Blame and Human Rights and Responsibilities

 A YouGov poll confirmed that the public has no idea.  I'm sorry if you are someone who took part in the poll but really.....what were you thinking?

The poll asked the question, "Who do you hold most responsible for the rise in coronavirus cases over the last month?" 58% blamed the public (other people, of course, not themselves) and 28% the government.  I was surprised.  I'm certain that if I wanted to vote conservative next time then I would be much less happy to blame the government but this isn't a partisan question.  You can recognise that there have been failures of government that have led to this and still think they are better than the other lot.  Certainly, at first, I was very glad that it was Boris and not Corbyn, although I suppose the free broadband would have been useful. 

I have a problem with blaming anyone for a virus.  Why do we have to feel it is someone's fault?  It's a virus, it's unpredictable, scary and because it's new it will overwhelm us with the number of people that get very sick all at the same time. Having said that there are things that we, the public and the government could have done to make the situation better or worse.  

The government have made it worse by:

1. Not closing our borders.

2. Not testing people on arrival

3.  Failing to set up an effective test and trace system.

4.  Giving unclear/confused and constantly changing messages to the public.

5. Encouraging the public to mix more than they would have naturally when there were still a lot of cases. (Eat out to help out)

6.  Sending children back to school for one day when they knew the situation was once again out of control.  

7.  Failing to set incentives for people to stay at home if they are possibly infectious. (Many people won't be paid if they have to self isolate without being sick!)

The public have made it worse by:

1.  Not following the rules

2. Following the rules (see 5 & 6)

3.  Being confused about the rules.

The reason I'm so upset by this poll, though, is that it frightens me.  When humans are in a situation that is scary and out of control, they like to blame other people.  It helps.  It makes us feel more in control.  When really scary things are happening (like war and pandemics) it is too easy to end up demonising a section of society and laying all the blame at their door.  This is why we have human rights.  It's to stop getting into a situation where a portion of society is rounded up and put in a camp.  

The first and most important right is the right to life and sometimes governments will have to limit other rights like the right to marry, or the right to free movement to preserve life.  These are not decisions for individuals to make on behalf of the whole of society.  A government is responsible for assessing the risks and asking the public to take the steps required.  

It can't be just me that thinks the government haven't quite got the balance of this right.