POST PANDEMIC 

WHAT WILL  THE WORLD LOOK LIKE? 

As every expert in the world has said, this event will run its course. But, let me add a twist to this cut and paste analysis. This Pandemic will most likely be replaced by the next urgent event. Does that mean we are going to go from one crisis to another? That's my bet. Why do I make this depressing prediction? Look at this way. when you break, shatter, something that is fragile, it's hard to make it look pristine again. When something technical fails, it's usually weakened to the point it will fail again. So, what's my point? Modern societies are fragile, dependent on an astronomical number of support factors. Life in the modern world is complex beyond our comprehension. We have built such a highly tuned machine, keeping it from falling apart, right now, seems more difficult than any of the "experts" can figure out. We are train wrecking the global economy, and we are not doing it deliberately, well, at least not most of us, and as we try to slow the crash, we are setting ourselves up for the next crisis. When I put my military had back on, I would say we are deep....deep into Combat Fatigue. We've been on this pandemic induced nightmare for over two months, 24/7/365. We will spend every ounce of energy trying to put all the pieces back together again, and at the end of that attempt, we won't have much left in the tank. Yes, the major nations in the world are based on the most fragile construction of society ever built. Getting back to, "normal", probably won't be achieved.  So, some of the "experts" are correct. The new normal will be different. "Things" will have changed. But, do those changes bring on the next crisis, and will we have the energy to confront whatever that crisis might be? 

The Next Crisis: 

What is the next potential crisis? What event will most likely take place that actually makes the world's attention move away from the Pandemic? Here is my best guess. Every nation in the world, even if they don't admit it, is dealing with the results of this pandemic. The reality is, the real damage is the economic destruction of a global market system. For over a week now, stories from all over the world have been coming in on topics like nations beginning to limit or even stop the shipment of items the rest of the world is dependent upon. You see, it's not just people who hoard. Nations can take the hoarding concept to a whole new level. Nation-state hoarding is a growing storyline, and it's a real, next level, a threat to an already destabilized world. Agreements such as OPEC, are a prime example of, "Every man for themselves'. Nations can have all the agreements their political and industrial leaders can think of, but when it comes down to survival time, agreements are nothing more than handshakes and papers. Just look at the Tsar and the Prince. 

If nation-state hoarding is not a strong enough indicator for you, then let's take a look at the production of raw materials. When one nation, a modern Super Power nation, relies on another nation's ability to mine and ship vital raw materials to the production facilities somewhere else in the world, and that process begins to show sign of falling apart, then what? Is this taking place right now? Yes. Is it a major news story? Not yet, but it could become so very soon. You see, the MSM is too focused on the body bags and the blame game in DC. Who does see the global indicators is the Intelligence Community, the IC. Are they seeing signs of further fractures in the foundations of global production and distribution? If they are, that news is not being well received by any world leader. Fear of sickness is a powerful weapon and that fear is being spread to those who are responsible for the production of raw materials. What keeps them working? They are desperate for the pay and thus, they are willing to risk their lives for the sake of having the job. That keeps the whole train moving until the price gets too high at the production level. Kids, workers infecting kids, kids with no health care, that's when it breaks down, and that is what the IC watching.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/countries-are-starting-to-hoard-food-threatening-global-trade

Fear. It's a Global Thing: 

Since the pandemic panic started, 2 million guns have been sold in the US, just in March! Fear, it seems the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution suddenly found a whole bunch of additional supporters. 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/01/business/coronavirus-gun-sales.html

Here is the reality of fear. It doesn't just exist at the individual level. It doesn't take place with only the poor or the less educated. At it's most dangerous point, fear overtakes all levels of society, including governance. When you surround the population with 24/7/ fear like the MSM loves to do, then they convince leaders they must do something to alleviate those fears. As a reminder, MSM is nothing more than an ideological/political weapon, at least in the West. In many parts of the world, people now fear for their future, their economic future, and that leads to fear for their physical future, regardless if they get "sick" or not. Fear. It's the issue that drives nations to desperate actions. 

So What: 

The title of this post was based on answering the question, what will the world look like, post-pandemic? I've set the scene I needed to. I've come to the point where I will attempt to answer, in my opinion, the post-pandemic world question. Here is what I like to call the, "So What?" 

Stop the Bleeding: 

Convincing the world the pandemic is coming under control is vital to keeping societies and nations from taking desperate, aggressive actions. 

Tell the Truth:

The age-old battle of political leadership in a crisis; tell the truth and risk panic, or handing the advantage to political rivals, or limiting the truth to keep the population from panic, with the risk of being called a liar, thus destroying trust. It's a process very few governments ever get right and in today's world, it's a process that has global observation and reaction. Yes, governing over 7 BILLION people is the challenge. Truth. It's the concept that almost always becomes the victim in a leadership crisis. China Lied. Can the world leadership tell the truth? 

