THEAD

Is it a coincidence that a deadly world pandemic sweeps the globe when political tensions in the West have never been as high?

Directly after a polarising U.K. general election in which the working class changed sides. Where the most divisive Labour leader was outed?

In a year where Britain is set to finally leave the EU, after the most virulent 4 years in British political history

In an American Election year, 4 years on from electing the most polarising President in the history of the US. Arguably the most important election in US history

I suppose the question I am asking, if this was 10 years ago, would we have had the lockdown, the hysteria, the political tribalism around the virus?

Would we have kept calm and carried on. The British way, as we have done with the virus scares before Covid?

Because thus far, as of today, the coronavirus has killed 0.058% of the British population. Half of them are from 0.5% of the population, the sick and elderly. The 5 year average flu deaths are significantly reduced. Meaning it has killed people who were likely to die from flu

Just 2 people died in the 48 hour period between Wednesday to Friday. To put this in perspective, an estimated 10 people die per day due to passive smoking. Over 20 people a day kill themselves, a figure that has significantly increased during lockdown

The uncomfortable truth is that this isn’t a deadly pandemic, not by any statistical measure. We have tanked the economy, made millions of people unemployed, destroyed small and independent businesses, all for a virus that has killed 0.058% of the population

The long term economic impact will kill many many more.

The virus isn’t the pandemic. The pandemic is political tribalism, factionalism and divisiveness. Every response has been impetuous and made for political reasons without any long term consideration

It’s time to wake up and end this madness. Because if this goes on much longer, the damage to the economy, and to society may never recover

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