(Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)
Now that the US and WHO have both declared an end to the Covid health emergency, one might be tempted to think the pandemic nightmare is finally over. Indeed, for most people, it had already been overtaken by more pressing issues, ranging from inflation to war. But for those of us who maintained that the real nightmare was not the virus itself, but rather the governments’ dystopian response to it in the name of “public health”, there is little to celebrate.
For starters, we are still a minority. Over the past year, official reports have confirmed many of our claims that were initially dismissed as disinformation — on the likely artificial origin of SARS-CoV-2, on the futility of universal masking (especially in children), on school closures, on the negative impact of lockdowns, on the possible side effects of the mRNA vaccines, and much more. But most people are not aware of these developments. Instead, they still largely subscribe to the Covid consensus: that the pandemic measures were a necessary, albeit painful, response to a novel virus which we knew very little about. As a recent UnHerd Britain poll revealed, most Britons are still convinced that lockdowns were the right choice.
Will this shift? It seems unlikely, given the vast resources that will likely be poured into consolidating the “accepted story” of the past three years — what we might call the post-Covid consensus. This can already be seen in the media’s hagiographic reports about two of the chief architects of America’s pandemic response, Anthony Fauci and former CDC director Rochelle Walensky, following their recent departures from government. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and national governments are pushing to increase the power of centralised public health authorities during health emergencies, through the revision of the WHO’s International Health Regulations and a new pandemic treaty. Elsewhere, despite the launching of official Covid inquiries in several countries, including the UK, it seems doubtful that they will lead to anything more than a merry-go-round of buck-passing. The failures committed at the highest level during the “war on Covid” are simply too big to expect states to put themselves on trial.
Indeed, if the past three years have taught us anything, it is that most of the constitutional safeguards, legal formalities and “checks and balances” that we took for granted can easily be swept aside in the name of “emergency”. That most of the Covid measures are now being curtailed doesn’t change the fact that the potential for a return to boundless executive power is always there. Indeed, perhaps this is the most pernicious legacy of the pandemic: that most people appear to have accepted the fact that democratic norms and practices may be suspended in the name of “public threats”. In other words, the politics of emergency have been normalised.
While the Covid pandemic may be over, then, the Covid paradigm remains very much alive. In fact, we are already witnessing its deployment in the context of new crises, most recently in the emergence of a totalising narrative surrounding the Ukraine war. This points to another uncomfortable truth: that the underlying conditions that made the Covid response possible have not gone away. If anything, they have been exacerbated since the virus struck: the capture of state institutions by corporate interests, the hyper-concentrated nature of our mainstream media, the power of Big Tech and its symbiotic relationship with the repressive apparatuses of the state, and the transfer of power from the national level, where citizens are able to exercise some degree of influence over policy, to an unaccountable supranational level.
In this context, it is worrying to see many of those in the so-called lockdown-sceptic camp drawing misplaced conclusions from the events of the past three years. It has become almost an article of faith among lockdown sceptics to place the blame for the pandemic response on excessive state power — and to conclude that the solution to all our problems is to dramatically curtail the role of the state.
We profoundly disagree with this conclusion. Of course, Western state institutions have failed in the Covid era — proving to be inefficient, terribly oppressive or both. Yet it seems pretty clear that they failed not because they are state institutions per se, but rather because they have been captured by private corporations and their interests. If the main lesson drawn from the pandemic is that there should be further erosion of the productive and organisational capacities of the state, disaster will surely follow. The worst possible outcome would be the further privatisation of public services, allowing private interests to further distort public institutions through “revolving door” policies and close government ties to biotech companies. Such an approach ignores the fact that private corporate power can be just as tyrannical as state power. In fact, many of our problems can be traced back precisely to the deregulation of big business of the past decades, which has led private corporations to exercise significant control over our lives.
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SubscribeI still can’t get over the fact that there had been plenty of measures planned in case of a Covid-style pandemic, including most pointedly, no lockdowns. Then as soon as there was a pandemic, all those plans were junked and the first cab off the new public health rank was lockdowns. What was the point of all those health boffins sciencing the hell out of pandemics on the public coin, if their presumably assiduous advice and expertise was immediately ignored?
The Covid response was Basil Fawlty’s fire extinguisher.
Thomas & Toby *almost* get it. Close but no cigar.
https://twitter.com/EyesOnThePriz12/status/1658789614251909123
As for your point about pandemic planning, I’m afraid you’ve fallen for the propaganda. There was no effective planning.
https://johnsullivan.substack.com/p/pandemic-preparedness-in-the-uk
The point is well made by JF Kennedy Jr that over the last couple of decades, right up to 2019, multiple pandemic exercises with international collaboration, were totally dominated by the CIA and other USA security agencies. They focused entirely on reinforcing information and population controls not global medical networks to share best practice for example. THAT is why it went like it did.
I’m not sure if you think you agree or disagree with my comment.
Me neither!
Me neither!
I’m not sure if you think you agree or disagree with my comment.
The point is well made by JF Kennedy Jr that over the last couple of decades, right up to 2019, multiple pandemic exercises with international collaboration, were totally dominated by the CIA and other USA security agencies. They focused entirely on reinforcing information and population controls not global medical networks to share best practice for example. THAT is why it went like it did.
That’s because covid was an opportunity for governments to do thins that can not do during non-crisis and to grab new powers for themselves. As former US President Obamas Chief of Staff said, never let a crisis go to waste and so they didn’t. Had they not thought to take advantage of covid then we would have seen a more normal level headed response to it. Did you notice how in most nations the national government seemed to do a 180 on covid within a f ew weeks of the outbreak? IT’s like as if it was going to be dealt with like any other virus and then suddenly as if in lock step the nations leaders turned around and all went full on authoritarian. This is because a few weeks into it those who use our nations leaders like puppets decided covid was an opportunity to do 2 key things necessary for the future they want, a society that has been reset.
1) A physical checkpoint & tracking system, ie the vaccine passport and the physical “Papers please” checkpoints that will use the passport to control peoples movements.
