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>Are you implying that someone in government has alterior motives to desire a lockdown? They have obvious ulterior motives. Political motives, or ass-covering.

>Are you implying that someone in government has alterior motives to desire a lockdown? They have obvious ulterior motives. Political motives, or ass-covering. If they don't do a lockdown they will be utterly attacked by the opposition for 'not being proactive enough' no matter if there is only one more death. I believe this is the principal motive, health being a distant second. Remember, governments act first to get votes, second to help population.

nicoburns 5y ago
So… the government is acting in what they perceive the population overall wants. That motive doesn’t sound very ulterior to me.
seanmcdirmid 5y ago
Do you really mean that government acts primarily to avoid being voted out of office? Should we be shocked or disgusted by that? I guess someone like Putin doesn't have to be worried about being unelected, so they were able to go soft on the virus in Russia. But, I don't think that turned out well for them.
- serf 5y ago
  > Do you really mean that government acts primarily to avoid being voted out of office? Should we be shocked or disgusted by that? shocked? no. disgusted? yes. the ideal politician is one that works towards societies best interests, not one that maximizes time-in-office and career security. That isn't to say that one can't have one without the other, only to emphasize the fact that no political office was ever won on the promise of a lengthy career and self-interest.
  - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
    Politicians that do the right thing regardless of election prospects simply aren’t in power long enough (or even at all) for you to notice them. A real “survival bias” at work. The alternative (an autocracy) doesn’t work out any better, so even though our system has flaws, it is still better than the alternative.
zzzeek 5y ago
lockdowns are profoundly politically unpopular - from economics, to convenience, to the enormous burden of closing schools, no politician wants to lock down anything, for any amount of time, without an amazingly good reason, period.

nicoburns 5y ago

So… the government is acting in what they perceive the population overall wants. That motive doesn’t sound very ulterior to me.

seanmcdirmid 5y ago

Do you really mean that government acts primarily to avoid being voted out of office? Should we be shocked or disgusted by that? I guess someone like Putin doesn't have to be worried about being unelected, so they were able to go soft on the virus in Russia. But, I don't think that turned out well for them.

serf 5y ago
> Do you really mean that government acts primarily to avoid being voted out of office? Should we be shocked or disgusted by that? shocked? no. disgusted? yes. the ideal politician is one that works towards societies best interests, not one that maximizes time-in-office and career security. That isn't to say that one can't have one without the other, only to emphasize the fact that no political office was ever won on the promise of a lengthy career and self-interest.
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  Politicians that do the right thing regardless of election prospects simply aren’t in power long enough (or even at all) for you to notice them. A real “survival bias” at work. The alternative (an autocracy) doesn’t work out any better, so even though our system has flaws, it is still better than the alternative.

zzzeek 5y ago

lockdowns are profoundly politically unpopular - from economics, to convenience, to the enormous burden of closing schools, no politician wants to lock down anything, for any amount of time, without an amazingly good reason, period.