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The Swedenistas are getting a bit silly.
Sweden has been doing relatively OK during Covid, and they& #39;ve certainly outperformed expectations.
But it& #39;s also very far from a brilliant success story.
Their excess mortality rate has been a good deal higher than in the neighbour countries, and the economy is doing no better.
But it& #39;s also very far from a brilliant success story.
Their excess mortality rate has been a good deal higher than in the neighbour countries, and the economy is doing no better.
"Ah", say the Swedenistas, "but back in spring, they didn& #39;t just say it would be somewhat worse than in the neighbour countries! They said there would be a bloodbath! Mayhem!"
Well, so what? I don& #39;t care what "they" predicted. *I* did not predict that, did I?
Well, so what? I don& #39;t care what "they" predicted. *I* did not predict that, did I?
Why should we only compare Sweden to the most alarmist predictions?
I don& #39;t care about the Swedenistas& #39; personal vendettas against those who made the predictions. Yes, they were wrong. So?
But I didn& #39;t predict anything. I& #39;m looking at the data NOW, and I& #39;m unimpressed by Sweden.
I don& #39;t care about the Swedenistas& #39; personal vendettas against those who made the predictions. Yes, they were wrong. So?
But I didn& #39;t predict anything. I& #39;m looking at the data NOW, and I& #39;m unimpressed by Sweden.
It& #39;s also often been pointed out that Sweden, being a very rule-abiding, high-trust society, has adopted quite a lot of voluntary social distancing. That works there, but it wouldn& #39;t work everywhere.
Swedenistas don& #39;t accept that argument, because...
Swedenistas don& #39;t accept that argument, because...
...they& #39;ll cry "Ah, but that wasn& #39;t the argument back in spring! Back then, they predicted a bloodbath, not voluntary social distancing!"
Again - so what? The "voluntary social distancing" argument is either correct, or it& #39;s not. It doesn& #39;t matter whether it was made then, or not
Again - so what? The "voluntary social distancing" argument is either correct, or it& #39;s not. It doesn& #39;t matter whether it was made then, or not
The "voluntary social distancing" (VSD) argument wasn& #39;t made back in spring, because people didn& #39;t think about Sweden very much in spring.
But whether it was first made in March, August or October is irrelevant. It& #39;s either correct or not. And it strikes me as at least plausible.
But whether it was first made in March, August or October is irrelevant. It& #39;s either correct or not. And it strikes me as at least plausible.
The success stories in all this are Taiwan and Hong Kong - not Sweden.
Sweden is the Heineken of Covid strategies: drinkable if necessary, but without any distinct advantages over most of the competition, and just as overpriced.
Sweden is the Heineken of Covid strategies: drinkable if necessary, but without any distinct advantages over most of the competition, and just as overpriced.
