at least the level we’re seeing for a while,”said Melanie Cyganowski, a former bankruptcy judge now with the Otterbourg law firm.
GDP -5%…
TOTAL JOBLESS CLAIMS TOP 40 MILLION…
New challenge: Workers who don’t want to come back to their jobs…
Even In Well-To-Do Communities, Food Pantries See Surge In Demand…


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-29--This is just what Americans needed to see on Friday morning to help calm their nerves…

Millions of Americans feel like the country is drifting precariously close to the point where social cohesion unravels .
What ’ s the Minneapolis PD ’ s solution ?
Arrest a team of journalists live on air… The same police department that hired the officer who cruelly and arbitrarily murdered George Floyd has responded to the intensifying media coverage of the riots that are now beginning to spread across the US with what some might describe as ‘ Stalinist ’ tactics .
CNN tweeted a photo of reporter Omar Jimenez being taken into custody in the middle of the live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crew while they were being arrested .
According to CNN , police told the crew they were being detained because they were told to move , and didn ’ t , one member of the CNN crew relayed to the network .
In a statement , the network accused the police of arresting the men for doing their jobs .
Jimenez could be seen holding his CNN badge while reporting , identifying himself as a reporter .
He could be heard telling the officers that they would move wherever the police needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he was in the middle of a live report .

CNN Crew Arrested While Covering Minneapolis Riots
Millions of Americans feel like the country is drifting precariously close to the point where social cohesion unravels. What’s the Minneapolis PD’s solution? Arrest a team of journalists live on air…
The same police department that hired the officer who cruelly and arbitrarily murdered George Floyd has responded to the intensifying media coverage of the riots that are now beginning to spread across the US with what some might describe as ‘Stalinist’ tactics.
CNN tweeted a photo of reporter Omar Jimenez being taken into custody in the middle of the live report.
This video was captured by the crew while they were being arrested.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
A CNN crew was arrested while giving a live television report in Minneapolis, where the crew was covering ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd. They had clearly identified themselves as press. t.co/QklqlJm7mD pic.twitter.com/0xreuTPuWS — CNN International (@cnni) May 29, 2020
According to CNN, police told the crew they were being detained because they were told to move, and didn’t, one member of the CNN crew relayed to the network. In a statement, the network accused the police of arresting the men for doing their jobs.
A CNN reporter & his production team were arrested this morning in Minneapolis for doing their jobs, despite identifying themselves – a clear violation of their First Amendment rights. The authorities in Minnesota, incl. the Governor, must release the 3 CNN employees immediately. — CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 29, 2020
Jimenez could be seen holding his CNN badge while reporting, identifying himself as a reporter. He could be heard telling the officers that they would move wherever the police needed them, while also making it clear that he was in the middle of a live report.
…
…


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-29--Social Media’s Plantation of the Mind

