Public Health Scotland (PHS) is upset that critics are using its data to oppose Covid mandates and policies. PHS believes that the anti-vaxxers are seizing on the data to undermine its case for continued mandates. One official is quoted as saying that “[t]he case rates, hospitalization rates, the death rates are very simple statistics” and critics are misreading the data “inappropriately and sometimes willfully.” The solution? PHS will reportedly stop sharing the data with the public. It appears that it is not enough for companies like Twitter to ban critics from social media. Now, citizens will be protected not just from opposing views but information that will only confuse them.
According to papers like The Herald, the PHS will now withhold data after critics noted that, for the first time, the case rate among vaccinated (and boosted) individuals had overtaken the unvaccinated for Covid. The PHS notes that there are various reasons for this shift and that it does not support anti-vax theories.
These officials raise some interesting points to explain the differential, including what is viewed as a higher testing rate for the vaccinated and the overestimation of the size of the unvaxxed population. However, that is the point. I was able to read the interpretation of both sides and reach my own conclusions. These are not particularly complex explanations for the different rates. Free speech allows both sides to be heard by an informed electorate. These policies impact every aspect of our lives. Citizens should be allowed access to this data — as should experts who may have opposing views of their import.
Instead, the impulse of these officials is to bar access to information to protect the public from itself. It is reminiscent of the call by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) for Amazon and other companies to use algorithms to steer readers away from bad choices. There was also the letter from Democratic Reps. Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney of California to cable carriers like AT&T asking why they are still allowing people to watch Fox News. The problem is that citizens are reaching the wrong conclusions or reading the wrong sources and must be protected from their own proclivities or ignorance.
Even the W.H.O. has publicly supported calls for censorship to combat what it describes as the “infodemic.”
Public health policy is subject to democratic change and citizens should have access to data to make informed decisions. The PHS and its critics can then offer their own interpretations as part of a national debate. James Madison said “a popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance.” Indeed, “knowledge will govern ignorance” unless the government controls what citizens can know.
Sad. Looks like they have been compromised by Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum, implementing the Great Reset agenda.
“PHS will reportedly stop sharing the data with the public.”
How do you control people? Keep them ignorant.
How many examples do people need until they realize that the health diktats are not about the “science?” They are about forcing people to submit blindly to petty tyrants.
Hullbobby says:
“This isn’t about information, this is about “helping the dumb people know how to behave”. This is the way the left thinks. This is why we have one particular “Anonymous” and JeffSilberman commenting on this site 100 times each story, they need to control a site that is not behaving the way they think it should behave.”
I wasn’t going to comment upon this article because I don’t take issue with Turley’s overriding point, but you drag me into responding by your disparaging me. You perfectly demonstrate that you are a stupid lying Trumpist. First, you state that I comment “100 times each story.” Flat out lie. Second, I don’t need to control this site. Another lie. I would hazard to guess that George, for one, comments far more than me. Does he need to control this site?
I do criticize Turley’s hypocritical stance of not holding Fox News, Newsmax and One America News Network to the same standard of journalistic integrity which he demands of Fox’s media competitors on the Left. I intend to keep shaming him for his selling out to Fox until he quits like so many others before him who have had their fill of being embarrassed by their association with the likes of Hannity, Ingraham and particularly Carlson.
Like your changing the cable channel when you don’t like what you are seeing, I suggest you simply ignore my contributions on this site. I’m not writing for your edification. Despite my casting pearls before Trumpist swine, I will continue to chat with the few people here who were savvy enough NOT to have been taken-in by a “carnival snake charmer” which Turley perspicaciously identified Trump years ago before it would become glaringly obvious to most Americans.
Turley’s astute opinion of Trumpism’s deceitful nature has been confirmed innumerable times, and yet despite this conspicuous display, the majority here are blind to it and cling to the desperate hope that somehow Trumpism will be vindicated in the end and not thrown on the scrap heap of history. Trump IS going down, and he is dragging his complicit liars with him. Turley and the handful of other NeverTrumpers on this site WILL have the last laugh- I promise you- just that Turley will smile privately while the rest of us will laugh out loud.
JeffSilberman, you had me with you until you got to Fox News. You say you want to shame the Professor until he quits Fox News. In other words you want to take his freedom to speak openly and his freedom of association all in one fell swoop. We can imagine what things would be like if you were ever placed in a position of power. Soon you will require that Turley wear the yellow star of shame on his shirt sleeve until he quits Fox News. Your party platform would be “They will speak and act just as we want them to or else, so vote for me.” We have examples in history of men in power with the same ideas as you. If you were in power you would be saying you are not allowed to have the facts just like those in power in Scotland. If you were in power you would shut down Fox News and any other outlet that you did not agree with. You say you agree with Professor Turley on this issue but your actions applied to the Professors in the past tell us that you only virtue signal. Your history tells us everything we need to know about where you are coming from. Please excuse us if we find your now agreeing with the Professor as disingenuous at best.
