The Government Shows Little Respect For Our Tax Dollar

Hard-working Americans that pay taxes should be more than angry over how little respect the politicians in Washington have for their tax dollars. An article that appeared on MarketWatch details what people that receive an undeserved 1,200 dollar stimulus checks under the CARES Act should do.  The answer appears just over halfway down on the page in answer to the following question; 

Question: I believe that my adult son received a $1,200 EIP, via automatic deposit to his checking account, that he was not entitled to because he is my tax-return dependent. Will the IRS go into his checking account and debit it to get the money back? 

Answer: No. The statutory language in the CARES Act that set the whole EIP scheme in motion says that anybody who gets more money than they are actually entitled to can keep the excess. I endorse that concept: any money that gets into people’s hands is fair game.

In the above case, it appears the fella received the money in error but I have heard, and I'm also under the impression the same issue exists in the case where a check is sent to somebody that is deceased. The article explains the Feds are using our beloved Internal Revenue Service to distribute these so-called Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). The IRS is not currently processing 2019 returns because the agency is swamped with all the new COVID-19-related tasks it has been given.

The article also states the IRS’s data processing systems were notoriously inadequate even before getting overwhelmed with all these new tasks. Apparently to those in our government, 1,200 dollars isn't worth the time it takes to do the administrative job of reclaiming it. From what I understand we are talking about checks that total several billions of dollars. This type of waste is just another example of why people don't like paying taxes.

Mankind Should Consider Planning A Sustainable Future

Sustainability Remains Critical To Our Future

Much of the world's economy has ground to a halt due to the covid-19 pandemic. This highlights that we should occasionally take a few moments to reflect on where we are, and just as important, is where we are going. Only to the most self-centered individuals with no children, family or friends can the issue of creating a sustainable future not be an issue of importance. In many ways, it should be considered "job one" in our rapidly changing world.

Still, the job of planning for a more sustainable future is almost always put on the back burner and ignored because of both political and economic ramifications. Sustainability means planning our future in a way that we do not set ourselves up to crash and burn at some future date. Long-term planning is not something politicians excel at or are even good at. Most political systems are geared at getting politicians re-elected and meeting the most pressing needs of today and not tomorrow.

Over the years the human race has become productive enough that we can afford a gentle kinder world if we stop governments from taking a huge share of this wealth to wage war and spy on its citizens. The human race has allowed things like profit, greed, and our unquenchable desire for growth to be placed in front of longer-term issues and needs. Of course, mapping out a logical and sustainable long-term plan requires delving into some rather hefty philosophical questions such as what brings real happiness. We also have to think about what kind of society and world future generations might want to live in and properly recognize the role of the human-animal in the overall scheme of things. Considering that we as human beings rarely can agree about anything also creates a barrier to planning for a more "distant future."

Population Has Soared In Last Two Hundred Years

As the population has soared during the last two hundred years, man has spread out and constructed infrastructure across the planet to support this growth using more natural resources than at any time in history. Already more infrastructure is needed and the repairs required to maintain what we have already built will be staggering. It appears we lack the courage to even discuss these issues in any real way.

Do not expect to be guided by politicians, the super-wealthy or most business leaders. Few people are willing to come out and say the recently adopted modern model of life based on lifestyles developed in America and western society are unsustainable. The few that mutter these words are often scorned. This could all be considered part of a giant conspiracy of silence but is more likely a head in the sand act of denial, an act that could lead to our demise. 

Jeremy Grantham’s investment firm GMO manages about $110 billion in assets. He also backs the Grantham Institute of Climate Change at London’s Imperial College. He says population growth is a huge “threat to the long-term viability of our species when we reach a population level of 10 billion” because it is “impossible to feed the 10 billion people.” Billionaire Bill Gates says we should cap the global population at 8.3 billion at the same time his vaccine and other programs are extending life expectancy. Columbia University’s Earth Institute Director Jeff Sachs says even 5 billion is unsustainable. To stop adding more people our population is tough enough. But how do we eliminate two billion from today’s seven billion total? Voluntary? 

