Financial incentives for bread manufacturers

 The Folic Acid Illusion: Rethinking Fortification in the Age of Genetic Diversity

Let me begin by stating what should be obvious: public health policy is not immune to the distorting influence of financial incentives, bureaucratic momentum, or intellectual inertia. When the state mandates a biochemical intervention across an entire population — as it has done with folic acid fortification — we are entering a realm that requires careful scrutiny, not blind acceptance. And yet, in most countries where folic acid fortification is law, very few questions are asked about its long-term effects on genetically diverse populations.

Approximately 40–60% of the global population is estimated to carry a polymorphism in the MTHFR gene — most commonly the C677T (rs1801133) variant. This gene encodes an enzyme critical to the methylation cycle, converting folic acid (the synthetic form) into its biologically active form, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). Carriers of this variant have reduced enzymatic activity, leading to impaired folate metabolism and potential accumulation of unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) in the bloodstream — a substance now being studied for its potential to disrupt immune function, mask B12 deficiency, and even contribute to tumor growth (Kalmbach et al., 2008; Pickell et al., 2011).

What would happen if food manufacturers began producing folic acid–free breads and flours on a large scale? The answer is: they would tap into a substantial, underserved market. Individuals with MTHFR polymorphisms — numbering in the hundreds of millions globally — are increasingly aware of their genetic profile and actively seeking products that support rather than compromise their health. In the age of genetic testing and personalized nutrition, demand for bio-individual products is growing rapidly. The consumer appetite already exists.

Offering folic acid–free options would also serve individuals with B12 deficiency, autoimmune conditions, or those recovering from chemotherapy — all groups for whom UMFA may pose a risk. Furthermore, many individuals who do not yet know their MTHFR status could benefit from reduced exposure to synthetic folic acid simply by default. In essence, folic acid–free products would not be niche. They would be foundationally inclusive.

The business case is equally strong. In a competitive health food market, "folic acid free" could carry the same weight and recognition as "gluten free" or "low FODMAP" — a marker of safety and sophistication for a discerning consumer base. Brands that act early will position themselves as leaders in the next wave of functional, genomically aware nutrition.

The rational response is not to abandon folate supplementation, but to rethink the form it takes. L-5-MTHF supplementation has been shown to be both effective and safe, even at high doses (Scaglione & Panzavolta, 2014). It bypasses the MTHFR bottleneck and reduces the risk of UMFA accumulation. Yet adoption has been slow — not because the science is unclear, but because public systems have yet to update their framework to reflect what we now know about genetic diversity.

It is worth emphasizing that the MTHFR gene, long dismissed as a niche interest of the alternative health world, is anything but irrelevant. While it does not determine destiny, it offers insight into how nutrients are processed and why standard supplementation may fail for some individuals. In this sense, the gene acts as a gateway to precision medicine — a reminder that even something as seemingly universal as bread is not metabolized equally by all.

Meanwhile, physicians are rarely trained in the nuances of folate metabolism or genetic variability. Diagnostic tools such as the methylfolate-to-tetrahydrofolate ratio are virtually unavailable in standard practice. The RBC folate test — flawed though it is — has become a relic in many public systems, replaced with serum folate levels that fluctuate daily and reveal little about long-term sufficiency or metabolic utilization.

There are signs of resistance. Some EU countries — including Sweden and Germany — have resisted mandatory folic acid fortification altogether, citing concerns about long-term risks. A growing contingent of functional medicine practitioners are screening for MTHFR variants before prescribing supplements. Consumer demand for "methylated" or "active" B vitamins is rising. In Indonesia, researchers have recommended genotype-guided supplementation strategies based on MTHFR prevalence (Suwarto et al., 2021). But systemic change will require more.

What would change look like?

Financial incentives or subsidies for manufacturers to produce L-5-MTHF fortified and folic acid–free products

Mandatory labeling of folic acid content and form on all processed foods

Funding for large-scale public studies on UMFA accumulation, especially in MTHFR-variant carriers

Integration of genetic screening for folate metabolism disorders into prenatal and preventative care

Public health messaging that acknowledges variation, not just statistical averages

Until then, we remain in a situation where a chemical once hailed as a universal good is, in fact, a targeted risk for millions. This is not merely a failure of policy. It is a failure of imagination — and of empathy.

