Current Affairs

[Midlandslass]

I wish there was a like button on this site.
So much negativity, people looking to politicise an unprecedented situation.
The government are doing their best, listening to the experts but still being slated by every Tom d**k and Harry who know better

[oldbluefox]

Germany has a much better health and social care system than we do, but they also pay much more in taxes than we do. Just saying.
We have too many who would complain about high taxation or who do their level best to avoid paying the taxes they should and they are usually the ones shouting loudest. The rest of us just get on with it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Germany has a much better health and social care system than we do, but they also pay much more in taxes than we do. Just saying.
We have too many who would complain about high taxation or who do their level best to avoid paying the taxes they should and they are usually the ones shouting loudest. The rest of us just get on with it.

Yes spot on. We have a friend who lives in Germany and they pay a specific substantial levy on top of general taxation for their health care. I can imagine the cries of woe if such a system was introduced here.

When people here say "the government should spend more on x" they mostly don't understand that the government has no money. It is ours that they take from us in tax and redistribute. I don't recall anybody saying "I should spend more on the health service / social care / the police / paying benefits to others".

I've seen plenty saying we should give health workers a pay rise after this. I've seen no-one saying I'll pay for it.

[oldbluefox]

Germany has a much better health and social care system than we do, but they also pay much more in taxes than we do. Just saying.
We have too many who would complain about high taxation or who do their level best to avoid paying the taxes they should and they are usually the ones shouting loudest. The rest of us just get on with it.

The Germans also get a better pension than do pensioners here BUT they pay more into the pension pot. Anyone who compares what we do in this country with what happens in other countries is naive. Messrs Peston, Kuennsberg, Rigby et al please note. It may help to prevent you asking more stupid questions about why Germany has fared better than we have.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm as frustrated as others with the stupid questions, but maybe I can offer an insight as to why they're asking them, from my years in the business.

The main role for any reporter in an interview is to ask they questions they believe their listeners/viewers/readers want answered. That of course is slanted by who they are working for. If it's the newspapers they will reflect the political views of their paper and will also aim to support or undermine any particular party.

But if we're thinking impartially I think it is likely the questions most people are asking will be when and how it will end. And possibly why are be doing better or worse than other countries. Of course a lot of us know there are no answers to those yet but sadly a large chunk of the British population are not as literate or well informed as many on here. The daily responses to Facebook updates from our local paper shows that only too clearly. Only yesterday one muppet was saying this lockdown is ridiculous because it's not working, people are still catching it, we might as well go out.

The reporters know they are stupid questions too but feel they have to keep on asking them. Of course they hope that one day they'll be the one who gets an answer.

Another factor is that the government is giving a daily press conference which is partly very repetitive but also gives the only information there is, so there are no sensible questions to ask. Many, many years ago the BBC radio news reader one day announced that there was no news that day. The end. That could never happen today.

News organisations have invested in providing hours of news coverage every day. I mentioned before the problem of rolling news. They have 24 hours to fill with something. Even on the main channels there at least two half hour bulletins per day and many shorter ones too, as well as the various current affairs shows. They have to fill them with something but actually what they've got will only make five or ten minutes at best. And with all the CV stuff going on there is very little else going on. The world has shut down so a lot of the lesser stories we'd normally get just aren't happening. And which station is going to be the first to say they're cutting their bulletins down?

A further factor which is steering the debate is that parliament is shut down. Frankly the opposition has been useless for some time but right now there is no oversight in the House of Commons. The government was a daily broadcast in which it dictates the agenda and the length and no-one else in politics can challenge it. So the media does have a genuine role in putting forward alternative points of view, and of course they're all going to be negative, because Sir Know-It-All and the unions and agitators and the rest are simply not going to highlight what the government is doing well. Of course that's not everything. They are only human and I bet they're working 18 hour days to do what they can, but balls will be dropped. The fact that Sir KIA and others keep harping on about the same few things proves they're getting a lot right.

But I'm not going to get into a debate about the politics. Merely trying to give an insight into the way journalists are thinking, while agreeing I'm pissed off with them too! Which is why I watch the updates each evening and largely ignore the rest.

