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Perspective on U.S. Economy and the Coronavirus – Suicide is NOT Painless!

Cory
April 23, 2020

Trader Vic sent this article to me yesterday so I figured I would share it with all of you! I hope you enjoy.

The original article can be found by clicking here.

This Time Suicide is NOT Painless:

If you were born in the 1950’s or earlier, you will remember the great movie “Mash.”  Its theme song was “Suicide Is Painless (click to play the song),” written by Johnny Mandel.   The basic verse is haunting:

“I realize and I can see…That suicide is painless…It brings on many changes…And I can take or leave it if I please”                     

More telling of today’s global pandemic environment is this verse:

“The sword of time will pierce our skins…It doesn’t hurt when it begins…But as it works its way on in… The pain grows stronger.”

This is what America is facing now, as Governors of these United States have shut down so many “non-essential” business’ to (supposedly) combat the coronavirus by halting its spread.

In Japan, when the Samurai committed suicide it was called “Seppuku” aka Hara-kiri.  This ritual suicide involved stabbing the abdomen with a short sword called a “tanto” or “wakizashi” and cutting across one’s intestines.   It was a horrible yet honorable death, and it was NOT PAINLESS

In my humble opinion (IMHO), this is economically what the U.S. is doing to its people and all “non-essential” business’ today.

It is hard to find words to describe the insanity of what America’s leaders and much of the world, are doing to their people for no valid reason.  They are on a path to economic suicide in order to fight a virus that did not need to fight in a hara-kiri fashion. The devastation is self-inflicted.  It’s tremendous overkill- like using an atomic bomb to stop the spread of the virus, when all our leaders had to do was follow the Asian model (details below).

Stock Market Discounts a “V” Recovery:

To think, as the stock market is suggesting, that this will be a “V” economic recovery is completely ignorant of history or understanding of human nature.  The belief that tremendous amounts of Federal Reserve money printing (without expecting any inflation in the future) and unlimited government (Trillion $ deficit) spending of fiat paper currency will lead to a lightning quick recovery is very naive indeed.

Most economists measure the U.S. economy in terms of real GDP.  It’s important to note that consumer spending comprises ~70% of total GDP.   Consumers can’t spend money they don’t have, especially when they’re unemployed and have great difficulty borrowing money. 

There are approximately 30 million small business’ in the U.S. which employ half of all American workers.  By my “estimates” the U.S. will lose 2.0 million businesses a week with most of the nation’s small business’ shut down.

In the last four weeks, 22 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance.  The total job losses since the pandemic wiped out more than a decade of job creation. [From 1/10-12/19 non- seasonally adjusted new jobs totaled 22,260,000 or 186,000 jobs per month including the Birth/Death model jobs which are estimates.] 

However, the U.S. unemployment situation is actually worse than that described above.  Consider how many people have lost their incomes because they are self-employed in this gig economy; like self-employed Uber drivers and other contractors who cannot file for unemployment insurance. Think about the house cleaners; nanny’s; event caterers; workers at conferences, concerts, and sports events (like NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL which have all been shut down); odd job workers that cut your grass, do handyman work around your house/apartment, wash your car(s) and do the other tens of thousands of work people pay for.  Those jobs have vanished with all the “stay at home/shelter in place” orders.  Also, the many workers in the underground/cash or crypto-currency economy are not going back to work for a very long time.

This current (un) employment situation can’t even be compared with what it would be during a major war, because jobs are more available in war time than they are now during the shutdown. For many, the capital that was used to start their small business’ is gone. Wiped out. To start anew will be a huge stretch for many small business owners and independent contractors. 

The problem for the “V” recovery mentality, which we debunked in Sperandeo/Curmudgeon: No “V” Recovery in US; Perspective on the Economy and Bear Markets, is that when the economy gradually re-opens, it is doubtful that those fortunate to be able to return to work will spend money like they did before the pandemic hit hard.  Many others, especially those that work in crowds, will remain unemployed or without earned income.  Hence, consumer spending will be tepid at best/horrifically bad at worst. 

People will likely pay down debt, save and be very cautious.  Many will assume the virus could return and the shutdown will happen again in the winter, as many health experts, doctors and scientists say.

The history of human action after horrific events is clear…Fear of the past Rules the Future.

The U.S. stock market has apparently discounted 4 to 5 months ahead of the unknown of when jobs and spending will return to any reasonable degree. 

