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Opinion - Coronavirus: Who cares about stocks when people are dying?
Deutsche Welle ^ | March 27, 2020 | by Kate Ferguson

Posted on 03/27/2020 11:36:37 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

The global economy is imploding, but it is difficult to care when there are people gasping for air. For the first time ever, the lines of worry on the faces of hedge fund managers occupy a smaller space in public consciousness than the blotchy indents on the faces of doctors and nurses shedding their surgical masks after yet another 48-hour shift.

This is nothing short of radical.

The virus, borderless and indiscriminate in its reach, isn't only contaminating our airways. It is unzipping our very way of life. Holding a mirror up to our bewildered faces, it dares us to look at ourselves head-on and ask: What matters?

What other insights can we garner from this disaster? That there is a correlation between populist leaders and the time taken to accept reality. The extra days and weeks Trump, Johnson et al needed to bust the myth of their own exceptionalism have already cost lives.

Meanwhile, as countries including the United States rush to introduce the biggest economic stimulus packages in their history, it is worth considering that if small government offers no cure in a pandemic, it may not be the healthiest option in ordinary times either.

In the weeks and months ahead, normality will return to one country at a time. Goods will once again roll off assembly lines. Shops will reopen. The rat race will resume.

But maybe, just maybe, if we take this opportunity for self-reflection, things won't feel quite the same.

(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; europe; globalism; hysteriamongering; kateferguson; virus
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1 posted on 03/27/2020 11:36:37 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m Kate Wilson, not an economist, and I approve this message.


2 posted on 03/27/2020 11:37:50 AM PDT by kiryandil (Chris Wallace: Because someone has to drive the Clown Car)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Someone doesn’t know how to multi-task.


3 posted on 03/27/2020 11:38:34 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Prayers for Rush)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m Kate Ferguson, not an economist, and I approve this message.


4 posted on 03/27/2020 11:38:47 AM PDT by kiryandil (Chris Wallace: Because someone has to drive the Clown Car)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yeah, let the economy collapse. Tens of millions starving to death is no big deal. /s


5 posted on 03/27/2020 11:39:04 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I care about stocks.


6 posted on 03/27/2020 11:39:16 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: kiryandil

The wealthy care, and most truly don’t care about anyone other than themselves and their immediately family.


7 posted on 03/27/2020 11:40:17 AM PDT by CatOwner
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To: kiryandil

Maybe it’s because I am a hospice chaplain and I am hardened, but my first reaction to this was — “people die every day, should the living give up on life?”


8 posted on 03/27/2020 11:40:57 AM PDT by sonrise57 (God have mercy on us, protect our President and grace him with humility, wisdom and reciliance.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
It is worth considering that if small government offers no cure in a pandemic, it may not be the healthiest option in ordinary times either.

It's big government that got us into this mess, sister. Big government is doing what it usually does to try to get us out -- print money. That doesn't always work, particularly if you're not in a country whose currency is the world standard.
9 posted on 03/27/2020 11:41:30 AM PDT by Antoninus (The press has lost the ability to persuade. They retain the ability to foment a panic.)
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To: kiryandil

I don’t think you abandon all reason at any time.....I don’t think you explode a problem so its impact is much, much more devastating.....


10 posted on 03/27/2020 11:41:48 AM PDT by cherry
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The global economy is imploding, but it is difficult to care when there are people gasping for air.

Utter BS! This is just the usual, manipulative leftist hypocritical trick. People are ALWAYS dying, gasping or otherwise. Watch how fast they don’t matter anymore when someone SHE approves of is in charge.


11 posted on 03/27/2020 11:43:33 AM PDT by TalBlack
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Until people are killing each other in the streets.


12 posted on 03/27/2020 11:43:36 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The two have nothing to do with each other. People are always dying and people should always find ways to invest and fund their retirement.


13 posted on 03/27/2020 11:44:35 AM PDT by plain talk
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Bump


14 posted on 03/27/2020 11:44:38 AM PDT by foreverfree
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

More left wing BS propaganda. They are spewing it out now.


15 posted on 03/27/2020 11:44:44 AM PDT by freeandfreezing
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

It’s a shame that women with good sense are often lumped in with ninnies such as this.


16 posted on 03/27/2020 11:44:47 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: sonrise57
Maybe it’s because I am a hospice chaplain and I am hardened, but my first reaction to this was — “people die every day, should the living give up on life?”

The correct answer to idiots like this is as follows:

Me: "We could save 50,000 lives in the US every year if we did one thing: make the automobile illegal.

Someone else: "I disagree. People need their cars and are willing to take that risk because the potential benefit outweighs the potential cost."

Me: "Well, it's obvious that you don't care about human life."

Someone else: "What an idiotic thing to say!"

Me: "Exactly."
17 posted on 03/27/2020 11:45:13 AM PDT by Antoninus (The press has lost the ability to persuade. They retain the ability to foment a panic.)
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To: CatOwner
The wealthy care (about stocks)

They're the only ones. Except for workers whose pensions are invested in them. And millions of ordinary people whose life savings are in 401Ks. And employees. And managers.

But only those people.

18 posted on 03/27/2020 11:45:14 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (BLACK LIVES MAGA)
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To: kiryandil

Very similar to the left’s argument for gun control: “who cares about the second amendment when people are dying?”


19 posted on 03/27/2020 11:45:31 AM PDT by Ikemeister
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

It is not about “stocks” per se, nor really about the companies represented by those stocks.

Those things are stand-ins for the economy in general, and the economy in general is about the people, their livelihoods, their savings, their ability to pay for the things they need, to provide for their children and to prepare for a future.

It is not about “saving corporations”. It is very much about saving one of the most important things in people’s lives - the economic ability to care for themselves.

Of course to all Leftists THAT is not so important.


20 posted on 03/27/2020 11:45:56 AM PDT by Wuli
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