PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM

I told a friend of mine today that all these restrictions were driving me crazy. He responded

By saying “ you didn’t have far to go then “. I was glad of a little humour in these depressing times.

It appears to me that the mindless stupidity of the masses knows no bounds. Clearly nobody sat down and did a SWOT analysis of the various options available to us as a society. A wave of emotion inspired by the media and a variety of failed politicians have decided to burn down the house to save the pots and pans. This wasn’t their intention. They didn’t have one.

In times of crises you need your leaders to step up as it were. Instead our leaders have made all the right noises about saving lives and then handed the reigns over to the so called medical experts.

These are the same medical experts who couldn’t improve never mind fix the existing health services in their respective countries. The data and computer modelling that is driving their advice to politicians is at best inconclusive. Their record in previous crises of this sort has been wildly inaccurate. Some amongst their own question the assumptions they are making. Stanford university’s Jay Bhattacharya is one. He maintains that the number of potential deaths is being considerably overstated. The scientific response from his colleagues has been “ Oh come on Jay. Get with it. “

Once the political and media establishment took a certain position early on they were always going to seek to control the narrative thereafter. Expect only justifications from here on in.

The management of this pandemic is now being driven by a group of people who reacted without thinking it through. They have imposed what can only be described as marshal law on us the citizens. The bad news is they are getting to like it. Our freedoms are being eroded and many of them will not be returned to us when this virus subsides which it will.

Committees are being formed with great haste to examine what further restrictions they can place on us. Powers are being extended on a trickle down basis throughout society. Suddenly people have the power to tell you where to stand, whether you can walk down the street or drive your car etc. This overzealous righteousness has reached all levels of society with people becoming indignant and rude to those they feel are not doing what they have been told. They are reporting each other to the authorities. Does this remind you of anywhere? In the 1930’s perhaps. Yes. I’m talking Nazi Germany.

The ability of people to get together and dream up rules to solve problems that either don’t exist or which are completely ineffective is unlimited. I do not suggest that this is done in some scheming Machiavellian way. It can be poor judgement, a lack of gravitas at the time or just pure incompetence. It is however generally driven by a desire to be important, starting with politicians bursting to be seen to do the right thing. What the right thing is will already have been decided for them by the media who increasingly dictate the agenda.

Everything evolves from there. In doing this they are generally fulfilling their desires on the basis that “ If I am part of setting up the rules maybe I can carve out a position of even more importance for myself going forward. I’ll be given resources. I’ll have status. I can set up subcommittees and regional committees. I’ll probably have to attend conferences in Sydney or Vancouver.”

Meanwhile on the ground floor of society where most of us operate there are plenty of foot soldiers willing to buy into the programme. People don’t think too deeply about many of these issues but if you frighten the hell out of them you’ll generally get their cooperation. Does this remind you of anywhere? In the 1930’s perhaps. Yes. I’m talking Nazi Germany.

This is what has happened here. People have been frightened into thinking that if we don’t do what we are told either I or those close to me may get sick or even die. Rational discussion has gone out the window and will not return without the courage of a real leader.

It is reasonable not to expect us the masses to alter our thinking. We are now frightened and we don’t have the knowledge or the expertise. Government ministers everywhere need to face up to the realities. Consider alternatives such as those adopted by the Swedes. Recognise that if they don’t they are going to have much bigger problems on their hands.

The health issues alone from badly damaged economies will range from suicide and depression to drug addiction and a sharp increase in everyday health issues resulting from poverty. These will be further exacerbated  by a lack of money to deal with the increasing demands that are inevitable.

This is not about lives versus money as some like to frame the argument. It is very much about lives versus lives.

The economic consequences will be less funding for all government services, seriously high unemployment and ultimately shorter life spans for the population as a whole. Will this destroy more lives and destroy our way of life? I don’t believe this debate is taking place at any serious level.

Those who govern us have taken a holiday from all the other issues that existed in the world as of January this year. It’s a complete copout. International terrorism, wars, crime, health services ( ironically ), education, poverty and above all the economy have been sidelined as though they either don’t exist or can be dealt with when we get back as it were. Don’t think for a moment the Chinese or the Russians or the Iranians or for that matter the North Koreans have any intention of wasting a good crisis.

This is preposterous and a complete abdication of responsibility. You can’t shut the shop for a period and expect that when you open it again the problems haven’t multiplied.

The promises they have made in respect of money are ludicrous and could in and of themselves cause the collapse of economies. Who is the biggest beneficiary of this going to be. The Chinese of course. A matter that needs to be dealt with separately.