The US government will suspend the US Constitutions and every sheeple will cheer.

I agree with Ron Paul on about everything with very few exceptions, but this is one of them. Yes, the gov will take every advantage of the virus as it can, but that doesn't mean the virus is being blown out of proportion. Ron has compared it to the flu until at least a couple weeks ago. While yes, most people who get it get mild or no symptoms, the minority who do are hit hard and many won't survive without some kind of medical care, which would not be available for most who need it if this things peaks with many millions getting hit at once.

I agree with everthing in your post, Pin. The "stay at home order" in IN went into effect last Tue. at 11:59PM ET. Looking out my back door yesterday, I saw no decrease in traffic and next door it looked like a Cinco De Mayo party. People in other parts of town have told me the same thing.

Apparently the woke, self-aware generation has cabin fever and are believing this to be some kind of Trump hoax. I doubt it, and I don't think Trump's too happy all of the sudden having 350 million petulant children.

One thing of concern is that when the SAHO is lifted, I can see just about everybody going out and turning this into a giant New Year's Eve party, precipitating wave 2 of the bug and another SAHO. Same song, second verse. A little bit louder, and a whole lot worse.

Another concern is a report I read showing that dogs and cats are becoming susceptible to the virus and may become another transmission vector. Of course, it was downplayed as was the initial reaction here in the US to the virus.

On the bright side, I got to watch my first eNASCAR iRace from the virtual No Limits, TX (Ft. Worth), on FOX TeeVee. Last week the virtual race was on FS1 (pay channel, I don't get) and had a 900,000 viewership, which I'm pretty sure NASCAR reported that was more than a real race gets.

It was pretty hard to tell the difference. You digit-bender types have come a long way from the old Magnavox Odyssey and Atari 2600. ;)

Magnavox Odyssey and Atari 2600

I got a chuckle when I saw this. I was never into that sort of thing though. I was more into live action sports. None of that couch potato routine for me. ;)

While Americans are quite used to NOT doing things the gov says not to do, actually DOING things the gov says to do is a different matter, such as staying home. Americans are pretty much spoiled in that way. Something Chinese people wouldn't be for living under communist rule.

Ecuador has a better chance of containment than the USA does, though shutting down the economy is something few countries can do for long.

Chinese people

I have heard China has built big cities no one is living in now since they cannot get the rural population to move into those cities. ;)

I was never into that sort of thing though.

Me neither, I did have eyes though.

I was more into live action sports.

Me, not so much. About the time I was tall enough to reach the handle of Dad's old Toro push mower, I was humpin'. Dad would come home and berate me because the lines weren't straight enough, did the wrong pattern, back & forth, up & down, diagonal, left & right, etc.

Once he was halfway satisfied, then I had to sell myself and go to work for the rest of the neighborhood when I wasn't in school. As soon as I was old enough to walk, I was on a snow shovel with a cut down handle.

Family legend had it that I could identify basic tools to be a "go-fer" for Dad, phillips or standard screwdriver, wire cutters, wrenches etc. at 2 years old.

What's a couch? Seashell, right?

that I could identify basic tools to be a "go-fer" for Dad, phillips or standard screwdriver, wire cutters, wrenches

When I took the test to be a Highway Maintainer for State of Illinois, there were several black guys there taking the test too.

Many of them were scratching their heads.

It was a common sense test. They would show a picture of a nut and bolt and then show pictures of tools like screw driver, hammer and wrench. Which tool do you need to finish the job?

I was maybe the 3rd or 4th one to finish. You needed 90% right to pass. I got it with ease.

When I got my letter of appointment I went to the yard on my first day. I gave it to the Lead, Lead Worker. He looked at it and said, "We haven't had a probation here in five years." ;)

Family legend had it that I could identify basic tools to be a "go-fer" for Dad, phillips or standard screwdriver, wire cutters, wrenches etc. at 2 years old.

That's beautiful, Esso. Reminds me of when Dad would be working on something and my job was to hold the flashlight.

"Shine it on the work, son! Not in my eyes!" I finally learned.

I still have the red Big Beam 6V sealed beam lantern he gave me 50 years ago.

"Shine it on the work, son! Not in my eyes!"

HAHAHA! I made that mistake with Dad exactly 1.000 times.

I have heard China has built big cities no one is living in now since they cannot get the rural population to move into those cities. ;)

Yes, I've seen photos of their brand new ghost cities. Certainly illustrates the failure of central planning over free market.

The so-called "republicans" were just as guilty in this fiasco.

Yes, I've seen photos of their brand new ghost cities. Certainly illustrates the failure of central planning over free market.

I read an extensive article on those many years ago. Memory about it is hazy, but i do remember (faultily?) that those ghost cities were built due to the very stupid banking laws the bugs have.

From NPR and years ago.

China isn't the first or only country that has overbuilt and ended up with dud developments. But how come we don't come across as many ghost towns in countries like India and Brazil — which have experienced nearly as much economic growth and urbanization as China over the past decade?

It has a lot to do with the fact that China's municipal governments own urban areas, Yang says, and can cheaply buy up rural land outside their jurisdictions.

"Then they can auction off this land with a huge markup," Yang says. "So cities, and the officials who govern them, have a very strong interest in promoting real estate development."

For local officials, there's prestige to be gained from spearheading huge real estate projects. "There's no denying that in certain cases, officials will award development rights to their friends," Yang says.

many won't survive without some kind of medical care

The question, Ping is how many. It all hangs on that, and our favorite pundits are saying from every possible angle that the threat is blown way out of proportion.