investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Life saving breathing exercises for the lungs, for coronavirus

Chris Cuomo ’ s video , and three others about breathing techniques for coronavirus here ( they may save your @ @ @ @ @ you love : ]

by i-luv-ducks
Chris Cuomo’s video, and three others about breathing techniques for coronavirus here (they may save your life or that of someone you love:]
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/8/1935532/-Doctors-and-nurses-demonstrate-breathing-techniques-proven-to-help-with-coronavirus-symptoms
Also search Youtube for “coronavirus breathing exercises.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--This is ridiculous! “It’s a Complete Abomination”…Hedge Funds Applying for Bailouts

Tha ’ s Nate Koppikar , a partner at Orso Partners , as quoted in a Bloomberg News article on Tuesday expressing his displeasure with the prospect of hedge funds claiming bailout money intended to help cash-strapped small businesses in the throes of a deep recession wrought by the outbreak of COVID-19 .
The Bloomberg article makes the case that hedge funds , which tend to charge 2 % fees for managing other people ’ s money and take 20 % of the profits from their bets , are enticed by the roughly $ 350 billion recovery package that offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent and utilities for hair salons , restaurants and other businesses that have been bludgeoned by forced closures to help mitigate the spread of the infectious disease that was first identified in Wuhan , China , in December and has now infected nearly 2 million people globally .
The story hits upon a raging debate on Wall Street about whether hedge funds should avail themselves of bailout funds during the pandemic , which has hit nearly every corner of the economy and threatens to throw the U.S. into one of its deepest recessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive of venture-capital firm Social Capital LP , last week argued that the Fed ’ s massive coronavirus stimulus package helps the ultrarich at the expense of ordinary American workers .

Tha’s Nate Koppikar, a partner at Orso Partners, as quoted in a Bloomberg News article on Tuesday expressing his displeasure with the prospect of hedge funds claiming bailout money intended to help cash-strapped small businesses in the throes of a deep recession wrought by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The Bloomberg article makes the case that hedge funds, which tend to charge 2% fees for managing other people’s money and take 20% of the profits from their bets, are enticed by the roughly $350 billion recovery package that offers loans to cover everything from payroll to rent and utilities for hair salons, restaurants and other businesses that have been bludgeoned by forced closures to help mitigate the spread of the infectious disease that was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December and has now infected nearly 2 million people globally.
The story hits upon a raging debate on Wall Street about whether hedge funds should avail themselves of bailout funds during the pandemic, which has hit nearly every corner of the economy and threatens to throw the U.S. into one of its deepest recessions in generations.
Chamath Palihapitiya, chief executive of venture-capital firm Social Capital LP, last week argued that the Fed’s massive coronavirus stimulus package helps the ultrarich at the expense of ordinary American workers.
www.marketwatch.com/story/its-a-complete-abomination-says-wall-street-money-manager-about-hedge-funds-applying-for-bailouts-from-small-business-recovery-funds-2020-04-14


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--The website for Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity is being shut down every night, making

The website for Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity is being shut down every night, making it effectively impossible to claim unemployment benefits before they expire.

But so many people said that the extra UEI was this super generous gift that I should be so very @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not so generous if you can ’ t file a claim due @ @ @ @ @ the “ gift ” has a set timeframe , not a rolling one .

But so many people said that the extra UEI was this super generous gift that I should be so very thankful for receiving. 🤔
It’s not so generous if you can’t file a claim due to shitty infrastructure and if the “gift” has a set timeframe, not a rolling one.
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h/t its_treason_then_


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Rob George: After alleging multiple errors by the WHO, Trump declares we won’t get fooled again.

SO WITH TRUMP VOWING TO CUT OFF FUNDING TO THE W.H.O .
over its China-puppet status , Rob George has the perfect tweet : UPDATE : Related , though less humorous : China ’ s deadly coronavirus-lie co-conspirator — the World Health Organization .
President Trump is taking the gloves off and finally holding the World Health Organization and China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic .
He ’ s been making threats for weeks , and made good on those threats on Tuesday by suspending hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the WHO .
Trump ’ s move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and encourage the U.S. to impose sanctions on China for its role in the spread of the coronavirus .
The president could also pull out of the trade deal with China unless the communist nation comes clean on the coronavirus .
But Trump is also bound to face blowback from the usual suspects in the mainstream media and China apologists .
WHO supporters will say Trump is hurting the fight against the pandemic at the worst possible time .
No , in fact the timing is right to shine a spotlight on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO been so friendly with China ?
“ We ’ ve had problems with them for years , ” Trump said of the WHO .
“ This should have been done by previous administrations a long time ago.
” The president said he was launching an investigation to determine whether to permanently pull the plug on WHO funding .
CHINA IS TRYING TO USE THE WUHAN CORONAVIRUS TO OBTAIN GLOBAL ADVANTAGE .
“ The CCP has no only one concern , staying in power .
That the CCP even bothers with public diplomacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world rather than trying to convince anyone of their position .
Chinese propaganda is not about winning friends , it ’ s about letting all know the consequences if the CCP is not happy.
” They ’ re weaker than they realize .
But then , so was the Kaiser , and that ended badly for everyone .
On the other hand , there ’ s some evidence that they ’ re feeling desperate .
UPDATE : Possibly related : Kudlow : ‘ Pay The Moving Costs ’ Of American Companies Leaving China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would spend upwards of $ 2.2 billion to get its corporations out of China and either back home or spread throughout southeast Asia , White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said the U.S. should ‘ pay the moving costs ’ of every American company that wants out of China.
” China imposes restrictions on publishing academic research on the origins of the coronavirus .
China just joined the U.N. Human Rights Council panel that will choose 17 world monitors on human rights including the U.N. Special

SO WITH TRUMP VOWING TO CUT OFF FUNDING TO THE W.H.O. over its China-puppet status, Rob George has the perfect tweet:
UPDATE: Related, though less humorous: China’s deadly coronavirus-lie co-conspirator — the World Health Organization.
FINALLY: Trump move to hold China, World Health Organization accountable long overdue.
President Trump is taking the gloves off and finally holding the World Health Organization and China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic. He’s been making threats for weeks, and made good on those threats on Tuesday by suspending hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the WHO. Trump’s move could send ripple effects throughout the world and encourage the U.S. to impose sanctions on China for its role in the spread of the coronavirus. The president could also pull out of the trade deal with China unless the communist nation comes clean on the coronavirus. But Trump is also bound to face blowback from the usual suspects in the mainstream media and China apologists. WHO supporters will say Trump is hurting the fight against the pandemic at the worst possible time. No, in fact the timing is right to shine a spotlight on the World Health Organization. Why has the WHO been so friendly with China? “We’ve had problems with them for years,” Trump said of the WHO. “This should have been done by previous administrations a long time ago.” The president said he was launching an investigation to determine whether to permanently pull the plug on WHO funding.
CHINA IS TRYING TO USE THE WUHAN CORONAVIRUS TO OBTAIN GLOBAL ADVANTAGE. “The CCP has no only one concern, staying in power. That the CCP even bothers with public diplomacy has everything to do with threatening the world rather than trying to convince anyone of their position. Chinese propaganda is not about winning friends, it’s about letting all know the consequences if the CCP is not happy.”
They’re weaker than they realize. But then, so was the Kaiser, and that ended badly for everyone.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
On the other hand, there’s some evidence that they’re feeling desperate.
UPDATE: Possibly related: Kudlow: ‘Pay The Moving Costs’ Of American Companies Leaving China. “The same day Japan announced that it would spend upwards of $2.2 billion to get its corporations out of China and either back home or spread throughout southeast Asia, White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said the U.S. should ‘pay the moving costs’ of every American company that wants out of China.”
China imposes restrictions on publishing academic research on the origins of the coronavirus. China just joined the U.N. Human Rights Council panel that will choose 17 world monitors on human rights including the U.N. Special
🇨🇳 China imposes restrictions on publishing academic research on the origins of the coronavirus. 🇨🇳 China just joined the U.N. Human Rights Council panel that will choose 17 world monitors on human rights including the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Health.
t.co/AFbDOuKUiu — UN Watch (@UNWatch) April 14, 2020
h/t GR


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--German zoo may have to feed animals to each other

Zoos that should have been crowded in the sunny Easter holidays are now hard-up and asking for donations , as the coronavirus lockdown bites .
A zoo director in northern Germany has even admitted that some animals might soon have to be fed to others , if the zoo is to survive .
“ We ’ ve listed the animals we ’ ll have to slaughter first , ” Neumünster Zoo ’ s Verena Kaspari told Die Welt .
Berlin Zoo has infant panda twins , but their fans can only watch them online .
“ Constantly we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them live ’ .
We don ’ t want the little pandas to be grown up by the time we finally reopen.
” Ms Kaspari at Neumünster Zoo said killing some animals so that others could live would be a last resort , and “ unpleasant ” , but even that would not solve the financial problem .
The seals and penguins needed big quantities of fresh fish daily , she pointed out .
“ If it comes to it , I ’ ll have to euthanise animals , rather than let them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the worst , we would have to feed some of the animals to others .
”

via BBC
Zoos that should have been crowded in the sunny Easter holidays are now hard-up and asking for donations, as the coronavirus lockdown bites.
A zoo director in northern Germany has even admitted that some animals might soon have to be fed to others, if the zoo is to survive.
“We’ve listed the animals we’ll have to slaughter first,” Neumünster Zoo’s Verena Kaspari told Die Welt.
Berlin Zoo has infant panda twins, but their fans can only watch them online.
The zoo’s spokeswoman Philine Hachmeister told DPA news agency “the panda twins are adorably sweet”.
“Constantly we’re thinking ‘the visitors should be watching them live’. We don’t want the little pandas to be grown up by the time we finally reopen.”
Big appetites
Ms Kaspari at Neumünster Zoo said killing some animals so that others could live would be a last resort, and “unpleasant”, but even that would not solve the financial problem.
The seals and penguins needed big quantities of fresh fish daily, she pointed out.
“If it comes to it, I’ll have to euthanise animals, rather than let them starve,” she said.
“At the worst, we would have to feed some of the animals to others.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Leland Miller: “Look, here’s your new paradigm. It is that there is no longer a failure allowed, ban

Leland Miller: “Look, here’s your new paradigm. It is that there is no longer a failure allowed, bankruptcies are allowed, the government backstops everything and we’re going to see how long that goes until the system implodes. So, there’s your new paradigm.”

