Current Affairs

[Gill W]

I think we both agree that how well our track and trace, despite all its flaws and criticisms, helps to manage and control local fare ups, and prevent them escalating into a new nationwide spike, and how the govt and local authorities react, will decide whether we sink or swim.
[/quote]


Yes, indeed.

We now need the app by the autumn, for when the schools go back and when cases inevitably increase as we approach winter.

Quick action will be key in dampening down any local outbreaks, and I think the messaging needs to be clear on this, so that people are prepared.

We only have to look at what's happening in the US, where C19 is out of control in some states - we don't want to go down that path.

[barney]

I’m not quite sure why anyone is getting their knickers in a twist about Cummings.
All PMs in recent history have had Machiavellian characters lurking in the background.
May had Nick Timothy. Remember him ?
Cameron had Andy Coulson . That ended well.
Blair had Campbell, probably the most influential.
Had Corbyn won the election, we would be talking about Seamus Milne, a very dodgy character with Communist leanings.
These guys and gals have always been about.
I’m not convinced Cummings is any better or worse than the others.

[towny44]

An interesting comment I read recently was that not a single teacher was infected with Covid19 by a pupil. Which might not be too surprising since children are less susceptible to the virus and without symptoms they are less likely to be coughing and sneezing germs around them.

[Ray Scully]

I’m not quite sure why anyone is getting their knickers in a twist about Cummings.
All PMs in recent history have had Machiavellian characters lurking in the background.
May had Nick Timothy. Remember him ?
Cameron had Andy Coulson . That ended well.
Blair had Campbell, probably the most influential.
Had Corbyn won the election, we would be talking about Seamus Milne, a very dodgy character with Communist leanings.
These guys and gals have always been about.
I’m not convinced Cummings is any better or worse than the others.

People live with the illusion that we have a democratic system, but it's only the outward form of one. In reality we live in a plutocracy, a government of the rich.

Jose Saramago

[Manoverboard]

It's interesting that you use the word 'desperate'', because that's exactly the word I've had in my mind for some time, about some members of this forum. I've never actually said it tough, as I thought it might cause upset.

But, as the word is out in the open,I do feel, that when there is any negative story about the Conservative party, whether COVID 19 related or not, there's a mass mobilisation on the forum, all desperately trying to dismiss and diminish the story. It is quite something to behold, I have wondered just how bad the Tories would have to get before 'the usual suspects' would come out of the closet and say, 'enough is enough, this is not acceptable.

If you mean Keith, he's not mangy!!

Perhaps ' desperate ' was the wrong word ... either way the end result will remain the same.

I feel that whenever there is a story, any story but especially one that involves the Tories as indeed most will because they are the Government of the day, you will be at the front of the queue posting a negative spin on it. In my opinion it is that which causes the so called ‘ mass mobilisation ‘ of opposition to your posts rather than any obsession other Members may have with the Blue Party. I also doubt we need a constant reminder about Cummings, we already know all about him and as others have said he is no different to any other Mr Fix-it.

We all have a bias albeit some more so than others but most posters genuinely aim to achieve a balance, but please feel free to prove me wrong by identifying 10 of your posts that have applauded achievement by the Tory Administration, including Mr Cummings, during the entire period of this pandemic.

Regarding Keith you are probably defending somebody you like rather than somebody you know and that admirable trait also seems to apply to those you regularly comment on.
.

[barney]

I’ve only voted Tory once in my life and that was the last one to put Brexit to bed once and for all.

My opinion of their handling of this crisis is very mixed.
Good is the help to business and the point that our health system was not overwhelmed as in other nations.
Bad, very poor and inconsistent information.

With hindsight, it’s quite obvious that the country should have locked down sooner.
The point of keeping the airports open while we were all told to stay home is just absurd.That’s probably the most ridiculous.
World class track and trace ? Joke surely.
South Korea had a proven and working system but this government wouldn’t use it. Figure that out?

My biggest criticism is that the PM cannot answer questions sensibility and logically.
He just mumbles, rambles and is very unleader like.
Sunak will surely be in before the next election or my lot are going to walk it.

[david63]

South Korea had a proven and working system but this government wouldn’t use it. Figure that out?

But didn't that basically revolve around South Korea being a "police state" - if we cannot get people to wear a face mask what chance have we got of getting the snowflakes to accept that level of intrusion?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes of course they could. With the benefit of hindsight.

