Economic pressures

[BroMikey]

Eating rats, bat soup and all kinds of unclean meats as tho this were a a delicacy has caused the Chinese folks to become open to this lab generated animal virus. Lesson learned right? Don't disobey the law. Don't eat unclean meat. God stated in the law that if the people would follow the rules of proper eating HE would not put diseases like this on them.

[Danny B]

China’s Ageing Population Is a Major Threat to Its Future

"By 2050, 330 million Chinese will be over age 65. Good news perhaps for property owners in Hainan, but dire news for the prospects of the world’s second largest economy–and for those around the world who rely on it."
The ratio of young to old will be dramatically imbalanced by the rising ranks of the elderly, putting unprecedented weight on the ties that hold society together."
Keep in mind that China dragged their feet at stopping the epidemic.
Here is a list of massacres in China by the government.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...acres_in_China
I doubt that the Chinese government has any qualms about getting rid of useless, old eaters.
How China’s Incompetence Endangered the World
As the deadly coronavirus began to spread, Beijing wasted the most critical resource to fight it



Japan brought many people off the cruise ship without any testing.
"People over the age of 65 make up a quarter of Japan's population, and it's on track to reach 40 per cent. The top-heavy demographic creates huge challenges for government and the economy."
It makes perfect economic sense to kill off the non-producers.
“A rapidly ageing population and shrinking labour force are hampering growth,” warned the IMF in its latest country report on Japan. The IMF also calculated that the impact of ageing could drag down Japan's average annual GDP growth"

Italy has the second oldest population
"Italy Reports 17 Total COVID-19 Cases as Cluster Quadruples in One Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPVyvSoInGM

2/22 S.Korea coronavirus cases go exponential, 10 towns in northern Italy on lockdown – ZH
2/22 10 Italian towns in lockdown over coronavirus fears – IB Times

2/22 U.S. prepares for coronavirus pandemic, school and business closures – Reuters
2/22 The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating worldwide – Peak Prosperity
2/22 Asymptomatic Wuhan woman shows why outbreak ‘will be hard to stop’ – Guardian

Alarmingly, new South Korea coronavirus cases spiked to 142 on Friday. Cases quadrupled in two days and surged ten-fold in four (from Monday’s 30 infections). At 346, South Korea is now second only to China (excluding the Diamond Princess).
Reported cases in Iran went from zero to 18 in three days. With four deaths, the number of infections could already number in the hundreds. Most are in Qom, but there has been an infection reported in Tehran. A member of the Iranian Health Ministry was quoted by the New York Times: “A coronavirus epidemic has started in the country. It’s possible that it exists in all cities in Iran.”
“Further bolstering the idea that the virus is spreading widely, an epidemiological modelling team from Imperial College in London estimated Friday that two-thirds of the people infected with coronavirus who left mainland China before restrictions were imposed had travelled throughout the world without being detected.”

Chinese January Credit data were out this week – and the numbers were gargantuan! Chinese lending surged in what is typically the strongest Credit expansion of the year. Aggregate Social Financing (a measure of total system Credit) surged a record $720 billion – for the month (history’s greatest monthly Credit expansion?).
"“More people from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the novel coronavirus Wednesday, according to the Japanese Health Ministry. The ministry said 79 new cases were confirmed, adding that 68 of the people were said to be asymptomatic.”
So, NO symptoms. Quarantine everybody in the world just to be safe.

There is a new approach to antibiotics.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...red-through-ai

[Danny B]

The BIG problem with COVID 19 is; it is treated as a level 3 infectious agent when it is actually a level 4 infectious agent.
Thousands of doctors have proved that level 3 precautions are just not enough.

"[3] Given Issues [1] and [2], about the only way to avoid spreading COVID-19 seems to be geographic isolation. "
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitic...rding-covid-19
Waking times;
Trump furious Americans infected with coronavirus flew back to US without his permission - report | 22 Feb 2020 | President Trump was furious that 14 Americans infected with the coronavirus returned to the United States without his permission rather than remain in quarantine overseas
Trump was not told coronavirus-infected Americans would be flown home from cruise ship | 21 Feb 2020 | President Trump grew furious with senior advisers this week over a decision to allow 14 Americans who tested positive for coronavirus to return to the United States from Japan after being assured that infected patients would remain in quarantine overseas, according to administration officials.


