investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--If You Want to Survive, Move to a Red State

RUSH : By the way , you know what the Democrats states are doing ?
Do you know what this is all about ?
The states that are not opening up , the Democrat states continue — and , by the way , as I interrupt myself for the third time in 30 seconds , you know the greatest death rate in this country is in blue states ?
If you want to survive , move to a red state .
I have documentation and back up for this coming .
Anyway , what these states — and , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s the latest to announce they ’ re not opening up .
It ’ s all about getting bailed out .
These states — I ’ m not kidding you — these states are trying to have a total economic collapse so that there is only the federal government bailing them out as an option .
And along with the bailout would come eliminating the problems they have with their unfunded pension liabilities , that ’ s in addition to their attempt to harm the economy , to then , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances .
I mean , there ’ s so much going on with all of this that has nothing to do with the virus .
It has nothing to do with saving lives .
It has nothing to do with revitalizing the economy .
And all of this strategizing , all of this deceit , the manipulation , all of this is occurring in the blue states run by , of course , Democrat governors .
RUSH : The Democrat governors that want to keep their states locked down may be having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen all of its shops and allow soccer matches .
Italy , Spain , and France are easing the lockdowns in their countries after Europe ’ s hot spots now see a record-low number of coronavirus cases.
” Let ’ s see what else we have .
Other news about the… Sweden .
You know , Sweden… We ’ ve been up and down about Sweden and how their experimenting .
They never did lock down .
Sweden has done okay without a lockdown ; so they ’ re at the plus column @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this — and this is from Millennial news service Axios .
“ America ’ s Worries About Leaving Their Homes Are Fading.
” Remember before we had lifted any of the lockdowns and they were just on the table for being discussed , a lot of people said , “ You know what , Rush ?
It ain ’ t gon na work anyway .
People are scared !
They ’ re gon na be scared .
They ’ re gon na be scared to leave home .
“ They ’ re gon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gon na be scared to go to restaurant , gon na be scared .
You go ahead and reopen , Rush .
I think people are gon na be scared and be staying home.
” Well , apparently conventional wisdom is wrong again .
“ Americans say they are getting less worried about leaving their homes and taking part in large group activities , according to the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index .
… “ As states start to relax shelter-in-place orders and allow more businesses to open , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of activities that could help spur the economy toward recovery… ” Oh , no .
Not what Axios had in mind .
So… “ Pollsters caution the responses may be more a reflection of cabin fever than confidence.
” RUSH : Every state , every circumstance is different .
And people are free to try what they think works , like in Florida .
You know , Ron DeSantis , he was also accused of hating people and wanting people to die because he opened up the beaches up in Jacksonville .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a major success story .
He had a 5:30 little press event yesterday to document it and the fact the state of Florida has been an overall success story in how the situation ’ s been dealt with .
As DeSantis points out , it ’ s a very diverse state .
We can ’ t have a one-size-fits-all policy .
The most stringent policies are for South Florida — Broward , Miami-Dade , Palm Beach counties .
But as you go north and the west in the state , those kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been much less evidence , instance of cases and deaths throughout the rest of the state .
And so pretty much everything the doomsayers predicted has turned out to be wrong .
But as I pointed out about doomsayers , they actually never can be wrong .
The doomsayers are never wrong because they always have built-in excuses .
And when they are wrong they say , “ See ?
The reason this news is so good is because we warned everybody how bad it could be and we scared people into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your purposes , folks , these people have been predicting doom and gloom about opening the economy , so far they are as wrong as anybody could be , and they know it , and they ’ re trying to double down on it with leaks like this story in the New York Times .
Now , back for a second to this Axios story .
People are starting to lose their fear about leaving home .
Now , this is another thing the experts told us would not happen .
They told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the lockdown seven , eight weeks , the virus is still out there , that people are gon na be scared .
“ You may be able to open up , Mr. President .
You may not be able to get your economy going again .
People might be afraid .
They might be worried .
They might be scared to leave home.
” Turns out that the fear is abating .
And here ’ s the thing about it psychologically .
When the fear is gone , the consequences of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plague narrative gets harder to support every day .
Now , if you want to believe the worst , I mean , you can find plenty of news that will tell you , “ Oh , this is the worst , it ’ s hopeless , we ’ re all gon na die , it ’ s over , it ’ s just a matter of time.
” But a lot of people are just , “ You know what ?
All this horrible stuff that they ’ ve predicted , it isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t begun to happen.
” But what ’ s really fascinating about this Axios piece is the difference between the response of Democrats and Republicans .
Now , let me just give you the details first , and then I ’ ll break it down Republican-Democrat .
“ Americans say they are getting less worried about leaving their homes and taking part in large group activities , according to the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
” It sounds like a lip balm , Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index .
Anyway , then their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ’ cause they ’ re readers are too stupid to know why this matters .
So Axios tells its readers , “ As states start to relax shelter-in-place orders and allow more businesses to open , there is increasing public appetite for the kind of activities that could help spur the economy toward recovery.
” Oh , you mean we weren ’ t able to figure that out when you tell us Americans are getting less worried about leaving their homes , we ’ re not smart enough to figure out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
But pollsters are cautioning that the responses of people who say that they are getting less worried may be “ more a reflection of cabin fever than confidence.
” So if you ’ re desirous of getting out there , you want to go back to work , you want to reopen your business , you want to get out and start living again , it may not have anything to do with the fact that you ’ re confident you can do it .
No .
It has to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going nuts , you ’ re getting cabin fever out there and you ’ re not even thinking straight .
That ’ s what they want you to believe .
“ In week eight of the poll , which took place May 1-4 , just 36 % said they viewed attending a gathering of friends and family outside the house as a large risk.
” Only 36 % .
But “ Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to see leaving the house and getting together in gatherings as risky.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What is the difference in Democrats or Republicans here ?
Why would Democrats think , “ It ’ s much more risky .
Oh , it ’ s gon na be terrible .
Oh , my God .
We can ’ t go out there .
We could die .
We could get sick.
” Why do so many more Democrats have this pessimistic , negative , scared-to-death attitude about living ?
Are Democrats not able to think logically ?
Are they not able to use common sense ?
Are they consuming too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they just sick ?
“ Black and Hispanic respondents also were much more likely to perceive a high risk of engaging in these activities.
” It ’ s amazing how partisan everything is in our country today .
Even the opinion or the thought or the awareness of risk in leaving your house and venturing outside has a partisan divide to it .