[Frank Manning]

Mervyn, just a small point. I don't dislike Boris because of Brexit. That is over for me. I just look at him and see a philanderer and a clown. Had he been performing at the press briefings I am confident that bluster waving arms and obfuscation would be the order of the day.

[Gill W]

I'm avoiding reading a lot of the posts on the forum at the moment - it is getting like the dreaded B word arguments all over again and honestly I can't handle it so please be kind xxx

Completely agree with you Jan.

I know I'll get a landslide of disbelieving replies, but I don't care if the current government is Conservative, Labour or anything else. If I felt they were doing a good job I would say so. But, I believe that they are not, so I will say that. However, It doesn't stop me saying that Rishi Sunak is doing a good job as chancellor and that he's excellent at the daily briefings. He's only been in his post for weeks, and it's a true case of 'cometh the hour, cometh the man'. A future PM,

I'm not a party political person, so I don't really understand the need to constantly berate those seen as political opponents, and I also find it quite odd that a loyalty to a political party means that they can't question they way things are being done.


But, it's the way things are. When it gets too bad, I walk away from the forum for a while.

I am sorry if anything I might have said has upset you, or any other posters. I mean no harm, I just have opinions!

[Gill W]

Mervyn, just a small point. I don't dislike Boris because of Brexit. That is over for me. I just look at him and see a philanderer and a clown. Had he been performing at the press briefings I am confident that bluster waving arms and obfuscation would be the order of the day.

I was just about to respond to that point.

I don't judge a person's behaviour or performance by what party they belong to or support, or what they said about Brexit. It's about what's happening now. I said in my previous post that I'm not a party political person, and I think that confuses people who have a strong political attachment to a party

[Gill W]

Of what benefit will it be to you to know a timetable, unless, like me, you're desparate to know when hairdressers will reopen.

Things are getting desperate here, I might have to get my husband to cut my hair!

(But it’s not about me, it’s about all of us)

Unfortunately, throughout all of this, the government has had to be put under pressure to act. Closing the schools, cancelling events, lockdown, testing, care homes - the government had to be pressured to action rather than leading the way. I wish it wasn’t like this, but it is.

Gill, you and I will never see eye to eye on this govt, for me the govt have throughout taken the advice of the experts, they resisted closing schools because the experts view was that children would not spread the virus as readily as adults, and it was important to keep them in school to enable parents to continue working as long as possible. The same with all the other issues, and so far they seem to be proving as valid as most other European countries. Testing and PPE delays have been due to the massively increased demand, and with the exception of Germany and South Korea, testing has not so far improved infection rates, ICU needs or mortality rates. Now if your twitter friends are stating otherwise, then I truly believe they are bending the facts to suit their own political positions.

You asked me to be 'more circumspect'. Yet here you are, going on about Twitter again, and implying, once again, that I can't form my own opinions and rely on people on Twitter to tell me what to think.

Please, have the decency to afford me a little respect after all this time.

[Manoverboard]

Mervyn, just a small point. I don't dislike Boris because of Brexit. That is over for me. I just look at him and see a philanderer and a clown. Had he been performing at the press briefings I am confident that bluster waving arms and obfuscation would be the order of the day.

What actually matters is what he is capable of achieving in this debacle.

If you worked for him I believe that you would see another side ... a clown certainly, albeit only by your own definitions, but one who has a ruthless streak yet is an excellent motivator and Man Manager. Such people are rarer than you may think and are exactly what is required right now rather than some limp wristed ditherer.

[Manoverboard]

Please, have the decency to afford me a little respect after all this time.

Good heavens, you're not still moanin' are you ?

[Jan Rosser]

I'm avoiding reading a lot of the posts on the forum at the moment - it is getting like the dreaded B word arguments all over again and honestly I can't handle it so please be kind xxx

Completely agree with you Jan.