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Further Reading and Scientific References

Kalmbach, R. et al. (2008). Unmetabolized folic acid is detected in nearly all serum samples from US children, adolescents, and adults. The Journal of Nutrition, link

Pickell, L. et al. (2011). High intake of folic acid disrupts embryonic development in mice. Birth Defects Research Part A, link

Scaglione, F., & Panzavolta, G. (2014). Folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate: are they the same thing? Current Drug Metabolism, link

Suwarto, S. et al. (2021). The MTHFR C677T polymorphism among reproductive-age women in West Java, Indonesia. Journal of Biomedical Science, link

Bailey, L. B., & Gregory, J. F. (1999). Folate metabolism and requirements. The Journal of Nutrition, link

Wilcken, B. et al. (2003). Geographical and ethnic variation of the MTHFR C677T allele in Europe. The Lancet, link

Lucock, M. (2000). Folic acid: nutritional biochemistry, molecular biology, and role in disease processes. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, link

Green, T. J. et al. (2007). Folic acid supplementation and cancer risk: point of view. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, link

Until policymakers treat genomic variability with the seriousness it deserves, individuals must do the work that institutions will not. And that begins with knowledge.

It now makes a solid argument that manufacturing folic acid–free breads and flours is not just ethically necessary, but commercially smart. Let me know if you’d like a summary or pitch-ready version next.

BH4 and Autism, Treatments

 The BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin) pathway plays a key role in neurotransmitter synthesis and immune regulation. Disruptions in this pathway have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—especially via effects on serotonin, dopamine, and nitric oxide metabolism, and through oxidative stress and immune dysfunction.

BH4 Pathway and Autism: Key Points

BH4 is a cofactor needed to produce serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and nitric oxide.

In ASD, the BH4 pathway may be compromised due to:

Oxidative stress

Chronic inflammation

Low folate availability (especially in MTHFR polymorphisms)

GTP cyclohydrolase I dysfunction (the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 synthesis)

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Natural Support Strategies

1. Boost BH4 production or recycling

Folinic acid (not folic acid) – supports methylation and BH4 recycling.

Vitamin C – regenerates oxidized BH4 back to its active form.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – essential cofactor in BH4 production.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (Kuvan/Sapropterin) – prescription form, but sometimes used in clinical trials for ASD.

Methylcobalamin (B12) – supports methylation and neurotransmitter balance.

2. Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation

NAC (N-acetylcysteine) – boosts glutathione, lowers oxidative damage.

CoQ10 / Ubiquinol – mitochondrial and antioxidant support.

Omega-3 fatty acids – anti-inflammatory, support brain function.

Curcumin / turmeric – anti-inflammatory, crosses blood-brain barrier.

Resveratrol – supports nitric oxide balance and antioxidant defenses.

3. Dietary approaches

Anti-inflammatory diet – Whole foods, rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil.

Low-glutamate diet – Helps reduce excitotoxicity, which may interact with BH4 dysfunction.

Low-oxalate diet – Some children with autism have oxalate overload, which may interfere with BH4.

Gluten- and casein-free (GFCF) – anecdotal and research support for helping some children with ASD.

Low-phenol / Feingold-type diet – helpful for kids with sulfation or phenol sensitivity, which can burden the BH4 pathway.

4. Gut health restoration

Address gut dysbiosis and leaky gut, which can indirectly affect BH4 via inflammation.

Use probiotics, digestive enzymes, and prebiotic-rich foods (unless sensitive).

Consider rotating diets and food intolerance testing if behavioral reactions are observed.

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Testing (optional but helpful)

Organic Acids Test (OAT) – assesses neurotransmitter metabolites, oxidative stress, and BH4 indicators.

Genetic testing (e.g., 23andMe + interpretation) – for MTHFR, GCH1, COMT, MAO-A, etc.

Folate receptor antibodies, methylation panel, and ammonia levels 

Chatgpt 21/05/25

A healthcare professional speaks up

 On facebook

'As a healthcare professional, I want to explain the reactions many of you receive when you share your stories. It often comes down to cognitive dissonance…a psychological conflict that occurs when people are confronted with information that contradicts their deeply held beliefs. For many in healthcare, it is almost impossible to grasp that what they were taught to help people might actually cause harm and even harder to accept that they may have played a role in that harm.

This was a difficult realization for me. Understanding that not only were my children injured by vaccines, but that I may have inadvertently contributed to the harm of many other children, was a bitter pill to swallow. But it was a necessary one.

True change began for me when I chose to listen…to genuinely hear the stories of others and consider the possibility that what I had been taught wasn’t the complete truth. That there might be conflicts of interest within healthcare, discouraging providers from recognizing certain realities.