Demetri Kofinas speaks with Leland Miller , CEO of China Beige Book , which runs the largest private Chinese data @ @ @ @ @ , about the state of China ’ s economy in the wake of COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ of the global shutdown on all the major sectors of China ’ s economy , @ @ @ @ @ for China ’ s already fragile banking system .
During the overtime , Leland and @ @ @ @ @ geopolitical consequences that could flow from the ongoing global disruptions .
They also discuss the @ @ @ @ @ and how the CCP may try a catastrophic contraction .

Listen to the full episode
Demetri Kofinas speaks with Leland Miller, CEO of China Beige Book, which runs the largest private Chinese data collection operation in the world, about the state of China’s economy in the wake of COVID-19. The two discuss the impact of the global shutdown on all the major sectors of China’s economy, as well as the implications for China’s already fragile banking system.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
During the overtime, Leland and Demetri consider a host of geopolitical consequences that could flow from the ongoing global disruptions. They also discuss the effects to Chinese real estate and how the CCP may try a catastrophic contraction.
h/t Kazemel89


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Nursing homes. Huge industry (mostly privately owned and equity packaged) with political pull and ca

Nursing homes. Huge industry (mostly privately owned and equity packaged) with political pull and campaign contributions. Coronavirus numbers largely unreported, not reported at all, names of nursing homes hidden by gov’t. mandate in some states.

Louisiana nursing homes with coronavirus clusters won ’ t be ID ’ d anymore , officials say The state announced Friday that 60 residents of nursing homes and other long-term senior care facilities have died of the novel coronavirus , but in a reversal of previous practice said it would no longer publish a list of such facilities identified as clusters of the contagion .
Instead , the state Department of Health said it would begin publishing a tally of homes where there are confirmed cases , residents who had tested positive and the number who have died .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in 61 separate nursing facilities have tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory infection .
Sixty have perished from complications related to the disease .
The number of deaths highlights the danger the virus presents to the elderly and frail , who have a much higher mortality rate than the general population at large .
The nursing home deaths also represent about 16 % of Louisiana ’ s total , which is to be expected , said Hugh Long , a professor of health policy and management at the Tulane School of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Louisiana ’ s senior care facilities typically have underlying health problems , including diabetes , heart disease and other problems , he said .
Those conditions make them especially vulnerable .

by SwiftPlacodermi
Louisiana nursing homes with coronavirus clusters won’t be ID’d anymore, officials say
The state announced Friday that 60 residents of nursing homes and other long-term senior care facilities have died of the novel coronavirus, but in a reversal of previous practice said it would no longer publish a list of such facilities identified as clusters of the contagion.
Instead, the state Department of Health said it would begin publishing a tally of homes where there are confirmed cases, residents who had tested positive and the number who have died.
On Friday, state officials said that 261 residents in 61 separate nursing facilities have tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory infection. Sixty have perished from complications related to the disease.
The number of deaths highlights the danger the virus presents to the elderly and frail, who have a much higher mortality rate than the general population at large.
The nursing home deaths also represent about 16% of Louisiana’s total, which is to be expected, said Hugh Long, a professor of health policy and management at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Residents in Louisiana’s senior care facilities typically have underlying health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and other problems, he said. Those conditions make them especially vulnerable.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--COVID19 cases drop out of exponential growth in almost every US state

While this data looks good , let my comment serve as a friendly reminder that we ’ re still not @ @ @ @ @ , though , this is a good trend .
Don ’ t relax , be @ @ @ @ @

by Give_me_the_science
While this data looks good, let my comment serve as a friendly reminder that we’re still not testing adequately enough.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Still, though, this is a good trend. Don’t relax, be vigilant, stay home.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--J.C. Penney explores bankruptcy as hopes for recovery fade

J.C. Penney is exploring filing for bankruptcy protection after the coronavirus pandemic forced the U.S. retailer to temporarily shut its 850 department stores , upending its turnaround plans , according to people familiar with the matter .
The Plano , Texas-based company has access to enough cash to survive in the months ahead , even as revenue dries up because of the store closures , the sources said .
Still , the company is contemplating a bankruptcy filing as one way to rework its unsustainable finances and save money on looming debt payments , which include significant annual interest expenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a non-essential medium sized retail store inside a mall in a red state .
My company wants to open ASAP .
The mall will probably open when the governor says it ’ s ok. On calls with my DM we talk about how we ’ ll only be able to let in so many people at a time , we ’ ll have to make sure people stand apart , strict cleaning schedules , a more restrictive return policy , temperature checks on employees maybe , worries of robberies because everyone will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all a joke really , with asymptomatic spreaders .
If we open too early the whole mall is at risk and the area will flame up again .
So we ’ ll have less budget for labor , less staff in store anyway to accommodate customers and head counts , more work with all the extra cleaning , less ability to sell due to social distancing and head counts , drastically reduced sales to all of the above plus already being closed a month .
It ’ s going to be rough times @ @ @ @ @

J.C. Penney is exploring filing for bankruptcy protection after the coronavirus pandemic forced the U.S. retailer to temporarily shut its 850 department stores, upending its turnaround plans, according to people familiar with the matter. The Plano, Texas-based company has access to enough cash to survive in the months ahead, even as revenue dries up because of the store closures, the sources said. Still, the company is contemplating a bankruptcy filing as one way to rework its unsustainable finances and save money on looming debt payments, which include significant annual interest expenses, the sources added.
www.cnbc.com/2020/04/14/jc-penney-explores-bankruptcy-as-hopes-for-recovery-fade-sources-say.html
I work for a non-essential medium sized retail store inside a mall in a red state. My company wants to open ASAP. The mall will probably open when the governor says it’s ok.
On calls with my DM we talk about how we’ll only be able to let in so many people at a time, we’ll have to make sure people stand apart, strict cleaning schedules, a more restrictive return policy, temperature checks on employees maybe, worries of robberies because everyone will be wearing masks.
It’s all a joke really, with asymptomatic spreaders. If we open too early the whole mall is at risk and the area will flame up again.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
So we’ll have less budget for labor, less staff in store anyway to accommodate customers and head counts, more work with all the extra cleaning, less ability to sell due to social distancing and head counts, drastically reduced sales to all of the above plus already being closed a month.
It’s going to be rough times ahead for most retailers.
h/t Plague_wars


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Americans are not seeing the same coronavirus news

Trying to look at this objectively so we can recognize how desperately we need an unbiased , facts-based common ground during this difficult time .
Here ’ s two different articles covering Trump ’ s funding cuts to WHO .
Tone : Critical of WHO ’ s fumbling and implicitly supportive of Trump ’ s decision , suggesting coverups and manipulation by China , pointing out past failures in media coverage on WHO—while allowing airing of some criticisms from Dems/world health figures .
Trump declared that the United States would undertake a 60-to-90 day investigation into why the “ China-centric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death ” by “ severely mismanaging and covering up ” the coronavirus ’ spread , including by making the “ disastrous ” decision to oppose travel restrictions on China .
The money saved will go to areas that “ most need it , ” Trump asserted… .
The White House has made accountability for international organizations a cornerstone of its policymaking .
Earlier in his presidency , Trump successfully pushed other nations to contribute more to NATO , saying that international alliance was costing the United States an unreasonably large amount of money… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past ] had also uncritically cited WHO ’ s assurances about the coronavirus .
The Washington Post even ran a story quoting a Chinese official asking for “ empathy ” and slamming the White House for acting “ in disregard of the WHO recommendation against travel restrictions.
” … Tone : Openly and blisteringly critical of Trump , casting his decision as dangerous and nationalistic , while allowing some explanation by Trump and quotes from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Trump ’ s announcement comes in the middle of the worst global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defends his own handling of the outbreak in the United States .
Amid swirling questions about whether he downplayed the crisis or ignored warnings from members of his administration about its potential severity , Trump has sought to assign blame elsewhere , including at the WHO and in the news media… Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut , who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , said earlier Tuesday that while the WHO and China “ made mistakes , ” Trump is also looking to deflect blame from his own administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very coordinated effort amongst the White House and their allies to try to find scapegoats for the fatal mistakes that the President made during the early stages of this virus , ” he said… Tuesday ’ s announcement about the halting of funding came days after a major US ally — the United Kingdom — announced an additional £65 million contribution to the WHO .
BOTH ARTICLES include versions of this quote from Antonio Guterres , secretary-general of the United Nations ( WHO ’ s parent org ) , with Fox News not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus .
… .
Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic , there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe , and how all those involved reacted to the crisis .

