Hidden In Plain Sight

Ladies and Gentlemen, the latest from Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross:

"Well, first of all, every American's heart has to go out to the victims of the coronavirus. So I don't want to talk about a victory lap over a very unfortunate, very malignant disease.  But the fact is, it does give businesses yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain."

"On top of all the other things, you had SARS, you had the African swine virus there, now you have this.  It's another risk factor that people need to take into account. So I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America. Some to U.S., probably some to Mexico as well."

Well, I don't know about you all, but this blogger is disgusted.

You're all heart there, aren't you, Secretary?  With friends like you, who needs enemies?  Because of statements like this, it is no wonder some people among us believe in a conspiracy theory known as Agenda 21.

So you don't want to talk about the victory lap you're taking?  Fair enough.  Let's by all means talk about other things instead, shall we?  How about the human cost of this virus?

First of all, the WHO has declared a global health emergency in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus.

According to Wikipedia, as of right now, January 31, 2020, 3:14 AM UTC, we have 9822 cases of the coronavirus worldwide, with 214 deaths.

At least 111 of those cases are outside of China.

We have 6 cases in the US.  The last confirmed case was, earlier today, declared the first definite human-to-human transmission in the US.

There are 3 cases in Canada so far, two in Toronto, and one in Vancouver.

57 million people are on lockdown in China.

To protect its citizens, today Russia closed its border with China.  It is one of many nations to do so, and/or suspend flights into China at this time.  More details about those, as well as the cost to American companies such as Starbucks, Apple and McDonald's are detailed here, and reading it carefully makes it obvious how much business China commands.

This article detailing the lockdown of 6000 passengers on a cruise near Rome due to the outbreak illustrates possible trouble for the travel industry worldwide if the virus is not halted soon.

"In an urban society, everything connects.  Each person's needs are fed by the skills of many others.  Our lives are woven together in a fabric.  But the connections that makes society strong also make it vulnerable." -- Introduction, Threads, BBC movie, 1984.

So, Secretary, if the preceding paragraphs didn't get the point across, consider this:

5 million people left Wuhan before the lock down.  Where did they all go?  Hopefully nowhere near you or your loved ones, eh?

Let us orient our moral compasses a little closer to true north, shall we?

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/30/wilbur-ross-coronavirus-could-bring-jobs-manufacturing-back-to-us.html