Same Old, Same Old...

Where have we seen this pattern before? A new Covid variant is announced, the information about it is understandably conflicting, but it is marked as a 'variant of concern'. When taxed as to their plans in response, the government shies away from plan 'B' and continues apace with its laissez faire 'let's see what happens' approach. Up until recently, most of the British public have reacted well and complied with the restrictions inevitably imposed in a global pandemic, despite the vacillations, dual standards and false starts - not to mention the financial sleaze - of the government. We are on the whole genuinely sensible - as are most of the human race - and will generally do anything that is logical and reasonably asked of us in such a situation. The problem is that when your government sends out so many conflicting signals, the margins of sensible society start to rear their heads big time - the anti-vaxxers, flat-earthers and sundry other tinfoil-hat-wearing loons, and start to muddy the waters, influencing the mainstream via social media and the internet. Three cases in the UK so far: it won't stay at that level for very long, and yet it will be Tuesday next before changes are made to public advice on  how to behave henceforth - another delay in decision making - we all know the drill by now: just make up your minds in realtime, you lot. It's not brain surgery or rocket science.