Limit the damage:

Damage control. That's the phase the US and many other nations find themselves in. How does the world stop the economic nosedive as they also attempt to stop or even slow the virus? It became clear to just about everyone, the approach to stop the virus was catastrophic to the global economy. Did global leadership realize the price they were going to pay? Yes, but not to the levels that are taking place. Damage control. It's the most difficult, and yet the most critical event taking place in the world today. It's the test many governments are failing miserably, and that leads us right back to the issue of the next crisis. 

I covered the 3 steps above without addressing the most important phase. "Recovery". Why? Because it's this recovery phase that seems to be the foundation of the next crisis.  Global crises stress global unity and recovery from this pandemic, economic and physical pandemic, will require global unity. "Every man for themselves", that's the next real crisis! The world must, at all costs, avoid the Every man for themselves crisis. The problem is, this process is already well underway. How do we turn that ship around? How do nation's incorporate the needs and demands of other nations when their own populations are struggling? Global unemployment means absolutely nothing to someone who has lost their job in Chicago or London. Here is the problem. We can't reach, "Global Unity" and as that reality becomes known, nations will begin to do what's best for them. If that problem was not enough, never forget the world has leaders who see this pandemic crisis as an opportunity, and that includes Emperor Xi. Yesterday, I addressed the issue of the US sending messages, messages that are actually warnings. There is only one reason those messages are being sent. the indicators are there. Nations are starting to do what is best for them. Even worse, some are out to change the world order and this crisis is the tool they are using to achieve that goal. 

I'll end this post with two comments. One is a warning of what the next crisis might be, and the second is a message of hope. 

Prolonged hard times, global hard times end with conflicts, conflicts that may start with proxies, but can end with major nations against major nations. Some leaders are desperate and some leaders are hungry and see a weakened enemy. A dangerous prediction of our next true crisis. 

If people hear the truth and hear it now, over and over again, then pressure can be applied to keep leaders from taking the conflict way out. Is China upset with the Emperor? Rumor has it. Does that keep the next crisis from taking place? Tell the truth. Tell the people what may be ahead of them and let them own their own future. If, "Every man for themselves" is the path nations are going to take, let the people know that upfront. 

Global markets, global trade, global interconnectivity? Is that the straw that broke the Camel's back? 

Is the post-pandemic world no longer based on global interaction? In order to find out, we have to get there fist. Dangerous times ahead! 

CORONAVIRUS

DO WE UNDERSTAND ALL THE MOVING PARTS? 

Again, it's been over a week since I last posted and for the same reason. I wanted to see what global trends were taking place before I gave my version of an update. So, what has changed? Let me stick with the larger, more impacting issues and stay away from the childish political games being played in the US. Why? Because a few issues are going to have a much larger impact on the future of the world than," where did Uncle Joe go" and, " Look what Trump said now". Let me stick with one overall theme. Just how stable is the world today? 

Is there an imminent threat of war in the world? No. 

Could there be in the near future? Yes. 

Why? Well, here we go! 

China lied:

I talked about this issue last week, but let me do a quick recap. Did China lie about what was taking place inside China? Yes. Beijing was and is more worried about global perceptions than a few hundred thousand deaths. I mean, in the Emperor's opinion, what's a few peasants when your global status is at stake? A few Doctors spoke up and look what that got them. Look; China lied and we all know it, even the Emperor knows we know it. Why do you think Beijing is putting out an unprecedented information campaign? China has a vision, or should I say, the Communist Party of China has a vision, and this virus is a tool to be leveraged to reach that vision..............period! 

Reset:

I know I keep beating this drum, but that's only because I know I'm right. My theory? Reset, that's my theory. If you have not read what "Reset" is, then here is the down and dirty. Over the past forty years, China has had one goal, to become the leader of the world. Their addictive economic plan was based on getting the world hooked on cheap labor and low-cost goods. Debt? Yes, we swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker! Flash forward to 2020, and here we are. The world economy is on its knees, thanks to an event that started in China, and Beijing is out playing savor to the rest of the world trying to keep people from dying. coincidence? I don't believe in the meaning of that word, and I sure don't trust the Emperor. Everybody ends up in the economic ditch, with a huge part of the world looking for a lifeline, any lifeline. Who is suddenly over the virus? Who's the economy is bouncing back to life to save the day? Yep. "Reset". It's about being the first back to the top, especially after you chose the moment in time to wreck everyone else. 

