Sweden

[Rockstar]

Sweden: No lockdown, well educated population, fair healthcare system.

Really? They sound more of like a bunch of sheep than educated people.



https://quillette.com/2020/05/12/swe...on-of-liberty/

In reality, Sweden’s response to the pandemic has less to do with freedom and individual responsibility, and more to do with the country’s tradition of consensus and social control.


Among the Swedish public, however, the country’s state epidemiologists are perceived as authoritative.


In Sweden, homeschooling is viewed as a violation of children’s right to participation in public life, and possibly an indication of abuse. Ultimately, keeping children out of the school system is an offence for which parents can be separated from their children. No one has had their children taken from them during this crisis, and it isn’t likely that anyone will, but schools are threatening parents with messages like this one, from a principal in southern Sweden: “Those healthy children who do not come to school violate the law and after a longer period of inexcusable absence you will be called to a meeting with the principal, thereafter the social services may be contacted.”


Even though Sweden has taken a path that is extreme compared to virtually all other EU countries, there is limited overt political opposition, and scientists who have criticized the strategy have been victims of vicious attacks on their characters, and are rejected at public events.

But collectivism is deeply ingrained in Swedish culture—for good and ill—and many view it as bad form to question the authorities in the midst of a crisis.


Ultimately, the issue comes down to the Swedish strategy to allow the virus to spread until herd immunity is attained. One may or may not agree with such a strategy. But for a government to decide that more than half of the population is to be infected by a virus such as COVID-19, and in effect to prohibit families with schoolchildren from opting out of the herd, hardly rings of individual freedom.

Sweden - Population 10m - Fatalities 3,256
Australia - Population 25m - Fatalities 97

Australia went early (before WHO made any move at all). Aussie lockdowns and social distancing as well as economic responses have all been common sense and stand us in good stead.

There are many countries that have far better outcomes than Sweden.
Singapore is far denser in population per sq/km, but with a population of 5m has 21 fatalities, and people are in far closer proximity.

The actual results of the Swedish v Lockdown numbers seem to be quite clear in the data (ie facts).

The romantic approach that the Swedish model is superior seems to be pretty fatal. However, as with much reporting from all sides of the spectrum the romantic libertarian approach seems to be a whole bunch of nonsense and fatal to locals.

You will not question, I will educate your children, you will obey.