Real danger for the indulgent, complacent West

Lionel Shriver, with fierce eloquence and intellect, argues that many in Western societies are immersed in a destructive complacency and take for granted the security, freedoms, provision and prosperity achieved through the hardship, sacrifice and endeavour of previous generations (”Life’s a riot for children of the revolution”, 10-11/10).

Shriver issues a clarion call to us all that this ignorant, indulgent complacency drives poorly thought out, even hysterical, responses to the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and hyper-sensitised anti-racism — and that such responses present a very real danger to Western societies.

While Shriver’s arguments and reasoning will doubtless find agreement in the like-minded, and may awaken those who slumber, she will most likely be howled down by those firmly mired in complacency. We can also expect that although Shriver is an award-winning author and journalist, and was invited to deliver the prestigious Ramsay Lecture, she probably won’t be winning the woke, diversity and inclusivity-conscious Booker Prize any time soon.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

Lionel Shriver’s excellent, wide-ranging article touches on many concerning social issues of the day, including COVID-19 and its associated panic. Our politicians are using fear of disease as a weapon to command subordination, a process with the potential to erode the rights of all — including those woke individuals who are themselves trying to subordinate the majority with their views.

Meanwhile, the facts are blissfully ignored in the hysteria. A look at the second phase of spread of COVID shows some unpublicised statistics: in the UK and France this phase is twice the size of the original outbreak, but daily death rates have risen to a fraction of the original, at fewer than a hundred. In Germany and Spain there are the same number of cases as originally but few deaths. (Brazil, Russia and the US are still in their original, prolonged first phase.) The naughty Swedes, who did not shut down, also have a small second phase of recurrence, with only a handful of daily deaths.

These numbers suggest that either protection and treatment of the elderly has improved and/or those who were at risk may have already died. This begs the question: apart from economic chaos, what are these current shutdowns now achieving? There is little evidence they add anything to social distancing, self-isolation of those with symptoms and good contact tracing. It is time for an evidence-based rethink.

Graham Pinn, Maroochydore, Qld

Lionel Shriver’s chilling article sets out very clearly what many of us have feared. The Left and its fellow travellers are hell bent on destroying the economic system we have. Presumably they still want the bounty the system has produced.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. Recently two of our largest “capitalists”, BHP and Telstra, have made announcements that seem very anti-capitalist. BHP is withdrawing from an industry association because it is campaigning for jobs in the coal industry. This, in spite of the fact BHP has a very profitable and long-term coal business. Telstra is going to be carbon neutral, not so much by reorganising its business but by purchasing carbon offsets overseas. Where is the benefit to the shareholders of these companies? The fact is these monoliths are no longer true capitalists. The management has no skin in the game and loves strutting its socially acceptable mantra. They can get away with this wealth destruction of shareholders because the shareholders themselves are now large custodians of people’s money where, again, management has no skin in the game. Superannuation and hedge funds have a very short-term view of a company’s performance.

Most likely to advance our economy are small, hungry organisations and privately owned larger businesses. The biggest challenge for them lies in the layers of bureaucracy that have been created. The big corporates love the complexity and the benefits that can flow from government.

It is wake-up time if we want to prevent a handover of a lower standard of living to our children than we have enjoyed.

John Hill, Willoughby, NSW

Lionel Shriver nails it. The apathy in the Western world is frightening. Wake up silent majority before you are pushed over the cliff with the other lemmings.

Peter Hawks, Invermay, Vic