via rushlimbaugh
RUSH: By the way, you know what the Democrats states are doing? Do you know what this is all about? The states that are not opening up, the Democrat states continue — and, by the way, as I interrupt myself for the third time in 30 seconds, you know the greatest death rate in this country is in blue states? If you want to survive, move to a red state. I have documentation and back up for this coming.
Anyway, what these states — and, you know, Ralph Northam of Virginia, he’s the latest to announce they’re not opening up. It’s all about getting bailed out. These states — I’m not kidding you — these states are trying to have a total economic collapse so that there is only the federal government bailing them out as an option. And along with the bailout would come eliminating the problems they have with their unfunded pension liabilities, that’s in addition to their attempt to harm the economy, to then, in turn, harm Trump’s reelection chances.
I mean, there’s so much going on with all of this that has nothing to do with the virus. It has nothing to do with saving lives. It has nothing to do with revitalizing the economy. And all of this strategizing, all of this deceit, the manipulation, all of this is occurring in the blue states run by, of course, Democrat governors.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: The Democrat governors that want to keep their states locked down may be having a problem. “Germany has decided to reopen all of its shops and allow soccer matches. Italy, Spain, and France are easing the lockdowns in their countries after Europe’s hot spots now see a record-low number of coronavirus cases.”
Let’s see what else we have. Other news about the… Sweden. You know, Sweden… We’ve been up and down about Sweden and how their experimenting. They never did lock down. Sweden has done okay without a lockdown; so they’re at the plus column as well. Then there’s this — and this is from Millennial news service Axios.
“America’s Worries About Leaving Their Homes Are Fading.” Remember before we had lifted any of the lockdowns and they were just on the table for being discussed, a lot of people said, “You know what, Rush? It ain’t gonna work anyway. People are scared! They’re gonna be scared. They’re gonna be scared to leave home.
“They’re gonna be scared to get the bus, gonna be scared to go to restaurant, gonna be scared. You go ahead and reopen, Rush. I think people are gonna be scared and be staying home.” Well, apparently conventional wisdom is wrong again. “Americans say they are getting less worried about leaving their homes and taking part in large group activities, according to the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index. …
“As states start to relax shelter-in-place orders and allow more businesses to open, there is increasing public appetite for the kind of activities that could help spur the economy toward recovery…” Oh, no. Not what Axios had in mind. So… “Pollsters caution the responses may be more a reflection of cabin fever than confidence.”
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Every state, every circumstance is different. And people are free to try what they think works, like in Florida. You know, Ron DeSantis, he was also accused of hating people and wanting people to die because he opened up the beaches up in Jacksonville. And it turns out that it’s been a major success story.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
He had a 5:30 little press event yesterday to document it and the fact the state of Florida has been an overall success story in how the situation’s been dealt with. As DeSantis points out, it’s a very diverse state. We can’t have a one-size-fits-all policy. The most stringent policies are for South Florida — Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach counties.
But as you go north and the west in the state, those kind of restrictions relax considerably, because there has been much less evidence, instance of cases and deaths throughout the rest of the state. And so pretty much everything the doomsayers predicted has turned out to be wrong. But as I pointed out about doomsayers, they actually never can be wrong. The doomsayers are never wrong because they always have built-in excuses.
And when they are wrong they say, “See? The reason this news is so good is because we warned everybody how bad it could be and we scared people into behaving the right way.” But for your purposes, folks, these people have been predicting doom and gloom about opening the economy, so far they are as wrong as anybody could be, and they know it, and they’re trying to double down on it with leaks like this story in the New York Times.
Now, back for a second to this Axios story. People are starting to lose their fear about leaving home. Now, this is another thing the experts told us would not happen. They told us that people would remain afraid, that the lockdown seven, eight weeks, the virus is still out there, that people are gonna be scared. “You may be able to open up, Mr. President. You may not be able to get your economy going again. People might be afraid. They might be worried. They might be scared to leave home.”
Turns out that the fear is abating. And here’s the thing about it psychologically. When the fear is gone, the consequences of the fear will be long lasting. The plague narrative gets harder to support every day. Now, if you want to believe the worst, I mean, you can find plenty of news that will tell you, “Oh, this is the worst, it’s hopeless, we’re all gonna die, it’s over, it’s just a matter of time.” But a lot of people are just, “You know what? All this horrible stuff that they’ve predicted, it isn’t happening, it hasn’t begun to happen.”
But what’s really fascinating about this Axios piece is the difference between the response of Democrats and Republicans. Now, let me just give you the details first, and then I’ll break it down Republican-Democrat.
“Americans say they are getting less worried about leaving their homes and taking part in large group activities, according to the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index.” It sounds like a lip balm, Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index. Anyway, then their paragraph, “why it matters,” ’cause they’re readers are too stupid to know why this matters. So Axios tells its readers, “As states start to relax shelter-in-place orders and allow more businesses to open, there is increasing public appetite for the kind of activities that could help spur the economy toward recovery.”
Oh, you mean we weren’t able to figure that out when you tell us Americans are getting less worried about leaving their homes, we’re not smart enough to figure out that could mean a rebirth of economic activity?
But pollsters are cautioning that the responses of people who say that they are getting less worried may be “more a reflection of cabin fever than confidence.” So if you’re desirous of getting out there, you want to go back to work, you want to reopen your business, you want to get out and start living again, it may not have anything to do with the fact that you’re confident you can do it. No. It has to do with you’re going crazy, you’re going nuts, you’re getting cabin fever out there and you’re not even thinking straight. That’s what they want you to believe.
“In week eight of the poll, which took place May 1-4, just 36% said they viewed attending a gathering of friends and family outside the house as a large risk.” Only 36%. But “Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to see leaving the house and getting together in gatherings as risky.”
Now, why would that be? What is the difference in Democrats or Republicans here? Why would Democrats think, “It’s much more risky. Oh, it’s gonna be terrible. Oh, my God. We can’t go out there. We could die. We could get sick.” Why do so many more Democrats have this pessimistic, negative, scared-to-death attitude about living? Are Democrats not able to think logically? Are they not able to use common sense? Are they consuming too much Democrats in the media? Are they just sick?
“Black and Hispanic respondents also were much more likely to perceive a high risk of engaging in these activities.” It’s amazing how partisan everything is in our country today. Even the opinion or the thought or the awareness of risk in leaving your house and venturing outside has a partisan divide to it.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--Why The Deep State Is Forcing a RESET

Why The Deep State Is Forcing a RESET

When All The Dust Settles All That Will Be Left Is Gold
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investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--How to Organize Your Finances: Take These Simple Steps

Personal finance can seem scary , unapproachable , and complicated .
But it doesn ’ t have to be .
Here are a few simple steps you can take to begin learning more about your finances .
Start following them right away and begin working toward a better financial future .
• Make A Household Budget & Track Every Dollar You Make ( And Spend ) First and foremost , you should create a household budget that will track every penny of your income , and everything that you spend .
You can do this manually by tracking your bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can choose to use a tool like Mint.com or You Need A Budget ( YNAB ) .
Want help creating a household budget on your own , without the help of software ?
This guide from NerdWallet is a great place to start .
You should make sure you understand how much you owe in debt .
This includes all types of loans – personal loans , student loans , mortgages , auto loans , and even payday loans or title loans , if applicable .
Make sure you understand how much you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which loans have the highest interest rate .
This will be helpful if you plan to use the “ debt avalanche ” method to repay your loans starting with the highest-interest loan .
Your net worth is useful to know for financial planning purposes .
It ’ s calculated by adding the value of all of your assets , such as bank accounts , retirement accounts , and cars or real estate , and subtracting the value of your debt .
Tracking your net worth over time is a great way to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as retiring or repaying debt such as personal loans or an auto loan .
Whenever possible , choose to receive bills electronically via email , and automate your payments .
This minimizes paperwork and reduces the risk that a bill will go unpaid , which could lead to late fees , dings to your credit , and other such penalties .
• Set Your Financial Goals & Begin Working Toward Them What ’ s your goal ?
Are you already financially stable , but looking to retire early ?
Do you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save on interest , and start saving more money ?
Do you want to save and start a family ?
Think about what you want , how much money you ’ ll need to get there , and the steps you can take to reach that goal .
This will help guide you as you organize and adjust your finances in the future .
Follow These 5 Steps to Stay Organized and Get Your Finances on Track As long as you take these simple steps , you ’ ll have the guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial decisions .
So , get started today , and make sure that your finances are on track .
Disclaimer : This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB .

Personal finance can seem scary, unapproachable, and complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few simple steps you can take to begin learning more about your finances. Start following them right away and begin working toward a better financial future.
Make A Household Budget & Track Every Dollar You Make (And Spend)
First and foremost, you should create a household budget that will track every penny of your income, and everything that you spend. You can do this manually by tracking your bank accounts and credit cards, or you can choose to use a tool like Mint.com or You Need A Budget (YNAB).
Want help creating a household budget on your own, without the help of software? This guide from NerdWallet is a great place to start.
Create a Document Outlining Your Debt Obligations
You should make sure you understand how much you owe in debt. This includes all types of loans – personal loans, student loans, mortgages, auto loans, and even payday loans or title loans, if applicable.
Make sure you understand how much you owe in debt each month – and which loans have the highest interest rate. This will be helpful if you plan to use the “debt avalanche” method to repay your loans starting with the highest-interest loan.
Determine Your Net Worth
Your net worth is useful to know for financial planning purposes. It’s calculated by adding the value of all of your assets, such as bank accounts, retirement accounts, and cars or real estate, and subtracting the value of your debt.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Tracking your net worth over time is a great way to understand your progress toward your financial goals, such as retiring or repaying debt such as personal loans or an auto loan.
Organize Your Bills & Automate Payments
Whenever possible, choose to receive bills electronically via email, and automate your payments. This minimizes paperwork and reduces the risk that a bill will go unpaid, which could lead to late fees, dings to your credit, and other such penalties.
Set Your Financial Goals & Begin Working Toward Them
What’s your goal? Are you already financially stable, but looking to retire early? Do you want to pay down your personal loans quickly to save on interest, and start saving more money? Do you want to save and start a family? Think about what you want, how much money you’ll need to get there, and the steps you can take to reach that goal. This will help guide you as you organize and adjust your finances in the future.
Follow These 5 Steps to Stay Organized and Get Your Finances on Track
As long as you take these simple steps, you’ll have the guidance and information you need to make better financial decisions. So, get started today, and make sure that your finances are on track.
Disclaimer: This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--8 Hidden costs you don’t think about when opening your own business

Starting a business is a huge step towards living the American dream .
You can make your hours , be your boss , and potentially make more money than you ’ ve seen so far in your life .
The green can be a little blinding , so a lot of people overlook some hidden costs that will pop up and surprise them .
It ’ s better to get prepared for these than scrambling to pay them with what profit your new company has .
There are so many kinds of insurance that your company will need , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professional liability , property , workers comp , product liability , vehicle , and business interruption insurance all add up to a large amount every month you have to pay them .
Although it may seem reasonable to skip a few of these when you start : don ’ t do it .
If you skip out on any of these , you could be setting yourself up for a larger payment later .
Unless you started your company via a crowdfunding site , you ’ re going to have loans to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep in mind the amount of interest that will get tacked on with time .
Not every company offers these , but many do .
When conceptualizing your business , it ’ s hard to think of things like these- but they ’ re essential when hiring .
These charges should be obvious , but many forget about them .
You have fees and permits to pay for just by running your business .
It ’ s not great , but it makes sure your company doesn ’ t get shut down and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment up and running , despite how new it may be , can be pricey .
Make sure to get your equipment checked early and often so that you don ’ t have to suffer a large loss that leaves you running to small weekly loans to stay afloat .
You ’ ll need to take care of your machinery first and foremost .
Running a company isn ’ t just about the product and the employee ’ s pay .
It ’ s about making sure your employees are comfortable in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working for you .
These needs are coffee , toilet paper , soap , and other things that make a business livable for employees .
Smart companies spend more here so that their employees will work harder and appreciate them more .
Even though you ’ ll get paid eventually , a delay can cost you money .
It can mean you miss a payment as well , leaving you to pay late fees .
It can also mean that you miss out on the interest that money would gain if it were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to think they ’ ll receive a late payment , but you can ’ t avoid them .
Shrinkage is another unpleasant charge to consider .
This loss whittles down to shoplifting , employee theft , loss because of spoiled food , and a lot of other losses .
Shrinkage can make you feel like your business is hemorrhaging money , and no company is immune to it .
Disclaimer : This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB .

Starting a business is a huge step towards living the American dream. You can make your hours, be your boss, and potentially make more money than you’ve seen so far in your life. The green can be a little blinding, so a lot of people overlook some hidden costs that will pop up and surprise them.
It’s better to get prepared for these than scrambling to pay them with what profit your new company has.
Insurance
There are so many kinds of insurance that your company will need, that it might make your head spin. Professional liability, property, workers comp, product liability, vehicle, and business interruption insurance all add up to a large amount every month you have to pay them. Although it may seem reasonable to skip a few of these when you start: don’t do it. If you skip out on any of these, you could be setting yourself up for a larger payment later.
Loan Paybacks
Unless you started your company via a crowdfunding site, you’re going to have loans to pay back. When getting these loans, keep in mind the amount of interest that will get tacked on with time.
Employee Benefits
Not every company offers these, but many do. When conceptualizing your business, it’s hard to think of things like these- but they’re essential when hiring.
Fees and Permits
These charges should be obvious, but many forget about them. You have fees and permits to pay for just by running your business. It’s not great, but it makes sure your company doesn’t get shut down and lose vital operating hours.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Maintenance
Keeping your equipment up and running, despite how new it may be, can be pricey. Make sure to get your equipment checked early and often so that you don’t have to suffer a large loss that leaves you running to small weekly loans to stay afloat. You’ll need to take care of your machinery first and foremost.
General Building Needs
Running a company isn’t just about the product and the employee’s pay. It’s about making sure your employees are comfortable in their workspace so that they’ll keep working for you. These needs are coffee, toilet paper, soap, and other things that make a business livable for employees. Smart companies spend more here so that their employees will work harder and appreciate them more.
Payment Delays
Even though you’ll get paid eventually, a delay can cost you money. It can mean you miss a payment as well, leaving you to pay late fees. It can also mean that you miss out on the interest that money would gain if it were sitting in your bank account. Nobody wants to think they’ll receive a late payment, but you can’t avoid them.
Shrinkage
Shrinkage is another unpleasant charge to consider. This loss whittles down to shoplifting, employee theft, loss because of spoiled food, and a lot of other losses. Shrinkage can make you feel like your business is hemorrhaging money, and no company is immune to it.
Disclaimer: This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--Mannarino: BEYOND Parabolic Debt To Push Stocks MUCH Higher

Gregory Mannarino started his career working for the securities and trading arm of the now defunct Bear Stearns before the @ @ @ @ @ that working on Wall Street was not like the movies , he moved on to @ @ @ @ @ practiced medicine as a Physician Assistant .
He also served in the United States Naval @ @ @ @ @ having attained the rank of Lieutenant .
He is an active trader of the capital @ @ @ @ @ books pertaining to finance , global economics , and equity trading .
Gregory currently hosts @ @ @ @ @ ” on YouTube .
You can find out more about what he offers at his @ @ @

TradersChoice.net, Released on 5/5/20
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Gregory Mannarino started his career working for the securities and trading arm of the now defunct Bear Stearns before the dot-com bubble. After realizing that working on Wall Street was not like the movies, he moved on to get a medical degree and practiced medicine as a Physician Assistant. He also served in the United States Naval Reserve Medical Service Corps, having attained the rank of Lieutenant. He is an active trader of the capital markets and has published several books pertaining to finance, global economics, and equity trading. Gregory currently hosts a business day “MarketReport” on YouTube. You can find out more about what he offers at his website Traderschoice.net.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--Clinton Foundation Wants To Use AmeriCorps To Create A ‘National Contact Tracing Corps’

“ The bicameral legislation ensures that existing national and community service programs are fully mobilized in order to assist in testing and contact tracing .
The bill would also ensure that Peace Corps volunteers , whose service involuntarily ended in March due to the global pandemic , will receive benefits and priority placement in these domestic programs so they can continue to use their skills by facilitating testing and contact tracing.
” In 2018 a CBS News investigation revealed that AmeriCorps programs , are rife with sexual misconduct and failed to meet federal standards and requirements .
The CBS News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a long history of working with young adults .
But none of that matters to our politicians , who hope you will forget that a national contact tracing corps would be run by a group that , since its inception , has been mismanaged and filled with sexual harassment cases .
“ The coronavirus pandemic has put an unprecedented strain on our society , and our nation requires a significant scaling of testing and contact tracing in order to flatten the curve and lift stay-at-home orders .
The UNITE Act empowers America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contact tracing across the country and deliver the aid and support our communities require during the pandemic .
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus and as a returned Peace Corps volunteer , I understand how capable America ’ s service organizations are to expand our nation ’ s testing and contact tracing to meet the needs of our country ’ s pandemic response .
I thank Senators Markey and Van Hollen for sponsoring the companion bill in the Senate , and I will work to ensure the UNITE Act becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Should we allow AmeriCorps and FEMA , two agencies with known issues , to undertake this process and have access to our homes , lives , and children.
?
Giving them access would be mistake .

by mapi
The Co-Chair of AmeriCorps and the creator of AmeriCorps, former President Bill Clinton , wants to create a national contact tracing force using AmeriCorps volunteers.
The bill “Undertaking National Initiatives to Tackle Epidemic Act” (UNITE Act) would allow AmeriCorps and FEMA to create a national contact-tracing corps. (see page 10)
“The bicameral legislation ensures that existing national and community service programs are fully mobilized in order to assist in testing and contact tracing. The bill would also ensure that Peace Corps volunteers, whose service involuntarily ended in March due to the global pandemic, will receive benefits and priority placement in these domestic programs so they can continue to use their skills by facilitating testing and contact tracing.”
USA Today called Six years ago,called “AmeriCorps a wasteful flop” saying many members are serving as recess referees. The article also asked the question, do we really need playground monitors?
In 2018 a CBS News investigation revealed that AmeriCorps programs, are rife with sexual misconduct and failed to meet federal standards and requirements.
“Conservative critics say AmeriCorps is a waste of money and promotes liberal causes. The Government Accountability Office found last year that CNCS has fallen short in monitoring whether the organizations it grants money to meet federal standards and requirements.”
The CBS News investigation also revealed that AmeriCorps and FEMA have a long history of working with young adults.
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“AmeriCorps does directly oversee and manage NCCC, often in partnership with FEMA, where young adults travel together to work on projects like rebuilding areas affected by disasters.”
But none of that matters to our politicians, who hope you will forget that a national contact tracing corps would be run by a group that, since its inception, has been mismanaged and filled with sexual harassment cases.
“The coronavirus pandemic has put an unprecedented strain on our society, and our nation requires a significant scaling of testing and contact tracing in order to flatten the curve and lift stay-at-home orders. The UNITE Act empowers America’s service organizations to perform testing and contact tracing across the country and deliver the aid and support our communities require during the pandemic. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus and as a returned Peace Corps volunteer, I understand how capable America’s service organizations are to expand our nation’s testing and contact tracing to meet the needs of our country’s pandemic response. I thank Senators Markey and Van Hollen for sponsoring the companion bill in the Senate, and I will work to ensure the UNITE Act becomes law,” said Congressman Garamendi.
Clinton uses Massachusetts contact-tracing as a national model
(Starts at approx 7:45)
Should we allow AmeriCorps and FEMA, two agencies with known issues, to undertake this process and have access to our homes, lives, and children.? Giving them access would be mistake.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--What worked (and didn’t work) during 1970s stagflation

