PETER HITCHENS: Forget face masks and fear - let's relax and accept the risk

Attempt #2

> Posted by: Tim Lot | 12 July 2020 at 04:37 PM:
> "Some people may be frightened and unhappy, but at least they are still alive. There are over 40 thousand that are not. What would you say to their relatives?"

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That sounds a lot, but it's not, Mr Lot.

Well over 40,000 die every month on average.

Well over 40,000 excess deaths resulted from the second biggest Flu epidemic of the second half of the 20th Century.

Twice that in the biggest.

And that pales into insignificance compared to the "Spanish" Flu!

And almost all of your 40,000 (many of whom had it but didn't die from it, had it but had already recovered, or never actually had it in the first place) would have been on their last legs and would have died soon anyway.

OR WERE ON BORROWED TIME AS THEY HADN'T BEEN QUITE ILL ENOUGH AND/OR THE FLU THIS WINTER HADN'T BEEN QUITE STRONG ENOUGH TO SEE THEM OFF!

Oh and there's quite often a second wave of Flu in the Spring that finishes off those that survived the Winter, but only just!

And I heard a harrowing "news report" that one care home had lost a FIFTH of its residents.

But that's the NORM for a residential home EVERY year!

It's a THIRD for nursing homes (and no you don't have to allow for deaths during the rest of the year, these ARE those deaths which happened early).

Any heartbroken distraught weeping "carers" interviewed on the box are either new to the job and not cut out for it, or are putting it on for the cameras!

But I digress:

I take it Timorous Tim and all those talking the same talk will walk the walk from now on and wear a mask, social distance, self isolate, and tell every relative to do the same every Autumn, Winter, and Spring.

Oh, and I just remembered:

Even Summer colds can k!ll if you're old, ill, and frail enough!

Posted by: Jeremy Bonington-Jagworth | 17 July 2020 at 04:54 PM

Attempt #3

I do hope all those attacking our host will be hanging onto their masks.

And confirming they will be wearing them throughout the Winter.

After all Flu k!lls too!

50,000 and 80,000 in the last two bad Winters.

And surely they aren't as selfish as they claim our host is?!

Posted by: Jeremy Bomington-Jagworth | 17 July 2020 at 11:29 AM

Posted by: Jeremy Bonington-Jagworth | 17 July 2020 at 05:38 PM

Elaine Quraishi “Peter Hitchens is not a serious journalist and the people that take him seriously can't be taken serious either.”

Peter Hitchens has been a journalist since the 1970s covering domestic and international politics. He has traveled to most of the major areas of conflict in the world. He lived under Communism in Russia, and has been to China and the Middle East. How about you? What qualifies you to be a “serious” expert? Throughout this crises you have pushed every left wing mantra and talking point going.

You even tried to push the absurd left wing obsession with identity politics claiming some preferences for female run countries. Absurd talking points. So absolutely no surprise to see you now pushing the new left wing symbol of control, the face mask. There is little or no scientific evidence for the advantage of wearing a mask. A recent scientific report in the US said it has no effect in stopping Covid19.

Instead of trying to argue facts you resort to the usual left wing arguing tactic of sneer and smear and arrogantly claiming that if someone doesn’t agree with you then they are not qualified to speak. People like you are unable to deal with a counter position, and it seems to trigger you.So you lash out with insults. It’s what the left do now as most of their arguments are baseless, debunked & idiotic when examined. I would recommend you return to your safe space.

Re comments directed at Elaine Q

Perhaps our American cousin isn't aware of recent developments on this side of the Pond, so permit me to explain it to her in words she might understand.

Up until quite recently, if she had contracted covid while visiting the UK, returned to Utah fully recovered from the virus the 'experts' over here would have placed her on their Covid list. So far so good. However, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years or even 10 years hence, if she subsequently died in a Utah wildfire, was trampled to death by a local moose, choked on a swarm of Mormon crickets or even died peacefully in her own bed these 'experts' would have registered her death as "died from covid-19".

Bill,
My answer to your question has been submitted many times and it is ....
Stop voting for any candidates belonging to political parties and vote for your very own locally based, trustworthy, independent candidate.
That seems to me to be the only sure way to 'clear the swamp' and achieve an honest and truly representative democracy.

Sally | 18 July 2020 at 11:19 AM :
*** Michael Gove, one of the more sensible and free loving Ministers ***

Loves the "exceptionalist" empire, to the extent of being a leader of the UK end of the Henry Jackson Society ... an organisation that exists to promote US-neocon interests, and further convergence of British society with that of the thoroughly brutal and corrupt US political, corporate and economic establishment.
Starmer and most of his (now allegedly 'opposition') Blairites are equally keen members of the HJS.
Shows what a sham the official 'brexit' v 'remain' pantomime really was...
How cozy to have a supposedly UK parliament that's stuffed all round with lobbyists for an aggressive foreign power.
Yet no indignant media headlines about US interference in UK politics?

Michael Wood

Your idea of voting for independent candidates has not, it appears, resulted in a great deal of support. I don't think it was independence that led to that so much as the 'trustworthy' qualification' that went with it. I guess not many independent MP's have stood the test of time and parliament itself hardly seems to welcome those who dither one way or other. Apart from that independence itself often involves the right to change ones mind!

No doubt that given time the idea could become more acceptable, but I feel the patience of the average voter seldom stretches to long periods of political experimentation, particularly in difficult times.