Read the following litany of lies.
The pandemic has raised in a very pointed way an important question for American democracy: What is the proper role of experts?
Distrust of our leaders, the press and experts seems to be running high these days, which of course is lamented by our elite class from which they are drawn. Hillary Clinton, for example, says in her political memoir that it is wrong to sow distrust toward people on whom we need to rely: “our leaders, the press, experts who seek to guide public policy based on evidence, ourselves.”
Why is distrust so high these days? Elite analysts have offered many explanations including the internet, a fractured news media, a sudden and inexplicable rise in conspiracy theories and much else that might be lumped under the category of pop psychology. Each of these explanations locates the problem with the great unwashed masses in America who do not understand or adequately appreciate the vital contribution of experts.
continued => Most experts have lost the trust of the American public, with good reason – Washington Times
The author doesn’t call the “experts” liars, but he makes it obvious that they are lying. Frankly, the “experts” are lying so much to us that it is fairly obvious that they are not on our side.
What is the latest lie. The “experts” want the vaccinated to wear masks again. Is this necessary? No. Consider the key points from this article.
KEY POINTS
Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine is just 39% effective in Israel where the delta variant is the dominant strain, according to a new report from the country’s Health Ministry.
The two-dose vaccine still works very well in preventing people from getting seriously sick, demonstrating 88% effectiveness against hospitalization and 91% effectiveness against severe illness, according to the Israeli data.
Delta variant: Pfizer Covid vaccine 39% effective in Israel, prevents severe illness (cnbc.com)
Essentially, the Pfizer vaccine works against the delta variant (Which originated India. So let’s call it the Indian strain and blame India. 😉). Therefore, the unvaccinated may be at some risk, but the vaccinated are at very little risk. So, there is no reason for the vaccinated to get angry with the unvaccinated.
So why are the “experts” pitting the vaccinated against the unvaccinated, blaming the unvaccinated for bringing back masking? Why do the “experts” want to bring back masking? Have the “experts” demonstrated that their cure, masking, social distancing, and lockdowns, does more good than harm? No. In fact, there is good reason to believe that their cure is just an unconstitutional powergrab.
How dangerous is the Indian strain? Well, the so-called mainstream news media will tell us how utterly contagious the Indian strain is, but they won’t tell us how the risk of dying from the virus as opposed to driving a car. Here is an exception.
On Wednesday, the Delta variant became America’s dominant COVID strain. Yet it’s no cause for panic: The numbers — especially in Britain, which Delta hit hard — show it causes far fewer hospitalizations and deaths, while vaccines remain highly effective against it.
Most media hype the fear: “Americans should be more concerned about the Delta variant,” a Forbes piece declares. “Scientists have good reasons to sound the alarm,” New York magazine insists. “It’s hard to understand how worried to be,” a CNN analysis claims.
No, actually, the numbers are clear. Yes, Delta, first found in India, does appear more contagious than the Alpha variant first found in Britain — about 50 percent more transmissible, which is why it’s outpaced Alpha there.
Rising cases even prompted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to delay the end of restrictions. But the huge case spike didn’t lead to similar hospitalization or death spikes, so Britain’s back on track to lift regulations July 19.
continued => Don’t buy the hysteria: The Delta variant is actually less dangerous (nypost.com)
Remember the original reason for the lockdown? We were worried about overloading our hospitals. So long as that is not a concern, there is no reason for going to “war” with a virus. When the risk is so small, what is the point of ruining our economy and making our lives miserable? Some “expert” says we should? Since he is giving bad advice, why don’t we fire that “expert”?
Worried about the Indian strain? Then consider your personal risk factors and get vaccinated if you can. Otherwise, if you think it helps, wear a decent mask and wear it properly. Undoubtedly, most people will be happy to cooperate and keep their distance from you. Otherwise, we have bigger problems, many caused by people who cannot be trusted. So, we need to get on with our lives. That includes replacing elected leaders who have proven they cannot be trusted.
Ever notice how some of our leading politicians seem to be inexplicably wealthy? Think some of those people are worried about being properly investigated? Wonder if the FBI can be trusted to do such an investigation? Would it be surprising if some of our leading politicians want more power than the Constitution allows so that they can protect themselves from being investigated?
We don’t need to pad our pockets with bribes and to use our power to bully others, which is what some of our leaders obviously think they are supposed to do. Instead, we need to help each other, and we need let each other live our lives as we each see fit. That includes protecting our children from being enslaved by tyrants. We cannot do that if we allow the news media make us afraid of nothing.
