“One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus…”
That’s the first line of an old song: a REALLY old song! Who sang that song? Think about it and I’ll give you the answer at the end of today’s podcast. “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus,” is a great thought for us today. We all awakened this morning. And we awakened to a World full of uncertainty — THAT’S certain!
Just a few words about COVID-19 today before I give you some information that is critical to us all to consider.
- As of last evening, worldwide there have been 174,961 cases confirmed;
- As of last evening, worldwide there have been 6705 deaths;
- That means .0022% of Earth’s total population have been infected (7.7 Billion in the World);
- That means 3% of those infected have died.
(These numbers are sourced by a very reputable institution: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center)
Johns Hopkins has an online constantly updated map with complete numbers for each country on Earth with a map. Anyone can access it for updated and accurate information. Here’s a link that you can use anytime. I suggest you download and keep it somewhere saved: on your phone, laptop, iPad, or computer. And when you see or hear the raving of “The Sky is Falling!” that we hear all day every day now, click on this link to get REAL numbers. (It appears in more vivid detail when on a computer, but works with all wireless devices)
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
When one puts the horrors of this disease and its status in the “whole” instead of just a few counties, states, or large cities, it’s not nearly so daunting. But, once again, let me be careful to state this disclaimer: in NO way do we at TruthNewsNetwork denigrate the validity, seriousness and vast documented cases of COVID-19. Everyone should take all necessary precautions as presented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as they pertain to you and your specific circumstances.
I highly encourage all to stick to the representations and suggestions given and made by only EXPERTS. But also please keep this in mind: In many ways, we are seeing and hearing their OPINIONS on this matter. Just like you and me, the professionals have scant historical references regarding this virus. Keep that in mind.
What Things Can We Fix?
On Saturday in our podcast, I passed along a really good piece of information for all to consider — not just in these circumstances, but in each of our lives forever:
Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes
If we want to lose weight, we must regulate our diets and add exercise as well. If we don’t do those things, we will NOT lose weight. You can think of hundreds of things to which this will apply. But for the purposes of planning for and dealing with Coronavirus and any future similar emergencies and other possible events, we all need to adopt this thought in our preparations: “Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes.”
China
The U.S. outsourced a massive part of our lives, primarily to China, over the last 50 years. For decades we have basked in the good things about our doing so: less expensive, pretty much just as reliable, abilities to manufacture quicker and with higher volumes of production, etc. But as our country adopted a mindset of normalizing the American losses with this massive outsourcing, we forgot to examine some of the negative consequences we automatically have received just for outsourcing.
Many of our governmental regulations are costly and intensely complex for companies and even entire industries. Thankfully, by outsourcing to China, the regulations for all that for those things included in outsourcing, for the most part, go away. Year after year, the layers of reduced regulations have made a large pile, which has numbed us to just what and how much has been lost to us in the care and protection to Americans those regulations have given us.
Yes, in large part, these regulations have been cumbersome, costly, and unrealistic (and in many cases unnecessary) to keep us safe. But there’s one sector where there are glaring and very obvious regulatory protections that we need today and always will: Food and food products.
Today we inspect several of these and with research details pass along just what we are getting from American outsourcing in these goods and services while saving money.
Food From China’s Real U.S. Savings.
Smithfield Farms, the largest pork producing farm in the U.S.A., was sold recently to China with the unanimous support of its stockholders. The hogs will still be raised here but slaughtered and packaged for sale there before being sent back here. This includes labels of Morrell, Eckrich, Krakus, Cudahy, Premium Hams, Cook’s and Gwaltney. The same with many chickens. They can now be shipped there, but when they come back, all that is required regarding source is that they were “Raised in the U.S,” not that they were processed in China. The chickens will be all processed and most sold to fast-food restaurants for sandwiches, along with schools and supermarkets. Remember: restrictions and requirements for the slaughter and handling of pork and chickens being processed there are quite different than those in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere…
We recently learned that Starkist Tuna is now owned by South Korea, which is in a major conflict with the U.S. concerning quality, safety, and record-keeping, which South Korea refuses to produce.