When the New York Stock Exchange opened for trading on January 2 , 1970 , the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 809 points .
It was the start of a new decade , and expectations were high .
Consumer confidence was high , the economy was strong , and NASA had just put a man on the moon only a few months prior .
America was ready to move on from the tumultuous 1960s and was looking forward to a boom in the 1970s .
Over the next 10 years , the US economy would suffer its most painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970s were hit by a nasty bout of stagflation– a period of high unemployment , high inflation , higher taxes , higher debt levels , and pitiful economic growth .
It ’ s one of the worst fates an economy can suffer .
But it lingered in the US for years .
Inflation peaked above 10 % in the 1970s .
Unemployment was around 8 % .
‘ Underemployment ’ was nearly 20 % , i.e .
people who wanted a full-time job but were only able to find part-time work .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bond investors were destroyed by inflation ; anyone who purchased a US government 10-year Treasury in the early 1970s earned just 5.5 % , well below the rate of inflation .
Remember– the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened in 1970 at 809 points .
At the close of the decade in December 1979 , the Dow was worth just 839 points– almost no gain .
And when adjusted for inflation , stock market investors LOST about 49 % during the 1970s .
It was a brutal time to be an investor in mainstream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ REAL assets did quite well .
Consider farmland , for example : according to the US Department of Agriculture , the average price of US farmland in 1970 was $ 137 per acre .
In ten years , farmland had risen to $ 737 per acre– a hefty return averaging more than 14 % per year .
Investors who purchased farmland with a modest amount of leverage ( i.e .
a 30 % down payment and a bank loan for the remaining 70 % ) earned a 24.7 % average annualized return throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t include what they earned from their crops either .
Beef prices more than doubled in the 1970s .
Corn prices nearly tripled .
Wheat prices quadrupled .
Even after adjusting for inflation , agricultural commodities and real estate produced very strong returns and were among the best performing assets of the decade .
In some parts of the US , residential real estate as an asset class performed very well in the 1970s .
California real estate , for example , tripled in value during the decade as the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like El Dorado ( near the state capital of Sacramento ) and Santa Cruz ( south of San Francisco ) grew at nearly 3x the national average , and home prices soared .
But in other parts of the country , residential real estate was a dismal investment as local governments imposed rent control , limiting how much a landlord could charge .
Reduced rents meant depressed property prices .
So residential real estate was a very uneven asset class .
You won ’ t be surprised to learn that gold and silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gold opened the decade at a price of $ 36.56– the official US government price .
Back then the US dollar was still pegged to gold at that price .
But by the end of the decade , the US dollar was officially a ‘ fiat ’ currency and no longer backed by gold .
By late 1979 , the gold price had risen to more than $ 400 , so gold investors made 10x their money during the decade .
And SILVER actually outperformed gold , rising from less than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 30 at the end of 1979– a gain of more than 15x over the decade .
There are plenty of other examples , but the larger point is that real assets generally produced strong returns during one of the worst periods in US economic history .
Now , it would be ridiculous to say that the 2020s will be exactly like the 1970s .
As I ’ ve written multiple times before , it ’ s important to approach everything about this pandemic from a position of ignorance and uncertainty .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure .
One of them , however , is that they ’ re printing an enormous amount of money and going deeper into debt .
The US Treasury Department just announced yesterday that they plan on borrowing a record $ 3 TRILLION this quarter alone .
And who knows much more they ’ ll borrow for the rest of the year .
Plus the Fed has already printed $ 2.5 trillion just in the last sixty days .
These are already incomprehensible sums of money , but it looks like they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s likely a lot more debt and money printing to come .
So while we can ’ t say for certain what ’ s going to happen next– stagflation , deflation , inflation , etc.
, it ’ s historically been a good idea to own real assets when the debt machine and printing presses are running like this .

by Simon Black
When the New York Stock Exchange opened for trading on January 2, 1970, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 809 points.
It was the start of a new decade, and expectations were high.
Consumer confidence was high, the economy was strong, and NASA had just put a man on the moon only a few months prior.
America was ready to move on from the tumultuous 1960s and was looking forward to a boom in the 1970s.
But that didn’t happen.
Over the next 10 years, the US economy would suffer its most painful episode since the Great Depression.
The 1970s were hit by a nasty bout of stagflation– a period of high unemployment, high inflation, higher taxes, higher debt levels, and pitiful economic growth.
It’s one of the worst fates an economy can suffer. But it lingered in the US for years.
Inflation peaked above 10% in the 1970s. Unemployment was around 8%. ‘Underemployment’ was nearly 20%, i.e. people who wanted a full-time job but were only able to find part-time work.
And most traditional financial investments suffered too.
Bond investors were destroyed by inflation; anyone who purchased a US government 10-year Treasury in the early 1970s earned just 5.5%, well below the rate of inflation.
And the stock market produced dismal returns.
Remember– the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened in 1970 at 809 points. At the close of the decade in December 1979, the Dow was worth just 839 points– almost no gain.
And when adjusted for inflation, stock market investors LOST about 49% during the 1970s.
It was a brutal time to be an investor in mainstream assets.
But people who invested in REAL assets did quite well.
Consider farmland, for example: according to the US Department of Agriculture, the average price of US farmland in 1970 was $137 per acre.
In ten years, farmland had risen to $737 per acre– a hefty return averaging more than 14% per year.
Investors who purchased farmland with a modest amount of leverage (i.e. a 30% down payment and a bank loan for the remaining 70%) earned a 24.7% average annualized return throughout the 1970s.
And that doesn’t include what they earned from their crops either.
Beef prices more than doubled in the 1970s. Corn prices nearly tripled. Wheat prices quadrupled.
Even after adjusting for inflation, agricultural commodities and real estate produced very strong returns and were among the best performing assets of the decade.
Residential real estate, however, was a mixed bag.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In some parts of the US, residential real estate as an asset class performed very well in the 1970s.
California real estate, for example, tripled in value during the decade as the state’s population exploded.
The population in counties like El Dorado (near the state capital of Sacramento) and Santa Cruz (south of San Francisco) grew at nearly 3x the national average, and home prices soared.
But in other parts of the country, residential real estate was a dismal investment as local governments imposed rent control, limiting how much a landlord could charge.
Reduced rents meant depressed property prices. So residential real estate was a very uneven asset class.
You won’t be surprised to learn that gold and silver also generated phenomenal returns during the 1970s.
Gold opened the decade at a price of $36.56– the official US government price.
Back then the US dollar was still pegged to gold at that price. But by the end of the decade, the US dollar was officially a ‘fiat’ currency and no longer backed by gold.
By late 1979, the gold price had risen to more than $400, so gold investors made 10x their money during the decade.
And SILVER actually outperformed gold, rising from less than $2 in 1970, to more than $30 at the end of 1979– a gain of more than 15x over the decade.
There are plenty of other examples, but the larger point is that real assets generally produced strong returns during one of the worst periods in US economic history.
Now, it would be ridiculous to say that the 2020s will be exactly like the 1970s.
As I’ve written multiple times before, it’s important to approach everything about this pandemic from a position of ignorance and uncertainty.
There are very few things we know for sure. One of them, however, is that they’re printing an enormous amount of money and going deeper into debt.
The US Treasury Department just announced yesterday that they plan on borrowing a record $3 TRILLION this quarter alone.
And who knows much more they’ll borrow for the rest of the year.
Plus the Fed has already printed $2.5 trillion just in the last sixty days.
These are already incomprehensible sums of money, but it looks like they’re just getting warmed up. There’s likely a lot more debt and money printing to come.
So while we can’t say for certain what’s going to happen next– stagflation, deflation, inflation, etc., it’s historically been a good idea to own real assets when the debt machine and printing presses are running like this.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--Billionaire Zell Sees Economy Permanently Scarred by Pandemic… Some Companies Began Preparing for Do

Billionaire Zell Sees Economy Permanently Scarred by Pandemic… Some Companies Began Preparing for Downturn Before Pandemic…

( Bloomberg ) — Sam Zell , the billionaire known for buying up troubled real estate , said the coronavirus pandemic will leave the same kind of impact on the economy and society as the Great Depression 80 years ago , with long-lasting changes in human behavior that imperil many business models .
“ Too many people are anticipating a kind of V-like recovery , ” Zell said in an interview with Bloomberg Television .
“ We ’ re all going to be permanently scarred by having lived through this.
” Just as the depression left behind a generation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass unemployment , hunger and desperation , the burdens this crisis has forced on society may be similarly hard to forget .
Zell , 78 , said it won ’ t be easy for people to live as they did before the “ extraordinary shock ” of the pandemic .
He expects some amount of social distancing and working from home to persist long after the acute phase of the outbreak is over , possibly for years .
Retail , hospitality , travel , live entertainment and professional sports are some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ How soon will anybody get on an airplane ?
How soon will anybody stay in a hotel ?
How soon will anybody go to a mall ?
” he asked .
“ The fact that these places may be open doesn ’ t necessarily mean that they ’ ll be doing business .
”

Billionaire Zell Sees Economy Permanently Scarred by Pandemic…
(Bloomberg) — Sam Zell, the billionaire known for buying up troubled real estate, said the coronavirus pandemic will leave the same kind of impact on the economy and society as the Great Depression 80 years ago, with long-lasting changes in human behavior that imperil many business models.
“Too many people are anticipating a kind of V-like recovery,” Zell said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “We’re all going to be permanently scarred by having lived through this.”
Just as the depression left behind a generation that couldn’t shake the experience of mass unemployment, hunger and desperation, the burdens this crisis has forced on society may be similarly hard to forget. Zell, 78, said it won’t be easy for people to live as they did before the “extraordinary shock” of the pandemic.
He expects some amount of social distancing and working from home to persist long after the acute phase of the outbreak is over, possibly for years. Retail, hospitality, travel, live entertainment and professional sports are some of the industries he sees continuing to struggle.
“How soon will anybody get on an airplane? How soon will anybody stay in a hotel? How soon will anybody go to a mall?” he asked. “The fact that these places may be open doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be doing business.”
Nothing to Buy


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--The Giant Presumption behind Re-Opening America