References
- The Covid Delta variant: how effective are the vaccines? | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Pfizer, Moderna, J&J Vaccines: Efficacy as Delta Variant Concerns Rise – NBC Boston
- Pfizer vax is 88% effective against Delta variant: study (nypost.com)
- Here’s How Well COVID-19 Vaccines Work Against the Delta Variant (healthline.com)
- Why The Delta Variant Is So Contagious: A New Study Sheds Light : Goats and Soda : NPR
- What We Know About the Dangerous Delta Variant (msn.com)
- What doctors wish patients knew about the dangerous Delta variant | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)
Citizen Tom 
Tom, what I see here is your determination to believe in a constitution. If a decision is made to reduce suffering in any way I do not see the problem. I do not understand how this decision applies to your constitution, however I was under the impression this is a political decision that is made in the light of the recent pandemic events. Please offer me some insight as to why I am wrong.
@sklyjd
Since Biden said the Constitution was relevant, I don’t think I need to address that issue.
It is obvious you don’t understand the distinction between the rule of law and the rule of man over man. The citizens of most western nations understand (at least they use to understand) the axiom that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore, we use the law to restrict what our leaders can do. We don’t want them issuing a stream of arbitrary fiats, assuming that they can do whatever they wish.
I don’t believe Biden is the first US President to break the constitutional laws. As the sitting Presidents can appoint who ever they like into the highest court in the country and pardon the most insane criminals so obviously they are basically able to manipulate the law anyway, therefore the law is not above them and that has been proven also with the previous Presidents.
The law in a fair and just society should be above everybody and made unable to be circumvented or manipulated by those in power.
@sklyjd
As citizens, we must hold our leaders accountable to the law. When enough of us look the other way, usually because our leaders have bought our votes with other people’s money, our leaders can rule by fiat.
Tom,
Who to believe or trust to provide accurate information is a problem today?
.
For Example
CDC Link
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7031e2.htm?s_cid=mm7031e2_w
if politicians are in control of this information coming out of this agency makes trust if this information to be accurate or politicly controlled.
Or should we trust blog information>
I wear a mask because my doctor warned me I will be toast if I get covid. I trust my Doctor even though I remember his telling me that masks don’t work back in the early stages of Covid which he later said was not accurate information from the CDC.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
.
@Scatterwisdom
It is too likely that Democrats just want to scare us so they can cheat again like they did in the 2020 election. So, we cannot trust them.
If we are patient and consider news sources in addition to the mainstream news media we will eventually be able to discern the truth.
My guess is that the vaccines are still largely effective, but they never were perfectly effective. Even when they were being tested, people still got COVID after being vaccinated. So, the variant from India just makes them less effective. How much. TBD.
Myself? I got the Moderna vaccine. Moderna is saying their vaccine works against the variant from India, but they have not exactly made a formal announcement. Therefore, we will see.
Tom,
Decisons about helth choices are best made when people counsult with thier doctors who they trust, in my opinion.
People who do not want to be around people who are not masked should avoid being around them. if they have no choice, perhaps they should wear a N*% mask same as medical personnel do.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
t
Excellent Tom. We need to push back hard against the hysteria as our government seems to be pursuing a zero Covid strategy on the sly . This would be disastrous as the virus is endemic and will never go away. It will eventually become like a cold (it is in fact just that for many that have gotten it). No to lockdowns, vaccine mandates and masks. Yes to freedom and personally choice.
@Tricia
Agreed! No problem with people making their own choices, but the government mandates need to stop.
I would be very cautious in comparing it with a cold especially in the near future Tricia. The unknown and the known damage that it has done to internal organs and the ultimate shortening of a persons life puts it way out of the “cold” category. Maybe one day if there is a vaccine that is effective enough to protect the body from damage as you say it could become like a cold.
I think also that lock downs masks and half effective vaccines are what we are going to suffer for at least a couple more years. Freedom at the moment will come at the price none of us want to pay and this virus is going to test the resilience of the human race and the toughness of individuals considering in our life times we have become soft and selfish by having it so good for the last 7 decades. We may even come out of this as better humans.
Oh just stop already. Lockdowns do not work and have been proven to be monumentally destructive in ways that will play out for years to come. Masks are just dumb theatre and have no bearing whatsoever on aerosolized respiratory viral particles, in fact they probably maker things worse by atomizing them (think spraying water from a hose on to a screen).
The virus is very serious for a small demographic of people that we should have focused on instead of pretending it affects everyone the same way. For many millions of people that had it they literally suffered cold symptoms or less. For myself it was more like a moderate flu.
Viruses become endemic and much less lethal when enough people get them and their bodies become primed to recognize and combat new strains and the disease becomes milder and milder. That is how we have survived as a species thus far and it is how we will continue to if the government would get out of the way and allow this virus to run it’s natural course. The vulnerable are vaccinated, it’s far past time to get on with living.
You were lucky that you only had flu symptoms, some are not so lucky. It can be mild for some people but may cause health complications later in life but for many it can lead to hospitalisation and possibly death. 924 deaths have occurred so far in Australia, and it pales in significance to your US figures however we treat these deaths as serious especially now that the younger people are becoming ill and dying.