Stability: 

Just how destabilized are parts of the world becoming? The fuel feud between Moscow and the Prince has both Russia and the Middle East wondering how to pay for future grand plans. Iran has the virus and a public that hates its government. Iran is the proxy fighter that might be unwilling to do Moscow's bidding, all in the name of the Tsar needing a bump in oil prices. Rumors of the US military's Combat Readiness have begun to percolate to the editor's page.  

https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/china-could-prey-on-covid-19-weakened-pentagon/

Do you think that story is inspiring to the Emperor, or is he the next savior of the sick world? Do you think the story of the Captian of the USS Theodore Rosevelt pleading for help was good news in Beijing? Did the party elites look at each other and say, " it's working"? Did the US see the trends in the world right now and say, "let's send a message? " Don't Fu... with us!" Yep. That's exactly what the US just did. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-amica-52133500?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world/latin_america&link_location=live-reporting-story

Is Nicolas Maduro in bed with Beijing? Yes. Did the US Intelligence Community pick up on something taking place, something that would test the US's resolve in the Americas? Hint, the US has been "seeing" those signs for the past several years. By the way; is AMLO, Mexico's Revolutionary President, in bed with Maduro? Absolutely. Look up AMLO and CELAC. Better yet, read one of my old posts about the topic. 

http://coldansviewpoint.blogspot.com/2020/01/amlo-and-celac-true-colors-flying-back.html

DC's announcement of the larger than normal Taskforce deploying into the area is part of the bigger picture. The pandemic virus is more than just an economic weapon unleashed on the world. It's an event that can create havoc for weaker, more unstable nations; nations like those in Central and South America. Does the US realize this? Yes. Was this announcement, one the administration knows the whole world is watching, to include Beijing and Moscow and Tehran, designed to tell the US's enemies, " Don't Fu.. with us?" Did the nearly simultaneous threat to Tehran fall into this same message? You bet it did. 

More than just a "message":

The Chicken or the Egg? What took place fist? The sinking of the Venezuelan Patrol Boat, or the message from DC? Don't get lost in timelines, but understand one thing, this was not a happenstance event. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52151951

Did a Venezulian Patrol Boat decide to play the ramming game with a ship that had a reinforced hull? Stupid, if true. So, the RCGS Resolute, an interesting name given the game that is taking place, was just out to sea, with no civilian passengers, for a "Routine maintenance" check? The Resolute was in international waters when it was fired upon by the Venezuelan Patrol Boat?  Does this story sound a little....let's say.............fishy? I have a good nose for fishy stories and this one smells like something bloated that washed ashore. Something is cooking in Central and South America and the US is responding. Who is involved and what might take place? Those are two questions that could take the US MSM off the virus story in a hurry. The "message" from DC was clear. The question becomes, does the intended target of that message have the ability to understand what is being conveyed? 

Desperate Times/ Desperate measures: 

It's an old saying, but it holds true now more than ever. China pushed its economy into the ditch with the anticipation of being the first to recover. So far, that plan looks like it' working. But, and here comes the huge, "BUT". In all of Beijing's vanity and arrogance, did they underestimate the enemy they are truly trying to knock off? No, not just the US; the "West and its Capitalist partners"?  If you are first back to the trading table if you are the one offering to save everyone, but no one wants your salvation, then what? For over three weeks now, the Emperor has had his Kingdom in full information warfare mode. How dare the US call the virus, "The Chinese Virus!" How dare the nations that are receiving aid from the powerful Dragon Kingdom announce the products are defective? Silence! How dare the world question the intentions of the Emperor and his servants. Oh, but the world is, and it's growing by the day. So, what if, my favorite game, what if the world turns it's back on China? Can Beijing's plan to sell most of their goods internally save the Emperor's master plan? What happens if you are the fist back to the top, but nobody will speak to you, or worse, they still blame you? Just think of the hundreds of billions of dollars, US-based dollars to boot, that has been spent on the most elaborate Soft Power plan in the history of modern societies, the Belt and Road Initiative, ended with no one wanting to travel on the bridges or the roads? Yes, maybe some small-time players will stay in the fold, but what if the EU, the US, and India say, "no thanks?" China has gambled big. Beijing has put into motion a plan they have been driving towards for over forty years. If the unintended consequences of that plan destroy the endgame, then what? Has an Emperor ever been forcefully removed from power in China? The oldest civilization in the world has begun to shift from Soft Power actions. Hard Power events may be on the near horizon. Keep thinking about that Joint Taskforce in Central and South America. More than one world leader can play the Hard Power game and trust me, the US has cards for this game that the Emperor is not ready for. 