More Pie in the Sky Assumptions about the Great Restart:

There are many invalid, overly optimistic assumptions being made once the economy restarts.  For example, that the airline industry and restaurant industries will come back to normal anytime soon.

The airline industry assumes that in ALL of May 2020, less people will fly than any ONE DAY in May 2019! Flights are 90 % canceled by some reports.  Those that are not may have only 15 passengers on board. Will the June to September time period be much better for the airlines? Will they be forever dependent on government bailouts to survive?

U.S. restaurants employ ~15 million workers before the pandemic.  The one’s still open only serve take-out orders, but there are not many of those with shelter in place orders being observed by most Americans.  As a result, the restaurant industry, especially the middle to high end, has been decimated.  When they are permitted to reopen, “social distancing” will be in effect resulting in occupancy/table space reduced by 50-66%.  In many cases only 2 or at most 3 people will be allowed to sit at one table.  But the rent and utility bills will still have to be paid.   As a result, perhaps 75% of U.S. restaurants will disappear.  That’s not to mention bars and pubs, which have all closed and not likely to reopen when other non-essential business’ do.  What happens to bar owners, staffers, waiters and cocktail waitresses?

The problem is not only with the workers, many of whom will never get their old jobs back, but also with the food suppliers, manufacturers of equipment, menu printers, liquor and wine sellers, marketers, and on and on!

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Politics, the Bourgeoisie, and the Small Business Owner:

This is primarily about power in politics. What Karl Marx wrote in the Communist Manifesto was about “How to overturn Capitalism.”  The target was the bourgeoisie [1.] -those who control Capital, and thereby the means of production.  Today, that’s the small business owner. 

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Note 1.  In Marxist philosophy, the bourgeoisie is the social class that came to own the means of production during modern industrialization and whose societal concerns are the value of property and the preservation of capital to ensure the perpetuation of their economic supremacy in society.

Joseph Schumpeter saw the incorporation of new elements into an expanding bourgeoisie, particularly entrepreneurs, who took risks to bring innovation and capital to industries and the economy through the process of creative destruction, as the driving force behind the capitalist engine.

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Whether state governors, county/city officials, or others foresaw the economically devastating effects of the “stay at home orders” and “non-essential” business shutdowns, the effect, and outcome is the same.  It has destroyed small businesses, wiped out vast amounts of capital, and cost tens of millions of people to lose their jobs.  That’s not to mention a setback for the U.S. of 5-10 years to rebuild its economy—not the 4 or 5 months the stock market and “V” recovery pundits are assuming!

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stated that the money to pay workers who did not file unemployment and are using the “Paycheck Protection Program” (in lieu of unemployment insurance) has run out of money.  No more funding will be permitted unless the federal government wants to pay the debts the states have run up. That might mean that those who were waiting for government checks to pay workers won’t get them.  Hence, more workers will now be fired, and the unemployment rate will skyrocket to depression like numbers of 20% or more.

The excuse the Governors and Mayors give in shutting down the economy is to “protect the people.”

On April 16th, Fox News journalist Tucker Carlson asked New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy: “By what Authority did you nullify the Bill of Rights” in issuing this quarantine Order?”  Governor Murphy’s answer was “That’s above my pay grade.”   You can watch that video interview here.

Similarly, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer clearly doesn’t understand the First Amendment [2.].  Many are protesting her tyrannical edicts (like you can canoe or kayak on a lake by yourself, but can’t be alone in a motorboat?).   Yet she is not backing down.  Asked by the NY Times if she thought she was prepared to be vice president (assuming she’s picked by presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden), Ms. Whitmer, a former Democratic leader of the State Senate, replied:

“Honestly every ounce of energy I have is being put into protecting people and saving lives in Michigan,’’ she said. “I’m not thinking about politics. I’m not. I don’t have energy for any of that right now.’’

If that’s not a cop-out answer, I don’t know what is?             

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Note 2.   The First Amendment states- “Congress SHALL MAKE NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people PEACEABLE TO ASSEMBLE, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”                  

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Please note these Governors never even passed legislative laws to allow them to invoke edicts on any of their “pandemic protection” proclamations.  They just declared them- as tyrant kings and queens would do.

The Asian Model for Fighting the Virus: Winning with -MASKS AND TESTING — WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN BUSINESSES!    

