Older people, who actually went to an office to work, may remember a scenario similar to the following. An executive was presenting his plan. Engineers were nodding in agreement and saying what a great idea it was. One engineer walked in late, and, after seeing a few slides, interrupted with a question, “Why not use tungsten?” The room went quiet, except for two engineers who snickered audibly. The executive’s face turned red; and he left the room. He’d worked on his plan for months and solicited feedback from most of his staff. And with one word, “tungsten”, several hundred man-hours were voided of utility.
I remember how lonely it was between March and June 2020. We contrarians were few back then and many noble to the cause gave up for one reason or another. I personally suffered many psychological setbacks, mainly due to trolls. Sad times.
This is brilliant, thankyou! You have added another piece to the puzzle for this sore beset Australian. As a contrarian from way back, I have watched in bewilderment as just about everyone around me has slipped into some kind of aggressive hypnotic trance. It is clear now that nothing will change in my country until enough contrarians aggreggate and challenge our 'she'll be right, mate" ethos. Because nothing has been right here since March, 2020.
To suggest that the contrarian/independent thinker get a group together and approach from a position of strength sounds good, but in my experience over decades in health care and being a whistleblower 3 times, those who gather around in private and say, "Yes, yes, yes, you're right!" flee for the hills when "push comes to shove" and the force exerted by the powerful come down.
It's sort of like that line of soldiers standing before the Sargeant who asks, "Do I have any volunteers?" Everyone in line takes one step back and one fool is left standing forward of all the others. The Sargeant says, "I see we have a volunteer!"
If you haven't been there, you don't know what you are talking about. Maybe you've been there. Maybe not, but I have. Many people behind the backs of the management would agree, but as soon as their job would be put at risk -- because we were standing up to the management's either illegal activity, violations of standards of care and endangering patients, or endangering staff in various ways -- they fled for the hills.
Those of us who have stood up to management sometimes succeed in making some changes, but as you say, "they" do get their revenge and the laws that prohibit retaliation against whistleblowers are a joke. "They" know they can do whatever they want in most cases because they have the attorneys to fight a battle and the employee then is unemployed after being fired, retaliated against and quit, or otherwise made financially desperate sooner or later, or time goes on. The corporations have all the time they can take. The employee does not and his life and family duties do not suddenly disappear when he's fired.
It takes bravery to stand up to the management that is corrupt, and a strong will to fight because what is being done to the patient, or to others is wrong, and you have to believe in that right principle strongly and care deeply about those involved or the issue. Very few people have that and almost all are not willing to risk their own job or endanger their finances or family members for a cause.
Some of us whistleblowers have been harmed in ways other than simply firing us. We pay a price and that price is carried throughout our lives. Of course, there are blessings that come for standing up and speaking truth, working to protect those who are vulnerable and that makes it worth it. but my point is, that when you say, "Gather friends, etc" that should be done if they will really stand with you. But in many cases, like Jesus' disciples, they flee when danger arrives.
We truly need people who are contrarians -- those willing to do what is needed to establish real justice, right wrongs, protect the rights of the people, speak truth to power.
I hope more people find it in themselves to realize that in times like these, if we do not resist, then actually, all will be lost, because those behind these evils do wish to harm a majority of the people through many means.
Dec 7, 2022·edited Dec 7, 2022Liked by Coquin de Chien
Sounds like the engineers around the table at Morton-Thiokol...with Roger Boijoly as the obvious contrarian. NASA's storied reply, with its chilling warning: "Take off your engineer hat and put on your management hat."
Great article. I would offer an enhancement to your argument here: "USA is constituted as a republic of sovereigns because the founders recognized the value of contrarianism in times of witchery, mass psychosis, or tyranny of the majority. Individual Constitutional and natural rights are held at the highest level in USA. After the express law of the Constitution, States hold the authority to make law, not the central federal government. "
Canada is also a federation of strong provinces with very similar decentralized protections as the US. In fact, your own story shows that only one single state withstood the early hysteria -- that shocked me TBH. Germany is also a federation of strong states and fell prey to the same hysteria.