Playing the ramming game with an ice worthy ship. I wonder how that was received back in Beijing? Oh ya. I wonder what that ship was really doing? Hmm... I think I know:) 

CHIAN AND THE GRAND PLAN

 "RESET". IT'S MY THEORY AND I'M STICKING WITH IT. 

https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/china-steals-a-covid-19-march-on-us-in-se-asia/

Read this story. I've found many just like it. What does it mean? Well, if you ask me, they are all indicators of what China has been preparing for over the past several decades. Was the virus a weapon deliberately released to cripple the world's economy? Does an ageless Tennent of warfare apply? " It is better to hand your enemy overwhelming wounded than simply hanging them the dead"? Wounded take huge amounts of assets and energy, and that overwhelms your enemy's ability to focus on the fight. This virus overwhelms with sick, not dead? Coincidence? I'll avoid the question of weaponization for now and for one reason. I want to get to the issue I believe will give us the real answer to what is taking place. 

RESET:

https://www.amazon.com/SECOND-DARK-AGES-unofficial-Review-ebook/dp/B07YP1LTYM

"Reset". It's a concept I came up with several years ago. It was a concept of mine based on what I knew about China as well as how they were posturing themselves in the world. So, what is Reset? Simple. In my book, link above, the Dragon / China/ is postured to take advantage of the next real crisis in the world, a crisis they couldn't be directly associated with, but a crisis they were prepared to leverage to set into motion their true goal; world domination. In my book, that trigger crisis is a conflict between Saudi and Iran, one that quickly, with help, gets out of control. Now, that scenario may not align with the current virus crisis, but the premise does not change. China has prepared itself for being first back to the top...........yep. If you are properly prepared and you see a crisis coming, push the event knowing that you are in a position to be the fist back to the top. Sound crazy? Read my book. 

What Have they Done:

Was the purpose of letting this virus event get out of control deliberate? Beijing is struggling with the world blaming them for this crisis and their information operation to counter that accusation is a well-oilded machine. It's almost as if they planned on the blame game taking place! Think about that for a minute. Now, now they are "reaching out" to all of those nations that are struggling with the virus crisis. Gee, what a great group of people in that Chinese Communist Party. Xi, he's just one compassionate guy. Just ask the Muslims in China! 

The Western world's economy is diving into a ditch. The Chinese are reaching out to fill the void. Does any of this seem strange? Again, read my book! Beijing is out to leverage this crisis and that is not something they came up with in the past four months. The nation famous for in-depth planning, planning that is 30 to 50 years out, that nation is now making its move based on this crisis. At the end of the day, Beijing is posturing to be the savior of the world's economy. Strange. This happened just as the Hong Kong issue was about to disrupt Xi' s long term vision. What's that old saying, " the Best Defense is a Strong Offense?" Look. Xi and his Communist teammates are going to take advantage of this crisis, and that means they are capable of anything. If your doorbell rings and it's a care package from China, make sure you put it in water for a few minutes before you open it. They are out to make things go BOOM. 

CORONAVIURS 

SOMETIMES, THERE ARE NO EASY CHOICES

I haven't posted in over a week and for good reason. I didn't feel like it. Nope. I was not sick. I just wanted to watch this crisis play out for a week or more to see what the real issue might become. I had a good idea what might take place as you see, I've been down this road before. Here are two questions that seem to have virtually no value right now, but just can't seem to go away. 

1. How did this happen? 

2. Did leadership, all over the world, react too slowly? 

Here is the issue. the answers don't matter, at least not right now. 

Here is the question that truly matters. 

3. What is going to happen? 

If we can get at least a basic understanding of what this answer might be, we can determine what level of effort needs to take place and what area that effort needs to be focused on. 

So, here we go folks. Here is my down and dirty and my down and dirty is based on, "Been there....done that" at levels, you don't want to know. 

Risk Analysis:

For two weeks now, all I've heard are MSM "experts", political "experts", academic "experts" and frankly, I'm "experted out! Look, everything any of you has heard has to be based on one simple concept, a concept I've not heard one talking-head mention. Risk Analysis. What is that? Let me give you a cheat sheet version. 

Risk Analysis. When you look at an issue and you weigh the danger of not responding or over-responding. When you look at this concept up, you will find all kinds of prior military, thinktank, academic definitions and if you have time for reading that level of fluff, be my quest. 

Have governments, at all levels, all over the world, utilized this concept? Yes, but some may not have done a very good job or worse, some weight certain factors at a greater value than they really are, especially to the public. Risk Analysis is very...very.....subjective and that leads to problems, problems that come from the interpretation of statements and guidance and that leads to perceptions that become reality. If that's not bad enough, in truly free nations, political rivals find a way to twist issues for the sake of political advantage. You see, Risk Analysis is a vital tool in a time of crisis, but it's the decision-makers that come to the wrong conclusions, even when the data is there. 

