☣ Coronavirus ☣

[Johnny Vodka]

So unless you are talking about housing the millions of poor in Africa and Asia who are living in cardboard boxes and huts with IBR roofs that blow away every time there is a storm, and I spent 20 years of my life living in a country where that is the norm, I think the notion of inequality in developed countries is really the least of the world's problems. It is those people who really need to be helped over public sector workers in UK who are sitting on index linked pensions to cushion them for the rest of their lives.

Well, I do agree that we need to think world-wide when we are trying to solve what are world-wide problems - the climate emergency, decreasing bio-diversity, pollution, poverty and now COVID-19. The trouble is the right want countries to retreat within their own borders, as if our responsibilities to one another and the planet stop there.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

If China tried to cover things up, they need to pay. Every country should make sure of that. Even if it wasn’t a coverup, they need to clean up their act. Get your hygiene standards up and get rid of the wet markets for crying out loud.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done there. Just remember western farming practices, though - the amount of animal cruelty involved, the antibiotics (I can't wait until the effectiveness of antibiotics runs out... ) and other crap pumped into our meat, how BSE came about (feeding cows to frickin' cows*), etc. It's not all "those bloody foreigners".

*This is the essence of capitalism - cutting corners and exploitation to maximise profit.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Redistribution of wealth is the very essence of socialism. Anyone checked in on Venezuela recently?

The UK is essentially a socialist country, no? (We have the welfare state, the NHS...) It's just a question of degree. It's only really in America that "socialism" is a very bad word.

 

[AntonioGeordio]

The UK is essentially a socialist country, no? (We have the welfare state, the NHS...) It's just a question of degree. It's only really in America that "socialism" is a very bad word.

No, we are definitely not a socialist state.

We are strongly built on a capitalist culture. It’s the bedrock of our society.

We have numerous forms of socialism but it’s mainly provided by the working man and woman’s taxes.

 

[stivi]

as I had mentioned previously, one of the few good consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will be the dip in real estate prices, both in sale of properties as well as in rental.

as seen, prices have already started going down and the specialists in the field expect this trend to continue

Las inmobiliarias auguran una «adecuación» de precios tras la crisis

Representantes del sector creen que tras la parálisis de la cuarentena llegarán las bajadas. «Buf, perdona, ¿qué mercado?» Es la respuesta en tono jocoso que daba ayer la presidenta de la Asociación de Profesionales Inmobiliarios de Ibiza (Apibiza), Mila González, al ser preguntada por la...

www.periodicodeibiza.es

 

[Johnny Vodka]

We are strongly built on a capitalist culture. It’s the bedrock of our society.

We have numerous forms of socialism but it’s mainly provided by the working man and woman’s taxes.

We're a mix. Workers gotta work so not going to spend the day arguing about it. But socialist thinking and campaigning has brought this country many great things that we take for granted and that are missing from other countries.

 

[AntonioGeordio]

We're a mix. Workers gotta work so not going to spend the day arguing about it. But socialist thinking and campaigning has brought this country many great things that we take for granted and that are missing from other countries.

Suppose we benefit from a bit of both.

Have a safe day mate, I’m on nights so I’m away to bed.

 

[mr_why]

as I had mentioned previously, one of the few good consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will be the dip in real estate prices, both in sale of properties as well as in rental.

as seen, prices have already started going down and the specialists in the field expect this trend to continue

Las inmobiliarias auguran una «adecuación» de precios tras la crisis

Representantes del sector creen que tras la parálisis de la cuarentena llegarán las bajadas. «Buf, perdona, ¿qué mercado?» Es la respuesta en tono jocoso que daba ayer la presidenta de la Asociación de Profesionales Inmobiliarios de Ibiza (Apibiza), Mila González, al ser preguntada por la...

www.periodicodeibiza.es

Good. This is long overdue. It’s totally inflated everywhere. In terms of Ibiza, my jaw still drops when I see what they are asking for 1-2 bed apartments.

 

[The Sun God]

The UK is essentially a socialist country, no? (We have the welfare state, the NHS...) It's just a question of degree. It's only really in America that "socialism" is a very bad word.

or a nation of shopkeepers, according to Napoleon..

arguing about -isms is a bit pointless though.

emergency situations require extraordinary state intervention to prevent total collapse.

and apart from those with offshore accounts, we all face massive tax hikes at the end of this, whoever you vote for - the real punchline

 

[Johnny Vodka]

and apart from those with offshore accounts, we all face massive tax hikes at the end of this, whoever you vote for - the real punchline

Yes, this is true, and we need to keep a check on how that burden is shared. The UK has already had a harsh lesson in austerity.

Then we also have this Brexit shit mixed in to deal with at the same time.

 

[The Sun God]

Yes, this is true, and we need to keep a check on how that burden is shared. The UK has already had a harsh lesson in austerity.

it's a real challenge. the lesson of history is that the super-rich just disappear to Monaco or wherever. it's always the middle class that foots the bill.

