VICE: How Big Pharma Gets Dangerous Drugs Approved


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Nov 26, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

(Click here to view the video on VICE’s website)

A VICE News special shows how the pharmaceutical companies lobby the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve dangerous drugs. This is not a new revelation, but most blindly trust the FDA stamp of approval. Big Pharma currently spends over $4.5 billion on lobbying efforts to approve their drugs. For example, in 1995 Purdue produced the notoriously addictive drug Oxycontin. Reports stated that less than 1% of those who took the drug would become addicted. Since then, over 500,000 million Americans have died from the narcotic. Purdue has since faced numerous lawsuits and intense scrutiny; however, the FDA has escaped any blame.

More recently, the FDA approved the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm by Biogen after clinical studies showed that the drug did not work. The drug, which costs $56,000 annually, was originally denied by regulators. Then the lobbyist entered and essentially paid the FDA to pass the drug. Let’s not forget, once a drug is FDA approved, the pharmaceutical company is permitted to advertise. Hence, why Pfizer began to produce commercial, radio, and print advertisements within the same week of receiving FDA approval this year.

(Six pairs of prosthetic limbs made for Tracey Baynam, whose limb development was affected by thalidomide, throughout her childhood and teenage years. Science Museum Group)

The greed of the FDA knows no bounds. FDA Dr. Kelsey singlehandedly saved millions of Americans in the 50s and 60s from a dangerous drug called Thalidomide. The drug was originally prescribed to pregnant women to reduce morning sickness. Thousands of children across the world were born with serious birth defects due to Thalidomide. The lifelong debilitating outcome of the drug prompted harsher drug testing worldwide, in theory. Unsurprisingly, Thalidomide is still available with a prescription. A regulator’s approval has never meant that a drug was safe for use. The FDA is bought and paid for by Big Pharma, and truth be told, they do not know the long-term side effects of the new medications they are approving.

New Bill Would Deny Insurance Coverage to the Unvaccinated


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Nov 26, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Member of the New York State Assembly Pat Burke (Democrat, of course), believes that unvaccinated Americans refusing the experimental COVID-19 vaccine should be denied healthcare. This is the same man who once claimed healthcare was a human right. “Freedom isn’t free,” he had the audacity to tweet. I was under the impression that my tax dollars paid for Operation Warp Speed, vaccinations, and government handouts. The Constitution was formed on the grounds that America would be the land of the free. Pompous lawmakers now want to remove all of our freedoms and are no longer sugar-coating their agenda.

After facing backlash on Twitter, Burke said, “Let me know when smoking and obesity become highly contagious diseases that disrupt every facet of life, overwhelm hospitals, and cost the government trillions of dollars.” Well, those conditions do overwhelm hospitals. In fact, obesity is the number one comorbidity for COVID-19.

Here is a video of Burke explaining why Americans who don’t play by the rules should die. When questioned about the social media backlash, Burke claimed most of his critics were posting from fake accounts. In the same breath, Burke claims he supports universal healthcare. “Do your part,” he repeatedly states. What exactly does that entail? Vaccinated individuals can still pass along the virus. The vaccine has proven adverse side effects, and the long-term consequences are unknown. Newsflash: taking the vaccine does not mean you are saving the world. Lawmakers see the pushback from skeptical citizens, and in response, expect the penalties to become harsher. Hold the line.

COVID Swab Test DNA Samples for Sale


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Nov 25, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Cignpost Diagnostics, a UK-based COVID testing company, has likely sold swab samples containing customers’ DNA. The company claimed it had the right to sell data to third parties in an effort to “learn more about human health.” However, the consent form is buried among the lengthy testing information sheet, and the company primarily sells tests on the go to travelers looking for rapid results. Cignpost Diagnostics admitted in the fine print that they “may receive compensation” for selling customers’ DNA to “collaborators.”

UK law explicitly demands the protection of private data, and angry customers are claiming the company did not clearly notify users that their sensitive DNA would be sold for a profit to conduct unknown research. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Human Tissue Authority are now investigating. “There is no personal data more sensitive than our DNA. People should be told about what’s happening to it in a clear, open, and honest way so they can make informed decisions about whether they want to give it up,” ICO deputy commissioner Steve Wood said.

Cignpost Diagnostics knows they are in the wrong and has begun to backtrack on their policy. A spokesperson for the company recently claimed all swab samples are destroyed after the client has been notified of their results. Why would the company then claim to have “collaborators” and a plan to profit off of the DNA they have compiled? Three million tests have already been distributed. It is unclear if the company actually destroyed the swab samples, as they only claimed to have done so after coming under fire.