Sources from a Google search are numerous on this subject. One that was promoting the eating of Tilapia said to, “Avoid any Tilapia with China as its source.” During your next grocery shopping excursion, take a peek in the seafood section at the numerous packages of frozen Tilapia. Most are labeled as “Farm Raised.” That seems innocent but read further: most of those somewhere in the packaging will show their source to be China.
Several documentaries that are not well-marketed in the U.S. show the filthy conditions in which their meat and fish are raised and processed. Some foreign workers have to wear masks as they work in these places because the food is so rotten and filthy, it disgusts them. Many of their fish raised in Fish Farms are daily fed raw sewage. Asian countries, as a rule, have little or no food inspections for exports.
Some of the Most Common U.S. Imported Food
- Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China, and so are most of Europe ‘s Best.
- Arctic Gardens and Birdseye products are, for the most part, safe.
- Grocery store garlic, unless clearly marked “from the USA or Canada,” can be unsafe for consumption. China is the largest producer of garlic in the world. It is common for garlic fields to be fertilized with human waste.
- Most honey is shipped in huge containers from China and re-packaged here. Americans should consider buying only Honey that is marked “Home Grown” or “U.S. Sourced.”
- The “Our Family” brand of Mandarin Oranges says on the can: “From China.”
- Several large U.S. grocers sell canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that comes from China.
- All “High Liner” and most other frozen fish products originate in either China or Indonesia. It is common, for example, for the package to be marked “Pacific Salmon” on the front, but the small print states the salmon are farm-raised in one of those Asian countries. There are NO regulations in any Asian countries for use in farm raising fish.
- The cold product Cold-FX is grown and packed in China. Laboratory tests have found some of the product contains fecal bacteria.
Some Good Suggestions Regarding Imported Food from China
- If the country of origin is not clearly marked, beware. If produce, ask an employee.
- Watch out for packages which state “prepared for,” “packed by,” or “imported by.” We don’t understand the lack of mandatory labeling, especially the produce.
- The country of origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store.
- Go to the local farmers’ markets in season and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.
How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U. S. or Canada? For a few cents more, consider buying the “Liberty Brand.” Buy the “Gold Brand” or the “Dole Brand” from Hawaii or California.
Fish and Other Foods
- Recently The Montreal Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed farm-raised fish: They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken droppings.
- If you search the internet about what the Chinese feed their fish, you’ll be alarmed; e. g, growth hormones, expired anti-biotic from humans.? Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these countries: Vietnam, China, Philippines.
- “Steinfeld’s Pickles” are made in India – just as bad. Another example is in canned mushrooms. “No-Name” brand came from Indonesia.
- Be careful when purchasing those little fruit cups. They formerly were made in Canada in the Niagara region until about two years ago. They are now packaged in China. Most are sold in Aldi stores.
Summary
While the Chines inferior and sometimes even toxic products, dangerous toys, and goods are sold in North American markets, the media wring their hands. Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Think that through:
Why do we need the government to suspend trading privileges with any foreign nation? Free Market trade has been and still is the greatest determiner of the success or failure of products and services purchased and consumed by people. Consumers should simply send a message to China just as is done regarding domestic products. If they do not meet the standards expected by consumers, those consumers should cease their purchases.
Shoppers should make these decisions by educating themselves. Take a look at the labeling of every product you buy, and if it says “Made in China” or “PRC” (that means sourcing includes Hong Kong), one should consider another product or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally surprised at what you can do without.
If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that will create an immediate billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor!
The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.
Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. The Chinese are brilliant in economics. They do the math just as do we. “Supply and Demand” is a simple read for them. Americans by sending the message NOT purchasing those products would force regulating production sufficient for the satisfaction of their consumers, Americans, or they would continually lose that business.
No, this story has nothing to do with COVID-19 or Armageddon, but it certainly strikes a chord for all of us. What we consume and its sources and development are critical to not only our pockets but, more importantly, to our health.
After all, is not that why the world is in a panic regarding Coronavirus: our health? The two SHOULD BE interchangeable.
I almost forgot: who sang that song, “One Day at a time, Sweet Jesus?” Cristy Lane.
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