Italy towns on effective lockdown after virus clusters form | 22 Feb 2020 | A dozen towns in northern Italy effectively went into lockdowns Saturday after the deaths of two people infected with COVID-19 and a growing cluster of cases with no direct links to the origin of the outbreak abroad. The secondary contagions prompted local authorities in the Lombardy and Veneto regions to close schools, businesses and restaurants and to cancel sporting events and Masses. The mayor of Milan, the business capital of Italy, shuttered public offices. Hundreds of residents and workers who came into contact with an estimated 54 people confirmed infected in Italy were in isolation pending test results.
CDC has confirmed 35 cases of novel coronavirus in the US | 21 Feb 2020 | US officials have now confirmed 35 cases of novel coronavirus in the country, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. These include 21 cases among repatriated individuals, as well as 14 US cases.

There have a been a lot of cases worldwide that have no apparent connection to infected people. The standard procedure seems to be to lockdown a geographic area.
If you are in a city, you do not want to be locked in.
If you are in the countryside, you probably want to be locked in so that infected people do not come in.
It is better to be locked into an area that produces food than an area that does not produce food.

[Danny B]

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/w...hool-dropouts/
CRAB, it did it again and erased my post.

[Danny B]

Capitalism seeks perfect productivity and perfect efficiency and perfect utilization of capital. It seeks out the best talent to create perfect efficiency. It does NOT engage in social equality or other BS like that. It always seeks the best worker for the best efficiency. Capitalism is very "natural" in that it follows the laws of natural selection. Previously, access to good positions was offered to the blue-bloods and their offspring. This is far less efficient that offering jobs to the most qualified person. Capitalism believes in offering equality of opportunity so that it can command perfect efficiency regardless the origins of the prospective worker.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/w...hool-dropouts/
At the same time, the blue-bloods are demanding support regardless of their qualifications.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/i...-revolution-2/

Many decades of welfare programs have a created a dependent class of people who are getting more strident in their demands for perpetual financial support from the State.
Capitalism endeavours to offer equality-of-opportunity in order to seek out the best people regardless of background.
Socialism endeavours to provide

[Danny B]

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/a...e-of-the-left/
DID IT AGAIN.
,,,, CONTINUED,, Socialism endeavours to provide EQUALITY-OF-OUTCOME regardless of the qualifications or labors of a given person. As automation erodes the job markets, the Left finds itself more and more marginalized into State jobs. The State created a dependent class that it can't escape from.

At the same time, the banks used regulatory capture to create a large cadre of rich people who are / were dependent on handouts from the State. Socialism for the rich costs 10 times what socialism for the poor costs. The bailouts cost $trillions. Welfare costs $billions.
Armstrong, "We are involved in a period where the economic instabilities of past socialistic policies and unfunded pensions will push the left to be much more aggressive because they are losing ground. This is really the same pattern that emerged before the collapse in communism both in China and Russia. It was not some brilliant strategy from the USA, it was plain and simple economics that took down communism. We face the same thing here with socialism. They will get very aggressive in a desperate attempt to keep their dream alive.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/a...e-of-the-left/

There is NOTHING that the Left won't distort to promote equality-of-outcome,,,, regardless of how STUPID it is.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/...g-civilization
https://www.insidesources.com/u-n-of...ate-socialism/

[Danny B]

http://www.recombinomics.com/online.html
Stupid board did it again.

[Danny B]

I know that I am pounding the drum writing about COVID 19. Truth is; it looks like this pandemic is going to be the defining situation for the near future of humans on planet Earth.
Most Americans Aren't Taking The Virus Seriously...And That's Very Dangerous
The Cost Of CoViD Quarantine - Will You Be Financially Prepared?
Canadian hospital space a concern despite SARS Lessons
If this really kicks off, don't worry about getting into a hospital and paying for it. There won't be any beds.
Researchers Find 61.5% Of Coronavirus Patients With Severe Pneumonia Won't Survive
Wuhan to build 19 more makeshift hospitals

Millions of Chinese Firms Face Collapse If Banks Don't Act Fast
Their mass default would wipe out Western banks. That is pretty much baked in the cake. If you need tires or something important that comes from China OR Korea, better buy it now.
British National Health Service (NHS) Announces People Will Be Tested For CoViD In Their Homes
Anybody with the sniffles will be running out the back door.
Neighbours close borders with Iran Over virus Fear
Iraq extends ban on Iran arrivals amid Virus fears
More and more borders are being closed. This might eventually get down to the street level.
Two-Thirds of Virus Carriers From China Were Not Detected by Countries, New Study Estimated
34 coronavirus cases in The US - Announces It Is Preparing For A 'very possible, even likely' pandemic
Authorities have asked about 6,700 people in California to isolate and monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-1

US Exposed To Immediate Impact From 'Supply-Chain Shock' - Deutsche
Two-Thirds of Virus Carriers From China Were Not Detected by Countries, New Study Estimates
US Officials Preparing Pandemic Spread of Coronavirus
This is the best site to keep track of all things infectious.
http://www.recombinomics.com/online.html
2/23 China braces for inevitable big hit to economy from virus, says Xi – Reuters
2/23 Fed’s Brainard backs deploying untested monetary policy in next recession – MW
The show must go on.
2/23 Subprime credit card delinquencies spike to record high, past financial-crisis peak – WS
2/23 China orders citizens back to work as coronavirus hits economy – Guardian