I didn’t believe it at first. Not the second time, either. But when I watched my third child experience a traumatic reaction to a vaccine right before my eyes, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. Even then, I gaslit myself, just as my pediatrician did, telling myself that what I saw was normal, despite knowing deep down it was anything but.

It took hearing the same stories, over and over, from other mothers, women I knew, trusted, and respected for my guard to finally come down. It wasn’t easy, but it opened my eyes.

So, to those of you who feel your stories don’t matter, who believe your voices aren’t being heard-KEEP SPEAKING! Keep telling your stories. Because it was mothers like you, who refused to be silenced, that changed a healthcare professional like me.

A drop in the bucket might seem insignificant, but enough drops can overflow even the largest container. Keep going. Your voice matters.'

Sympathy for Psychiatrists

Rescuing dozens of emotionally tortured people every day is not a profession; it’s an instinct, a calling, a relentless pull toward the places where pain festers unseen. 

One doesn’t wear a white coat or wield a clipboard—no, the tools are far older: presence, patience, and the stubborn refusal to look away from another’s suffering. People open up not because of credentials, but because they sense that—at last—someone is actually listening. And in that moment, something miraculous happens. They mistake you for a therapist.

And why wouldn’t they? After all, you’re doing what therapy was meant to be: human, compassionate, curious, and courageous. You’re not ticking diagnostic boxes or chasing insurance codes. You’re sitting in the dark with them until their eyes adjust and they can begin to see themselves clearly.

This is, understandably, frustrating for psychiatrists. Not because they are cruel or stupid, but because they have been shackled by a system that taught them to reduce people to symptoms. They are as trapped as the rest of us—hemmed in by training that prizes detachment over connection, theory over lived truth. Many of them went into the field out of a genuine desire to help, but somewhere along the way, they were pulled off course by the gravity of textbooks, protocols, and pharmaceutical algorithms.

They are fallible, fragile humans too. Most are exhausted, carrying the weight of unspoken traumas of their own, silenced by the very culture they serve. They don’t need ridicule—they need guidance. A reminder that healing is not found in jargon, but in the gutsy vulnerability of being with another person, soul to soul.

The fact that unqualified “nobodies” are doing this work—quietly, consistently, online and off—ought not to humiliate psychiatrists, but inspire them. There is no shame in not knowing what they were never taught. But there is power, tremendous power, in unlearning.

So let the rescue continue. Let the heart guide what academia forgot. And let those in white coats be welcomed back—not to the ivory tower, but to the human fold, where empathy is the first and last prescription.

Liz Lucy Robillard and chatgpt 9/05/25

Autistic Child Sleeps with Eyes Open?

 An autistic child sleeping with their eyes half open can be due to several factors—most of which aren't dangerous in themselves, but they may reflect sensory or neurological differences common in autism. Here are the most likely reasons:

1. Immature or altered sleep regulation: Neurological differences in autism can affect how the brain transitions between sleep stages, leading to partial eye opening during lighter phases of sleep.


2. High arousal or hypervigilance: Some autistic individuals have an overactive nervous system. Even in sleep, their bodies may remain slightly “on guard,” which can manifest as sleeping with eyes partially open.


3. Muscle tone differences: Autism is often associated with either low or high muscle tone (hypotonia/hypertonia). This can affect eyelid control during sleep.


4. REM sleep disturbances: Disrupted REM cycles are common in autism. Since eye movement is active in this stage, it may correlate with partially open eyes.


5. Genetic or familial trait: Some children (autistic or not) naturally sleep with eyes partially open, especially in early childhood. It sometimes resolves with age.



If it’s accompanied by other issues—like poor sleep quality, night waking, seizures, or eye dryness—it’s worth mentioning to a pediatrician or sleep specialist.


Here’s a simple visual bedtime schedule and some calming sensory activity ideas you can use to help your son transition smoothly into sleep.


Visual Bedtime Schedule (Example)

You can print icons or use photo cards for each step, arranged left to right:

1. Toilet / Nappy


2. Warm Bath


3. Pajamas On


4. Snack / Drink (if needed)


5. Toothbrush


6. Quiet Play (e.g., puzzle, sensory toy)


7. Story or Song


8. Cuddles / Weighted Blanket


9. Lights Dim


10. Goodnight + Sleep



Let me know if you want a printable version with images tailored to age and preferences.