by jellybaby00
Trying to look at this objectively so we can recognize how desperately we need an unbiased, facts-based common ground during this difficult time. Here’s two different articles covering Trump’s funding cuts to WHO.
1. FOX NEWS
Tone: Critical of WHO’s fumbling and implicitly supportive of Trump’s decision, suggesting coverups and manipulation by China, pointing out past failures in media coverage on WHO—while allowing airing of some criticisms from Dems/world health figures.
Sample quotes:
Trump declared that the United States would undertake a 60-to-90 day investigation into why the “China-centric” WHO had caused “so much death” by “severely mismanaging and covering up” the coronavirus’ spread, including by making the “disastrous” decision to oppose travel restrictions on China.
The money saved will go to areas that “most need it,” Trump asserted….
The White House has made accountability for international organizations a cornerstone of its policymaking. Earlier in his presidency, Trump successfully pushed other nations to contribute more to NATO, saying that international alliance was costing the United States an unreasonably large amount of money….
Several media organizations [in the past] had also uncritically cited WHO’s assurances about the coronavirus. The Washington Post even ran a story quoting a Chinese official asking for “empathy” and slamming the White House for acting “in disregard of the WHO recommendation against travel restrictions.”…
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2. CNN
Tone: Openly and blisteringly critical of Trump, casting his decision as dangerous and nationalistic, while allowing some explanation by Trump and quotes from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Sample quotes:
Trump’s announcement comes in the middle of the worst global pandemic in decades and as he angrily defends his own handling of the outbreak in the United States. Amid swirling questions about whether he downplayed the crisis or ignored warnings from members of his administration about its potential severity, Trump has sought to assign blame elsewhere, including at the WHO and in the news media…
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said earlier Tuesday that while the WHO and China “made mistakes,” Trump is also looking to deflect blame from his own administration. “Right now, there is a very coordinated effort amongst the White House and their allies to try to find scapegoats for the fatal mistakes that the President made during the early stages of this virus,” he said…
Tuesday’s announcement about the halting of funding came days after a major US ally — the United Kingdom — announced an additional £65 million contribution to the WHO.
BOTH ARTICLES include versions of this quote from Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations (WHO’s parent org), with Fox News not naming him:
Now is not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus. …. Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic, there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--The IRS will soon be setting up an online page where you can register for direct deposit, if you ha

The IRS will soon be setting up an online page where you can register for direct deposit, if you haven’t done so yet, so you can receive your stimulus check sooner. PLEASE EDUCATE AND HELP YOUR NON-TECH FRIENDS/FAMILY SO THEY DON’T GET SCAMMED!

Any info related to this will be on this page .
Please make sure only to use authoritative sources of @ @ @ @ @ status of your Economic Impact Payment This application will give you information about : Your @ @ @ @ @ Whether we need more information from you , including bank account information

by Corpuscular_Crumpet
www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
Any info related to this will be on this page. Please make sure only to use authoritative sources of information.
Check on the status of your Economic Impact Payment This application will give you information about: Your payment status Your payment type Whether we need more information from you, including bank account information
www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--USA reported a record 2,407 #Covid_19 deaths and 26,945 cases today. Totaling to 613,886 cases & 26,

USA reported a record 2,407 #Covid_19 deaths and 26,945 cases today. Totaling to 613,886 cases & 26,047 deaths. Cases by state

Hawaii , Montana , and South Dakota are the only states to NOT record a COVID-19 death yesterday .
It @ @ @ @ @ worse .
NYC death toll jumps by 3,700 after uncounted fatalities are added

⚠USA reported a record 2,407 #Covid_19 deaths and 26,945 cases today. Totaling to 613,886 cases & 26,047 deaths. pic.twitter.com/BQOJhPu615 — coronavirus NEWS (@CoronavirusUSA0) April 15, 2020
Hawaii, Montana, and South Dakota are the only states to NOT record a COVID-19 death yesterday.
It’s going to get worse.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
NYC death toll jumps by 3,700 after uncounted fatalities are added
h/t Lionzone


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Some social distancing may be needed into 2022 to keep coronavirus in check, new study says [By HELE

Some social distancing may be needed into 2022 to keep coronavirus in check, new study says [By HELEN BRANSWELL]

A modeling study on the new coronavirus warns that intermittent periods of social distancing may need to persist into 2022 in the United States to keep the surge of people severely sickened by Covid-19 from overwhelming the health care system .
The research , published Tuesday in the journal Science , looked at a range of scenarios for how the SARS-CoV-2 virus will spread over the next five years .
Those scenarios included variables like whether people who are infected develop short-term immunity — less than a year — or longer-term protection .
But , overall , the research concludes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any time soon to the way it was before the virus ’ emergence .
The researchers , from Harvard University ’ s T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , acknowledge the economic fallout from the response to the virus has been profound .
The authors suggest a number of factors will play a major role in how the disease ’ s trajectory plays out over the coming years — if transmission subsides in summer and resurges in winter , if there is some immunity induced by infection and how long it lasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity from having been infected with related human coronaviruses that cause common colds .
The researchers suggest it is unlikely SARS-CoV-2 will be eliminated , as was the related virus that caused the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak .
Options their models envisage are cyclical upswings of cases , either in an annual , biennial or sporadic fashion .
Most Americans are following social distancing guidelines .
Original estimates for compliance were put at around 50 % , but in the end , “ compliance to the message has been in excess of 90 % @

A modeling study on the new coronavirus warns that intermittent periods of social distancing may need to persist into 2022 in the United States to keep the surge of people severely sickened by Covid-19 from overwhelming the health care system. The research, published Tuesday in the journal Science, looked at a range of scenarios for how the SARS-CoV-2 virus will spread over the next five years. Those scenarios included variables like whether people who are infected develop short-term immunity — less than a year — or longer-term protection. But, overall, the research concludes it is unlikely that life will return any time soon to the way it was before the virus’ emergence.
The researchers, from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, acknowledge the economic fallout from the response to the virus has been profound.
The authors suggest a number of factors will play a major role in how the disease’s trajectory plays out over the coming years — if transmission subsides in summer and resurges in winter, if there is some immunity induced by infection and how long it lasts, and whether people get any cross-protective immunity from having been infected with related human coronaviruses that cause common colds.
The researchers suggest it is unlikely SARS-CoV-2 will be eliminated, as was the related virus that caused the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak. Options their models envisage are cyclical upswings of cases, either in an annual, biennial or sporadic fashion.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.statnews.com/2020/04/14/some-social-distancing-may-be-needed-into-2022-to-keep-coronavirus-in-check-new-study-says/
Most Americans are following social distancing guidelines. Original estimates for compliance were put at around 50%, but in the end, “compliance to the message has been in excess of 90%”
www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-04-14/stay-home-during-outbreak-americans-stick-to-social-distancing


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Coronavirus: Moscow warns of hospital bed shortage in coming weeks

New confirmed infections in the Russian capital shot up by 1,489 overnight , bringing its total number of registered cases @ @ @ @ @ Muscovites are receiving treatment at home .
Nationwide cases increased by a record daily amount @ @ @ @ @ s overall tally to 21,102 , and 170 people have died across the country so @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus response center said .
Moscow ’ s health department said it had decided @ @ @ @ @ given the situation and planned to have a total of 21,000 beds available within the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said on Friday that the number of cases was @ @ @ @ @ of seriously sick patients .
“ Along with the rise in the number of patients @ @ @ @ @ burden on the capital ’ s healthcare has increased dramatically .
Our hospitals and ambulance @ @ @ @ @ their limit ( at their maximum ) , ” said Rakova .

New confirmed infections in the Russian capital shot up by 1,489 overnight, bringing its total number of registered cases to 13,002. Around 6,000 Muscovites are receiving treatment at home.
Nationwide cases increased by a record daily amount overnight, bringing Russia’s overall tally to 21,102, and 170 people have died across the country so far, the country’s coronavirus response center said.
Moscow’s health department said it had decided to reconfigure 24 more hospitals given the situation and planned to have a total of 21,000 beds available within the next 10 days.
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Moscow’s Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said on Friday that the number of cases was rising along with the number of seriously sick patients.
“Along with the rise in the number of patients with serious symptoms, the burden on the capital’s healthcare has increased dramatically. Our hospitals and ambulance services are now operating at their limit (at their maximum),” said Rakova.
english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/04/14/Coronavirus-Moscow-warns-of-hospital-bed-shortage-in-coming-weeks-.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Raleigh Police Respond to Planned #ReopenNC Protest: “Protesting is a non-essential activity.”

This is going to be interesting… Raleigh Police @ raleighpolice · 7h We are aware of the # ReopenNC protest @ @ @ @ @ Raleigh on Wilmington and Jones Street and are monitoring the situation .
Raleigh Police @ @ @ @ @ @ are in violation of the Governor ’ s Executive Order and have been asked to @ @ @ @ @ Founding Fathers never once said that the rights given to us by our Creator go @ @ @ @ @ case of a viral pandemic .
In other words , the Constitution still exists and @ @ @ @ @ tyrants .
The Raleigh Police Department had the nerve to tell someone on Twitter that @ @ @ @ @ .
I misspoke before when I said that the Constitution only applies to the federal @ @ @ @ @ the 14th Amendment makes the Bill of Rights applicable to the states through the Due @ @ @ @ @ .
So what the actual fuck , Raleigh police ?