Newly “ liberated ” Americans are flocking to beaches , parks , and restaurants , eager to prove the novel coronavirus doesn ’ t scare them .
In fact , the virus doesn ’ t care how brave they are .
It just wants to spread .
I suspect it found many new hosts at those gatherings , and this will be apparent soon .
At the same time , many others are still staying home whenever possible , not yet convinced it is safe to go out .
But regardless of who ’ s right , Wall Street people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher in April .
Many experts think the economy will soon be back to normal .
What any of us think matters less than what the virus does .
This “ normal ” everyone wants to see is an economy unmolested by this virus .
Will it just go away ?
Let ’ s see what experts think .
The economic outlook is cloudy right now because it isn ’ t entirely economic .
It ’ s also medical and sociological .
The economy ’ s course depends on how this virus behaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A report last week from the University of Minnesota ’ s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy ( CIDRAP ) outlined three scenarios this pandemic could follow .
Scenario 1 , which they call “ Peaks and Valleys , ” says this first wave will recede , but will be followed by similar waves every few months for the next year or two .
Their severity will vary somewhat , but they will keep happening .
Economically , this is the middle-ground outlook .
We ’ ll still have a recession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery .
After a lot of pain , people and businesses would adapt .
Scenario 2 , the “ Fall Peak , ” says that what we just saw in March and April was the prelude to a larger wave this fall or winter .
That ’ s what happened in the 1918 flu epidemic .
Smaller third and fourth waves would probably follow in 2021 .
That scenario could be an economic knock-out blow .
Faced with a national breakdown of the healthcare system , authorities would likely impose far more severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen so far .
Businesses that were just getting back on their feet would close permanently .
The government , having already spent trillions , might not be able to offer more stimulus .
Scenario 3 , the “ Slow Burn , ” would see the virus keep spreading , but slowly enough for the healthcare system to handle .
Further lockdowns would be unnecessary .
This is the economic best-case .
It would mean the worst is behind us and the recovery will proceed .
This is what many investors seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes that in any of these scenarios , we should be prepared for at least another 18–24 months of significant COVID-19 activity .
That ’ s how long it will take to either develop and deploy an effective vaccine , or for the population to develop “ herd immunity.
” With even the best-case scenarios looking dark , why are so many investors and businesspeople so sure the worst is over ?
I think some of it is denial or “ wishful thinking.
” They don ’ t want it to be true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They expect to find a four-leaf clover that solves everything .
But I think the main problem is they don ’ t understand how hard this has hit the service part of the economy , and how difficult recovery will be .
Today ’ s investors love businesses that “ scale.
” A website like Facebook , for instance , can double its revenue without doubling expenses .
Not so for restaurants .
One chef can ’ t make an infinite number of meals .
And now , with different rules and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything .
It will take time and money .
Meanwhile , unemployment will remain high and consumer spending will suffer .
And don ’ t forget , large events and conventions are probably off the table for months .
The impact on the hotel , air travel , and entertainment industries alone would trigger a harsh recession .
But that ’ s not the scariest part .
If governors keep relaxing the restrictions this month , most of the US will have spent six to eight weeks offline or in some kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time .
But Wuhan , China , where the outbreak originated , had to stay in a far more restrictive lockdown for 10 weeks .
Ditto for hard-hit parts of Italy and Spain .
In the US , new cases seem to have stabilized to around 30,000 daily .
The number is not shrinking nationally .
It ’ s not shrinking in places like Georgia and Texas that are beginning to re-open .
As more people resume contact in public spaces , even more infections seem likely .
It is true that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People have limits .
The isolation causes other problems and even deaths .
But , as I explained last week , the economy isn ’ t going to bounce right back .
This urgency to re-open businesses before customers are ready is odd .
Our leaders seem to presume the virus will behave differently in the US than it did elsewhere , and we don ’ t need to do what other countries did .
If that presumption proves false , then the “ Fall Peak ” scenario is a real possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans lost their jobs and 63,856 lost their lives .
It ’ s been awful .
And it may have been a dress rehearsal for worse in November/December .

by John Mauldin
Newly “liberated” Americans are flocking to beaches, parks, and restaurants, eager to prove the novel coronavirus doesn’t scare them.
In fact, the virus doesn’t care how brave they are. It just wants to spread. I suspect it found many new hosts at those gatherings, and this will be apparent soon.
At the same time, many others are still staying home whenever possible, not yet convinced it is safe to go out.
But regardless of who’s right, Wall Street people are thrilled. The stock market shot higher in April. Many experts think the economy will soon be back to normal.
What any of us think matters less than what the virus does. This “normal” everyone wants to see is an economy unmolested by this virus.
Will it just go away? Let’s see what experts think.
Photo: NIH
Three Scenarios
The economic outlook is cloudy right now because it isn’t entirely economic. It’s also medical and sociological. The economy’s course depends on how this virus behaves, and how people behave in response.
A report last week from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) outlined three scenarios this pandemic could follow.
Scenario 1, which they call “Peaks and Valleys,” says this first wave will recede, but will be followed by similar waves every few months for the next year or two. Their severity will vary somewhat, but they will keep happening.
Economically, this is the middle-ground outlook. We’ll still have a recession, and the recurring outbreaks would delay recovery. After a lot of pain, people and businesses would adapt.
Scenario 2, the “Fall Peak,” says that what we just saw in March and April was the prelude to a larger wave this fall or winter. That’s what happened in the 1918 flu epidemic. Smaller third and fourth waves would probably follow in 2021.
That scenario could be an economic knock-out blow. Faced with a national breakdown of the healthcare system, authorities would likely impose far more severe and lengthy lockdowns than the US has seen so far. Businesses that were just getting back on their feet would close permanently. The government, having already spent trillions, might not be able to offer more stimulus.
Scenario 3, the “Slow Burn,” would see the virus keep spreading, but slowly enough for the healthcare system to handle. Further lockdowns would be unnecessary.
This is the economic best-case. It would mean the worst is behind us and the recovery will proceed. This is what many investors seem to be betting on.
Chart: University of Minnesota/CIDRAP
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The CIDRAP team believes that in any of these scenarios, we should be prepared for at least another 18–24 months of significant COVID-19 activity. That’s how long it will take to either develop and deploy an effective vaccine, or for the population to develop “herd immunity.”
Wishful Thinking
With even the best-case scenarios looking dark, why are so many investors and businesspeople so sure the worst is over?
I think some of it is denial or “wishful thinking.” They don’t want it to be true and so convince themselves it is not. They expect to find a four-leaf clover that solves everything.
But I think the main problem is they don’t understand how hard this has hit the service part of the economy, and how difficult recovery will be.
Today’s investors love businesses that “scale.” A website like Facebook, for instance, can double its revenue without doubling expenses.
Not so for restaurants. One chef can’t make an infinite number of meals. And now, with different rules and customer expectations, they have to reengineer everything. It will take time and money. Meanwhile, unemployment will remain high and consumer spending will suffer.
And don’t forget, large events and conventions are probably off the table for months. The impact on the hotel, air travel, and entertainment industries alone would trigger a harsh recession.
But that’s not the scariest part.
Photo: Pixabay
Feeling Lucky?
If governors keep relaxing the restrictions this month, most of the US will have spent six to eight weeks offline or in some kind of lockdown situation.
That seems like a long time. But Wuhan, China, where the outbreak originated, had to stay in a far more restrictive lockdown for 10 weeks. Ditto for hard-hit parts of Italy and Spain.
In the US, new cases seem to have stabilized to around 30,000 daily. The number is not shrinking nationally. It’s not shrinking in places like Georgia and Texas that are beginning to re-open. As more people resume contact in public spaces, even more infections seem likely.
It is true that lockdowns can’t go on indefinitely. People have limits. The isolation causes other problems and even deaths. But, as I explained last week, the economy isn’t going to bounce right back. This urgency to re-open businesses before customers are ready is odd.
Our leaders seem to presume the virus will behave differently in the US than it did elsewhere, and we don’t need to do what other countries did.
If that presumption proves false, then the “Fall Peak” scenario is a real possibility.
In March and April, millions of Americans lost their jobs and 63,856 lost their lives. It’s been awful. And it may have been a dress rehearsal for worse in November/December.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--The Fed Got the Market to Bottom on a Lie… So What Else is It Lying About?

The Fed lied to us .
If you ’ ll recall , on March 23rd 2020 , the Federal Reserve stated that it would begin buying both U.S. Treasuries and corporate bonds with unlimited funds .
The announcement was historic in nature : never before in its 107-year history had the Fed bought corporate bonds before .
IN fact , it was technically illegal for the Fed to do this as the Federal Reserve Act of 1933 expressly forbid the Fed from buying corporate bonds and other risk-assets .
The Fed got around that legislation by setting up a credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Credit Facility of CCF ( there are actually two of these now , one for buying investment grade corporate bonds and the other for buying corporate junk bonds ) .
In its simplest form , the Fed would print new money and then funnel this money into the credit facility .
The Treasury , not the Fed , would then take the money and use it to buy corporate bonds and corporate bond ETFs on the open market .
This was a HUGE development for the markets .
And it is not coincidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day the Fed made the announcement .
Except the whole thing was a lie .
Jeffrey Gundlach is a self-made billionaire bond fund manager .
As such he is one of the largest buyers of bonds in the markets .
And last week on Friday , May 1st 2020 , he tweeted the following : The Fed responded to this accusation yesterday , Monday May 4th , posting on its website that it would begin buying corporate bonds in “ early May.
” When will the CCFs be operational ?
The SMCCF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early May .
The PMCCF is expected to become operational and the SMCCF is expected to begin purchasing eligible corporate bonds soon thereafter .
Additional details on timing will be made available as those dates approach .
Remember , the Fed promised to buy corporate bonds back on MARCH 23rd… and it was announcement stopped the stock market meltdown… and it is now May 5th ( six weeks later ) and the Fed hasn ’ t bought a single corporate bond .
This begs the question…what else is the Fed lying about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re worried about weathering a potential market crash , we ’ ve reopened our Stock Market Crash Survival Guide to the general public .
Within its 21 pages we outline which investments will perform best during a market meltdown as well as how to take out “ Crash insurance ” on your portfolio ( these instruments returned TRIPLE digit gains during 2008 ) .
Today is the last day this report will be available to the public .
To pick up your copy of this report , FREE , swing by :

