Current Affairs

[david63]

Funeral Directors and Florists are rubbing their hands

Actually neither of them are, or at least they weren't a couple of months ago.

Funeral Directors are possibly breaking even because they are doing more funerals but each funeral spend is less - no cars, no "add ons".

Florists cannot get flowers so no flowers for funerals - unless there is a florist using some initiative and renting out artificial ones.

[allatc]

What’s best? Recession or even more death.

Nature has a simple rule - the survival of the fittest.

Covid -19 is killing the most vulnerable in our society - the old, obese, the already sick, and yes, some ethnic groups do seem to be more susceptible.

But there comes a point where the survival of the majority becomes more important, and I say that as someone in a vulnerable group.

There is no point in preventing everybody from getting the virus if everybody is out of work, there is no money to pay pensions and as a result no money to pay the doctors and nurses and all the others who keep society from imploding.

[Onelife]

Funeral Directors and Florists are rubbing their hands

Actually neither of them are, or at least they weren't a couple of months ago.

Funeral Directors are possibly breaking even because they are doing more funerals but each funeral spend is less - no cars, no "add ons".

Florists cannot get flowers so no flowers for funerals - unless there is a florist using some initiative and renting out artificial ones.

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said David .....but if anyone can Screwy can.

[Onelife]

What’s best? Recession or even more death.

Nature has a simple rule - the survival of the fittest.

Covid -19 is killing the most vulnerable in our society - the old, obese, the already sick, and yes, some ethnic groups do seem to be more susceptible.

But there comes a point where the survival of the majority becomes more important, and I say that as someone in a vulnerable group.

There is no point in preventing everybody from getting the virus if everybody is out of work, there is no money to pay pensions and as a result no money to pay the doctors and nurses and all the others who keep society from imploding.

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

[Manoverboard]

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

There are times when I think to myself " Is OL taking this Topic seriously enough "... and we all know the answer

[Onelife]

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

There are times when I think to myself " Is OL taking this Topic seriously enough "... and we all know the answer

I’m practicing shielding Mob…I only come out when it’s essential

[oldbluefox]

Nature has a simple rule - the survival of the fittest.

Covid -19 is killing the most vulnerable in our society - the old, obese, the already sick, and yes, some ethnic groups do seem to be more susceptible.

But there comes a point where the survival of the majority becomes more important, and I say that as someone in a vulnerable group.

There is no point in preventing everybody from getting the virus if everybody is out of work, there is no money to pay pensions and as a result no money to pay the doctors and nurses and all the others who keep society from imploding.

Good post allatc. Good to hear the voice of reason.

[anniec]

Nature has a simple rule - the survival of the fittest.

Covid -19 is killing the most vulnerable in our society - the old, obese, the already sick, and yes, some ethnic groups do seem to be more susceptible.

But there comes a point where the survival of the majority becomes more important, and I say that as someone in a vulnerable group.

There is no point in preventing everybody from getting the virus if everybody is out of work, there is no money to pay pensions and as a result no money to pay the doctors and nurses and all the others who keep society from imploding.

Hear hear! My daughter is in the shielded group, but has done her own risk assessment and is going into the office once per week, working from home the rest of the time. She works in an area with a low number of cases and would reassess if that changes.

There will be nothing left if those who are able to don't get back to work and school sharpish.

[screwy]

Funeral Directors and Florists are rubbing their hands

Actually neither of them are, or at least they weren't a couple of months ago.

Funeral Directors are possibly breaking even because they are doing more funerals but each funeral spend is less - no cars, no "add ons".

Florists cannot get flowers so no flowers for funerals - unless there is a florist using some initiative and renting out artificial ones.

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said David .....but if anyone can Screwy can.

I’ve spent a lifetime playing the devil’s advocate.

[towny44]

Everything will be back to normal by then.
Football will be back with fans and concerts will go ahead.
Kids will be back in school as normal.
If not, the country is economically doomed.
There will be literally millions and millions unemployed, nobody paying taxes and the biggest recession we have ever seen.

That won’t be allowed to happen.

The virus will still be in circulation. If restrictions are removed in the autumn like you describe, infections will likely start surging uncontrollably, like they are in America.

