Quote of the Day: Importance

 

“Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don’t mean to do harm; but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.” – T.S. Eliot

Can you say Omicron (or Omnicron) variant? I knew you could.

It’s basically harmless, and might well be the reason there were so few Covid deaths in Africa. It seems to have been around for a while. But if it is harmless, that makes the whole public health establishment less important. And to those in the public health establishment, God forfend that happening.

Public health is important. Crying wolf over a harmless variant may be a short-term way to temporarily increase its importance, but long term it corrodes the credibility of the public health establishment. When the biological wolf eventually does emerge, people are going to disregard the public health establishment because they are tired of hearing lies and think it is yet another one.

Perhaps the public health heroes think that day of reckoning will never come. Perhaps it never will. In the meantime, they have been feeling important. Feeling important is a drug more addicting than heroin, oxycodone, and methamphetamine’ put together. And they are hooked.

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  1. Sandy Member
    Sandy
    @Sandy

    Important points well made. 
    The good news is that since much of the public health establishment has been doing a lot of damage for a long time, mistrust of them can only be a positive development. At the moment I’d sooner trust getting health advice from my hairdresser than from the CDC. 

    • #1
  2. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    I’m with those people who say we should all just shut up about omicron until we have some data. The usual suspects on both sides of these issues seem to insist on certainty first, data later.  

    • #2
  3. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    This behavior, ignorant of and inattentive to the harm done, by a collective body, the public health establishment, is in some ways similar to individual behavior like we have seen recently in Michigan and Wisconsin. Both are crimes against humanity..

    We have similar opposing actions and viewpoints ongoing in our economic, legal,  and social spheres. The symptoms of this sickness express themselves manifestly in the political sphere and we must deal with it there. We saw a beginning in Virginia.

    • #3
  4. Sandy Member
    Sandy
    @Sandy

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    We saw a beginning in Virginia.

    I feel I can rely on Winsome Sears and probably Miyares, the new AG. Not so sure about Youngkin. 

    • #4
  5. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Sandy (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    We saw a beginning in Virginia.

    I feel I can rely on Winsome Sears and probably Miyares, the new AG. Not so sure about Youngkin.

    I rely on people only insofar as we can hold their feet to the fire.  Relying on people is mostly a mistake in politics.  That’s why we have constitutions and laws–because we can’t rely on people. 

    • #5
  6. OldPhil Coolidge
    OldPhil
    @OldPhil

    OMGicron

    • #6
  7. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Sandy (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    We saw a beginning in Virginia.

    I feel I can rely on Winsome Sears and probably Miyares, the new AG. Not so sure about Youngkin.

    I rely on people only insofar as we can hold their feet to the fire. Relying on people is mostly a mistake in politics. That’s why we have constitutions and laws–because we can’t rely on people.

    Exactly what we are experiencing. There is so much money in the hands of relatively few people that those few, including some really bad apples, can corrupt almost any individual or institution on the planet. This is mostly a novel scenario, I think, for those of us who have spent our lives fighting the Communist threat. Most of us have dealt mostly with propaganda and intolerable acts of tyranny. Todays Communist influence is more subtle.

    • #7
  8. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’m with those people who say we should all just shut up about omicron until we have some data.

    Sounds like you don’t want to talk about it.

    Sounds like other people do.

    • #8
  9. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    BDB (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’m with those people who say we should all just shut up about omicron until we have some data.

    Sounds like you don’t want to talk about it.

    Sounds like other people do.

    Yes, that’s right.  Data is all there is.  To be presented to us.

    Let’s not use our words, not talk in paragraphs, or use decades of complex learning to predict the future.  Let us not talk about decades of personal experience and the insight that professionals have brought to this topic.  Let’s not think of reclaiming our lives or taking a step right or left until the government and its scientists tell us the truth.

    Let’s not make predictions to see if our own knowledge and experience stack up as correct and reliable.  And see how reliable the government and its Press are.  Let’s not think for ourselves.  Sure.  Let’s wait to be told what to think.

    But I still think Seawriter’s right.  And I doubt that the establishment government/ science complex will ever admit it.  :)

    • #9
  10. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    BDB (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’m with those people who say we should all just shut up about omicron until we have some data.

    Sounds like you don’t want to talk about it.

    Sounds like other people do.

    Oh, I want to talk about it, even though it would be better if I didn’t. Problem is, I’ve got nothing substantial to go on, just like everybody else who talks about it.  

    • #10
  11. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Flicker (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’m with those people who say we should all just shut up about omicron until we have some data.

    Sounds like you don’t want to talk about it.

    Sounds like other people do.

    Yes, that’s right. Data is all there is. To be presented to us.

    Let’s not use our words, not talk in paragraphs, or use decades of complex learning to predict the future. Let us not talk about decades of personal experience and the insight that professionals have brought to this topic. Let’s not think of reclaiming our lives or taking a step right or left until the government and its scientists tell us the truth.

    Let’s not make predictions to see if our own knowledge and experience stack up as correct and reliable. And see how reliable the government and its Press are. Let’s not think for ourselves. Sure. Let’s wait to be told what to think.

    But I still think Seawriter’s right. And I doubt that the establishment government/ science complex will ever admit it. :)

    You’re right. I should listen to the voices in my head and tell everyone else what they are saying.  

    • #11
  12. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Reticulator, your censor is showing.  How about you just follow your initial instincts and stop haranguing people for merely discussing this thing which you *claim* to not want to talk about?  Nobody needs your shushing.