The facts are that the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19, however it is just one comprehensive strategy to help suppress the transmission, so worth the effort don’t you think?
Lock downs do actually work, we have had a few in the Australian states and reigned in the numbers of those infected each day especially if we have reacted sooner than later.
I think I will believe the historical evidence of vaccines rather than take the risk of permanent health damage from this virus.
• Cholera
• COVID-19
• Diphtheria
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human papillomavirus
• Influenza
• Measles
• Meningococcal
• Mumps
• Pertussis (Whooping cough)
• Pneumonia
• Polio
• Rotavirus (gastroenteritis)
• Rubella (German measles)
• Q fever
• Rabies
• Tetanus
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid
• Chickenpox (varicella)
•
Yes, I get it, those of us that call out the uselessness and cruelty of lockdowns and the absurd theatre of virtue signaling nonsense like masking healthy people don’t take Covid seriously. We selfishly want grandma to die so we can get our social lives back, our skepticism over mass vaccination with experimental technology with no long term studies makes us anti vaxxers, blah, blah blah.
Lockdowns don’t work because you can’t hide from the virus, which is why Australia has called in the military to enforce it’s never ending Covid restrictions. At some point y’all are going to have to open up, let’s have another conversation then.
And no, using masks is not part of a. comprehensive strategy. They don’t work against aerosolized viral particles, they make things worse by atomizing them and there are tremendous physical and mental downsides to them.
https://brownstone.org/articles/lockdowns-fail-they-do-not-control-the-virus/
https://rationalground.com/masks-are-not-source-control/
@sklyjd
Don’t know why your first comment got spammed, but the second one, very similar got through. The spam checker is kind of random.
@sklyjd
“I think also that lock downs masks and half effective vaccines are what we are going to suffer for at least a couple more years.”
… and nuking our economies and our civil societies in the process.
Australian military to help enforce Sydney COVID-19 lockdown as cases rise
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-pm-says-vaccinations-alone-will-not-end-sydneys-covid-19-lockdown-2021-07-28/
If Donald Trump had done any of this he would have been called a fascist dictator who is using the military to impose martial law and he would have been impeached faster than you can say Covid. Rest assured that there would have been massive unrest, demonstrations and riots which would make the BLM riots look like peaceful prayer congregations.
“Freedom at the moment will come at the price none of us want to pay”
False!
I and many others who love their freedom are perfectly willing to pay the price.
Don’t presume to speak for us.
“… and this virus is going to test the resilience of the human race and the toughness of individuals considering in our life times we have become soft and selfish by having it so good for the last 7 decades.”
It is YOU who has become soft and selfish.
Prior generations would have laughed at you for wanting to shut down society because of a disease that you have a 99.7% chance of surviving if you are infected.
It is YOU who is selfish.
You want others to suffers and die just to save your life.
What you completely ignore is that all the measures you are advocating for have negative effects on health and they cause themselves death.
How many people died or will die because they missed their cancer screening and other preventative or necessary procedures because of the covid policies of supposedly preventing an overburdening of the healthcare system?
How many people with heart conditions, high blood pressure etc. who needed to go frequently to the gym have died or will die because of the closing of gyms?
How many people suffered from increased anxiety, depression, drug addiction, alcoholism, desperation and suicide because of the economic and psychological devastation caused by the lockdowns?
How many people got sick because they were forced to wear masks for way too long?
Masks are unhealthy because they inhibit breathing, increase the level of CO2 you breath in and because they accumulate bacteria and other pathogens.
Children suffer psychological damage because of mask wearing, missed school and missed social interaction.
The economic damage that lockdowns incurr will cause death in the future.
It is a wellknown fact that poor countries have poor healthcare systems. The poorer the healthcare system the more people will die.
And please don’t tell me that you call for lockdowns and masks because you care not for yourself but for others who are vulnerable to the virus.
Who are you to decide that one group of people should suffer and die for the sake of another group of people?
That’s not selflessness anyway. That’s the typical leftist impulse: pretending to care for one goup of people in order to screw another group of people.
I AM in a group with hightened risk (age and other factors) and I don’t want other people to suffer and die for me and I pity the children whose childhood is ruined because of the insanity we are currently living through.
@artaxes
Nothing to add to that!
Yep I agree that Trump or any US President were to use the military for any reason to police the public it would likely cause a civil war. The military in Australia is under the direction of the police and will not be waving their firearms in civilian faces. Most people have some respect that the government is trying to do the right thing. Our politics do not generate the amount of anti-government loathing as evident in the US public minds and we also do not have a gun culture that incites the many anti government militia groups the US have.
You would rather pay the price of death or another words sacrifice your life rather than protect yourself from disease. You may think different if you were striving to breath on a ventilator and do you actually think your freedom has been taken away?
This is submissive and defeatist thinking, I believe prisoners of war lost their freedom and tried very hard to stay alive in the worst of situations, you sound as though you are already beaten by this virus and don’t care if it kills you. I hope it does not but I think you should be aware of the medical implications because you actually believe that 99.7% of those infected walk away without underlying medical problems. Take a break from Fox and read this.
