Why don’t the Government ever take preventative action?

[Jacquelineinabox]

I mean this as a genuine question: I seriously don’t understand why they can’t foresee what’s going to happen and do something about it, rather than always reacting once things are already bad.

The scientists are telling them they need to close schools and have stricter measures in place - everyone knows things are going to worsen over the next month or so. Why wait for the NHS to be even more stretched and more people to get sick and die? It is pretty certain at this point - at the damage to the economy has and will be done anyway.

Why not take preventative action now, rather than making a U turn as they always do in two or three weeks, when even more suffering has occurred?

@Bacter

Preventative thinking is rather intelligent thinking. I just think they aren’t very bright. They employ their friends and friends children/spouses. It’s the same small circle of privilege and with very little substance.

Bingo!

Thanks for all the replies - it’s an interesting thing to think about and I don’t seem to read much in depth analysis - it’s hard when it’s such a fast moving situation.

I think its ideological. Its shocking when it looks like the truth is in front of you. Teachers were saying fulltime return to education as planned wasnt safe. Those schools told to open before Christmas was truly awful and now in real crisis they're still open spreading covid...

Melbourne did well. Went hard and locked down. Even sydney when they had 70 cases locked down - thats less than i have locally. But its worked.

@RedToothBrush

Because a) they are not that bright b) they don't care about humans they care about money c) they are so arrogant they thought they knew better than the scientists d) they don't want to upset the public by making hard unpopular decisions because that affects their job prospects.

I agree with this.