OPINION – Rogier Rumke wonders why pre-eminently critical journalists are leaving it at that when it comes to the Corona narrative. Rogier is the administrator of Facebook group The Corona Middle Way, a group that distinguishes itself by nuanced opinions from various sides with always respectful and substantiated discussions. Anyone who feels addressed by this is welcome to become a member. Rogier's reflections can regularly be found on maurice.nl. The reason for this article is a piece by Teun van der Keuken in the Volkskrant: Due to irresponsible mayors and pub owners, the hospitality industry has to close early again
I held Teun van der Keuken in high regard, enjoyed his Inspection Service of Value, the way he brings abuses in the food industry to light for years.
It is the people who matter, the guardians of the consumer, guardians of the rule of law, people who stand up for victims of slum landlords, deception on packaging, exploitation by insurance companies, failing government, petty corruption, Teun stood for something!
It is his responsibility, and that of his colleagues, to check that we are not getting poison on our plates, that the government informs us properly, that the rule of law still works, that the mortality rates are correct.
Teun should know that the hospitality industry is only responsible for 2.9% of infections according to the RIVM, Teun should know that the infections are increasing because people feel safe with a QR code in their pocket while they can still pass on the infection. Teun in particular should tell us that the 16,000 tests per day at the GGDs are based on the PCR test and what the cut-off value is. As an investigative journalist, Teun in particular should find out for us how many of those 16,000 people who tested positive are actually sick, how many of them have been vaccinated, how many of them are infected because unvaccinated people enter a neighborhood pub here and there.
Teun in particular should find out whether the claim of an ever-growing group of scientists that ventilation is more important than keeping a distance – let alone enforcing QR access passes – could be based on any correctness.
It is precisely because of the failure of critical journalists that the world is trapped in a succession of ineffective measures where the failure to work is placed on the population instead of on the policymakers. Typical case for Teun van der Keuken I would say. The all-powerful government versus the powerless citizen.
It is up to the government to provide clean air, not to the citizen to worry about whether or not they infect or become infected, they can't do anything about that! That's what Teun should find out, that's what he should spend his column on.
Not denouncing these kinds of abuses means that we can no longer grab a beer at eight o'clock, that we cannot go out for a relaxed dinner next week, that I cannot ask my 18-year-old daughter to do an errand for me at the action because she has only had one shot, Desperate and actually against her will, so that she can go out with her friends again in three weeks when the catering industry is open again. It is the responsibility of negligent critics such as Teun van der Keuken who can make their voices heard at Jinek, the KRO and the Volkskrant that we have been in this misery for a year and a half.
Teun van der Keuken, ga GVD je werk doen in plaats van de overheid te papegaaien. Jij bent de allerlaatste waarvan ik dat verwacht.
Roger Rumke
