Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (4 Viewers)

[PVA]

It's alright lads, Hancock has cracked it!

It's not PPE or tests that social care workers need.

It's a new badge.

 

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[CCFCSteve]

Every time I see it it makes me uncomfortable. Like you say, fair play to the guy but he’s paid taxes hi while life. We all pay taxes now. That’s what should be funding the NHS not some mad go fund me.

I think we just take it for what it is, a lovely old guy wanting to do his bit. Legend !

ps the NHS has currently got a blank cheque from the government at the moment. My charity preference at the moment would probably be for the homeless as guessing with lack of footfall around city centres the homeless will be struggling more than ever

 

[CCFCSteve]

It's alright lads, Hancock has cracked it!

It's not PPE or tests that social care workers need.

It's a new badge.

I have to say that was the most cringeworthy announcement of this whole nightmare. The guy just lacks a sense of general/self awareness.

 

[skybluetony176]

It's alright lads, Hancock has cracked it!

It's not PPE or tests that social care workers need.

It's a new badge.

Phew. I’ll sleep easy tonight.

 

[skybluetony176]

I have to say that was the most cringeworthy announcement of this whole nightmare. The guy just lacks a sense of general/self awareness.

You can’t get in the cabinet without it.

 

[shmmeee]

I see the world bank are cancelling debt to the most debt ridden countries to enable them to spend on fighting coronavirus. Nice move, though this, like the NHS debt, makes me wonder why it couldn’t have been done anyway. Most of these countries are fighting poverty full time anyway.

I have to say that was the most cringeworthy announcement of this whole nightmare. The guy just lacks a sense of general/self awareness.

It’s a nice idea in isolation TBF, but on top of pay and/or PPE announcements not instead of surely?

 

[SkyBlueCRJ]

I may be being stupid here, but we live in a world of global trade, couldn’t we just buy them in? IIRC Germany were doing tests for Italy at one point.

Looking at the country by country rates were below places like Equador and Turkey, do these places have large in vitro diagnostics industries?

Don’t mean this to come across as accusatory, all genuine questions sorry.

Global supply chains are still in the toilet, manufacturing is at an all-time low due to labour shortages, shipping costs are at an all time high due to demand and we're currently in the midst of a capacity crunch, so it's becoming a huge struggle for importers to get anything into the country. If anything it would probably be easier, quicker and cheaper to manufacture them in the UK.

 

[CCFCSteve]

I see the world bank are cancelling debt to the most debt ridden countries to enable them to spend on fighting coronavirus. Nice move, though this, like the NHS debt, makes me wonder why it couldn’t have been done anyway. Most of these countries are fighting poverty full time anyway.



It’s a nice idea in isolation TBF, but on top of pay and/or PPE announcements not instead of surely?

I really hope a majority of our international aid budget is focussed on helping developing nations through this crisis !

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

What’s happening in France and is that us in 2 weeks?

I was speaking to my mate last night who lives there. Whilst their "lockdown" is stricter in theory, he tells me that many people & small businesses have been flouting it, and he, himself has been bending the rules with regards the print-out permission slips and has never been stopped or questioned by the local gendarmes, who, in his words, "sit idly by, continuing their normal practice of leching at women & harrasing the immigrants"

 

[Liquid Gold]

World Health Organisation::

What borders on stupidity?

Mexico and Canada.

 

[Ian1779]

PR. Seemingly large sections of society are convinced that Boris is some sort of Tory Jesus and therefore the government are beyond reproach. That’s good PR for you.

‘Rising’ from hospital on Easter might have helped...

 

[SkyBlueCharlie9]

Global supply chains are still in the toilet, manufacturing is at an all-time low due to labour shortages, shipping costs are at an all time high due to demand and we're currently in the midst of a capacity crunch, so it's becoming a huge struggle for importers to get anything into the country. If anything it would probably be easier, quicker and cheaper to manufacture them in the UK.

