I woke with the word “Lipschitz” in my mind this morning and started singing “Cell Block Tango” from the musical Chicago. “Pop, six, squish, uh-uh, Cicero, Lipschitz”
The Urban Dictionary says; ” Pulling a Lipschitz is the act of taking a bath in a stranger’s house without them knowing about it. Most commonly performed at a party where you don’t really know the hosts. This way there’s probably a lot of loud music and distractions, and it will be easier to pull off. The term comes from the Rugrats character Dr. Lipschitz, who is supposed to be babysitting the kids, but instead runs himself a bath.
With all the action around Coronavirus a lot of people have been feeling as if they’ve been “shit upon”. Protests are erupting around the globe as new public health and economic concerns are being experienced amidst an unprecedented array of government lockdowns. Lockdowns that the public believe are being used by Governments and Corporations for their own agendas.
The number of unsettled and angry citizens is likely to rise in the months and year ahead as countries start to emerge from the worst phase of the infection.
Today in Brisbane and across other Australian cities, hundreds of protestors have taken part in “Wake Up Australia” rallies with placards such as “5G = Communism”, “COVID 1984” and “our ignorance is their strength” being used to declare war against vaccines, large pharmaceutical companies, fluoride and 5G technology.
When asked about the protests, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said “there’s no message that can get through to people who have no belief in science”.
But perhaps Brett Sutton is missing the point. Is it that people don’t have any belief in science? Or is it just that people feel that there is a lack of transparency and honesty in the way that governments and corporations are dealing with them?
I am certain that not all protesters are as naive as to believe that they can be experts in everything, but what is becoming very clear is that there is a lack of trust in the decisions that are being made on their behalf. Decisions that are being made without due process, consultation and transparency.
What is missing is public trust and respect in our political leaders, which is not knew, but has been simmering away under the surface long before the pandemic. Corporate self interest, violations to basic human rights for refugees and asylum seekers, lack of clear environmental policies, increasingly compulsory vaccination laws, and concerns over 5G are issues that need to be politically discussed and rigorously debated.
Finding the right balance between ensuring the safety and well being of the community and ensuring that political discussion on important issues can continue is paramount. Once the conversation ceases to be open, transparent and honest and governing becomes a “we know best” attitude it can only result in a push back against “lipschitz’.