General Chat

In our area, police broke up 100 house parties in the last week - yes, 100!

In our area police arrested a 67-year-old man for breaking into our hospital Coronavirus test centre and stealing masks, gowns and hand gels.

A few politicians fancying their chances (Starmer - whose voice I heard first, Duncan-Smith and D Davis) are pushing the government and Boris for a decision on lifting lockdown. Starmer, who obviously thought his voice should be heard when was elected to lead his party, seems to have whipped up 'mates' into backing him. Children simply do not understand how long it takes to recuperate after contracting the virus. Nor do they seem to be aware that both China and Japan have seen a resurgence of the virus following their easing of restrictions. All three have revealed their limitations in keeping abreast of global situations.

Do we value politicians like this? I don't.

Some Trumpite rednecks have been rallied into demonstrating against their individual states' proposals not to lift lockdown. We all knew that it would happen when some states thought for themselves and decided to ignore Trump's pronouncements.

He is a bad man whose personal coffers may be haemorrhaging cash during the crisis and who has yet to reveal an inkling of true grit rather than spitting the dummy. His sycophants need to do the same.

I think you'll find Starmer said he wanted a Government strategy on getting schools and businesses back working AFTER the lockdown.

Meanwhile, some senior Tory MP's are claiming the Government is underestimating the public by refusing to discuss exit strategies for ending the coronavirus lockdown.

So, nothing about anyone demanding an end to the lockdown, just a coherent strategy!

I don't believe I wrote 'demanding an end to the lockdown', Maggie, rather 'a decision on lifting lockdown'. Nowhere have I seen anyone demanding.

Well, it's a strategy towards a lifting of lockdown, which, to my mind is sensible.

Politicians, who hold the purse strings, draw around themselves an obedient herd of the poor frightened constitutions.

Let us express our utter detestation of political rats.

I really do think the government are doing their best in a very difficult situation and we should all learn to be patient. what difference would it make to most of us knowing what their strategy is? I think we are very lucky to have a government who believe in keeping the people up to date so far and with holding open press conferences. Although some of the journalists seem to not understand that with their questions.

Spain have now had their lockdown extended until 9 May I believe so not as far ahead as some would believe. Much better to wait until it is safe to start taling about relaxing the situation, that would make even more idiots decide to party.

Starmer was always going to try and make his voice heard as he has to prove himself to his followers. But thank goodness we don't have Corbyn chuntering away there.

Starmer is asking for a plan on how - not when - the UK will exit the lockdown. Merkel has managed this perfectly well in Germany. The problem for the govt is that it planned for the wrong war and is finding it very difficult to change tack. Raab's obtuseness hardly helps. It is interesting to see that they are spreading the press conf over as many ministers as poss. so they cannot avoid the finger when the inevitable blame game gets going - the Sunday Times has already started - not a paper well known for its socialist principles.

Even with the 1919 Spanish flue epridemic the medical people knew well enough to put patients into temporary isolation hospitals not that much different in concept to "Nightingale" now. However they used them. The Nightingales are nearly empty.

Parking C-19 sufferers into District hospitals is a blunder of the first order and largely down to PHE. The empire builders at PHE were also responsible for the evisceratiom of local public health. As a result the resources and people are not there for track n trace which is working fine in Germany.

Three of my close rellies are on the "front line" as the press choose to call it, and are scathing about PHE, govt funding (not) over the last ten years and the ocean between the 5pm briefings and reality.

At least the UK is getting practice at dealing with civilian chaos which will come in handy as the juggernaught wheel of brexit rolls around at the end of the year.

Maggie is right, Joy; Starmer wants the government to define how its strategy for lifting lockdown not a premature lifting of it.

This government does give the impression of not knowing what it is doing and reacting late to events rather than having a planned response.

Agree with everything you wrote there, Ann and Dermot. :-)

Our government, like others, always knowing and keeping quiet about information that could frighten the populace seems to be hitting the right note on information release so far.

We could do worse ..... think Trump. :-0

We could do better ..... perhaps Jacinda Ardern whose grasp and approach, or whose speech writer's and advisers' grasp and approach seems to be better than most.

