Corona-Quarantine-Causes-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913

Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913

Will Corona Quarantine Cause A Depression?

These days the word depression has begun to appear in the news. Especially relevant? We’re talking about economic depression because business is pretty much shut down. Will the Corona Quarantine Cause Depression? Learn more in Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913.

Uncharted Waters

We’re in uncharted waters due to the pandemic. No nation has ever brought its economy to full stop in such a short period of time.

Biggest Reduction In Economic Growth Ever

Even more major banks are predicting at least a 25 percent reduction in US output in the first quarter.

Bigger Than The Great Depression

This is unprecedented even in the darkest days of the Great Depression back in the 1930’s.

What’s Done Is Done

While we can ask whether this was a good idea, what’s done is done.

Can We Hit Pause? Or will The Corona Quarantine Cause Depression?

Seems like people think you can ‘hit pause’. Come back in thirty, sixty, ninety or one hundred twenty days. Hit ‘play’ and everything will be fine.

Real Life

But above all, this is real life. Even though it seems like we’re in a movie, we’re not.

We May Not Be Able To Easily Restart

Economies may not start easily once they are shut down. Moreover the central banks have been running very loose monetary policies for years. I’ve done a lot of podcasts about this. The central banks may not have much ammunition left. I’ll tell you what this means in Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913.

What About Actions Government Has Taken?

As a result of ordered lock downs the government has taken action in the last week or so.

Interest Rates Slashed

The federal reserve slashed interest rates twice. The effective interest rate is now zero.

Another 2 Trillion of Relief On The Way

A 2 trillion dollar relief package is working its way through congress.

One Thousand Dollar Checks

We’re all supposed to get one thousand dollar a month checks as needed.

Why Are They Doing This?

Certainly there’s a reason for all of this. It has to do with what a depression is and what causes it. I’ll explain it in Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913. Are we there yet? Time will tell.

Making It Better…Or Worse

Finally in the end economists and policy makers will sift through whatever wreckage is left and tell us whether the measures taken now made things better or worse.

Short Deep Recession or Depression

In conclusion whether we have a short and deep recession or a world wide economic disaster known as a depression depends on what our leaders do now.

Out of Our Hands

It sure seems to me like it’s out of our hands.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors

Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:31 — 69.8MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

Presidential Election Ahead…Cue The War Drums

War and rumors of war. This time between the United States and Iran. These days you don’t know what’s real. We’ll talk about it in War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832.

The Devil’s In The Details

In addition I’ll provide details and perspective you don’t get from breathless cable news channels, talk radio and advocate commentators. Once a crisis develops advocacy media will try to convince viewers for or against.

Complicated Issues

Iran is a much more complicated issue.

First of all, at issue is the so called JCPOA. The Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action.

The JCPOA was signed by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Iran during the Obama administration.

Moreover in exchange for Iranians giving up weapons grade uranium some US and European sanctions dating back forty years were temporarily waived.

The Worst Deal Ever…Might Have Been Working

In 2016 republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigned on getting rid of the JCPOA calling it ‘the worst deal I’ve ever seen’. In contrast some  sources say Iran was actually abiding by that agreement. By the way, the deal Trump signed with North Korea recently pledging to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula was in fact a communique like the JCPOA, with fewer conditions.

Trump Imposes Sanctions

No matter. President Trump has taken the US out of the deal and imposed sanctions last year. Just recently the US has reimposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports as well as copper, aluminum and steel most recently. The economic effects have not been good for Iran.

Iran Uses Proxies To Retaliate and Threatens To Start Enriching Uranium

Reportedly Iran has retaliated using Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia to attack oil pipelines and shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Trump Sends The USS Abraham Lincoln

Trump ordered a US carrier battle group into the gulf. The Saudis want Iran ‘defanged‘ and have called for ‘surgical’ US Airstrikes.

24 Hour Cable News Channels and Talk Radio Love War

Here come endless loops of jets leaving carrier decks. Pundits talking over shock and awe. Headlines across the bottom of screens showing US troops in Iraq.

Deja Vu All Over Again

Finally we have been through all this before. It did not end well. In fact it has not ended. The Iranians are not paragons of virtue but they are no Iraq or Afghanistan either.

In conclusion we ought to think about that before we’re snookered into another war.

(Editor’s Note: I refer to PPP when giving Iran’s per capita income at about 22,000 a year. In US Dollars it’s probably about 8,000 a year. In addition I gave Iran’s oil export total as 1.2 barrels a year. Even more it is roughly 1.2 million barrels a day.)

Sponsored by Whitetail Builders of Andover Minnesota and Reliafund Payment Processors

War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:31 — 74.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FaceBook's Very Bad No Good Data Breach Elected A Bad Person-Something Must Be Done-Podcast 708

FaceBook’s Very Bad No Good Data Breach Elected A Bad Person-Something Must Be Done-Podcast 708

These days when something goes wrong seems like we want a new law. A new social media data breach links FaceBook to the 2016 election outcome. Due to the controversy regulation might not be far away. In FaceBook’s Very Bad No Good Data Breach Elected A Bad Person-Something Must Be Done-Podcast 708.

FaceBook Back In The News

A whistle blower says a data analytics firm duped FaceBook out of tens of millions of social media profiles. What’s more, right wing political operatives used the data to influence voters in the US possibly impacting the presidential race.

This Story Has It All

Shadowy political operatives, Russians, Social Media Companies, and crazy new tactics. Get ahead of the story with FaceBook’s Very Bad No Good Data Breach Elected A Bad Person-Something Must Be Done-Podcast 708.

Was This A Crime or Just Political Shenanigans

Especially relevant is whether this is a serious and illegal data breach. Or just another example of political shenanigans? Much as it stings, did they take your credit card numbers? Personal data? Nope. Probably just your FaceBook history and the histories of your friends.

FaceBook Is Back On The Hot Seat

Most noteworthy is Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar’s announcement that she wants FaceBook’s Mark Zuckerberg to testify. Because the social media giant tried to kill the story then admitted it was true, this testimony could be pivotal.

Your Data? Really?

Truth is, these companies sell data. Consequently, you sign over the rights to your data when you sign up. The question here is who owns the data? Did Cambridge Analytica use fraud to obtain the data from FaceBook? More importantly what election laws were violated if any? If not, it’s civil issue between FaceBook and companies and parties involved in the alleged fraud.

Break Up Big Tech!

Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum can’t wait to regulate evil Silicon Valley companies.

Get Your Grubby Government Hands Off Information

Nobody likes being manipulated. Yet, do we want the grubby hands of government all over free speech and information? Most of all, does this mean we have to pass laws controlling big tech? Seems like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped.

Bring On The Disruption

Seems like the digital revolution has effected media and politics lately. In addition the interest in regulation in this area is increasing. What if we accelerated the disruption instead?

Who’s to Blame? Where’s the Mirror

In conclusion, a question. Are individual citizens are responsible for themselves? If we get our news from social media and then become confused or feel controlled, maybe we ought to be looking in the mirror. Furthermore, politics is a dirty business. Operatives are always looking for an edge. Finally, while not excusing any illegal behavior, maybe we are all part of the problem rather than the solution.

We’re In Charge Of Our Own Culture

Consequently, it might be time to start taking responsibility for what we believe and the decisions we make.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing of Saint Paul

FaceBook’s Very Bad No Good Data Breach Elected A Bad Person-Something Must Be Done-Podcast 708

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:01 — 66.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS