The long term cost of lock downs

[Anonymous]

From Graham Hicks of Sun News Media



On a global scale, the economic, social, and medical implications of the COVID pandemic are just beginning to take shape. The size of the mountain emerging out of the shadows is staggering.



At home, our Alberta public health authorities have done a fine job, minimizing the virus outbreak through group action.



But now we face the cost of the pandemic. Jobs are gone, many not to be recovered. Businesses are gone, life savings have been lost. Job opportunities will be a fraction of the past.



No mere mortal understands the financial wizardry of governments seeming to have endless credit. But, somehow, somewhere, the hundreds of billions borrowed to fight COVID have to be paid back.



The reality is simple. Debt servicing will skyrocket up to between 10 and 20 per cent of government spending, pushing education and health as the prime spenders of Canadian tax dollars.



Spending will be up; tax revenue will be down.



Higher taxation – European style for those still working – will be a reality. All of Trudeau's horses, all his financial tricks, cannot put this Humpty Dumpty back together again.



Western Canada faces the longterm slowdown of our natural resource income. Oil and gas prices remain in a six- year funk. Climate activists oppose fossil fuels, blind to their ever-improving environmental competitiveness.



Where is leadership in all this? Certainly not from our prime minister. Justin Trudeau seems devoid of substance. A leader supposedly of the whole country, yet seemingly indifferent to the fate of Canada's oil and gas industry during this pandemic. A leader who does not understand economics, and, worse still, does not care that he does not understand. A "leader" who seems more concerned wooing Chinese-influenced despots and dictators in a quest to secure a seat on the United Nations' Security Council.

[Anonymous]

It's looking more and more like the citizens of Canada are finally waking up to the fact that this lockdown right from the start was the most horribly disastrous decision ever made by our ineptocracy. It has caused far more financial damage, far more traumatic damage and likely far more deaths than COVID-19 ever could have.

[Anonymous]

Cancelled surgeries/treatments, alcoholism, mental illness, suicides, family breakdowns, bankruptcies, mass unemployment, mounting piles of public and private debt......a tremendous cost to pay when all of it was thrown out the window as soon as video surfaced of a police officer in Minneapolis killing someone.

[Anonymous]

The old lady and I are at a point in our lives we could survive a long lock down without too much financial damage. But, most people aint as well off as we are. My boy has some strong opinions on lock downs, and they aint positive.

[Gaon]

Lock downs are a disproportionate response to COVID-19.

[Anonymous]

Lock downs are a disproportionate response to COVID-19.

Quarantines for healthy people is a bit extreme.

[Anonymous]

From Graham Hicks of Sun News Media



On a global scale, the economic, social, and medical implications of the COVID pandemic are just beginning to take shape. The size of the mountain emerging out of the shadows is staggering.



At home, our Alberta public health authorities have done a fine job, minimizing the virus outbreak through group action.



But now we face the cost of the pandemic. Jobs are gone, many not to be recovered. Businesses are gone, life savings have been lost. Job opportunities will be a fraction of the past.



No mere mortal understands the financial wizardry of governments seeming to have endless credit. But, somehow, somewhere, the hundreds of billions borrowed to fight COVID have to be paid back.



The reality is simple. Debt servicing will skyrocket up to between 10 and 20 per cent of government spending, pushing education and health as the prime spenders of Canadian tax dollars.



Spending will be up; tax revenue will be down.



Higher taxation – European style for those still working – will be a reality. All of Trudeau's horses, all his financial tricks, cannot put this Humpty Dumpty back together again.



Western Canada faces the longterm slowdown of our natural resource income. Oil and gas prices remain in a six- year funk. Climate activists oppose fossil fuels, blind to their ever-improving environmental competitiveness.



Where is leadership in all this? Certainly not from our prime minister. Justin Trudeau seems devoid of substance. A leader supposedly of the whole country, yet seemingly indifferent to the fate of Canada's oil and gas industry during this pandemic. A leader who does not understand economics, and, worse still, does not care that he does not understand. A "leader" who seems more concerned wooing Chinese-influenced despots and dictators in a quest to secure a seat on the United Nations' Security Council.

Canada is FUBAR. Immigrants can have it.

[Berry Sweet]

Canada is FUBAR. Immigrants can have it.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

From Graham Hicks of Sun News Media



On a global scale, the economic, social, and medical implications of the COVID pandemic are just beginning to take shape. The size of the mountain emerging out of the shadows is staggering.



At home, our Alberta public health authorities have done a fine job, minimizing the virus outbreak through group action.



But now we face the cost of the pandemic. Jobs are gone, many not to be recovered. Businesses are gone, life savings have been lost. Job opportunities will be a fraction of the past.



No mere mortal understands the financial wizardry of governments seeming to have endless credit. But, somehow, somewhere, the hundreds of billions borrowed to fight COVID have to be paid back.



The reality is simple. Debt servicing will skyrocket up to between 10 and 20 per cent of government spending, pushing education and health as the prime spenders of Canadian tax dollars.



Spending will be up; tax revenue will be down.



Higher taxation – European style for those still working – will be a reality. All of Trudeau's horses, all his financial tricks, cannot put this Humpty Dumpty back together again.



Western Canada faces the longterm slowdown of our natural resource income. Oil and gas prices remain in a six- year funk. Climate activists oppose fossil fuels, blind to their ever-improving environmental competitiveness.



Where is leadership in all this? Certainly not from our prime minister. Justin Trudeau seems devoid of substance. A leader supposedly of the whole country, yet seemingly indifferent to the fate of Canada's oil and gas industry during this pandemic. A leader who does not understand economics, and, worse still, does not care that he does not understand. A "leader" who seems more concerned wooing Chinese-influenced despots and dictators in a quest to secure a seat on the United Nations' Security Council.

Canada is FUBAR. Immigrants can have it.

I'm not that pessimistic.

[Anonymous]

There has been a spike in COVID cases in Texas. Are they going to reimpose restrictions kiebers?

[cc]

I'm keeping daily chart on Florida because it started opening some time ago in stages  ... noticed serious climb in new cases last several days .. so far no death increase, but that always lags new cases .. wouldn't show for a few more days (if it is going to happen)



Also keep Sweden daily .. It's strange ... the total keeps increasing rapidly but posted "new cases" is a small fraction of what  posted "total cases" shows  .. not sure what they are trying to prove



I also track Georgia - new cases numbers are climbing fairly quickly last cpl of weeks .. deaths low so far



Will let y'all know if things change in a big way as time goes on

[Anonymous]

There has been a spike in COVID cases in Texas. Are they going to reimpose restrictions kiebers?

What has old kiebers have to say about it. We just opened bars, restaurants and bottle returns. I have no desire to go back to having them closed.

[Anonymous]

Where kiebers lives in Texas has the highest number of COVID-19 cases.

[Anonymous]

Where kiebers lives in Texas has the highest number of COVID-19 cases.

It is the biggest city in the state.

[Berry Sweet]

Imagine a second lockdown....