It looks to me like we're headed towards a new Brexit-type culture war. Let's call them, for now, the:
Lockdowners Vs Openers.
The former want to prioritise health and keep people indoors until COVID-19 is under control.
Openers worry about jobs and are willing to take risks.
Lockdowners Vs Openers.
The former want to prioritise health and keep people indoors until COVID-19 is under control.
Openers worry about jobs and are willing to take risks.
Still early days of this new divide, but you can see how partisan commentary in some media outlets is driving polarisation.
This mirrors the debate in 2016 around Brexit that quickly turned into an ugly mess.
This mirrors the debate in 2016 around Brexit that quickly turned into an ugly mess.
Like Brexit, I think there's a fair amount of stereotyping and conspiracy theories on both sides.
Lockdowners think Openers want to kill (older) people.
Openers think Lockdowners want to destroy economy and are too scared about everything.
Lockdowners think Openers want to kill (older) people.
Openers think Lockdowners want to destroy economy and are too scared about everything.
Though this new divide partly maps to left-right, it doesn't feel that straightforward.
Lots of Lockdowners distrust the government too, and include elder conservatives worried about their health.
Lots of Openers are more at risk from dying and have less at financial risk.
Lots of Lockdowners distrust the government too, and include elder conservatives worried about their health.
Lots of Openers are more at risk from dying and have less at financial risk.
We will end lockdowns soon enough. This will then move to constant arguments on how restricted life should be to protect people.
Some will want to travel the world again. Some will call that irresponsible.
We might be spared the intense polarisation but the U.S. be pretty bad.
Some will want to travel the world again. Some will call that irresponsible.
We might be spared the intense polarisation but the U.S. be pretty bad.
