We’re publishing an original piece of data analysis today by a leading British scientist – a full professor at a major university – who wishes to remain anonymous. He believes the data show that the population of Britain had surpassed the herd immunity threshold in December, before the vaccines were rolled out. He’s not an anti-vaxxer, and thinks it was right to immunise the elderly and the vulnerable, but doesn’t believe we should vaccinate the rest of the population. Here is a summary of his analysis:
- Population immunity played a major role in ending each wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Herd immunity thresholds differ by about two-fold across England, and have been reached
- Different herd immunity thresholds correlate with regional differences in ethnicity and air temperature – possibly both operating by changing the rate of indoor contacts
- The Infection Fatality Rate has changed dramatically during the pandemic: it first rose during (and possibly because of) lockdowns, and then fell by over eight-fold as older and vulnerable individuals were vaccinated. It is now so low, and herd immunity so well established, that vaccinating younger adults and children with novel genetic technology vaccines cannot be medically or ethically justified.
This piece is very much worth reading in full.
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Equilibrium does very briefly mention the “revolutionary precept of the hate crime”. Seemed strangely irrelevant at the time, not so much now.
I don’t think that is the driving force.
I think these prescriptions of insane behaviour are driven by people that have a pathological desire to control others, rule over them, exercise power in that way.
And I think in their minds they are constantly concocting things will make things “better’.
Better in their minds means more orderly, or more “equal” or more “logical”. But essentially it’s a rationalisation, an excuse, to get what they really want which is to exert power over others.
Bureaucracies are full of these people.
What the author observes therefore is the use of bureaucracy by people who want to control others.
It doesn’t need a plan or organisation. Left to themselves and allowed free reign, this is what you get.
If you see it appear all over at the same time it’s because these are motivated people who quickly adopt what they see working elsewhere.
A lot of it is power, or at least believing they have power, for the sake of power even when they know their commands don’t make any difference.
“Noncompliance is an essential start regardless.”
Interestingly I have some colleagues who are all rampant covidiots but lately they have started to develop some anti tendencies. And what has set them off?
The Horizon Post Office scandal which they have all surprisingly woken up to because it has been made in to a telebox drama. Now some anti-establishment mutterings are being voiced – ‘bloody government,’ British justice is a joke,’ ‘damned NHS’ etc.
Comments which are not normal for these “normies.”
Perhaps a slight awakening is occurring and perhaps the anti sentiments will widen in scope. Hope and all that.
I hope you’re right and that anti-government sentiments widen.
I work in Liverpool and my half a dozen work colleagues all hate the Conservatives with a passion. I get along with them all fine, despite our political differences. Things are either not discussed or we agree to disagree.
However, despite their hatred for the “evil tories”, when Hancock and Johnson told them to mask up, shove the swabs up their nose, isolate, track and trace and get jabbed and so on – they all complied ethusiastically and trusted them without question. I pointed out at the time (and still do) that they all must be closet Tories as they trust and obey whatever the tory politicians tell them to do – and that part of the reason for my non-compiance was that I wouldn’t trust any politician (of any party) as far as I could kick them. Their collective cognitive dissonance is quite stunning.
Thanks for that story. Incredible really.
cheers Hux. Thank goodness for old school “anything goes” workplace banter. They’re all great fun to work with – despite our political differences. We all take the piss – with people taking it on the chin and accepting back as good as they give.
I know this sounds pretentious – but the bonds that tie us are far stronger than any differences we may have. These days, in many groups, companies, towns and cities – the differences and traits that divide people seem much stronger than any bonds that might unite them. Such a shame.
That was one of the weirdest things about that whole time. People who wouldn’t vote Tory if they were the only party on the ballot paper, happily going along with something against which it was often the small c conservatives protesting. Things truly turned on their head.
I’d like to agree with that, and hopefully a slight awakening is indeed taking place; but of those in my personal directory, many seem capable of holding two contradictory views at the same time: yes, the Post Office scandal shows that the governing elite is corrupt, selfish, wicked – but of course the Covid ‘response’ reveals a governing elite that is ethically honest, objective, responsible and well-meaning. They hold these views simultaneously, regardless of ‘social status’: I know a lot of people from all walks of life – Left, Right, rich, poor, educated, uneducated (which, other than in one or two cases doesn’t mean unintelligent or uninformed). To take an example, D – Imperial College/Sciences/BA pilot – is maddened by the government’s part in the Post Office scandal but demonstrates no tendency whatsoever to question his deeply pro-EU, pro-vaccine, climate-alarmist position in the light of his new-found scepticism. He can hold two views at once, in other words; the philosophy of scepticism that assumes all human beings to be inclined to corruption, graft and deception, does not underpin his world view. On the contrary – he sees events concerning the Post Office as an exception that proves the rule. We get on because we don’t talk politics!
I’m surprised you don’t rectify it; I try to at any opportunity.
Bureaucratic opportunism. You never know, some academic might create a course on the theme of Bureaucratic psychology, or something like that – and make a profit from it.
Disagree in the strongest terms. The reason why so many sheep got into the lift is nothing to do with humans spiriting free will, and everything to do with sheep following other sheep who follow other sheep.
A story. A true one. About three months ago I found myself in a bar in Stafford with a few friends. It was quite late and there were lots of pissed people. Anyway, someone spilt a drink on the floor and a woman behind the bar came to mop up the spillage. A guy, surrounded by his mates, grabbed hold of the woman and made her dance with mop in hand. At first the bar lady found it mildly amusing, but that faint amusement soon turned into irritation, then distress, as this idiot refused to let her go. The place was packed and what did the mass of people do? They pointed and laughed. Pointed and laughed because other people pointed and laughed. I prized this idiot from the poor woman and suddenly everyone stopped laughing. It got a bit lively after that, but I know the lady I helped was grateful and it was the right thing to do regardless of cost. My point is this: the majority of people will do whatever the majority of people will do. Nothing to do with the romantic notion of the human spirit.
Well done. If this man wasn’t “surrounded by his mates”, he would likely have done nothing as there were no predictable sheep to entertain.
I’m inclined to agree with the sheep explanation for non-compliance. People are no longer actively telling people what to do, and so they don’t do it (having ceased to notice mere signs).
Case in point – we are told there is a lot of Covid about, and maybe even a new strain. And indeed, people say they’re staying away from gatherings because they have it (which means they were scared enought to pay for a test).
But does anybody think they ought to open windows in such gatherings, as the advice was just a couple of winters ago? In fact it’s advice that might well reduce virus load in aerosols, but because nobody on the news is interested any more, neither are they, even though they’re still unduly scared of the killer virus.
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/in-praise-of-doubt/
A useful complementary article from TCW.
For whatever reason, my life – 72 now – has been marked by a strong streak of refusal to comply. From my teenage years. Speak the truth, stand firm in your beliefs, and it is amazing what apparently powerful forces will crumble before you. My faith helps hugely in that.
As what wonderful hymn to Muscular Christianity goes
“Fight the good fight with all thy might”
Or in my wife and I favourite toast as we click glasses
“Fuck ’em all”.