And Starmer and Davey are putting the boot in. With the benefit of hindsight.

My question, posed before but as yet unanswered by the Bojo Bashers, is where were they in January, February, March, when they now claim Bojo should have been clairvoyant? My answer is nowhere. Invisible.

Hi Sir Merv…I think it was back in late February/ early March when a couple of us were saying we should be taking this virus far more seriously that was the case…and for the record, I have never been a Bos Basher… I’ve just been highlighting the mistakes, mistakes which he has now acknowledged.

When I said "where were they in.... etc." I wasn't referring to your good self or indeed anyone else on this forum, I was referring to Starmer and Davey.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes of course they could. With the benefit of hindsight.

And Starmer and Davey are putting the boot in. With the benefit of hindsight.

My question, posed before but as yet unanswered by the Bojo Bashers, is where were they in January, February, March, when they now claim Bojo should have been clairvoyant? My answer is nowhere. Invisible.

How is anybody ever going to talk about what happened in the past without hindsight?

When you posed your question before, I did comment that an absence of comment on this forum, did not necessarily mean an absence of thought. Certainly, in late February, I remember being perplexed by Johnson’s apparent disappearance from view as he was having what seemed an extended break at Chequers. I didn’t realise I had to post about it at the time in order to mention it later on.

I’m also getting confused about this concept of Boris Bashing. I keep seeing lots of posts about it, but not much actual ‘bashing’ is currently happening in this community

See my post above. In the case of them an absence of comment in public is inexcusable if they were having the thought. And hindsight is not an issue in itself. Using knowledge gained through it to criticise someone else who had no more knowledge than you at the time, as Starmer and Davey now are, is.

As for Bojo bashing, maybe not currently. Plenty of it in the not too distant past, with words like liar bandied about.

[Manoverboard]

An interesting comment I read recently was that not a single teacher was infected with Covid19 by a pupil. Which might not be too surprising since children are less susceptible to the virus and without symptoms they are less likely to be coughing and sneezing germs around them.

Even without any obvious symptoms I will vouch for the fact that kids are full of viruses like the common cold and will gladly pass it on to any unsuspecting soul, as in me. Perhaps it is simply because the pupils are not kissing their teachers rather than being in the same room ?

[Mervyn and Trish]

An interesting comment I read recently was that not a single teacher was infected with Covid19 by a pupil. Which might not be too surprising since children are less susceptible to the virus and without symptoms they are less likely to be coughing and sneezing germs around them.

Even without any obvious symptoms I will vouch for the fact that kids are full of viruses like the common cold and will gladly pass it on to any unsuspecting soul, as in me. Perhaps it is simply because the pupils are not kissing their teachers rather than being in the same room ?

As they all kissing you then? Just asking.....

[Manoverboard]

South Korea had a proven and working system but this government wouldn’t use it. Figure that out?

But didn't that basically revolve around South Korea being a "police state" - if we cannot get people to wear a face mask what chance have we got of getting the snowflakes to accept that level of intrusion?

Watched a TV Prog about the way it was achieved ... brilliant but as per D63 we are not quite ready for their approach.

[Manoverboard]

An interesting comment I read recently was that not a single teacher was infected with Covid19 by a pupil. Which might not be too surprising since children are less susceptible to the virus and without symptoms they are less likely to be coughing and sneezing germs around them.

Even without any obvious symptoms I will vouch for the fact that kids are full of viruses like the common cold and will gladly pass it on to any unsuspecting soul, as in me. Perhaps it is simply because the pupils are not kissing their teachers rather than being in the same room ?

As they all kissing you then? Just asking.....

One's little Grandchildren always did ... until I put my hanky foot down and stopped it .

[barney]

South Korea had a proven and working system but this government wouldn’t use it. Figure that out?

But didn't that basically revolve around South Korea being a "police state" - if we cannot get people to wear a face mask what chance have we got of getting the snowflakes to accept that level of intrusion?

That’s exactly why we needed strong government at that time David.
It’s government’s job to cajole and persuade.
If necessary, enforce.
Their over riding responsibility is to keep citizens safe.
Troops on the streets if necessary as they did in Spain.
Our PM waffled instead.
You may well have had a small minority oppose such measures but that could have been dealt with.

