Virtual vs Reality

 

2021/10/1

 

The Prime Minister of Aotearoa – New Zealand attended the United Nations general assembly virtually. She made a speech online from New Zealand. She didn’t travel first class with a delegation and incur huge costs in foreign currency even though there isn’t a shortage of the stuff in her country. The reality in the Pearl is a large delegation of catchers’ and the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka going in person and undoubtedly spending lavishly on presidential suites in luxury hotels while the people of the Pearl face food, fuel, and medical supply shortages due to a lack of hard currency. No details are available of any expenses incurred by the President of Lanka although rumours abound that he has travelled across the USA to meet a new granddaughter. Some say at his own expense but that too is up for conjecture as there are virtually no sources of accurate information available.

Meanwhile, certain distractions seem to have been orchestrated to keep the starving and Covid affected populace distracted, aided, and abetted of course by the free and fearless press of the country! One sort of wishes that distractions of some sort had been arranged in Aotearoa to alleviate the mind-numbing boredom and sense of confinement that is currently affecting the residents of Auckland in particular, who have lived under strict lockdown rules for five straight weeks and now faces at least another two weeks of further restrictions. This too only after a daily average of under 20 cases and just one death from this outbreak of the delta variant of the disease. No one knows the reality in the Pearl on this score, mainly for the aforesaid reasons. Even the slight decrease in restrictions that were given to Auckland met with only reluctant acceptance by an overly (?) civic conscious society that seems to realise that restrictions now will ensure long-term freedom, especially during the upcoming holiday season. Of course, we have an Opposition predicting the arrival of another even more dire variant of the disease and one wonders what would have happened to us denizens of Aotearoa if that mob had been in power!

Vaccination seems to be the reality. Total elimination of the disease from society seems to be impossible. Large numbers of double vaccinated people (over 90% of those eligible) seem to be the reality for opening the borders and a return to some form of normality. A possible third booster dose mid-next year has also been talked about. However, the virtual seems to be getting in the way. Anti Vaxers with bizarre stories on how the vaccine will affect the younger segment of the population combined with the inherent selfish and self-centred thinking that is part of a generation that expects instant gratification and feels entitled to it without any effort of their part has led to the vaccination efforts in Aotearoa stalling at around 80%. The projected difference in death rates per annum based on 80% and 90% of the population being vaccinated is significant. Many of the totally free vaccination and even testing centres are virtually deserted and there is talk of offering vaccinations at fast food outlets. Such outlets of course have been crowded as their operation is one of the restrictions removed in Auckland. Unscrupulous methods of marketing known as “Covid washing” have been resorted to by the fast-food chains and those selling coffee at hugely inflated rates!

The more vulnerable segments of society have succumbed to the anti Vaxers in particular. They are more vulnerable because they live mostly in crowded accommodation (conditions under which the delta variant thrives) and can’t really afford to stay away from work based on slight cold symptoms and get tested (even though testing is free) as they live hand to mouth and mostly do jobs at the lower end of the pay scales. Certain American-funded Churches have also joined the anti-vaccination campaign and these organisations also have a big following among these communities.

The situation is so dire that certain big retail companies have started offering cash incentives for their employees who get vaccinated. The Government has sent out a series of busses equipped as mobile vaccination centers into the more remote areas and there is talk of parking them next to the drive-in queus of the fast-food outlets! There is even talk of a cash payment from the Government to incentivise double vaccination. We thank God (or should we thank the voter base?!) for the labour government that we have in place. It is a matter of time before a virtual vaccine passport is given to those (probably on their mobile phones) who are vaccinated and the possibility of restrictions on travel and even admission to certain entertainment venues, limited to those vaccinated is a possibility. Forcible vaccinations and termination from jobs if unvaccinated could be the reality in the Pearl.

We all saw the reaction that attempts by the Australian Government to get “tradies” (self-employed skilled craftsmen – electricians, plumbers, etc) vaccinated by law, had on the streets of Melbourne. Tradies are a particularly affluent segment of society and their disregard for the law could stem from the fact that most of them don’t pay the tax they should as “cash” jobs are difficult for the tax authorities to trace. Familiarity (with breaking the law) breeds contempt they say. It is virtually impossible for the Government in countries such as NZ to insist on vaccination (although they have done so in certain sectors like border control) and if the Millennials and others of their ilk continue to live in virtual reality with no regard for society and only singular focus on the alleged inability to propagate themselves that is one of the “side effects” used as an argument by the Anti-Vaxers, it is up to the majority to make a decision.

The anti-vaxxers may have to revert to living in virtual caves (back to a virtual stone age) and obtain all forms of instant gratification needed by them online. Or for once in their lives realise that the real-life lived experience and knowledge passed down by their predecessors mean more than the virtual reality inside their computers and other devices.