What’s best? Recession or even more death.

Hopefully Gill your much sought after track and trace system, even our govts inadequate one, should be in full swing by then and local outbreaks might be able to be snuffed out quickly, without the need for a major lockdown like Leicester.
But whatever happens we cannot afford to keep the economy suppressed any longer, because our NHS as well as the other vital services need a vibrant economy and an increasing tax stream to keep going.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sadly recession brings death. No easy answer.

[Gill W]

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

I’m not even going to bother.

It seems as if this forum thinks that herd immunity is the way to go, with the mass death that entails.

All I can say is that I don’t expect to hear any angst about the way the British public decides to act in their efforts to get the economy going again.

[Ray Scully]

Gill
There appears to be a preponderance amongst the contributors here to the viewpoint "the devil take the hindmost"

[Onelife]

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

I’m not even going to bother.

It seems as if this forum thinks that herd immunity is the way to go, with the mass death that entails.

All I can say is that I don’t expect to hear any angst about the way the British public decides to act in their efforts to get the economy going again.

There does however come a point where you’ve got to look at the bigger picture in terms of the economic damages this is doing to our country, perhaps another week or so would have given us a better starting point but a decision had to be made.
I think we should be thankful that us old uns are at a lesser risk than those who are keeping our country functioning.

I can’t see that there is another alternative is Gill

[Manoverboard]

Gill
There appears to be a preponderance amongst the contributors here to the viewpoint "the devil take the hindmost"

You may find there appears to be a preponderance amongst the contributors here that Gill isn't our spokesperson

My only concern at this moment in time can only be my own, and Mobietta's, well being and safety

All the younger folk are in some form of transition but the key to getting the economy sorted out has to centre around anybody and everybody who pays, or will shortly be paying, tax in one form or another.

That presumably leaves your ‘ hindmost ‘ and if so it will be Government’s job ( thankfully ) to sort out how benefits are paid, how much and to whom ... there is nothing I can do but I certainly will not be going on a protest march putting even more peoples lives at risk. Difficult times Ray, very difficult times.

[towny44]

Gill
There appears to be a preponderance amongst the contributors here to the viewpoint "the devil take the hindmost"

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

I’m not even going to bother.

It seems as if this forum thinks that herd immunity is the way to go, with the mass death that entails.

All I can say is that I don’t expect to hear any angst about the way the British public decides to act in their efforts to get the economy going again.

Gill, you are misinterpreting my views, I am in favour of an orderly withdrawal from lockdown and hope that track and trace will adequately detect any sudden increase in the virus, leading to minimal measures to stop and reduce the incidence. I certainly do not want to see massive numbers heading to Town centre pubs, and gathering in less than adequate socially distanced groups.
But I do have to restate my view that if we don't get the economy moving then we won't be able to afford to pay hospital staff. You don't seem willing to amend your views even slightly to achieve that aim.
Being my usual churlish self I might liken your attitude to that of Michel Barnier in the current trade deal discussion.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I do not include any in this group of course, but I suspect many left wingers in the wider community are wishing for a further increase in the number of deaths so they can blame Boris come the next election.

Had the number of deaths been significantly lower would they have been rushing to congratulate him?

[david63]

Had the number of deaths been significantly lower would they have been rushing to congratulate him?

No - they would have been blaming him for the lockdown starting too early and ending too late

[oldbluefox]

Had the number of deaths been significantly lower would they have been rushing to congratulate him?

No - they would have been blaming him for the lockdown starting too early and ending too late

Too true to be funny

[Ray Scully]

Had the number of deaths been significantly lower would they have been rushing to congratulate him?

No - they would have been blaming him for the lockdown starting too early and ending too late

Too true to be funny

The sadness and not at all funny is the disproportionate number of deaths in our care homes

[Gill W]

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

I’m not even going to bother.

It seems as if this forum thinks that herd immunity is the way to go, with the mass death that entails.

All I can say is that I don’t expect to hear any angst about the way the British public decides to act in their efforts to get the economy going again.