Alright. What does this discussion mean to you right now? How does this post make life easier or clearer for you? Let me take a shot at what really matters. Back to the real question. 

Where are we going:

What is the death rate? Now that a much larger scale of testing is coming out, it seems the actual death rate is lower than all the "experts" scared us to death over. If it holds true, it seems the rate is 1 percent or less. So, let me ask a simple question. Can we continue to drive the world's economy over the cliff, a cliff that soon will take decades to recover from? Do we continue to do this for the sake of a virus that has a 1 percent mortality rate? We have already damaged the global economy to a point most "experts" are not sure what the real damage is. 

Before you paint me as insensitive, know this. I am over 60, I am in the High-Risk category given my battle with cancer. I am part of that 1 percent that is being killed by this virus. Now that I have that out of the way, let me paint an even more dangerous picture for you. Let me show you what a world in economic ruin looks like. Let me show you why President Trump's statement about how even more people could be killed by the crash than the virus; a comment that had the MSM's heads spinning. 

It was 1935 and my Mother was 14 yrs old. She and her family ate a meal with meat in it once every three days. They lived on apx 800 calories a day. Her family were farmers and worked outside. 800 calories didn't get you to noon. Let industry fall apart in the US/world. Let this interconnected, global market/economy fall apart and the repercussions are far greater than 1 percent. Sound like an ugly statement? Good, it was meant to be ugly! Here is the real problem. Back in the 30s, the global markets were not interconnected, yet the depression shook the whole world. Here is another ugly statement. If you think World War II didn't come about because of the depression, then you studied a different version of history than I did. Yes, the world was exhausted from WWI, but the desperation of the German people was brought on by the global depression. Enter.....Hitler! Does anyone truly believe that we can risk what is left of our new global economy for the sake of people like me? Can 1 percent of the population drive the other 99 percent into a destabilized world, a world that will go to war to find a way out of the crisis? Yes, folks. We will see a world that will stumble into a war if we don't get back to work. Will the US or China or Russia, well maybe not China, start a conflict to save what is left of their economy? What keeps a society loyal to the government? What makes a nation desperate? Unemployment, starvation, and the list goes on. No, the US and other large nations may not start a conflict, but nations far more desperate a year from now, two years from now, what about them? Can you read this post and tell yourself, "it won't happen!" By the way, that was the sentiment in England, France, and even the US around 1933/34. 

Yes, President Trump alluded to something yesterday. Yes, the MSM ran around the room with their hair on fire, but the point is relevant.  We must.................must perform a true Risk Assessment on what needs to happen. I will tell you this. This process has taken place with the US leadership, at least at the White House, and the dangers they now see from a continued freefalling economy is far more damaging and dangerous than the virus. Sound insensitive? Sorry, these are very insensitive times and by the way, I am part of that 1 percent. 

COVID-19

IF IT ALL BREAKS DOWN

Over the past few months, I've touched on the topic of how fragile how life has become in a complex society. I've addressed it over mass migration issues, the division of social norms inside a nation like the US, and finally, I recently addressed the topic over the issue of COVID-19. Here is the problem. This topic is not being discussed enough by federal, state, and local governments. Everyone seems to want to talk about what it takes to keep from getting sick, what to do if you get sick, and finally, just how bad this outbreak might get. Again, the problem is, no one seems to talk about the ugly issue, the breakdown of social order. Zombies? No. The loss of Critical Infrastructure, at least to the point of panicking failure? Yes. So, here I go again, only this time, I'm going to give you the down and dirty of what the media seems to be pushing us towards. If some of this sounds familiar, I apologize upfront but trust me, this version of the story is one I've not spent a lot of time on. By the way, if you ask if I know this topic, you don't want to know how well and why. Hush Connie:) 

Levels of failure:

Does it take a true disaster, emergency to send people into a panic? Did you read my post from the other day on the similarities between cattle and people? 

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7459309648379320825#editor/target=post;postID=4216488578586100482;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=4;src=postname

Short version. People can panic and the notion of a rumor. The good news is, the percentage of those who panic on a simple rumor is minimal, that is until the rumor begins to have visual support. Like most emergencies, panic typically starts out low but grows based upon the level of validity. Here is an example. 

Rumor: the Virus is in your area. 

Action: Some percentage of people begin to take additional measures. 

Rumor confirmed by authorities: The percentage of people taking some level of activity increases, but still at a rate that is considered proportional. 