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/how-many-adults-are-at-risk-of-serious-illness-if-infected-with-coronavirus/
You may be right that the hospitals are overwhelmed, however only the non urgent procedures are delayed here, however I do understand your health system is not very good. Many people have bought home gym equipment and plenty of exercises aerobic and resistance exercises can be done in the home without equipment so no excuse here. My heart bleeds for those people who cannot stand staying at home but far worse things have happened such as fires and floods and you say people are getting sick from wearing a mask. You do not have to wear one in your home do you?
You find every negative excuse for everything to combat this virus but getting the virus and passing it on to others does not seem to be any sort of solution for those problems you mention and eventually what will happen?
As far as the children suffering it is hardly a major issue if the parents can assist with their well being and education, just think of the children who suffered through wars, hunger and diseases. My mother was a child during the war years in the UK and they were locked down for much of the war, they often had to spend hours in underground shelters with little to eat and she and many thousands of kids turned out fine. Solidarity and support is what those people depended on in times of hardship.
I am also in the same group as you however unlike yourself I do not want to die from the virus and I would hate to pass it on to the younger generations if I got it, therefore it is a no brainer, I will stay at home wear a mask and get the vaccine, and I suggest you do the same.
@sklyjd
The COVID-19 virus can hurt somebody, even kill some people, but most people can get vaccinated. If they don’t want to do so, that is their choice. In Washington DC more people are dying of murder than the COVID-19, but the powers that be are more worried about COVID-19. Doesn’t make much sense. So, my guess is the are planning to use the virus as an excuse for stealing another election.
You are a pessimist Tom and a man with little faith in the integrity of his own people.
@sklyjd
Pessimist? No. I put my faith in God, not man.
The founders of this nation designed our government with checks and balance. They wrote a Constitution that specifically limited the powers of our government. Why?
That Constitution requires our leaders to support and defend the Constitution, but most only pay lip service the Constitution.
Our president just said the Constitution says he cannot unilaterally extend the rent moratorium, but he did it anyway.
https://www.westernjournal.com/biden-abandons-constitution-reinstates-eviction-moratorium-admitting-doesnt-authority/
https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/08/bidens-eviction-overreach/
https://jonathanturley.org/2021/08/04/biden-calls-tor-extending-the-eviction-moratorium-despite-being-unconstitutional/
That is the sort of integrity I am supposed to have faith in? Seriously?
@sklyjd
You said:
“Yep I agree that Trump or any US President were to use the military for any reason to police the public it would likely cause a civil war. The military in Australia is under the direction of the police and will not be waving their firearms in civilian faces. Most people have some respect that the government is trying to do the right thing. Our politics do not generate the amount of anti-government loathing as evident in the US public minds and we also do not have a gun culture that incites the many anti government militia groups the US have.”
Response:
I find your faith in your goverment remarkable. Your goverment has done a lousy job with the vaccine rollout. Australia’s rate of fully vaccinated people (16.23%) is even worse than that of “industrial superpowers” such as Mexico (20.28%). For comparison: Rate of US is 49.9%.
Your goverment has to compensate its incompetence with prolonged lockdowns and tyrannical measures.
I cannot understand how someone can have faith in such a bunch of incompetent losers unless your faith is religious in nature.
You said:
“You would rather pay the price of death or another words sacrifice your life rather than protect yourself from disease.”
Response:
Wrong! Stop misrepresenting what I said!. I didn’t say that I do not protect myself and it may surprise you that one can do a lot to protect oneself without mask wearing, vaccines and lockdowns.
You said:
“This is submissive and defeatist thinking, I believe prisoners of war lost their freedom and tried very hard to stay alive in the worst of situations, you sound as though you are already beaten by this virus and don’t care if it kills you. I hope it does not but I think you should be aware of the medical implications because you actually believe that 99.7% of those infected walk away without underlying medical problems. Take a break from Fox and read this.
kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/how-many-adults-are-at-risk-of-serious-illness-if-infected-with-coronavirus/”
Response:
According to the Cambridge dictionary the definition of “submissive” is:
1. Allowing yourself to be controlled by other people or animals.
2. Showing a willingness to be controlled by other people.
That describes YOU rather than me.
While your life is completely controlled by your goverment and the virus, I go about my life as normal as possible and I simply ignore idiotic rules which don’t have any medical benefit, as much as possible. I completely ignored nightly curfews because they made absolutely no sense. Who can you infect if you take a nightly stroll in the outdoors? Foxes and deer?
Your prisoner-of-war example is not only unfitting but it actually blows your own argument out of the water.
It is unfitting because the choice is not freedom or death. The choice is freedom or force and coercion. There is no empirical evidence that force and coercion save more lives than they destroy. Even so, I’m willing to take a higher risk in exchange for freedom.