War Has Turned Cities Like Mosul Into Rubble

The only thing most people agree upon is that huge problems are going to arise. As the world continues to develop the importance of design and quality are factors that cannot be stressed enough. As the world's population soars we cannot afford the wasteful luxury of constructing buildings that grow obsolete or must be replaced every few decades, buildings should last for centuries. We also cannot afford to bomb and lay waste to whole cities killing and destroying what so many have worked so hard to create. How we use our new skills and the choices we make will determine if mankind blankets the world with Las Vegas-style resorts on every corner, fills the skies with glass towers, or constructs homes and shelters suitable for our fellow man.

Man Is The Cause Of Pollution (click to enlarge)

Today developing countries such as China and India that have huge populations of have-nots are rushing to follow the same flawed pattern of growth that was pioneered in America. The creation of huge wealth in China has manifested itself in conspicuous consumption as people rush to show their success. Poor planning has not promoted a lifestyle of efficiency and social interaction but has encouraged the private automobile with its massive support system of highways and the construction of more high-rise towers. The ability of the planet to sustain our modern lifestyle is very questionable.

This new way of living may be far too resource-intense to stand the test of time. We should remember that for most of his 60,000 years on earth man has been a minor consumer of the earth’s stores of energy. It is only with the discovery of fire that man began to increase his demands and draw on the short-term energy stores that had been accumulated over decades and even centuries by woody plants.  Only in the last hundred years with the invention of the internal combustion engine and a huge increase in population has man begun to tap the planet's long-term energy supplies of oil and natural gas at an alarming rate.

In merely a blink of an eye, we have shaped a world where our lifestyles revolve around and are dependent on oil and the consumption of energy from fossil fuels. To those naysayers of problems ahead that point to lower birthrates, it should be pointed out that longer lifespans mean more people remain alive at any one time. Statistics showing we must drill deeper and deeper to find fresh pools of oil do not lie. This is not an endorsement of some kind of "carbon tax" as much as it is a call for better planning and less waste. the sooner we move in that direction the better off we will be.

“One of the disturbing facts of history is that so many civilizations collapse,” warns Jared Diamond, an environmental anthropologist and author of the classic “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.” History shows that many failed civilizations share a sharp curve of decline which is usually totally intertwined with the economy and everyday life. A society’s demise may begin only a decade or two after it reaches its peak population, wealth, and power. Over the last few years the threat of nuclear war has increased but even more frightening is the acceptance of such an event as a way of resolving problems. Can we halt a major calamity before it’s too late? Don’t bet on it, watching how those in Washington and other capitals avoid dealing with the challenges we face is far from encouraging.



Footnote; The above article dovetails with many of my recent writings, below are a few related to this subject. Other articles may be found in my blog archive, thanks for reading, your comments are encouraged.
http://E-Waste Disposal Major Failure Of And By Government.html
https://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2019/01/power-of-orwellian-state-almost.html http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2018/07/politicians-shy-away-from-dreadful-c.html
http://America Did Not Vote For More Death And Destruction!html
http://Mankinds Struggle Viewed Through The Peter Principle.html
http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-lowly-penny-and-why-it-should-go.html

Easter Amazon Deliveries By USPS Deserve Our Scorn

This Is So Very Wrong!

During a walk on Easter I observed a United States Postal Service truck out doing its Sunday Amazon deliveries. This action should be scorned by all Americans. Amazon is a company that both Trump on the right and Sanders on the far left have decried, this leaves me wondering why so many Americans continue to buy its goods. An article on MarketWatch in 2018 reported how President Trump personally pressured Postmaster General Megan Brennan to raise the charges Amazon and other firms pay to ship packages. At the time, Brennan resisted Trump’s demand pointing out that the rates are set in contracts and that the Amazon relationship was beneficial for the Postal Service.

How Brennan defines "beneficial" and whether the deliveries are profitable are two different animals. Also, even if they are beneficial to the USPS using Brennan's definition we should consider they are coming at a great cost to both brick and mortar stores as well as to other shippers using the system. This was sometime after President Donald Trump had signed an executive order creating a task force to study the United States Postal Service. Trump said that USPS is on "an unsustainable financial path" and "must be restructured to prevent a taxpayer-funded bailout." The task force was assigned to study factors including USPS's pricing in the package delivery market and had 120 days to submit a report with recommendations. Trump's claim the service should be charging more was backed up by a 2017 report by Citigroup that supported his claim, it concludes that the postal service was charging below-market rates as a whole on parcels.