This is going to be interesting…
Raleigh Police
@raleighpolice
·
7h
We are aware of the #ReopenNC protest that is occurring in Downtown Raleigh on Wilmington and Jones Street and are monitoring the situation.
Raleigh Police
@raleighpolice
·
6h
The protestors are in violation of the Governor’s Executive Order and have been asked to leave. #ReopenNC
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Raleigh Police
@raleighpolice
Replying to
@thmsftz
Protesting is a non-essential activity.
Protesting is a non-essential activity. — Raleigh Police (@raleighpolice) April 14, 2020
Our Founding Fathers never once said that the rights given to us by our Creator go out the door in the case of a viral pandemic. In other words, the Constitution still exists and it still protects us from tyrants. The Raleigh Police Department had the nerve to tell someone on Twitter that protesting is a non-essential activity. I misspoke before when I said that the Constitution only applies to the federal government. I forgot that the 14th Amendment makes the Bill of Rights applicable to the states through the Due Process clause of said amendment. So what the actual fuck, Raleigh police?
legalinsurrection.com/2020/04/first-amendment-fail-raleigh-police-department-do-not-think-protesting-is-an-essential-right/
h/t BFD


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--A coronavirus strain isolated in India carries a mutation that could render current international va

A coronavirus strain isolated in India carries a mutation that could render current international vaccine efforts useless, researchers warn

A coronavirus strain isolated in India carried a mutation that could render current international vaccine efforts useless , researchers in @ @ @ @ @ Scientists have been targeting the same process that allowed the severe acute respiratory syndrome ( @ @ @ @ @ but the mutation found throws them off course .
The scientists claim that the change @ @ @ @ @ the spike protein that allows the novel coronavirus to bind with certain human cells .
@ @ @ @ @ ACE2 , an enzyme found in the outer surface cells in the lungs , which @ @ @ @ @ infect people , the South China Morning Post first reported .

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
A coronavirus strain isolated in India carried a mutation that could render current international vaccine efforts useless, researchers in Australia and Taiwan warned.
Scientists have been targeting the same process that allowed the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to infect people but the mutation found throws them off course.
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The scientists claim that the change had occurred in part of the spike protein that allows the novel coronavirus to bind with certain human cells. The structure targets cells containing ACE2, an enzyme found in the outer surface cells in the lungs, which allowed the SARS virus to infect people, the South China Morning Post first reported.
www.foxnews.com/science/mutation-strain-from-india-could-kill-current-research-efforts-for-coronavirus-vaccine-report


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Paul Craig Roberts – Kicking the Can Until It Blows Up. We Need Debt Jubilee or System Collapses.

Former Assistant Treasury Secretary in the Reagan Administration Dr. Paul Craig Roberts says , “ We need a debt jubilee .
Debt jubilees were widely used in the ancient world .
.
.
.
.
Either the system goes into collapse or you write the debts down and you start over .
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.
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Again , either you paper it over again or you don ’ t succeed and everything blows up.
” What about the rising gold price during this new round of bailouts ?
Roberts says , “ In the previous bailout , it did not affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bailout , on top of the previous bailout , is it going to affect the dollar ?
Are people going to say , good heavens , do we really want to hold dollars when they are creating so many ?
People are saying we don ’ t know how this is going to play out , but they can ’ t print gold , so let ’ s get into gold .
.
.
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I don ’ t know how people are going to see this , but the enormous money creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
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If they are successful in reflating the stock prices , then the problems with the dollar is over–for now .
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Again , bailing out debt with more debt is kicking the can down the road .
How long can you kick it ?
We don ’ t know until we will find out you can ’ t kick it any further .
”

Former Assistant Treasury Secretary in the Reagan Administration Dr. Paul Craig Roberts says, “We need a debt jubilee. Debt jubilees were widely used in the ancient world. . . . . Either the system goes into collapse or you write the debts down and you start over. . . . Again, either you paper it over again or you don’t succeed and everything blows up.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
What about the rising gold price during this new round of bailouts? Roberts says, “In the previous bailout, it did not affect the dollar. The question is this bailout, on top of the previous bailout, is it going to affect the dollar? Are people going to say, good heavens, do we really want to hold dollars when they are creating so many? People are saying we don’t know how this is going to play out, but they can’t print gold, so let’s get into gold. . . . I don’t know how people are going to see this, but the enormous money creation, no doubt, worries some . . . . If they are successful in reflating the stock prices, then the problems with the dollar is over–for now. . . . Again, bailing out debt with more debt is kicking the can down the road. How long can you kick it? We don’t know until we will find out you can’t kick it any further.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--Why the Coronavirus Could Raise Wages

Why the Coronavirus Could Raise Wages

US unemployment shot higher in the last month , thanks to coronavirus closures .
Some 17 million people filed new jobless benefit claims .
But it ’ s actually even worse .
Overwhelmed web sites and bureaucratic snafus kept many from applying .
Others , while still nominally “ employed , ” saw their wages or hours cut .
It ’ s terrible and will keep getting worse until the shutdowns ease and people believe they can circulate safely again .
But while the immediate outlook is dire , these events could ultimately mean higher wages for many workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think a few steps ahead .
Let ’ s first assess the problem .
Survey data already shows widespread pain .
The FT-Peterson US Economic Monitor poll , conducted March 24–29 , says a majority lost at least some income due to the coronavirus .
This survey shows a difference between income groups but less than you might expect .
Nonetheless , it seems around 20 % of respondents are now either unemployed or working for “ very significantly ” lower pay .
Or are they ?
The FT/Peterson poll isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Responses are weighted to reflect the voting population , which is different from the working population .
But that ’ s not necessarily good news .
It means something like three-quarters of the electorate just took at least a small pay cut .
That matters to them , and therefore to politicians… especially since this is an election year .
This sort of thing makes voters unhappy across the board .
Republicans and Democrats both want to “ do something.
” And , to be fair , they should do something , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss will devastate the economy .
Even many fiscal conservatives agree cushioning the blow is necessary and proper .
But how they do it matters .
Crisis-driven policies usually have unintended side effects .
For one : Congress temporarily added a $ 600/week federal bonus to existing state unemployment benefits until July 31 .
That ’ s roughly equivalent to a $ 15/hour full-time job , and the job is to… stay home and not spread the virus .
Which is the right move for now , but it ’ s also an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What if , as seems likely , we get into July and the unemployment rate is still in double digits ?
Are Congress and the president going to cut benefits for millions of voters ?
Three months before an election ?
That ’ s hard to imagine… which means the added benefits will last even longer .
And the longer they last , the harder they are to take away .
Meanwhile , they effectively act as a $ 15/hour national minimum wage .
And that ’ s not all .
Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations .
Many companies voluntarily added similar benefits .
Those , too , will be hard to take away .
Crisis measures tend to become a “ new normal.
” Let ’ s talk about the people whom the pandemic hasn ’ t unemployed .
Educated , well-paid “ knowledge workers ” moved to work-at-home arrangements pretty smoothly .
But think about the millions of low-paid workers in “ essential ” businesses .
Imagine , for instance , you are a grocery store cashier or a hospital janitor .
You used to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added another $ 3 to “ compensate ” you for the present risky conditions .
Now you make $ 15 an hour .
That ’ s nice… but you could still get the coronavirus and take it home to your family .
Not so nice .
Meanwhile , your “ non-essential ” friends will , once the unemployment system gets in gear , be making as much as you are ( and possibly more in some states ) just to sit safe at home , watching Netflix and chilling .
Worse , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your employer is kind enough to fire you .
Quitting would disqualify you for benefits .
You are stuck in a suddenly dangerous job whether you like it or not .
You know society depends on you , so you stick it out .
But you ’ re going to remember , and you probably won ’ t settle for mediocre wages anymore .
Eventually , we will have more effective treatments and vaccines for the new coronavirus .
Its economic effects will last longer , but they will pass , too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve just seen two important changes .
• People who lost their jobs are adjusting their pay expectations higher , thanks to more generous government benefits .
• People who kept their jobs are also adjusting their pay expectations higher , because those same government benefits act as a higher minimum wage .
Throughout this recovery , it ’ s been kind of a mystery why wages didn ’ t rise more even as unemployment fell to record lows .
One theory : the 2007–2009 recession and housing crisis were so painful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job at all , and afraid of losing it .
Employers gained the upper hand in pay negotiations .
A new study by San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank researchers looked back at pandemics throughout history .
It turns out they almost always led to higher wages , years and even decades later .
Unlike war , pandemics don ’ t destroy buildings and physical capital .
They do , however , reduce the labor supply .
That makes workers more valuable and lets them demand higher pay .
If that happens this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which productivity grew faster than wages—one reason stocks have done so well since the 1980s .
Capital won , labor lost .
The tables may be turning .

