Mar. 29, 2021

Why don’t Governments give both sides of the story?

Listening to the latest Government pronouncements on the Wuhan virus one wonders why, after all this time, they are not more balanced in their approach. Why do they not provide more information? 

Why do they not let us know that there are many studies that show the testing methods being used are suspect. In other words, the number of cases identified may be invalid. 

Why do they not indicate that lockdowns also cause significant health problems – in depression, suicides, etc. No mention is ever made of the Great Barrington Declaration where tens of thousands of health professionals question the benefits of lockdowns when all the pros and cons are considered? I have found a list of 34 commentaries that show lockdowns are worse than doing nothing – that concentrating on the vulnerable is the best solution. 

Where is the cost-benefit analysis?

Counties in the state of Kansas who had no lockdowns had no greater fatality rates than counties that had lockdowns. And look at Sweden versus other European countries, or the states of North and South Dakota. 

Why doesn’t the Government supply the information on incidence of cases in different situations. Just how many cases come from restaurants, and other eating establishments versus retail stores for example – where is the evidence for all their specific measures? 

Why doesn’t the Government explain how the death statistics are determined – those who die with virus versus those who die from the Wuhan virus? 

Why doesn’t the Government indicate that many studies show that masks are ineffective. I have researched over 20 that show they are ineffective.

Once it was six feet for everyone – now that’s just for adults, according to the so-called American experts with the CDC. 

Why don’t they explain that almost in every jurisdiction in the world cases rose after mask mandates were implemented? 

Why don’t the Governments remind us all the vaccines are experimental. 

Why are cases rising here after months of mask wearing and social distancing? We were told this would control, if not reduce cases. 

Surely, Governments are responsible to the people who elected them !

Surely, they should have to prove with evidence that the measures they are taking are better than not implementing them! 

Recent studies cast doubt and the Governments’ refusal to lay out a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis concerning their actions leave the populace in an awkward position and confusion results. 

Many Government actions are obviously contrary to the provisions of the Constitution – of assembly and association and incursions on personal liberty and worship. Governments should justify their measures within this context when they implement them. It is absurd, for example, the way religious organizations are treated versus the treatment of Costco or Walmart. 

 COMMENT

You make a number of statements in your (Mar 29, 2021) column that are inaccurate/misleading. I will deal with the one concerning Sweden & its herd immunity approach in dealing with the virus. And it’s interesting that you chose to compare Sweden to other European countries or to North/South Dakota. You can’t make an accurate observation if you ‘cherrypick’ your numbers. So in response to your column, I will use MY numbers (from The Lancet & Statistica); 
 
Deaths per million (as of Mar 30, 2021):
 
Sweden             1,303.01
USA                   1,668.79
Canada                608.45
Finland                 148.90
Norway                 123.41
Australia                 35.84
South Korea           33.44
New Zealand            5.29
 
So with MY numbers, it appears Sweden’s ‘laissez-faire’ dealings with COVID were disastrous -  on a level with USA. And I suppose we should commend Justin Trudeau for the impressive job he’s done (?)
 
And if you compare Sweden to its immediate Scandinavian neighbours (more meaningful than comparing it to North Dakota!), again, it appears Sweden’s approach doesn’t work.
 
If you look at South Korea, it’s approach seems to be working & they have instituted social distancing protocols which many would say approach draconian.
 
I chose Australia because of it’s population size & concentration (very similar to Canada). And finally New Zealand because of it’s proximity to Australia and also because of it’s COVID response which was the exact opposite of the Swedish response. PM Jacinda Ardern implemented an extreme lockdown almost immediately.
 
My point being, that you can make numbers do anything you want. You have your numbers, Fox has theirs & CBC, a 3rd set etc. At the end of the day, we all have to do our homework. 
 
J Steen
Nanaimo