[Mervyn and Trish]

For the record I am a floating voter. I do not believe everything the Tories have done on this has been perfect. Equally I do not believe anybody else would have done any better. They didn't offer any ideas at the time. Only criticise now. That does not make them, in my view, viable as an alternative government any time soon. They need some ideas of other of their own, not to trash other people's and offer nothing constructive.

Would lockdown earlier have save lives? Possibly yes. But then again lockdown earlier in Spain, France or Italy might have saved lives there too and we'd be back to the same old argument.

Like it or not there are differences the government cannot control, in the areas mentioned by Gill. Population, climate etc. If it's going to be any better if there is a second wave we need to understand all those. Instead of going round and round in the blame game.

And yes, maybe we lockdown for winter in September, or as soon as there is a rise of 1 in the daily cases reported. Let's see how that goes with the retailers. We've lost two shops in our town for sure, and two more with no sign of re-opening yet. We'll be a ghost town this time next year if we lockdown even harder this winter.

[david63]

In amongst all of this "blame game" there is one crucial aspect that appears to being overlooked - and that is the WHO.

Almost every country has followed, in varying degrees, the WHO pandemic plan. This plan was drawn up almost 30 years ago when the world was a totally different place, and is typical of an NGO that has no responsibility. There is no way that the world can survive another lockdown to the extent of the first one, therefore the "plan" will need to be radically revised.

How this plan will be revised is something I am not equipped to answer but I would not be surprised if it does not become mandatory for everyone to have available at all times their own set of PPE (perhaps going as far as to having mask, visor, gloves and hazmat suit). That way much of life would be able to continue in a semi normal way and there would be little need to shut much of the economy down.

[Gill W]

Perhaps ' desperate ' was the wrong word ... either way the end result will remain the same.

I feel that whenever there is a story, any story but especially one that involves the Tories as indeed most will because they are the Government of the day, you will be at the front of the queue posting a negative spin on it. In my opinion it is that which causes the so called ‘ mass mobilisation ‘ of opposition to your posts rather than any obsession other Members may have with the Blue Party. I also doubt we need a constant reminder about Cummings, we already know all about him and as others have said he is no different to any other Mr Fix-it.

We all have a bias albeit some more so than others but most posters genuinely aim to achieve a balance, but please feel free to prove me wrong by identifying 10 of your posts that have applauded achievement by the Tory Administration, including Mr Cummings, during the entire period of this pandemic.

Regarding Keith you are probably defending somebody you like rather than somebody you know and that admirable trait also seems to apply to those you regularly comment on.
.

That makes it sound like it's a personal thing - that everyone is responding because it's me who's posted something, and everyone is mobilising against me! I have noticed that I sometimes say something in agreement with another forum member, then somebody else comes along to have a pop at me, but leaves the other poster alone, so I do think there's a tendency for some to wade in because it's me - but I ignore that sort of thing.

I'm certainly not going to trawl through my posts to prove a point, as I really can't be bothered. But if I did, I wouldn't find much (if anything) in the way of praising Labour or the Lib Dems either. I know I have spoken up for Sunak, though.

I will believe that other posters are trying to strike a balance, when they don't knock Labour at every opportunity!

As for Keith. it was a small joke. Your crossed out comment referred to him as a 'mangy poodle'

I said he wasn't mangy, and by leaving it there, there was an inference he MIGHT be a poodle. Obviously, it was to subtle a joke to be picked up.

I don't think any of us really knows each other on here . However, from my experiences on here I have respect for Keith, and it's not just because he has been supportive on occasion (which is appreciated)

[Onelife]

For the record I am a floating voter. I do not believe everything the Tories have done on this has been perfect. Equally I do not believe anybody else would have done any better. They didn't offer any ideas at the time. Only criticise now. That does not make them, in my view, viable as an alternative government any time soon. They need some ideas of other of their own, not to trash other people's and offer nothing constructive.

Would lockdown earlier have save lives? Possibly yes. But then again lockdown earlier in Spain, France or Italy might have saved lives there too and we'd be back to the same old argument.

Like it or not there are differences the government cannot control, in the areas mentioned by Gill. Population, climate etc. If it's going to be any better if there is a second wave we need to understand all those. Instead of going round and round in the blame game.

