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A short and overly simplified thread on why I think the the virus is spreading/impacting western society.
It requires zero scientific qualifications to figure out.
(Because I keep seeing and hearing a lot of dumb stuff on the subject)
It requires zero scientific qualifications to figure out.
(Because I keep seeing and hearing a lot of dumb stuff on the subject)
I caveat that my thinking disregards all conspiracy theories along the lines of “ItS 5JeE iNniT” and takes the virus and the global response(s) at face value.
There are three elements that make the virus impact on Western society in such a big way:
1. The need to protect life
2. The need to protect the economy
3. The need to protect rights and freedoms
It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that removing any of those solves a lot
1. The need to protect life
2. The need to protect the economy
3. The need to protect rights and freedoms
It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that removing any of those solves a lot
Number 1: the need to protect life. Kind of an obvious one. If we weren’t particularly bothered about the people that this virus kills then clearly we wouldn’t have a problem. There’s a bigger depth to it when one considers that there is evidence that the restrictions may
End up killing more than the virus, but that is purely speculative and we live in a western democratic society where we are duty bound to look out for one another. That said, with a survival rate of more than 95%, there is an argument for simply saying “yeah, and...?”
But I go back to my initial simplistic point; no desire to protect life = no problem. But we do want to protect life, so get on board!
Number 2: the need to protect the economy. Here’s where it gets a bit more interesting. Points 1 and 2 are diametrically opposed. Our economy is based around physical contact; to keep the economy functioning at 100% we’d have to put peoples lives at risk. So it becomes a
Balancing act and is why the rules seem baffling to some. “How come I can’t go round my granny’s house but I can have a chinwag with her in aisle 4 of Tesco’s?” Because if there is a money value assigned to it, it’s part of protecting the economy weighed against the risk.
Where as going round your granny’s for tea achieves nothing for society (mental health arguments aside) but does pose risk.
Finally, number 3: the need to protect rights and freedoms. Here’s where the debate should actually be. We still maintain that people should be allowed their “voice”, protests should still be allowed etc.
To me, given the circumstances it’s nonsense. No-one gets to have an opinion on masks; you wear them and shut up. No-one protests having to wear trousers in public!
I don’t disagree that there are people who can’t wear them - they still pose a risk though.
I don’t disagree that there are people who can’t wear them - they still pose a risk though.
Oh, decided to break the rules and just hop on a plane with your husband who blatantly had Covid and then proceeded to die in front of all the passengers? Commiserations. You’re still going to prison though.
Oh, no mask in Asda? 2 years in prison or 100k fine paid in full now. Take your pick.
Mass protest in London.... well you get the picture!
Anyone who has read about Wuhan recently has seen that they’re entirely back to normal. Whether they’re telling the truth or not is irrelevant. If they aren’t telling the truth about numbers it just means they’ve discarded point 1 (need to protect life).
If they are telling the truth it’s because they went hard early and removed point 3 (far easier to do over there admittedly) - when they said do something, people did it because they were worried about the repercussions if they didn’t.
No-one wants to live in a dictatorship, but in a situation like this, trusting millions of people to do the right thing when they are used to being able to do whatever the hell they want whenever they want just isn’t working.
I mean, the wording for some of the various measures is ridiculous. Travel “advisory’s”, or “we recommend that...”
Why not “you will not do this and if you do we will do XYZ to you”?
Why not “you will not do this and if you do we will do XYZ to you”?
Right now, the west are desperately trying to appease 3 mistresses who hate one another. As a result the wife’s going absolutely crazy with the credit card!
Of course, this is all coming from a dude who’s been in the military for 15 years and was happy to surrender some of his rights and freedoms in doing so. I understand that vast swathes of society will disagree with me and I respect that. I am well aware I might be wrong
