Ah yes, the "essential" businesses. Like Home Depot. But not your local hardware store. Or Walmart. But not your local convenience store. Or bars that served food, but not bars that only had drinks. The government suddenly decided it had the authority to tell you what was and was not "essential". Although I think small business owners would find their businesses "essential" to survive.
Those closures were ridiculously arbitrary and they resulted in countless permanent small business closures. I mean, I guess if you think it's "reasonable" to give up your livelihood and everything you've worked for your entire life. But I can understand why this "drew loads of ire".
Likewise, closing schools had a significantly negative impact on out student's education. Apparently, some felt the price of "protecting" our students during COVID was robbing them of their education and life experiences that they'll never get back. I'll never forget the parade through our town of high school seniors in their cars for graduation in 2020. They went to school for 13 years and never got to experience the joy and satisfaction of walking across the stage at their commencement to receive their diploma in front of their friends and family. That was taken away from them because of the inane and arbitrary forced closures. I can also understand why that "drew loads of ire".
I think this is why many people have convinced themselves that we had to do something, even iff they knew it wouldn't help. Otherwise, they have to admit they were just part of a big performance in which they willingly surrendered their rights for absolutely nothing.