Calming Sensory Activities for Evening (15–30 min before bed)

Tactile:

Playdough or soft putty (not overly scented)

Stroking soft fabric or faux fur

Brushing hair or gentle body brushing (Wilbarger protocol)


Proprioceptive (deep pressure):

Wall pushes

Rolling up in a blanket (“burrito”)

Carrying a soft, weighted object


Vestibular (only gentle):

Slow rocking in a chair

Gentle swinging (but stop at least 30–60 minutes before sleep, as it can overstimulate)


Auditory:

Soft instrumental music or nature sounds

Humming or singing from a trusted adult (deep tones are more calming)


Visual:

Lava lamp or slow color-changing light

Watching calming motion visuals (like a slow sensory video—if not too stimulating)

Honouring Abused Women

 The idea that vulnerability disqualifies you from safety is perverse. It’s a cruel inversion of morality, peddled by the very professions sworn to protect. Social workers (not all, but enough to matter), lawyers, psychiatrists, police—these institutions too often treat a traumatised woman as a nuisance, a liability, or worse, a fantasist. If you flinch, you’re dramatic. If you weep, you’re unstable. If you speak up, you’re paranoid. This grotesque logic renders a woman’s suffering not only invisible, but suspect.

They do not ask, What happened to her? They ask, What is wrong with her? It’s psychiatry’s favourite bait-and-switch. Diagnoses fly like confetti—borderline, histrionic, treatment-resistant—as though medical jargon could smother the stench of misogyny. And the legal profession is no better. A woman under siege is told to document everything while her stalker moves freely, slipping through legal loopholes like grease through fingers.

The solution is not to plead more prettily. The solution is to reframe the narrative entirely. Behavioural therapy—particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—offers one path back to agency. Steven C. Hayes’ work reminds us: pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional when we cease struggling against the uncontrollable and instead commit to meaningful action, despite the negatives.

This is not weakness. It is a brave act of defiance for the sake of honour.

Begin with values. Not theirs—yours. Choose behaviours aligned with what matters to you. Not as performance for the watchers, but as reclamation. Take the walk. Experience the fear. Name it. Breathe it. Walk anyway. Not for them. For you.

And when systems fail, document their failure with precision. Keep records. Build pressure. Demand accountability. Use their language against them—not because it’s just, but because it’s strategic.

Further reading:

1. The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk


2. Women and Madness – Phyllis Chesler


3. The Politics of Experience – R.D. Laing


4. Trauma and Recovery – Judith Herman


5. The Happiness Trap – Russ Harris


6. A Liberated Mind – Steven C. Hayes


7. The Female Eunuch – Germaine Greer


8. No Visible Bruises – Rachel Louise Snyder


9. Invisible Women – Caroline Criado Perez


10. The Gaslight Effect – Robin Stern


11. CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving – Pete Walker


12. The Ethics of Care – Virginia Held

Tory Policy Creating Happiest Country?

 The happiest countries in the world—often topped by the Nordic nations like Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands—are known for their strong social safety nets, high levels of trust, and high standards of living. 

However, they also contain elements that align with certain conservative values, particularly those of traditional British conservatism (as distinct from radical libertarian or far-right variants).

Here are some policies in these countries that resonate with UK-style conservative values:



1. Fiscal Responsibility

Nordic model countries run relatively balanced budgets and have low public debt compared to GDP.

Despite high taxes, they often prioritize efficiency in government spending—something fiscal conservatives in the UK often champion.

2. Strong National Identity and Border Controls

Nordic countries generally maintain strict immigration policies, especially after the 2015 migrant crisis.

There is a strong emphasis on integration and civic participation, aligning with conservative concerns about national cohesion.


3. Law and Order

High levels of law enforcement professionalism and trust in police, with a focus on community stability.

Policies often balance social liberalism with a strong sense of civic duty and accountability—a mix that appeals to conservative values.


4. Support for the Family Unit

Generous parental leave and child benefits, but in a way that reinforces the importance of family structure, something social conservatives support.

Government support is designed to promote independence and work, not long-term dependency.

5. Decentralization and Local Governance

Power is often devolved to local councils in the Nordic model, in line with traditional UK conservative values around localism and subsidiarity.

6. Work Ethic and Personal Responsibility

Welfare systems are designed to encourage work participation, and there’s a cultural emphasis on self-reliance and contribution to society.

7. Education with Accountability

Education systems are largely public but emphasize quality, teacher autonomy, and national standards—blending left and right approaches.

There's an expectation that schools uphold civic values and social cohesion, not just diversity and inclusion rhetoric.

