Lionel Shriver

May 7, 2020 Longrider General News, General Rants, misanthropy, Political 19

I like Lionel Shriver. She tells it as she sees it and the offendatrons be damned. She’s at it again.

And she’s not mincing her words about the coronavirus crisis, nor the economic damage that the government’s preventative actions will cause. “The numbers are not high enough for these kinds of destructive measures,” says the outspoken American author of the 2003 novel We Need to Talk About Kevin. “Especially since two-thirds of the fatalities would have probably died within the year anyway.”

She’s right, isn’t she? Given that this lock-down has been a panic induced by scary figures made up by idiots with computers who shouldn’t be let loose with a Nintendo, let alone a proper computer system, her simple statement is factually correct – the vast majority of deaths would have occurred in fairly short order anyway. And for that, we have trashed the economy, peoples livelihoods and possibly lives that might otherwise have been saved. I don’t just blame Boris or even professor pantsdown – the media with their hysteria must shoulder much of the blame for this.

19 Comments

  1. Whilst I absolutely agree the media are lying treasonous scum who should be first against the wall when the revolution comes, Boris is in charge. He made the decision.
    This is interesting, from the same guy you linked to regarding the fake news BBC:
    https://youtu.be/q-g9dFZn3Jk

    • Basically, it seems Boris made the decision. In fairness, with no good scientific knowledge of the virus, at the time, and Ferguson’s apocalyptic predictions whispered in his ear, I don’t see as he had any choice.

      But by 3 weeks later, we knew the outbreak was slowing in other countries.

      By 6 weeks later it was obvious it was not doomsday, and by then Boris should have been man enough to explain why he’d taken the action he did, but that now updated information was available, and we could start lifting the restrictions. That is the huge, huge failing, in my book. Not being prepared to admit the facts had changed. There’s no shame at all in that. “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”

      The government (IE Boris) seems like a rabbit in the headlights now.

      • Yes, quite right. But who, in their right mind, takes notice of a serial failure like Ferguson, who has been wrong about everything?

        • Yes, I can’t disagree there. Unfortunately, at the time, there were no scientific facts to counter his claims; it did look like a looming disaster.

          But, also, given his record, I can’t understand why the government didn’t seek a second opinion. Other models are available EG Oxford.

        • I would place more reliance on the nutter that stood outside of Marks and Spencer on Northumberland Street in Newcastle Upon Tyne with the sandwich board announcing THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH! and handing out religious pamphlets.

          It was a good gig for him. He was at it for at least 15 years to my knowledge.

      • @KurtGeek

        BoJo’s ignorance on science is no excuse for wrong panicky decisions. He’s PM, he should have demanded opinion on best strategy from non-establishment cronies. ASI, IEA, IFS, Hector etc

        Following the science is the pathetic excuse that led to destructive Green policies

        Boris was elected to be Leader, not Follower

    • Sadly it seems thatI this talking head from Politico is dumb enough to think that displaying his personal loathing for the PM strengthens rather than weakens his case. I agreed with him about the BBC though.

      • I saw no “personal loathing for the PM”

        He attacked Boris for failing to lead and make decisions and even now won’t reverse when it’s obvious lockdown was wrong

  2. Imposing the lockdown was the easy bit, every single step of loosening it will now come with a cost in ‘dead grannies’ – that’s a politically high price to pay, but inevitable once they’d gone on the lockdown direction: that was the original error, going into it without knowing the ‘price’ of getting out.

  4. There was someone saying this before lockdown started (medic, academic?) “All we can do is delay the demise of those who are dying expensively anyway”.

    He got quite a lot of media flak for it, saying ‘expensively ‘ was bit close to the bone.

Comments are closed.