2) Set the precedent that the national government can during a health emergency mandate drugging of the public. This one varies from nation to nation as some nations can already do this or something close to it but for key nations like America the National Government can force drug anyone but if they were able to successfully mandate the covid vaccine they would have been able to set that needed precedent and at some later time that would be used to justify a future mandated drug. Initially it would most likely be another vaccine but that would eventually be expanded to included non-vaccines all in the name of dealing with some emergency. What national government wouldn’t drool at the chance to force drug it’s population?
Thomas & Toby *almost* get it. Close but no cigar.
https://twitter.com/EyesOnThePriz12/status/1658789614251909123
As for your point about pandemic planning, I’m afraid you’ve fallen for the propaganda. There was no effective planning.
https://johnsullivan.substack.com/p/pandemic-preparedness-in-the-uk
That’s because covid was an opportunity for governments to do thins that can not do during non-crisis and to grab new powers for themselves. As former US President Obamas Chief of Staff said, never let a crisis go to waste and so they didn’t. Had they not thought to take advantage of covid then we would have seen a more normal level headed response to it. Did you notice how in most nations the national government seemed to do a 180 on covid within a f ew weeks of the outbreak? IT’s like as if it was going to be dealt with like any other virus and then suddenly as if in lock step the nations leaders turned around and all went full on authoritarian. This is because a few weeks into it those who use our nations leaders like puppets decided covid was an opportunity to do 2 key things necessary for the future they want, a society that has been reset.
1) A physical checkpoint & tracking system, ie the vaccine passport and the physical “Papers please” checkpoints that will use the passport to control peoples movements.
2) Set the precedent that the national government can during a health emergency mandate drugging of the public. This one varies from nation to nation as some nations can already do this or something close to it but for key nations like America the National Government can force drug anyone but if they were able to successfully mandate the covid vaccine they would have been able to set that needed precedent and at some later time that would be used to justify a future mandated drug. Initially it would most likely be another vaccine but that would eventually be expanded to included non-vaccines all in the name of dealing with some emergency. What national government wouldn’t drool at the chance to force drug it’s population?
I still can’t get over the fact that there had been plenty of measures planned in case of a Covid-style pandemic, including most pointedly, no lockdowns. Then as soon as there was a pandemic, all those plans were junked and the first cab off the new public health rank was lockdowns. What was the point of all those health boffins sciencing the hell out of pandemics on the public coin, if their presumably assiduous advice and expertise was immediately ignored?
The Covid response was Basil Fawlty’s fire extinguisher.
We are still not focussing on the proposed new WHO pandemic treaty. If we sign it, we will be legally forced to obey the wishes of the WHO if there is another epidemic.
If the WHO says there could be another epidemic on the way, this treaty allows the WHO to stop all flights and to impose a lockdown on us as a ‘preventative measure’. We will be forced to follow the advice of the (unelected) WHO team.
Also the WHO would have the sole right to approve vaccine and vaccine manufacturers and to allocate that vaccine as it thinks – anywhere in the world.
At the moment, the treaty is in the second national discussion phase. Parliaments have just discussed it in all countries and the final treaty wording will be approved next month. Then it comes back to national parliaments for ratification and a formal signing early next year. It has already been unanimously agreed that it will be legally binding.
You might disagree with new vaccines; you might disagree with new lockdowns; but at least we can control our politicians in the future BUT not if we sign this treaty.
Yes, absolutely right. The *fundamental* problem we have is totalitarian neo-Marxism, not far right capitalist corruption.
https://twitter.com/EyesOnThePriz12/status/1658789614251909123
Hard to tell them apart.
No, we have the worst of both. Authoritarian governments dominated by psychopathic billionaires and corporations.
Hard to tell them apart.
No, we have the worst of both. Authoritarian governments dominated by psychopathic billionaires and corporations.
I shall always agree with anyone with such a fine Welsh name as Caradog Wiliams.
Yes, absolutely right. The *fundamental* problem we have is totalitarian neo-Marxism, not far right capitalist corruption.
https://twitter.com/EyesOnThePriz12/status/1658789614251909123
I shall always agree with anyone with such a fine Welsh name as Caradog Wiliams.
We are still not focussing on the proposed new WHO pandemic treaty. If we sign it, we will be legally forced to obey the wishes of the WHO if there is another epidemic.
If the WHO says there could be another epidemic on the way, this treaty allows the WHO to stop all flights and to impose a lockdown on us as a ‘preventative measure’. We will be forced to follow the advice of the (unelected) WHO team.
Also the WHO would have the sole right to approve vaccine and vaccine manufacturers and to allocate that vaccine as it thinks – anywhere in the world.
At the moment, the treaty is in the second national discussion phase. Parliaments have just discussed it in all countries and the final treaty wording will be approved next month. Then it comes back to national parliaments for ratification and a formal signing early next year. It has already been unanimously agreed that it will be legally binding.
You might disagree with new vaccines; you might disagree with new lockdowns; but at least we can control our politicians in the future BUT not if we sign this treaty.
Excellent observations and points. I did however get the feeling that a lot of it was simply describing the water we’re all drowning in. That’s not a critique, it’s just me realizing that we’re all in real trouble here in Western nations. Your final conclusions were right, but I just don’t see that happening. That would take people of high character and values willing to stand for truth and on principles, even to their own harm. Those kinds of people have existed in history before, but I don’t see our cultures in the US and Europe at that point of change just yet.
I’m hoping that there won’t be some great catastrophe that necessitates men trying to pull the pieces back together, but history and even personal experience sure seems to teach us that it is only through great suffering that people change. There seems to be many potential paths our current leaders have us on that the suffering could occur.
I’m afraid I disagree. Much as I respect both Thomas and Toby, their conclusions – while partially, even largely, valid – are limited by their political ideology. Neo-Marxist lunacy is the rock they won’t turn over.
https://twitter.com/EyesOnThePriz12/status/1658789614251909123
The suffering in Ww1 that soldiers suffered was to be the war that ended all wars.
