I think we're under-calling the negative effects of the lockdowns. The economy seems substantially less stable, inflation isn't going to get attributed to the COVID response but realistically is related. Humans suddenly seem to be facing a bunch of energy and food problems that weren't feeling quite so urgent in 2019. The global situation w.r.t war is suddenly a lot more tense and there are serious concerns about several nuclear-armed nations moving their armies about.<p>No scientist is going to link those things to the COVID response, because the link is too vague. And there is a chance that maybe all this stuff was going to happen anyway and the timing is a coincidence.<p>But there is a good reason that "freedom" is a higher civilisational value in the west than "be healthy". Allowing small councils to decide that people can't go to church, meet their neighbours or run a business is a very effective way to bring down a civilisation. It is impossible to do that and enjoy a high standard of living.