I agree 100% 👍
TiT says:
“You say you want to shame the Professor until he quits Fox News. In other words you want to take his freedom to speak openly and his freedom of association all in one fell swoop. We can imagine what things would be like if you were ever placed in a position of power.”
You don’t have to imagine it. Turley accused Trump of trying to do what you are incorrectly accusing me:
“Trump’s renewed call for changing our defamation laws is clearly an outgrowth of the release of Michael Wolff’s book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.” The book asserts that Trump’s aides are alarmed by his mental state and have repeatedly raised the possible need for removal under the 25th Amendment. Trump tried to prevent the publication of the book and threatened a defamation lawsuit if it was allowed to reach the bookshelves. The publisher defied the president and actually pushed up the release date. Many denounced the president for seeking an unconstitutional prior restraint. No defamation lawsuit has been filed.”
“There are errors in Wolff’s book and one can certainly understand the frustration of politicians in being hammered in such one-sided accounts. However, the reduction of the standard for defamation would produce sweeping and dangerous changes to our political system. It would allow powerful figures to more easily sue newspapers and citizens alike for saying bad things about them in public. It would allow politicians to use precisely the cudgel wielded by L.B. Sullivan to try to bring media to heel during civil right movement. Indeed, while some citizens might relish the idea of hammering media over critical Trump coverage, they might be less enamored with the change when the next president silences conservative media and outlets.”
https://jonathanturley.org/2018/01/15/of-lies-and-libels-trumps-problem-is-not-with-the-lack-of-american-values-but-the-lack-of-a-libel-case/
——————
Turley was shaming Trump to persuade him to give up his calls to change defamation law. Likewise, I am shaming Turley to persuade him to disassociate himself from the discredited Fox News like so many others have done.
Turley and I have no power to censor anyone, but we do have the power of persuasion.
TiT,
Turley is going to depart Fox News sooner or later. It’s only a question of when, not if.
As a concession to the censors’ belief that we are too stupid to make rational decisions I admit that they have a point: we were stupid enough to put them in charge.
Despite the contortions used to explain why the vaccinated [including our surgeon general and his entire family] are getting Covid at higher rates than the unvaccinated [including those with natural immunity] there is an important question:
Why are the vaccinated getting Covid at all?
Fauci said originally that vaccination would end the pandemic. It didn’t; not even close.
Now there are indications that if you are vaccinated then after a few months you will be MORE vulnerable to re-infection.
Then there are questions about all of the vaccination injuries which need to be answered and fast.
The Tuskegee study is seen as a big black mark against the country, an ethical disaster. But all they did was observe. There were no experiments or active interventions.
What if instead the Tuskegee subjects were, with no fully informed consent, injected with an experimental substance that provided no lasting benefits and too often caused grievous injury and death?
That would be a major ethical default. If they did to the Tuskegee subjects what they are doing to everone [except illegal immigrants] in the country now.
And what if instead of informed consent the government and media deliberately concealed information.
That’s where we are.
Meh. The US has clearly shown that people can reach wrong conclusions even if the data is presented to them on a silver platter. Rational thought is not in the playbook of the pro-Covid crazies.
I’ll believe biden’s “minders” and the sycophants being paid by taxpayers, but doing the will of the “minders,” and governors like NM’s grisham when they can break out the numbers into something meaningful – rather than using them to scare citizens, berate citizens, indoctrinate citizens, etc. How many of deaths and hospitalizations are the result of the CCPvirus – rather than, for example, patients suffering a heart attack, stroke, broken hip who happened to test positive for the virus when they were hospitalized? How many of the dead and hospitalized patients are morbidly obese, diabetic, lung diseases, cancerous, etc. – with a health condition that put them at risk? The D-controlled governments, federal and state (as well as the hospitals being paid so much more to care for anyone with positive tests) either fail to collect that data despite massive info systems – or have it but refuse to publicize it.
Thank you. I do appreciate you illustrating my point.
Then what is taking so long for the people of China to free themselves from the oppressive yoke of communism? What has all of that knowledge and truth done for them?
“”Experts”, who may have opposing views” We would not want an expert in the field of science and medicine to have information, which may confirm their opposing view or treatment might be beneficial and less costly (and controlling). It may just help people. Medicine and science are not settled, never will be. They are always evolving. There may be treatments that are better and may cost less physically, emotionally, and financially. Yes, there will always be snake oil. That is why it is important to allow knowledgeable experts, to do their research, prove the outcome and be public about it. Those in power and control like their power and control and don’t want to give it up.
What a novel concept PHS has stumbled onto. Probably, for the 1st time in human history, statistics have been misused. Of course, they fail to mention the long standing misuse of stats in medicine, law, politics, and just about every other endeavor of humanity. We should blank all of those areas also. More condescending stupidity from our betters. “You can’t handle the truth” seems to come in about now. I think many of our fellow American citizens need to look at the functioning of the parliamentary system of government in the rest of the English speaking world and be thankful we have a constitution that can still protect us (somewhat) from these parliamentary madhouses. Also makes the Federal system look better every day.