Package Delivery Is Often Very Challenging

As it continues to struggle with losses year after year the United States Postal Service is an example that something as basic as delivering a package can be costly and no easy task. This is especially true when you are responsible for taking it the last mile or to the doorstep located down the road, up the hill and through the woods in sparsely populated areas. Amazon started taking most of its packages directly to the Postal Service in 2013, a way of avoiding the expensive last leg of the delivery in high-density metro areas as well as on America's backroads.

The fact the USPS goes to these locations regularly doesn't mean Amazon "deserves" the right to be able to tag along at the same rate they would pay for a package delivered across the street. The true or real cost of putting Amazon packages in the hands of consumers is not easy and forces us to circle back to another big issue and that centers around the cost to society and other American retailers. When you consider that the USPS has had to purchase special equipment such as larger trucks to deliver packages for Amazon it is not difficult to reach the conclusion the USPS is simply in cahoots with Amazon or willing to sell out the rest of American businesses for a few dollars in revenue.

It should be noted that rather than expanding to delivering to Sunday most USPS watchers have for over a decade advocated dropping Saturday deliveries as its importance declined with the fall of first-class mail.  Also, a case can be made that any shift of business away from UPS, FedEx or any other delivery company will not add jobs but merely shift them from one company to another. The bottom-line here is that far more goes into deciding the optimum shipping rate than simply whether the USPS makes money. Also of concern is the issue that Sunday deliveries are especially damaging to small businesses that can't afford to expand the hours to seven days a week. 

The Ugly Face Of America Betrayed

Any benefit to or claimed by the USPS is quickly negated by the cost of businesses and retailers forced to close all across America from unfair competition created by taxpayers subsidizing cheap deliveries for Amazon packages. Package deliveries should at a minimum be both profitable and not discriminate. This means they should be done for every other company at exactly the same price and terms. While Jeff Bezos would like the USPS to be a subsidiary of Amazon ready to do his bidding and calling it is not. To give a company special breaks that funded by taxpayers is in many ways simply un-American. This is especially true when the company is hellbent on exploiting the brick and mortar stores that add so much to our communities. 

Sunday deliveries that favor Amazon over other businesses are wrong but this is especially glaring during a time most small businesses across America have been forced to close due to covid-19. Even more objectionable is seeing this done on Easter when businesses normally close so people can be home with their families. The toll of these actions by Amazon and USPS are massive. Empty storefronts across America stand witness to the damage being done. When local stores and businesses close jobs are lost. While online sales have their place in the area of commerce, local retailers and distributors of goods should not be put at a disadvantage. We the taxpayers have been forced into subsidizing Amazon, a company that exploits the very stores that provide jobs and pay taxes in our communities. This is worthy of our scorn.


Footnote;  The article below delves into whether there is anyone or anything that Amazon doesn't exploit?
 https://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2019/07/amazon-quietly-exploits-everyone-and.html

Trump's Past Greatly Distorts His View Of The Economy

Many old school economists believe that certain rules that must be obeyed to avoid disaster I look at what is happening with horror and amazement as much of the knowledge gained over decades is ignored. This article is not written as an attack on Trump but to point out the President has a skewed view of how the economy works. It has become clear that President Trump is no economist or financial wizard  During his time in office the economy he often pointed to as proof of his ability to lead has been built on deficit spending.

Trump sports a distinct view of the financial world that is rooted in his past. His willingness to manipulate numbers and facts to suit the moment flows from his background as a promoter, this is something he is proud of and a core part of his personality. The sick games of financial jiggering and engineering that business titans often engage in include such things as tax avoidance and shedding liabilities through bankruptcy. This is far different from running a profitable small business year after year. This explains why Trump embraces MMT and often seems more worried about today than the future.

Trump Pushes His Distinct Views As Fact

The President's "damn tomorrow" attitude is reflected in deficit spending and his constant call for lower interest rates. His delusion that his stock market can go straight up forever is not based on years of stock trading but rather his years in real estate where inflation treated him well as prices rose ever higher. Within the sector of the economy where Trump made his fortune, more spending, more debt, and lower interest rates have been the key drivers of expansion. Securing a low-interest rate loan and waiting for real estate values to rise has been a big winner.