Visual confirmation by the public:  Schools closed, business told to work from home, ect...ect. The public continues to increase their reaction, and at this point, governance begins to see the results or impacts. 

Leadership walks back previous information: CDC releases someone they said was not infected, but then has to admit they were and that person had been released back into the public. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/485771-texas-lawmakers-call-for-investigation-into-cdcs-handling-of-released-a The public begins to doubt governance's guidance. Rumors move quicker and have a larger impact. 

Other Areas show dramatic impact:  News clips of empty malls in California, England, Europe. People who have been on the sidelines of reaction, now begin to take measures. The percentage of those seeking action increases to over fifty percent. Those who casually go to the store, see the impact and add on to the hoarding process. 

Stories of shortages: This is where the cattle analysis truly sets in. People here and see shortages stories and go back to buy even more of what they think maybe about to disappear. Runs on stores are shown on all media outlets. The number of those now actively involved in the panic events is nearly 100 percent. 

Here is the scary part. What one of these steps have you not witnessed yet? Here is another ugly fact. The "smart" panic buyers, don't let anyone know they are doing it! 

At this point, we are still only talking about "preventive/proactive / events. What comes next is the real issue. What happens next is where the wheels start to come off of "normal" society. 

Infrastructure / First Responders: 

Firefighters being told to stay home because they are sick. Confirmed? Maybe not, but told to stay home anyway. " The worried Sick." A concept I've talked about before, but you may want to look it up again. The sewer plant that truly only has five people who know how to keep it functional. The rest of the staff have no clue. That's a typical scenario in the US and other parts of the world. One guy stays home, "sick," and the rest think, uh oh, did I touch anything he was working on yesterday?  " I don't want to take a chance, and I've got sick days. The heck with it, I'm calling in sick until I find out what was wrong with Bob!" Sound crazy? You better not think so. 

Police and EMS get a call to a guy lying on the street. He's been sick for two days, and now he is unconscious. " Dude. Did you make that call to the guy on the sidewalk yesterday? You heard he died today from the Virus? Hey. Why don't you go home for a few days and just to make sure?"  Yep. Don't believe me? Take a look at Iran as of today. Better yet, look at China's Police and EMS. They look like Chemical Warfare soldiers. 

Someone calls 9-11. The dispatcher informs the caller it may be an hour or more before someone makes the scene given the shortages.  Sound crazy? Okay, just keep thinking that way. Let me ask you something. What percentage of the First Responder Force needs to not be at work before the entire community begins to feel the impact? Do you have any idea? Have you ever asked?

How visual does the change to day to day life have to be before people begin to change all of their daily routines? Hundreds of millions of people in China staying off the streets. Industry at a standstill. China is pushing its way through this crisis, but they are far from clear from the danger. The rest of the world is seeing a giant virus bug behind every tree. Worse, many of them actually have that bug inside their society. Each nation, each state, each community is unique; trust me, I know! Some cookie-cutter response is not going to keep the people from panic. 

Just in Time Inventory Management:  

A day or two ago, I addressed the hidden danger of a "Global Economy." Let me touch upon another topic that corporations have lived by for two decades now. " Just in Time Inventory Management." If you have not heard of it, here you go. https://www.manufacturing.net/home/article/13240406/justintime-inventory-management-and-how-it-affects-cost

Hurricanes. That was the crisis that showed the US the dangers of " Just in Time Inventory Management. My story? Well, it had to do with thousands of people running out of gas as they attempted to get away from Hurricane Rita. My story? Someone telling me, " YOU HAVE TO GET FUEL TO THOSE PEOPLE OR THEY WILL DROWN!"  Yep. I've been down that road, pardon the pun. Here is my point, the ability of modern society to empty the stores is already a given. The issue that most people don't comprehend is when those who restock the stores don't show up or don't have anything to restock with. Let this virus story continue to get worse, both physically with the spread of the illness, and the fear of pending danger and the topic of nationwide shortages will be a reality in no time. 

The Haves and the Have-nots: 

Are large cities able to support themselves? What happens when stories run out of essentials? Do people get in their cars and drive to stores they believe may still have goods? Yep. Does that work? Nope! Does that make the crisis worse? Yep. Again, if you have ever been near a large Hurricane landfall area, you know what I am talking about. Cities; the land of glitter and glamor becomes the Zombie Zone! Did it happen in China? Nope. Why? Well, in a nation where you don't obey leads to being shot dead, it's not too hard to keep people in line. Let them see the first few bodies hit the street, and the fear of the virus goes away. In China, the fear of authority is absolute. You may get sick, but you will be shot! That's how you hold a society together, one that is on the edge of falling apart. Fear! Are we heading in that direction, outside of China? Iran is already there. Here is the other reality check. As things get worse, people stop caring about what is happening somewhere else. First, it's, " I don't care about China or Iran." Then it becomes, " I don't care about California or New York." Then, " I don't care about Travis County." Then, finally, " I don't care about my next-door neighbor." Sound too dramatic? Have you ever known something is about to kill you? If not, you have no idea of the human instinct to survive. 

