Failure of the Political Elite in Dealing with Covid in the UK (1)
- lisaluger
- Nov 5, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 5, 2023
(UK) I have enjoyed living in England, or more precisely in London, as a German for more than 25 years. I studied public health here, carried out evaluations in the health system, trained health professionals at university, married an Englishman, did engage in the local community; we closely followed the social and political developments and made our opinions known.
In recent years, we have had to watch helplessly as this country has changed. The United Kingdom, always known for eccentrics like the royal family, the businessman with bowler hat and umbrella, but also wealthy, conservative and influential people, is, unlike Germany, a country with pronounced arrogance of class, a social snobbery, and a deep gap between rich and poor, between educated and uneducated.
During the past few years, representatives of this wealthy, influential elite have exerted more and more influence on politicians and, thus, on the country’s politics. And this is not necessarily to the benefit of society as a whole.
Brexit is just one example of how large parts of the population were indoctrinated with brazen lies and slogans for flimsy profiling reasons to switch off their sense of reality and vote for Brexit. Right now (autumn 2021), we are experiencing the results: empty supermarket shelves, petrol stations without petrol, the mass emergency slaughter of pigs, milk being thrown away in huge quantities, and so on! Why? There is a shortage of skilled workers such as lorry drivers and the manufacturing food industry, and service sector workers from the EU who worked in the UK for years and then had to leave the UK because of Brexit.
There would be much more to say about Brexit, but that is a topic for another article series. So instead, my focus in this post is on the Covid 19 crisis and how the political elite deals with it.
The Government of Multimillionaires have no idea how much a litre of milk over a loaf of bread costs
Our current Conservative Government is not called for nothing, the Government of multimillionaires who have no idea how much a litre of milk or a loaf of bread costs. A closer look reveals that most cabinet members enjoyed an education at highly prestigious and costly public schools, many at Eton. Most went on to study at the prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge. So people have known each other for decades and have friendly, economical and sometimes family ties. In addition, the current cabinet members were chosen for their loyalty to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Brexit ambitions. Specific skills, knowledge, experience and the ability to innovate, all needed in government work, were probably not a selection criterion. At least what the track record shows.
In the Corona years of 2020/21, reinforced by Brexit, it became clear as never before that elites are definitely not the appropriate people’s or government’s representatives in a crisis. Their instilled fundamental attitude is profoundly undemocratic; the principle of equality features only to a limited extent in their socialisation.
A Latin saying sums up the elitist self-image. “Quod licet jovi non licet bovi.” Translated, this means,
“What Jupiter is allowed to do, the ox is not allowed to do."
This elitist attitude of aloofness and superiority of a specific class has always annoyed me. Still, in the Covid crisis, it has cost lives and livelihoods because of the incompetence and detachment of reality that goes with it.
To avoid losing sight of the political elite’s failure in the UK, I have spent months researching publicly available sources. Rather than giving in to my anger, frustration, and helplessness emotionally in the form of ranting and screaming, I decided to write down the factual, fact-based background. I am trying to document the ruling elite’s failure in dealing with Covid by giving examples and making the stereotype of elitist behaviour visible.
We must not forget the irresponsibility and incompetence of the ruling elites in this crisis. That is what I am trying to achieve here.
My analysis is divided into several areas and includes:
An example of the physical embodiment of arrogance, a sense of entitlement, disrespect and contempt for Parliament
Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons, is seen relaxed across three seats sprawled during an emergency debate in Parliament on Brexit ahead of a crucial vote. See below.
that elite
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