Category: Health and Medicine

Alienation: The Pain of All Working People

Alienation: The Pain of All Working People

Published by Victor Vaughn on September 30, 2024

by Francis Isolde Any person who is conscious at any level of what happens in the world, from occurrences within their immediate surroundings to larger forces driving political economy in one nation-state or many, must comprehend that there is something wrong. Working men and women who toil day in and day out to make ends meet for themselves and their loved ones understand this feeling of “wrongness” particularly acutely. As well, we are separated from one another, made to feel that we cannot trust in and rely on one another, and an essential loneliness follows from this. There is something…

A Case History of Vaccine Nationalism – Deconstructing the AstraZeneca Story

A Case History of Vaccine Nationalism – Deconstructing the AstraZeneca Story

Published by Hari Kumar on April 27, 2021

Also published via The Left Berlin, April 2021 In the wake of the COVID pandemic broke out a search was rightly unleashed for a vaccine. But this has been far from an impeccable victory for science. This article makes three points: First an evident series of scientific errors made by Astra-Zeneca. Secondly a myriad of potential for conflicts of interest exists between prominent scientists, giant drug companies, regulatory agencies meant to monitor safety and government. Thirdly, scientists are vulnerable to pressures of fame, greed and nationalism – just like anybody else. This case history of Astra-Zeneca again exposes why private…

Older People in Sweden Are Treated As Dispensable During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Published by Hari Kumar on December 30, 2020

Introduction: In March early on in this pandemic we first drew attention to some ultra-left errors on the COVID outbreak.[1] In there we also outlined some of the salient science. In several articles since we have elaborated on these issues. However, a persistent ultra-leftist ‘denialist’ stand has continued to make itself heard. The remarkable coincidence of these views with some of the ultra-right wing is a sorry spectacle. [2] We do not wish to re-tread old ground, but a series of misperceptions about the death rates in Sweden prompt this short review. Some have argued that Sweden while not undergoing…

Looking Under the Hood – The Instrumentation of a Pandemic

Published by Hari Kumar on November 30, 2020

Observed associations between COVID denial, anti-vaxxers, and fascism Introduction Over the pandemic year, a repeated pattern was seen. People joining aggressive, right wing demonstrations whose slogans include ‘COVID is a myth’, ‘vaccinations kill’, and that there is a ‘swamp’ of power and corruption against ‘the people’. Marx tells us that the validity of observations, is only proved by the test of practice.[1] Here repetitive observations (often called reproducibility) become a key ‘proof’ of an undeniable association. The repetitive associations between anti-vaxxers and the far right forms a distinct pattern. What binds these groups? This is an international phenomenon. But here…

The COVID-19 Crisis In Ecuador

Published by Hari Kumar on April 16, 2020

Note: Below is a preview of the full article. Download the entire article as a PDF. Introduction by Hari Kumar; translations by Alfonso Casal. Final version 17 April, 2020 In an earlier article we first discussed the attitude Marxists should take to the COVID-19 crisis on March 17, 2020. After the longer-term picture was becoming clear to us, we also published Marxist-Leninist Theses: The aftermath of the Corona virus (COVID-19) Health care crisis and short term demands. In the latter article we stated: “Even more alarming is the situation in those countries such as the former colonial and semi-colonial countries.…

Letter following “COVID 19 A Marxist View”

Published by Hari Kumar on April 4, 2020

Letter following “COVID 19 A Marxist View”, by Hari Kumar at: Viewpoint: On how the COVID 19 plays out in the United Kingdom By Michael Harrison, Left side of the road An interesting and informative article on the present virus. However, I’m not sure I totally agree on the way to deal with it. And what follows is based upon how I see, and have seen, matters in a UK perspective. I am loath to say this (as it means agreeing with the Tory buffoon) but I thought the idea of keeping things relatively ‘normal’ for as long as possible…

Marxist Leninist Theses: The aftermath of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health care crisis and short term demands

Published by Hari Kumar on March 31, 2020

How will we know the pandemic is scientifically ‘over’? What if authoritarian governments extend it? Hari Kumar 29 March, 2020. Introduction: No doubt all progressives and leftists agree that the current time is a very swift changing one, and one that is fraught with confusions. On the 17 March, 2020 we put some views on the medical and immediate economic crisis of the COVID 19 pandemic. Since then, a lot more left articles have been published. These collectively give us a good picture of the crisis from the left viewpoint. Taken together they make some common points. These collectively emphasise:…

Coronavirus and protection for health and social care workers

Published by Hari Kumar on March 21, 2020

Dr. John Puntis, Co-Chair “Keep Our NHS Public” (KONP) It’s clear that an urgent intervention is needed on the government’s Coronavirus response. Despite the massive threat posed by the pandemic, Boris Johnson isn’t doing what’s needed to support our health workers as they confront this crisis. This is doubly alarming given that our NHS is going into action following a decade of under-funding, under-staffing, and undermining from Conservative-led governments. That’s why a new petition putting six key demands to the government has just been launched. The demands are: Covid-19 testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be available for all NHS and…

How Should Marxists View the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2019-2020?

Published by Hari Kumar on March 17, 2020

Some important political problems, that are very relevant to Marxists, are being revealed by the evolving health crisis known as COVID 19. We try to discuss some of these issues. The labeling of this epidemic as a “hoax” by President Donald Trump is naturally, completely unwarranted. Unfortunately in a fit of over-zealous skepticism, some Marxists have also minimized the epidemic. In order to place this discussion in context, we must start from some medical and environmental facts, only then moving to the political ramifications. Throughout this, Marxists may recall how Friedrich Engels wrote about infectious diseases: “Capitalist rule cannot allow…