The massive disruption in the economy resulting from the government’s response to covid-19 is likely to lead to a deep recession or depression characterized by reduced dividends, an end to buybacks and softer growth. The Trump administration's decision to jump into the breach with a $2.2 trillion relief package is another indication that his answer to such an economic disaster is mega-spending on hand-outs and social projects. Sadly, because of the political environment, we are experiencing, Congress rapidly gave near-unanimous approval casting aside concerns about the deficit or the unintended consequences it might usher in.

A theory exists that during a situation such as we are facing, the Government's efforts to intervene are useless and may make things worse. Sometimes when the economy is melting down, it is best to do little or nothing because the free market will over time self-correct and return to a healthy balance. The problem here is two-fold, first, Trump doesn't view deficit spending as a problem and second, he touts the stock market as an indicator of his ability to return America to its days of glory as promised when he ran for office. Unfortunately, much of his economy is generated using this old trick of deficit spending.

Debt Matters! (click to enlarge)

The chart to the right shows how the deficit has exploded over the last three years. This indicates the Trump economy is a mirage based on deficit spending. This, coupled with market manipulation fueled by changes in the tax laws have caused stock buybacks to explode. The bottom-line is that we are in the midst of a "false economy" and it is only by the grace of this huge deficit spending that we are not languishing at the bottom of a deep economic pit. Deficit spending is not a silver bullet without consequences and is a poor substitute for the free market when allocating capital to where it is most effective. It is not economic growth but simply a method of borrowing from the future.

An example of Trump's tinkering to boost the markets was visible in a story that unfolded last week. In a tweet, Trump bragged about how he had brought Putin and the Saudis together and agree on cutting oil production by 10 to 15 million barrels per day. This was an effort to raise oil prices which aids US oil producers and the banks holding their loans. This is a complete reversal from his position months ago when he wanted the Saudis to pump more oil to give American drivers relief at the pump. Ironically, it could be said this effort by Trump to manipulate the market threw the American consumer under the bus and benefited Russia. Still, it did accomplish his goal of rocketing the market higher even if only temporarily.

An article that originally appearing on NYPost.com. a while back may shed some light on Trump's views. It delves into the remarks of tax-cut guru Arthur Laffer, an economist who served as an adviser to President Ronald Reagan and to President Trump’s 2016 campaign. After Trump bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on him, Laffer jabbed at embattled Federal Reserve chairman Powell stating, “The Fed shouldn’t be independent of the administration. None of those people were elected. They were appointed. And there’s no reason for them being appointed. It’s a policy tool that should be in the hands of the Congress and the President to make our country better,”

Laffer, a conservative academic is credited for much of what most people consider Republican economic theory. This is centered around, the idea of “trickle-down economics” and how lower tax rates trickle down to benefit the overall economy. It often appears that Trumps sees a higher stock market as proof he is on the proper track but he is blind to how distorted markets have become. The ugly truth is American companies, even after Trump's massive corporate tax cut  have little reason to bring jobs home. The tax bill does little to level the playing field when it comes to other barriers such as healthcare costs and over-regulation. Simply put, the structural issues that haunt America's competitiveness far outweigh the benefits of lower taxes. 

Circling back to the crux of this article, I contend that while Trump touts a fondness and respect for hard-working Americans his policies will continue to create a great deal more inequality. Low-interest rates, coupled with printing money and deficit spending has always come with huge hidden costs. They include increasing speculation, distorting prices, and allowing boondoggles to be built while reducing income to savers. This money flows to big business and Wall Street first and less so to small local merchants. In short, it reeks of crony capitalism and fuels a false economy. As for the economic concept of  “trickle-down economics,” the problem is that those at the bottom share only a few drops of the benefits while those at the top swim in a pool.

There is an old sales adage that says “sell the sizzle, not the steak.” With this in mind, we should remember Trump excels at promoting. Trump appears to not see himself as the smartest man in the room but at times acts as if he is the smartest man on the planet. As we have come to know more about him we can see he is very comfortable with economic manipulation. One commentator recently said "Again, and again, it seems Trump creates a crisis then pulls back at the last second. After pulling back he then claims victory and that he has resolved the issue."

The problem facing Trump is the economy has been badly damaged and it may be difficult to manage the anger flowing from a public promised more. The scenarios we face include growing inequality, massive unemployment, and propping up zombie companies. The Japanification of America is well on its way. Stagflation or run-away inflation is also a good possibility as reality shows that a soaring national deficit is never a free lunch. Sooner or later it results in pain. Trump may refer to the campaign against the coronavirus as a "war" but it is just a battle. The real war is still before us as we begin to deal with the carnage the politicians in Washington have unleashed upon us.