I will argue, that outcome was determined by lack of contrarian voices in the press. The biggest difference between the United States and Canada is that in the US you have far more diversity of media that is decentralized. Here in Canada we have very few, very centralized media, all of whom were and are still being subsidized by the government. Lack of any visibly public contrarian voices prevents the formation of rational public opinion because there is simply no discourse. I think that is what made the big difference.
In Florida, you also had a leader who was willing to engage in debate to FORM public opinion rather than simply poll it in a vacuum. Rex Murphy speaking with Jordan Peterson noted this as he said government by polling is a failure because it is debate that forms reasonable public opinion.
I've never thought of myself as a contrarian but I tend to be the person that walks into a room and says "why don't we try THIS or wouldn't THAT work?"
Are you a skeptic or a contrarian? The former holds all claims temporary until they can be rigorously proven, the latter begins from a default position of being against consensus.
Carl Sagan defined science the "marriage of curiosity and relentless skepticism". I see no reason to accept the pejorative "contrarian" label when being a skeptic captures the useful elements of contrarianism, while avoiding orthodoxy creep. (consider for example how many contrarians hold HCQ with as much reverence as Covidians have for their masks).
The embodiment of contrarianism in our law is check and balance. Our Founders were wise to decentralize power as our nation's strength comes from the diversity of its structure. It seems that the "Unity through diversity" trope touted by the Left in this country a few years ago has turned into "Unity through conformity". Diversity is now frowned upon (especially if you're white) and lockstep ideology is all the rage. Funny how that happens when a particular group seizes control of the reins of power. Stay strong in your contrarianism and train others to free themselves from the shackles of conformity bred through the incessant drumbeat of mainstream propaganda.
I remember how lonely it was between March and June 2020. We contrarians were few back then and many noble to the cause gave up for one reason or another. I personally suffered many psychological setbacks, mainly due to trolls. Sad times.
This is brilliant, thankyou! You have added another piece to the puzzle for this sore beset Australian. As a contrarian from way back, I have watched in bewilderment as just about everyone around me has slipped into some kind of aggressive hypnotic trance. It is clear now that nothing will change in my country until enough contrarians aggreggate and challenge our 'she'll be right, mate" ethos. Because nothing has been right here since March, 2020.
To suggest that the contrarian/independent thinker get a group together and approach from a position of strength sounds good, but in my experience over decades in health care and being a whistleblower 3 times, those who gather around in private and say, "Yes, yes, yes, you're right!" flee for the hills when "push comes to shove" and the force exerted by the powerful come down.
It's sort of like that line of soldiers standing before the Sargeant who asks, "Do I have any volunteers?" Everyone in line takes one step back and one fool is left standing forward of all the others. The Sargeant says, "I see we have a volunteer!"
If you haven't been there, you don't know what you are talking about. Maybe you've been there. Maybe not, but I have. Many people behind the backs of the management would agree, but as soon as their job would be put at risk -- because we were standing up to the management's either illegal activity, violations of standards of care and endangering patients, or endangering staff in various ways -- they fled for the hills.
Those of us who have stood up to management sometimes succeed in making some changes, but as you say, "they" do get their revenge and the laws that prohibit retaliation against whistleblowers are a joke. "They" know they can do whatever they want in most cases because they have the attorneys to fight a battle and the employee then is unemployed after being fired, retaliated against and quit, or otherwise made financially desperate sooner or later, or time goes on. The corporations have all the time they can take. The employee does not and his life and family duties do not suddenly disappear when he's fired.
It takes bravery to stand up to the management that is corrupt, and a strong will to fight because what is being done to the patient, or to others is wrong, and you have to believe in that right principle strongly and care deeply about those involved or the issue. Very few people have that and almost all are not willing to risk their own job or endanger their finances or family members for a cause.
