Joe Biden, FDR’s Second Coming

So Joe Biden wants to be “the next FDR,” or so he says. Excellent. Because FDR died before he could finish implementing his platform, which was based on the fact that

“We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”

So, Joe, I’ll be looking forward to your unveiling of your platform that includes FDR’s Economic Bill of Rights. That these things should be guaranteed:

• A federal job guarantee
• A living wage
• Guaranteed decent housing
• Protection against trusts and monopolies
• Guaranteed health care (Medicare for all)
• Guaranteed quality education (free state college)
• Guaranteed economic security in case of old age, sickness, accident, or unemployment (Universal Basic Income)

I’m waiting. But not gonna hold my breath

Pandemania!

Ok folks, let’s get a few things clear about this pandemic, starting with numbers.
As of this writing, the US has had roughly 735,00 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 39,000 deaths. This comes out to a little over 5% mortality. And yes, that means you have a 95% chance of getting over it if infected. 95% seems pretty good, right?
Well, let me ask you this…
If I had a bowl of 100 M&M’s, 95 of which were normal, and 5 of which would definitely kill you, and you were in a group of 100 people chosen to eat one M&M each, would you take part in this? I’m guessing not. I mean, unless you enjoy the thought of watching people die when they don’t have to.
Also, keep this in mind.
On March 4th, six weeks ago, there were 44 confirmed cases in the US and zero deaths. So 39,000 people have died from this in 6 weeks, even with “shelter in place” and social distancing.
If 1/5 people end up infected due to “opening up the economy” (whatever the hell that means), then we’re talking about roughly 3.2 million dead. And given that Covid-19 is, according to actually qualified scientists, at least as contagious as influenza, 1/5 doesn’t seem unlikely. How many fellow humans are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of the NYSE?
Herd immunity, you say? No. Covid-19 has a transmission rate of 3 infected per one person with the virus. Which epidemiologists will tell you means roughly 70% of the population will have to contract the disease. Which means about 12 million dead. Again, how many fellow citizens do you think it’s ok to sacrifice so you can go to the movies?
Ultimately, we’re faced with a real and genuine crisis here. We’ve lost, in six weeks, as many Americans as died in 3 years of the Korean War. And all our leaders have done so far is give our money to banks.
I know lots of you don’t like the idea of your hard-earned money going to people who you think are unworthy (for whatever reason, they got laid off, or furloughed, or something else through no fault of their own). But let me ask you this…
How much are you willing to part with to save the life of another living, breathing, human being just like you? How much is that individual’s life worth?
I hope it’s worth more than your owner’s stock dividends