So the Covid restrictions are going and gone, and those who protested against the short-lived measures that were obviously going to end within coming months are of course claiming a great victory.
Does it matter? Is it a problem that those who didn’t want to get vaccinated, didn’t want to follow the mandates, believe the changes that have occurred or been announced are down to them? Is it a bad thing that the confidence of the not very bright is boostered?
What does it mean for NZ society, our genetic pool, if the anti vaxxers think they were right? It probably doesn’t change much, I imagine they always thought they were right despite all the smart people disagreeing with them. Will there be a run on Powerade to water the crops?
What will they find to complain about now? Perhaps they will join the hunt for Clarke Gayford, although I suspect many of them were already involved in that particular search party.
Perhaps the donations flowed at the feet of self appointed deity Brian Tamaki more than usual today as the flock delighted in their victory. Their freedom to give the money that would have been better spent on a winter coat or new shoes, heck even a lottery ticket, as a contribution to the Tamaki’s next luxury purchase – it’s what God would want, Brian says.
I hear on the radio business representatives, the ones that flailed about in anguish at the Covid restrictions affecting their bottom line, are now having a massive whine that even though many restrictions have been loosened punters are still choosing to stay away – and what are the government going to do about it?
It’s like a ghost town they clamour, like a lock-down except in name shrieks Viv Beck the would be Auckland mayor. Turns out a lot of people didn’t want to expose themselves to Covid regardless of whether there were safety precautions put in place by the government.
Of course industries like hospitality or central city retail don’t put their hand up and admit – yeah we weren’t doing that flash even before Covid. Turns out blaming Covid and/or the government, for the woes of sectors already in trouble is quite convenient.
Hospitality priced themselves out of the reach of many people - want to pay $15 for a beer – yeah nah. And who wants to go to retail stores in the CBD? The parking and traffic are expensive and a pain in the ass – why would you do it?
But sure enough faster than these business owners can say “we hate socialism” out come the hands reaching for a government handout – for the industry.
What will it mean for our fearless journalists ready and willing to ask the questions no one expected to hear? What will Hosking, Walls, and Soper from Newstalk ZB complain about now – well, other than the Prime Minister existing obviously.
What will Barry do now that he can’t advocate for al fresco dining? Will Mike Hosking leave for Australia as threatened, his work here done? How will Jason Walls show off by asking the dumbest, the most absurd, questions possible if there are fewer press conferences?
What of the politicians that have staked their reputations on the need to have a Covid approach more like the UK or the US? Chris Bishop, who has barked loudest and longest, posted himself deleting the Covid tracer app from his phone – what a guy, what a role model, what a message to send regarding a virus that may well develop new variants.
The only person to rival Chris Bishop in complaining about the government’s approach was Simon Bridges. Now I know we’re not supposed to speak ill of the departed, but he is not dead. He hasn’t gone to Luxon’s great departure lounge in the sky for surplus employees – or maybe he has.
You could give Bridges the benefit of the doubt that he is a nice guy leaving for family reasons, but then you remember everything he did or said in parliament, the way he voted on social issues, and you remember the guy was a complete jerk.
But he does have his own place in our Covid history, driving against lock-down regulations to get to Wellington because he had bad Wi-Fi in his garage, and apparently he didn’t want to be in his house with his family.
Like an avenging Jamie-Lee Ross white knuckling it through the night he was on a mission to get to Wellington was Simon – the health inquisition committee wasn’t going to run itself, and no one was expecting it.
So we think of the deluded, the opportunists, the courageous commentators, the purveyors of fine snake oil, the whingers. Still not satisfied, still no doubt blaming the government, blaming Jacinda, for everything. Let us but hope that from the removal of restrictions something wonderful might occur. Something that will bring great joy to the rest of us…
Ian Taylor might just fuck right off.
Probably not though.
Great column and absolutely on the button.
it was so strange to go into 2 shops this arvo and not scan in. i miss it. it makes me feel safe. we go to the city sometimes, now that we both have gold cards and use the bus for free. mostly though our own little burb is good enough.