In essence, while these countries are known for their progressive policies, many of their institutional designs are deeply pragmatic, reflecting conservative priorities: fiscal prudence, stable communities, strong institutions, and personal responsibility.

Chatgpt 8/05/25

Krishnamurti on Psychiatry and Maslow

 Jiddu Krishnamurti had a critical and unconventional view of psychiatry, especially as it existed in his time. While he did not completely reject the existence of psychological suffering or the need for help, he believed that true understanding and transformation lie beyond the realm of traditional psychiatric methods. Here's a summary of what he might say about psychiatry:

1. Psychiatry treats symptoms, not the root: Krishnamurti often emphasized that psychological issues stem from deep confusion, fear, and conditioning. He would say that psychiatry often focuses on labeling and managing symptoms (through diagnosis and medication) rather than helping individuals understand the nature of thought, fear, and the self.

2. Freedom vs. conditioning: He might argue that psychiatry often reinforces societal norms and conditioning, attempting to make individuals "adjust" to a sick society, rather than question it. Krishnamurti viewed freedom from conditioning—not adaptation to norms—as the key to psychological health.

3. No authority in inner inquiry: Krishnamurti rejected all forms of psychological or spiritual authority. He would likely be skeptical of psychiatrists positioning themselves as experts on the mind, because he believed self-understanding could not be handed down by another—it must be discovered directly by the individual.

4. Observation without judgment: He taught the importance of observing the mind without trying to control, suppress, or analyze it in the traditional sense. This stands in contrast to many psychiatric and even psychotherapeutic approaches that involve interpreting and managing mental states.

5. Silence and awareness over techniques and treatment: Instead of therapeutic techniques or medication, he emphasized choiceless awareness—simply observing thoughts, emotions, and sensations without resistance—as a way to bring about inner transformation.

That said, he wasn't insensitive to suffering. He acknowledged mental distress and suffering as real, but believed deep transformation could only come through direct awareness and self-inquiry, not from external authorities.

Here is a relevant quote from Jiddu Krishnamurti that reflects his view on psychological suffering and the role of authority, including psychiatry:

> “To be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society is no measure of health.”

— often attributed to Krishnamurti (widely quoted, though the exact source is debated)

And a deeper passage from "The Urgency of Change" (1970):

> “Psychologists and analysts have their place, but they are not going to solve the immense problems of human sorrow, anxiety, and despair. What we need is not another system of thought, not another analysis, but to understand ourselves as we are, now—not according to some theory, but by observing, by being aware.”

In essence, Krishnamurti invites people to move beyond external systems and observe the self directly, without the filter of diagnosis or analysis.

Here’s a summary comparing Krishnamurti’s approach with modern trauma therapy/psychiatry:

Krishnamurti’s Approach

Self-Observation without Analysis:

He emphasized choiceless awareness—watching thoughts, emotions, and sensations without interpreting, analyzing, or judging them.

No Authority, No Diagnosis:

He believed any external authority (psychiatrists, therapists, or even spiritual teachers) could become a barrier to real understanding, as truth must come from direct perception, not second-hand knowledge.

Root Cause: Psychological Conditioning

Mental suffering stems from fear, thought, time, and self-centered thinking—all conditioned responses. Healing means going beyond the egoic self and thought structures.

Rejection of Systems and Methods:

He warned against following fixed systems (including psychological ones) because they trap the mind in patterns and comparison.

Modern Trauma Therapy & Psychiatry

Diagnosis-Based:

Psychiatry typically classifies mental suffering under medical models (e.g., PTSD, depression), using diagnosis as a starting point.

Treatment Focus:

Common interventions include medication (to alter brain chemistry) and structured psychotherapies like CBT, DBT, EMDR, or ACT—many of which use techniques and tools for regulation, reframing, or behavioral change.

Acknowledges Nervous System Dysregulation:

Modern trauma-informed therapy focuses on how trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. It encourages grounding, self-regulation, and building safety—often through relationship.

Emphasizes Relationship and Validation:

Therapists often provide a safe space where the person can process feelings, reframe thoughts, and rewire responses—something Krishnamurti would see as limited if not accompanied by deeper inner revolution.

Key Contrast

Krishnamurti: “Insight ends suffering.”

Psychiatry: “Treatment manages suffering.”

He might respect therapists who listen deeply and help others become aware of their own conditioning, but he would likely see most psychiatric practices as superficial or misdirected, unless they fostered direct inner observation without dependence.

