To think those happy about the new lockdown are usually privileged

[NickVanDyke]

Seen many people on Mumsnet and on other social media borderline happy as soon as a second lockdown was leaked.

Am I missing the memo? So many our going to lose their jobs, homes, mental health.

Not to mention the cost of borrowing all this money that our dc and grandkids will have to repay.

I’m just confused how anyone can be happy about this. To me it’s a disaster.

@Aloethere

The last recession is going to be a socially distanced walk in the park compared to the upcoming economic carnage. Who is going to pay these benefits of which you so casually speak?

Well let's get real here, you were always going to be in the shit when you walked into brexit. You will get through it though, you grit your teeth and you do it. There will be benefits, perhaps reduced but they will be there. I understand that the UK will have somewhat of a double whammy and your choices over there will affect us too over here in Ireland but you can't blame all of what you are walking into on COVID and lockdowns.

Much of your post is an irrelevant rant that I suspect you were looking for an opportunity to put out there.

But you seem to enjoy telling people to shrug their shoulders, accept losing jobs and businesses that they loved and put years of work into, and just 'claim benefits'. As though 'benefits' just came out of nowhere, instead of from people's taxes. Taxes which won't get paid due to the huge numbers of people set to lose their jobs because of Covid. And you've clearly never lived on benefits if you think having 'reduced' benefits is any sort of life. Most people barely get by on them as is.

I take it you have not suffered financially in any way due to Covid, nor do you expect to have to go on benefits any time soon?

We should be ok financially if another lockdown happens...BUT I don’t want one and my role I think will be at risk if it happens.

The first one hasn’t worked obviously I think a better plan is needed :(

I’m well off but it doesn’t stop me feeling sick with anxiety everyday. My eldest DD has already attempted suicide 3 weeks ago due to the impact of the crisis on her existing MH condition....tell me how any amount of cash can sort this please? Like anyone else, I’m not going to see my elderly parents now.....how does money fix that?
Saying ‘happy’ to this situation is pathetic vitriol...it helps no-one and achieves nothing. It’s a shit thread to have started.

To the poster that suggested that we should not bother worrying about the collapse of the NHS as that would be preferable to screwing the economy

What do you think happens when the nhs collapses and millions die?

millions, because that's what happens without an nhs, no covid treatment, no cancer treatment, deformities and disabilities instead of mending a child broken leg or giving them a round of antibiotics. Life expectancy dropping to around 40 or 45. No mental health service to support the traumatised ex NHS workers ( one of the countries biggest employers )

What do you think happens to the economy then? Or are you so priveledged that you will buy your way out of this based on your millions saved? Hope it's not in property.

The ides that it is health or economy is false. Probably promoted by people with millions and a private jet . Because they are the only people who benefit from turning the uk into a third world country. Too many of them screwing up the government policy and chaotic disaster

Self employed here.

This feels like a nightmare you just can’t wake up from and it’s going to keep happening if they keep falling back on lockdowns as an answer. My business was just starting to recover from the last lockdown. I can’t bare the thought of having to keep rebuilding every three to four months. Last time I lost three quarters of my clients virtually overnight. Don’t qualify for help as my first books are due this year.

I don’t want thousands of deaths a day either.

I don’t know what the answer is. It’s shit either way.

I want a lockdown, just heard how many of my race/ extended family have died or are ill.

I do need to work we are nearly broke, I don't have a job/ business anymore, lost the lot. Will soon have to put house on market and live in our trailer, maybe on families land.
Sorry to burst your little "only the privileged" trope.
Some of us put lives before money.

@Aloethere

Ihatefacemasks Then you use your savings? You don't need benefits if you have savings. Ideal? Of course not but as a person who is self-employed myself I know the risks as I presume you did too? Again businesses going bust isn't unique to COVID, I know you might think you are special but ultimately you aren't. If your business isn't tenable then find a job.

I'm going to leave this nasty and ignorant comment to stand as it is.

Maybe people should save their anger for the government who failed to control the virus in the first place. It isn't a straight trade off between the economy and controlling the virus. If the government had not decided that unlike most of the rest of the world it would ignore all our public resources and dole out testing and tracing to tame Tory business friends who have well and truly mismanaged it then, and then fail to learn that lesson from the first wave, we would not be in the position we are. I am privileged but I am also furious that I and my family (including frontline workers, one working in an effective and very successful public sector testing initiative that has been keeping NHS and Care Home staff tested since early March) have been exposed to the risk by this incompetent government. All my privilege is no good if I, my loved ones, and many others, die unnecessarily I have friends in other countries where the virus has been controlled and their economies have opened back up. In some cases their restaurants never closed, and their economies are expanding again.

We have some of the worst death rates in the world and some of the worst economic damage. The government ignored the Scientists in September so now we will have a longer and more damaging lockdown. A complete rerun of Spring, but worse. And still they carry on making the same mistakes.....

They do keep making the same mistakes. Over and over without a care in the world

There is no doubt some people are coasting through this. Personally, my family are doing OK/good so far. But it must be really difficult for some others with delayed medical attention, job situations, etc. It's awful.

Looking back it is easy to see we dealt with the initial phase very poorly, and are not doing great now either. In theory it should be a lot more controllable, but lots of countries in Europe are struggling too now.