The President did not get us here on his own, he was assisted by a willing and complacent Federal Reserve and Congress. It will be interesting how this plays out as the election draws closer. Trump's salvation may be that he faces an even greater free-spending Democrat as he argues that things would have been far worse if he had not taken us down this path. It is incredibility ironic that after criticizing Obama and the Democrats for taking us down this road we find Trumponomics is little different. Please forgive me for pointing out the obvious, the next election will again present the American voters with choosing between the least of two evils, an arrogant Trump or a tired corrupt Biden. Neither of these fellas are up to the task of addressing the mess before us or our prosperity lost.

Pandemics Make List Of The "Worlds10 Worst Problems"

Future Generations Depend On Us

Surprisingly, even with warnings over the years that the world could be ravaged by a highly infectious disease, the subject has never gained much traction or been included on the list of  the "Worlds 10 Worst Problems." With the emergence of Covid-19 infectious disease and pandemics have become a much greater concern. This list seldom needs to be altered or reshuffled. Generally, we see little movement in the list as counted down from least to most crucial. The last reshuffling occurred in May of last year when artificial intelligence (AI) was moved up due to growing concerns that while technology held great potential it also created the dangerous risk that it might create an environment where mankind could be rendered redundant.

Before that, the last update was to reflect the growing drumbeats of war and the advancement of WMDs. This moved war to the top of the list during the verbal dust-ups between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. That situation has cooled but other problems have intensified. Between Pakistan and India the disputed border region of Kashmir again has become an issue, both these countries have nuclear bombs which increases the fears a major conflict could occur. Then there is Ukraine where warmongers continue to push up against Russia and Putin which has no intention of backing down and last but not least some people seem hellbent on escalating the bad blood with Iran into a full-fledged conflict. These situations jumped "Weapons of war and mass destruction" from fourth to first place.

As for the threat of infectious disease, local authorities in major cities across the US have been warning ever since SARS the world should prepare for something like covid-19 (ever since SARS). Dr. Steven Hatfill, virologist and professor of medicine at George Washington University, warns that more viruses like Coronavirus will emerge in the coming decades. With population densities rising in metropolitan areas around the world this has become inevitable. Dr. Hatfill stated;

 “This will pass, by the way. This is not the Omega Man scenario… We’ll get through this. There are worse things out there with 50% mortality rates in animal models. These are the ones that are still to come. So, this is probably our last warning from mother nature that we need to take emerging infectious disease and give it the same prominence as we do national defense.”

Bring Out Your Dead May Not Be Locked In The Past

When composing this list, the term "most crucial" is very subjective and depends greatly on an individual's interests and priorities. Today's change recognizes that mankind can be blindsided by mother nature. While the idea of a pandemic so deadly that people are told to bring their dead family members to the curb to be disposed of is terrifying it still exists. With this in mind, where it fits into the list is a challenge.

The problems facing mankind impact and shape our lives. Many of these are issues that center on our sustainability and can only be addressed with long term solutions. History has shown politicians do not deal well with such things leaving society without a great deal of direction. As we look at the human condition we can let fate take us where it may choose or we can take control of our future by proper planning and by guiding it as best we can.

Below is a list of the world's ten most crucial problems. Remember the position a problem holds on this list can shift from time to time as events take place, but expect most of them to remain on the list. Unless a black swan event such as a meteor heads our way this is what you have. Some problems have been grouped with the collateral issues associated with them, this may include the current "buzz words" used to describe their importance.  Different people would group and prioritize these issues differently.

Something such as covid-19 or far more deadly pandemics should not be ignored, they constitute a genuine threat to mankind. It has been joined with natural events moving into the existing categories as third from the top. While covid-19 has been rather mild it warns how fragile life and our institutions really are. Below is the updated list and as always, your comments are welcome.

10.   Demographics of an aging population;   As the population grows older euthanasia and the quality of life will become an issue. This must be handled in a fair, honest, humane, and compassionate way. The alternative is to simply let many older people wither and die hungry while existing in pain and squalor.

9.  Hunger and starvation;    Severe malnutrition can make life unbearable and because of it many people only go through the motions of being alive. Starving people cannot learn and take a role in society. Starvation and addressing the need for basic sanitation must be addressed.

