Here are my musings:
The Stock Market – People get excited when the numbers are up, but how many of those people actually have investments in stocks and bonds? For the average “Joe and Jill,” these figures mean very little to nothing at all, as many don't have money to pay everyday bills, let alone play the stock market. Plus, if I were a wealthy corporate owner, I would put more money into automation, not workers. That's a no-brainer! On the other hand, big investors like big corporations and “governmenting” people jump for joy when the numbers go up.
TSFA – Sidetracking a bit, in Canada, the TSFA is a real gem. A Tax-Free Savings Account is a registered investment or savings account that allows for tax-free gains. The amount of money that can be contributed to a TFSA is limited each year. A TFSA can be used for any savings goal, and withdrawals can be made free of tax. The TFSA contribution limit for 2020 is $6,000. If you have never contributed to a TFSA, you can deposit a total of $69,500. Unused contribution room rolls over from one year to the next. This amount is also retroactive.
To Secede or Not to Secede – California (5th largest economy in the world), Oregon, and Washington State could secede from the other 47 states. On the other hand, your tax dollars are spent politicking on what should be a COVID-19 briefing and putting one's name on checks/letters.
Protesters – Those patriots who are protesting “back to work” and “open the economy” should sign a waiver first stating that if they or any of their family members they come in contact with contract the virus, they should be the very last to be treated. On the other hand, aren't we all in this together? As ostomates, our systems are already compromised.
The Elusive COVID Test – Testing 5 million people a day out of the approximately 230 million US population is approximately 0.0217391304347826 of the population. Do those who govern actually believe that we the people cannot do the math? On the other hand, I can bet dollars to donuts that the people getting tested regularly are the governing people and the big corporate people. They probably have their own personal ventilators and a “stockpile” of PPE. What happens when the heroic medical staff rethink going in without proper PPE?
Wait - What! - And what's with those NOT social distancing people on the beaches or those people trying to cure the virus with consuming bleach or disinfectants! Really? I guess there are some things more important than living. Which elected officials uttered that hogwash? And speaking of pork …
Back to Work Order – Some ‘portant person ORDERED meat plant workers back to work. This simply means the worker cannot sue if they contract the virus and die from it. On the other hand, ordering the minions/workers back will please the wealthy owners. Is life worth a sizzling pork chop or a hamburger patty?
Anybody ever watch “Hunger Games?” (spoiler alert – the rich people watched the poor people die for their entertainment.)
On the other hand, the virus will not respect the US-Canadian border. What happens in the US does not stay in the US. To reiterate, aren't we all in this together? Anyway, this is what happens when I have time on my hands … I start thinking. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Karen