Friends, don't be sad. Don't be disappointed. Don't expect better. They will never fess up that they did wrong. People in power don't do things like that, because they don't have to. People who obeyed people in power don't do things like that, because they don't feel responsible. People in media who connected the former to the latter don't do things like that, because they're despicable.
They will not apologize when the vaccines fail.
They will not apologize when side-effect risks become widely known.
They will not apologize when they realize vaccine mandates are cruel and unnecessary.
They will not apologize when "non medical" masks are proven useless and counterproductive.
They will not apologize when the curve flattens but they don't let up.
They will not apologize when goalposts just don't stop moving.
They will not apologize when it becomes obvious that children never were vulnerable.
They will not apologize about what they have done to two years of young people's education and social life.
They will not apologize to people they taught to hate and fear their friends.
They will not apologize for terrorizing children with accusations of killing grandma.
They will not apologize for terrorizing grandma with accusations of killing children.
They will not apologize to people losing access to fitness & health facilities.
They will not apologize to businessmen for two years of unemployment.
They will not apologize to jurisdictions that got it right all along.
They will not apologize to those whom they demonized because of dissent.
They will not apologize for overstating their own confidence and overreaching their just powers.
I know they will not apologize because most of the above have already happened, and they haven't apologized. But do not despair, you were right, and that needs to be enough. Hang in there. And to those friends who obeyed, but are starting to see the contradictions, starting to realize you've been played, welcome. No grudges. Let's clean up together.
Agree with the form and substance of this post completely. The institutions that staked all their credibility on their plans turning out a certain way were never going to take responsibility for when the outcome didn't go as planned. It's up to people to live their lives in ways that don't depend on these institutions so much going forward.
It's been a crazy ride this year. I can attest that the current situation is far more draining and distracting than the initial 'lockdowns'. The unsettling spectacle of people and institutions furiously burning bridges with each other & with the public right now is far worse than any possible anxiety about catching a disease no matter how deadly or obnoxious. As far as I can tell, what happened is that the medical system held a referendum on how many people trust it, enough people said 'no' that the government didn't like the result, and now institutions are throwing a five-alarm temper tantrum.
Amid all of this I'm just trying to rebuild my social life. I think I've identified about three sources of sociability I'm in need of, and I'm currently satisfying only one of the three. The only small upside to the whole thing is that it brought some clarity as to what those sources ought to be, and what was extraneous.
For what they have done to young people such as you is unforgivable. Do whatever you need to do, you owe them nothing.