The Fed lied to us.
If you’ll recall, on March 23rd 2020, the Federal Reserve stated that it would begin buying both U.S. Treasuries and corporate bonds with unlimited funds.
The announcement was historic in nature: never before in its 107-year history had the Fed bought corporate bonds before. IN fact, it was technically illegal for the Fed to do this as the Federal Reserve Act of 1933 expressly forbid the Fed from buying corporate bonds and other risk-assets.
The Fed got around that legislation by setting up a credit facility with the Treasury called the Corporate Credit Facility of CCF (there are actually two of these now, one for buying investment grade corporate bonds and the other for buying corporate junk bonds).
In its simplest form, the Fed would print new money and then funnel this money into the credit facility. The Treasury, not the Fed, would then take the money and use it to buy corporate bonds and corporate bond ETFs on the open market.
This was a HUGE development for the markets. And it is not coincidence that both stocks and corporate bonds bottomed the day the Fed made the announcement.
Except the whole thing was a lie.
Jeffrey Gundlach is a self-made billionaire bond fund manager. As such he is one of the largest buyers of bonds in the markets. And last week on Friday, May 1st 2020, he tweeted the following:
The Fed responded to this accusation yesterday, Monday May 4th, posting on its website that it would begin buying corporate bonds in “early May.”
When will the CCFs be operational?
The SMCCF is expected to begin purchasing eligible ETFs in early May. The PMCCF is expected to become operational and the SMCCF is expected to begin purchasing eligible corporate bonds soon thereafter. Additional details on timing will be made available as those dates approach.
Source: The New York Fed
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Remember, the Fed promised to buy corporate bonds back on MARCH 23rd… and it was announcement stopped the stock market meltdown… and it is now May 5th (six weeks later) and the Fed hasn’t bought a single corporate bond.
Stocks literally rallied 30% on a lie.
This begs the question…what else is the Fed lying about?
On that note, if you’re worried about weathering a potential market crash, we’ve reopened our Stock Market Crash Survival Guide to the general public.
Within its 21 pages we outline which investments will perform best during a market meltdown as well as how to take out “Crash insurance” on your portfolio (these instruments returned TRIPLE digit gains during 2008).
Today is the last day this report will be available to the public.
To pick up your copy of this report, FREE, swing by:
phoenixcapitalmarketing.com/stockmarketcrash.html
Best RegardsParagraph
Graham Summers
Chief Market Strategist
Phoenix Capital Research


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--In Uncharted Territory: Are You Really Buying At These Valuations?

Berkshire Hathaway held its annual “ Woodstock for Capitalists ” over the weekend .
The event was conducted virtually because of the global pandemic where Buffett expressed a deep sense of concern about the immediate future .
Warren ain ’ t buyin ’ nuttin ’ .
In fact , he has just dumped all of his airline stocks .
Take a look at the stock market cap-to-GDP ratio , aka the Buffett Indicator , and you will get of sense why Warren is stingy with his cash , which is mounting higher and higher to $ 137 billion by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first quarter with a stock market capitalization at almost 141 percent of GDP .
Incredibly , just 2 points below the peak-end-of-quarter valuation level of the dot.com bubble .
Moreover , today ’ s relative valuation is much higher than is currently measured than in Q1 2000 as there are much fewer public companies now traded on U.S. stock exchanges .
We aren ’ t touching this market until there is a big enough valuation cushion to make stocks look more attractive .
What we are sayin ’ is , “ No No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes years for stocks to cheapen up , which just might be the case .
If runaway inflation takes hold and stocks become an inflation hedge , which is not a zero probability as monetization of government spending skyrockets , we will be in good shape with our gold position .
After the Fed effectively locked down the bond markets with the bailing out junk bonds , we are giving our analysis and posting a rest as there really is very little fundamental analysis to be had or done .
Stay tuned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ periodically on issues and topics du jour .
We find it quite bazaar to watch analysts explain the movement in the Treasury market , for example , raising the notion of inflation expectations or investor demand , when the Fed has purchased $ 1.3 trillion of notes and bonds over the past two months .
That is all we need to know .
Market forces are no way in hell driving the bond markets as the Fed is effectively monetizing the ballooning budget deficit and then some and has locked down the bond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay for a bond that almost guarantees a loss , at least in real terms , is beyond us .
Furthermore , the Treasury market anchors all financial assets .
Until it doesn ’ t .
At the current moment , there is very little clarity on the economy .
Though the 30 million increase in unemployment is horrendous , it does not reflect the true unemployment trend .
We can ’ t say with any certainty but it is safe to say many filing unemployment claims are furloughed workers who will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
Moreover , no one knows what the economy will look like on the other side and we ’ re not going to get worked up over the current data until the hurricane passes , or semi-over , and we can assess the structural damage the pandemic has done to country ’ s long-term economic prospects .
Think in terms of hysteresis , folks .
How much hysteresis will there be ?
Make a guess and our hope is not much .
We have written about the nth-order effects of the COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only obsessed and focused on the first-order existential crisis of survival and is driven by rumors of vaccines and the new “ curve flatteners.
” There several order effects , which are just beginning to surface on the market ’ s radar .
State and local government finances are a big one .
The chart below reflects the devastation the pandemic is having on state budgets .
Then there is are local government budgets , which may even be more devastating as local municipalities are one of the largest employers in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonfarm payrolls , a similar level to jobs in the retail sector .
Local government is , or one of the largest employers in many counties across the country , including the one that we domicile .
We will have to wait to see how this all plays out .
Will the state and local governments get a full-blown bailout or will they begin to furlough and layoff workers as some have already begun ?
This week ’ s Economist has a fairly decent piece on the prospects for the global economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns cease , much about the disease will remain unknown , including the chances of a second peak , whether immunity endures and the prospects for a vaccine or a cure .
This inhibits those who fear the disease .
Even as some states ease social distancing , a third of Americans say they would be uncomfortable visiting a mall .
When Germany allowed small shops to open last week customers stayed away .
Danes under lockdown cut household spending on services , such as travel and entertainment , by 80 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweden , which didn ’ t lock down , cut spending by about as much .
Many businesses will emerge from lockdown short of money , with strained balance-sheets and facing weak demand .
In a survey for Goldman Sachs , almost two-thirds of American small-business owners said that their cash would run out in under three months .
In Britain the share of commercial tenants who have fallen behind on their rent has risen by 30 percentage points .
This week the boss of Boeing warned that air travel would not match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years .
Investment , which accounts for roughly a quarter of gdp , will fall , not just to conserve cash , but also because risk can not be priced ( one reason to think a recent stockmarket rally has weak foundations ) .
We are certainly in uncharted territory .
The most massive sell-off in such a short time frame followed by one of the largest bounces makes life exciting for some of the best traders but offers little guidance to future economic prospects .
The only thing we see rational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks of trading is the rebound , which topped out on Thursday and halted right about the 61.8 Fibonacci retracement level .
We remain in the bunker until the market cheapens up and moves closer to the value zone , which is a long way down .
Patience , young grasshopper .

