When science is placed into the box marked 'doubt' you know you're in the shit. Yes sometimes the experts (ie trained people) make mistakes. You know how we know: science. Peer review reveals the mistakes that sometimes happen with the process; opening claims and data out to a wider audience. It is self correcting. But we must still deal with human fallibility, because we're human. Therefore the authority of reason and expertise must be as untrammelled as possible. The problem is that it has been tainted by bias, interference and the scepticism of fools. Like Michael Gove, quite possibly the PM in waiting at this point (unfortunately), decrying experts.
Still too many people are not following teh rules. It is stelling that, in this period, after three egregious errors culminating in the severance of supply lines at the busiest time of year (and ahead of Brexit), people put normal consumer habits before sense. We know what works in the face of a pandemic, but we aren't doing it because for too long people have been conditioned by this twisted scepticism; a mistrust of authority reinforced by authority. The water is so muddied now that I don't see any way out of this. We will just limp along until the pandemic runs its course. Hopefully with the help of a vaccines they hopefully won't screw up. Don't hold your breath.
This weekend has perhaps been the worst moment in British politics. This will shortly be trumped by every other moment. The world has plunged us into isolation because our idiot PM blurted out that he has lost control of the virus. A new strain has appeared and is everywhere. Cases are skyrocketing and still I can go to the pub and enjoy a 'substantial meal'. He isn't taking control, he is not ever going to take control. He makes excuses; at the press conference today he just asserted he had done the right thing. Except that clearly isn't the case by virtue of where we are. It is time now that an emergency government be called. He must be removed if he won't step down. I'm under no illusion that will drastically improve things but there must be someone, among all these useless politicians - from all sides - that can manage this crisis. But after three disastrous mishandled lockdowns and the confusing illiterate tier system I'm fearing the worst.
This is genuinely terrifying. With our supply lines threatened the Tories feign surprise. They knew about this strain weeks ago. They were told to lockdown way before November, that lockdown has not worked and the response, another bizarre tier system, isn't working. Is it only a matter of time before we are all in Tier 4? I see people walking around still not obeying the rules. There is still no enforcement of things like masks and people are bustling around in town. This should not be happening.
And then there's Brexit. We are getting a taste of how that will go with France taking control of its borders. Many have pointed to Farage disingenuously tweeting about how this is a terrible thing. Yet that is exactly what he campaigned for. If you argue for sovereignty then, by definition, you are advocating our neighbours can do the same. Now they are. If they don't get this sorted...
Honestly, at this point I can't think straight. Too many shit things are happening. Shopping today was a nightmare, for reasons just explained (wear. masks. please!). My sanity, and my sinews, haven't fully recovered. The weather has been mild and it was pleasant on Weston seafront for a time. Even though it's a muddy estuary surrounding by a peninsula of power stations the scope of the vista is sufficient for clearing the mind. There is something about a wide open horizon and the sea itself that blows through the mind like a cleansing light, and that is refreshing and vital these days. Sadly it's a bus journey away and, even though it's permissible to make that journey, it's not affordable.
Whether such an experience will continue to be available is another matter.
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