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Covid

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Original poster

Is the new government narrative to blame the public/put pressure on the public with rules a deflection tactic?

149 replies

User158340 · 11/01/2021 21:37

Now, we're in a really bad place with Covid this month and it's serious. The government are largely responsible given the decisions they've made and Boris's cowardice in making the decisions that need making until it's too late.

Now they seem intent on blaming the public for this. Is a lot of this smoke and mirrors to turn people against each other, rather than blame the government?

OP posts:

Dee1975 · 11/01/2021 22:48

But part of it is the public’s fault for spreading it by not following the rules ...

Alex15 · 11/01/2021 22:50

@Dee1975

But part of it is the public’s fault for spreading it by not following the rules ...

But there where so many chances to spread it while acting well with the rules

feelingverylazytoday · 11/01/2021 22:57

What the fuck is a 'narrative'?
We're being told to stick to the 'rules' to cut down on opportunities for the virus to transmit thus reducing the number of infections.
Christ almighty, the stupidity on this site is mindblowing sometimes.

Original poster

User158340 · 11/01/2021 22:57

@Dee1975

But part of it is the public’s fault for spreading it by not following the rules ...

This current crisis was caused by constant flip flopping over Christmas (and putting London back in tier 2 in December) because Boris was too scared to make a tough decision.

OP posts:

52andblue · 11/01/2021 22:58

Yes.
(to the OP's Qu / statement)

Againstmachine · 11/01/2021 23:11

Yep I keep seeing in social media , stating none of this is the government's fault. Which is clearly untrue.

I think people really love to blame each other.

Cleanlines · 11/01/2021 23:12

Yes, I believe it is. It gets people to look at individual rule breaches rather than the large amount of deaths from outbreaks in care homes and hospitals. These are the result, in main, from government failures and lessons not being learned.

Iggly · 11/01/2021 23:15

@Dee1975

But part of it is the public’s fault for spreading it by not following the rules ...

The government isn’t sharing information on where and how its spreading to back up this assertion.

So I agree with you OP.

Eat out to help out, opening schools, having Christmas bubbles - these were all perfectly acceptable things and I suspect have caused spikes. Plus the fuck up of test and trace....

The government needs to own it and take responsibility.

Elephant4 · 11/01/2021 23:15

Yes. OP. Definitely.

estornudar · 11/01/2021 23:16

Yes, but I don't think this is a new narrative. The government have been blaming the public for months to cover up a string of failures on their part.

HermannlovesPauline · 11/01/2021 23:19

Agree. Distract everyone from chronic NHS underfunding by getting all the plebs to blame each other for not following all the rulz

Oh and let’s not bother with closing non essential construction, manufacturing and let Dave the white van man go in as many houses as he likes, we won’t want to pay furlough or provide any financial help here either...

QueenOfTheDoubleWide · 11/01/2021 23:21

I think some people are determined to blame the government for everything with no acknowledgement that these are unprecedented times and we would have been even further up shit creek with no paddle if Corbyn had won the last election.

To get through this we all need to play our part and I think everyone is becoming frustrated with those who don't

Myalternate · 11/01/2021 23:22

No.

Pan2 · 11/01/2021 23:22

Of course it's an attempt to shift focus away from blatant govt failure, corruption and misuse of resources.

The analysis of this being a "vote Leave" campaign group, NOT a competent govt. is so true.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 11/01/2021 23:22

@estornudar

Yes, but I don't think this is a new narrative. The government have been blaming the public for months to cover up a string of failures on their part.

Agree

Iggly · 11/01/2021 23:22

@QueenOfTheDoubleWide

I think some people are determined to blame the government for everything with no acknowledgement that these are unprecedented times and we would have been even further up shit creek with no paddle if Corbyn had won the last election. To get through this we all need to play our part and I think everyone is becoming frustrated with those who don't

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

salmonskinjerky · 11/01/2021 23:23

Of course it is.

Pan2 · 11/01/2021 23:24

What the actual has ANY of this got to do with Corbyn?

Worst outcomes in all indices tells you everything you need to know.

RancidOldHag · 11/01/2021 23:24

It's the basic epidemiological truth

Until the vaccine rolls out to enough people, the only way to stop NHS, and with it so much else of society, collapsing is to stay the fuck away from each other.

The fewer contacts people have with others, the more of the economy can be saved.

And look at countries like Germany, also fearing health services will be overrun. It's not a uniquely British issue.

Trying to move the responsibility away from individual choice is just as wrong.

BananaPop2020 · 11/01/2021 23:24

Yes, the Government are ultimately responsible for this and lost any ground they had made up (after a slow start) with the Cummings fiasco. Things never recovered after this and it has been one thing after another.

Furrybootsyecomfy · 11/01/2021 23:25

Absolutely, OP. We knew it killed old people in Wuhan and Italy yet the policy was still to cram vulnerable elderly, untested people into nursing homes with scant PPE. The government chose to ignore any lessons from Operation Cygnus, and to farm out PPE and Test and Trace ops to their unqualified pals.

They’ve played a blinder in seeing mistrust amounts citizens and deflecting blame. I’d be interested to know if any social anthropologists had any say in their planning. Surely lockdown fatigue was an obvious factor as the pandemic wore on.
And before anybody asks, I’m an HCP who adheres strictly to lockdown. But I blame the government far more than I do the public.

Iggly · 11/01/2021 23:25

@RancidOldHag

It's the basic epidemiological truth

Until the vaccine rolls out to enough people, the only way to stop NHS, and with it so much else of society, collapsing is to stay the fuck away from each other.

The fewer contacts people have with others, the more of the economy can be saved.

And look at countries like Germany, also fearing health services will be overrun. It's not a uniquely British issue.

Trying to move the responsibility away from individual choice is just as wrong.

How can you blame individual choice when this government chose to open schools in September without a decent track and trace system in place?

That’s just one example.

Why are people so determined not to hold this government to account?

Pastanred · 11/01/2021 23:27

It has nothing to do with rules

God are people that stupid?! We could have all followed every rule and this still would have happened

Everyone’s at work!!

oatmilk4breakfast · 11/01/2021 23:28

Yes.

Apileofballyhoo · 11/01/2021 23:31

It's amazing how "but Corbyn" still gets brought up.

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