Yet weapons of war are still being made to sell to countries to create more war.
The suffering in Ww1 that soldiers suffered was to be the war that ended all wars.
Yet weapons of war are still being made to sell to countries to create more war.
I agree with you. We are in real trouble. It will take a catastrophe to shake people out of their dogmatic slumbers. Like you, I’d much rather see it done the peaceful way. I believe that the burdens on the man in the street placed by the elites in pursuit of their ideologies will become intolerable.
I don’t agree that a bigger State is what’s required. The State has shown itself open to coercion by multinationals via its own agencies (see for example R F Kennedy Jr’s book about Tony Fauci). Having a bigger version of the State will only open the door to more of that.
We are in a propaganda war involving the media, big tech and ‘nudge units’. The big guns are being fired by those with money and power. We ordinary people must wait until reality catches up with the propaganda and we must suffer the consequences of the mistakes these people have made.
There really is no mystery as to why the British public have not yet woken up to the painful truths about Covid & lockdown. Our State media – led by the ‘NHS First’ BBC – and the rest of the mainstream media – knowingly & cynically sustained an atmosphere of public hysteria with gleefully warped misreporting which made the long drawn out catastrophe of 20/22 a certainty. The BBC trashed its fundamental charter obligations on independence & journalistic integrity by limply following Ofcom diktat on the suppression of scientific debate for two long years. It was like the Soviets & Chernobyl. Our media played a shameful and major contributory role in the lockdown crisis, something they cannot ever afford to review or advertise.
Yep. Spot on. Now the BBC (and by extension, the TNI), the broadcasting arm of the Ministry of Truth, have launched their new initiative:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbc-news-transparency-bbc-verify
Yep. Spot on. Now the BBC (and by extension, the TNI), the broadcasting arm of the Ministry of Truth, have launched their new initiative:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbc-news-transparency-bbc-verify
There really is no mystery as to why the British public have not yet woken up to the painful truths about Covid & lockdown. Our State media – led by the ‘NHS First’ BBC – and the rest of the mainstream media – knowingly & cynically sustained an atmosphere of public hysteria with gleefully warped misreporting which made the long drawn out catastrophe of 20/22 a certainty. The BBC trashed its fundamental charter obligations on independence & journalistic integrity by limply following Ofcom diktat on the suppression of scientific debate for two long years. It was like the Soviets & Chernobyl. Our media played a shameful and major contributory role in the lockdown crisis, something they cannot ever afford to review or advertise.
I’m afraid I disagree. Much as I respect both Thomas and Toby, their conclusions – while partially, even largely, valid – are limited by their political ideology. Neo-Marxist lunacy is the rock they won’t turn over.
https://twitter.com/EyesOnThePriz12/status/1658789614251909123
I agree with you. We are in real trouble. It will take a catastrophe to shake people out of their dogmatic slumbers. Like you, I’d much rather see it done the peaceful way. I believe that the burdens on the man in the street placed by the elites in pursuit of their ideologies will become intolerable.
I don’t agree that a bigger State is what’s required. The State has shown itself open to coercion by multinationals via its own agencies (see for example R F Kennedy Jr’s book about Tony Fauci). Having a bigger version of the State will only open the door to more of that.
We are in a propaganda war involving the media, big tech and ‘nudge units’. The big guns are being fired by those with money and power. We ordinary people must wait until reality catches up with the propaganda and we must suffer the consequences of the mistakes these people have made.
Excellent observations and points. I did however get the feeling that a lot of it was simply describing the water we’re all drowning in. That’s not a critique, it’s just me realizing that we’re all in real trouble here in Western nations. Your final conclusions were right, but I just don’t see that happening. That would take people of high character and values willing to stand for truth and on principles, even to their own harm. Those kinds of people have existed in history before, but I don’t see our cultures in the US and Europe at that point of change just yet.
I’m hoping that there won’t be some great catastrophe that necessitates men trying to pull the pieces back together, but history and even personal experience sure seems to teach us that it is only through great suffering that people change. There seems to be many potential paths our current leaders have us on that the suffering could occur.
You could just call it what it is, ‘stakeholder capitalism’. I agree that the state is necessary, and needs to be freed of its infiltration by billionaires protecting their interests, but right now I only see two possible ways that is going to happen. Positively, through a politically uniting force such as RFK Jr, exposing the whole rotten nest of corruption, or negatively, through a revolution.
Governments fear the latter hence the rush to control the internet and crack down on free speech online, cash and crypto, and finally control us completely with digtital ID and CBDCs. It’s a bit of an arms race right now as to who will win, because the ‘conspiracy theories’, as you put it, become wilder by the day. Problem is, they’re almost all based on official documents and statistics. When RFK Jr is prepared to platform ex-Pharma clinical trials expert Sasha Latypova explaining the DoD’s involvement in the mRNA vaccine program you know you have a problem on your hands.
When you have ex-BBC researcher Sonia Elijah, and the DailyClout team, revealing the most shocking details about the effects of the vaccines on pregnant and lactating mothers, all from Pfizer and EMA documents, then you realise why Pfizer wanted to conceal them for 75 years. These are conspiracy FACTs. I am not sure they can successfully be buried when RFK Jr is becoming a cross party hero of ‘the resistance’.
‘The Covid Consensus’ is the best account of the pandemic yet but you wisely avoided a deep dive into the vaccine issue. You’re still hovering here. I think you should do so now because there is something to see here. You could start by dropping the use of the stigmatising term ‘conspiracy theory’. The vaccine injured inevitably get swept up into the ‘basket of deplorables’ of ‘conspiracy theorists’. Others are libertarians who had a strong intuition, rather than the evidence for it early on. But the core now is the many doctors and scientists who have put their careers, incomes and reputations on the line to speak out about the vaccines and research their possible harms. As I said, there is something to see here, but you’ll be waiting a very long time before you see it on the BBC.
There are angry calls now for criminal trials, and I understand and sympathise with that, but I would rather see a focus on a truth and reconciliation process. No restoration of trust in public heath is going to take place until it is all out in the open and we can try to safeguard against medical tyranny in the future.