The alternative to suicide was to look to many Asian countries for what they did…WEAR MASKS to prevent the virus from spreading and make TESTING widely available!                                                                   

Here are some impressive Asian COVID-19 statistics as of April 15th.                                                                                                                                   

  • South Korea -225 deaths, (population) 51 million people;                                                                                   
  • Japan -146 dead,126 million people;
  • Singapore -10 dead, 6 million people;
  • Hong Kong -4 dead, 8 million people;                         
  • Thailand -43 dead, 70 million people;
  • Taiwan – 6 dead, 24 million people;
  • Vietnam -“0” dead, 97million people.          

In some Asian countries, like China, a foreigner not wearing a mask is arrested and immediately deported. Vietnam and Hong Kong residents all wear masks.                                                                                                                                       

Equally or more important is the availability of accurate testing for the virus. Cases in South Korea spiked initially. However, the country swiftly developed a test for the virus.

As of April 19th , over 559 thousand coronavirus tests were conducted in South Korea. South Korea is using various methods, a drive-thru style of testing or using at-home testing kits, to test probable infection cases. Since most of all infections were related to Shincheonji Church in the early stage, the government of South Korea announced that it will test all of the over 200 thousand members of Shincheonji for the coronavirus.

“The way they stepped up and screened the population was really remarkable,” says Ooi Eng Eong, a Professor in emerging infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore.

South Korea was prepared.  They had a rapid test approvals system in place for infectious diseases, following an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory syndrome in 2015 that left 35 dead.

On Sunday, April 19thChina and South Korea reported their fewest new coronavirus cases in weeks, after the countries had been hit with the earliest spreads of the coronavirus.  China reported 16 new cases of the virus and no deaths, one of the smallest recorded daily increases since the outbreak began. South Korea confirmed eight new cases, the country’s first single-digit increase since Feb. 18, The Associated Press and Reuters reported.

Now contrast the above Asian coronavirus death vs population numbers with those of NEW YORK state (population 20 million) where 17,131 have died from COVID-19 as of April 17th.   Most of the New York state deaths are in New York City (population 8.54 million) with 14,636 dead.  NYC [3.] has just required wearing masks as many other states and cities have belatedly done.

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Note 3.  NYC is the hometown of both Victor (Queens) and the Curmudgeon (Manhattan).  Each of us went to public school there and graduated from high school the same year.  We also went to college in NY state.  Hence, we are particularly sensitive to what’s going on in that area. The Curmudgeon later went to graduate school in Massachusetts where he obtained MS and ScD EE degrees.

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Also, testing in the U.S. was delayed and only available in a few locations.  Initial test kits were faulty, and private laboratories found it hard to get their tests approved. Many U.S. residents struggled to get a test, and they were expensive. Testing is still not widely available in the SF Bay Area (where the Curmudgeon lives).  Many with COVID-19 symptoms still can’t gain access to tests!  To see if you can get tested for free in the U.S. go to this website (you will need to sign into your Google account). 

In summary, flawed tests, scarce supplies and limited access to screening have severely limited the U.S.’s ability to monitor Covid-19 cases let alone to have enough hospital space and respirators to deal with them.

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Personal Note:

The Curmudgeon is much older than 65, with a serious heart failure condition, and other ailments putting him at ultra-high risk of contracting and dying from the virus.  Yet I still cannot get tested.  Here is the message I got today when applying yet again for testing after logging in to my Google account:

“You don’t qualify for testing through this program at this time.  Based on state and federal health guidelines and due to current testing capacity, you are not eligible for testing through this program at this time. Please note that this is not a recommendation of whether you should be tested. For additional information please see the CDC guidelines.”

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Conclusions:

IMHO, this is without a doubt the greatest loss of life, and economic decline due to ignorance and or politics in the history of the U.S. 

Be prepared for a depression that was not necessary to fight this virus.

The Constitution with the Bill of Rights is part of is the Supreme Law of the land.  It is above every other statue, law or edict. A Governor is not above the Bill of Rights, which can’t be nullified except by Constitutional Amendment.

The U.S. revolution was fought not to “protect the people from harm, but for LIBERTY from exactly this kind of tyranny. Death by armed insurrection, above giving up your liberty is what the Constitution was written for.

End Quote:

Permit me to quote my favorite U.S. founding father:                                                                                                         

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” ―

Patrick Henry

Discussion
48 Comments
    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:31 AM

    Amen.
    I always thought we had morons for leaders. I just wish they did not prove it every day.