Get it through your head. Accepting a higher risk is not the same as wanting to die.
Why did the soldiers in your example became prisoners of war in the first place? Because they were willing to fight in a war!
Why were they willing to fight in a war? Because they believed that the cause they were fighting for (freedom for example) was worth dying for!
Did they want do die? No!
Did they accept the risk of death? Yes!
And no, I don’t watch FOX. You seem to think in stereotypes.
You said:
“You may be right that the hospitals are overwhelmed, however only the non urgent procedures are delayed here, however I do understand your health system is not very good.”
Response:
Here we go again with the stereotypes. I live in Germany with its much touted healthcare system which has been proposed by many on the political Left as a model for the US.
The negative effects on health were pretty much the same all over the world independent from the healthcare system.
If a medical procedure is cancelled because it is deemed non-urgent then the effects on the health of the patient are the same in any system because these effects are independent from the way the people pay for their healthcare. The effects are determined only by biology.
The fact is that cancer screenings were delayed in Australia (145,000 fewer screening mammograms performed).
Google “BreastScreen Australia mammograms significantly fell during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
You mean to tell me that 145,000 missed mammograms have no negative effects on health? Really?
It’s extremely unlikely that none of these 145,000 women had breast cancer. Therefore some of these women suffer unnecessarily from preventable breast cancer.
You said:
“Many people have bought home gym equipment and plenty of exercises aerobic and resistance exercises can be done in the home without equipment so no excuse here.”
Response:
Not everyone has the money to buy equipment. That would affect disproportionalply Blacks and other minorities.
I guess that makes you racist.
Furthermore, in Germany prescribed gym training for medical reasons is done with instructors. Good luck with that if the gym is closed. Anyway, it’s not I who owe anyone any justification or excuse. If the goverment wants to take away my freedom it had better a good reason for doing so. So far there is no good reason and zero solid empirical evidence that masks and lockdowns do more good than harm. If you have any such evidence, please let us know.
You said:
“My heart bleeds for those people who cannot stand staying at home but far worse things have happened such as fires and floods and you say people are getting sick from wearing a mask. You do not have to wear one in your home do you?”
Response:
What completely stupid statements. What stupid logic is this?
Obviously, you don’t think before you write. If you would do so, you would realize what a stupid, moronic argument you make.
Why is this a stupid and moronic argument?
Because it destroys your own case.
Basically, you are saying: “Much worse things have happened and you complain about mask wearing. Stop whining and toughen up.”
Following YOUR argument and YOUR logic, I say: “Much worse things have happened like vulcanos, asteroid hits, and much worse diseases like the black plague and cholera and you say that people are dying from a wannabe-plague that kills max 0.3% of those it infects. Stop whining and toughen up.”
You see, one can ALWAYS find worse things that happened in the past.
More stupidity: You realize that even in a locked down economy some people still have to work and they have to wear masks during their long work days?
I know a young lady, working in a gas station. She got infected in her nose because of constant mask wearing. Took her 6 months to recover.
You said:
“You find every negative excuse for everything to combat this virus”
Response:
You can take your “excuse” and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
My mother was released from hospital right around the time the wuhan virus was hitting Europe. She was to have follow up therapeutical consultations.
At the time when she needed those therapeutical consultations the most, all in-person consultations were cancelled and she was to have consultation by phone.
Because of the heavy medication my mother was like a zombie. She was barely able to speak and unable to use a phone.
If it was not for the loving care of me and my siblings she would be dead by now. I can only imagine what happened to those with severe mental conditions who were completely alone.
I’m sick and tired of maskholes telling me that the very real and severe consequences of the panic-induced, irrational and unscientific covid policies are just excuses.
Excuses my behind.
It seems to me that, like Joseph Stalin, you believe that one has to break some eggs to make an omelette while you deny at the same time that there are any eggs broken.
You either deny reality because it doesn’t fit your ideology or you are intellectually dishonest (aka lying).
You said:
“but getting the virus and passing it on to others does not seem to be any sort of solution for those problems you mention and eventually what will happen?”
Response:
Ouch! If that wasn’t so tragically stupid, it would be comical.
You’re telling me that I have no solutions for the problems that are not caused by the virus but by measures such as lockdowns and masks.
So, you expect me to find solutions for the problems that you and likeminded people caused in the first place?
Give me a break.
There are lots of ways to deal with the virus but people like you accept only measures that fit your ideology or your narrow world view.
You said:
“As far as the children suffering it is hardly a major issue if the parents can assist with their well being and education,”
Response:
Newsflash. There are many parents who cannot adequately assist their kids. This is especially true for single mothers who have to work. Since the number of single mothers is disproportionally high among black women, I guess that makes you again racist.
Also, the parents cannot replace interaction with other kids and there is still the psychological and physical damage of mask wearing.