Via Global Macro Monitor,
More than his words, he spoke with his wallet. He usually relishes a down stock market to take advantage of lower prices. Not this time. He hadn’t made any purchases recently; he didn’t buy up stocks when they had fallen last month during what felt like a mini-panic: “We have not done anything, because we don’t see anything that attractive to do.” – Warren Buffett, NY Times
Berkshire Hathaway held its annual “Woodstock for Capitalists” over the weekend. The event was conducted virtually because of the global pandemic where Buffett expressed a deep sense of concern about the immediate future.
Not Buying
Warren ain’t buyin’ nuttin’. In fact, he has just dumped all of his airline stocks.
Take a look at the stock market cap-to-GDP ratio, aka the Buffett Indicator, and you will get of sense why Warren is stingy with his cash, which is mounting higher and higher to $137 billion by the day.
Stock Market Capitalization-to-GDP
The Buffett indicator closed the first quarter with a stock market capitalization at almost 141 percent of GDP. Incredibly, just 2 points below the peak-end-of-quarter valuation level of the dot.com bubble. Moreover, today’s relative valuation is much higher than is currently measured than in Q1 2000 as there are much fewer public companies now traded on U.S. stock exchanges.
We aren’t touching this market until there is a big enough valuation cushion to make stocks look more attractive. What we are sayin’ is, “No No to MoMo,” even if it takes years for stocks to cheapen up, which just might be the case.
If runaway inflation takes hold and stocks become an inflation hedge, which is not a zero probability as monetization of government spending skyrockets, we will be in good shape with our gold position.
Market Capitalism, No More
After the Fed effectively locked down the bond markets with the bailing out junk bonds, we are giving our analysis and posting a rest as there really is very little fundamental analysis to be had or done. Stay tuned, however, as we will be posting periodically on issues and topics du jour.
We find it quite bazaar to watch analysts explain the movement in the Treasury market, for example, raising the notion of inflation expectations or investor demand, when the Fed has purchased $1.3 trillion of notes and bonds over the past two months. That is all we need to know.
Market forces are no way in hell driving the bond markets as the Fed is effectively monetizing the ballooning budget deficit and then some and has locked down the bond markets. Why a long-term investor will pay for a bond that almost guarantees a loss, at least in real terms, is beyond us.
Furthermore, the Treasury market anchors all financial assets. Until it doesn’t.
Mass Economic Uncertainty & Hysteresis
At the current moment, there is very little clarity on the economy. Though the 30 million increase in unemployment is horrendous, it does not reflect the true unemployment trend.
We can’t say with any certainty but it is safe to say many filing unemployment claims are furloughed workers who will be rehired once the economy begins to open up. Moreover, no one knows what the economy will look like on the other side and we’re not going to get worked up over the current data until the hurricane passes, or semi-over, and we can assess the structural damage the pandemic has done to country’s long-term economic prospects.
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Think in terms of hysteresis, folks.
Hysteresis in the field of economics refers to an event in the economy that persists into the future, even after the factors that led to that event have been removed. – Investopedia
How much hysteresis will there be? Make a guess and our hope is not much.
Mr. Market Not A Good Multitasker
We have written about the nth-order effects of the COVID crisis as the market seems to be only obsessed and focused on the first-order existential crisis of survival and is driven by rumors of vaccines and the new “curve flatteners.” There several order effects, which are just beginning to surface on the market’s radar.
State and local government finances are a big one.
“Last year I did a May revise with a $21.4 billion budget surplus,” Newsom said Friday during his daily briefing on the state’s response to the outbreak. “This year I will be doing a May revise looking at tens of billions of dollars in deficit. We just went tens of billions in surplus in just weeks to deficits.” – Gov Gavin Newsom, Bloomberg
The chart below reflects the devastation the pandemic is having on state budgets.
Then there is are local government budgets, which may even be more devastating as local municipalities are one of the largest employers in the country, totaling almost 10 percent of total nonfarm payrolls, a similar level to jobs in the retail sector. Local government is, or one of the largest employers in many counties across the country, including the one that we domicile. We will have to wait to see how this all plays out.
Will the state and local governments get a full-blown bailout or will they begin to furlough and layoff workers as some have already begun?
The 90% Economy
This week’s Economist has a fairly decent piece on the prospects for the global economy.
A second reason is uncertainty. After lockdowns cease, much about the disease will remain unknown, including the chances of a second peak, whether immunity endures and the prospects for a vaccine or a cure. This inhibits those who fear the disease. Even as some states ease social distancing, a third of Americans say they would be uncomfortable visiting a mall. When Germany allowed small shops to open last week customers stayed away. Danes under lockdown cut household spending on services, such as travel and entertainment, by 80%. Danish economists reckon that people in next-door Sweden, which didn’t lock down, cut spending by about as much. Many businesses will emerge from lockdown short of money, with strained balance-sheets and facing weak demand. In a survey for Goldman Sachs, almost two-thirds of American small-business owners said that their cash would run out in under three months. In Britain the share of commercial tenants who have fallen behind on their rent has risen by 30 percentage points. This week the boss of Boeing warned that air travel would not match the level of 2019 for two or three years. Investment, which accounts for roughly a quarter of gdp, will fall, not just to conserve cash, but also because risk cannot be priced (one reason to think a recent stockmarket rally has weak foundations). – The Economist
Upshot
We are certainly in uncharted territory. The most massive sell-off in such a short time frame followed by one of the largest bounces makes life exciting for some of the best traders but offers little guidance to future economic prospects.
These extremes make valuations hard for investors to assess. It is as if someone tuned on a scalding hot shower and then reacted by emptying a bucket of ice over themselves. And there are few historical parallels. The outbreak of the first world war was also a genuine shock, but the authorities quickly closed stock exchanges, so it is not a useful basis for comparison. …So although the origins of the bear market may be unusual, and the support from central banks and governments have been substantial, the same feedback process seen in other downturns could yet occur. Bad debts may rise, and investors may lose their enthusiasm for risky financial assets for an extended period. In the wild, bears are likely to run away when they hear a lot of noise. So perhaps the authorities have done enough to scare this one off. But with most countries still in lockdown, we are unlikely to be out of the woods yet. – The Economist
The only thing we see rational about the totality of the past ten weeks of trading is the rebound, which topped out on Thursday and halted right about the 61.8 Fibonacci retracement level.
Bravo for the Fibos!
We remain in the bunker until the market cheapens up and moves closer to the value zone, which is a long way down. Patience, young grasshopper.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-05--Disinflationary: You can bring a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. We’re near the nobody s

Disinflationary: You can bring a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. We’re near the nobody saw it coming moment.

You can bring a horse to water but you ca n't make it drink .
Fed balance sheet soars , @ @ @ @ @ remain significantly below .
pic.twitter.com/YjzeoW8ZU5

Disinflationary.
You can bring a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
Fed balance sheet soars, but M1 and M2 growth remain significantly below. pic.twitter.com/YjzeoW8ZU5
— Daniel Lacalle (@dlacalle_IA) May 5, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-06--Vaccines have poor quality controls- Baxter 2009 put live H5N1 into seasonal flu

Most vaccines are not profitable for the manufacturer per se , but because they are given immunity from prosecution by various governments , and the quality control measures are poor , they can make some cash .
How much crap is in vaccines ?
It ’ s frightening- how about some broken glass ?
You can get all kinds of contaminates per scientific paper January 23 , 2017 entitled , “ New Quality-Control Investigations on Vaccines : Micro- and Nanocontamination.
” Baxter Pharma in Austria sent out flu vaccine with live H5N1 virus in it .
Receiving nations injected it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everybody called Baxter .
At first they denied it , then they said “ don ’ t know how it happened , ” then “ oopsie.
” You ’ re not getting a “ clean ” Covid 19 vaccine but one that ’ s from animal cell lines .
I think it ’ s dog cells .
Animals have lots of coronaviruses .
This vaccine has supposedly not been tested on animals but is going straight to humans .
Bad form .
In 2011 researcher Dr. Judy Mikovits was put in jail by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines on the market are ineffective .
She further found that because of the human and animal cell cultures they ’ re grown in , they can cause life-long diseases .
She is not anti-vaccine but wants good immunological basis for things .
Those who ’ ve had the flu shots are 35 % more likely to catch Covid 19 .

by Hohhot
Most vaccines are not profitable for the manufacturer per se, but because they are given immunity from prosecution by various governments, and the quality control measures are poor, they can make some cash. How much crap is in vaccines? It’s frightening- how about some broken glass?
www.cbsnews.com/news/hpv-vaccine-gardasil-voluntarily-recalled-due-to-glass-shards-in-some-vials/
You can get all kinds of contaminates per scientific paper January 23, 2017 entitled, “New Quality-Control Investigations on Vaccines: Micro- and Nanocontamination.”
Baxter Pharma in Austria sent out flu vaccine with live H5N1 virus in it. Receiving nations injected it into lab ferrets who all died. Everybody called Baxter. At first they denied it, then they said “don’t know how it happened,” then “oopsie.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.ctvnews.ca/baxter-admits-flu-product-contained-live-bird-flu-virus-
1.374503
You’re not getting a “clean” Covid 19 vaccine but one that’s from animal cell lines. I think it’s dog cells. Animals have lots of coronaviruses. This vaccine has supposedly not been tested on animals but is going straight to humans. Bad form.
In 2011 researcher Dr. Judy Mikovits was put in jail by Fauci for discovering that all the RNA vaccines on the market are ineffective. She further found that because of the human and animal cell cultures they’re grown in, they can cause life-long diseases. She is not anti-vaccine but wants good immunological basis for things.
Those who’ve had the flu shots are 35% more likely to catch Covid 19.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-06--Real economy in meltdown! And we have new ATH in valuations! THIS. IS. INSANITY.

Real economy in meltdown !
And we have new ATH in valuations !
THIS .
IS .
INSANITY .
pic.twitter.com/dNhMHCgtXk @ @ @ @ @ from reality , , , there 's such a strong bid to this market – @ @ @ @ @ trading – it just does n't make any sense . ''
This market is entirely @ @ @ @ @ selling off and to keep adding to their multiple expansion program .
Help me out @ @ @ @ @ head around this .
How is it that US consumer stocks are trading back above @ @ @ @ @ of a US jobs report that 's expected to show over 20 million jobs lost @ @ @ @ @ have `` priced it in '' ?
pic.twitter.com/A2phIpKoQd

Real economy in meltdown! And we have new ATH in valuations! THIS. IS. INSANITY. pic.twitter.com/dNhMHCgtXk
"This market is divorced from reality,,,there's such a strong bid to this market – particularly in the overnight futures trading – it just doesn't make any sense."
This market is entirely dependent on 5 stocks not selling off and to keep adding to their multiple expansion program.
Help me out. Can't get my head around this.
How is it that US consumer stocks are trading back above the 5-year average just ahead of a US jobs report that's expected to show over 20 million jobs lost, and some say markets have "priced it in"? pic.twitter.com/A2phIpKoQd
— David Ingles (@DavidInglesTV) May 6, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-06--Charlie Munger: “Amazon has more to fear from Costco than Costco has to fear from Amazon. Because [C

Charlie Munger: “Amazon has more to fear from Costco than Costco has to fear from Amazon. Because [Costco has] a better warehouse situation that is much cheaper- plus a public that totally believes that anything they sell will be high quality and low price.”