8.   Income inequality and economic stability;   The uber-rich should not become exempt from all common woes and untouchable. The uber-rich and political elite should not comprise a special class who are immune and able to ignore the rules of society. Nor should the masses be deemed deserving of an equal share of the wealth society creates merely by being born. Fairness in handling the world's economic systems and currencies that allow us to exchange goods and services is necessary or other world support systems will suffer or fail.

7.   Man's inability to take control of his future by creating responsive and responsible governments;   The masses have been lulled into complacency, in many ways we are all slaves, this is not a new role for man. Still, we can think and should make an effort to push our leaders to do the right thing and make long-term plans that are sustainable. We must shape our future and the values of the society in which we live. Sadly, a sharp rise in Orwellian trends that lead to police states is threatening the concept of freedom in countries across the globe.

6.   The last few years stand as proof of man's cruelty to man. Strife between religions and tribes must end; We need to develop a new tolerance that allows people to live in peace. A safe place to live is one of man's most basic needs. The political elite must not be held harmless for the grief and death they cause over large swathes of mankind. War crimes cannot be tolerated. While this is easy to say deciding exactly who is responsible for these crimes is often easier said than done.

5.   Creating an environment that allows and encourages people to develop fulfilling lives;  This means improving the educational system and having an opportunity to find fulfilling work, seek happiness and express their individuality. It also means ending corruption and extending equal protection and fairness under the law. Today many people see expanding the ability of machines to think might help us achieve this goal but there also exists the possibility that a machine might reach the point of self-actualization and become a threat to our existence.

 4.    Wasting Earth's limited natural resources by not conserving and the continued destruction of our environment;   I contend that many of the "green solutions" being proposed such as ethanol fuel are not a solution at all and just ways for business to profit. A solution is not truly green unless the environmental cost of "maintaining" it is very low.

3.    Pollution that results in climate change or pandemics killing a large part of the population;  Pollution is showing up in oceans that are sick and being depleted of life. This also may result in rising oceans and crop failures. Covid-19 has been a wake-up call to the risk of a global pandemic that could be far more deadly. Either of these scenarios could inflict massive suffering across the world altering how we live our day to day lives.

 2.    Overpopulation;   This is the overriding problem facing Earth partly because it feeds into most of the other problems and is difficult to address. If the problem of overpopulation is not faced all the other problems on this list will most likely become much greater. Many people still rejoice in the idea that we should be "fruitful and multiply" ignoring or oblivious to the problems it creates in the long-run. The quality of life in many ways is more important than quantity.

 1.    Weapons of war and mass destruction;   This not only includes nuclear bombs and chemical weapons but drones and the killer robots now being developed. One big mistake or going down the wrong path in developing new weapons could change life as we know it!

While people and their families go about life each day having children and doing the things we all associate with our day to day existence most people concede that something is wrong with a world where many people lack even basic sanitation and watch their children die before the age of five. I'm not saying developed countries should give everything away or bring all the people of the world up to an American standard of living. It is not our responsibility to do so and probably impossible.

Massive changes have taken place over the last two hundred and fifty years. History viewed in the framework of man's time on Earth forms an interesting perspective. The oldest fully developed humans based on DNA research supports the theory that Africa was the area man first inhabited around 170,000 years ago. In 1800 the population of the world was around 900 million, by 1900 it had soared to 1.6 billion since then it has exploded to over 7 billion.

When you chronicle man's journey from the beginning to our current state it becomes clear that the world has never before experienced such rapid change. This perspective helps us make sense of our fast-changing chaotic world while illuminating and clarifying the responsibilities society faces. We must recognize this ever-quickening pace of change and keep in mind that if these problems are not addressed there may be no future for mankind or it may be much shorter and difficult than many people expect.

Government Overreach Is Taking Away Your Freedom

It is important to recognize the value of individual freedom, many people have sacrificed their lives to protect this valuable commodity. With this in mind, I write, it is the right and duty of every citizen to question the actions of their government. Are governments across the world currently looking out for the interest of their citizens or using the current crisis as a way to grab power at the expense of the people? If this is the goal of those in power, here in America, they gain in several ways by maximizing this crisis to exercise their authority. First, they train the masses to follow instructions and do their bidding. Second, they decimate the economy destroying small businesses and making us more dependent on their larger brethren which the government can control. Third but not least they increase the number of people relying on government handouts.

