ON STUPID
“That’s stupid!” is a comment that I have seen on socials lately often as a pejorative retort to my inputs. Ego “bruised” I get back up, dust myself off, and get ready for the ensuing rounds. This simplistic slam warrants further investigation as it is likely a sign of the fear and hopelessness many of us are experiencing post Lockdown 1 with the very real threat of leakage from Lockdown 2 in Victoria.
The constant through 2020 has been that we listen to the experts. A great start, but with spurious early data we pivoted one way only for most of the world to change 180 degrees weeks later. Our health experts had their solitary focus on flattening curves to prepare national health systems for a global pandemic. No deaths from COVID19 on our watch! Questioning that admirable goal, well, “that’s stupid” if your not the expert on TV. As we are all beginning to realise the solitary goal is problematic especially as time has highlighted numerous cracks in different parts of health systems including aged care, mental health, cancer treatments, immune compromised, elderly with chronic conditions, and more. It appears that our concentrated approach is now creating greater health implications and realising very real economic costs of a scale never seen before.
Our politicians have enjoyed the daily spotlight with updates on data tables, exponential curves, and policy on the run through a national cabinet. While the collegial environment created by wrangling our various senior leaders seemed a worthy methodology in the early days, it now causes some to challenge “policy” as there is minimal, regular scrutiny from our State and Federal opposition parties. But hey, “that’s stupid”, their doing a great job in tough times all the while taking advice from the experts. As we now know, some politicians are sadly out of their depth in this crisis or worse are using the borders to prosper politically.
Our journalists also appear to be struggling to play their key role through this crisis. Numeracy seems to be the greatest gap which has seen data reported in it’s rawest form with the highlights delivering fear-based headlines and click-bait. “That’s stupid?” Maybe. Selling a few papers pays the bills today but high-quality investigative journalism builds the brand and long-term profits. Fortunately, some commentators are now challenging our policy makers plus shining a light on global thinking that appears to be moving the needle.
Open the borders to save livelihoods but close the borders to save lives, with each life currently costing, all of us, north of $500 Billion. Our invisible markers on maps are creating vocal tribes where once a proud and confident nation existed. This has to stop. Our leaders need to look holistically at our community, and all of it’s need, plus they need to put political cycles to one side and develop a realistic plan that ensures our most vulnerable have a high level of care, we maintain a credible testing and quarantine system, and the rest of us have the opportunity to prosper and enjoy time with family and friends. Is that stupid? Possibly, but if so, share a reasoned alternative and not just a throw away line.