You said:
“just think of the children who suffered through wars, hunger and diseases.”
Response:
Children also survived concentration camps and rape.
Just because they survived horrible things does not mean that we should subject them needlessly to psychological torture, pain, trauma and physical harm.
You said:
“My mother was a child during the war years in the UK and they were locked down for much of the war, they often had to spend hours in underground shelters with little to eat and she and many thousands of kids turned out fine. Solidarity and support is what those people depended on in times of hardship.”
Response:
That’s not the history I know. The brits were admired for putting up a stiff upper lip and going about their life as normal as possible. They refused to cower in fear and they didn’t let the Nazis control their life. As far as I know the goverment didn’t lock up their citizens in their homes all the time. Neither did the goverment force the people to seek protection in the bomb shelters. It didn’t need to. When the bombs started flying everyone was running perfectly volontarily to these bomb shelters.
Yeah, Mr. tough guy. I hear echoes of Winston Churchill: “We shall fight them on the beaches by cowering in fear in our homes.”
Please, spare me your wartime analogies which don’t apply.
You said:
“I am also in the same group as you however unlike yourself I do not want to die from the virus and I would hate to pass it on to the younger generations if I got it, therefore it is a no brainer, I will stay at home wear a mask and get the vaccine, and I suggest you do the same.”
Response:
LOL. If I wanted to die I would choose a more reliable method than waiting for a virus to get me, much less a virus with a survival rate higher than 99%.
You are free to do whatever you want and I wouldn’t dream of forcing you to act in any other way.
You can protest as much as you want but the fact is that because you have been scared crapless you want to needlessly subject the younger generation, which is almost unaffected by the virus, to psychological, physical and economical harm and loss of their freedoms.
That still makes you selfish.
If you want to respond, please, please, please, take the time to think before you write. I don’t want to go through so much silliness again.
May the Lord bless you and give you wisdom.
@artaxes
Sorry to hear your mother had so much difficulty. That makes it personal, no doubt.
One advantage we have had in the USA is that state governments control the implementation of the economic lockdown and other COVID-19 restrictions. Thus, even though our so-called mainstream mass media has tried to propagandize us, the fact that states like Florida and Texas have balked at the restrictions is difficult to hide. It is also obvious that Texas and Florida are better off.
Thanks, Tom. Germany is also a federal republic but our Minister Presidents (roughly equivalent to your Governors) cowardly caved to the demands of our “dear Führerin”, Chancellor Merkel and allowed the federal goverment to take control over the covid policies and override the policies of indiviudual states.
@artaxes
I guess “Animal Farm” by George Orwell isn’t popular enough.
artaxes, I will not respond to most of your illogical ravings, but you are correct that our government did a lousy job of rolling out the vaccines. I am also sad to hear your mother had so much difficulty. The facts are that we cannot let this virus run rampant, we have 1 in 4 Covid 19 Delta cases infecting children under 19 in NSW. The majority of cases in Australia are aged between 20 to 59 years old and the majority of cases are in the 20 to 29 age group. If we are not careful we will also have children dying like they have in the UK. Even though the numbers are very low it will only take another strain or mutation of this delta variant to make it a whole lot worse.
I appreciate your desire for freedom but you cannot change anything through a rebellious attitude when we need solidarity. I do repeat myself wherever you live we all just need to toughen up and let us try and get things back to some normality. I do hope you have been vaccinated.
@sklyjd
You said:
“artaxes, I will not respond to most of your illogical ravings,”
Response:
“Of course you won’t because you cannot refute anything I said. You can call my arguments “illogical ravings” all you want but I pretty much destroyed your idiotic nonsense.
You said:
” but you are correct that our government did a lousy job of rolling out the vaccines.”
Response:
And yet you have faith in your incompetent goverment. By the time your goverment is done with the vaccine rollout the virus will have mutated so many times that we’ll run out of Greek letters and we’ll have to use Babylonean Kuneiform or Egyptian hyroglyphs. Gee, we’re shocked, shocked. Noooo, who would have thought that coronaviruses mutate. The current situation was entirely predictable but we were lied to by our great, great goverments and our “scientific” institutions from day one.
First the virus came from a wet market, not a lab leak.
Then the virus was not transmissible to humans.
Then it was transmissble to humans but no big deal, no great danger.
Then it was dangerous.
Then masks were useless and unnecessary.
Then masks were effective and mandatory.
Then it was “15 days to slow the spread”.
Then it was “30 days to slow the spread”.
Then it was permanent lockdown.
Then it was “lockdowns will end when we can vaccinate the vulnerable.”
Then it was “we don’t trust Trump’s vaccine.”
Then it was “Everyone should take Trump’s vaccine.”
Then it was “lockdowns will end when we’ll have vaccinated 60% of the population.”
Then it was “the virus may have come from a lab leak.”
And so on, and so on.
You said:
“I am also sad to hear your mother had so much difficulty.”