This also allows the government to ramp up surveillance for the "greater good." The power of fear and propaganda are powerful tools in the manipulation of general consensus. This is one of the main flaws in a democracy, it allows a simple majority to force their desires upon a minority. This is why our forefathers set checks and balances in the Constitution, however, even these do not guarantee freedom will remain. Today, the burden of risk and skin in the game is not equally shared by all. Over time our financial system and institutions have been corrupted by crony capitalism and a political system that panders to the masses by exchanging favors for baubles. 

It could be argued that those in power don't have to take away our freedom by force if we are willing to surrender it or trade it for a few paid weeks off work. Nor do they have to be fair in how they go  about this if they simply get a majority of the populace to go along with their plan. Call it what you want, a stay at home order or a general quarantine, but it all comes down to the same thing government control of your movement.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has been pushing the Trump administration to declare a federally-imposed 'stay at home' order across all 50 states. This is the kind of lock-down that has been instituted in many countries. This has resulted in attacks from the mainstream media directed at the states which have not capitulated to fear. It appears these states have governors that don't see the need to take drastic steps that will decimate their local economies. This means they are willing to leave social distancing to the 'good judgments' of counties, towns, and individuals.

If you wonder just how far enforcement of this lock-down has gone, in some areas under lock-down, some law enforcement agencies are using high-tech equipment such as drones to spy on people. When city services apps are getting turned into glorified versions of DHS's tools it is a huge sign we know we have a problem. In some areas, they are now urging neighbors to turn into government snitches by asking residents to report violations of the “stay home” order. The government's role during this situation should be to inform us and provide us with the facts we need to know, this is an area where they have failed. Instead, they have flip-flopped spreading confusion and fear.

Click Here To Enlarge

In Los Angeles, the Mayor has even announced that the city would reward those willing to turn in violators. Associated Press reports in a recent article that some people are happy, even enthusiastic to comply and report on their neighbors. Sadly, when law enforcement encourages Americans to turn against each other we all lose. We become a nation controlled by fear and suspicion. Over time this sort of action is bound to add to distrust between neighbors and damage social cohesion. It could be argued that stay at home is just "newspeak" or another word for curfew. In his writings, George Orwell warned of the slippery slope towards totalitarianism and if citizens to not push back it is our future.

Former British Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumption recently discussed the police and government's response to the coronavirus on BBC Radio 4's World at One program. In response to what is happening, Sumption said;

What I say to them is I am not a scientist but it is the right and duty of every citizen to look and see what the scientists have said and to analyze it for themselves and to draw common sense conclusions. We are all perfectly capable of doing that and there's no particular reason why the scientific nature of the problem should mean we have to resign our liberty into the hands of scientists. We all have critical faculties and it's rather important, in a moment of national panic, that we should maintain them.

In part, this piece was inspired by the push back and voices of so many that feel that covid-19 is something to be faced with common sense and resolve. The fight against this vicious enemy has been described as a war and the fact is that in both war and life, people die. Considering the constant price humanity is forced to pay for freedom each passing year, the idea of surrendering our way of life rather than pressing on, it should be clear not everyone agrees with the idea society should just shut down and go into hiding. Consider this a reminder, if you don't fight for your freedoms do not be surprised to find them gone. 


Footnote; For more about the strong trend of governments across the world moving towards totalitarianism click the link below. This is a mode of government, which exercises an extremely high degree of control over public and private life. The link takes you to part one of a five-part series which details how and where governments are expanding control. 
https://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2018/12/liberals-and-conservatives-both-buy.html

Huge 2,2 Trillion Dollar Bill Fails Most Small Businesses

The massive 2,2 trillion dollar bill that was signed into law fails most small businesses but the devil is well hidden in the details. There is so much disinformation and bullshit floating around about this program that it is difficult to get the details. As a landlord and small business owner, I can tell you that as of Thursday morning the way the program is structured it will be of little help to most small businesses. While the government continues to slam expensive legislation through it seems they have no idea of the damage they are doing and how it is causing hundreds of thousands of businesses to close their doors forever. Washington has become so attuned to dealing with lobbyist from mega-companies it has lost sight of the fact small is small, and when this comes to business, this means usually under twenty employees, not hundreds. 