Yes, but how long will that be delayed? Neil Oliver did an excellent monologue on 6th May, the evening of the Coronation, which highlighted the need for openness regarding the direction in which we are being pushed by our self appointed and unelected “stakeholder capitalist” managers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLBLEJYEsrU
There are very solid plans, brought opportunistically and rapidly forward by the WEF, WHO, et al using the excuse of the pandemic “emergency” which will have a profound impact upon us and coming generations. It’s clear no open discussion will be tolerated. I’m not concerned for myself at 78, but I wake daily with the depressing knowledge of what the future may hold for so many worldwide. The problems of Ukraine and Taiwan VS Russia and China, which also concern me deeply, almost fade in comparison.
Thoroughly agree your post btw. Thanks.
Pfizer have already paid one of the biggest fines in history – $1.3 billion back in 2009. Plainly such huge companies regard even eyewatering fines as a tiresome business overhead. Their profits are even bigger.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/sep/02/pfizer-drugs-us-criminal-fine
Yes, but how long will that be delayed? Neil Oliver did an excellent monologue on 6th May, the evening of the Coronation, which highlighted the need for openness regarding the direction in which we are being pushed by our self appointed and unelected “stakeholder capitalist” managers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLBLEJYEsrU
There are very solid plans, brought opportunistically and rapidly forward by the WEF, WHO, et al using the excuse of the pandemic “emergency” which will have a profound impact upon us and coming generations. It’s clear no open discussion will be tolerated. I’m not concerned for myself at 78, but I wake daily with the depressing knowledge of what the future may hold for so many worldwide. The problems of Ukraine and Taiwan VS Russia and China, which also concern me deeply, almost fade in comparison.
Thoroughly agree your post btw. Thanks.
Pfizer have already paid one of the biggest fines in history – $1.3 billion back in 2009. Plainly such huge companies regard even eyewatering fines as a tiresome business overhead. Their profits are even bigger.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/sep/02/pfizer-drugs-us-criminal-fine
You could just call it what it is, ‘stakeholder capitalism’. I agree that the state is necessary, and needs to be freed of its infiltration by billionaires protecting their interests, but right now I only see two possible ways that is going to happen. Positively, through a politically uniting force such as RFK Jr, exposing the whole rotten nest of corruption, or negatively, through a revolution.
Governments fear the latter hence the rush to control the internet and crack down on free speech online, cash and crypto, and finally control us completely with digtital ID and CBDCs. It’s a bit of an arms race right now as to who will win, because the ‘conspiracy theories’, as you put it, become wilder by the day. Problem is, they’re almost all based on official documents and statistics. When RFK Jr is prepared to platform ex-Pharma clinical trials expert Sasha Latypova explaining the DoD’s involvement in the mRNA vaccine program you know you have a problem on your hands.
When you have ex-BBC researcher Sonia Elijah, and the DailyClout team, revealing the most shocking details about the effects of the vaccines on pregnant and lactating mothers, all from Pfizer and EMA documents, then you realise why Pfizer wanted to conceal them for 75 years. These are conspiracy FACTs. I am not sure they can successfully be buried when RFK Jr is becoming a cross party hero of ‘the resistance’.
‘The Covid Consensus’ is the best account of the pandemic yet but you wisely avoided a deep dive into the vaccine issue. You’re still hovering here. I think you should do so now because there is something to see here. You could start by dropping the use of the stigmatising term ‘conspiracy theory’. The vaccine injured inevitably get swept up into the ‘basket of deplorables’ of ‘conspiracy theorists’. Others are libertarians who had a strong intuition, rather than the evidence for it early on. But the core now is the many doctors and scientists who have put their careers, incomes and reputations on the line to speak out about the vaccines and research their possible harms. As I said, there is something to see here, but you’ll be waiting a very long time before you see it on the BBC.
There are angry calls now for criminal trials, and I understand and sympathise with that, but I would rather see a focus on a truth and reconciliation process. No restoration of trust in public heath is going to take place until it is all out in the open and we can try to safeguard against medical tyranny in the future.
The big thing that’s lacking in our society is clarity of purpose. A meaning gap left gaping wide by “the death of God” that leaves individuals doubting themselves and desperate for belonging to something bigger than themselves. Global corporations that have reached the limits of geographical expansion expand into the social and personal spheres, intermediating and commodifying all personal experience (“like” this, try that, here’s your memories from five years ago etc). They are codependent parasites on a disoriented population suffering from “future shock” – a jet lag caused by rapid technological “progress”. Our biologies, psychologies and polities are paralysed and can’t cope. That’s how they got away with it with covid.
What’s to be done? I don’t think the answer lies only, or mainly, in better government. Rather it has to start with individual acts of courage, non-compliance, and – if necessary – some short-term personal sacrifice: “It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men”. It does not have to be big things. Make gentle little jokes about the covid madness, jokes where it’s clear you’re laughing with but not at those who got swept away by it all. Once you’ve made one, the next can be a little more risqué. Build human connections. Use the human checkout option at the supermarket – and have a chat with the checkout person about how dystopian the machines are. Use cash. You don’t have to do it every time; but every little helps. Question and interrogate unthinking wokism rather than rail in anger against it, and allow that its proponents may have a legitimate grievance. Try to bring them back to reality one baby step at a time.
Most of all, I think, it’s about listening to people and meeting them where they are. No-one, bar a few psychopaths, wants to live under a fully automated, techno-feudalist dictatorship. We have a deep seated instinct to protect ourselves and, especially, our children; this is something which the faux-progressive corporate interests have likely grossly underestimated or ignored. They can model the weather, they can model future sales, they can attempt to model the spread of a virus and even aspects of human behaviour but they cannot model love, faith or hope. The truth will out, and sooner rather than later if more people make it their purpose to live in truth and connection with each other in their day to day lives.
This is a good post in general but I would just say…God’s Not Dead. Nietzsche was wrong and so was the Frankfurt School.
