Thread by @docrussjackson

The Adam Curtis documentary #HyperNormalisation argued that governments, financiers, & technological utopians have, since the 1970s, given up on the complex "real world" & built a simpler "fake world" run by corporations & kept stable by politicians.

theguardian.com/world/2021/oct…

In relation to #COVID19, the UK Govt has been “systematically #normalising” the UK’s current rate of infections.

“They’ve been acting like this is inevitable, seeming relaxed about infections going up".

The UK has suffered twice as many COVID deaths as civilian deaths in WWII.

“People often want a generic psychological explanation (for the perceived lack of concern), but we mustn’t ignore the political & ideological context in which this is happening. We’re looking at a phenomenon of #normalisation.”

On Thursday, the UK reported more than 45,000 new #coronavirus cases – the most since mid-July – & more than 800 deaths in the past seven days: hospitalisations are rising, one-fifth of ICU beds are occupied by Covid patients, & an estimated 200,000 pupils are absent from school.

Following the select committee report which found the Govt’s management of the outbreak was a public health catastrophe, Sajid Javid said: “Overall things feel quite stable at this point. The numbers are a bit up, a bit down over the last few weeks”.

theguardian.com/politics/2021/…

The news media influences public opinion - arguably that's the main reason newspapers exist - but most people don't know that they rarely change anyone’s mind about anything. But like opinion polls, what the news media DOES do is "change people’s belief about what others think.”

To some, the apparent lack of public reaction to the ongoing death rate is bewildering.

“It feels very surreal that we are just accepting the current infection rates. No one is making a fuss about it, but well over 100 people are dying every day due to Covid,”

While vaccination has changed for the better the *outcome* of high Covid rates, having so much virus in circulation is not without consequence.

“The current death rate is equivalent to over 40,000 people a year dying of Covid. This is not normal".

We have a Govt of bankers, corporate lobbyists & other free-market fundamentalists, funded by very rich tax-avoiders.

“The Govt has abandoned all pretence at public health measures to control Covid. It’s a national scandal, but one which seems to have largely slipped from view.”

Until we identify & tackle head on the antidemocratic forces undermining Britain - often manifested in the actions of the Govt itself - many more people will continue to die unnecessarily, while the climate, & wealth & opportunity inequality continue to spiral out of control.