by Patrick Watson
US unemployment shot higher in the last month, thanks to coronavirus closures. Some 17 million people filed new jobless benefit claims.
But it’s actually even worse.
Overwhelmed web sites and bureaucratic snafus kept many from applying. Others, while still nominally “employed,” saw their wages or hours cut. It’s terrible and will keep getting worse until the shutdowns ease and people believe they can circulate safely again.
But while the immediate outlook is dire, these events could ultimately mean higher wages for many workers. To see why, we have to think a few steps ahead.
Photo: Flickr
Side Effects
Let’s first assess the problem. Survey data already shows widespread pain.
The FT-Peterson US Economic Monitor poll, conducted March 24–29, says a majority lost at least some income due to the coronavirus.
This survey shows a difference between income groups but less than you might expect. Nonetheless, it seems around 20% of respondents are now either unemployed or working for “very significantly” lower pay.
Source: Financial Times
Or are they? The FT/Peterson poll isn’t random. It samples “likely voters.” Responses are weighted to reflect the voting population, which is different from the working population.
But that’s not necessarily good news. It means something like three-quarters of the electorate just took at least a small pay cut. That matters to them, and therefore to politicians… especially since this is an election year.
This sort of thing makes voters unhappy across the board. Republicans and Democrats both want to “do something.”
And, to be fair, they should do something, because otherwise this widespread, simultaneous income loss will devastate the economy. Even many fiscal conservatives agree cushioning the blow is necessary and proper.
But how they do it matters. Crisis-driven policies usually have unintended side effects.
For one: Congress temporarily added a $600/week federal bonus to existing state unemployment benefits until July 31. That’s roughly equivalent to a $15/hour full-time job, and the job is to… stay home and not spread the virus. Which is the right move for now, but it’s also an impromptu “guaranteed national income” experiment.
What if, as seems likely, we get into July and the unemployment rate is still in double digits? Are Congress and the president going to cut benefits for millions of voters? Three months before an election?
That’s hard to imagine… which means the added benefits will last even longer. And the longer they last, the harder they are to take away. Meanwhile, they effectively act as a $15/hour national minimum wage.
And that’s not all. Congress also mandated paid sick leave in certain situations. Many companies voluntarily added similar benefits. Those, too, will be hard to take away. Crisis measures tend to become a “new normal.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Photo: Needpix
No More Settling
Let’s talk about the people whom the pandemic hasn’t unemployed.
Educated, well-paid “knowledge workers” moved to work-at-home arrangements pretty smoothly. But think about the millions of low-paid workers in “essential” businesses.
Imagine, for instance, you are a grocery store cashier or a hospital janitor. You used to make $12 an hour. Your employer added another $3 to “compensate” you for the present risky conditions.
Now you make $15 an hour. That’s nice… but you could still get the coronavirus and take it home to your family. Not so nice.
Meanwhile, your “non-essential” friends will, once the unemployment system gets in gear, be making as much as you are (and possibly more in some states) just to sit safe at home, watching Netflix and chilling.
Worse, you can’t get that deal unless your employer is kind enough to fire you. Quitting would disqualify you for benefits. You are stuck in a suddenly dangerous job whether you like it or not.
You know society depends on you, so you stick it out. But you’re going to remember, and you probably won’t settle for mediocre wages anymore.
Photo: Pixabay
Tables Turning
Eventually, we will have more effective treatments and vaccines for the new coronavirus. Its economic effects will last longer, but they will pass, too. Then what?
Well, we’ve just seen two important changes.
People who lost their jobs are adjusting their pay expectations higher, thanks to more generous government benefits.
People who kept their jobs are also adjusting their pay expectations higher, because those same government benefits act as a higher minimum wage.
Throughout this recovery, it’s been kind of a mystery why wages didn’t rise more even as unemployment fell to record lows.
One theory: the 2007–2009 recession and housing crisis were so painful, people were glad just to have any job at all, and afraid of losing it. Employers gained the upper hand in pay negotiations.
That may change.
A new study by San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank researchers looked back at pandemics throughout history. It turns out they almost always led to higher wages, years and even decades later.
Unlike war, pandemics don’t destroy buildings and physical capital. They do, however, reduce the labor supply. That makes workers more valuable and lets them demand higher pay.
If that happens this time, it will reverse a decades-long trend in which productivity grew faster than wages—one reason stocks have done so well since the 1980s. Capital won, labor lost.
The tables may be turning.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-15--The Intercept Editor Caught Lying About Trump Again!

Jimmy is a hero .
He ’ s fair and even if I don ’ t agree with everything he @ @ @ @ @ integrity .

Jimmy is a hero. He’s fair and even if I don’t agree with everything he says, I respect his integrity.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-16--52% Of Investors See A U-Shaped Recovery

Investors are getting back to the basics by looking at balance sheets .
Their reasoning is simple : liquidity is tough to come by .
Companies that won ’ t make it through this recession won ’ t reap the rewards of the recovery .
At the bottom in late March , it was common to see companies that probably weren ’ t close to bankruptcy , trade as if they were going bust .
That ’ s because at the peak of panic where the economy is being shut down , most firms are at risk .
Only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elongated shutdown without financial assistance .
Near peak euphoria in bull markets , investors don ’ t care much about valuations .
At the trough of bear markets , investors focus on balance sheets .
Some stocks are so cheap , the only way they should be valued so low is if they have high bankruptcy risk .
Just a few months ago , investors were most adamantly calling for firms to increase capex .
As you can see from the chart below , investors most wanted firms to improve their balance sheets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high percentage of investors wanting firms to repay debt and top up their pension plans .
The reality is firms aren ’ t repaying debt .
They are taking out more debt .
They are issuing debt and using their revolving line of credit .
The goal is to have the most liquidity as possible to avoid running out of cash before the economic shutdown is over .
Management teams must try to make plans as if they won ’ t get government help just in case it doesn ’ t come .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t want buybacks , dividends , or acquisitions before this recession .
It would have been smart to avoid them in 2019 .
Now investors really don ’ t want them .
They are in luck because more companies can ’ t afford to pay their dividends .
The good news for stocks is those wanting cash returned to investors bottomed at the trough in March 2009 .
This recent decline could be a good signal .
There is a generic action plan many firms are doing .
They are borrowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their revolving line of credit , suspending their buybacks , and suspending guidance .
Plus , many firms are furloughing workers , lowering management pay , and suspending/cutting their dividend .
The chart below shows nominal C & I lending .
Credit lines spiked because of the loans taken out for liquidity purposes .
This is principally lines of credit .
Many firms took that out in March in anticipation of the liquidity trap that occurred in late March .
It ’ s possible the tidal wave of loans taken out spooked investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a dire sign to hear companies recommending businesses using their line of credit virtually across the board .
Some of these firms might not need the money , but it ’ s better to be safe than sorry .
What Shape Will It Be ?
It ’ s great to know what investors think the recovery will be like to gauge your opinions versus the market .
For example , if you think there will be a depression and investors see an L-shaped recovery , you might not want to sell stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U-shaped is middle of the road , and V-shaped is very bullish .
52 % see a U-shaped recovery .
22 % see a W-shaped recovery .
That ’ s probably based on fear that there will be a 2nd wave of the virus this fall .
Only 15 % see a V-shaped recovery even though there has been close to a V-shaped rally in the stock market in early April .
7 % see an L-shaped recovery which is likely near the percentage who see a depression .
The stock market has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst shape since the Great Depression even though this recession has only been going for about 1 month .
It has been a sharp downturn .
The backbone of the economy , small businesses , will be in bad shape if they don ’ t get help from the government .
The table below shows how long various industries of small firms think they can survive an economic shutdown .
Only 15 % of restaurants , bars , and caterers think they can survive the next 6 months .
21 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last the next month .
41 % of small banks think they will fail if this shutdown lasts another 6 months .
That ’ s why the KBW regional bank ETF has been so volatile .
The labor market is in deeper trouble than the unemployment rate will suggest .
That ’ s saying something because the unemployment rate is predicted to hit 15 % this quarter ( according to Goldman Sachs ) .
There were 1.4 million more unemployed people in March than February ; there were 5.6 million more people reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below breaks down the workers experiencing disruption .
1.2 million people were working , but wanted more hours .
About the same amount had a job , but were absent from work .
The number of people who didn ’ t want a job because they retired and the number who didn ’ t want a job because they are a student increased from 180,000 and 18,000 to 670,000 and 439,000 .
That ’ s not because all these people suddenly got the urge to retire or get a degree .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the shutdowns .
We will delve very deeply into the April report because that one will experience most of the full force of the recession .
The March report was terrible , but didn ’ t include most of the weakness because of its timing .
Balance sheets are being studied as investors wonder which firms can survive an elongated shutdown .
C & I lending spiked because many firms utilized their revolving line of credit .
Investors believe the economy will have a U-shaped recovery .
Many small businesses won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government help .
The Fed lending program is incredibly important .
The unemployment rate is about to spike , but that won ’ t tell the whole story of the weakness .
There is going to be mass disruption in the labor force in the April report .