    Just as we are unlikely to ever go to a gold standard because our leaders find it easier to tax via inflation than to live within means, we are first told that we have to self-isolate not to overwhelm hospitals, now we are lied to because “it is to stop spread of the disease”.
    When will they lift this “home imprisonment” ?
    Are they really expecting a miracle of an effective vaccine to drop from from heaven ?
    If not, what is their criterion for lifting the unconstitutional imprisonment ?
    They don’t have any idea, of course….they are simply enjoying a power trip.

    Apr 23, 2020 23:43 AM

    Thanks Cory for sharing Trader Vic’s thoughts. We had better raise some cash, and hang on to our gold and silver shares.

    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:03 AM

    https://moonbattery.com/nancy-pelosi-vows-to-reverse-suspension-of-us-money-to-who/

    Have you any idea how much money the Pelosis have invested in China?
    How about Feinstein? You think they are pro-American ! LOL.

      Apr 23, 2020 23:12 AM

      We were talking about this last year, ………nobody has a clue….

        Apr 23, 2020 23:14 AM

        The sheeple, will just have to keep wearing their little mask…..hunker down little sheep.lol

          Apr 23, 2020 23:36 AM

          Is there another side to this story? Jerry, I am starting to look at it from your perspective and am putting together a Weekend Special depicting it.

    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:08 AM

    Pelosi may present herself as the defender of the little guy. She is anything but. In 2018 her net worth was roughly $160 million. She is married to Paul Pelosi who runs a top tier investment and real estate firm in San Francisco. Over the course of decades, as Nancy has risen through the ranks of the Democratic Party, the Pelosi’s have gotten fabulously wealthy.

    There have been any number of allegations over the decades that Nancy and her husband have profited in ways that are clearly illegal from the access a senior politician enjoys. Over a span of years, Nancy Pelosi used her influence to steer more than $1 billion to the expansion of a light rail line into a San Francisco neighborhood where her husband owned commercial property and in which business associates of his then purchased additional properties. The value of real estate in the area exploded with the arrival of light rail, and the Pelosi’s made a killing.

    There has also been an almost unending number of allegations that Paul Pelosi has benefited from what is known as insider trading. That is, he has made sometimes enormous purchases of stocks based on information allegedly provided to him by Nancy, who was privy to sensitive, non-public information by way of her position.

    The most recent example occurred earlier this year. Nancy Pelosi had meetings in mid-February where she was handed secret information about the Coronavirus that the rest of the country was not given. Immediately following those meetings Paul Pelosi made massive purchases of stocks in tech companies in which he had not previously invested. All those companies have since substantially outperformed the market, and Pelosi has made huge profits.

    https://freebeacon.com/issues/pelosis-husband-invested-solar-firm-weeks-lucrative-expansion/

    In 2014 Paul Pelosi invested in a company called SunEdison solar energy. Shortly thereafter with the assistance of his wife, SunEdison received $1 billion in federal subsidies.

    There is something else at work here, however. Paul Pelosi does not just buy and sell commercial real estate. He doesn’t just cash in on his wife’s influence and privileged status. He invests, and much of that investment is in Asia generally and China specifically.

    Nancy Pelosi has long condemned the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to foreign countries by American corporations. But the Pelosi’s investment portfolio contains no investments in any domestic manufacturing companies. Instead, it has extensive holdings in dozens of companies such as Cisco, Sun Microsystems, Apogee Networks, and Netclerk that outsource jobs and have non-unionized workforces.

    According to her 2011 financial disclosure statement, Pelosi received between $1 million and $5 million in partnership income from Matthews International Capital Management LLC, a group, which brags about its “singular focus on investing in Asia.” Paul Pelosi was listed as one of the Directors of Matthews International Capital when it was formed in 2010. Funds managed by the company include the Asian Growth and Income Fund, the China Dividend Fund, the Pacific Tiger Fund, and the China Fund.

    The description of the Matthews China Fund reads in part, “Under normal market conditions, the Matthews China Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets, which include borrowings for investment purposes, in the common and preferred stocks of companies located in China.” The most recent SEC report for Matthews International shows huge stock holdings in Chinese companies like BiliBili, China Mobile, Huazhu Grou, Weibo and Yum China Holdings. Matthews has $24 billion in investments under management.

    Paul Pelosi’s longtime business partner is San Francisco investment banker William Hambrecht. At various points, Paul has had holdings in at least a half dozen companies tied to Hambrecht’s investment banking firm WR Hambrecht and Co. Hambrecht has also been invited more than once to Washington, D.C. by Nancy Pelosi and introduced by her as an economic expert. Nancy and Paul’s son, Paul Jr., worked for Hambrecht for several years.