Knowledge leads to Truth……Truth is Power…..the People are not to have Power…..so the Left does what we see going on….hiding facts that once considered lead to Truth prevents the People from having Power.
Where the Left gets tripped up is the People can see the greater Truth….of how utterly corrupt the Left’s Agenda is and how it is implemented.
That combined with their arrogance shall lead to their defeat.
Think not….where did the USSR go to? How many Communitst Governments remain in what once was the USSR?
What we are seeing in North America is our own confrontation with Communism….must it require the Force of Arms to end this once and for all?
Our Ancestors fought for their freedom and created this Nation….shall we have to do so again to regain those freedoms we once had?
The Canadians have seen what a purely dictatorial government can do to its Citizens in order to maintain its power over the People….as have we in the United States.
Mexico is still suffering from its own Revolution where corruption and the Drug Cartels are competing with the honest people who would put an end to that had they the power to do so.
Scotland the brave. Not if you work for the PHS.
I often see the term “Anti-Vaxxer” just who and what is an anti-vaxxer?? Is it someone who demands no one get a vaccine? Or is it anyone who does believe they need the vaccine? Or is it anyone the opposes the Government order you to be vaccines? Or is it everyone that believes the vaccine is ineffective at stopping or slowing COVID? I believe the answer is yes!!
The other day when asked about states opening up Jen Psaki said “the administration believes in states making their own decisions”, Now let’s all recall what Biden’s moronic team called Abott and DeSantis when Tx and FL went in their own (now seemingly correct) direction.
This isn’t about information, this is about “helping the dumb people know how to behave”. This is the way the left thinks. This is why we have one particular “Anonymous” and JeffSilberman commenting on this site 100 times each story, they need to control a site that is not behaving the way they think it should behave. A conservative would NEVER try to dominate a liberal site, we would make our point and then leave it alone. Liberals don’t like Tucker, Hannity, Laura or Fox and they try to get it banned while a conservative sees Joy Reid, Al Sharpton, Don Lemon, Chris Hayes, Jake Tapper et al and we get a look like a dog seeing something they don’t understand and we CHANGE THE CHANNEL.
Good post HB. Dan Bongino explains it this way:
Conservatives believe Liberals are people with bad ideas. Liberals believe Conservatives are bad people with ideas.
So it’s change the message vs change the messenger.
I would encourage everyone to read RFK Jr’s book on Fauci. It has its flaws but among other things it also sets out the history of the many multinational pandemic war games that began after the anthrax scare in 2001 and continued up through the third quarter of 2019. These planning scenarios focused on the techniques that suddenly emerged seemingly out of nowhere to fight Covid in a coordinated way across governments. These techniques included quarantining the healthy, mandatory vaccination and information control to maximise fear and prevent obstruction. Those participating in the US included many of the leaders of the pandemic response here, both inside and outside government. This action by Scotland fits into this pattern — nothing must interfere with the end game of universal vaccination.
Iowa opened up summer of 2020. Listening to the National news, centered in NYC, I feel like I live in a different dimension. The virus is a not much of a topic here. Hundreds of schools opened in August 2020 with no masks. Thousands across the nation did the same. The data from all of those experiments is ignored by the CDC. They have become allergic to data.
Biden notified congress Friday late, he is extending his emergency powers for another year. What emergency?
Lies and obstruction is the only way authoritatians can control the population. But the people, like me, are starting to see reporting and reality do not align.
Utah, cut way back on testing, to bring the numbers down, where they want them.
Reminds me of the control government exerts over raw climate data.
From “The newspaper that supports an independent Scotland”
Hope they continue to uphold their mission statement and report on real news, especially news the people need to be free and independent people. Letting them know about their government’s (their fellow citizens’s) decision to keep them ignorant and therefore easily led is an important bit of information to help a people keep their independence.
It can’t happen here (insert Zappa video)
There has been a long war on knowledge. Schools emphasize “skills” nowadays rather than knowledge and the ability to make interdisciplinary connections.
Who needs knowledge if it is to be the select elect with corporatist power calling the shots?
In the areas of sex, religion, and politics opinion matters. In science only experiment counts.
The mRNA pretreatment (it is not a vaccine) was designed for and was effective. The side-effect profile of mRNA pretreatment is only now appearing, but the only “immunity” is drug companies being immune from lawsuit.
The experiment has been run. mRNA, and masks wearing, and social distancing of the healthy have proven ineffective in stopping variants. If there is one thing notable among viruses it is that they evolve toward survivability. They stop when no random mutation leads to enhanced survivability.
“edit” … “was designed for the original…”
The experiment has been run, and masks wearing, and social distancing of the healthy have proven ineffective in stopping
variants.all respiratory viruses since the beginning of time