TXPaganBanker
TXPaganBanker's JournalAmerica is beginning to fail.
This administration is beginning to achieve something that wouldn’t have sounded possible a mere three years ago: the dissolution of the United States. Today, a fourth state collective was announced to deal with the challenges of the Corona virus, including personal protective equipment acquisition and distribution, and the process of safely reopening parts of their states. It’s being handled in a way to purposefully not inform the federal government of movement of necessary medical supplies. Bluntly, if the federal government is aware of the equipment, they may seize it and redirect it to undisclosed locations without informing anyone where it will be distributed. The states are also using a more science-based regional approach to determining what businesses should be considered essential, and when public services like schools should reopen. These decisions are being made at a state level specifically because involvement from the Federal Government is not only not helpful, it’s actively detrimental to the states.
In addition, the roll back of federal regulations on environmental policy (over 74 major pieces voided which states have tried to piecemeal back together on a state level), stark disagreements on immigration (sanctuary cities versus holding camps), major policy disagreements on subjects like medical marijuana (state tax revenue versus federal raids), and the recent spat between Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Gov. Cuomo from New York on “blue-state bailouts” show states are at least willing to threaten to go at it alone. There have been roll backs on inspections from the FDA when we need to protect our food supply the most. A study on Coronavirus tests that were rushed to market after being greenlit by the USDA showed that most of them are wildly inaccurate and useless. The Federal government is all but telling the states “Don’t trust us.”
The current administration is failing in so many ways that very few federal services are relevant to the states as a collective. There is a desire at the federal level to do away with many of these as well. The president and Congress have threatened to either withhold assistance funds or allow the United States Postal Service to fail, in favor of private businesses. The Interstate Highway Fund is massively underfunded, and no major infrastructure bill has passed in over a decade. The only “service” the United States Federal government is providing is protection through our military. However, the military can provide protection to a collective of smaller nations just as well as they are doing now. The American dream has gone on for over two and a half centuries. The dream may be over.
Study finds more deaths, no benefit from malaria drug touted by Trump
The study, funded by National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia, consisted of 368 patients at Veterans Health Administration medical centers, some treated hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin.
"About 28% who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. About 22% of those getting the drug plus azithromycin died too, but the difference between that group and usual care was not considered large enough to rule out other factors that could have affected survival."
Trump repeatedly pushed for using the drug against the advice of advisers like Dr. Fauci, presumably because he and other members of his administration own shares of the company that produce the drug.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/study-finds-more-deaths-no-benefit-from-malaria-drug-touted-by-president-trump/287-1bc9b7ad-d385-4bab-841a-839199d6a9e3
Donald Trump names WWE's Vince McMahon as adviser to restart US economy
The US president announced this week he’s putting together a group including the commissioners of the nation’s top four sports leagues and other executives.
As well as ‘the great’ WWE chairman Vince McMahon, Trump also named the likes of NBA’s Adam Silver, NFL chief Roger Goodell, MLB’s Rob Manfred and NHL boss Gary Bettman.
Furthermore, he noted that UFC president Dana White is part of the team, alongside Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/15/donald-trump-wwe-vince-mcmahon-adviser-economy-12558398/?fbclid=IwAR2o_bKhi4hZFtyR3vlgRWAv2HnczKiMuUkPYmx5QcFsFveYy-XH3nXszUM
Sure, why not? Fuck it.
I've found articles in eWrestlingNews, Sports Illustrated, but not major news sites. Metro UK has a shaky reputation at best. If it weren't for actual video of him saying this at yesterday's news briefing, I'd never believe it.
We just found out through the news about my Great Aunt's nursing home
I saw a story about St. John the Baptist parish in Louisiana and started checking with family. My great aunt's nursing home (Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home) is featured in the story. We're not able to get information if she's one of the 7 deceased or one of the 18 others that tested positive. She's 91, so we don't have high hopes. Additionally, I've got two aunts and an uncle about 15-20 miles away in Kenner and Metairie. All are diabetic, in poor health, and over 65. I was able to get a hold of two of them today, not doing any worse than usual. The third... he's running a fever and his blood sugar is testing over 600 (high enough his monitor can't read it). No one can go over to check on him because of the fever.
