X : Any views on cross comparson of countries regarding COVID?
Me : None in particular. We will need to learn lessons hence the need for a Royal Commission i.e. why is the UK death rate per 1M approximately 130x that of New Zealand? What things can we do better etc ...
Me : None in particular. We will need to learn lessons hence the need for a Royal Commission i.e. why is the UK death rate per 1M approximately 130x that of New Zealand? What things can we do better etc ...
... COVID is only one of many future shocks we have heading our way from environmental consequences to material constraints. It would be a horrendous waste of life not to learn the lessons that have been so costly.
X : Do you think Gov will avoid a Royal Commission?
Me : It can't be avoided. To do so would be a form of negligence bordering on the criminal. To try to curtail the necessary investigation and learning would open up Gov to accusations of corporate manslaughter.
Me : It can't be avoided. To do so would be a form of negligence bordering on the criminal. To try to curtail the necessary investigation and learning would open up Gov to accusations of corporate manslaughter.
X : Do you think UK Gov has performed badly?
Me : I am not concerned with attempts at absolute comparisons of right and wrong, I am only concerned with us learning lessons and improving. This is not the only shock we will face in my lifetime.
Me : I am not concerned with attempts at absolute comparisons of right and wrong, I am only concerned with us learning lessons and improving. This is not the only shock we will face in my lifetime.
X : "Build back better"?
Me : A slogan. I'm not a fan of story telling with catchy phrases. I prefer improving our understanding of the context, an ongoing drive to greater situational awareness. Rallying cries for different collectives are generally counter productive.
Me : A slogan. I'm not a fan of story telling with catchy phrases. I prefer improving our understanding of the context, an ongoing drive to greater situational awareness. Rallying cries for different collectives are generally counter productive.
We should be having that national conversation on "Me" vs "We" since COVID has clearly exposed weaknesses in our collective efforts and highlighted the tension between collective and individual. We need to agree on what our beliefs are. You don't get that from slogans.
X : Do you think we will have that discussion?
Me : I have my doubts. Unfortunately there are two paths to maintaining power - doing good and educating (i.e. having that discussion) or manipulating perception and behaviour. Alas, manipulation is the cheaper option these days.
Me : I have my doubts. Unfortunately there are two paths to maintaining power - doing good and educating (i.e. having that discussion) or manipulating perception and behaviour. Alas, manipulation is the cheaper option these days.
X : Is there a way to fix that?
Me : Of course, You have to raise the cost of manipulation. Alas the economic self interest of many of those who have power may well be opposed to doing this.
Me : Of course, You have to raise the cost of manipulation. Alas the economic self interest of many of those who have power may well be opposed to doing this.
X : Research and learning are cheaper than the cost of ignorance.
Me : Absolutely but alas, in the long run. Short term interests may well arrive at a different conclusion given the cost of manipulation is so cheap as it becomes industrialised.
Me : Absolutely but alas, in the long run. Short term interests may well arrive at a different conclusion given the cost of manipulation is so cheap as it becomes industrialised.
Never underestimate our ability in capitalist systems to discount the future ... see environmental change.
X : Discount future?
Me : We load up the future with our debt so that we can spend today. We hope that when the debt becomes due that some magic lottery or technology will have solved it. We're anti guardians ... we spend what we have and what the future was supposed to have.
Me : We load up the future with our debt so that we can spend today. We hope that when the debt becomes due that some magic lottery or technology will have solved it. We're anti guardians ... we spend what we have and what the future was supposed to have.
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