Hi everyone,
Today I have with me Ben and Molly Kingsley who have been the heads of UsForThem, a group in the UK devoted to opening schools throughout the pandemic. I'm absolutely delighted to talk with Molly and Ben together. Molly has been just an inspiration of mine throughout the pandemic with her bravery advocating for children in the UK.
This conversation with Molly and Ben Kingsley focuses on the government's mishandling of the pandemic and its impact on children. They discuss the government's failure to prioritize children's needs in policy-making, the systematic attacks on advocacy groups, and the unethical treatment of children during school closures. The role of local districts and central government in school closure decisions is examined, as well as the influence of unions and the media blackout on dissenting voices.
The conversation also delves into the role of Pharma funding and the spread of smears and misinformation. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the rollout of child vaccines and the ethical issues surrounding it. The conversation explores the themes of regulatory capture, ethics, and media suppression in the context of pandemic policies.
- Jay Bhattacharya
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Takeaways
The government's mishandling of the pandemic has had a significant impact on children, with their needs often being overlooked in policy-making decisions.
Advocacy groups that have tried to raise awareness about the ethical issues and negative consequences of lockdowns and vaccine rollouts have faced systematic attacks and smears.
The decision-making process regarding school closures and vaccine approvals has been influenced by various factors, including political considerations, financial interests, and the suppression of dissenting voices.
The lack of transparency and accountability in government actions, along with the influence of Pharma funding and media censorship, have eroded public trust and undermined informed consent.
The treatment of children during the pandemic raises ethical concerns and highlights the need for a more child-centered approach in policy-making. Regulatory capture can lead to biased decision-making and favoritism towards pharmaceutical companies.
Ethical advisory groups can be sidelined or suppressed when their advice contradicts government policies.
Media suppression of important public interest stories raises concerns about transparency and good governance.
Buy Molly Kingsley, Arabella Skinner and Ben Kingsley’s new book on Amazon:
The Accountability Deficit: How ministers and officials evaded accountability, misled the public and violated democracy during the pandemic Kindle Edition
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:52 Government Malfeasance and Attacks on Advocacy Groups
04:05 School Closures and the Treatment of Children
07:48 Role of Local Districts and Central Government in School Closure Decisions
13:00 Role of Unions and Smearing Campaigns
17:27 Government's Role in Censorship and Media Blackout
22:12 Pharma Funding and Influence on Media
28:57 Smears and Attacks on Advocates
39:46 Rollout of Child Vaccines in the UK
50:44 Ethical Issues and Treatment of Children
52:53 Regulatory Capture
58:17 Ethics and Advisory Group
01:06:07 Suppression of Ethical Advice
01:09:46 Media Suppression
Social media links:
Follow UsForThemUK
Follow Molly Kingsley
Episode 23: Molly Kingsley and Ben Kingsley On How Leaders Evaded Accountability, Misled The Public And Violated Democracy During The Pandemic