As IF Times

source: https://time.com/5804555/coronavirus-lockdown-uk/

Now that there is more clarity on the nature and source of the corona virus outbreak, some of the hysterical reactions have died down.  Not everyone of course; like most events these days, entire industries and even Facebook groups have sprung up specifically to continually promulgate the existential disaster which faces mankind…if not today, then certainly soon.   In fact, it’s quite daunting to consider the challenges we face from the simultaneous ravages of both warmer weather and a nasty flu.  It’s hard to know where to throw the tax money first.

While the global warming saga continues to squawk in the background like an annoying child, the recent corona virus outbreak is causing grief to the world at a level greatly more damaging than the bleating of the climate change nutters ever did.  Politicos at all levels decided that the only way to save the few at risk, was to sacrifice the many who weren’t.  I gave an analogy in an earlier piece about bulldozing neighborhoods because someone found a bedbug in their house and this is what we’ve seen on a global scale.

The unfolding global disaster resulting from the hysterical actions of ‘leaders’, is only beginning.  The obvious casualties of job losses, collapsing businesses, mental and social ramifications are evident.  What’s not as evident, but which will surely impact people for generations, are the follow on policies to be dreamt up by ‘leaders’ in order to ameliorate things in the future.  We know what that means; more stupid rules and laws. 

We are still suffering from useless protocols created in the aftermath of 9-11 at the airports by resignedly being searched, felt up and made to walk shoeless through scanning machines.  Who would have thought this could still be happening after almost 20 years?  Not one politician has thought it a good idea to re-visit this program.  An entire industry continues to exist which is frankly, security kabuki.  The frightening thing of course, is that people have not collectively pushed back against this invasion of personal freedoms…. to say nothing about the inconvenience.  This was the precedent for creating policies that sacrificed the many for the few.  The justification is always that tired canard, “well if it only saves one life…”, which is supposed to justify dumb on an industrial scale. 

In the present crisis, we will see the rise of what I’ll refer to as medical McCarthyism.  Everyone is suspected to be a petri dish of death, so the six foot separation protocol will work its way into modern life ( at least for a while, but probably longer than we think ).  In Ottawa recently, the policy makers there decided that having a beer in your own driveway should be discouraged because it can only lead to socializing.  People will be cajoled and pressured socially to accept all kinds of infringements on their personal activities, “for the safety of everyone”.   The Governor of Michigan has freely created edicts to her subjects on their movements, what they are allowed to buy and when, without clear authority in her mandate to do so.  So it’s not surprising that there are those are calling for an 18 month shutdown.  There are always those who want ultimate control over others. 

It’s not a big leap for people to be required to have proof of certification of vaccines in order to be allowed to circulate in society.  Since we are in the 21st century, instead of carrying a piece of paper,  maybe a chip can be implanted….voluntarily of course….at least at first.  Maybe it will become normal to see people standing in a spaced out conga line to go into a supermarket.  Maybe gloves and masks will be so common in everyday life that streets will resemble a society of surgeons and nurses on break. Maybe new squadrons of police officers will be charged with breaking up house parties of more than 6 people upon receiving tips from the snitch neighbors.   While there is never any shortage of people ready to impose new restrictions on people’s lives, the scary part is that the majority of people will acquiesce because they’ve been sold that it’s for their own good.   It’s like chickens urging each other to go with the Colonel. 

Western societies have moved further and further away from personal responsibility and fulfillment and have become increasingly dependent on governments and institutions to provide for their needs.  We’ve allowed experts and their “superior” knowledge to set policies.  The ceding of public policy directives to doctors will be as harmful as was ceding law writing to lawyers.  We’ll never be safe enough and there will always be a disaster lurking in the next series of sneezes.

Science fiction writers often portray the near future as being a dark dystopian and Orwellian world with big brother type controls on an oppressed populace.  Don’t look now, but the future is closer than you think.

source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/nba-suspends-season-until-further-notice-over-coronavirus/ar-BB114bRv?OCID=ansmsnnews11

It’s gone viral. The panic and hysteria over Covid 19 is spreading faster than the actual illness. With deference to The Babylon Bee, here are some recent actual headlines from the media:

How to wash hands with lyrics

Italians won’t eat smooth pasta

Virus can live up to 3 days on surfaces

Congress closes US Capitol 

Stock markets panic

Doctors claim new corona virus causes damage to men’s testicles

Oregon and Washington ban gatherings on 250 or more

Ticket company tells customers to wear hazmat suits for Broadway show

Princess Cruises to stop all travel for 2 months

Panicked Americans stockpiling toilet paper

Famous tourist attractions deserted

Universities restricted to on-line classes

Prison labor to make hand sanitizer 

It’s as if the world became a massive sci-fi movie set; a modern day version of War Of The Worlds radio broadcast during the 1930’s famously causing widespread panic among the American public.  At that time, the broadcast was clearly advertised as fictional, but nevertheless, once word got out to people who didn’t know any better, an hysteria gripped the public like, well….like a virus.  The notion that earth would be taken over by Martians in 40 minutes didn’t seem  preposterous to many at the time.  Even the people who knew it was a fictional show at the time got caught up in the hysteria according to reports;

“…The broadcast, which disrupted households, interrupted religious services, created traffic jams and clogged communications systems, was made by Orson Welles, who as the radio character, “The Shadow,” used to give “the creeps” to countless child listeners. This time at least a score of adults required medical treatment for shock and hysteria…”

In the present day, the Covid 19 virus outbreak isn’t fiction, but the over the top irrational response of people is eerily similar to the mini panic caused by Wells during his fictional show. Considering that actual fatalities have thus far been few compared to normal incidences of the ‘flu according to one source,  the level of hysteria is both amusing and at the same time frightening to see.  As some have noted, the total number of deaths attributable to Covid 19 is thus far less than a weekend of murders in Chicago.

People are sequestering themselves as if it was the black death of previous centuries.  All I know is that in times such as this, the populace becomes vulnerable to whatever edicts are issued by ‘official’ sources.  Companies are bullied into offering official policy statements to their constituents to insulate themselves from legal issues should any real grief come to pass. I’m reasonably optimistic that people will survive this recent health hysteria.  Surviving the ensuing legal onslaught will be more daunting.