Being old and retired at this time is indeed a bittersweet pill.

 

Being old and retired at this time is indeed a bittersweet pill.

Trust me, being old and unable to retire is far worse...

 

No, forced retirement is the worst.

 

Individual states can stay locked-down as long as politically expedient.

If they need an increase in cases to do this, they'll just increase testing for a day or three.

Fear will keep their populations in line.

But that's not a definitive test for which ones should and which ones shouldnt. It is subject to review and we know what that means.

 

 

Add this to the list of issues. In Vermont, one of the first states to start coming out of lockdown, anyone making $53,000 a year or less who gets laid off will make the same on unemployment through July. Unemployment rate is about 20% and companies cannot find anyone to fill $20+/hour jobs.

https://vtdigger.org/2020/04/26/despite-soaring-unemployment-companies-struggle-to-find-workers/

Remember when the Fed package was passed and some were saying an additional $600 a week was too much? Guess what.

 

Vermont is not my idea of a state in which I would wish to live.

 

Add this to the list of issues. In Vermont, one of the first states to start coming out of lockdown, anyone making $53,000 a year or less who gets laid off will make the same on unemployment through July. Unemployment rate is about 20% and companies cannot find anyone to fill $20+/hour jobs.

https://vtdigger.org/2020/04/26/despite-soaring-unemployment-companies-struggle-to-find-workers/

Remember when the Fed package was passed and some were saying an additional $600 a week was too much? Guess what.

So a married couple, each of whom is making $53k/yr or more, could go on unemployment and bring in $106k/yr for several months. Of course that's not going to distort the economy -- just ask them and they'll reassure you that that's not what was intended.

 

Bingo!

That nails what's wrong with P.R. Vermont

 

So a married couple, each of whom is making $53k/yr or more, could go on unemployment and bring in $106k/yr for several months. Of course that's not going to distort the economy -- just ask them and they'll reassure you that that's not what was intended.

Can't control through fear? Try greed.

 

Being old and retired at this time is indeed a bittersweet pill.

specially that the corona virus has not had that much effect on Sauron's army.it still sucks ,even worse than before...

 

Bingo!

That nails what's wrong with P.R. Vermont

Check in any state. The $600 a week is Federal money. The distortion is probably everywhere. BTW, Vermont is a great place if you like to ski, hunt, fish, carry firearms without a permit, avoid violent crime, avoid Covid-19 and shovel snow.

 

This is not meant to gross anyone out. On my weekly shopping trip the Cleveland, I stopped in the appropriate section of a local Marc's supermarket and was browsing pads. They are cheap, very fine mesh, and soft. My idea was to simply punch two holes. Loop rubber bands through the holes to attach around my ears, and cut off any unnecessary material, like this:
View attachment 205378

Well, I started getting the weirdest looks from masked women and stocking clerks, so I gave up on the idea. Guess I am too worried about my image in the community. But for someone else, maybe a cheap solution.

Maybe not the best thing in the world but sits right beside it!

 

Can't control through fear? Try greed.

They're going to need control once the true nature (no conspiracy, just new facts we are learning daily) of the COVID-19 infection starts to filter out to the public at large if the current restrictions on freedom continue.

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n...lifornia-beaches-coronavirus-pandemic-1291934

Thousands Pack Southern California Beaches Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n...lifornia-beaches-coronavirus-pandemic-1291934

Thousands Pack Southern California Beaches Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

I bet those folks are a lot better off than a NYC subway rider. Sunlight, and farther apart than it looks in a wide shot.

And whatever the blond in the lower right is doing looks therapeutic to me.

 

... if the current restrictions on freedom continue.

By analogy to the 55 mph national speed limit, you can bet they will continue long after the "surge" fails to happen.

During our usual Sunday telephone calls, my daughters and I discussed which of the social distancing regulations will be last to disappear. Leading contenders are the Plexiglas screens at checkouts and one-way traffic controls for entering and exiting. I put 3 to 5 years on the screens and maybe never on the traffic controls for Walmart, as it will probably find they are easier to monitor and help reduce shoplifting

 

By analogy to the 55 mph national speed limit, you can bet they will continue long after the "surge" fails to happen.

During our usual Sunday telephone calls, my daughters and I discussed which of the social distancing regulations will be last to disappear. Leading contenders are the Plexiglas screens at checkouts and one-way traffic controls for entering and exiting. I put 3 to 5 years on the screens and maybe never on the traffic controls for Walmart, as it will probably find they are easier to monitor and help reduce shoplifting

The screens may stick around because of inertia - it costs time and money to take them down and most customers will probably just shrug their shoulders. But the one way for enter/exit I don't think will last long at all. Enough people WILL complain about not being able to enter and exit near where they parked that (I think) it will always be a very squeaky thorn in their side until they do away with it.

 

The arrangement at Walmart (Oberlin, OH) has entrance and exit at the usual places. But there is a barrier between the two to prevent crossover. That is, except for grocery carts, there were two sets of entrances and exits for the store. The entrance and exit doors are next to each other. That still exists. Entrance is via a cordoned off line in front of the building. It is not that long, and I have never seen anyone waiting to get in. So now, I just duck under it. Once through the doors, entrance goes to the shopping area. Exit is from the cashiers.

 

My theory on the $600 per week Federal unemployment benefit is not control but to prop up and protect the banking and financial systems. Just another way to inject money and keep it all from collapsing. That's why they are looking for another round. People are starting to not pay their credit cards.

Edit: Here is evidence of the concern about stability of financial systems. Effectively turning savings accounts into transaction (checking) accounts. Anything to keep those cc payments coming in. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/fed-lifts-six-per-month-transaction-limits-on-savings-accounts.