by UPFINA
Investors are getting back to the basics by looking at balance sheets. Their reasoning is simple: liquidity is tough to come by. Companies that won’t make it through this recession won’t reap the rewards of the recovery. At the bottom in late March, it was common to see companies that probably weren’t close to bankruptcy, trade as if they were going bust. That’s because at the peak of panic where the economy is being shut down, most firms are at risk. Only the most cash rich firms can survive an elongated shutdown without financial assistance. Near peak euphoria in bull markets, investors don’t care much about valuations. At the trough of bear markets, investors focus on balance sheets. Some stocks are so cheap, the only way they should be valued so low is if they have high bankruptcy risk.
Just a few months ago, investors were most adamantly calling for firms to increase capex. As you can see from the chart below, investors most wanted firms to improve their balance sheets in April.
Literally nobody wants buybacks (from the latest Fund Managers' Survey by BofAML). pic.twitter.com/ZT9hnJ2cbP — barnejek (@barnejek) April 14, 2020
There was a record high percentage of investors wanting firms to repay debt and top up their pension plans. The reality is firms aren’t repaying debt. They are taking out more debt. They are issuing debt and using their revolving line of credit. The goal is to have the most liquidity as possible to avoid running out of cash before the economic shutdown is over. Management teams must try to make plans as if they won’t get government help just in case it doesn’t come.
It’s interesting that most investors didn’t want buybacks, dividends, or acquisitions before this recession. It would have been smart to avoid them in 2019. Now investors really don’t want them. They are in luck because more companies can’t afford to pay their dividends. The good news for stocks is those wanting cash returned to investors bottomed at the trough in March 2009. This recent decline could be a good signal.
Typical Company Decisions
There is a generic action plan many firms are doing. They are borrowing most or all of the money from their revolving line of credit, suspending their buybacks, and suspending guidance. Plus, many firms are furloughing workers, lowering management pay, and suspending/cutting their dividend. The chart below shows nominal C&I lending.
Corporations tapping their credit lines — C&I loans up $500bn pic.twitter.com/wjsabfSVbS — Gregory Daco (@GregDaco) April 13, 2020
Credit lines spiked because of the loans taken out for liquidity purposes. This is principally lines of credit. Many firms took that out in March in anticipation of the liquidity trap that occurred in late March. It’s possible the tidal wave of loans taken out spooked investors and for good reason. It’s a dire sign to hear companies recommending businesses using their line of credit virtually across the board. Some of these firms might not need the money, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
What Shape Will It Be?
It’s great to know what investors think the recovery will be like to gauge your opinions versus the market. For example, if you think there will be a depression and investors see an L-shaped recovery, you might not want to sell stocks. L-shaped is the most bearish, U-shaped is middle of the road, and V-shaped is very bullish.
Global Fund Managers think a 'U-shaped' recovery out of the #CoronaCrisis is most likely! pic.twitter.com/xBLFmSDaYv — jeroen blokland (@jsblokland) April 14, 2020
52% see a U-shaped recovery. 22% see a W-shaped recovery. That’s probably based on fear that there will be a 2nd wave of the virus this fall. Only 15% see a V-shaped recovery even though there has been close to a V-shaped rally in the stock market in early April. 7% see an L-shaped recovery which is likely near the percentage who see a depression.
Small Businesses Are In Dire Shape
The stock market has rallied, but the economy is in the worst shape since the Great Depression even though this recession has only been going for about 1 month. It has been a sharp downturn. The backbone of the economy, small businesses, will be in bad shape if they don’t get help from the government. The table below shows how long various industries of small firms think they can survive an economic shutdown.
The full data pic.twitter.com/4Xjx8J15WB — Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) April 13, 2020
Only 15% of restaurants, bars, and caterers think they can survive the next 6 months. 21% of healthcare firms think they can’t last the next month. 41% of small banks think they will fail if this shutdown lasts another 6 months. That’s why the KBW regional bank ETF has been so volatile.
Big Portion Of The Labor Market Hurt
The labor market is in deeper trouble than the unemployment rate will suggest. That’s saying something because the unemployment rate is predicted to hit 15% this quarter (according to Goldman Sachs). There were 1.4 million more unemployed people in March than February; there were 5.6 million more people reporting any labor market disruption. The chart below breaks down the workers experiencing disruption. 1.2 million people were working, but wanted more hours. About the same amount had a job, but were absent from work.
The number of people who didn’t want a job because they retired and the number who didn’t want a job because they are a student increased from 180,000 and 18,000 to 670,000 and 439,000. That’s not because all these people suddenly got the urge to retire or get a degree. It’s because of the massive disruption caused by the shutdowns. We will delve very deeply into the April report because that one will experience most of the full force of the recession. The March report was terrible, but didn’t include most of the weakness because of its timing.
Conclusion
Balance sheets are being studied as investors wonder which firms can survive an elongated shutdown. C&I lending spiked because many firms utilized their revolving line of credit. Investors believe the economy will have a U-shaped recovery. Many small businesses won’t survive the next few months without government help. The Fed lending program is incredibly important. The unemployment rate is about to spike, but that won’t tell the whole story of the weakness. There is going to be mass disruption in the labor force in the April report.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-16--Should we bailout big CORPORATIONS…AGAIN? When will THE FED stop their insanity?

Should we bailout big CORPORATIONS…AGAIN ?
When will THE FED stop their insanity ?
I explained on @ RT_America tonight @ @ @ @ @ !
!
Link below 😉👍👇

Should we bailout big CORPORATIONS…AGAIN? When will THE FED stop their insanity?
I explained on @RT_America tonight!! Chk it out!! Link below 😉👍👇
George Gammon: Feds bailouts will create mass inflation t.co/w80bHgt9pI via @YouTube pic.twitter.com/8eQ2yQ8C4D
— George Gammon (@GeorgeGammon) April 16, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-16--“Unemployment is spiraling toward 20%. Retail sales just dropped the most on record. Global economis

“Unemployment is spiraling toward 20%. Retail sales just dropped the most on record. Global economists predict the worst recession in eight decades. And stock investors have made peace with it all”

Economic activity has fallen sharply due to measures taken during the coronavirus scare , with leisure and hospitality as well @ @ @ @ @ far , according to the Federal Reserve ’ s latest Beige Book report .
Far @ @ @ @ @ 19 Collapse of State and Local Governments Cutting taxes and eliminating nonessential spending now is @ @ @ @ @ local governments can stop a coming downward spiral .

"Unemployment is spiraling toward 20%. Retail sales just dropped the most on record. Global economists predict the worst recession in eight decades. And stock investors have made peace with it all"@SarahPonczek @VildanaHajric t.co/bpfsgwmrVs pic.twitter.com/0sMBOdJIgf — Jonathan Ferro (@FerroTV) April 15, 2020
Couldn’t agree more with @elerianm that Markets and economists are still too upbeat on coronavirus. No more putting your money in an index fund and forgetting about it. We are in a new era where asset prices will diverge wildly| Financial Times t.co/C9qrrmFb1e — Rana Foroohar (@RanaForoohar) April 15, 2020
Economic activity has fallen sharply due to measures taken during the coronavirus scare, with leisure and hospitality as well as retail the hardest-hit so far, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report.
Cutting taxes and eliminating nonessential spending now is the only way state and local governments can stop a coming downward spiral.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Soon P/E=35-40 just bring the first wave of earnings. t.co/pY2xBP78dB — GregTheAnalyst (@Analyst_G) April 15, 2020
US banks are in big troubles pic.twitter.com/ttW8YwPS15 — A.Urban (@AlessioUrban) April 15, 2020
Bank Traders save profits & maybe themselves in crisis. Traders have been targeted by cost cuts & rules to cut risks. Now their desks are helping to offset steep losses from loans. Top 5 US banks set aside $25bn to cover future losses from defaulted loans. t.co/kGAUrCoBMR pic.twitter.com/UcYG4yzg7M — Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) April 15, 2020
A FAANG bites back: GOOGLE TO SLOW HIRING FOR REST OF YEAR, CEO TELLS STAFF@business — Danielle DiMartino Booth (@DiMartinoBooth) April 15, 2020
So far today, the U.S. has reported more than 2,500 new coronavirus deaths, a daily record t.co/ACTvkkQ0g2 — BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) April 16, 2020
GRAVITY: anyone who tells you you "couldn't see this coming" obviously has no #process US Industrial Production Growth was IN A #Recesssion PRE Virus pic.twitter.com/c820txcXBF — Keith McCullough (@KeithMcCullough) April 15, 2020
Apple unveils a cheaper iphone.. guess what…iphone sales are estimated -58% Y/Y pic.twitter.com/3qeNneqphq — A.Urban (@AlessioUrban) April 15, 2020
The glass is now officially fully empty. t.co/XLV2ZBKsVm — GregTheAnalyst (@Analyst_G) April 16, 2020
Nearly $100 billion has been withdrawn from emerging-markets stocks & bonds in less than three months, an unprecedented amount that has analysts concerned about the future for many developing nations: IIF data via @SoberLook pic.twitter.com/mQpAgDJFlA — Lisa Abramowicz (@lisaabramowicz1) April 15, 2020
WHAT? US weighs paying drillers to leave #oil in ground amid glut. Energy Department plan would pay producers not to produce. Program would help producers reeling from collapse in demand. t.co/93fSUg8qkn pic.twitter.com/J5FJsal9D8 — Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) April 15, 2020
The economic data is even worse than Wall Street feared: ‘The economy is clearly in ruins here’
Consumer and manufacturing reports for March showed the hit to the economy from the coronavirus was deeper in the early weeks of the shutdown than expected.
March retail sales fell 8.7%, the most ever in government data, and New York regional manufacturing activity hit an all-time low, declining to a shocking negative 78.2%.
“The economy is clearly in ruins here,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank.
BREAKING: U.S. industrial production plunges 5.4%, the worst drop since January 1946. Analysts had expected a drop of 3.5%. t.co/xVICT5pzYb pic.twitter.com/jlcKkIGeJY — CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) April 15, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-16--All US jobs created since the Great Recession have been wiped out in just 4 weeks; It took one month

All US jobs created since the Great Recession have been wiped out in just 4 weeks; It took one month of volatility to Annihilate any remaining semblance of Fed Credibility and independence.

The World Economy Is Now Collapsing : FT Ninety per cent of all countries will experience negative growth in real @ @ @ @ @ this year , against 62 per cent in 2009 , when China ’ s robust @ @ @ @ @ .

Economists expect new data to show all US jobs created since the Great Recession have been wiped out in just 4 weeks t.co/WGF3hS7UHF via @businessinsider — Will Meade (@realwillmeade) April 15, 2020
It took one month of volatility to Annihilate any remaining semblance of Fed Credibility and independence. — Paranoid Bull (@paranoidbull) April 16, 2020
The S&P PE was 9 at 2009 bottom
Today's it's 17
Amazing — Will Meade (@realwillmeade) April 15, 2020
Federal Reserve has encouraged moral hazard on a grand scale.
Chair Powell has gone from preaching about credit risks to buying junk bond funds t.co/edwX1lhDYh via @financialtimes — Stare Decisis (@MsResJudicata) April 15, 2020
the real shock will be when the economy is asked by Trump and co to stand on its own two feet again, which it is not even remotely capable of doing. pic.twitter.com/UMrlGeKdYa — hks55 (@hks55) April 14, 2020
We are heading for a depression, if not already in one. Why? Because @realDonaldTrump is keen to take to the streets and celebrate our good fortune. And that will be our final undoing. pic.twitter.com/wTfYuHQxt0 — hks55 (@hks55) April 14, 2020
TBD how transparent the Fed will be this time around. t.co/vUFUwkgVi7 — Victoria Guida (@vtg2) April 15, 2020
Ninety per cent of all countries will experience negative growth in real gross domestic product per head this year, against 62 per cent in 2009, when China’s robust expansion helped cushion the blow.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-16--Someone purchased 35K of 16 Oct’20 $255 puts on SPY paying a whopping $63.7m for these puts.