Social Media’s Plantation of the Mind

The Company Store is open , buy whatever you want on easy credit , and don ’ t forget to take an approved narrative with you .
I ’ ve been discussing the neocolonial-plantation structure of the U.S. economy since 2008 , and now this model has reached perfection in social media ’ s Plantation of the Mind .
Once you ’ re firmly enmeshed in this social media Plantation , you lose sight of the fact that there ’ s a larger world outside the plantation : social media platforms aren ’ t exploitive plantations in the World Wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far as their users are concerned .
Since I spent some of my youth in a classic Plantation town ( and worked on the plantation as a laborer in summer ) , the concept of a Plantation Economy is not an abstraction to me , but a living analogy of the way our economy works .
In the classic Plantation , everything is managed by those in charge to benefit the owners .
Workers are forced to buy their necessities at The Company Store , and since the entire town and plantation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no private ownership of land or housing ; everyone is a serf , beholden to the owners , and since costs are artificially high at The Company Store ( due to the lack of competition ) , the serfs have to go into debt to survive : they become debt-serfs .
In the Plantation Economy , the Company suppresses any innovation that threatens its monopoly and the state enforces whatever means the Corporation deploys : buying up patents and small companies , predatory pricing to bankrupt competitors , etc .
The Plantation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their partner in rentier skimming , the state .
Our economy is a state-cartel finance-debt system ; it ’ s only capitalist on the margins , that is , in the fringes that aren ’ t profitable enough for corporations to control .
The core feature of this Plantation Economy is the privileges of accumulating capital are all in the hands of the state-cartel elites .
The foundation of classical capitalism is the accumulation of capital , which in our era is not just cash , factories , mines , etc.–financial and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property , knowledge of processes , creation and control of content , research and development , control of information streams ( that is , maintaining information asymmetry ) and so on .
One of the key concepts in the Survival+ critique is the politics of experience .
This is an elusive concept because what we take for granted is invisible to us , and we have to go back in time , so to speak , to rediscover a history in which the experience of daily life was quite different from the present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ normal ” that marketing worms into every once-private area of our lives .
Not that long ago , adverts and marketing were limited to print media ( newspapers and magazines ) and TV–fundamentally passive media that you could opt out of by setting the paper aside or turning off the TV .
The key concept in all marketing now is supremely pernicious : any advert or campaign which reaches deep into the last refuges of privacy is considered highly valuable .
This is of course the raison d ’ etre of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into every process we consider essential .
To perfect this colonization of the mind , social media has persuaded users that they no longer need unfettered access to the entire World Wide Web/Internet : we ’ ll give you everything you want right here on our Plantation of the Mind .
Including , of course , what you should think , feel and buy .
Since Google dominates “ search , ” and since Google has complete control over what is “ found ” in searches and what is buried and rendered invisible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found , ” then our access to the entire Web is limited in ways we can not see or understand , because the process and filters are invisible to us .
Once you control the politics of experience , the user isn ’ t even aware that what they now consider “ obvious ” has been molded by the plantation owners to maximize their private profits .
In social media ’ s Plantation of the Mind , users are assured they have complete access to everything that is “ fact ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they see has been filtered to the benefit of the Plantation owners and their political allies in the state hierarchy .
In a democracy , voters must be trusted to make assessments and judgments on their own , i.e .
as adults .
They must be trusted to realize that marketers are everywhere , attempting to sell something or other , not just goods and services but narratives , which benefit those in power or threaten those in power .
They must be trusted to understand the difference between their own private stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good .
Alas , the voters are no longer trusted by the elites .
They are chattel on the plantation , and have to be managed and coerced for their own good .
Enter the perfect tool to do so , social media ’ s Plantation of the Mind .
The entire purpose of social media ’ s Plantation of the Mind is to maximize profits by limiting user ’ s experience and awareness to what is unthreatening to the corporate-state elites .
Rather than the old model in which the Web was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content which required users to sort the wheat from the chaff , social media ’ s Plantation of the Mind seeks to sanitize all that chaos into “ approved content ” which users aren ’ t even aware has been carefully selected for their consumption by hidden processes and filters .
The intent of those filters are also hidden , as is the selection process of those filters .
Who gets to decide what ’ s filtered out “ for our own good ” ?
Who gets to decide what is “ our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media ’ s Plantation of the Mind .
The Company Store is open , buy whatever you want on easy credit , and don ’ t forget to take an approved narrative with you .
Don ’ t worry , we ’ ve planted that in your mind without you even realizing it–for your own good , of course .
Are Facebook and Google the New Colonial Powers ?
( September 18 , 2017 ) Colonizing the Plantation of the Mind ( August 25 , 2010 )

