Lockdown Loopiness.

Britain took another step out of lockdown today. Non-essential shops were allowed to re-open with distancing measures in place. And in light of this major leap forward the BBC headlines have been shouting from the rooftops all day about the fact that people are out and about buying things again. 

There are pictures of crowds queuing for the major stores, and they interviewed people to ask: ‘What did you buy today?’ They featured photographs of people proudly displaying what they had bought today and looking quite delirious about it all. One man had bought a watch strap. (A watch strap… This is the BBC national news headlines we’re talking about here. Bedlam beckons.)

But what I found just a little ironic was the fact that after all the crowing about how the level of CO2 emissions had fallen wonderfully during lockdown, the first thing we celebrate when restrictions are eased is the fact that the masses are now re-engaging with rampant consumption.

‘Well, of course they are,’ you might offer. ‘People need to re-engage with mass consumption in order to help the economy back onto its feet.’

I know. That’s the sad bit.