Protection or a crash bet ?
In any case , this investor is concerned that a new leg down might @ @ @ @ @ purchased 35K of 16 Oct'20 $ 255 puts on SPY paying a whopping $ 63.7m @ @ @ @ @ this info on my private account earlier today : How much is this people going @ @ @ @ @ the beta ?
t.co/0PC0e8kYyl At today 's high , the S & P 500 got @ @ @ @ @ most extreme valuations in U.S. history .
I know ya 'll are looking `` over @ @ @ @ @ lows are followed by bull markets .
Worth remembering that those recession lows were at @ @ @ @ @ today 's .
pic.twitter.com/WGehxlGky0

Protection or a crash bet? In any case, this investor is concerned that a new leg down might be starting. pic.twitter.com/6UE6jzyKmv
Someone purchased 35K of 16 Oct'20 $255 puts on SPY paying a whopping $63.7m for these puts.
Shared this info on my private account earlier today:
How much is this people going long specific names and hedging the beta? t.co/0PC0e8kYyl
At today's high, the S&P 500 got within ~16% of the most extreme valuations in U.S. history.
I know ya'll are looking "over the valley" because recession lows are followed by bull markets.
Worth remembering that those recession lows were at valuations about 40% of today's. pic.twitter.com/WGehxlGky0
— John P. Hussman (@hussmanjp) April 14, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-16--No, We Are Not “All In This Together”…

No, We Are Not “All In This Together”…

A common phrase I have heard lately all around the internet as well as all around the area I live whenever the pandemic situation is broached is that “ We are all in this together , and WE will get through this together….
” The sentiment is repeated like a religious mantra and I believe it is rooted in a collectivist reaction in the minds of many .
The idea is that if we all comfort each other by repeating the lie that we ’ re all in the same boat , and if everyone believes it , then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic collapse will somehow simply “ disappear ” .
The notion that “ we are going to get through this together ” seems to be based in the assumption that the crisis is going to move quickly , and if we hold tight , our sacrifice will be minimal and all will go back to the way things were before .
This is simply not so .
I highly respect the ideal of giving hope to others whenever possible ( as Aragorn says in Return Of The King “ I give hope to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ) .
However , hope has to come from a legitimate place .
It has to be based in some reality .
There are too many lies driving public psychology right now to give concrete hope to anyone .
The lies have to land , they have to touch ground , and the facts have to hit people hard before we can then come to an understanding of what we have to do to survive this event .
In the meantime , the majority of people are going to be trapped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magical cures and economic silver bullets that will lead to salvation “ in just two more weeks ” .
On top of all that , the American public has never been more divided than it is right now .
Sure , we can soak in a bathtub of brain-dead dreams with worn-out elitist celebrities like Madonna , telling us that the virus “ makes us all equal ” , but does it really ?
I ’ m sorry , but the truth that not all people are equal is about to become more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with the economic collapse is going to separate people into clearly definable categories , and many of these groups will be in direct conflict with each other : These are the people that saw this event coming ahead of time and spent many months if not many years stocking supplies and training to survive it .
The Prepared were smarter and had more insight into the reality of the situation than most people .
If we were to apply evolutionary standards then The Prepared would be at the top of the food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let ’ s not let this go to our heads ; there are many downsides to being a member of The Prepared .
In a just world , the masses would be going to The Prepared for answers to the crisis , and some do , but overall I think The Prepared will be more hated for their predictive capabilities than admired .
This is why prepared people have to stick together , organize and protect one another ; because the day is coming when they will be targeted as enemies of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alike .
There are people who are arrogant and ignored all evidence of collapse presented to them ahead of time , and now they are going to suffer for that .
These are the people I call “ grasshoppers ” , as in the fable of ‘ The Ant And The Grasshopper ’ .
They danced and played all summer and laughed at all the warnings of impending winter .
These are the people who will act indignant and vicious when they are deprived of comfort , and they will demand that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them ( which is not going to happen ) .
There are other people who were merely oblivious to the situation and are mostly innocent in their lack of preparation They just weren ’ t exposed to the available information for whatever reason .
They live decent hard working lives and they are mostly innocent in all of this .
They too will be faced with hard decisions in the near future – Some of them will try to prepare as best they can while the crisis is still in its early stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fear and demand a draconian government response .
The Independents are people that will seek to solve the problems surrounding the crisis with their own ingenuity .
They will not demand help from the government , nor will they demand that other people “ share ” their resources with them out of a sense of entitlement .
They will ask for help where needed , but they will try to do the best they can to endure the crisis without trying to force others to make things easier for them .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and voluntary organization .
The first strategy requires force and fear , the second strategy does not .
The Collectivists will try to interfere or even destroy The Independents , because if they are successful in organizing voluntarily and becoming prosperous through free market innovation then this will prove that the collectivist ideology is unnecessary and outdated .
The Collectivists would rather “ win ” than be right in their thinking .
Collectivist people will applaud the vast expansion of government power and control , because within their cult religion government is god @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a curse but a blessing , because it gives them a rationale to take part in a grand subjugation of other people and feel the power they have always wanted to feel .
These are the people with inherent narcissistic and sociopathic traits within our culture .
They represent only 1 % to 5 % of the total population , but they are predatory and single-minded in their goal to control others and feed off the world like parasites .
These people are not always elites .
In fact , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of status and income .
In times of great crisis , these creatures tend to rise to the surface and reveal themselves .
They feel particularly energized within environments that fuel tyranny ; they love the feeling of power and will exploit crisis events as an excuse to act as evil as they always wanted to but could not during normal times .
Take for example Doctor John Rademaker in Louisville , Kentucky who attacked a group of girls and tried to strangle one of them for “ not social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that by attacking the girls he was also breaking social distancing guidelines , it becomes clear that people like this don ’ t actually care about their own rules , they only care that OTHER PEOPLE follow those rules .
They want to be the observers , like the Soviet Cheka .
They know will never be at the top of the power totem pole , so they ride the coattails of tyranny and feed on whatever scraps of power they can get .
These people seem like they would not work well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to congregate in groups as long as there is mutual gain to be had .
They have all the character qualities of global elites including a complete lack of empathy , a penchant for self worship and idolization , zero belief in anything greater than themselves , a propensity towards deceit and violence to get what they want , and using disasters to their advantage .
This is a tiny group of creatures that benefit the most from the pandemic crisis .
Through this disaster they will be able to absorb vast amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar , devouring wealth and property from the middle class and changing the entire economy into something unrecognizable .
The elites don ’ t want your property and wealth simply because they are greedy ; they want your property and wealth because they don ’ t want YOU to have any .
They want to end the concept of private property for all time , for without property and the ability to accumulate wealth through our labors the masses are always dependent on government for their survival .
Beyond this , the ultimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world cashless society , as well as a one world government .
Already , the US Senate is considering a bill that would create a digital dollar and a digital wallet system to replace paper currency .
Other nations have begun going cashless , and the coronavirus is being used as an excuse to speed up the process .
The UN ’ s World Health Organization has specifically called for going cashless as well .
Once the public is trapped into a digital system , they will never be able to trade without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and all transactions will be tracked .
Nothing will be private ever again , and with the push of a button what little wealth you are allowed to accumulate can be frozen within the new socialist control culture .
You will be at the mercy of the government and the banks .
Moving past the economic , the elites have bigger dreams of a massive surveillance society in which every person is tracked 24 hours a day .
Bill Gates is all over the mainstream news lately promoting the idea of tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China ) to “ fight the coronavirus ” .
Apple and Google are pushing the agenda as well and are ready to launch tracking apps whenever the government is ready to write them into law .
The Global Elites do not care about saving lives .
They do not care about saving the economy as we know it .
They do not care about political affiliations .
They are on their own side , and they only care about power .
Like I said , we are NOT all in this together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity for self leadership .
They will follow whoever they think has the best chance of securing their survival , even if those people have evil intentions .
Sheeple are not necessarily nefarious minded , they just don ’ t care about the bigger picture and they only see what is right in front of them .
This is a different mindset from those of us that look for leadership in people that display integrity , experience and competence ; Sheeple don ’ t care about any of that .
They just want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what , even if they have to sacrifice their freedoms in exchange for that feeling .
They are a prime target for The Collectivists and The Global Elites .
Trying to talk sense to sheeple is almost impossible .
They will not listen .
You probably know a few Sheeple in your life who even now in the midst of a global collapse still think this crisis will be over in a matter of weeks and that the government will save them .
Attempting to convince them otherwise is a waste of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better solution than the collectivists and hope The Sheeple follow your lead instead of the evil empire ’ s when the crash hits hardest .
These different types of people are mostly at odds with each other .
There is no “ we ” , there is no “ us ” and there is no “ getting through this thing together ” .
I will say that the vast majority of people do have a conscience , unlike the globalists that created this calamity in the first place , but that does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the same team .
The dark magic of chaos is that it can be used to convince otherwise peaceful people to support horrifying tyranny in the name of the “ greater good ” .
Beware anyone promoting the notion that we are “ all in this together ” ; this is the gateway to collectivism and it is a blatant lie .
As mentioned , there are establishment elites that plan to gain from this event while the rest of us suffer ; they are NOT on our side or in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the simultaneous economic collapse ( which they have engineered ) to maneuver the public into abandoning their freedoms in the name of collective safety .
There are useful idiots and narcopaths out there that thrive in these types of unstable environments .
They too are vampires seeking to bleed people dry while using the disaster as cover .
These are the people screaming at strangers walking down the street that they need to “ go back home ” and “ flatten the curve ” .
These are the people calling the cops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group bigger than two or three .
These are the local government officials calling for bans on church services even when they are held outside and follow the “ guidelines ” of social distancing .
These are the people calling preppers “ hoarders ” and demanding that their supplies be redistributed .
These are the people that revel in authoritarianism .
Understand that there are many sides to this conflict and very few of them are honorable .
Listen to your conscience , listen to evidence truth and reason , and choose your @ @ @