Yep agree. Reports of God’s death are greatly exaggerated and you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspapers … or in academic journals … or in late nineteenth, or indeed early early twentieth, century German philosophy …
Logic and science say god never existed.
Logic and science say god never existed.
God never existed in the first place.
Yep agree. Reports of God’s death are greatly exaggerated and you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspapers … or in academic journals … or in late nineteenth, or indeed early early twentieth, century German philosophy …
God never existed in the first place.
I agree wholeheartedly, one by one, little by little, and it is heartening to see people speaking up openly, individually or collectively, as the Oxford lecturers and professors did a few days ago over the proposed Union debate platforming of Ms Stock (which is a slightly different aspect of the last three years).
I find to my surprise and pleasure in personal encounters that people are beginning to voice their opinion on what has gone on, and I think there are far more out there than the above writers perceive. Given the divisive hysteria cultivated by the MSM, it’s not surprising we are only beginning to hear what people really thought, or are finally coming to understand, has been going on.
Thank you for this post: I like your suggestion of how we all can in small ways undermine received opinion. Also thank you for the Sam Adams quote, which I shall treasure.
This is a good post in general but I would just say…God’s Not Dead. Nietzsche was wrong and so was the Frankfurt School.
I agree wholeheartedly, one by one, little by little, and it is heartening to see people speaking up openly, individually or collectively, as the Oxford lecturers and professors did a few days ago over the proposed Union debate platforming of Ms Stock (which is a slightly different aspect of the last three years).
I find to my surprise and pleasure in personal encounters that people are beginning to voice their opinion on what has gone on, and I think there are far more out there than the above writers perceive. Given the divisive hysteria cultivated by the MSM, it’s not surprising we are only beginning to hear what people really thought, or are finally coming to understand, has been going on.
Thank you for this post: I like your suggestion of how we all can in small ways undermine received opinion. Also thank you for the Sam Adams quote, which I shall treasure.
The big thing that’s lacking in our society is clarity of purpose. A meaning gap left gaping wide by “the death of God” that leaves individuals doubting themselves and desperate for belonging to something bigger than themselves. Global corporations that have reached the limits of geographical expansion expand into the social and personal spheres, intermediating and commodifying all personal experience (“like” this, try that, here’s your memories from five years ago etc). They are codependent parasites on a disoriented population suffering from “future shock” – a jet lag caused by rapid technological “progress”. Our biologies, psychologies and polities are paralysed and can’t cope. That’s how they got away with it with covid.
What’s to be done? I don’t think the answer lies only, or mainly, in better government. Rather it has to start with individual acts of courage, non-compliance, and – if necessary – some short-term personal sacrifice: “It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men”. It does not have to be big things. Make gentle little jokes about the covid madness, jokes where it’s clear you’re laughing with but not at those who got swept away by it all. Once you’ve made one, the next can be a little more risqué. Build human connections. Use the human checkout option at the supermarket – and have a chat with the checkout person about how dystopian the machines are. Use cash. You don’t have to do it every time; but every little helps. Question and interrogate unthinking wokism rather than rail in anger against it, and allow that its proponents may have a legitimate grievance. Try to bring them back to reality one baby step at a time.
Most of all, I think, it’s about listening to people and meeting them where they are. No-one, bar a few psychopaths, wants to live under a fully automated, techno-feudalist dictatorship. We have a deep seated instinct to protect ourselves and, especially, our children; this is something which the faux-progressive corporate interests have likely grossly underestimated or ignored. They can model the weather, they can model future sales, they can attempt to model the spread of a virus and even aspects of human behaviour but they cannot model love, faith or hope. The truth will out, and sooner rather than later if more people make it their purpose to live in truth and connection with each other in their day to day lives.
The last thing any of us need is more state, or more “stakeholder capitalism”, or more of the pharma-industrial complex, or the military-industrial complex. A (real) plague on all their houses.
The last thing any of us need is more state, or more “stakeholder capitalism”, or more of the pharma-industrial complex, or the military-industrial complex. A (real) plague on all their houses.
Mr Fazi misses one point. The virus was not remotely as dangerous as it was made out to be and this should have been apparent very early on. The virus was out in the wild from October 2019 and we locked down on 23 March 2020. In 2019 Wuhan airport was dealing with 14m passenger per annum so in the intervening period it would have gone round the world several time. If the virus was remotely as deadly as the authorities claimed we would have seen the evidence on the streets long before March 2020
Mr Fazi misses one point. The virus was not remotely as dangerous as it was made out to be and this should have been apparent very early on. The virus was out in the wild from October 2019 and we locked down on 23 March 2020. In 2019 Wuhan airport was dealing with 14m passenger per annum so in the intervening period it would have gone round the world several time. If the virus was remotely as deadly as the authorities claimed we would have seen the evidence on the streets long before March 2020
Covid ‘consensus’ is surely a misnomer. More like capitulation. And the depressing part for me is that we now have the measure of humanity; a fact not lost to those who drove their ‘consensus’.
Christians have always had the “measure of humanity.” If you are a Bible knowing Christian, you may feel depressed, but not surprised.
Christians have always had the “measure of humanity.” If you are a Bible knowing Christian, you may feel depressed, but not surprised.
Covid ‘consensus’ is surely a misnomer. More like capitulation. And the depressing part for me is that we now have the measure of humanity; a fact not lost to those who drove their ‘consensus’.
Very interesting article but I wondered about this statement “This might just be one measurement, but it strongly indicates that Western market dogmas around efficiency shouldn’t be taken at face value. Rather than doing away with the state, the past three years have shown that we actually need more of it. ”
So you are quite possibly right but, it seems to me, that the actions of a very powerful state in response to covid were largely responsible for many of the problems we are facing.
True enough, but that state too is in harness with some very powerful corporations.
Martin, my suspicion is that we’re HM Government weaker and less influential then we would see fewer powerful corporations.
But, chissa? Who knows?
Martin, my suspicion is that we’re HM Government weaker and less influential then we would see fewer powerful corporations.
