Our paranoid society
Published Saturday November 14th, 2009
The government's vaccination campaign against H1N1 has attained new heights in the modern manner of sowing paranoia in our societies. Are we now in the "Big Brother" era, as predicted so long ago by George Orwell?
On the one hand, there was the desire to have the Canadian population vaccinated; on the other, the inability to fairly organize the vaccine's distribution. Too much information winds up becoming disinformation. This flu isn't any more deathly than our regular old flu, but it's under a microscope. The worst-case scenario was presented without providing the population with the means to face the worst.
It must be recognized that New Brunswick has apparently done better than elsewhere.
Faced with the threat of the worst that H1N1 represents, anti-vaccine propagandists also took to the barricades. They support conspiracy theories whereby pharmaceutical companies, accompanied by evil spirits, are trying to take advantage of these moments of panic to generate profits at any cost. It's even said that vaccines kill and target more than they heal and prevent illness. And it's driving us all crazy.
True, I wouldn't give communion without confession to the top executives of pharmaceutical companies. True, human beings are prepared to do anything in the name of profits beyond measure. However, I am not ready to espouse this evil-based scenario. I do feel, though, that all medical research should be controlled by a public academic sector, under the guidance of reciprocating jurisdictions.
I realize that, in saying this, I've just turned my back on all the right-thinking conservatives of this world, who would like to see the least amount of government intervention possible, everywhere. So why do we have democracies if it's not for the common good? It's these same people who refuse gun registries because they feel that governments, in maintaining them, are attempting to ensure there'll be no more popular rebellions, and that people without arms will be more governable... and let's make way for the dictators!
Even though the gun registry introduced by the Liberals misfired, its cost were unprecedented and it poorly targeted its objectives, it should not be discredited in its entirety. It needs to be adjusted appropriately. The irritants need to be removed, but an effective registry system must be maintained. For once, I'm in agreement with the Canadian police force on this. Having lost my little sister in a hunting accident, and because I'm a pacifist first and foremost, I tend to think I'd rather live in a world without arms.
Another source of paranoia: too many citizens are not speaking out, for fear of being submitted to the sanctions of government. Civil servants and social workers, representing close to 30 per cent of the population, are probably the most affected. A culture of intimidation has been created within current governments, both provincial and federal. Some would say that it's always been the case: I would answer that it's gotten worse.
Community college principals were silenced during consultations on post-secondary education. Senior administrators of school boards, schools and teaching staff had to keep quiet during consultations on Acadian schooling and cuts to education. Since the implementation of health reform, employees have been sentenced to silence. Even businesses wanting to support Égalité santé en français are keeping quiet out of fear of possible reprisals. All this is unsavoury.
Many of our young people - up to their eyes in debt at the end of their studies - become civil servants in order to better support their needs. As such, they often feel bound to keep silent and, what's worse, many parents of these young people, once civil servants themselves, continue to keep quiet to this day, so that they don't hurt their children's career. But where's the democracy and sacrosanct freedom of expression in our societies?
I still see myself as a free man. And yes, I've sustained more than my fair share of the disgrace of remaining firm in my beliefs; and it's not over. Nevertheless, several of those who denigrated me in the past have now become my most fervent supporters. We're fighting the same battles, and it's my greatest consolation.
Nonetheless, I don't want to become an endangered human species. I'd like to feel less alone. So I'll go and get myself vaccinated. I'll continue to fight for a more level playing field in health in French, for better schools for our children and for greater true equality for the Acadian community in New Brunswick.
Nobody will win me over with fear and paranoia, it's too tedious. So, breathe through your nose, and join me on this freedom train!
Jean-Marie Nadeau is a former journalist, union leader and community activist. He has run twice in provincial elections for the NDP and is President of Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick. The opinions expressed in the column are solely the author's. His column appears in the Telegraph-Journal each Saturday.
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We saw what happened to Harper's support in Que when he made minor changes to the arts funding. The French , the Liberals, the BLOC, the media all screamed that he was anti-French and his support evaporated. Under that threat what politician would dare speak out against a bilingual SCC and they know it. Now this is the court that we considered one of the best in the world and suddenly it won't work if all judges aren't bilingual,the next step is to be "culturally sensitive".ie-French
The French politicians are even willing to handicap their own people by not teaching English while other countries are trying to benefit their people by teaching them this world language. True to reputation, the French have betrayed our trust.