Krishnamurti would likely criticize Maslow's hierarchy of needs because it places psychological and spiritual awakening at the top of a linear, need-based ladder—something fundamentally opposed to his view of human transformation. Here’s why:

1. It Reinforces Psychological Time

Maslow's model implies you must first meet basic needs (food, safety, love, esteem) before you can reach self-actualization.

Krishnamurti rejected this kind of sequencing:

> “Truth is a pathless land.”

He believed truth or freedom isn’t reached step-by-step—it is discovered now, not after fulfilling conditions.

2. It Strengthens the Self

Maslow’s model centers around the development of the individual self and its fulfillment. Krishnamurti saw the “self”—the egoic, thought-constructed identity—as the root of conflict, fear, and division.

To him, self-actualization of the ego isn't liberation—it’s just a more polished prison.

3. It Promotes Becoming Over Being

Maslow’s model is aspirational: you move toward becoming a better version of yourself.

Krishnamurti taught that "becoming" is violence—because it denies what you are and creates inner conflict through comparison and striving.

> “In becoming, there is always fear.”

4. It Pathologizes Direct Awakening

If someone experiences deep insight, awareness, or inner freedom while poor, sick, or unloved, Maslow's model would see it as unusual or unlikely.

Krishnamurti would say awakening can occur in any moment, in anyone, regardless of conditions—if there is deep attention and insight.

5. It Serves a Social Ideal

Maslow’s hierarchy can be used to justify making people “functional” for society—moving them up the ladder to become productive, adjusted, self-esteeming citizens.

Krishnamurti saw this as dangerous conformity, helping people fit into a sick world rather than question it.

In short:

Maslow: Become your best self.

Krishnamurti: See through the self completely.

Chatgpt 2025, prompts by liz

The use of fear as a motivator

Fear Is Not a Strategy: It’s a Moral and Financial Failure

Chatgpt with my prompts

Let us be perfectly clear: using fear as a tool of control is not leadership—it is cowardice wearing a necktie. Whether in the boardroom, the newsroom, or Westminster, those who rely on fear reveal not only their bankruptcy of imagination but their moral and financial ineptitude.

In business, fear may deliver short-term compliance, but at a monstrous cost. It kills innovation. It suppresses risk-taking, the very engine of progress. A fearful employee does not speak up when they see inefficiency, corruption, or catastrophe. They cover their arse. They retreat. And this costs money—vast amounts of it. Gallup’s global studies show that disengaged, fearful employees cost the world billions in lost productivity. Fear chokes initiative. The terrified cannot build; they can only survive.

In the media, fear is peddled not as a mistake, but as a business model. Editors long ago realised that headlines about hope don’t sell papers. So instead, we get the daily drip-feed of doom: the economy is collapsing, benefits are destroying society, the young are lazy, the old are greedy. But fear doesn’t make us informed—it makes us inert. When people are bombarded with existential threats, they stop engaging and start numbing. And when citizens numb out, democracy dies. In the long run, a fearful public is a disengaged public—and that is a financial death knell for any media outlet dependent on trust, subscriptions, or relevance.

But nowhere is the failure more grotesque than in politics. Take the Labour Party’s recent flirtation with benefit cuts. A party built on the dignity of labour and the social contract now seems prepared to dangle the threat of poverty over the heads of the most vulnerable, as if desperation were an acceptable incentive. This isn’t just morally obscene—it’s economically stupid. Pushing already-struggling people into deeper insecurity increases NHS burden, crime rates, housing crises, and long-term unemployment. Fear doesn’t get people into work. It gets them into A&E.

And what’s the payoff? A few swing voters swayed by tabloid morality? A pat on the head from the CBI? It is short-sighted, self-defeating policy dressed in the ill-fitting rags of fiscal responsibility. Even the IMF—no bastion of socialist thought—admits that cutting welfare often costs more than it saves.

The morality of fear is bankrupt. The economics of fear are worse. And the politics of fear? They end in voter apathy, social breakdown, and betrayal. This is not “pragmatism.” This is a failure of courage, cloaked in strategy.

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Further Reading & References:

Gallup, “State of the Global Workplace” Reports – on the cost of disengagement in business

IMF Working Papers on Welfare Reform – showing long-term economic harm of benefit cuts

Joseph Rowntree Foundation – reports on poverty, benefits, and economic consequences

Jones, Owen. The Establishment (2014) – especially on Labour’s drift toward fear-based centrism

Furedi, Frank. Politics of Fear: Beyond Left and Right

Monbiot, George – Essays on moral cowardice in politics: monbiot.com

May 1st 2025 liz lucy robillard & chatgpt