Meanwhile, for goodness sake, who does not understand that anyone who has recovered from Coronavirus can't jump up and dance straight away?

Kense, I understand that but I think Starmer will have to be patient. It is right that Boris is back to speed before any such decision is released.

I think he will, by now, have realised that he was too slow in introducing lockdown. My OH and I isolated a week before as we thought he was dragging his feet. However, now he has experienced what it's like, let's hope he has learned from it.

Rollo, I, too, have rellies on the front line as you wrote. I and they (I think) would agree about empire-building at Public Health England.

One thing (if it is true) that we can take heart from. Apparently, in Oxford they are working on a vaccine that could well be ready before the end of the year. Just the sort of progress the world needs.

Joy-Louise Yes My OH and I also self isolated before the lockdown as did Quite a few people we know. Sometimes we son't have to wait to be instructed to do these things, we are not puppets.

Most people and certainly older people will never fully recover from coronavirus and might not see so many years as they had hoped. I had pneumonia as a child and have never forgotten the experience. It took me several years to fully recover.

Boris Johnson's strengths as a leader have been marked by energy and vitality, the ability to overcome obstacles and get people to shift their butt. By any standard the current government without him is lack lustre at best. It is certainly falling into the classic error of playing it safe.

As B.J. rapidly discovered the job of PM is very tough - quite possibly our system has evolved to over depend on the PM. If he cannot do the job as is his wont then he will simply have to consider his position. Amongst the Tories he is for sure the stand out man but if he can only manage 50% then what ?

Time and tide wait for no man.

Joy...I watched Trumpet man last night...not one word regarding loss of life or front line workers again.

It was was more a campaign regarding re-election :-0 :-0

Putting other countries down and extremely rude towards the press if they dare ask him any awkward questions or not to his liking.

I find it hard to believe out of a population of over 265M that this was the best that the people could come up with.

:-( :-(

'And I'm driving a stolen car
On a pitch black night
And I'm telling myself I'm gonna be alright
But I ride by night and I travel in fear
That in this darkness I will disappear'

B Springsteen

The Trump definitely beggars belief, Ann! :-S

you should try living next to the country that elected the trumpoid!

He was going to open the Canada-US border when the initial closure ended this coming week .

Unfortunately for him, Canada has no intention of opening it on our side.

He's had to back down, and the border is now closed to all but essential traffic for another 30 days.

He needs to be reminded at regular intervals that the essential traffic across that border is not just one way, them to us ............... several thousand first line workers such as nurses, medics, etc cross the border EVERY day from Canada to work in hospitals in places like Detroit.

If we shut the border down, those services would be missing.

Plus we send down the raw materials to make N95 masks, gowns, etc.

It slips his memory every now and again that the longest open land border in the world is essential for them as well as us.

Forgetful, liar, egoist,

**Ann**

The very simple answer as to how he got elected is actually two-fold

1. The Democratic candidate was a woman, who had several strikes against her in addition to being a woman.

2. The Russians definitely promulgated fake news about her.


But the background is more complicated, yet simplistic ..............

The US has NEVER elected a woman or a Jewish male.

The only Catholic President elected was JFK


No US President has ever had a female Vice-President. Two women have been chosen as running mate, Geraldine Ferraro for the Democrats in 1984, and Sarah Palin for the Republicans in 2008



Despite all its "moderness", the US really is backward in its politics ................ good old WASPS do best.

Trump was mainly supported by the incredible "red neck" band of states down the centre ............... disaffected white men (mainly) who would never contemplate a woman as President, and who were wooed by Trump's rhetoric and false promises.

Canadian border

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EVCO7ZKVDs

'I ran out and I jumped in my car, then I hit the lights
I must have done about a hundred and ten to Michigan County that night
It was down by the crossroads, out by willow bank
Seen the Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank

Well, I chased him through them county roads, 'til the sign said Canadian border five miles from here
Pulled over to the side out the highway, watched the taillights disappear.
'
Springsteen
n.b. Michigan County does not exist