1/ WHEN HUMAN LIVES BECOME ECONOMIC UNITS
As doctors we go to extraordinary efforts to save a single human life. And when things go wrong - even when they're not our fault - we beat ourselves up about it, try to figure out what went wrong and try not to repeat it.
As doctors we go to extraordinary efforts to save a single human life. And when things go wrong - even when they're not our fault - we beat ourselves up about it, try to figure out what went wrong and try not to repeat it.
2/ Politicians are entirely relaxed about sacrificing (killing and maiming) large swathes of the population for the benefit of their political donors. There is no real accountability for this and through talking in generalities they normalise fascism and eugenics.
3/ That's it. That's the difference. To us doctors you are all humans with special lives and a unique, invaluable existence. To the politicians, you are numbers, economic units, and can be subject to acceptable levels of attrition for the sake of utility.
4/ "Yes, but you doctors are so naive. You can't make political decisions on that basis."
No, actually, you can. The thing is, though, you have to prioritise compassion, kindness and respect for human life. Being beholden to major business donors precludes that.
No, actually, you can. The thing is, though, you have to prioritise compassion, kindness and respect for human life. Being beholden to major business donors precludes that.
5/ As long as the population is treated by its political class and their string-pullers as a herd of domestic cattle to be farmed for profit, then we will all, individually, remain nothing but economic units, whose value lies exclusively in our productivity.
6/ The consummate skill of the politician is to cajole and persuade the populace otherwise, convincing them that the things being done which may (at first sight) look like they are not in their best interests, actually are.
7/ In a healthy democracy the political class is held in check by an independent judiciary, suitable legal checks and balances, such as a Bill of Rights, and a panoply of powerful, incisive and fearless media outlets.
You see the problem, don't you?
You see the problem, don't you?
8/ One final thing. The tools to control this pandemic are entirely within our control, not just in Australia, but around the world. It is the political will, alone, which is lacking. Ask @billbowtell
arena.org.au/a-review-of-bi…
arena.org.au/a-review-of-bi…
9/ 9/ Some ideas here about what we can do to control the spread. We need to work coolly, rationally and methodically, be prepared to adapt quickly and innovate, and we can achieve resolution. The choice is ours.
https://twitter.com/YouAreLobbyLud/status/1431515228957814786
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