Sadly we are country that doesn't manufacture at same levels we used to. It was a sector that nationally we have not valued for many decades. Design and manufacturing needs to be part of national vision for rebuilding after this mess. The cabinet think small badges are a solution to health catastrophe...... very little hope from this PR obsessed bunch.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Three things today

1-USA now exporting infected Guatemalans so that the poorer country can suffer. Great well done trump
2- heartfelt apology from eu to Italy. Beautiful and necessary they were let down and our leaders can’t apologise for letting old people back in homes to infect and kill their friends.
3- video of Angela merkel talking science about infection rates and health care

Some excellent Leadership out there and still some very poor

 

[Astute]

Every time I see it it makes me uncomfortable. Like you say, fair play to the guy but he’s paid taxes hi while life. We all pay taxes now. That’s what should be funding the NHS not some mad go fund me.

The money isn't going directly to the NHS. It is going to the organisation's that work alongside the NHS that are not paid for by our government or the tax we pay but by donations and fund raising.

If anyone wants to make a point how about saying why organisations like Macmillans are not state funded. Because it is a disgrace.

 

[Astute]

I see the world bank are cancelling debt to the most debt ridden countries to enable them to spend on fighting coronavirus. Nice move, though this, like the NHS debt, makes me wonder why it couldn’t have been done anyway. Most of these countries are fighting poverty full time anyway.



It’s a nice idea in isolation TBF, but on top of pay and/or PPE announcements not instead of surely?

Is this a new announcement? Can't find it anywhere. But a couple of days ago it was announced that payments didn't need to be made during the period of the virus being with us.

I hope so because payments being suspended and debts being written off are nowhere near the same. The richer nations taking a single hit would be a massive life saver for untold millions.

 

[MalcSB]

I think we just take it for what it is, a lovely old guy wanting to do his bit. Legend !

ps the NHS has currently got a blank cheque from the government at the moment. My charity preference at the moment would probably be for the homeless as guessing with lack of footfall around city centres the homeless will be struggling more than ever

I think it’s £6,5 billion. No doubt the forensic accountants will be all over the expenditure at some point.

 

[shmmeee]

Three things today

1-USA now exporting infected Guatemalans so that the poorer country can suffer. Great well done trump
2- heartfelt apology from eu to Italy. Beautiful and necessary they were let down and our leaders can’t apologise for letting old people back in homes to infect and kill their friends.
3- video of Angela merkel talking science about infection rates and health care

Some excellent Leadership out there and still some very poor

This crisis I’ve started respecting Piers Morgan and wishing we had Christian Democrat Merkel in charge as a left wing atheist.

It’s all a little disturbing.

 

[Astute]

I was speaking to my mate last night who lives there. Whilst their "lockdown" is stricter in theory, he tells me that many people & small businesses have been flouting it, and he, himself has been bending the rules with regards the print-out permission slips and has never been stopped or questioned by the local gendarmes, who, in his words, "sit idly by, continuing their normal practice of leching at women & harrasing the immigrants"

My wife has seen lots of people pulled over. Even had someone pulled over outside our house and they were given a fine.

'Coronavirus is not on holiday': France warns citizens against Easter travel

At the start of this month 5.8m people had been stopped and over 360,000 fines given out.

 

[shmmeee]

On the blank cheque thing I wouldn’t be so sure. I was watching some stuff with local council leaders the other day who were saying they’d been told at the start “spend what you need and we’ll sort it” but in recent meetings with the government they were trying to row back from that.

Like everything else best to wait and see what actually happens once all this is over. I’m still expecting massive cuts to services and public sector pay freezes to “pay back the debt”. Tories gonna Tory.

 

[tisza]

taking it down to "simple" numbers to show how small the margins are and the reasoning behind the concepts of isolation/groupings/distancing

 

[Astute]

This crisis I’ve started respecting Piers Morgan and wishing we had Christian Democrat Merkel in charge as a left wing atheist.

It’s all a little disturbing.

Don't you like Atheists?

 

[shmmeee]

Don't you like Atheists?

Im the left wing atheist.