2/ Charlie Munger : `` they 're coming late to any sort of delivery system .
But in the end @ @ @ @ @ efficient and they ’ re already more trusted .
So I would say all the @ @ @ @ @ nothing to fear from Amazon . ''

2/ Charlie Munger: "they're coming late to any sort of delivery system. But in the end they’ll be more efficient and they’re already more trusted. So I would say all the figures show that Costco has nothing to fear from Amazon."
— Tren Griffin (@trengriffin) May 6, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-06--They Want To Make “Social Distancing” A Permanent Part Of Our Lives

Humans are inherently social creatures , and that is never going to change .
Within each one of us there is a fundamental need for connection with others , but now these coronavirus lockdowns have separated us from one another like never before .
Thankfully , many states are now starting to end their lockdowns , but unfortunately this is definitely not the end for “ social distancing ” .
Just as 9/11 greatly altered our society on a permanent basis , many of our social engineers now intend to make “ social distancing ” a permanent part of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there will be written or unwritten rules about how close you can get to other people virtually everywhere that you go .
Can you imagine a world where you have to constantly be concerned about walking , standing or sitting too close to someone else ?
Already , there is talk of putting physical markings on sidewalks in order to constantly remind all of us not to walk too closely to one another… And Wal-Mart and other major retailers are already starting to put arrows on the floor to remind us which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain proper “ social distancing ” .
We are being told that restaurants may have to start putting empty tables between customers , sports stadiums may have to keep at least half their seats empty , and churches may have to start holding services in shifts .
Just like in the days after 9/11 , we will be told that the changes are just “ temporary measures ” , but once we accept “ temporary measures ” long enough they have a way of becoming permanent .
When I was much younger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at first I was encouraged to hear that some states were going to start allowing live concerts once again , but then I learned about the new “ fan pods ” … Travis McCready , the singer of the country-rock band Bishop Gunn , will be performing what ’ s billed as an “ intimate acoustic set ” in Fort Smith at the city ’ s TempleLive venue — but with social distancing measures in place .
The show will take place on May 15 , three days before the scheduled reopening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show will be at least six feet apart per grouping in what Ticketmaster is calling “ fan pods.
” As fans enter the venue , they ’ ll be required to wear face masks ( including the venue ’ s employees ) , have their temperatures taken at the door and capacity for the 1,100 person venue will be capped at 229 .
Are you kidding me ?
I understand that they are trying to prevent the spread of the virus , but it isn ’ t going to work .
Look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your own home for the next couple of years , you are almost certainly going to be exposed to the virus no matter how careful you are .
And once you are exposed to the virus , what is really going to matter is the strength of your immune system , and so that should be your focus instead of trying to maintain “ proper social distancing ” at all times .
To me , some of the “ social distancing ” measures that we are now seeing are completely and utterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supermarket in Philadelphia cashiers are actually working in “ tent-like ” plastic enclosures… Those enclosures may protect those workers for a short period of time , but it is inevitable that they will eventually be exposed to the virus .
This pandemic is never going to burn itself out until herd immunity is achieved , and herd immunity is never going to be achieved until about 70 percent of the population catches the virus .
Of course it would be wonderful if someone could actually find a way to keep 70 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because this virus spreads like wildfire that simply is not going to be possible .
In the end , “ social distancing ” can temporarily slow the transmission of the virus , but roughly the same proportion of the population will eventually catch it whether we have “ social distancing ” or not .
Thankfully , some industries are already starting to push back against “ social distancing ” .
There has been an effort to require airlines to keep middle seats vacant on all flights from now on , and the airlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get on an airplane , you pretty much have to assume that you are going to be exposed to all sorts of nasty bugs .
That has always been true , and there will never be a time when it isn ’ t true .
If you don ’ t want to be exposed to all sorts of nasty bugs , just don ’ t fly .
As far as COVID-19 is concerned , there are literally thousands of ways that you could potentially catch this virus , and anyone that believes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people 100 percent safe is just being delusional .
Sadly , “ social distancing ” has been pounded into our heads so relentlessly in recent weeks that a big chunk of the population has become big believers in it .
In fact , one recent survey discovered that almost 60 percent of everyone living in Seattle intends to continue practicing social distancing “ for a year or longer ” … And once you adopt a pattern for a whole year , there is a really good chance that it becomes permanent .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us .
They fundamentally changed our society after 9/11 , and now the social engineers want to do it again .
We must stop them this time , because the alternative is absolutely unthinkable .

by Michael Snyder
Humans are inherently social creatures, and that is never going to change. Within each one of us there is a fundamental need for connection with others, but now these coronavirus lockdowns have separated us from one another like never before. Thankfully, many states are now starting to end their lockdowns, but unfortunately this is definitely not the end for “social distancing”. Just as 9/11 greatly altered our society on a permanent basis, many of our social engineers now intend to make “social distancing” a permanent part of our lives. If they have their way, there will be written or unwritten rules about how close you can get to other people virtually everywhere that you go.
Can you imagine a world where you have to constantly be concerned about walking, standing or sitting too close to someone else?
Already, there is talk of putting physical markings on sidewalks in order to constantly remind all of us not to walk too closely to one another…
Arrows on the ground, and other physical markers to encourage and enforce distance. Imagine sidewalks with scoring every 6 feet so those walking could make sure they’re the human equivalent of a few car lengths behind. Or large sculptures deployed to separate people.
And Wal-Mart and other major retailers are already starting to put arrows on the floor to remind us which direction to shop so that we can maintain proper “social distancing”.
We are being told that restaurants may have to start putting empty tables between customers, sports stadiums may have to keep at least half their seats empty, and churches may have to start holding services in shifts.
Just like in the days after 9/11, we will be told that the changes are just “temporary measures”, but once we accept “temporary measures” long enough they have a way of becoming permanent.
When I was much younger, I loved to attend concerts. And at first I was encouraged to hear that some states were going to start allowing live concerts once again, but then I learned about the new “fan pods”…
Travis McCready, the singer of the country-rock band Bishop Gunn, will be performing what’s billed as an “intimate acoustic set” in Fort Smith at the city’s TempleLive venue — but with social distancing measures in place. The show will take place on May 15, three days before the scheduled reopening. According to Billboard, assigned seats for the show will be at least six feet apart per grouping in what Ticketmaster is calling “fan pods.” As fans enter the venue, they’ll be required to wear face masks (including the venue’s employees), have their temperatures taken at the door and capacity for the 1,100 person venue will be capped at 229.
Are you kidding me?
I understand that they are trying to prevent the spread of the virus, but it isn’t going to work.
Look, unless you plan on locking yourself in your own home for the next couple of years, you are almost certainly going to be exposed to the virus no matter how careful you are.
And once you are exposed to the virus, what is really going to matter is the strength of your immune system, and so that should be your focus instead of trying to maintain “proper social distancing” at all times.
To me, some of the “social distancing” measures that we are now seeing are completely and utterly ridiculous. For example, at one supermarket in Philadelphia cashiers are actually working in “tent-like” plastic enclosures…
At a Philadelphia supermarket, the cashier’s side of each checkout line has been outfitted with a tent-like plastic enclosure, keeping essential workers safe while on the job. Alexander Tavares, 19, captured now-viral footage of the new working conditions, constructed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at a store on March 25.
Those enclosures may protect those workers for a short period of time, but it is inevitable that they will eventually be exposed to the virus.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
This pandemic is never going to burn itself out until herd immunity is achieved, and herd immunity is never going to be achieved until about 70 percent of the population catches the virus.
Of course it would be wonderful if someone could actually find a way to keep 70 percent of the population from becoming infected, but because this virus spreads like wildfire that simply is not going to be possible.
In the end, “social distancing” can temporarily slow the transmission of the virus, but roughly the same proportion of the population will eventually catch it whether we have “social distancing” or not.
Thankfully, some industries are already starting to push back against “social distancing”. There has been an effort to require airlines to keep middle seats vacant on all flights from now on, and the airlines are fighting this really hard…
Airlines are pushing back on proposals to require social distancing onboard aircraft. During a press briefing today, airline industry group IATA argued that leaving the middle seat vacant would hurt airlines’ ability to recover from the coronavirus crisis and potentially cause a spike of up to 54% in airfares.
If you get on an airplane, you pretty much have to assume that you are going to be exposed to all sorts of nasty bugs. That has always been true, and there will never be a time when it isn’t true.
If you don’t want to be exposed to all sorts of nasty bugs, just don’t fly.
As far as COVID-19 is concerned, there are literally thousands of ways that you could potentially catch this virus, and anyone that believes that “proper social distancing” will keep people 100 percent safe is just being delusional.
Sadly, “social distancing” has been pounded into our heads so relentlessly in recent weeks that a big chunk of the population has become big believers in it.
In fact, one recent survey discovered that almost 60 percent of everyone living in Seattle intends to continue practicing social distancing “for a year or longer”…
Nearly 60 percent of people in Seattle say they plan on doing social distancing for a year or longer. That’s according to a new survey recently released by a company in New York City called Elucd. This company said they provide data to the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department on the public’s opinions on various topics.
And once you adopt a pattern for a whole year, there is a really good chance that it becomes permanent.
We can’t let them do this to us.
They fundamentally changed our society after 9/11, and now the social engineers want to do it again.
We must stop them this time, because the alternative is absolutely unthinkable.