The Pros and Cons of Perpetual Lockdown: A Reassessment of Survival vs. Economy

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The world has become accustomed to lockdowns, yet the question remains: is it really necessary to open up and risk future surges? Alternatively, shouldn't we consider maintaining our current lockdowns to ensure everyone's survival? This article explores the underlying concepts and the practical implications of such a scenario.

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Survival vs. Economy

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While the pandemic has taken its toll on many aspects of life, it is crucial to prioritize human survival over economic interests. Many argue that the lockdowns are aimed at protecting lives, but at what cost? Keith's perspective highlights the importance of human survival: 'We wouldn’t need to be concerned about wars, the environment, deforestation, late capitalism, marital infidelity, and death by chocolate if we stayed under lockdown.' However, this statement misrepresents the broader impacts of lockdowns on society.

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The Necessity of Human Interaction and Economic Activities

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Lockdowns, by their very nature, restrict human interaction and economic activities. Keith argues that these activities are essential for survival. 'Humans also need to interact physically to create new humans you see.' The underlying message here is that survival is dependent on physical and social interactions, which are inherently linked to economic activities. Keith’s comment highlights the fundamental need for human interaction in various aspects of life.

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Moreover, humans are required to produce and grow things, and to fix them. This includes the growing of food, providing power, and ensuring the delivery of goods and services. These tasks necessitate physical presence and cannot be entirely substituted by automation or remote work. Keith's observation that 'People are spending their savings and governments are racking up debt' underscores the finite capacity of both individuals and governments to sustain prolonged lockdowns.

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The Inevitability of Partial Lockdowns

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Keith questions why we cannot stay locked down forever, pointing out that the current lockdowns have carved out exceptions for essential personnel. He argues that a ‘perpetual total lockdown’ would require a cessation of essential services, such as the transport of goods, the growing of food, and the production of power and clean water. This would lead to a breakdown in the supply chain and a catastrophic failure in providing essential services to everyone.

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Keith further emphasizes that the concept of a ‘forever lockdown’ is impractical. 'Unless everyone everywhere is self-sufficient in regards to food, water, power, clothing and everything else in their life… then a complete lockdown would be impossible.' This is because there would be a cessation of essential services, and those workers who ensure the supply of these services would eventually have to venture outside to work, risking exposure to the virus.

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The Economic and Sustainable Implications

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While the argument for a complete lockdown is theoretically sound, the practical implications are severe. Keith points out that a prolonged lockdown would eventually result in hyperinflation or a complete collapse of the economy as governments run out of money to provide for their citizens. He suggests that the current approach, which involves allowing essential services to continue while putting economic activities on hold, is a more sustainable solution.

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In conclusion, the question of whether to maintain perpetual lockdowns or to open up and allow necessary economic activities to resume is not simple. It requires a balanced approach that prioritizes human survival while acknowledging the inevitable need for economic activities. The challenge lies in finding a sustainable model that can ensure the well-being of individuals and societies without causing a collapse in essential services.

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Key Takeaways:

" "" "The pandemic has raised concerns about the balance between human survival and economic activities." "Physical and social interactions are crucial for human survival, making perpetual lockdowns impractical." "A balanced approach that allows essential services to continue while resuming certain economic activities is more sustainable." "" "

Keywords:

" "" "Lockdown" "Economy" "Sustainability" "Automation"