    WR Hambrecht specializes in Asian investments and earned Paul Pelosi somewhere from $100,000 to $1 million in income in 2011. As of that date, Paul Pelosi also maintained a brokerage account with Hambrecht’s firm worth $500,000 to $1 million.

    The Pelosi’s are America’s 21st century 1%. They have not gotten wealthy building industries here or employing Americans. They have gotten rich by betting on the rising economy of a totalitarian Communist regime and a globalist agenda that consigns the average American to irrelevance.

    The pandemic has changed none of that. As the world trundled toward crisis earlier this year, Paul Pelosi exercised stock options he owned to buy huge numbers of shares in Amazon. Americans locked down at home, out of work and watching their savings vanish are now more than ever forced to rely upon Amazon and purchase made- in -China products online. The Pelosi’s are getting rich off that misfortune.

    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:14 AM

    And, of course, it doesn’t come close to stopping there. You tink Hunter Biden was corruptly using his father’s name ?
    The Bidens are lower intelligence puppets.
    Look at Paul Pelosi Jr’ involvement in Ukraine.

      Apr 23, 2020 23:30 AM

      Hard to disagree with you and OOTB on some of these issues, Professor. I am putting together a Weekend Special on many of these comments. Why am I doing that? Because they have made me stop and think!

    b
    Apr 23, 2020 23:38 AM

    GAME OVER: The Swedish – Belarus COVID Herd Immunity Strategy Has Won

    https://russia-insider.com/en/game-over-swedish-belarus-covid-herd-immunity-strategy-has-won/ri29837

    Kinda supports some people thinking around here that covid is a bit of a hoax.
    Its gotta at least make ya go hmmm.

        b
        Apr 23, 2020 23:47 AM

        “We have to defend our Globo-homo castle at all costs, but it might not work this time because THE GOYIM KNOW!”

        Do they?

        Some might but the U.S. still has loyalty oaths to Israel happening.
        Some people overlook what Trump has and is doing for Israel now.

        Who knows, maybe he is keeping the enemy close.

          Apr 23, 2020 23:58 AM

          And then again, maybe Trump is just doing the smart thing. I am nothing if not open minded.

            b
            Apr 23, 2020 23:03 AM

            Always smart to kiss the butt of those that rule you. 😉

      Apr 23, 2020 23:35 PM

      Read the comments on the article
      They explain why it is bullshit -:)

    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:40 AM

    WELL ! MIRACLE OF MIRACLES !
    I had been wondering why the Chinese might develop a bioweapon and not have a vaccine.
    (It did not make sense to me. And I believe the Chinese to be intelligent.
    Devious, deceptive, and untrustworthy, maybe, but not stupid.)

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/breaking-exclusive-2017-dr-shi-wuhan-institute-virology-claimed-kept-large-reservoir-bat-viruses-related-vaccines/

    So now there may be a miracle……?

    Apr 23, 2020 23:46 AM

    Not a bad listen. Remember though, Chris Martenson has been saying “it didn’t have to be this way” for about 89 days at the end of each of his daily podcasts that be began back in January on this subject.
    The main difference between us and the Asian nations mentioned by Vic was their experiences with past epidemics. That and the fact they have leaders who lead!
    We have a buffoon who still spends most of his time firing the few on his staff that really understand the problem. His Surgeon General (one of Pence’s choices) was at the end of February still demeaning those who chose to wear a mask, falsely claiming they contributed to the odds one would get the virus.
    The nations’s largest employer, Walmart, just this week began to look out for their employees. Grocery workers in my hometown didn’t wear masks until this week! Talk about stupid management………..Much of this lackadaisical acceptance of a major problem has been caused by bad information and mixed messaging from our highest leader who’s main reason for doing anything is to get re-elected…..even if it means killing a few hundred thousand people! JMO

      Apr 23, 2020 23:26 AM

      Pense’s people…….Lilly people are going to profit…….Lilly based in Indiana….
      Even the ventilators are being manufactured in Kokomo, Indiana….
      Roche Labs ….is in Indiana…..are they not making the test kits……

        Apr 23, 2020 23:27 AM

        Pence is buttering his bread…..for the future…..depend on it…

        Apr 23, 2020 23:30 AM

        Oh, …..for those who do not know…..Pence is from Indiana……

    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:23 AM

    At least Trump is a better choice than the corrupt dotard, and he was a better choice than self-centered crook Hillary.

