El Escritor Inglés: March 2020

Sunday, March 22, 2020

We Are Being Played

DOUBLE-LENGTH ARTICLE

Following my previous post – Doing The Wuhan Shake (126) – an irate correspondent accused me of being frivolous. OK, perhaps I was. Following the post before that – Frankenstein’s Virus (125) – the same keyboard warrior castigated me for not ruling out the possibility that the official response to the whole coronavirus crisis was a charade. How could I rule it out? Regardless of whether the outbreak of this supposedly novel virus was ‘born of negligence or mischief’, it is the perfect pretext for a socioeconomic reset.

The world economy is about to buckle under the weight of ever-increasing, and ever-faster-increasing, debt. It is, therefore, being terminated systematically, so that the fallout can be controlled. Food rationing is being considered, ‘in response to stockpiling and shortage’. Cash use in shops is being discouraged, ‘to prevent cross-infection’. Surveillance measures are being imposed, ‘to prevent spread’. Freedom of expression is being curtailed, ‘to counter fake news’. Ask yourselves: when the crisis recedes, do you think that all these restrictions to liberty will be reversed in full? More crucially, what will cause more deaths, the imminent economic depression or the virus itself?

Governments, via their controlled media, are, transparently, orchestrating mass panic. News coverage is incredible. Even the anti-Brexit bias was more subtle than this. The message is that COVID-19 is a short road to Armageddon. We should not be fooled by this Goebbels-esque propaganda. Politicians’ devious intentions have been predictable for some time (see excerpts below).

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‘The debt crisis ... worsens by the day. Insolvent central banks are lending money to insolvent banks who buy government debt from insolvent governments who lend money to the International Monetary Fund which then lends it to insolvent governments to pay back insolvent banks.’

– La Casa de Ponzi (Article 44, 23 Jun 2012)

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‘Total economic collapse of the West is now inevitable. Few acknowledge it, though, and most people seem blissfully unaware of what lies ahead.’

– Laissez-faire It Ain't (Article 66, 30 Sep 2013)

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‘Politicians and bankers are keen to establish a cashless society. Cui bono? Is it for the public’s benefit, we are entitled to wonder, or for their own? Precisely: the alarm bells should be deafening us all.’

– Cash In Peril (Article 82, 21 Apr 2015)

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‘Today, the whole world is hooked on debt. Whether it is government debt, commercial debt or personal/household debt, it can never be paid back. Debt expansion is the only way modern economies can grow, and it is entirely by design. Inevitably, the world has crossed the financial Rubicon, and the fallout from the eventual economic collapse will be severe.’

– The Silent Go-Karts (Article 83, 20 May 2015)

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‘A ... “helicopter drop” … could be credited to the account of every taxpayer. Producing vast quantities of (unearned) paper money would be inflationary, perhaps hyperinflationary, and ultimately ruinous. Thus, (the) choice would be: (currency)-printing, leading to hyperinflation Zimbabwe-style; or not printing, allowing a deflationary spiral to fuel mass unemployment. Severe civil unrest might result from either.

‘So, what else … ? You might choose to cut interest rates – all the way to zero – in order to make debt-servicing possible. What if, however, they already were close to zero, having been so since the previous financial crisis ... , when public debt was only half its current level? What then, particularly if this cheap money tactic had facilitated not a reduction of debt but a reckless expansion of it? Well, how about introducing a negative interest rate policy (NIRP), where banks would charge interest on deposits? A rational public would immediately withdraw their funds ... and create runs on all high street banks. Given that potential outcome, perhaps panic withdrawals could be outlawed. The outright abolition of cash, leaving only digital bank account credits, would preclude any such crisis.’

– Cameron Behind The Curtain (Article 91, 9 Feb 2016)

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‘Throughout the developed world, the super-rich are fleeing cities like proverbial ship rats. Their actions seem to conform to the narrative accepted by many observers – myself included – that world economic collapse cannot be forestalled for much longer. When the debt-based currency system inevitably implodes, civilized society might well go with it. Other possible triggers range from natural disasters to chemical, biological or nuclear incidents.’

– Los Locos Vivos (Article 94, 30 Apr 2016)

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SARS-CoV-2, despite having been bio-engineered for increased virulence, poses no mortal danger to the overwhelming majority. However, worldwide economic and societal collapse would be catastrophic for all but a select few. That is the preferred option to those in power. This rotten economic system can survive no longer, so it is being taken down in such a way that blame deflection may be rationalized (Figure 127.1).

Figure 127.1: Like never in human history, we are being played.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Doing The Wuhan Shake

Shanghai, China

As the rest of the world goes mad with corona-panic, Shanghai seems to be re-emerging from the other side. Spring has arrived here – the temperature is a pleasant 20°C – and the weather will probably remain warm until November. It remains to be seen whether this so-called ‘novel’ virus can survive the human immune system and summer temperatures. I suspect not.

The Chinese government’s measures have been draconian, but it has made commendable efforts to alleviate immediate hardship. Almost everything was closed for a month, except essential services (and the odd bar, if you knew where to look). Businesses were given one month’s free rent and utilities. Employees’ sick/absence pay was paid in full, so no one was disadvantaged financially by self-isolating at home. Everyone, everywhere, has his or her temperature checked multiple times daily, and masks (although useless) are mandatory in public spaces (Figures 124.1 & 124.2). The consensus is that the crisis, if there really is one, has been managed competently. Shanghai has a population of 25 million and, so far, fewer than 500 positive coronavirus tests. (Whether the Chinese authorities are reporting the whole truth is another matter.)

Figure 126.1: On the Metro: personal protective equipment par excellence. Why anyone would believe that a surgical mask could prevent viral transmission is a mystery.

Figure 126.2: Whatever it takes: a custom-made hazmat suit.

There are also strict laws against profiteering and stockpiling. Bulk-buying is prohibited, and, unlike in the West, there are no greedy spivs and chancers making a quick buck from sales of masks and hand-sanitizing gels. Good personal hygiene is expected from everyone (Figure 124.3).

Figure 126.3: Even handshakes are strongly discouraged. The latest alternative is the ‘Wuhan Shake’, which might spawn a choreographed dance craze.

Copyright unknown

The Chinese cannot comprehend the panic-buying of toilet rolls in the UK. They find it both amusing and weird. Perhaps it will become the new reserve currency and enable me to exchange a few boxes for a small island a few miles off the coast and become known thereafter as Lord Andrex of Bogville. I suppose it would bring a new meaning to the term ‘feeling flush’.

Remember: humour is a valuable tonic, even in dark days (Figure 124.4).

Figure 126.4: Meanwhile, back in Spain …