DAVE ROSS

Ross: Lockdown fatigue sets in from Washington to Belgium

Nov 22, 2021, 5:31 AM | Updated: 9:34 am

lockdown...

Protestors attend a demonstration against the reinforced COVID lockdown measures from the Belgium government. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

(AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

This last weekend was the most normal I’ve felt in a while. We were back attending mass at St. James downtown, most of the choir was back, the congregation was singing along – masked up, of course – and I almost shook Father Ryan’s hand on the way out (I caught myself just in time).

That’s how close to normal it was.

Then I got home later and started going through the news feeds, and I hear a report from the CBS news desk about a second night of violence in the Netherlands, where dozens were arrested in what police are calling “anti-lockdown disorder” after a new partial lockdown went into effect last week, following a major surge in coronavirus hospitalizations.

I’ve been to the Netherlands a couple of times and it tends to be a very orderly country. They tread lightly on drugs and sex, but a study last year found that when it came to COVID, people essentially locked themselves down, without being forced to. The “Intelligent Lockdown” they called it – motivated by people wanting to do what was best for the country.

But it didn’t prevent COVID from spiking again and filling the hospitals. And when the government declared a mandatory lockdown, out came the rioters, setting fire to bicycles in the bicycle capital of Europe! That’s how angry they were.

Same thing in Belgium – thousands marching in Brussels, to protest vaccine passes, which keep unvaccinated people out of bars. So these are all sober people, and they still got out of control.

And that’s not all.

CBS reports that in nearby Austria, which has some of the highest rates of COVID and lowest rates of vaccination in Europe, thousands took to the streets of Vienna on Saturday after the government announced a full nationwide lockdown starting Monday, as well as mandatory vaccine requirements starting in February.

At least the Austrians were orderly – except for a few people who brought out their Nazi swag and got arrested.

But if people in these normally compliant countries are out of patience, I can only imagine what would happen here if we have to respond to another spike.

So please, even if you feel life is getting back to normal, keep protecting yourself, in whatever way works best for you. Because, number one, all of us here at KIRO love people who listen to radio, and we don’t want to lose you. But also because another spike could lead to more mandates, at a time when all of us — especially parents stuck at home with fidgety kids — are about to snap.

So, if we love freedom, and I know we do, then staying healthy is not just good medical advice, it’s also our patriotic duty.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

Ross: Lockdown fatigue sets in from Washington to Belgium