My dad is worried he's about to lose 3 siblings and we're not going to be able to go to their funerals. He's an absolute mess but I'm taking care of him. I'm at a loss y'all. Watch out for the ones you love.
https://www.wdsu.com/article/coroner-one-third-of-all-deaths-in-st-john-parish-connected-to-nursing-home-for-veterans-in-reserve/32022027#
Salvation Army, that most Xtian of companies, just fired all their employees via conference call.
My fiancee got a notice of a mandatory conference call at 10:55, call scheduled for 11:00. No one could get on the call. 20 minutes later, she got an email with this:
NOTICE OF TERMINATION
March 31, 2020
Re: NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES REGARDING CLOSINGS
Since our discussion on Monday, March 24th, management has reevaluated our financial situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we have been confronted with making some very difficult decisions. One of those decisions requires suspending business operations of all stores and most of the operations in the warehouse. During the reevaluation it has been determined to lay off most of our staff. A small group of individuals will remain employed to maintain operations of the rehabilitation program. This will be effective March 31, 2020.
All insurance will terminate on March 31, 2020; however you may have the option to retain your health insurance benefits for up to three (3) months. The prices listed below would be what you are required to pay to maintain health benefits. Payments will be due to the Finance Department on the first day of the month if you choose to continue coverage.
Health Benefit Plan Total Cost
Employee Only $1,052.00
...
Contact ______________________ for questions regarding Health Insurance and Life Insurance.
It is our intent to recall employees when we are financially able to do so.
For more information regarding this matter, please contact _______________ via telephone at ________________.
Please accept our appreciation for your contributions during your employment with The Salvation Army.
Sincerely,
Paul McFarland
They fired every store employee, except the store manager, in every single store. The thing we're most worried about is they terminated the health insurance effective tonight midnight. We're scrambling because if we want to continue her health insurance, in the middle of a pandemic, we need to come up with a grand TODAY. The payment is due tomorrow.
This is the most infuriating thing I could imagine. Another display of "Christian values".
Note: I did this as a typed document to remove the phone numbers and contact names, as well as I've never been able to get images to link properly on DU.
Update: They fired the store managers too.
Update 2: She filed for unemployment this morning, but we have to wait to see if she's eligible. We were able to find her insurance through the Marketplace, and she qualifies for a small subsidy. It's still $382 a month, but it's a heck of a lot better than $1052.
Austin company looking to dock paychecks for those receiving stimulus checks
A company in Austin is effectively attempting to seize their employees stimulus checks, as well as the employee's half of any amounts due to dependents. The company has not been publicly identified yet.
"The worker said his company emailed a form titled “Employee Acknowledgement of ‘Government Assistance’ Pay Reduction” to some staffers on Wednesday. “In response to the economic crisis that is affecting all of us due to the coronavirus pandemic…(company name redacted) are hereby enacting the Employee Emergency Compensation Fund,” the letter stated.
The agreement would put workers under a “temporary compensation reduction that is in line with the assistance that it receives from the federal government related to the COVID-19 pandemic.” By signing the agreement, the company’s employees would have their paychecks between April 6 and April 20 cut by 100% of any money received under the stimulus bill.
The company would also take half of the $500 stipend allotted for dependents under the bill. "
https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-company-looking-to-dock-paychecks-for-those-receiving-stimulus-checks/?fbclid=IwAR325XsFcn18ma3Lfw02v-441TOJiC_f5NwgrqlEW6TVoInp5ch3Wc-Cwcg
WTAF, people?
Trump tells Governors to get their own supplies, outbids them, gives N95 masks to ICE.