      Apr 23, 2020 23:36 AM

      One would assume that to be true………….but,………
      DId we really have any choice…..in the matter ?
      Unfortunately , the TWO HEADED SNAKE is still alive and expanding……MIC has lost nothing.

        Apr 23, 2020 23:37 AM

        NO ONE IS IN JAIL…..
        THE DEBT has JUST DOUBLED……

          b
          Apr 23, 2020 23:52 AM

          Trump looks to me that he takes orders from Israel.

          2 headed snake, the Zionists are winning big time.

            Apr 23, 2020 23:55 AM

            B,

            On the record, I completely disagree with your statement. Don’t hate me, remember we live in a free country.

            Apr 23, 2020 23:56 AM

            FREEDOM is not BONDAGE OF DEBT SLAVERY……..

            Apr 23, 2020 23:57 AM

            Is the country in Lock Down…?….are you in lock down…..

            Apr 23, 2020 23:59 AM

            If, we are going to start with a logical discussion of FREE COUNTRY…..
            Let’ all start with a History Lesson…..

            b
            Apr 23, 2020 23:17 AM

            I know you disagree Al.
            Most people do, then again most people have not looked into the matter.

            Just for fun, how do you rationalize the loyalty oaths to Israel by our leaders and others?
            or those that lost their jobs for refusing to take it?

            Texas teacher fired for refusing to sign anti-BDS oath – Middle …www.middleeastmonitor.com › 20181218-texas-teacher-fired-for-refu..

    Apr 23, 2020 23:54 AM

    The waters are muddied in Germany by other means. The Robert Koch Institute,
    which is the public health institute in Germany, is now advising against autopsies of
    test-positive deceased persons, because risk of droplet infection by aerosols is
    allegedly too high. Without autopsies, real cause of death cannot be confirmed.
    This despite two facts, 1) With necessary precautions, for all manner of conditions,
    including contagious diseases, autopsies have been carried out safely for eons, and 2)
    At the end of March, WHO had no evidence for aerosol dispersal of the virus, instead
    considering it a “possibility” based on rumoured, unpublished studies, and an
    experimental study which does not reflect normal human conditions. Are we really to
    believe THIS is scary enough to abandon proper procedure? If WHO is one of the
    leading authorities on this matter, and they cannot produce evidence the virus remains
    airborne under normal human conditions, why do we see no ease in restrictive
    measures like self isolation and social distancing, which have lead to disastrous social
    and economic consequences, undertaken for fear of transmitting the virus through air?
    And are we really to believe Government health institutes can’t afford proper
    protective equipment for autopsies against this virus, yet will happily advise us to
    wear simple face masks as protection? Or is it more likely they are looking for ways
    to cover up the real cause of death, which was not Covid-19?
    The answer is given to us by the President of the Robert Koch Institute, who

    cfs
    Apr 23, 2020 23:05 AM

    13.9% of tested people in New York test positive for antibodies, but test not randomized, so has little meaning.

    Up to half fatalities in Europe assigned due to corona virus came from nursing homes.

    Apr 23, 2020 23:08 AM

    Here’s a must-read:
    http://mileswmathis.com/covid.pdf

      Apr 23, 2020 23:10 AM

      Matthew………..I already posted that, ……and that is part of the above conversation….that CFS…..is debating……

        Apr 23, 2020 23:12 AM

        We are discussing that topic on the other section….from today…..should be interesting.. 🙂

    Apr 23, 2020 23:48 AM

    VIC….That is one of the best pieces i have read here at the KER in a long time…
    Wake up people we are all being shafted big time , & this time the BASTARDS are not useing lube .
    B…Your comment above..Trump looks to me that he takes orders from Isreal.
    No he takes his orders from the false Jews , Otherwise known as Zionists , who reside in the US………………..F88K those evil people….NAY / Animals.

    Apr 23, 2020 23:53 AM

    Its time We The People , ended the shutdown we control our own Destiny, not “THEM”.

      Apr 23, 2020 23:57 AM

      Yep……..the sheeple need to get a little back bone……

    Apr 23, 2020 23:56 AM

    WOW…brilliant article..thanks!

    Apr 23, 2020 23:29 PM
      Apr 23, 2020 23:14 PM

      Thank you Trader Vic. If Asian countries prevented massive casualties by aggressive early testing and widespread use of masks where then is the observation that Trump’s complete inaction on these is the cause of 50000 American deaths?