RUSH: Folks, this coronavirus thing, I want to try to put this in perspective for you. It looks like the coronavirus is being weaponized as yet another element to bring down Donald Trump. Now, I want to tell you the truth about the coronavirus. (interruption) You think I’m wrong about this? You think I’m missing it by saying that’s… (interruption) Yeah, I’m dead right on this. The coronavirus is the common cold, folks.
The coronavirus is just the common cold? Thing is, he may well be right. The world these days is one in which the threat posed by environmental tobacco smoke is so vastly exaggerated that there are smoking bans everywhere. And it’s also one in which the threat of global warming caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is so vastly exaggerated that internal combustion engines are set to be banned.
ETS and CO2 share one characteristic: they’re both something in the air. And what’s this new coronavirus? Something in the air. Droplets or aerosols laden with the virus. All our scares these days seem to about something in the air. They take something previously regarded as unremarkable – tobacco smoke or carbon dioxide – and they inflate it into a monstrous threat. And now they’re doing the same with coronavirus common cold. Whole cities are being locked down because people are catching colds. The Italian government has declared a State of Emergency. The stock market is crashing.
Last I heard, there had been about 691 coronavirus infections aboard the Diamond Princess, and only 3 deaths. That’s a death rate of 0.4%. And now that they’ve sent the remaining passengers home, apparently on regular airflights, we’ll probably never get to know how many passengers eventually ended up dying.
It may of course be that the death rate is actually much higher, nearer the 20% the some people are suggesting. But it doesn’t really matter how dangerous the virus actually is: what matters is how dangerous it is perceived to be. And clearly the Chinese government and the Italian government perceive it to be very dangerous.
So now there are reports that “the second-largest economy in the world is completely shut down,” and reports that Chinese workers refuse to go back to work despite Beijing’s demands. What started as a Chinese medical crisis is rapidly turning into a global economic crisis, which will be followed by a political crisis. It’s becoming one of those motorway pile-ups that result from some car swerving to miss a bird on the road.
It may well be that the coronavirus panic will rapidly subside, but the consequent economic crisis increasingly looks inescapable. There are going to be shortages, and price hikes, and a global recession/depression with millions losing their jobs as companies go bust. Zerohedge:
When Will We Admit Covid-19 Is Unstoppable And Global Depression Is Inevitable?
Thank goodness the UN has the right priorities:
24 Feb 2020: U.N. chief Antonio Guterres launched a “call to action” Monday, lamenting rising attacks on human rights, the persecution of minorities, “alarming levels of femicide” and a lack of support for climate action as evidence the world must look more closely to the globalist “family” for leadership and guidance.
…
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
And I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord
Frank Davis 
It does seem that the virus is little more than a few days discomfort to normal healthy people up to about age 50, then it becomes progressively more lethal, with 15% of those aged 80 or over dying.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
I’m in the 4% group, so considering I still ride a wee scooter and I smoke, 4% seems pretty good odds.
Thanks Frank. I just came back and read your post after spending most of today digging up every coronavirus joke for my friend who happens to have a cold right now. All 3 of us had a laugh at Hancocks advice on the BBC this morning.
The coronavirus is just the common cold? Thing is, he may well be right.
Chances are you are right. If this new virus adds a twist to it we will know in a couple of months or so.
In the meantime the WHO is milking it.
The world these days is one in which the threat posed by environmental tobacco smoke is so vastly exaggerated that there are smoking bans everywhere.
Folks, brace yourself for impact. The WHO just got into new cash.
The most sensible thing to do is to demand total TRANSPARENCY of the WHO spending our money.
Sorry for excessive commenting – again!!!
Zerohedge:
When Will We Admit Covid-19 Is Unstoppable And Global Depression Is Inevitable?
Thank goodness the UN has the right priorities:
24 Feb 2020: U.N. chief Antonio Guterres launched a “call to action” Monday, lamenting rising attacks on human rights, the persecution of minorities, “alarming levels of femicide” and a lack of support for climate action as evidence the world must look more closely to the globalist “family” for leadership and guidance.
We KNOW by the Italian example that SARS CoV version 2.0 will surely be around – and as it is it’s 2.0 beta version, it will NATURALLY perfect itself.
In the meantime it’s new presence eats up a lot of cash from all tax payers. It is perfectly reasonable to demand transparency of how the UN/WHO spends OUR money. Isn’t it?
I am so glad the UN is finally addressing the persecution of minorities. It’s about time the anti-smoker hate campaigns against us smokers is addressed.
The WHO weeks behind as per usual.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/who-coronavirus-pandemic-feb-24/
WHO: Now is the time to prepare. We’re in a phase of preparedness for a potential pandemic.
Remember? The WHO ditched the protocol for announcing a pandemic! Pandemics according to the WHO no longer exist as it might offend people. Fuck you WHO.
So far “only” 11 deaths in Italy – compare that to the millions of fictitious “smoking related deaths” who still happily walk the planet!
South Korea and Italy are on the runaway. It has crossed over to Switzerland now.
WHO, WE need to see HOW you send the money you currently wring out of EVERY country.
Frank, here the upgrade:
Back in the 80s it was imperfect to me. So I never really bothered with Phil Collins.
I wish I had. I would LOVE to have seen this live in 2009
See underdogs bite upwards blog
Iran is the incubator. Almost all cases picked up in the Gulf are returnees from Iran.
https://en.annahar.com/article/1130669-uae-bans-all-flights-with-iran-over-coronavirus-outbreak
My guess is it’s almost endemic there, or soon will be. It’ll be in their many refugee camps – and that’s a very big issue for Turkey, Lebanon and ultimately Europe.
Good news is it’s warming up fast over there.
How about the cumulative, longterm effects of Carbon Monoxide, leaded gas, factory discharges, industrial waste polluting rivers, lakes, streams and groundwater? Chemical fertilizers, discarded plastic choking the oceans of the world and 1000 + Nuclear Bomb Tests?
slugbop007
Calling us smokers is not Politically Correct. I propose consumers of tobacco-based products.
slugbop007