by Brandon Smith
A common phrase I have heard lately all around the internet as well as all around the area I live whenever the pandemic situation is broached is that “We are all in this together, and WE will get through this together….” The sentiment is repeated like a religious mantra and I believe it is rooted in a collectivist reaction in the minds of many. The idea is that if we all comfort each other by repeating the lie that we’re all in the same boat, and if everyone believes it, then the threat of the outbreak along with the economic collapse will somehow simply “disappear”.
The notion that “we are going to get through this together” seems to be based in the assumption that the crisis is going to move quickly, and if we hold tight, our sacrifice will be minimal and all will go back to the way things were before. This is simply not so.
I highly respect the ideal of giving hope to others whenever possible (as Aragorn says in Return Of The King “I give hope to men. I keep none for myself”). However, hope has to come from a legitimate place. It has to be based in some reality. There are too many lies driving public psychology right now to give concrete hope to anyone. The lies have to land, they have to touch ground, and the facts have to hit people hard before we can then come to an understanding of what we have to do to survive this event. In the meantime, the majority of people are going to be trapped in fantasy land, hypnotized by delusions of magical cures and economic silver bullets that will lead to salvation “in just two more weeks”.
On top of all that, the American public has never been more divided than it is right now. Sure, we can soak in a bathtub of brain-dead dreams with worn-out elitist celebrities like Madonna, telling us that the virus “makes us all equal”, but does it really? I’m sorry, but the truth that not all people are equal is about to become more apparent than ever before.
The pandemic along with the economic collapse is going to separate people into clearly definable categories, and many of these groups will be in direct conflict with each other:
The Prepared
These are the people that saw this event coming ahead of time and spent many months if not many years stocking supplies and training to survive it. The Prepared were smarter and had more insight into the reality of the situation than most people. If we were to apply evolutionary standards then The Prepared would be at the top of the food chain, the alpha species, but let’s not let this go to our heads; there are many downsides to being a member of The Prepared.
In a just world, the masses would be going to The Prepared for answers to the crisis, and some do, but overall I think The Prepared will be more hated for their predictive capabilities than admired. This is why prepared people have to stick together, organize and protect one another; because the day is coming when they will be targeted as enemies of the collective.
The Unprepared
The Unprepared are not all alike. There are people who are arrogant and ignored all evidence of collapse presented to them ahead of time, and now they are going to suffer for that. These are the people I call “grasshoppers”, as in the fable of ‘The Ant And The Grasshopper’. They danced and played all summer and laughed at all the warnings of impending winter. These are the people who will act indignant and vicious when they are deprived of comfort, and they will demand that the ants give up their preps to save them (which is not going to happen).
There are other people who were merely oblivious to the situation and are mostly innocent in their lack of preparation They just weren’t exposed to the available information for whatever reason. They live decent hard working lives and they are mostly innocent in all of this. They too will be faced with hard decisions in the near future – Some of them will try to prepare as best they can while the crisis is still in its early stages. Others will join the grasshoppers out of fear and demand a draconian government response.
The Independents
The Independents are people that will seek to solve the problems surrounding the crisis with their own ingenuity. They will not demand help from the government, nor will they demand that other people “share” their resources with them out of a sense of entitlement. They will ask for help where needed, but they will try to do the best they can to endure the crisis without trying to force others to make things easier for them.
The Independents will understand the difference between collectivism and voluntary organization. The first strategy requires force and fear, the second strategy does not. The Collectivists will try to interfere or even destroy The Independents, because if they are successful in organizing voluntarily and becoming prosperous through free market innovation then this will prove that the collectivist ideology is unnecessary and outdated. The Collectivists would rather “win” than be right in their thinking.
The Collectivists
Collectivist people will applaud the vast expansion of government power and control, because within their cult religion government is god. To them, the pandemic is not a curse but a blessing, because it gives them a rationale to take part in a grand subjugation of other people and feel the power they have always wanted to feel. These are the people with inherent narcissistic and sociopathic traits within our culture. They represent only 1% to 5% of the total population, but they are predatory and single-minded in their goal to control others and feed off the world like parasites.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
These people are not always elites. In fact, most of them are just like you and me in terms of status and income. In times of great crisis, these creatures tend to rise to the surface and reveal themselves. They feel particularly energized within environments that fuel tyranny; they love the feeling of power and will exploit crisis events as an excuse to act as evil as they always wanted to but could not during normal times. Take for example Doctor John Rademaker in Louisville, Kentucky who attacked a group of girls and tried to strangle one of them for “not social distancing”. Once we consider the fact that by attacking the girls he was also breaking social distancing guidelines, it becomes clear that people like this don’t actually care about their own rules, they only care that OTHER PEOPLE follow those rules.
They want to be the observers, like the Soviet Cheka. They know will never be at the top of the power totem pole, so they ride the coattails of tyranny and feed on whatever scraps of power they can get.
These people seem like they would not work well with others, but they do tend to congregate in groups as long as there is mutual gain to be had. They have all the character qualities of global elites including a complete lack of empathy, a penchant for self worship and idolization, zero belief in anything greater than themselves, a propensity towards deceit and violence to get what they want, and using disasters to their advantage.
The Global Elites
This is a tiny group of creatures that benefit the most from the pandemic crisis. Through this disaster they will be able to absorb vast amounts of hard assets for pennies on the dollar, devouring wealth and property from the middle class and changing the entire economy into something unrecognizable. The elites don’t want your property and wealth simply because they are greedy; they want your property and wealth because they don’t want YOU to have any. They want to end the concept of private property for all time, for without property and the ability to accumulate wealth through our labors the masses are always dependent on government for their survival.
Beyond this, the ultimate goal of the elites is a one world cashless society, as well as a one world government. Already, the US Senate is considering a bill that would create a digital dollar and a digital wallet system to replace paper currency. Other nations have begun going cashless, and the coronavirus is being used as an excuse to speed up the process. The UN’s World Health Organization has specifically called for going cashless as well. Once the public is trapped into a digital system, they will never be able to trade without using the banks as the middle men, and all transactions will be tracked. Nothing will be private ever again, and with the push of a button what little wealth you are allowed to accumulate can be frozen within the new socialist control culture. You will be at the mercy of the government and the banks.
Moving past the economic, the elites have bigger dreams of a massive surveillance society in which every person is tracked 24 hours a day. Bill Gates is all over the mainstream news lately promoting the idea of tracking apps (like those already being used in China) to “fight the coronavirus”. Apple and Google are pushing the agenda as well and are ready to launch tracking apps whenever the government is ready to write them into law.
The Global Elites do not care about saving lives. They do not care about saving the economy as we know it. They do not care about political affiliations. They are on their own side, and they only care about power. Like I said, we are NOT all in this together.
The Sheeple
Sheeple are people that have no capacity for self leadership. They will follow whoever they think has the best chance of securing their survival, even if those people have evil intentions. Sheeple are not necessarily nefarious minded, they just don’t care about the bigger picture and they only see what is right in front of them. This is a different mindset from those of us that look for leadership in people that display integrity, experience and competence; Sheeple don’t care about any of that. They just want to feel protected and secure no matter what, even if they have to sacrifice their freedoms in exchange for that feeling. They are a prime target for The Collectivists and The Global Elites.
Trying to talk sense to sheeple is almost impossible. They will not listen. You probably know a few Sheeple in your life who even now in the midst of a global collapse still think this crisis will be over in a matter of weeks and that the government will save them. Attempting to convince them otherwise is a waste of time.
All you can do is provide a better solution than the collectivists and hope The Sheeple follow your lead instead of the evil empire’s when the crash hits hardest.
Irreconcilable Differences
These different types of people are mostly at odds with each other. There is no “we”, there is no “us” and there is no “getting through this thing together”. I will say that the vast majority of people do have a conscience, unlike the globalists that created this calamity in the first place, but that does not mean we will all end up on the same team. The dark magic of chaos is that it can be used to convince otherwise peaceful people to support horrifying tyranny in the name of the “greater good”.
Beware anyone promoting the notion that we are “all in this together”; this is the gateway to collectivism and it is a blatant lie. As mentioned, there are establishment elites that plan to gain from this event while the rest of us suffer; they are NOT on our side or in our boat. They will use the pandemic and the simultaneous economic collapse (which they have engineered) to maneuver the public into abandoning their freedoms in the name of collective safety.
There are useful idiots and narcopaths out there that thrive in these types of unstable environments. They too are vampires seeking to bleed people dry while using the disaster as cover. These are the people screaming at strangers walking down the street that they need to “go back home” and “flatten the curve”. These are the people calling the cops on their neighbors for talking in a group bigger than two or three. These are the local government officials calling for bans on church services even when they are held outside and follow the “guidelines” of social distancing. These are the people calling preppers “hoarders” and demanding that their supplies be redistributed. These are the people that revel in authoritarianism.
Understand that there are many sides to this conflict and very few of them are honorable. Listen to your conscience, listen to evidence truth and reason, and choose your side wisely.