@Emilyontmoor

It isn't a straight trade off between the economy and controlling the virus

Lots of your post looks backwards at what has been done (or, more accurately, hasn't)

Looking forwards, do you think that the government's incompetence has led to a situation, now, where it actually is a straight trade off?

@Chalfontstgiles

I’m well off but it doesn’t stop me feeling sick with anxiety everyday. My eldest DD has already attempted suicide 3 weeks ago due to the impact of the crisis on her existing MH condition....tell me how any amount of cash can sort this please? Like anyone else, I’m not going to see my elderly parents now.....how does money fix that? Saying ‘happy’ to this situation is pathetic vitriol...it helps no-one and achieves nothing. It’s a shit thread to have started.

Now imagine having all those worries as well as the worry of no money to pay bills or buy food to feed your children. Many people have both. Being well off doesn’t mean you have no worries but it does mean you have one less than many.

I agree with you -

Some want and appear to love the idea of lock down. Some love the idea of schools closing. Privilege, secured paid jobs, paid whether they work or not or retired on a decent pension etc.... they love it.

People in low paid jobs or jobs dependent on people not being locked down - low incomes etc fear for their jobs/homes/struggle to eat/pay bills - I feel for those people.

We are not all in this together. Some want a lock down, some can afford it, some love it. Others suffer, cannot afford it and don't want it.

However, not everyone follows the rules and so the ongoing spread is inevitable.... those that party on, mix in larger groups, don't wear masks and SD, those that say they won't follow the rules - they are the ones responsible. Sadly, until it affects someone close to them they don't appear to care.

A lot of people shouting for lockdown don't want supermarket workers on lockdown too or NHS staff or Amazon delivery drivers.

No they should all carry on so some mumsnetters can enjoy lockdown properly.

Much of your post is an irrelevant rant that I suspect you were looking for an opportunity to put out there.
But you seem to enjoy telling people to shrug their shoulders, accept losing jobs and businesses that they loved and put years of work into, and just 'claim benefits'

It really isn't irrelevant. I and many people I know have spent the past while sourcing goods and services for our businesses from the EU when the UK was our go to before. Just this week I got rid of my last UK supplier. I won't even use a business that uses the UK as a land bridge. Your economy crumbling was inevitable, to pretend that it is all because of lockdowns and covid is ridiculous.

And what is the alternative to just getting on with things, finding new jobs and creating new opportunities? From what I have seen here it seems to be lots of lots of moaning. I prefer to direct my energy to where it can make a difference and being proactive and it is working. But hey, if you think screaming about the sky falling will make a difference then knock yourself out,

I think that the whole country is split 50/50 about lockdown and the same about schools so they can’t win really .

And the cases are increasing all over Europe despite different ways of tackling it .

So it’s a no win situation .

And even if you don’t have lockdown businesses will suffer because of illness and lack of footfall .

Why is everyone angry about other people's emotions?

Outside of key government figures, none of us have any choice in the matter. We don't get to decide if there is a lockdown or not. Some people put the best gloss on the situation and some of them are in a good position to be able to do so, but it is not their fault or choice.

@SeekingAnswers3

Is that all the scientists and ministers involved ?

I suggest you put your money where your mouth is and get up there and give them the answers , plus all the other leaders in France , Spain , Belgium and Czek Republic , because you obviously have all the solutions . I am sure they would appreciate your input .

@PostItJoyWeek

The net effect of overwhelming the NHS would be less bad than of screwing the economy.

If the choice is between bankruptcies and hundreds of thousands of dead people, I know which one I'd choose.

But hey, if you think screaming about the sky falling will make a difference then knock yourself out

I'm not sure how people worrying about the imminent collapse of their livelihoods, and an upcoming depression (not 'recession') is "screaming about the sky falling". I'd say it's being realistic. A hell of a lot more realistic than your I'm alright Jack-ish 'go find a new job', 'create new opportunities' or 'go on benefits' smugging.

In any case, you appear to have little knowledge of, or interest in, the reality faced by millions of people all across the world (not just Britain) so I don't see any point in continuing this discussion with you.

You want to save your business, I want my husband to stay alive long enough to see our primary age D.C. grow up. He will not survive Covid due to his existing medical condition.

That’s why I support a lockdown

Me too AuldSpookySewers. That has been (selfishly perhaps) my one focus all along, and however other important things are, nothing to me is as important as that. I am sorry you are living through the same situation, although in some ways I am comforted by not being alone. I truly wish your husband, and family, well.

OP I agree. It is incredibly worrying to many of us on a personal level, and it is also hugely concerning to think about how we are all going to pay for all these covid related measures for years to come.

Ekhart We can’t do anything about what has got us to where we are but they could start behaving like grown ups tomorrow. For instance the public sector labs, which the government have finally turned to for help, have the staff to expand but can’t get hold of PCR machines because they are being reserved for the private sector labs that are so badly run and even unsafe that they can’t retain skilled staff. If we expand public sector testing and tracing then it would start to make a difference that it isn’t now and the economy could open up sooner. It would also increase public trust so that more people can comply. So no it isn’t a straight trade off, there are actions they could take now which would bring the numbers under control more quickly, but as we know, they won’t. They will dither, refuse to learn any lessons and deliver the worst of all worlds

We should be turning our anger of the government's mismanaging of this whole pandemic. I do support a lock down but also support people having a decent safety net and money to get us through this.