by Charles Hugh-Smith
The Company Store is open, buy whatever you want on easy credit, and don’t forget to take an approved narrative with you.
I’ve been discussing the neocolonial-plantation structure of the U.S. economy since 2008, and now this model has reached perfection in social media’s Plantation of the Mind. Once you’re firmly enmeshed in this social media Plantation, you lose sight of the fact that there’s a larger world outside the plantation: social media platforms aren’t exploitive plantations in the World Wide Web/Internet, they are the Internet as far as their users are concerned.
Since I spent some of my youth in a classic Plantation town (and worked on the plantation as a laborer in summer), the concept of a Plantation Economy is not an abstraction to me, but a living analogy of the way our economy works.
In the classic Plantation, everything is managed by those in charge to benefit the owners. Workers are forced to buy their necessities at The Company Store, and since the entire town and plantation is owned by the corporation, there’s no private ownership of land or housing; everyone is a serf, beholden to the owners, and since costs are artificially high at The Company Store (due to the lack of competition), the serfs have to go into debt to survive: they become debt-serfs.
In the Plantation Economy, the Company suppresses any innovation that threatens its monopoly and the state enforces whatever means the Corporation deploys: buying up patents and small companies, predatory pricing to bankrupt competitors, etc.
The Plantation Economy is a mono-culture of large corporations and their partner in rentier skimming, the state. Our economy is a state-cartel finance-debt system; it’s only capitalist on the margins, that is, in the fringes that aren’t profitable enough for corporations to control.
The core feature of this Plantation Economy is the privileges of accumulating capital are all in the hands of the state-cartel elites. The foundation of classical capitalism is the accumulation of capital, which in our era is not just cash, factories, mines, etc.–financial and industrial capital– but knowledge capital: intellectual property, knowledge of processes, creation and control of content, research and development, control of information streams (that is, maintaining information asymmetry) and so on.
One of the key concepts in the Survival+ critique is the politics of experience. This is an elusive concept because what we take for granted is invisible to us, and we have to go back in time, so to speak, to rediscover a history in which the experience of daily life was quite different from the present.
Today, we accept it as “normal” that marketing worms into every once-private area of our lives. Not that long ago, adverts and marketing were limited to print media (newspapers and magazines) and TV–fundamentally passive media that you could opt out of by setting the paper aside or turning off the TV.
The key concept in all marketing now is supremely pernicious: any advert or campaign which reaches deep into the last refuges of privacy is considered highly valuable. This is of course the raison d’etre of social media: to weave highly profitable marketing into every process we consider essential.
To perfect this colonization of the mind, social media has persuaded users that they no longer need unfettered access to the entire World Wide Web/Internet: we’ll give you everything you want right here on our Plantation of the Mind.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Including, of course, what you should think, feel and buy. Since Google dominates “search,” and since Google has complete control over what is “found” in searches and what is buried and rendered invisible, i.e. whatever is “not found,” then our access to the entire Web is limited in ways we cannot see or understand, because the process and filters are invisible to us.
Once you control the politics of experience, the user isn’t even aware that what they now consider “obvious” has been molded by the plantation owners to maximize their private profits. In social media’s Plantation of the Mind, users are assured they have complete access to everything that is “fact” and “safe,” when in reality everything they see has been filtered to the benefit of the Plantation owners and their political allies in the state hierarchy.
In a democracy, voters must be trusted to make assessments and judgments on their own, i.e. as adults. They must be trusted to realize that marketers are everywhere, attempting to sell something or other, not just goods and services but narratives, which benefit those in power or threaten those in power.
They must be trusted to understand the difference between their own private stake in political decisions and the broader public good.
Alas, the voters are no longer trusted by the elites. They are chattel on the plantation, and have to be managed and coerced for their own good. Enter the perfect tool to do so, social media’s Plantation of the Mind.
The entire purpose of social media’s Plantation of the Mind is to maximize profits by limiting user’s experience and awareness to what is unthreatening to the corporate-state elites. Rather than the old model in which the Web was a free-for-all which included all sorts of content which required users to sort the wheat from the chaff, social media’s Plantation of the Mind seeks to sanitize all that chaos into “approved content” which users aren’t even aware has been carefully selected for their consumption by hidden processes and filters.
The intent of those filters are also hidden, as is the selection process of those filters.
Who gets to decide what’s filtered out “for our own good”? Who gets to decide what is “our own good”?
Welcome to social media’s Plantation of the Mind. The Company Store is open, buy whatever you want on easy credit, and don’t forget to take an approved narrative with you. Don’t worry, we’ve planted that in your mind without you even realizing it–for your own good, of course.
Are Facebook and Google the New Colonial Powers? (September 18, 2017)
Loving Our Servitude in America’s Plantation Economy (February 10, 2017)
Colonizing the Plantation of the Mind (August 25, 2010)