Politicians, academics and celebrities have voiced their frustration over lockdown protests which could make the situation even worse, writes Dr Binoy Kampmark. PANIC AND FURY. A sense that things have gotten away. This was the feeling on Sunday morning, 25 July, with the vision of COVID Zero vanishing in a country that had boasted of suppressing the virus and its disease.
Listen, Victoria . . . We’re sorry, ok? A couple of months ago, Gladys Berejiklian spoke for much of the state when she said: “I fear for Victoria and I worry about what their government may do. I hope we have demonstrated to other states it is possible to manage an outbreak and not shut down a city.” Not one of us shouted her down, at least not publicly. We so assumed that in this state our systems were better than yours that we either just pitied you and your endless lockdowns, or looked down our long noses at how badly you had stuffed it up. And now look at us. We stuffed it up by not doing what you told us to do: go early, go hard.
Source: We’re sorry we looked down on you Victoria – see you on the other side of lockdown
While we all dream of unrestricted travel, parties, dinners in our favourite restaurants and all the other luxuries we have come to accept as our inalienable rights to enjoy, I hope we can spare some thoughts to a brave Australian who has been held in harsh lockdown for more than two years.
Source: The Forgotten Australian in Lockdown – » The Australian Independent Media Network
“Hi Ben, I think it’s your shout.” ”Ok, two beers, thanks.” “We better drink ‘em quickly before Dictator Dan gets back and shuts the whole state down.” ”Like in NSW you mean?” ”Nah, they’ve just got a stay at home order. That’s not a lockdown. Glorious Gladys doesn’t do lockdowns. She keeps the state running..” ”Actually I believe they’re calling it a lockdown now so you may have to stop calling Gladys ‘glorious’!” “Well, even if they are locking down, it’s not really her fault.” ”How do you figure that?” ”Well all those other premiers were locking down unnecessarily when they only had a handful of cases, so she presumed that she wouldn’t have to because NSW would only be a handful of cases too.” ”Isn’t it possible that it’s because they locked down early that they only had a handful of cases?” ”I don’t think you can say that. As Scott Morrison said last year, we can’t hide under the doona forever.”
Source: Why A Stay At Home Order Is Better Than A Lockdown! – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Victoria is entering yet another lockdown, but Victorians shouldn’t be blaming contact tracers or the State Government, they should be blaming Scott Morrison for his inaction on purpose-built quarantine facilities, writes Hayden O’Connor.
Source: Scott Morrison to blame for latest Victorian lockdown
The country famously didn’t introduce much of a lockdown during its first wave, and its death rate surged to one of the world’s highest.
Faced with the reality of a winter surge, Sweden is finally bringing in some harsher restrictions after months of being one of the few countries with no lockdown | Business Insider
Perhaps though, what has annoyed the lynch mob most is that Andrews’ strategy for controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria has worked. The number of cases has been falling steadily. This past weekend, record low figures were achieved. As a result, restrictions have been eased, as promised, with more to come next weekend. Whatever he does though, it will never be right, never enough for his detractors. The painful reality for the lynch mob though is that Andrews has stared them down, and they don’t like it. This daily inquisition is demeaning, unnecessary, unbecoming, and a pox on our politics. It must now stop.
Dan Andrews stares down the lynch mob – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Finally they have turned on Sky After Dark (OD)
ASIO says it has detected an increase in extremist activity online during the coronavirus lockdown period
Officers say there has also been a rise in “anti-China” and “anti-migration” sentiment in communities
Peter Dutton introduced a bill to allow ASIO to question 14-year-old suspects of extremist involvement
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