I am so surprised by this thread on MN, it is like stumbling on to a strange corner of reddit.
The pandemic found out a big flaw in the west’s lazy libertarianism: we don’t care about one another or society.
In the Eastern democracies, it would be unheard of for someone to not wear a mask with a circulating illness. The idea of prioritising one’s own petty wants (not ‘rights’ or needs) over others’ health and lives would lead to ostracism.
We have replaced our churches and community clubs with gyms and coffee shops, temples to the new gods of narcissism and social capital. Of course, these are only affordable to about half the population and heavily tiered, with membership of an ‘exclusive’ gym and a personal ‘trainer’ (not that people generally are actually training, but just trying to look good) being signs of success.
The current wailings and gnashing of teeth is the resentment of the upper middle classes against the real elite for whom travel, personal training etc still continue in gyms at home and private jets. It is not nice to be made to feel just like one of the masses again.
Of course, trying to control the disease is a low priority if you are young, live in a detached house and can pretty much choose where to work or the risks to take. Many also know that they will, by hook or by crook, access excellent medical care if they do get sick and have the time and money to keep themselves in excellent physical shape.
Meanwhile, in tenement blocks in areas where most here won’t even have heard of, COVID can run rife through populations already vulnerable through ‘pre-existing conditions’, basically having lived a hard life.
The vaccination programme is a modern ‘miracle’ of great minds pulling together for the good of humanity. Again, you can criticise it for its imperfections, but we will probably vaccinate humanity within 5-10 years.
If there is a conspiracy, it is the constant protection of the asset rich against natural asset falls and the increasing crony capitalism that we are seeing. And, for that to continue, we need to have the bread and circuses to keep the middle classes happy. We need retail therapy, gyms and dining to be open and, of course, plenty of professional sport. COVID is a massive inconvenience for your average crony, people have too much time on their hands to examine what is actually happening.
To be honest, the conspiracy theories are balm to those who want to preserve the status quo. When everything opens up again, as it will, these can be shown to be probably wrong. And the mid level bankers, management consultants, wealthy SAHP etc will be happy and back in their boxes.