by Dr. Eowyn
Yesterday, February 27, 2020, the Dow plummeted nearly 1,200 points — its biggest one-day point drop ever — as worries over the coronavirus (COVID-19) possibly spreading sent stocks spiraling down.
The stock market tumbled once again today, capping its worst week since the 2008 financial crisis as investors continue to be worried over COVID-19’simpact on the economy, never mind the fact that the seasonal flu sickens and kills more people in the United States than the coronavirus:
- According to the CDC, as of the week ending February 22, 2020, there have been 32 million to 45 million flu illnesses; 310,000 to 560,000 flu hospitalizations; and 18,000 to 45,000 flu deaths in the 2019-2020 flu season in the United Statees.
- As of today, February 28, 2020, there are only 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, but not a single death. The states with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are Arisona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, and Wisconsin. (CDC)
- As of today, February 28, there are 82,294 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,804 COVID-19 deaths in the world. China accounts for 78,630 of the cases and 2,747 of the deaths. (WHO)
Not content with the precipitous stock market drop from the coronavirus hysteria, 51-year-old actress Patricia Arquette posted a malicious message to Instagram urging people to participate in a one-day economic shutdown on March 2 in order to hurt President Donald Trump by inflicting even more damage on the U.S. economy.
Arquette tells her followers to refrain from making any purchases — presumably, including food and medication — for a 24-hour period to “cause a $238.2 billion dollar blip on the federal government’s records.”
David Ng reports for Breitbart that it is unclear who is organizing the boycott, but it appears to have originated with the Twitter account @Lee8772, which said that there will be similar day-long boycotts each month through this November’s election. Only emergency purchases will be exempted from the boycott. @Lee8772 says:
This will not cause us to go into a recession, but it will slow the economy down. It will show the GOP that Americans are coming together & we’re demanding changes starting with the removal of Trump.
Arquette isn’t the first Hollywood celebrity to advocate for damaging the U.S. economy in order to hurt President Trump, even if it means ordinary Americans will have to bear the brunt of a slowdown. The unfunny self-proclaimed comedian Bill Maher has repeatedly said on his HBO show that he hopes the U.S. goes into a recession if it means that the Trump administration will suffer. He said in 2018: “I hope for a recession to get rid of Trump. Sorry if that hurts people.”
I like and second this response to Arquette’s malicious call to tank the economy from Instagrammer jenrac16:
I’m going out and spending triple
Indeed, let’s spend, spend, spend this coming Monday, March 2!!!
Spread the word to your family, friends, and acquaintances!
~Eowyn