WHATS NEXT INSECURITY?

Food insecurity is a reality for 40% of the children.  They depend on SNAP programs and food banks. While in school, free lunch and breakfast programs once served these children, but with the schools shut down due to the pandemic, these same kids can no longer count on these meals.

The summer heat that normally suppresses flu outbreaks is the silver bullet that Trump is counting on.  This flies in the face of a study I read, that cited the corona virus lasting 4 hours at 104 degrees?  The reason I question this is because of contradictory these ideas seem.  This is due to the total disinformation garble spewing from this administration creating confusion. 

Imagine an administration suppressing science and medical advice and encouraging behavior, counter to the medical experts’ advice and taking the advice of economic advisors.  The lull in cases and deaths may be lowering during the summer, which Trump is counting on.  He is willing to take the lives of citizens for the optics of a robust economy that has long gone into the vapors.

Trump is in a lose-lose situation of his own making.   I fear Trump may use anything to either create a conflict, an enormous distraction, or some other foolish misstep.  He is already setting up both, immigration, China, and the threat to Iran.  Iran has its own problems with the virus containment and is in no political position to be able to have the country support a conflict. 

China has mended their ways with the rest of the world and Trump seems to be the odd man out in relations.  Is it to promote his false narratives?

Back to the theme for today insecurity…  The false security that may be gained with the summer months, might make it easier for a massive rebound for the virus in the fall, when the weather changes.  Is Trump also banking on instant tests and a potential vaccine, which experts think is dreaming the near impossible? 

The obvious problem is each of these are only potential and if lucky, he may come out a temporary winner.  Fauci and all other medical experts say it will come back in the fall.  Will the anxiety for opening be a recipe for disaster?

The public is confused by the guidelines, the availability of tests and misinformation gurgled from the mouth of the POTUS.  All these elements create the insecurity, which cannot be remedied with the cash payouts used to prompt demand. 

When it comes to POTUS it’s, don’t use me as an example.  I don’t wear a mask, I get tested daily, and everyone around me gets tested. However, you cannot get a test unless you have symptoms.  Trump’s fallback, when asked about testing is, “other doctors I’ve talked to have said testing is not that important to opening” not revealing the source.  Is it his big brain?

His health care response is a disaster and now his response to the economic crisis is also turning out to be a disaster.  He surrounds himself with some experts and lackies and cronies and listens to all and always leans any action or need toward self-benefit first, political cudgel/ benefit second, the crony’s desires third, next is his base in fourth place, then comes the general public’s needs in fifth place.  This looks like I found a home run.

The economy is still in free fall and will continue until the fear subsides. Even then, it will only come back at 60-70% due to uncertainty, fear, and insecurity.

TRUMP’S DREAMS DASHED?

For sure there will be 2 quarters of downward GNP, which qualifies as a recession.  It takes 4 quarters for a depression.  The unemployment rate fell greater than at any time since the depression and is headed toward the rate being even higher. 

The stock market is being propped up by stock buy backs are buoying up the indexes.  Boeing made a record buyback using taxpayer dollars, in lieu of giving the bailout dollars to the employees.  These buybacks make the stock market the worst indicator of the true economy in these times. These buybacks will only work if the economy bounces back.  When reality sets in, profit margins fall, and stock dividends dry up the market will again be in a free fall.  Is it going to be -woops I did it again?

Any positive GNP result in the 3^rd quarter will be touted as a great success in adverting a depression.  Trump is banking on both hope and bad advice.  There is nothing worse than someone lacking common sense combined with shear ignorance.