I know I'll get a landslide of disbelieving replies, but I don't care if the current government is Conservative, Labour or anything else. If I felt they were doing a good job I would say so. But, I believe that they are not, so I will say that. However, It doesn't stop me saying that Rishi Sunak is doing a good job as chancellor and that he's excellent at the daily briefings. He's only been in his post for weeks, and it's a true case of 'cometh the hour, cometh the man'. A future PM,

I'm not a party political person, so I don't really understand the need to constantly berate those seen as political opponents, and I also find it quite odd that a loyalty to a political party means that they can't question they way things are being done.


But, it's the way things are. When it gets too bad, I walk away from the forum for a while.

I am sorry if anything I might have said has upset you, or any other posters. I mean no harm, I just have opinions!

Thank you for commenting on my post Gill and honestly no offence taken by your posts - I don’t mean to be disrespectful to anyone but feel there is a lot of nitpicking and honestly I’m just not into politics so as with the B word topic I keep well out of it. I think the lockdown is getting to me to be honest with you - living on my own is not usually a problem but not going out is - onwards and upwards hopefully to some normality one day - stay safe xxx

[barney]

Guess who asked the first dumb question today?

Yep ! Laura’s back.

I had to switch channel again

[towny44]

Things are getting desperate here, I might have to get my husband to cut my hair!

(But it’s not about me, it’s about all of us)

Unfortunately, throughout all of this, the government has had to be put under pressure to act. Closing the schools, cancelling events, lockdown, testing, care homes - the government had to be pressured to action rather than leading the way. I wish it wasn’t like this, but it is.

Gill, you and I will never see eye to eye on this govt, for me the govt have throughout taken the advice of the experts, they resisted closing schools because the experts view was that children would not spread the virus as readily as adults, and it was important to keep them in school to enable parents to continue working as long as possible. The same with all the other issues, and so far they seem to be proving as valid as most other European countries. Testing and PPE delays have been due to the massively increased demand, and with the exception of Germany and South Korea, testing has not so far improved infection rates, ICU needs or mortality rates. Now if your twitter friends are stating otherwise, then I truly believe they are bending the facts to suit their own political positions.

You asked me to be 'more circumspect'. Yet here you are, going on about Twitter again, and implying, once again, that I can't form my own opinions and rely on people on Twitter to tell me what to think.

Please, have the decency to afford me a little respect after all this time.

To answer this point I would ask you to revisit your initial comments, you clearly have a totally different understanding of how the govt has handled this crisis to me and many others on this forum. QB has a burning hatred of Boris, moreso than you as far as I have experienced with your postings, but you still indicate you have no confidence in Boris at all.
Now I assume you have arrived at this judgement from many news sources, but by your own admission you do seem to frequent Twitter quite a lot, so it seems fairly reasonable to assume it will be a major factor in your decision making, so perhaps you should grant me the same respect you demand from me.

[Gill W]

Once again, assumptions.

I’m going back to ignoring you again, enough is enough.i can’t be bothered with it anymore.

[Gill W]

Please, have the decency to afford me a little respect after all this time.

Good heavens, you're not still moanin' are you ?

Glad you find it amusing.

On this forum, I have to deal with problems myself

[Gill W]

I'm avoiding reading a lot of the posts on the forum at the moment - it is getting like the dreaded B word arguments all over again and honestly I can't handle it so please be kind xxx

Completely agree with you Jan.

I know I'll get a landslide of disbelieving replies, but I don't care if the current government is Conservative, Labour or anything else. If I felt they were doing a good job I would say so. But, I believe that they are not, so I will say that. However, It doesn't stop me saying that Rishi Sunak is doing a good job as chancellor and that he's excellent at the daily briefings. He's only been in his post for weeks, and it's a true case of 'cometh the hour, cometh the man'. A future PM,

I'm not a party political person, so I don't really understand the need to constantly berate those seen as political opponents, and I also find it quite odd that a loyalty to a political party means that they can't question they way things are being done.


But, it's the way things are. When it gets too bad, I walk away from the forum for a while.

I am sorry if anything I might have said has upset you, or any other posters. I mean no harm, I just have opinions!