Response:
No, you’re not. She’s just one victim of the policies you support.
You said:
“The facts are that we cannot let this virus run rampant,”
Response:
These are not the facts. These are your assumptions. The fact is that the number of infected people is completely irrelevant if we have effective therapeutics which make the virus harmless. The therapeutics we already have, have been neglected in favor of vaccines.
Furthermore, there is no empirical evidence that lockdowns do more good than harm. Again, its merely your assumption.
You said:
“we have 1 in 4 Covid 19 Delta cases infecting children under 19 in NSW. The majority of cases in Australia are aged between 20 to 59 years old and the majority of cases are in the 20 to 29 age group.”
Response:
Completely irrelevant. The issue is not, how many are infected. The issue is: How dangerous is the variant?
By now we should have enough data from the outbreaks in Israel and the UK.
So, would you please provide us with the case fatality ratio for both countries?
We need data and not constant panic.
You said:
“If we are not careful we will also have children dying like they have in the UK. Even though the numbers are very low it will only take another strain or mutation of this delta variant to make it a whole lot worse.”
Response:
EVERY virus has the potential to mutate to a more deadly variant. Using YOUR logic, we should lock down our countries every flu season or better yet permanantly. Complete nonsense.
Enough with the panic.
You said:
“I appreciate your desire for freedom but you cannot change anything through a rebellious attitude”
Response:
Oh, yes I can. Freedom is not merely a luxury or a convenience. It is the basis of our Western societies. If you don’t like it, move to North Korea or China or any other banana republic.
You said:
” when we need solidarity.”
Response:
You pervert the meaning of solidarity. Like charity, solidarity is only true when chosen volontarily. Forced charity and solidarity are not charity and solidarity at all. You are talking about forced compliance. That’s entirely different.
Your idea of solidarity is, that misery is forced upon all. That’s the typical leftist idea.
You said:
“I do repeat myself wherever you live we all just need to toughen up and let us try and get things back to some normality. I do hope you have been vaccinated.”
Response:
Yes, you repeat yourself. The same nonsense which has been refuted thousand times.
Toughen up? You need to toughen up instead of selfishly imposing hardship on others because you are crapping in your pants.
Your claim that you care about the younger generations is a pathetic excuse.
The data shows that children neither spread the virus nor get they hardly seriously ill or die from the virus.
Data and evidence here: https://freedomthroughempowerment.wordpress.com/2021/08/11/the-kids-are-not-alright/
As for the return to normality, I’m courious. When exactly can we return to normal?
When there are no more infections?
When there are no more deaths?
When all are vaccinated?
Unless you state exactly when we can go back to normal your statement is absolutely meaningless and unconvincing.
I have a feeling that you have no clue when we can go back to normal. My guess is, that your idea is: whenever our competent and honest goverments say so.
To conclude:
I asked you to think before you write and as expected you did not. That’s obvious. Like a robot you repeat mindlessly the same blabber.
You present your assumptions as facts but as expected, you cannot back up your assumptions with any kind of evidence.
What is the evidence that lockdowns and masks do more good than harm?
What are the case fatality ratios for the delta variant in Israel and the UK?
Unless you provide us with evidence and data, your claims are absolutely worthless and they are not rooted in science or common sense but they are mere superstition.
Unless you provide us with evidence, your suggested solutions are nothing but mask voodoo and lockdown magic.
@artaxes
Well said!
You said “I pretty much destroyed your idiotic nonsense.”
No you just proved your nonsense really is idiotic
You said “And yet you have faith in your incompetent goverment.”
We are not about to storm our government buildings and lynch anybody
You said “but we were lied to by our great, great goverments and our “scientific” institutions from day one.”
No not lies, they just did not know anything about it. That is how science works, it compiles information through trial and error and eventually the scientists will find out ways to beat it.
You said “Then it was “Everyone should take Trump’s vaccine.”
No, that never happened in Australia, maybe you guys did.
You said “No, you’re not. She’s just one victim of the policies you support.”
What policies are those that I support that effect your mother?
You said “The fact is that the number of infected people is completely irrelevant if we have effective therapeutics which make the virus harmless. The therapeutics we already have, have been neglected in favor of vaccines.”
Don’t make me laugh Doctor Artaxes
You said “Furthermore, there is no empirical evidence that lockdowns do more good than harm. Again, its merely your assumption.”
Wrong again, they have worked in Australian states and worked really well in New Zealand.
You said “The issue is not, how many are infected. The issue is: How dangerous is the variant?”
One peer-reviewed study in Scotland looked at over 19,000 confirmed COVID cases between April to June 2021. Scientists were able to differentiate between the delta variant and the alpha variant by molecular testing for one of multiple mutated genes known as the S gene.
About 7,800 COVID cases and 130 hospitalized patients had the delta strain confirmed by presence of the gene. Scientists noted that there was an increased risk for hospitalization in patients with delta when adjusting for common factors such as age, sex, underlying health conditions, and time of disease.