Some of us whistleblowers have been harmed in ways other than simply firing us. We pay a price and that price is carried throughout our lives. Of course, there are blessings that come for standing up and speaking truth, working to protect those who are vulnerable and that makes it worth it. but my point is, that when you say, "Gather friends, etc" that should be done if they will really stand with you. But in many cases, like Jesus' disciples, they flee when danger arrives.
We truly need people who are contrarians -- those willing to do what is needed to establish real justice, right wrongs, protect the rights of the people, speak truth to power.
I hope more people find it in themselves to realize that in times like these, if we do not resist, then actually, all will be lost, because those behind these evils do wish to harm a majority of the people through many means.
Sounds like the engineers around the table at Morton-Thiokol...with Roger Boijoly as the obvious contrarian. NASA's storied reply, with its chilling warning: "Take off your engineer hat and put on your management hat."
Yes! This "contrarianism" is an excellent identification. It's one reason I fled New Zealand for my native USA last year. I wrote about that story here: https://themariachiyears.substack.com/p/escape-from-paradise?s=w
"Yes, but what are the societal, economic and health consequences of locking me in my house for 2 weeks ?"
2 years later, still no answer from those who enacted this policy.
Great article. I would offer an enhancement to your argument here: "USA is constituted as a republic of sovereigns because the founders recognized the value of contrarianism in times of witchery, mass psychosis, or tyranny of the majority. Individual Constitutional and natural rights are held at the highest level in USA. After the express law of the Constitution, States hold the authority to make law, not the central federal government. "
Canada is also a federation of strong provinces with very similar decentralized protections as the US. In fact, your own story shows that only one single state withstood the early hysteria -- that shocked me TBH. Germany is also a federation of strong states and fell prey to the same hysteria.
I will argue, that outcome was determined by lack of contrarian voices in the press. The biggest difference between the United States and Canada is that in the US you have far more diversity of media that is decentralized. Here in Canada we have very few, very centralized media, all of whom were and are still being subsidized by the government. Lack of any visibly public contrarian voices prevents the formation of rational public opinion because there is simply no discourse. I think that is what made the big difference.
In Florida, you also had a leader who was willing to engage in debate to FORM public opinion rather than simply poll it in a vacuum. Rex Murphy speaking with Jordan Peterson noted this as he said government by polling is a failure because it is debate that forms reasonable public opinion.
Very much liked this article.
I've never thought of myself as a contrarian but I tend to be the person that walks into a room and says "why don't we try THIS or wouldn't THAT work?"
Yeah, never popular at work haha.
Would love to find the red pills in Massachusetts. Anybody out there?
Il faut mettre une couche à ton chien.
Are you a skeptic or a contrarian? The former holds all claims temporary until they can be rigorously proven, the latter begins from a default position of being against consensus.
Carl Sagan defined science the "marriage of curiosity and relentless skepticism". I see no reason to accept the pejorative "contrarian" label when being a skeptic captures the useful elements of contrarianism, while avoiding orthodoxy creep. (consider for example how many contrarians hold HCQ with as much reverence as Covidians have for their masks).
Anyone who claims to be a scientist should be a skeptic, following Feynman's "May be true, May not be true" approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWr39Q9vBgo
The orthodoxy creeping into science is part of what got us here.
Just reread this after your most recent posts... Was the good Father Jean a relative per chance? 😉
The embodiment of contrarianism in our law is check and balance. Our Founders were wise to decentralize power as our nation's strength comes from the diversity of its structure. It seems that the "Unity through diversity" trope touted by the Left in this country a few years ago has turned into "Unity through conformity". Diversity is now frowned upon (especially if you're white) and lockstep ideology is all the rage. Funny how that happens when a particular group seizes control of the reins of power. Stay strong in your contrarianism and train others to free themselves from the shackles of conformity bred through the incessant drumbeat of mainstream propaganda.