But, chissa? Who knows?
True enough, but that state too is in harness with some very powerful corporations.
Very interesting article but I wondered about this statement “This might just be one measurement, but it strongly indicates that Western market dogmas around efficiency shouldn’t be taken at face value. Rather than doing away with the state, the past three years have shown that we actually need more of it. ”
So you are quite possibly right but, it seems to me, that the actions of a very powerful state in response to covid were largely responsible for many of the problems we are facing.
Provate corporations did not start the lockdowns. They simply did what they do once the whole panic became official.
Sweden uniquely held out. Are there no private companies in Stockholm?
Precisely. This article is cynical paranoia.
Precisely. This article is cynical paranoia.
Provate corporations did not start the lockdowns. They simply did what they do once the whole panic became official.
Sweden uniquely held out. Are there no private companies in Stockholm?
The ‘state’ and the corporations are in cahoots with unaccountable supra-national bodies coordinating; above these a ‘mafia’.
The ‘state’ and the corporations are in cahoots with unaccountable supra-national bodies coordinating; above these a ‘mafia’.
The state hasn’t been “captured” by private corporations. It willingly sold itself to them. They are partners in crime, right along with their media abettors.
This entire fiasco was war-gamed in October 2019. Event 201 was a “table top exercise” conducted at Johns Hopkins in partnership with the WEF and the Gates Foundation. Ostensibly created to help governments team up with private corporations to “handle” the worst impact of a global pandemic, what it really did was set out the strategy for controlling populations and testing levels of compliance.
The idea that we need more government is so ludicrous that I feel embarrassed for the two authors of this article. Either they’re hopelessly naive, or they’re among the bought and paid for. My guess is the latter.
I don’t think the authors are corrupt. They’re just a bit naive about Socialism sort of like George Orwell.
I agree that we do not need to be building up our Centralized Leviathans any more. The State Bureacracy is what gives Corporations all of this Monopoly Power.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Karl Marx was the greatest proponent of Monopoly Capitalism ever. His ideas vastly expanded the State while running out all competition except the State’s preferred contractors. Its like the East India Companies all over again.
A good point, and an interesting theory. An interviewer asked Douglas Murray why giants like Churchill and Lincoln are vilified, and Marx, an unapologetic racist (among so many other odious things), is elevated. He said (I’m paraphrasing) “We’re not allowed to have heroes, because they have none that could possibly live up to ours.” As for the authors, perhaps you’re right, but Fazi’s other scribbles tend to support my bought-and-paid-for assertion. With all the history and examples available to us, naivety about socialism would require a very tiny, undeveloped,child-like brain.
That’s a great quote and true. Watch some stuff on Liberation Theology in South America. I don’t think there is any more direct precursor to Wokeness than Paolo Friere. He merged Indigenous “epistemic” knowledge, Marxist Gnosticism and the Church teachings together into a hodgepodge that infiltrated our Academic system.
It’s really hard for Academics that have been raised on this stuff to recognize they’re practicing a Panentheistic Religious Doctrine when it’s so affiliated with Secular intellectualism.
That’s a great quote and true. Watch some stuff on Liberation Theology in South America. I don’t think there is any more direct precursor to Wokeness than Paolo Friere. He merged Indigenous “epistemic” knowledge, Marxist Gnosticism and the Church teachings together into a hodgepodge that infiltrated our Academic system.
It’s really hard for Academics that have been raised on this stuff to recognize they’re practicing a Panentheistic Religious Doctrine when it’s so affiliated with Secular intellectualism.
A good point, and an interesting theory. An interviewer asked Douglas Murray why giants like Churchill and Lincoln are vilified, and Marx, an unapologetic racist (among so many other odious things), is elevated. He said (I’m paraphrasing) “We’re not allowed to have heroes, because they have none that could possibly live up to ours.” As for the authors, perhaps you’re right, but Fazi’s other scribbles tend to support my bought-and-paid-for assertion. With all the history and examples available to us, naivety about socialism would require a very tiny, undeveloped,child-like brain.
I don’t think the authors are corrupt. They’re just a bit naive about Socialism sort of like George Orwell.
I agree that we do not need to be building up our Centralized Leviathans any more. The State Bureacracy is what gives Corporations all of this Monopoly Power.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Karl Marx was the greatest proponent of Monopoly Capitalism ever. His ideas vastly expanded the State while running out all competition except the State’s preferred contractors. Its like the East India Companies all over again.
The state hasn’t been “captured” by private corporations. It willingly sold itself to them. They are partners in crime, right along with their media abettors.
This entire fiasco was war-gamed in October 2019. Event 201 was a “table top exercise” conducted at Johns Hopkins in partnership with the WEF and the Gates Foundation. Ostensibly created to help governments team up with private corporations to “handle” the worst impact of a global pandemic, what it really did was set out the strategy for controlling populations and testing levels of compliance.
The idea that we need more government is so ludicrous that I feel embarrassed for the two authors of this article. Either they’re hopelessly naive, or they’re among the bought and paid for. My guess is the latter.
Churchill said “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Looks like we are about to institutionalise both the failure and the doom.
It is not just public health where we have badly lost our way. What we need is free speech, proper science and a mainstream media that understands the importance of both and their correct role in them.
Churchill said “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Looks like we are about to institutionalise both the failure and the doom.
It is not just public health where we have badly lost our way. What we need is free speech, proper science and a mainstream media that understands the importance of both and their correct role in them.
Still amazing that no one in politics or the media ever mention the Pandemic Plan
”7.4 During a pandemic, the Government will encourage those who are well to carry on with their normal daily lives for as long and as far as that is possible…. The UK Government does not plan to close borders, stop mass gatherings or impose controls on public transport during any pandemic.”