Shipping Container Price Surge Will Result in Increased Prices on Consumer Goods


Armstrong Economics Blog/Inflation Re-Posted Nov 25, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) announced that we should expect consumer prices to rise 1.5% on average over the next year due to the global shipping crisis. Inflation, fuel increases, and labor shortages are among the many factors that have caused shipping costs to spike. “UNCTAD’s analysis shows that the current surge in container freight rates, if sustained, could increase global import price levels by 11% and consumer price levels by 1.5% between now and 2023,” the UN reported last week.

This will impact consumers throughout the world. The US could see a rise of 1.2%, according to the UN, while China may see a 1.4% increase. Less developed countries could see costs skyrocket by 7.5%. According to CNBC, as of late October, over 600 shipping vessels were parked outside of ports worldwide as they are unable to offload. The UNCTAD expects prices on electronics to spike 11.4%, furniture and textiles by 10.2%, rubber and plastic by 9.4%, and basic electrical equipment by 7.5%. Even pharmaceutical products are expected to increase by 7.5%. There are no signs of this crisis improving anytime soon.

Is Australia Preparing Concentration Camps for the Unvaccinated?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Tyranny Re-Posted Nov 24, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

(Picture: AAP Glen Campbell)

Rumors are swirling on the internet that the Australian Army is herding the unvaccinated population into “quarantine camps.” The army is not currently hunting down the vaccinated, yet, but there is a suspicious amount of funds going toward these quarantine facilities. The Guardian has reported that $130 million was recently invested by the Northern Territory into the Howard Springs quarantine camp. Howard Springs was designed as a fly-in-fly-out workers’ camp, but the mainstream media is reporting that the camps will become redundant as home quarantine pilot programs have begun. If that were true, why is the government continuing to invest in Howard Springs?

The Northern Territory hosts two main quarantine camps — Howard Springs and Alice Springs. Their website describes what those housed in those facilities have experienced:

A person in quarantine must;
  • stay in the person’s allocated room, including on any veranda space allocated to the room, unless permitted by an authorised officer; and
  • when not in their room, or on their veranda, residents must take all reasonable measures to stay at least 1.5 metres away from any other person in the quarantine facility, except for the person’s spouse, de facto partner, child or parent; and
  • wear a face mask when outside their room unless an authorised officer permits the person to remove the face mask; and
  • comply with any directions given by an authorised officer to avoid people congregating in a quarantine zone; and
  • must not leave the quarantine zone in which the person’s allocated room is located unless the person is escorted by an authorised officer, except in an emergency.
You are not able to share or hand over physical objects to residents who are not your family members. COVID-19 lives on surfaces so you must not give items, toys, food, activities, or play games like cards with people outside your family.

Quarantine facility staff will remind you about wearing your mask, staying on your veranda and physically distancing through information in your resident booklet, by sending you sms reminder texts and verbally in person if we see you are not following the Direction.

This is a horrifying abuse of power. People constantly compare conditions to the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, but this is one example that is becoming dangerously close in nature. They have not begun killing off the unvaccinated population, but they have taken away their freedoms. “Residents” at these hotels may not leave their rooms unless supervised by an authorized officer. That is much more akin to a prison than a hotel. Officers will “remind” those held hostage by their government when they are disobeying the rules. Since COVID can spread on surfaces, people are not allowed to interact with those outside their immediate family. But it gets worse. The website states that family rooms are not always available.

Facilities

Quarantine facilities need to be a safe environment for all residents and staff. The following are not permitted in either quarantine facility;
  • Cooking equipment including, microwaves, electric fryers, rice cookers, induction cookers, sandwich presses, toasters, etc.
  • Alcohol, bags may be checked on arrival.
  • Toys or recreational items such as swimming pools (plastic or inflatable), scooters, skateboards, bikes, balls and roller blades. These will be stored until your exit.
  • Visitors.
  • Care packages, personal goods or meal deliveries.
Family rooms are not always available;
  • The Centre for National Resilience is primarily single room accommodation with no internal connecting doors. There are four rooms to a shared veranda space with mattresses and/or cots provided for small children. All rooms are king single beds and have ensuites.
  • The Alice Springs Quarantine Facility can accommodate families in shared rooms, based on room availability at the time.

The poor children who are subjected to this traumatizing experience! Toys are not allowed. Visitors are not allowed. There is a chance children will be separated from their parents, guarded only by the state. Similar to a prison environment, cooking appliances are not available in these quarantine camps. Officers in hazmats suits feed their hostages three times per day by leaving the meals outside the room on the ground as another reminder of lost freedoms. Bottled water and toiletries are not available. The camps boast having limited wifi service, but it is safe to bet that online activities will be monitored. How could we allow such cruel human rights abuses to occur in plain sight? Sending millions of dollars to these camps indicates that they have no real plans to end this abuse. As the Hong Kong protesters stated to the world a few short years ago: “If it happened here, it can happen to you.”

FBI Tweets Thanksgiving Message


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on November 25, 2021 | Sundance | 189 Comments

What the FSB is to Moscow, the FBI is to Washington DC.  And the FBI is not even trying to hide it any longer.