Wrap: 

Look. I know this has been a melodramatic post. I realize some will read it and say, "what a fear-mongering flake." Here is the issue. I'm not the one driving this virus story into everyone's head. As a matter of fact, I'm one of those who have been saying, stop with the media-driven hype. The truth is, people seem to love this story. They seem to get a thrill from reading about the increasing number of sick people. Never mind the recovery rate is soaring; people love a crisis and guess what, so does the media and politicians. Nope. I'm not here to scare you. I simply want everyone to understand what they are heading into if they don't take a breath. Spook the people too much, and the stampede gets to the point, people run past the bullets. Everything will still work. It will be the people who have broken the society made of fine crystal. 

JOE BIDEN 

THE CABAL MAKES IT'S MOVE

Okay, before we get started, let me make one thing very clear. I think Bernie Sanders is a complete nutcase, and hell would freeze over before I would vote for him. Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, let me get down to the point that is vital to the US elections in 2020. How in the world did Uncle Joe, who can't remember what he said an hour ago, come from last to the top of the pack? That's the question most people tracking the US Presidential election process are asking today. Here is the bad news. If you are looking, the answer is right in front of your nose. 

Deep State: 

Do those who believe they run DC and thus the US, truly hold elegance to one of the two parties? No! What they hold sacred is the Cabal of those who have been in DC for decades, yes, decades. Feathers off the same bird? You bet. So, what does this have to do with Uncle Joe? Here is your hint. The year 1973! Uncle Joe is one of the "Elders" of the Cabal. He is one of the most trusted members of the "Deep State". Still, confused? Look, when crazy Bernie began to show real signs of kidnapping the US Democratic party, what's left of it, the Cabal knew it was time to act. You see, Bernie is the antimatter of Trump, but they both have something in common, they are not members of the Cabal. Yes, Crazy Bernie has been in DC since 1991, but, he's always been, well, crazy Bernie. He's the guy that you allowed to come to the party, but just stood in the corner and talk to the other nerds! He was never, ever a member of the Cool Guy Club, and that folks is the problem. 

Recapture the Flag:

A little over four years ago, the unthinkable happened. A "Nonmember" of the Cabal somehow made it inside the White House. The result, an automatic attack program designed to extract that non-member as soon as possible, by any means possible. After three years of this coup attempt, it became clear the Cabal was going to fail, and so, they did the only thing they could, they began to look for the person that could retake their Castle. That's when the next disaster took place. Not only did they fail in the Coup attempt, but the Cabal wasn't paying attention while another disturbance came along. The so-called " Squad" movement began to attempt their own Coup, but this Coup was against the other party, the Democrats. The next thing the Cabal knew, the radical side of the Democrats, really the new US Socialist Party, was gaining power and gaining fast. Now, this new threat to the powerbase in DC had a leader. Enter, Bernie! Bernie, the unapologetic Socialist. Was he the head of the new revolt the Squad was looking for? Probably not, but he was good enough to get the damage started. Well, things then went from bad to worse. Not only did the nerd from all the old parties begin to get traction, he began to win! If that's not bad enough, the loyal lapdog of the Cabal, the Mainstream Media / MSM/ seem to pick up a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome. Bernie was fun to follow and the MSM did just that. The next thing the Cabal knows, the sky began to clear. The "outsider" in the White House was going to be challenged by yet another, "outsider", the nerd. 

Power on Display:

Uncle Joe when from last to Gas in less than a week? How? The Cabal, that's how. Just how much power do you think resides inside the beltway, land of the beltway bandits? Captains of industry, political leaders who have been in power for over forty years. That my friends is real power. It was that power that went to work. The Cabal was not about to challenge one nonmember with another nonmember. But, this time, the beltway bandits had an advantage. They knew the history behind this nonmember. This outsider had a history that would scare the Amerian Public to death, or at least the Cabal hoped so; they don't pray by the way. Praying is for the underlings. In DC, the Cabal is the body that is worshiped. 

