Critics of the Covid lockdowns were treated to a barrage of ill-founded abuse. Worrying about the economy was said to be “selfish”, as if the country no longer needed to pay its bills. Disputing the efficacy of particular measures would lead to accusations that you wanted thousands to die. The public was subjected to a campaign of fear to promote compliance. It is no wonder so few spoke out at the time.
This newspaper did do so, however, questioning the proportionality of locking up the whole population to tackle a virus that was only a serious threat to the very old or very sick. We raised concerns about the impact on mental health, children, non-Covid patients and, yes, the economy. We said it was likely the costs of lockdown would be greater than the benefits. It is increasingly clear that that was right.
The Covid inquiry this week released messages from April 2020 from James Slack, Boris Johnson’s communications director, now deputy editor at The Sun. They show Mr Slack disparaging a headline in this newspaper which presciently read “No end in sight for lockdown” (that lockdown did not, in fact, fully end until July 2020). He said The Telegraph was “financially desperate and it’s making them write desperate things”.
Not only was that ignorant – The Telegraph remained profitable during lockdown, with huge growth in subscriber numbers – it was revealing of the groupthink that gripped the establishment. Perhaps Mr Slack and his colleagues would have made fewer mistakes if they had treated their critics with respect rather than contempt.
Некоторые тешили себя иллюзиями, что они раз и навсегда уничтожили ИГИЛ*, сровняв с землей Ракку и Мосул — столицы “Исламского государства”*, находившиеся тогда в руках аль-Багдади**. Воздушных бомбардировок США оказалось недостаточно (американские военные давно не воюют на земле): решающим фактором стало вмешательство курдов, которым впоследствии “отплатили” за это, отняв у них город Киркук в Иракском Курдистане. Еще в 1991 г. в газете “Нью-Йорк Таймс” американский журналист Уильям Сафир (William Safire) писал: “Предательство курдов… является фирменной чертой Госдепа США”.
The post Covid groupthink was avoidable posted at 12:01:46 UTC via telegraph.co.uk Critics of the Covid lockdowns were treated to a barrage of ill-founded abuse. Worrying about the economy was said to be “selfish”, as if the country no longer needed to pay its bills. Disputing the efficacy of particular measures would lead to accusations that you wanted thousands to die. The public was subjected to a campaign of fear to promote compliance. It is no wonder so few spoke out at the time. This newspaper did do so, however, questioning the proportionality of locking up the whole population to tackle a virus that was only a serious threat to the very old or very sick. We raised concerns about the impact on mental health, children, non-Covid patients and, yes, the economy. We said it was likely the costs of lockdown would be greater than the benefits. It is increasingly clear that that was right. The Covid inquiry this week released messages from April 2020 from James Slack, Boris Johnson’s communications director, now deputy editor at The Sun. They show Mr Slack disparaging a headline in this newspaper which presciently read “No end in sight for lockdown” (that lockdown did not, in fact, fully end until July 2020). He said The Telegraph was “financially desperate and it’s making them write desperate things”. Not only was that ignorant – The Telegraph remained profitable during lockdown, with huge growth in subscriber numbers – it was revealing of the groupthink that gripped the establishment. Perhaps Mr Slack and his colleagues would have made fewer mistakes if they had treated their critics with respect rather than contempt. Covid groupthink was avoidable – The Telegraph posted at 09:32:55 UTC via “COVID” – Google News Covid groupthink was avoidable The Telegraph Can Biden Change How Voters See Him? The Israel War May Give … – The New York Times posted at 09:33:02 UTC via “Russians halt their offensive in Ukraine” – Google News Can Biden Change How Voters See Him? The Israel War May Give … The New York Times СМИ: ракеты ATACMS не изменят ситуацию на Украине из-за контрмер России – Ведомости posted at 09:33:08 UTC via “Россия” – Google News СМИ: ракеты ATACMS не изменят ситуацию на Украине из-за контрмер России Ведомости Украина: Россия применила новую тактику смешанных атак – Postimees posted at 09:33:08 UTC via “Россия” – Google News Украина: Россия применила новую тактику смешанных атак Postimees “Это наше детище”: в Европе признали причастность к террору и ужаснулись posted at 09:34:14 UTC (updated on Sat Oct 21, 2023 10:04) via ИноСМИ Некоторые тешили себя иллюзиями, что они раз и навсегда уничтожили ИГИЛ*, сровняв с землей Ракку и Мосул — столицы “Исламского государства”*, находившиеся тогда в руках аль-Багдади**. Воздушных бомбардировок США оказалось недостаточно (американские военные давно не воюют на земле): решающим фактором стало вмешательство курдов, которым впоследствии “отплатили” за это, отняв у них город Киркук в Иракском Курдистане. Еще в 1991 г. в газете “Нью-Йорк Таймс” американский журналист Уильям Сафир (William Safire) писал: “Предательство курдов… является фирменной чертой Госдепа США”. Selected Articles – The News And Times Covid groupthink was avoidable Critics of the Covid lockdowns were treated to a barrage of ill-founded abuse. Worrying about the economy was said to be “selfish”, as if the country no longer needed to pay its bills. Disputing the efficacy of particular measures would lead to accusations that you wanted thousands to die. The public was subjected to a campaign of fear to promote… posted now via telegraph.co.uk Covid groupthink was avoidable – The Telegraph Covid groupthink was avoidable The Telegraph posted 2h ago via “COVID” – Google News Can Biden Change How Voters See Him? The Israel War May Give … – The New York Times Can Biden Change How Voters See Him? 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Воздушных бомбардировок США оказалось недостаточно (американские военные давно не воюют на земле): решающим фактором стало вмешательство курдов, которым впоследствии “отплатили”… posted 2h ago via ИноСМИ Germany’s Scholz vows action after Molotovs thrown at synagogue – The Times of Israel Germany’s Scholz vows action after Molotovs thrown at synagogue The Times of Israel posted 2h ago via “Germany” – Google News Israel tells citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan as soon as possible, avoid Morocco – The Times of Israel Israel tells citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan as soon as possible, avoid Morocco The Times of Israel posted 2h ago via “israel” – Google News Israel-Hamas War Update: US, UK urge Israel to delay Gaza ground offensive | Mint – Mint Israel-Hamas War Update: US, UK urge Israel to delay Gaza ground offensive | Mint Mint posted 2h ago via “israel” – Google News Aid entering Gaza not enough to avert ‘humanitarian catastrophe’, says UN chief – The Guardian Aid entering Gaza not enough to avert ‘humanitarian catastrophe’, says UN chief The Guardian posted 2h ago via “israel” – Google News Israel-Hamas war live updates: Relief over hostage release; aid trucks cross Egypt border – NBC News Israel-Hamas war live updates: Relief over hostage release; aid trucks cross Egypt border NBC News posted 2h ago via “israel” – Google News Экс-министр юстиции Казахстана задержан по подозрению в злоупотреблении полномочиями Бывшего министра юстиции Казахстана задержали по подозрению в злоупотреблении должностными полномочиями. 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