The FBI sends their Thanksgiving Day message 2021:

(link)

There’s really nothing that needs to be said.  When agencies show you their priorities, believe them.  When institutions show their politicization, do not excuse it.

Five Senate Democrats Oppose Biden Communist Nominee for Banking Position, If Accurate She’s Sunk


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on November 25, 2021 | Sundance | 117 Comments

If the report from Axios is accurate, the nomination of communist Saule Omarova to Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is sunk.

However, this could also be viewed as an Overton window maneuver where the next radical nominated will be only slightly less communist, and thereby gain appointment.

AXIOS – […] In phone call on Wednesday, Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), all members of the Senate Banking Committee, told Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) — the panel’s chairman — of their opposition. They’re joined in opposing her by Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). (more)

Senator Mark Warner’s opposition is a little unusual. Perhaps this is a downstream consequence of the recent Virginia election.  Regardless, at least this is one nomination that did not get through.   So far, Biden’s economic, energy and finance policies have been disastrous for Main Street; unfortunately, that also looks like a feature not a flaw.

Moonbat Leftists Pretending Not To Know Stuff, While Proclaiming the Need For Government Intervention in Speech Platforms


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on November 25, 2021 | Sundance | 191 Comments

Under normal circumstances I would not subject anyone to a video containing the most self-centered, pontificating, vile and horrible Hillary Clinton.  However, in this example it is Moonbat framework by the insufferable Rachael Maddow that needs to be seen.  Keep in mind, his show is one of the most watched on the Moonbat Speaks and NoBody Cares (MSNBC) network.

Mr. Maddow introduces his point by referencing how Big Tech removed the voices of people who were critical of Vladimir Putin in the recent election.

Google, Apple, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter all removed content, and Maddow is jaw agape at the crushing blow to democracy and ‘free speech’ that such action highlights.

In framing his viewpoint – notice how the MSNBC host has to completely ignore that Google, Apple YouTube, Facebook and Twitter did exactly the same thing to any American voice who was speaking out against Joe Biden and/or questioning the results of the 2020 election.  This is a perfect example of how leftists need to ignore things in order to advance their ideological points.

There’s not a single CTH reader who could not destroy Mr. Maddow in a debate, simply by staying silent and then dropping the ‘how does that reconcile‘  hammer at the end of the cognitive dissonance:

What is it that concerns you?… Maddow digs hole deeper

How is that damaging to democracy?… Maddow digs with more detail

Removal or silencing of political speech is dangerous?….  Maddow now digs with more ferocious uptalk to make her case

TRUTH HAMMER DEPLOYED – Didn’t that just happen in the 2020 U.S. election with the voices of Trump supporters banned, censored, deplatformed and removed?…  Maddow  ::: D’oh, crickets :::

The broader point is –  professional leftists are now openly advocating for the removal of speech they do not like.  When they don’t like the argument they shout racism.  Essentially that’s the larger point behind wokeism.  They don’t like your speech, so your speech must be defined as violence, or racism, or (fill_in_blank).

Their goal is the reason for the Facebook whistleblower propaganda that was advanced a few months ago.  Leftist ideologues now want the information on the internet to be controlled by government.  These people are crazy and must be ridiculed into irrelevance.

(First 45 seconds, WATCH):

Australia Protest Message, “Courage is Not The Absence of Fear”


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on November 25, 2021 | Sundance | 188 Comments

Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is being fearful and yet taking action despite that fear.  One Australian patriot, a former soldier, shares his message of courage while protesting to support the freedom of all Australians. {Direct Rumble Link}

Joshua 1-9:  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

– WATCH:

.

When this madness is over, there will be a reckoning.  History serves as a guide for what can be expected.  The officials within government who are pushing their totalitarian dictates under the guise of COVID fear will not succeed.   There will be a reckoning; of that, I am certain.

Thanksgiving Costs on the Rise


Armstrong Economics Blog/Inflation Re-Posted Nov 24, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Expect to pay at least 14% more for this year’s Thanksgiving festivities, according to the American Farm Bureau. The bureau estimates that a feast for ten will cost $53.31 this year, and I would personally like to know what grocery store has such low prices; the estimate seems drastically low. The US Department of Agriculture noted that wholesale prices of 8-16 lb frozen turkeys are up 21% from November 2020. Pumpkin prices have risen 5% due to droughts in California and heavy rains leading to fungal infestations in Illinois. Green beans, a typically cheap staple, advanced 4% YoY, while cranberry sauce prices increased 2.5%. Milk, eggs, potatoes, and many other Thanksgiving staples have all increased in price. Butterball President and CEO Jay Jandrain said that turkey prices will remain elevated into 2022 due to increased feed, labor, and transportation costs. However, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he is confident Americans will still foot the higher bill to maintain the annual tradition.