Do Facts Get in the Way of Critical Thinking?

Like many of my readers, I have enjoyed the work of Dr Guy Hatchard throughout the Covid debacle. He has demonstrated himself to be a non-conformist and a man who can think outside the government constructed ideological box. That being said, I want to disagree with Dr Hatchard on a post he wrote recently entitled ‘The Pandemic was Yesterday Today we have a Serious Problem‘.

In the article, Hatchard points out that non-conformists are often the creatives that drive progress. I think we all know this from experience to be the truth. However, where he goes wrong is when he explores how the New Zealand education system is leading to fewer non-conformists and creatives.

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The Besetting Sins of Intellectuals

One of the besetting sins of professional intellectuals as a class is believing that, because they have a particular depth of knowledge or strong ability in a given area, they can then generalize their narrow knowledge and ability into the notion of their own superior wisdom and judgement for life in general. Frequently disregarding the everyday, non-theoretical and mundane knowledge of ordinary people in the real world, central socio-political planning is taken on by the ‘experts’ – a particular kind of intellectual – as part of a broader intelligentsia who believe they alone are qualified to guide and shape society.

from “Ruler of Kings: Toward a Christian Vision of Government” by Joseph Boot

It’s Politics Mate.

One of the most infuriating aspects of the past year and a half has been the holier than thou sermonising from our new clergy – the ones who wear white coats. Especially the sanctimonious ones with pink hair. Like Reverend ‘Expert’ Siouxsie Wiles for instance. You know, the lady who hectored Aucklanders on social media for leaving the city on the eve of a Level 3 lockdown.

As one astute commenter on Kiwiblog put it, Siouxsie’s interpretation of the Holy Scriptureiences seems to be contradictory. On the one hand, she tells us she’s not worried about the infected chap who escaped MIQ a few days ago as he presents a low risk.

On the other hand, she was ‘gutted’ that opposition MPs pushed for parliament to open in Level 3 & 4 because she believes it “puts not just them at risk, but everyone who needs to now come to the Beehive so that they can work there.” This, despite none of these people having COVID-19.

Expert? Or maybe she is just a political shill who says what suits the political narrative of her favoured political party.

Anyone Else Sick of Experts?

No doubt others were also dismayed to see the recommendations of experts about a move to ‘Level 2 plus’ for places outside Auckland. According to the New Zealand Herald, the recommendations would include the following particularly egregious requirements:

• Mandatory masking in all indoor settings outside the home, including workplaces, secondary schools and shops.

• Mandatory QR code scanning.

• Indoor gatherings limited to 25 people, 50 for outdoor gatherings.

• Closing potential super spreader locations including bars, night clubs, gyms and churches.

I have a few not very nice words I’d like to say to these control freaks. However, in the interests of politeness, I’ll say just this “Stop pretending to be God and get out of our lives you control freaks. Return to under the rock you came from.”