Johns Hopkins University has completed a study of the effect lockdowns have had on the rate of COVID-19 deaths. The conclusion of their study is stated in the “Abstract” at the start of the article. Their summary is: “lockdowns have had little to no effect on COVID-19 mortality. More
specifically, stringency index studies find that lockdowns in Europe and the United States only
reduced COVID-19 mortality by 0.2% on average. SIPOs were also ineffective, only reducing
COVID-19 mortality by 2.9% on average. Specific NPI studies also find no broad-based evidence
of noticeable effects on COVID-19 mortality.
While this meta-analysis concludes that lockdowns have had little to no public health effects,
they have imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted. In
consequence, lockdown policies are ill-founded and should be rejected as a pandemic policy
instrument.” (Emphasis added.)
The study is linked here: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Lockdowns on COVID-19 Mortality
If lockdowns have proven ineffective for the purpose of lowering mortality rates, it is clear that they have proven very effective in subduing populations. Even nations regarded previously as having a vibrant democratic rule with a resilient independent-minded population have quietly accepted the forfeiture of civil rights.
You can expect the political lessons learned by autocrats from the lockdown will not be forgotten. If invoking “common good” and “public health” are enough to make every knee bow, then it is easy to anticipate they will become regular tools in the arsenal of the politically ambitious world leaders.
The political and business landscape has not just been changing: IT HAS CHANGED.
Think about the position taken by the US Government. A mandatory injection of mRNA drugs has been adopted for the military, and was being enforced on employers with 100 or more employees, until court orders limited that demand. Many states, counties and cities adopted similar mandatory injections. It is presently estimated that 64% of the US population has been injected. This is disappointing for some political leaders and is far less than many other nations. Portugal has 90.5%, Spain 81.9%, Japan 79.2%, New Zealand 76.6%, Germany 73.4%, and Brazil 70.1% (just to mention a few).
If leaders scheme to expose the entire world’s population to something, and an injection does not accomplish the objective, the one thing that holds the potential for reaching everyone is the food supply. It makes the opening words of the Word of Wisdom seem more relevant today than when first recorded in February 1833: “In consequence of evils and designs which will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you and forewarned you, by giving unto you this word of Wisdom by revelation.” T&C 89:2
The advice includes: “All wholesome herbs God has ordained for the constitution, and nature, and use of man: every herb in the season thereof and every fruit in the season thereof, all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.” Id, Paragraph 4. Fresh food that has not been processed, particularly if you grow it in your own garden, might be a far better plan for life than relying on increasingly authoritarian suppliers.
Consider how shocking it is (or should be) that ideas are now being suppressed and discussions prohibited. The public is accepting, even approving, the suppression of speech that is considered contrary to the powerful interests of society. Things are not just changing: IT HAS CHANGED.
The trends all point in but one direction. In the remaining democracies of the world the public seems bizzarely indifferent to the trends. Elections are opportunities to change courses, but take some effort to oppose the evils and designs that exist in the hearts of conspiring men today. At every level, from local to national, vote for upholding integrity, honesty and freedom: “I, the Lord your God, make you free; therefore, you are free indeed, and the law also makes you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule, the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men you should observe to uphold; otherwise, whatever is less than these comes of evil.” T&C 98:2
Power does not just corrupt men when they get a little authority over others, but power also always attracts the corrupt. If you believe in freedom and trust your fellow man to govern himself, then you might also want to consider running for office. Recent events have shown that pernicious efforts have been adopted by school boards. There is no place, from cities to states, to the nation, where good, honest and wise people cannot help to preserve freedom.
The most important and enduring things are ideas. They outlast empires. Attacks on the preservation of noble, uplifting, edifying ideas is therefore a greater threat to society than all the battles of Rome, the violence of World Wars I and II, and the persistent regional violence of all history. If ideals and truth can be suppressed, then there is no hope for freedom.
The pandemic has been used most alarmingly as a tool to suppress speech and thought. The results of governmental actions have not been effective in curtailing mortality from the illness. The Johns Hopkins study shows that. But the governmental response has been decidedly effective in curtailing both speech and thought. The willing adoption of an intolerant orthodoxy should be shocking to us all. The widespread opposite reaction of acceptance and defending the orthodoxy is the real lesson we should now take to heart. It should make us all realize we are led by conspiring men.