How powerful is this Cabal? It took them a week to take the frontrunner and hand him a series of defeats. Cooked books, photos of Crazy Bernie in Moscow. Nothing was off the table and the Cabal knows how to play dirty, real dirty. The end game was simple. There was an "Elder" of the Cabal in the race, and even if he couldn't find his way home, he was still going to be the chosen one and the hell with what the voters might want. What's the old saying? " Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Well, that was going to happen this time. Uncle Joe will be the one thrust into the battle with Trump, even if he has to be tied to his saddle.  The Cabal will take control of their Castle and that is all there is to it. As for the MSM, well, you can clearly see that by the time Super Tuesday was over, they had all read the memo. " Uncle Joe is back!" 

Fat Lady: 

If there is one saying Crazy Bernie knows by heart, it's this. " It ain't over until the Fat Lady Sings." Politically incorrect I know, but I don't have editors, so... too bad! Bernie is down, but now out, and who knows that better than anyone? You bet, the Cabal! The "Elder" will be propped up and teams of, " he didn't say it that way", fixers will be on standby as the poor old guy starts to speak in public again; Biden that is..............not Bernie!  As for the MSM? well, they better hold the line or there will be hell to pay.  

As we sit here tonight, we have a very fascinating event taking place. One nonmember is in the White House, looking to stay for four more years. Another nonmember is trying to take over that Cabal Castle without the support of the boys that use to invite him to their parties. To counter all of this, the Cabal is trying to keep Governor William J. Le Petomane from falling asleep during the rally! Yep, folks, it's a circus, but it's an entertaining circus all the same. Trump and Uncle Joe on the debate stage. That will be better than Friday Night Smackdown! As I head today on the radio, I wonder who will be Uncle Joe's, Headly Lamrr? 

GLOBAL MARKETS

WHEN DO THEY HURT YOU?

If you are running around, panicked over not finding items such as a mask or worse, your prescription, you may want to reconsider the whole concept of, "Global Markets". You see, here is the trick to everyone clamoring for a global market. If times are good, then the concept makes money for those companies buying and selling their goods. But, and here the where this virus comes in, when times get bad, even dangerous, that same global economy, well, it can kill you! 

Single Points of failure: 

Are there some items that should not be part of the global market process? Yes, pharmaceuticals are cheaper from overseas, but what happens if that supplier cannot produce? How long does it take to compensate for lost capabilities, overseas capabilities? Is that predicted period of time sufficient to keep the public confidence in the process? What happens if it doesn't? I had a discussion on this topic with a person who I consider to be one of the most optimistic people I know. Here was the crux of the conversation. 

Them: " If other suppliers know there is a demand, then they will step up production and the gap will be filled." 

Me: " Got it, but that's a normal world answer. When the world is sliding far away from, 'normal', then what? How do overseas factories produce the items others may need if no one is working at the factory?" 

The conversation went on for a few more minutes, but in the end, I won! The inherent risk of a global market is the development and acceptance of single points of failure. In a typical world, the gains of a global market outweigh the risk. here is the problem. deadly or not, this is not a typical event. The media, to include social media is driving people into a panic. Just yesterday in Iran, people burned down a clinic because they "heard", rumor, it was treating virus patients. One of Ayatollah Khamenei's top advisors died in the past 24hrs and several other key government leaders are sick. Panic in Iran is now two-fold. 1. The people know the government will not do anything to really support them. 2. Tehran is scared sick over losing power to an angry public. All of these types of issues create the next real issue. In a time of crisis, those that can produce tend to keep what they make. If China makes 90 percent, close I think, of the world's medical protective gear, and they can't bet their workforce to go back to work without knowing they are protected, where do you think Beijing's priorities rest? By the way, just how bad is China's economy, that global juggernaut, damaged? Take a look at this satellite photo. the lack of pollution means what? Yep, the lack of factories working, people moving. you want to see a picture that scares the Emperor to death, that would be one of them. 

The Cons vs the Pros: 

People are like cattle. I said it just last week on this blog site, but I will say it again. Spook the public, any public, and the issue, whatever it is, will get worse, much worse. Stores in the US are now limiting the number of sanitizers people can buy.....cattle. Reports of California stores running out of Toilet paper, I'm still thinking about that one and bottled water. I didn't think California would allow bottled water. I guess as long as you don't use a straw, it's ok. Look, the more the media talks, the more spooked the cattle become, and what are they looking for, what are they willing to commit a crime over? Yep, those items that they depend on someone else to provide them. 

Global markets. It's a great idea in normal times. We are not in normal times and that slight risk every government and every corporation was willing to take, well, that risk is now the reality. The trick to a successful gambler is knowing when to cover their bets, and that's something most nation's didn't do. Here is my closing comment, and it's based on events taking place between Turkey, Syria, and Russia. When governments get in trouble, real trouble, they look for a distraction. The more saver the trouble, the larget the distraction needs to be. Think about it. Better yet, think about what's going through Xi' s mind right now.