"Trump on Thursday put the onus on governors to obtain the critical equipment their states need to fight the coronavirus pandemic, telling reporters that the federal government is “not a shipping clerk”."
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/19/trump-governors-coronavirus-medical-supplies-137658
"In an afternoon conference call with President Donald Trump, Gov. Charlie Baker followed up on states individually buying supplies.
Baker said Massachusetts lost three orders to the federal government.
"Well, we do like you going out and seeing what you can get if you can get it faster," Trump said. "Price is always a component of that, also. Maybe that's why you lost to the feds.""
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/mgh-desperately-needs-supplies-president-says/2094292/
"President Trump said his administration had ordered 500 million of these [N95] masks after receiving complaints about widespread shortages. To cope with the burgeoning coronavirus crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told nurses to use bandanas and scarves as last-resort masks. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, meanwhile, have access to N95 masks as they apprehend immigrants during a national pandemic."
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/going-war-butter-knife/608428/
I'm out of words for how much I detest this vile creature.
Friend of mine works at the Dallas Police Department
They said they are prepping for something big; all available officers on the ground, around the clock starting Monday. There is an unprecedented amount of equipment going through detail checks. They're expecting and preparing in case of "looting and rioting" in parts of the city because the city is going to be put on "hard lock down". They don't want to make the preparations public because it may give people ideas. That's all she was willing/able to tell me.
I figured most people here aren't the rioting and looting type, and it felt too big not to share somewhere.
Closed case numbers on COVID-19
In the United States, we keep being told that the mortality rate of COVID-19 is 1.5-3.5%, and that number is inflated. When you look at the numbers of “closed cases” worldwide, people that have either recovered or died, you get real numbers. As of 3/18/2020, 93,182 closed cases; 84,402 recovered, 8,780 that died. 120,070 cases don’t have an outcome yet. That gives a 9.4% mortality rate, or 3 times what we’re being told by the news.
Am I the only one that is looking at it like this?
They're not even going thru the motions of pretending any more
Biden is the presumptive nominee*? Pressure a foreign country for an investigation that eventually gets you impeached.
Biden is 4th place? Crickets.
Biden sweeps South Carolina primaries?
"Senate Republicans plan first subpoena in Burisma, Biden probe"
"Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is preparing to subpoena a witness tied to Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma, in an escalation of the GOP probe of the firm that comes as former vice president Joe Biden’s fortunes are rising in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary....
Johnson sent the letter one day after Joe Biden was announced the winner of the South Carolina Democratic primary, a victory that has resurrected his campaign and shaken up the race for the 2020 nomination.
In an interview Monday night, Johnson denied that Biden’s win sparked his subpoena request, noting that “we’d still be asking for the same information” regardless of Biden’s status as a Democratic presidential candidate."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-republicans-plan-first-subpoena-in-burisma-biden-probe/2020/03/02/0111b39a-5cbb-11ea-b014-4fafa866bb81_story.html
(Moved because apparently it was in the wrong forum, even though the intent was to call out Republican behavior, not sway anyone on their choice of candidate.)
Edit: * Presumptive nominee refers to Trump's assumption in 2018 that Biden would be his biggest threat in the 2020 election. https://www.axios.com/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558-e1bf871b-5edb-44e8-baa4-5506e99550fb.html
"Parnas says he worked to put Nunes in touch with Ukrainians who could help Nunes dig up dirt on Biden" around Dec 1st, 2018
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/22/politics/nunes-vienna-trip-ukrainian-prosecutor-biden/index.html
"Johnson sent the letter one day after Joe Biden was announced the winner of the South Carolina Democratic primary, a victory that has resurrected his campaign and shaken up the race for the 2020 nomination." Speaks to the timing, and Biden's change in position from 5th place with 6 delegates to 2nd place with 54 delegates, only 6 behind Sanders.
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Gender: Do not displayHometown: Dallas, TX
Member since: Fri Jan 24, 2014, 03:05 AM
Number of posts: 210