And yes, maybe we lockdown for winter in September, or as soon as there is a rise of 1 in the daily cases reported. Let's see how that goes with the retailers. We've lost two shops in our town for sure, and two more with no sign of re-opening yet. We'll be a ghost town this time next year if we lockdown even harder this winter.

Hi Sir Merv…. that just about sums it up. This country hasn’t had an alternative electable party for many years, certainly not one that I would trust anyway. I think the conservative party has some good talent on the top table but it remains to be seen if Boris can channel theses talents.

I have posted in the past saying” Boris could make a good PM” but as then as now I'm still left wondering if he is able to juggle more than two balls in the air at any one time. I also wonder if Dom’s talents/expertise falls short in areas other than doing PR work for prospective PM’s…could it be that he is also out of his depth when having to juggle different types of balls?

With regard to my misinterpretation of whom your Boris Basher was intended …I apologise.

[anniec]

I know I have spoken up for Sunak, though.

Without any hindsight whatsoever, I confidently predict his hero status won't last. Only a matter of time before he stops doling out dosh and starts trying to claw some back.

[Onelife]

Perhaps ' desperate ' was the wrong word ... either way the end result will remain the same.

I feel that whenever there is a story, any story but especially one that involves the Tories as indeed most will because they are the Government of the day, you will be at the front of the queue posting a negative spin on it. In my opinion it is that which causes the so called ‘ mass mobilisation ‘ of opposition to your posts rather than any obsession other Members may have with the Blue Party. I also doubt we need a constant reminder about Cummings, we already know all about him and as others have said he is no different to any other Mr Fix-it.

We all have a bias albeit some more so than others but most posters genuinely aim to achieve a balance, but please feel free to prove me wrong by identifying 10 of your posts that have applauded achievement by the Tory Administration, including Mr Cummings, during the entire period of this pandemic.

Regarding Keith you are probably defending somebody you like rather than somebody you know and that admirable trait also seems to apply to those you regularly comment on.
.

That makes it sound like it's a personal thing - that everyone is responding because it's me who's posted something, and everyone is mobilising against me! I have noticed that I sometimes say something in agreement with another forum member, then somebody else comes along to have a pop at me, but leaves the other poster alone, so I do think there's a tendency for some to wade in because it's me - but I ignore that sort of thing.

I'm certainly not going to trawl through my posts to prove a point, as I really can't be bothered. But if I did, I wouldn't find much (if anything) in the way of praising Labour or the Lib Dems either. I know I have spoken up for Sunak, though.

I will believe that other posters are trying to strike a balance, when they don't knock Labour at every opportunity!

As for Keith. it was a small joke. Your crossed out comment referred to him as a 'mangy poodle'

I said he wasn't mangy, and by leaving it there, there was an inference he MIGHT be a poodle. Obviously, it was to subtle a joke to be picked up.

I don't think any of us really knows each other on here . However, from my experiences on here I have respect for Keith, and it's not just because he has been supportive on occasion (which is appreciated)

I think that is a fair comment Gill...but i'll leave it there as my wife is about to take me out for walkies

[Stephen]

Hope she doesn't forget the muzzle.

[Manoverboard]

That makes it sound like it's a personal thing ...

And some fell on stoney ground ...

It was about ' anybody and everybody ' posting in a positive way, ideally, thus attracting a positive response and yes I did spot the missing poodle but thought it was a subtle way to suggest that you posted with a softer style when it related to somebody you liked rather than disliked.

[Manoverboard]

" As for Keith. it was a small joke ... "

I think that is a fair comment Gill...but i'll leave it there as my wife is about to take me out for walkies

You're not going to just sit there barking when you have been called a small joke
.

[Gill W]

That makes it sound like it's a personal thing ...

And some fell on stoney ground ...

It was about ' anybody and everybody ' posting in a positive way, ideally, thus attracting a positive response and yes I did spot the missing poodle but thought it was a subtle way to suggest that you posted with a softer style when it related to somebody you liked rather than disliked.

Agreeing with/disagreeing with and liking/disliking are two completely different things.

I might disagree with somebody but still like them.

If I don't 'like' someone, I normally don't reply at all !

[Manoverboard]

Agreeing with/disagreeing with and liking/disliking are two completely different things.

I might disagree with somebody but still like them.

If I don't 'like' someone, I normally don't reply at all !

Note to self " is it better to get a reply from ' Gill ' or to be ignored "