That’s not a “plan”, they don’t even call it a plan – “UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011”
It’s neither a plan nor a strategy. More of a joke, a non-plan. Fully assessed here:
https://johnsullivan.substack.com/p/pandemic-preparedness-in-the-uk
That’s not a “plan”, they don’t even call it a plan – “UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011”
It’s neither a plan nor a strategy. More of a joke, a non-plan. Fully assessed here:
https://johnsullivan.substack.com/p/pandemic-preparedness-in-the-uk
Still amazing that no one in politics or the media ever mention the Pandemic Plan
”7.4 During a pandemic, the Government will encourage those who are well to carry on with their normal daily lives for as long and as far as that is possible…. The UK Government does not plan to close borders, stop mass gatherings or impose controls on public transport during any pandemic.”
”To see how this corrupts the public sphere, consider the rise in conspiracy theories around the mRNA vaccines. Many of these, suffice it to say, are deeply disturbing.”
WTF? Which ones? The Fact is the Conspiracy theories were Deeply, disturbingly, True, almost every one of them. The Genetic ‘Treatments’ were a Bio-Weapon, exactly as the covid-19 was. Dr Malone, the foremost expert, will tell you over and over.
I seem two remember you two being pretty much going along with this – like Ukraine war……..
When Trump gets in, when RFK gets in – BOOM!!!!!
Time for Justice. Time for Nuremberg Trials, time to build prisons for the Lizards responsible, and their Corrupt Useful Idiots.. Time to sue every doctor, nurse, solider, tech, who gave the poison for everything, every penny they have – for failing to give ‘Informed Consent’ by giving risks along with the false benefits they spouted.
Every School person who went along in destroying the generation of young – every cop who wrote tickets for offenses which were illegal laws – Bust them all.
Social Media Heads? MSM Heads? Treason, and after a trial – Tyburn Dock for the justice they deserve. But first, Boris, Hunt, Hancock, Truss, Sunak – all of them, rowed through Traitor’s Gate……to a Fair Trial, and…….
Cromwell needs to have his words written in stone in front of Westminster:
”“You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.””
Just to give the flip side of this sad and defeatist article.
Execution Dock NOT Tyburn Dock.
Plus Smithfield for burnings.
I am angry too, at what has been done, at the stress of watching through half closed fingers for three long years, as society has torn itself apart at the many awful public health and governmental mismanagement decisions, to which the rest of Westminster turned a blind eye, never questioned and often demanded be more dictatorial. As retired nurse/midwife, I would have gone demented at what I knew was largely pseudo-science, knowingly outsourced by the edicts of an internationally disgraceful WHO, if a band of very brave medics and scientists had not spoken up (Great Barrington Declaration, Hart, and many others) which confirmed I had not mistaken my lifelong training lessons.
However, do you really imagine that the blanket use of a fire and brimstone approach to all and sundry, many of whom (not all) had been nudged into imagining they were genuinely assisting, will cure the problem? It would only drive authorities into a state of inactive fear in any future emergency. No one would act for future retribution, and in fact there is a strong case for arguing that some of what we did have imposed sprang from the fear of future accusations of not taking action.
The one thing the Health Services have correctly learnt and understood over the last few decades has been that problems of management or professional practice resulting in injury, death or damage do not get sorted out under punishment duress. Yes, people have a duty of care, and contrary to your apparent assumption, it is taken seriously, lessons are taken from thorough investigation, and where negligence has been involved heads do roll (though the public might not consider that does occur). Only with reasoned investigation can we expect that those we hand responsibilities to, will act in our best interests and learn from error.
There has been duplicitous, knowing, meddling at a very high international level in this particular situation, and it’s those individuals and institutions we should be looking to if the possibility of full investigation ever arises.
Execution Dock NOT Tyburn Dock.
Plus Smithfield for burnings.
I am angry too, at what has been done, at the stress of watching through half closed fingers for three long years, as society has torn itself apart at the many awful public health and governmental mismanagement decisions, to which the rest of Westminster turned a blind eye, never questioned and often demanded be more dictatorial. As retired nurse/midwife, I would have gone demented at what I knew was largely pseudo-science, knowingly outsourced by the edicts of an internationally disgraceful WHO, if a band of very brave medics and scientists had not spoken up (Great Barrington Declaration, Hart, and many others) which confirmed I had not mistaken my lifelong training lessons.
However, do you really imagine that the blanket use of a fire and brimstone approach to all and sundry, many of whom (not all) had been nudged into imagining they were genuinely assisting, will cure the problem? It would only drive authorities into a state of inactive fear in any future emergency. No one would act for future retribution, and in fact there is a strong case for arguing that some of what we did have imposed sprang from the fear of future accusations of not taking action.
The one thing the Health Services have correctly learnt and understood over the last few decades has been that problems of management or professional practice resulting in injury, death or damage do not get sorted out under punishment duress. Yes, people have a duty of care, and contrary to your apparent assumption, it is taken seriously, lessons are taken from thorough investigation, and where negligence has been involved heads do roll (though the public might not consider that does occur). Only with reasoned investigation can we expect that those we hand responsibilities to, will act in our best interests and learn from error.
There has been duplicitous, knowing, meddling at a very high international level in this particular situation, and it’s those individuals and institutions we should be looking to if the possibility of full investigation ever arises.
”To see how this corrupts the public sphere, consider the rise in conspiracy theories around the mRNA vaccines. Many of these, suffice it to say, are deeply disturbing.”
WTF? Which ones? The Fact is the Conspiracy theories were Deeply, disturbingly, True, almost every one of them. The Genetic ‘Treatments’ were a Bio-Weapon, exactly as the covid-19 was. Dr Malone, the foremost expert, will tell you over and over.
I seem two remember you two being pretty much going along with this – like Ukraine war……..
When Trump gets in, when RFK gets in – BOOM!!!!!
Time for Justice. Time for Nuremberg Trials, time to build prisons for the Lizards responsible, and their Corrupt Useful Idiots.. Time to sue every doctor, nurse, solider, tech, who gave the poison for everything, every penny they have – for failing to give ‘Informed Consent’ by giving risks along with the false benefits they spouted.
Every School person who went along in destroying the generation of young – every cop who wrote tickets for offenses which were illegal laws – Bust them all.