Similarly, a Canadian study awaiting peer approval looked at over 200,000 confirmed COVID cases and found that the delta variant was more likely to cause hospitalization, ICU admission and death.
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/delta-variant-things-surging-coronavirus-strain/story?id=79150425
You said “So, would you please provide us with the case fatality ratio for both countries?”
6,604 deaths in Israel and 131,000 deaths in the UK
You said “EVERY virus has the potential to mutate to a more deadly variant. Using YOUR logic, we should lock down our countries every flu season or better yet permanantly. Complete nonsense. Enough with the panic.”
I do not believe I said anything about locking down countries and your lack of understanding has you comparing the flu to Covid-19. Enough of the ignorance.
You said “Freedom is not merely a luxury or a convenience. It is the basis of our Western societies. If you don’t like it, move to North Korea or China or any other banana republic.”
Freedom comes at a price, we fought wars for this freedom, for democracy not anarchy or dictatorship. Freedom for out governments to govern when elected by the people is the freedom you have so respect that fact otherwise you can go to a banana republic.
You said “solidarity is only true when chosen volontarily.” “You are talking about forced compliance.”
I think you mean voluntarily, however not always such as conscription when required during war time and the population following the lawful existence. Yes this commitment to the law is also the price of freedom, following the laws of your government. You cannot have everything your own way, you cannot dictate your will on everyone and overthrow the government.
You said “Your idea of solidarity is, that misery is forced upon all. That’s the typical leftist idea.”
You call conforming to the procedures implemented by your government “misery” boy you have no idea what misery is.
You said “Toughen up? You need to toughen up instead of selfishly imposing hardship on others because you are crapping in your pants.”
I am not in a position to impose hardship on anyone, and I am not quite old enough to lose control of my bowels, so my pants are quite clean.
You said “The data shows that children neither spread the virus nor get they hardly seriously ill or die from the virus.”
I see you offer the address of Tricia who obviously gets most of her expert information from twitter. I use sites that have a bonified doctor to explain things.
https://www.health.gov.au/news/top-3-covid-19-vaccine-questions-children-and-the-delta-variant-covid-19-risk-after-vaccine-and-opening-borders
Some of the new variants like the Delta strain, that we are all now very familiar with, are much more transmissible than the original strain of the virus that started earlier last year or late 2019. That means that because the virus is more transmissible, we are seeing more infection across all ages, which means that we are seeing more kids contracting the infection.
You said “Unless you state exactly when we can go back to normal your statement is absolutely meaningless and unconvincing.”
You are correct that I do not know, and I should imagine it will be when we have better control, more knowledge and possibly better vaccines, most people vaccinated and far less cases. Living with this virus may be the new normal.
You said “You present your assumptions as facts but as expected, you cannot back up your assumptions with any kind of evidence.”
If you were to investigate beyond the far right news outlets you would see I assume nothing. The evidence is easy to find. I have answered the questions you asked. I have not claimed masks are the answer to anything or the effectiveness of them, however anything that may help to stop the spread is worth the effort don’t you think?
Can face masks help slow the spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19? Yes. Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
Reblogged this on boudica.us.
Thanks!
Do not speak to soon, we also now have the Delta Plus strain.
There is some indication that the Delta variant may also result in more severe disease. A study in Scotland, published in the Lancet, found the hospitalization rate of patients with that variant was about 85 percent higher than that of people with the Alpha variant. But because of the time lag between hospitalizations and deaths, there is not enough data to say whether or not Delta is more deadly than other variants. “The thing we were surprised by is just how rapidly the Delta variant took hold,” says Aziz Sheikh, a professor of primary care at the University of Edinburgh and lead author of the Lancet study. “We were again in an exponential phase of growth of cases.” This should be a lesson for the U.S., he says.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-dangerous-is-the-delta-variant-and-will-it-cause-a-covid-surge-in-the-u-s/
Delta Plus differs just slightly from Delta—the predominant strain in India and the United Kingdom—which is more infectious and is thought to cause more hospitalizations than previous strains. Existing vaccines are effective against Delta, but only when people are fully vaccinated.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/how-dangerous-is-the-new-delta-plus-variant–heres-what-we-know
Existing vaccines are effective against Delta, but only when people are fully vaccinated.
Fully vaccinated adults made up over half of the hospitalizations from delta virus in Israel. They started out saying it had a high efficacy rate, but that is down to around 35 percent efficacy now.
Just looking further, seems Citizen Tom mentioned this (I read the comments before reading the article)….although it is 39 percent up there. I mis-remembered. But in my defense this number seems to change almost every day.
@Liz
The studies are still coming out. Mix that detail with a hyperventilating news media, and it gets difficult to keep the facts straight.
@Liz
Kind of what was expected.
Excellent Tom— lying and fear— ode to a perfect storm