    • #12
  13. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’m with those people who say we should all just shut up about omicron until we have some data.

    Sounds like you don’t want to talk about it.

    Sounds like other people do.

    Yes, that’s right. Data is all there is. To be presented to us.

    Let’s not use our words, not talk in paragraphs, or use decades of complex learning to predict the future. Let us not talk about decades of personal experience and the insight that professionals have brought to this topic. Let’s not think of reclaiming our lives or taking a step right or left until the government and its scientists tell us the truth.

    Let’s not make predictions to see if our own knowledge and experience stack up as correct and reliable. And see how reliable the government and its Press are. Let’s not think for ourselves. Sure. Let’s wait to be told what to think.

    But I still think Seawriter’s right. And I doubt that the establishment government/ science complex will ever admit it. :)

    You’re right. I should listen to the voices in my head and tell everyone else what they are saying.

    That’s right.  You do you.

    • #13
  14. She Member
    She
    @She

    A great (and universally applicable) quote which–not for the first time–makes me wish Eliot had (with the one glorious Cat exception**) stuck to playwriting.

    This is the Quote of the Day. December’s sign-up sheet is here.  Please sign up today!

    If you’re new at this game, it’s a easy way to get your feet wet and start a conversation; if you’re an old-timer, you already know the ropes.  Either way, we’re looking forward to your post.

    Another ongoing project to encourage new voices is our Group Writing Project. December’s theme is “Winter Lights and Dark Winter Nights.”  If you’d like to weigh in, please sign up for Group Writing too!

    **And Andrew Lloyd Weber had to go and ruin even that…

    • #14
  15. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely.   We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted.    Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country.   The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.  

    • #15
  16. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    I Walton (View Comment):

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely. We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted. Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country. The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.

    What is the nature of the dishonest authoritarianism? Is it a conscious method or is it robotic? I watch Fauci at times and it seems he is actually not conscious of the contradictions and discrepancies in his pronouncements.

    • #16
  17. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I Walton (View Comment):

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely. We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted. Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country. The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.

    What is the nature of the dishonest authoritarianism? Is it a conscious method or is it robotic? I watch Fauci at times and it seems he is actually not conscious of the contradictions and discrepancies in his pronouncements.

    Agree it’s not outright dishonesty, they have to say what’s in their interests at the time, and don’t really know much about basic reality because it’s so remote.

    • #17
  18. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I Walton (View Comment):

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely. We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted. Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country. The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.

    What is the nature of the dishonest authoritarianism? Is it a conscious method or is it robotic? I watch Fauci at times and it seems he is actually not conscious of the contradictions and discrepancies in his pronouncements.

    ANTony Fauci:
    I represent SCIENCE! Of course I am in control of my own mental faculties. Why do you ask?

    • #18
  19. Sandy Member
    Sandy
    @Sandy

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I Walton (View Comment):

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely. We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted. Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country. The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.

    What is the nature of the dishonest authoritarianism? Is it a conscious method or is it robotic? I watch Fauci at times and it seems he is actually not conscious of the contradictions and discrepancies in his pronouncements.

    He has been lying and covering his lies for decades. I believe he is conscious of his lies and, of course, of the apparently powerful forces who keep him in power and prevent the msm from questioning him.  Why would he have to concern himself with contradictions?  It is his enemies who have to worry.  I would also expect that he is able to live with his lies and the untold damage they have done because he believes his wretched career has been justified.  We saw that in his masking about-face and that was just a tiny glimpse.

    He has been called a psychopath and we know such people lie with ease.  I’m not a psychiatrist, and maybe it’s the same thing, but to me he appears as belonging not to a category of illness or derangement but to evil.  Read this if you can stand it.

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/fauci-approved-aids-drugs-toxic-for-adults-to-be-tested-on-orphans-foster-kids-rfk-jr-says-in-new-book/

    • #19
  20. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    BDB (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I Walton (View Comment):

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely. We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted. Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country. The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.

    What is the nature of the dishonest authoritarianism? Is it a conscious method or is it robotic? I watch Fauci at times and it seems he is actually not conscious of the contradictions and discrepancies in his pronouncements.

     

    ANTony Fauci:
    I represent SCIENCE! Of course I am in control of my own mental faculties. Why do you ask?

    Why do you have a picture of Kamala Harris with a caption about Facui?

    • #20
  21. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Flicker (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    I Walton (View Comment):

    We’re seldom sure about anything and that shrinks as power accumulates centrally and remotely. We have to try to sort things out, find people who have been honest about things we can know and those who have distorted. Well informed honest folks are seldom found at the top in a giant country. The notion that we have to wait until all is clear is an invitation to turn power over to those who will abuse it.

    What is the nature of the dishonest authoritarianism? Is it a conscious method or is it robotic? I watch Fauci at times and it seems he is actually not conscious of the contradictions and discrepancies in his pronouncements.

     

    ANTony Fauci:
    I represent SCIENCE! Of course I am in control of my own mental faculties. Why do you ask?

    Why do you have a picture of Kamala Harris with a caption about Facui?

    They all look the same to me.  

    • #21
  22. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    BDB (View Comment):

    Reticulator, your censor is showing. How about you just follow your initial instincts and stop haranguing people for merely discussing this thing which you *claim* to not want to talk about? Nobody needs your shushing.

    Sorry. Just trying to join all the Karens on Ricochet who are telling people they shouldn’t get vaccinated, wear masks, etc. I’ve never been much of a joiner and should probably keep it that way.  

    • #22
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