90% Of Businesses Are Small (click to enlarge)

It now looks like this bill will allow for a rapid maximum loan amount of two and a half times a company’s average monthly payroll expense over the past 12 months. This loan would turn into a grant and be forgiven if they keep their employees on. This fails to take into consideration that not all small businesses are labor or payroll intense. Some businesses with large or expensive showrooms are getting hammered by rent, others by inventory, or things like taxes, utilities, or even by having to toss products due to spoilage. 

This bill also fails to address the issue of what are these employees going to do while the company has no customers because their cities are going into semi if not complete lock-down measures due to quarantine efforts. They also ignore the fact that by keeping these employees on the payroll a generous employer is left open to the harsh mandates laid out in the previous bill passed just weeks ago. And last but not least, many small business owners take little in the way of a paycheck and pump most of their earnings back into their company so it will grow faster. It appears little is being done for these companies and they are set to remain in dire straights.

With so many tenants looking at foregoing rent small landlords that don't have deep pockets also face huge problems. We have our heads in the sand if we think companies that exist on events where people gather will overnight regain their luster. It is not like someone can simply flick a switch and things will return to normal. Reality undercuts the idea of the “V-shaped recovery” theory and the idea after the economy has come to a dead stop it can quickly reboot and be back at full speed in a few months. Washington also seems oblivious to how much it can cost a community when a business fails. This extension of crony capitalism throws just enough to the masses to silence their outrage. Large businesses with access to cheap capital will again be the winners and the big losers are the middle-class, small businesses, and social mobility.

Even with governments pouring money into their economies and central banks adding massive liquidity animal spirits have taken a beating. Much of this can be blamed on the hastily drawn up 110-page federal covid-19 economic rescue package, which Trump fully supported. It dealt a hard blow to small business. The two major reasons existed for strongly objecting to the bill, first, we had no idea what it would cost and second, it totally missed its target while dealing a crushing blow to small businesses across America. Still, the measure sailed through the House with an overwhelming 363-40 vote in less than an hour after the text was released.

Prior to its approval, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) pointed out many struggling businesses with two to twenty workers don't have the resources to weather the storm that it creates. The NFIB said in their letter of opposition, "The bill would impose potentially unsustainable mandates on small businesses' hurting not helping the backbone of our local economies." At the time they are experiencing increasingly slower sales is not the time to hit small businesses with a new mandate. Unlike government agencies, small business owners cannot turn to taxpayers when they can't pay their bills. For a small business this is a disaster, the bill requires; 

• Employers with fewer than 500 employees and government employers offer two weeks of paid sick leave through 2020.
• Those same employers must now provide up to 3 months of paid family and medical leave for people forced to quarantine due to the virus or care for family because of the outbreak

Click On Chart To Enlarge

As expected, this measure,  named "Families First Coronavirus Response Act." resulted in millions of workers to suddenly lose their jobs. Ironically, it was held before the voters as proof lawmakers could work together during a crisis.  By framing the poorly crafted pork-packed bill this way promoters positioned themselves to demonize those unwilling to support it. Remember, this bill is was in addition to the $8.3 billion emergency spending bill already approved to curb the spread of covid-19.

As for the President, many political pundits see Trump's declaration of a national emergency 15 minutes before the market closed on Friday a contrived stunt to rally stocks. In addition, his endorsement of this package is seen as an effort to mitigate damage from his administration's initially weak response to the crisis. Still, while we are told his job approval is rising many of us view what is flowing out of Washington as ill-conceived. Why will anyone want to work, especially government workers when they can get paid to stay home? How do you staff healthcare facilities when nobody comes to work?

President Trump may not understand at what point a small business becomes a medium or large business or simply doesn't care. Ironically, the members of the NFIB, mostly small business owners of privately-owned companies with fewer than 20 employees, strongly supported this same President that is throwing them under the bus. 

By framing these pork-packed bills as bipartisan their promoters imply they are fair and balanced. This is not true, small business is the big loser and hundreds of thousands will soon have to close. The Covid-19 Rescue plan crucified our small businesses and the 2,2 trillion dollar bill that followed is a costly boondoggle mainly for the rich. Let me be clear, this is not about wanting more money for small business, it is about government not being able to clean us the mess it creates by simply throwing money at it. Please just stop!