 

[chez]

History shouldn't be repeated..
Going to be hard but even when they do ease up on the lockdowns I hope people don't just fly back in to a still hot pan and congragate in big gatherings but if Florida's beach scenes of late are anything to go by then it's not looking great is it

Philadelphia didn't cancel a parade during a 1918 pandemic. The results were devastating | CNN

The spread of the novel coronavirus has resulted in events being postponed or canceled across the country -- everything from the NBA and concerts to universities and schools has been affected.

www.cnn.com

 

[Buckley]

In the interests of balance, the response from Government to The Times article. Only the second time they ever done this ever.

Response to Sunday Times Insight article – Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre

News and updates from the Department of Health and Social Care media team

healthmedia.blog.gov.uk

From that link:
"Claim - No10 ‘played down the looming threat’ from Coronavirus and displayed an ‘almost nonchalant attitude…for more than a month.’
Response - The suggestion that the government’s attitude was nonchalant is wrong. Extensive and detailed work was going on in government because of Coronavirus, as shown above."

Is there a better demonstration of the Government's attitude than the words and behaviour of the Prime Minister:

"March 3: Mr Johnson dismissed the trend for coronavirus 'elbow bumps' - saying he is perfectly happy to keep shaking hands with people. The PM joked that he was still carrying out the traditional greeting 'continuously', citing scientific advice that it is fine as long as you keep washing your hands.
March 5: He shook hands with Mr Schofield and Mrs Willoughby as he appeared on This Morning to reassure Britons that he would 'keep the country fed' during the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to stop panic-buyers from raiding supermarket shelves and stockpiling food. He later hosts a reception for International Women's Day in Downing Street with MP Nadine Dorries - who would become the first minister to contract Covid-19.
March 6: He meets scientists as he visits testing laboratory at Bedford Technology Park. Later he is pictured shaking hands with Byron Davies as he arrives at the Welsh Conservative Party Conference in the Llangollen Pavilion....
March 8: Surveys flood defences in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley
March 9: He attempts to shake hands with a bishop at Westminster Abbey before stopping himself while at Commonwealth Service
But he later shakes hands with heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.
March 10: Says people should avoid shaking hands, to shame other people into washing their hands
Health minister Nadine Dorries became the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, shortly after attending a Downing Street reception.
March 12: Mr Johnson says preventing mass gatherings is not an effective way to tackle coronavirus
March 16: He advises against mass gatherings in policy U-turn - effectively cancelling all sport and other events
March 17: Talks about importance of social distancing at briefing with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance"

from:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-819 link broken by poster 2639/Boris-Johnsons-coronavirus-journey-FOUR-WEEKS-shaking-hands-hospital-bed.html

 

[cunninghamali]

Interesting piece here on China too. Things like this never get reported. All this drama about UK sending PPE to them. Seems they sent millions of things back too.

View attachment 8703

Dont understand why some hospitals don't have the equipent they need...

 

[soha]

House prices dropping isn't good news for everyone, if you just bought one this year

 

[stivi]

House prices dropping isn't good news for everyone, if you just bought one this year

understand yeah. but balearic islands specific, it just HAD to happen at some point.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

House prices dropping isn't good news for everyone, if you just bought one this year

I'm going to have to sell my old man's property ASAP to pay for his care. Doubt we'll get back whatever he paid for it... but ultimately as a society we need to get back to the idea that a home is something people live in rather than an investment.

 

[feynman]

understand yeah. but balearic islands specific, it just HAD to happen at some point.

Yeah The prices on the baleares are a mess.
Luxury flats everywhere. See the dashboards in PdB : 3 Sleeping rooms ...
Maybe they learn about it and buy enough normal flats to rent for the natives and expats. Similar like in Figuertes area.
Behind the last buildings there seems enough space for additional ones. Better than to build new hotels. Maybe it makes sense to change bad running hotels to cheap flats for season workers ..

 

[Floyd]

I’m really starting to loath some of the press (print, broadcast and online).

At a time when we need people to be calm, the media is picking up the stories which make things seem bad, and constantly repeating them. I can think of a few examples.

Worse, some of the media is in my view actively seeking to undermine government advice - point scoring in some cases. Agenda-driven in others: for example seeing an opportunity to politicise the Covid outbreak, with a view to seeing the fall of the government.

We obviously need a free press with a diversity of thought and opinion. But I think we also need the media to behave responsibly; to recognise and work towards the national interest. To support HMG even, in what is and should remain a non-political issue.

They can play at political influencing later when people have stopped dying.

Edit: I’m looking from a UK angle.

It's never really been anything different imo. From political agendas to mis-reporting of incidents and cover-ups.

The influence the press have over the UK public is astounding, that's the dangerous part.

 

[SeoulSaint]

Problem with the UK government is their lack of contrition. They always have to be on message, and that pisses so many people off, particularly when the message, e.g. PPE is wildly different to the reality on the ground. Ever since Alastair Campbell, the sound bite is all that’s important. I’d just like them to do a Macron and just be less like robotic freaks.