[BroMikey]

I have not said anything yet, but let me say that I read these posts and wonder what will happen. Thx Danny

[Danny B]

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/m...-post-2015-75/

Two-Thirds of CoVid cases exported from China have remained UNDETECTED worldwide - There May Be Clusters Almost Anywhere Now...
China is expecting the pandemic to blow over by the end? of march. The long time between contraction of the virus and, final cure is so long that it just isn't going to blow over quickly.
$HIT,, did it again. I post a link and, everything else goes away

[Danny B]

Mikey, we are all wondering what will happen. Armstrong claims that CoVID 19 can't possibly be a bioweapon because the mortality rate is only 2%
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/w...o-justify-war/
But, then again, you (WE)? don't have to kill all the Chinese to crush the country.
https://realmoney.thestreet.com/inve...virus-15245722
They have huge external debt payments due, much of it dollar-denominated. With their paralysis, they are not receiving dollars.
Ther are preparing to screw bondholders.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...on-bond-market
Defaults are way up.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...gain-quicktake

"They" (CBs) are pumping in $trillions to hold back defaults. This only works within limitations. China may very well default in march. Lebanon is expected to default in March.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/w...ault-in-march/
Socrates predicted a slingshot move up in gold. Armstrong now admits that this is not going to happen. This seems to be a big failure of his models.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/m...the-slingshot/

[BroMikey]

Mikey, we are all wondering what will happen. Armstrong claims that CoVID 19 can't possibly be a bioweapon because the mortality rate is only 2%
Armstrong now admits that this is not going to happen. This seems to be a big failure of his models.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/m...the-slingshot/

Glad to hear you say that he is off and even in the depths of his delusion knows it.

[Danny B]

Waking Times gives a different perspective on CoVID 19 I don't buy much of it.
https://www.wakingtimes.com/2020/02/...91f16-54347961

US stocks suffer massive losses on mounting fears over coronavirus spreading
Coronavirus sends global stock markets in tailspin amid rising pandemic concerns
When Will We Admit Covid-19 Is Unstoppable And Global Depression Is Inevitable?
Dow Dives Over 1,000 Points As Virus Reality Takes Hold

Disruption Escalates: Proctor And Gamble Says Over 17,000 Products Potentially Impacted By Coronavirus
Hoard now and, avoid the rush.
We all knew that this was coming.
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/...sh-most-record
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitic...ge-coronavirus


8,000 Californians Under "Self-Imposed Quarantine", South Korea Locks Down City Of 2.5 Million People: Virus Updates
Shocking State Media Report Exposes Widespread Undercounting Of Coronavirus Deaths In Wuhan's Nursing Homes
Raining on the parade.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitic...ected-covid-19
"If all of a sudden Korea and Japan had to shut down borders and now Italy, now it looks like the global economy screeches to a halt."
China can do that all by itself.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/go...chain-collapse
Hoard now and avoid the mess.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ch...crisis-worsens
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ra...fting-bad-ugly

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitic...greta-thunberg

[Danny B]

Supply chain collapse,,,,, will the FED try to save it all or NOT?

China said it would relax its lockdown of Wuhan's 11 million residents, only to immediately reintroduce it

How South Korea’s Coronavirus Outbreak Got so Quickly out of Control

Italy, "Adding to the concern: contagion seems to be spreading mostly through hospitals and it remains unclear exactly how the illness arrived in the country."
https://moneymaven.io/mishtalk/econo...bEyglh3Ls6RXKQ
"South Korea Confirms 169 New Cases As Total Surpasses 1,000; China Reports Drop In Deaths"
Caixin newspaper is alleging that COVID-19 deaths being hugely under-reported at old people’s and nursing homes, with this being a key demographic hit by the virus. The sample is very small, just one home, but in it 19 deaths have occurred recently, of which just one was recorded as being due to COVID-19,

For all the brave bleatings of Fed luminaries about negative-interest rates being the "cure" to all that ails the precarious global economy, Japan and Europe have effectively proven that negative interest rates only further cripple the banking sector
Panicky punters expect the Fed to blow its wad on saving their hides, but what would that leave the Fed for the real recession that's just getting underway? Nothing. Would the Fed lords be so short-sighted and stupid to blow their last ammo just to save speculatively-insane punters from the inevitable bursting of a moral hazard-driven bubble? In a word, no.
A very convenient conviction is rising in the panicked financial netherworld that the Federal Reserve and its fellow dark lords will "save the market" from COVID-19 collapse. They won't.
Good article.
http://charleshughsmith.blogspot.com...heres-why.html
Good info in this vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuBB3GNGQIk
Wolrd Bank pandemic bonds??????
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/i...c-derivatives/
Armstrong "We have to realize that we are moving to digital currencies and the unusual hype that has been spun around this coronavirus is very suspicious. A virus can live on paper for some time. China is disinfecting its paper currency. I would not be surprised that the West are hyping this virus to insane levels to use it as an excuse to eliminate paper currency that will aid tax collections."