Thank you for commenting on my post Gill and honestly no offence taken by your posts - I don’t mean to be disrespectful to anyone but feel there is a lot of nitpicking and honestly I’m just not into politics so as with the B word topic I keep well out of it. I think the lockdown is getting to me to be honest with you - living on my own is not usually a problem but not going out is - onwards and upwards hopefully to some normality one day - stay safe xxx

Yes, the nitpicking is awful. I’ve got to the point where I’ve had to draw a line and walk away. It’s such a drain!

We’re in such a strange situation, everything is on hold and there are no certainties about the way forward, and we all react in different ways. I’m usually ok during the day, but My sleep pattern has become disrupted, and I’m having the weirdest dreams!

Just hoping one day, there’ll be a new normal and we can live with this as part of our lives. Look after yourself x

[Gill W]

Once again, assumptions.

I’m going back to ignoring you again, enough is enough.i can’t be bothered with it anymore.

That was addressed to Towny, if it wasn’t clear

[Manoverboard]

That was addressed to Towny, if it wasn’t clear

A PM to Towny would perhaps have been a better option, an open spat between the pair of you is a tad undesirable.

[CaroleF]

It was made clear in the Number 10 briefing yesterday evening that the Government were not going, at the moment, to release any ideas/plans for releasing the Lockdown. I would be very surprised if there were not people within the Government, planning for possible ideas for easing. However, if they released any ideas/plans now the whole media crew would go into all sorts of comments about how it was wrong/misguided/ etc. So it was clear, no plans to be released now. What is Laura's first question! Couldn't believe it - why? Did she think that Dominic Raab was going to respond - "Well Laura, since you ask....." She knew she wasn't going to get an answer but presumably she asked for a reason - was it so she could demonstrate how the Government were not being straight/open with the people? What other reason could she have. Just once I'd like to see the politicians be able to give the answer I'm sure they would like to give to some of these stupid, pointless questions.

Carole

[Whynd1]

I wanted to post a comment without it being taken the wrong way by some forum members.

Ar this moment with all the uncertainty perhaps we should take a moment before posting or replying and think about what is important at this time.

I have had to use more of my fair share of patience and understanding in the last few weeks and I am usually quick to rise.
Be kind to everyone if you can.


Yesterday whilst waiting in the queue outside Mark's in Mumbles this elderly lady came towards me asking about the car parkI. I edged away and found myself saying in the end plese keep your distance,then plese move away as she came right up to me. I was upset at the time about her thoughtfulness.
I could have been a bit kinder I thought afterwards obviously she didnt understand what social distancing meant. I may have been the first person she had talked to for a bit.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've come across one or two who get too close, but maybe they're the ones who have no concept of personal space at the best of times and push their trolley into your legs at the checkout! For the most part I think people have been great and often when we are out for exercise with our dog we find other younger people cross the road to give us space. When we make space people usually say thank you. Overall this crisis seems to be showing the best in the vast majority of folk. The small minority will always be inconsiderate or ignore the rules. Surely anyone of any age should have got the message by now? We can hardly miss it.

[david63]

An amusing story.

The other day I was waiting patiently in a queue keeping the regulation two meters away from anyone and started chatting to another chap, as you do. I said "Well it is something to tell the grandchildren" to which he replied "The other day my youngest granddaughter said "Granddad what was it like during the plague?""

[Ray B]

An amusing story.

The other day I was waiting patiently in a queue keeping the regulation two meters away from anyone and started chatting to another chap, as you do. I said "Well it is something to tell the grandchildren" to which he replied "The other day my youngest granddaughter said "Granddad what was it like during the plague?""

So David, whet was it like.

Following on from Mervs experience, the wife had to ask a lady to step back from the door as she exited a small food store, after politely asking three times the lady finally made the 2mts mumbling all the time. I do think maybe people are just absent mindly forgetting and get grumpy when reminded.

[Gill W]

That was addressed to Towny, if it wasn’t clear

A PM to Towny would perhaps have been a better option, an open spat between the pair of you is a tad undesirable.

I tried that months ago.