Sweden: The Disaster That Never Came
This article was written by Johan Anderberg, author of the book “Flocken” which discusses Sweden’s pandemic strategy. It was published in Swedish by Sydsvenskan last November 1, 2021.
In this article, Anderberg reminds us of how, at the beginning of the pandemic, international media bashed Sweden’s chosen pandemic strategy. He also points out how despite virtually all COVID restrictions having ended in Sweden, mainstream media has been silent about the success of the country’s approach to the pandemic. Instead, Anderberg said, the media has chosen to herald countries like Portugal, where vaccine passes and face masks as the poster child for the post-pandemic life.
Anderberg says that politicians, in their attempt to control the virus, have forgotten to consider that societies are complex. He says, “If the politicians had been honest with themselves, they might have understood what would happen. For just as during the Prohibition era – when American politicians were constantly caught drinking alcohol – their successors, a hundred years later, were caught breaking the very restrictions they placed on citizens.” He adds, “It is difficult to plan other people’s lives. It is difficult to command a desirable behavior in the population. It is an experience that many dictatorships have experienced.”
Editor’s Note: This article is valuable because it highlights several things. First, it shows us all the policies implemented by our governments have failed to consider human behavior. Whereas well-known individuals have been allowed to break their own pandemic policies, citizens have been fined and jailed.
We have ample examples of how people in power are breaking the very protocols they have created. Neil Ferguson broke the very lockdown he helped institute1https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52562383. Matt Hancock, UK’s health secretary was caught breaking social distancing guidelines2https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/25/follow-the-rules-what-matt-hancock-told-us-and-what-he-did. The G7 elites blatantly violated the very protocols they have implemented in their own countries3https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2021/06/12/no-masks-no-distancing-disgraceful-covid-hypocrisy-of-the-g7-elite/. Rodrigo Duterte removing his face shield and facemask during a meeting with his COVID advisors4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX7OtixMudw. We are sure you can find other examples of impunity of the leaders from the “health protocols” they have established. If this was truly a health emergency, then why is there a different set of protocols for country leaders, and another for citizens?
Second, this is a great reminder of just how complicit the media has been in this pandemic. When Sweden’s approach was proving to be effective, why did the media not report on it? [Sweden’s success was apparent very early, long before the vaccines were out, see Sweden is winning against the coronavirus, Sweden’s COVID death rate now lower than Spain, Italy, and UK despite no lockdown approach, The epidemic is over in Sweden, Sweden’s economy in much better shape than the rest of Europe]. If this was a real health emergency, why would the media hide Sweden’s success and allow countries to suffer?
Third, it is clear from Anderberg’s discussion that by ignoring Sweden, mainstream media is helping promote a post-pandemic life that is undesirable, unsustainable, and which benefits no citizen.
The continued use of lockdowns, masks, and social distancing have all been debunked by Sweden’s experience. When will the media and governments take notice?
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