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The author's article clearly made a distinction between two conservative leaders' approaches to the to current pandemic The Hon. Mr Morrison and President Mr Trump.
It would be out of the scope of this article to discuss why the US's approach to the pandemic was not co-ordinated as well as Australia's response. Is the US response due to politics, disbelief in the virus, the belief that market forces will respond, the populace to be personally responsible. This would be a topic of discussion on RN.
Importantly it is how the message of the current pandemic was communicated to the radio and tv audience.
Some media commentators on radio especially 2GB's Alan Jones' breakfast program and some News Corp columnists have regarded the virus as if the virus was mild, the economy was more important than lives and the Swedish model of handling the virus was exemplary. I have commented elsewhere on this site being very critical of this, given that if we adopted Sweden's approach Australia would have nearly 10000 deaths instead of 105.
I was also critical of the comment that we could take the same attitude with the covid19 virus as the flu. However the flu is recurrent and there are vaccines while the covid19 virus is 'novel'.
Commentators cannot assume that in Australia that because there has been NO EVIDENCE of children spreading the virus or people younger than 60 that it won't happen. Casualties amongst children have occurred overseas in Europe maybe in smaller numbers compared to older people, but a casualty is a casualty.
In addition survivors of the virus may experience severe damage to their physiological system. One well-known journalist on 2GB is a fit 30-something who was involved in marathons. The journalist recovered but her lung capacity has been reduced and it is unknown when the lung capacity will reach 100%.
It is true that businesses will fail during recessions whether by market-induced or medical-induced recessions. Despite the criticism by commentators on the policy of lockdowns and restricting people movements resulting in loss of business, I have never heard the commentators during the GFC or the recession we had to have in the 1990s chastise those who caused the recessions.
Recall that by not having lockdowns and not practising safe-distancing would overwhelm the hospital system. Sure there are mental health issues as a result of loss of employment and business. That has been a fact of life for every recession whether caused by market forces or medical events such as the current pandemic.
Thus our mental health resources should be increased during market-caused or medical-caused recessions. Call 13-11-14 or contact an evidenced-based medical practitioner if you are experiencing mental distress. Like infections, we cannot let mental issues rip.
Remember, our policies have reduced the mortality incidents compared to the US, UK, Sweden and Brazil. The economy must not be the pinnacle of living at the expense of health. Recessions have always had a transfer of wealth and people will always want to build businesses. The current recession like all other recessions don't remain static. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
In addition, if a loved one has passed away as a result of a virus, no one's grave or memorial plaque will have "...he/she died in the course of upholding the economy...." What if your loved one died as a result of the covid19 virus.
In sum, this is the problem with commentators regardless of ideology taken as 'gospel'. Apart from the already discussed issues of economy trumping lives, the same applies for those aggrieved by racial discrimination demonstrating in public risking infection and I stress risking infection even if the demonstrators may be using social distancing and masks.
The political, ideological and economic narrative is blind to what is medical reality. Commentators and activists may well be wrong with their narrative trumping medical reality.
Thank you,
Anthony of critical Belfield
What a great article Peter - keep 'em coming! Plenty to think about and certainly plenty to hope for.
Further to my comment about possible physiological damage to recovered covid19-infected patients, here is an article from the SMH that British scientists are invoking possible cognitive impairment and brain damage as a result of the covid19 virus. https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/british-scientists-warn-of-potential-wave-of-covid-linked-brain-damage-20200708-p55a6p.html (subscription may be required or delete cookies and refresh).
While commentators treat this virus as a mild flu, while true for the majority, you would not want to be in the minority.
Thank you,
Anthony of Belfield