Social Media Heads? MSM Heads? Treason, and after a trial – Tyburn Dock for the justice they deserve. But first, Boris, Hunt, Hancock, Truss, Sunak – all of them, rowed through Traitor’s Gate……to a Fair Trial, and…….
Cromwell needs to have his words written in stone in front of Westminster:
”“You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.””
Just to give the flip side of this sad and defeatist article.
“… if the past three years have taught us anything, it is that most of the constitutional safeguards, legal formalities and “checks and balances” that we took for granted can easily be swept aside in the name of “emergency”.”
Oh dear, that’s news to you, is it? Bourgeois loses his political virginity lol. Welcome to the real world mate. I grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles – I knew this already, decades ago. Any day you weren’t hassled or arrested was a good day. A tincture of that peasant cunning makes for greater real-world contentment than any amount of shiny bourgeois illusions.
“… if the past three years have taught us anything, it is that most of the constitutional safeguards, legal formalities and “checks and balances” that we took for granted can easily be swept aside in the name of “emergency”.”
Oh dear, that’s news to you, is it? Bourgeois loses his political virginity lol. Welcome to the real world mate. I grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles – I knew this already, decades ago. Any day you weren’t hassled or arrested was a good day. A tincture of that peasant cunning makes for greater real-world contentment than any amount of shiny bourgeois illusions.
This is the usual nonsense about the world being taken over by big business and the state needing to be even bigger. We westerners have all had progressively bigger states – but that hasn’t fixed anything much, despite costing taxpayers progressively more – without the rise in productivity that grows economies.
The other error in what is positioned as serious analysis is that of unrealistically high expectations, fostered by craven media desperate to court younger customers.
This is the usual nonsense about the world being taken over by big business and the state needing to be even bigger. We westerners have all had progressively bigger states – but that hasn’t fixed anything much, despite costing taxpayers progressively more – without the rise in productivity that grows economies.
The other error in what is positioned as serious analysis is that of unrealistically high expectations, fostered by craven media desperate to court younger customers.
The arguments in this comments section between leftists and rightists, apportioning blame between themselves for the Covid catastrophe, are a complete red herring.
The Covid phenomenon of the last 3 years is a Faustian pact of oligarchs and crony capitalists with Left of Centre stakeholders (?champagne Marxists – Tedros, Starmer et al), who I believe aligned as a result of the Occupy campaign circa 2010.
Since Occupy identified the omnipotent 1% so precisely, the oligarchs effectively ‘bought’ them and their causes for their purposes, hence the flourishing of Greenism and Wokeism since that time, and the era of useful idiots.
The common theme for both is power, and the acquisition and maintenance of, whether you’re a Hitler or a Stalin, the main theme is the same.
The oligarchs cleverly realised that if they could get the virtuous Leftists on their side then the power of virtue would be unstoppable. As Freud said, ‘virtue is it’s own greatest reward ‘. Presumably ordinary Germans felt virtuous in the 1930’s, just as good Leftists did 18 months ago, in favour of Covid passports, and against those that would not comply.
The arguments in this comments section between leftists and rightists, apportioning blame between themselves for the Covid catastrophe, are a complete red herring.
The Covid phenomenon of the last 3 years is a Faustian pact of oligarchs and crony capitalists with Left of Centre stakeholders (?champagne Marxists – Tedros, Starmer et al), who I believe aligned as a result of the Occupy campaign circa 2010.
Since Occupy identified the omnipotent 1% so precisely, the oligarchs effectively ‘bought’ them and their causes for their purposes, hence the flourishing of Greenism and Wokeism since that time, and the era of useful idiots.
The common theme for both is power, and the acquisition and maintenance of, whether you’re a Hitler or a Stalin, the main theme is the same.
The oligarchs cleverly realised that if they could get the virtuous Leftists on their side then the power of virtue would be unstoppable. As Freud said, ‘virtue is it’s own greatest reward ‘. Presumably ordinary Germans felt virtuous in the 1930’s, just as good Leftists did 18 months ago, in favour of Covid passports, and against those that would not comply.
A classical liberal advocacy piece for more state. Excellent article, btw
A classical liberal advocacy piece for more state. Excellent article, btw
For the author: What’s worse a small government captured by Big Corporations or a large and powerful government also captured by Big Corporations? These are truly the only choices we have.
For the author: What’s worse a small government captured by Big Corporations or a large and powerful government also captured by Big Corporations? These are truly the only choices we have.
https://twitter.com/StucknDaMid/status/1652560486909775872 Absolutely essential listening. This author James Lindsay, explains how woke actually is related to Marx, what it is trying to do and how it is a weapon against Western society and culture.
He explains the progression of Marxist goals, including realising “workers” enjoy the benefits of capitalism to switching to corporates to deliver the revolution instead and the take over of education from the 60’s. Please do listen, a bl**dy education!!
https://twitter.com/StucknDaMid/status/1652560486909775872 Absolutely essential listening. This author James Lindsay, explains how woke actually is related to Marx, what it is trying to do and how it is a weapon against Western society and culture.
He explains the progression of Marxist goals, including realising “workers” enjoy the benefits of capitalism to switching to corporates to deliver the revolution instead and the take over of education from the 60’s. Please do listen, a bl**dy education!!
So, we need a bigger state, but with increased democratic control?
These are mutually incompatible .
So, we need a bigger state, but with increased democratic control?
These are mutually incompatible .
Good article. As an expat living in Spain, hospitals here are still insisting on masks being worn – even if they’re just decorative face coverings! If institutions full of intelligent, scientific trained doctors/nurses/consultants are still insisting on useless masking, what hope is there for us? Answers on a postcard please.
Good article. As an expat living in Spain, hospitals here are still insisting on masks being worn – even if they’re just decorative face coverings! If institutions full of intelligent, scientific trained doctors/nurses/consultants are still insisting on useless masking, what hope is there for us? Answers on a postcard please.
Fazi needs to upgrade his tin foil hat.
Fazi needs to upgrade his tin foil hat.