What do 1969 and 2020 have in common?

Today, August 20, 2020 marks a milestone in the USA, Covid 19 deaths now equal the H3N2 deaths (Hong Kong Flu) of 1969 in America.  Both pandemics have killed 0.05% of the population.  H3N2 killed 100,000 of a population of 200.7 million in 1969, while Covid 19 has killed 173,000 of the current population of 328.2 million Americans in 2020.

The only difference is that it was reported differently in 1969.  Today’s media’s fueled hysteria, food shortages, fear, quarantines, protests, and riots resulting in a virtual shutdown of the global economy.  In 1969, there were newspapers and a few TV channels, not millions of broadcasters foretelling gloom and doom.  By the way, doom and gloom sells.  No media outlet would last reporting good news or no news.  The repercussions of knowing what you know, as opposed to not knowing, will be felt for years to come.

Governments responded with massive give-a-ways to their populations.  In Canada the annual budget deficit has already increased 1000% with gross national debt now 50% higher, and counting, other countries are reacting the same. 

Money is free, interest rates zero, gold soaring.  And zero interest means millions will borrow more money they don’t have to buy things they don’t really need, inflating asset prices evermore.  As reflected by current stock markets and real estate prices.

Here’s the interesting part: How will free money affect consumers behavior?  If I put a pile of horse shit on my boulevard and stick a big “FREE” sign on it, the first or second car will pull over and fill their trunk with it.  FREE is bad price.  People love FREE.  They act strangely, further the longer I give them FREE money, the more they’ll expect it.  Work?  Who needs minimum wage, I just got a raise!  Get used to high unemployment, it pays!

In a democracy, you’re elected by the people.  What happens if I stop giving you FREE money?  Then I’m a defeated politician.  So the future of democracies is countless FREE money and certain bankruptcy.  People vote for pleasure, not pain.

So thank you technology and the media of the world for reporting today.  Instead of attending Woodstock and the summer of love, we have unprecedented unemployment, debts, deficits and bankruptcy to look forward to.