Merkel is a right wing Christian.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Three things today

1-USA now exporting infected Guatemalans so that the poorer country can suffer. Great well done trump
2- heartfelt apology from eu to Italy. Beautiful and necessary they were let down and our leaders can’t apologise for letting old people back in homes to infect and kill their friends.
3- video of Angela merkel talking science about infection rates and health care

Some excellent Leadership out there and still some very poor

She’s a bright lady, Merkel. Think she’s got some kind of degree/doctorate in science. One of the few world leaders who commands respect

ps whilst I’m sure the apology was genuine/heartfelt, the EU had no choice Pete. The immediate reaction of the individual nations was not what you would expect. It will be interesting to see how it’s received

 

[Astute]

Im the left wing atheist.

Merkel is a right wing Christian.

Ah. Thought it was worded to say she is left wing atheist

At least we have our religious beliefs in common

 

[shmmeee]

taking it down to "simple" numbers to show how small the margins are and the reasoning behind the concepts of isolation/groupings/distancing

I do think this is what you get when you elect someone intelligent who is clearly across the detail.

We must’ve had the two stupidest candidates for PM in history to choose from last election. I hope it never happens again.

 

[CCFCSteve]

taking it down to "simple" numbers to show how small the margins are and the reasoning behind the concepts of isolation/groupings/distancing

Very interesting video and clearly explained by Merkel

 

[Astute]

She’s a bright lady, Merkel. Think she’s got some kind of degree/doctorate in science. One of the few world leaders who commands respect

ps whilst I’m sure the apology was genuine/heartfelt, the EU had no choice Pete. The immediate reaction of the individual nations was not what you would expect. It will be interesting to see how it’s received

The apology was for not sending PPE to Italy that had been ordered but kept for their own people. But Germany and France doing such a thing hasn't hit the news that much. Shows how hard it has been to purchase such items.

 

[CCFCSteve]

I do think this is what you get when you elect someone intelligent who is clearly across the detail.

We must’ve had the two stupidest candidates for PM in history to choose from last election. I hope it never happens again.

To be fair to Johnson, for all his faults he’s no idiot. Unfortunately I find he never conveys his points clearly (poor delivery style but that’s just him as an individual I guess)

 

[Astute]

I do think this is what you get when you elect someone intelligent who is clearly across the detail.

We must’ve had the two stupidest candidates for PM in history to choose from last election. I hope it never happens again.

Two leaders of parties not fit to run the UK but an electorate that also tried to make out they were noth the man for the job.

 

[Astute]

To be fair to Johnson, for all his faults he’s no idiot. Unfortunately I find he never conveys his points clearly (poor delivery style but that’s just him as an individual I guess)

The bloke is a fool.

It is only the situation we found ourselves in that gave him the chance of becoming PM.

 

[CCFCSteve]

The bloke is a fool.

It is only the situation we found ourselves in that gave him the chance of becoming PM.

don’t disagree with the second comment

 

[Deleted member 5849]

To be fair to Johnson, for all his faults he’s no idiot.

Depends in what circumstances. He's obviously good at positioning himself, and his brand.

Not so sure you can call him wise and thoughtful, however!

 

[shmmeee]

I’ve seen no evidence Johnson is smart. His academic performance has generally been poor considering his background and he’s got where he is because he’s charismatic rather than through talent. He’s also failed in pretty much every job he’s had and in politics has always relied on the team around him to do the actual work.

He’s generally shown a poor understanding of technical issues and even on things he’s supposed to be into like history has a habit of not doing the leg work and making basic factual errors.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Depends in what circumstances. He's obviously good at positioning himself, and his brand.

Not so sure you can call him wise and thoughtful, however!

Haha, no, I’d also choose my words a carefully when it comes to Johnson ! I was just saying he’s not stupid

 

[CCFCSteve]

I’ve seen no evidence Johnson is smart. His academic performance has generally been poor considering his background and he’s got where he is because he’s charismatic rather than through talent.

He’s generally shown a poor understanding of technical issues and even on things he’s supposed to be into like history has a habit of not doing the leg work and making basic factual errors.

I wouldn’t say poor academic performance (I wouldn’t mind having a 2:1 from Oxford) but each to their own. Just wouldn’t class him as stupid personally