Michael Bloomberg called Goldman Sachs bankers his ‘peeps’ and promised to defend them, leaked tape reveals
South Korean Crisis-Response Coordinator Commits Suicide As Cases Near 1,000 And Deaths Hit 11
S Korea Has Tested Over 25,000 - The CDC Has Tested A Total Of Only 423 - Remember No Testing Means No Cases To Report!
8,000 Californians Put Under 'Self-Imposed Quarantine'None Tested! - So Why Are They Just Left Hanging?
2/25 Richmond Fed business survey crashes in February as new orders collapse – ZH
2/25 Italy scrambles to contain coronavirus outbreak after admitting hospital mess-up – CNN
2/25 Harvard: 40%-70% of people worldwide will be infected with coronavirus – Summit
2/25 Goldman issues shocking warning on systemic threat from supply-chain collapse – ZH

[Danny B]

Logarithmic growth

Things that seemed to be doom porn yesterday are common occurrences today. Dire predictions of collapse are now accepted as inevitable.
Automatic Earth points out that; when GOV downplays the danger, they give us no time to prepare.
"anyone who would have said even just a week ago that Italy would have 11 deaths today and/or Iran would have 50, or the US 53+ cases of infection, would have been labeled a raving lunatic."
"The so-called investors follow the same behavioral pattern that civil servants, politicians, “management” at companies, and journalists do. They check first and last what others are doing, so they won’t look out of tune and they can’t be accused of crying wolf. They tend to only act when the rest do, and by then it will inevitably be too late. Man as a social animal, covering their asses by hiding behind others.

For those so-called investors, who cares what they do or why? But for politicians and civil servants, this mindset means they will NOT be ordering test-kits, medicine and the like, when they should. And not warning the public about various upcoming threats and shortages."
These are all jobs replete with born followers who have only ever learned how to hide behind mom’s skirts and aprons.

And for the rare few who don’t think in herd terms, they will be ridiculed by the sheep in that herd, who will again seek strength in numbers and behind aprons when they are found wanting. Which is fine for investors, they are only playing with money. The others, though, are playing with human lives."
"This is the shape of things to come. As is Italy admitting a hospital actually spread the virus. And Japan saying it will now attempt to limit virus deaths, instead of preventing them. That may sound like mere semantics, but it’s not."
Global dependence on China Trade.
https://www.theautomaticearth.com/wp...ureToChina.png

The biggest issue is that we are stumbling woefully unprepared into the future, and therefore our only defense is to lock each other, and ourselves, up in our homes, (and our communities and cities if we’re lucky) until we can’t, social animals that we are.

The biggest issue will not be the cases or even deaths, it will be that ever more of the things we have come to rely on far away lands for, will slowly cease to arrive on our shores. Some of it will be trinkets we never needed, but some of it will also be things without which our lives and communities can no longer function the way we’re used to.

It will be a slow process. Or will it, nothing really moves slow with this virus; it appears to move in virus time, not human time."
By the way, how do you know there are no cases near you? Is anyone testing? Do they have test kits? They will test soon, and they will have kits if they can find any. Note: Japan said today their supply of test kits will be used only for the most serious cases. Everyone else is on their own."

Oh, and prepare for an enormous amount of misinformation emanating from the politicians and media who are always way behind the curve, and who right now are all actively pondering how to protect the economy. They can’t conceive of a world where a virus can trump the economy.
https://www.theautomaticearth.com/20...-virus-stupid/

Coronavirus disruption to ‘everyday’ life in US ‘may be severe,’ CDC official says

They have jacked up the price of facemasks but, they are still available.
https://simplediscountfinder.com/oxy...imtf7t1mt4gna0
CDC Pandemic Warning - Prepare for School Closings and Public Event Cancellations
Dozens allowed Off The Corona Princess After Testing Negative Are Now Showing Symptoms
The testing just isn't reliable and, nobody trusts anybody.
2/26 San Francisco declares state of emergency over coronavirus – The Hill
2/26 The grim reality about pandemics: “no country is prepared” – Ready Nutrition
2/26 CDC admits spread of coronavirus in the US appears inevitable – Mish