There does however come a point where you’ve got to look at the bigger picture in terms of the economic damages this is doing to our country, perhaps another week or so would have given us a better starting point but a decision had to be made.
I think we should be thankful that us old uns are at a lesser risk than those who are keeping our country functioning.

I can’t see that there is another alternative is Gill

That's the key thing for me. I don't want to keep comparing us to other countries - but most other countries seemed to start their unlocking when they were in a much better position to us. As the UK is unlocking when there is still a high degree of infections and death, we are constantly on a knife edge, and it would be easy to tip into a growth in cases.

I agree we can't stay locked down for ever, and I'm personally looking forward to my visit to the hairdressers and the hope of a pub lunch in a few weeks. But I remain uneasy that we have opened up too soon and the government messaging is not strong enough to make people behave like we are still in the middle of a serious pandemic****

Barney said that everything would be back to normal by time the autumn gales arrive and that people would be going to football matches and concerts. Nobody said anything to disagree with this, so I had to conclude that normal economic life was more important to many forum members than saving lives.

Another thought has struck me - everyone seems to be worried about the economy, but they are still happy about that thing that's going to happen at the end of the year that in all probability will damage the economy even more !


***** regarding government messaging. Grant Shapps on TV this morning and Boris Johnson on LBC couldn't bring themselves to say that Stanley Johnson ignored FCO advice to travel overseas on a non essential journey. .It would be so simple to say he shouldn't have done this, and give the right message to us that advice is for everyone. But no, they can't bring themselves to do it.

[Gill W]

Gill
There appears to be a preponderance amongst the contributors here to the viewpoint "the devil take the hindmost"

I think it would be difficult to make a counter argument to what you have said allatc .....but if anyone can me and Gill can....but I'll let Gill go first squeak! squeak!

I’m not even going to bother.

It seems as if this forum thinks that herd immunity is the way to go, with the mass death that entails.

All I can say is that I don’t expect to hear any angst about the way the British public decides to act in their efforts to get the economy going again.

Gill, you are misinterpreting my views, I am in favour of an orderly withdrawal from lockdown and hope that track and trace will adequately detect any sudden increase in the virus, leading to minimal measures to stop and reduce the incidence. I certainly do not want to see massive numbers heading to Town centre pubs, and gathering in less than adequate socially distanced groups.
But I do have to restate my view that if we don't get the economy moving then we won't be able to afford to pay hospital staff. You don't seem willing to amend your views even slightly to achieve that aim.
Being my usual churlish self I might liken your attitude to that of Michel Barnier in the current trade deal discussion.

I'm confused - what do you think my view is?

[Mervyn and Trish]

The sadness and not at all funny is the disproportionate number of deaths in our care homes

It is sad, but realistically every resident in a care home is in the high risk groups, many of them in end of life care, and living in close proximity. Many of them suffer dementia and it is impossible to get them to understand basic hygiene precautions or social distancing. There may have been some mistakes (there certainly was when our local hospital tried to send a resident back to the home where our daughter works after a positive Covid test, but the home's nurse put here foot down) but if the number of deaths had not been disproportionate I would have been very surprised and more than a little worried about what was happening in the wider community.

[Mervyn and Trish]

***** regarding government messaging. Grant Shapps on TV this morning and Boris Johnson on LBC couldn't bring themselves to say that Stanley Johnson ignored FCO advice to travel overseas on a non essential journey. .It would be so simple to say he shouldn't have done this, and give the right message to us that advice is for everyone. But no, they can't bring themselves to do it.

I don't know if his Dad is like my Dad, but I wouldn't have tried telling mine off, especially in public!

[Manoverboard]

The sadness and not at all funny is the disproportionate number of deaths in our care homes

Care homes are places designated for old folk to die in, sadly sooner rather than later in recent times but many would not have been too aware of what was going on around them and for this we should all be grateful.

Before anybody jumps on my comments I would wish to point out that my old Mum died in such a place with 31 of the 34 reported symptoms attributed to Mad Cow Disease, she did love her beef, bless her but the family accepted that her death was inevitable and none of us blamed the Government nor indeed the meat processors. Her time had come and thankfully she didn't suffer for too long. RIP.