What helps is having a government that takes decisive action from day 1, putting lives before economy. I think having no new local infections, for 100 days, in cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch is a major result that should impress everyone. Clearly I am wrong.
I think you're both right. I'm not "bashing the government" BUT ..... IF they had brought lockdown in immediately they knew there was an issue in Italy, China etc and IF they'd actually bothered to check people coming in FROM THOSE COUNTRIES when they knew ...... AND .... IF they hadn't DELIBERATELY sent COVID positive people out to care homes in order to make beds available in hospitals (and then built bloody private hospitals at god knows what cost - these are the ones which have NEVER been used ......) AND IF they had actually had a strategy and the lazy **** De Pfeffel had got off his arse and gone to COBRA meetings ..... AND IF Cummings hadn't ordered that Herd Immunity was the way ...... AND IF they hadn't given massive orders for PPE to their cronies - this is PPE which either never arrived or isn't fit for purpose ..... The list continues and I cannot understand ANYONE actually supporting what they've done or saying "Poor Boris ....." - FFS everyone! This government are the most corrupt and ineffectual bunch of tossers we've ever had! Even Maggie (and I was never a fan of hers) must be rolling over in her grave at the sheer incompetence ......... I really hope they get their comeuppance, but, sadly, I think the pure apathy of the british voter will continue to keep these robbing bastards in power OK - so I AM bashing the government. They should be taken out and hung up ..................
Not saying you’re wrong, as it’s your opinion, but the posts (not necessarily yours) about New Zealand are ridiculous. Europe become the hotspot for Covid out of China, and it spread fast. NZ is barely an international hub that had the numbers of traffic through its boarders from countries that were hit bad - Italy, Spain and ~France. Now i am not saying we have done everything correct, far from it, and I agree we could have closed boarders sooner, but serious folks, comparisons with NZ, to me, are just bandied around to confirm a point that others got it so right and us so wrong, and I think its a flimsy argument. Now, when I left the board previously, it was mainly down to the constant bitching about Covid, and the political aspect, and that certain posters were allowed to deliberately provoke other members, so I will learn from that and back out quietly from this just now
I'm not provoking, Billy, just highlighting facts. I do agree with you that NZ is a lot easier to control in terms of immigration than the UK, but I came into the UK on a repatriation flight from South Africa in early June and there was NOTHING done in terms of masks, temperature control, information as to where people were going, etc ........... I self-isolated for 2 weeks anyway, but I bet many didn't. By then, there had been thousands of dead in the UK and STILL the government had no ****ing clue. I'd rather be in NZ than here because at least their government had a cogent plan and saw it through. It just amazes me how De Pfeffel (I will NEVER call him "Boris" like he's a harmless old uncle, because he's a useless piece of ****) can still have anyone who hasn't got their money stashed offshore or is getting a backhander from him supporting him.
I wasn't referring to you provoking btw, ive not seen you do that so apologies if it seemed like I was pointed that finger at you As I said, I think the Boarder piece is something that could have been handled differently, but my main issue is the 'let's compare our situation with one that is totally different in virtually every way' as a means to justify. I would add that I expect virtually every Gov across the World will look back and think they could have done stuff differently. Now I am not expecting our to come out and admit that, and mainly as the political landscape here means if they did that they would be destroyed for getting it wrong, rather than as a collective, we try to learn from the past. Labour would crucify them, working with the UK press. I am, throughout this situation, most disappointed and disgusted with the UK press.
It wasn't taken as such, Billy - don't worry! Yes - the mainstream media in this country are disgusting. Hardly any of them (and I'm including the BBC in this) appear willing to take the government to task and would rather deflect our attention to a bunch of poor and desperate refugees coming across the channel in rubber dinghies (and I've crossed the channel in a sailing boat innumerable times and I would never want to take it on in a bloody rubber dinghy). Sadly the general public in this country appear to believe what they're told and that's what really disappoints me
I remember being told in my Civics and Public Duties class in the 1961 (yes, we were taught about how government works and our responsibilities) that the first duty of any government is to protect and preserve a country's borders. Limiting the influx of refugees to legitimate channels means that a whole criminal enterprise will collapse...the people making vast sums out these people (sometimes by pulling them into debt) and risking their lives into the bargain. It's also in France's interest to do so, because it will reduce the numbers entering their country as a stopping off point. Financial refugees are not the same as true refugees. It is wrong to regard all refugees as troublemakers and a nuisance, but it is equally foolish to regard all transient people seeking to enter Europe as true refugees.
This from St B on the politics thread, express vying with the mail for xenophobic headline of the year. These few hundred, in the main, desperate people many who would become valuable additions to society are demonised by the gutter press. please log in to view this image
How Spain deals with breaches of covid-19. Some might say it’s over the top, but if it deters other breaches, so be it. Dance floor ‘denuncia’ for nightspot owner An Alicante nightclub owner is facing a fine of up to €60,000 after a police raid found that the discothèque’s dance floor was open for use. A total of 66 people were escorted out of the nightspot in Alicante city in the early hours of Sunday morning after local police confirmed that Covid-19 security measures were being flouted. Full report in Friday’s Costa Blanca News – available from supermarkets, tobacconists/newspaper shops and online at www.costa-news.com
You have a point. NZ is an Island (like us), but a far smaller population and so much open space that we haven't got. One thing though is they took decisive action quickly that prevented the carnage we have here. Granted it is easier there due to the numbers, but action was needed and action was what they got. I'm not provoking you either mate, and I would be saying the same of any government that was in power; Tory, Labour or even UKIP It is hard to keep politics off here, but Boris hasn't exactly crowned himself in glory, though that doesn't necessarily mean a different political party would have done.
Totally agree, there are things they got wrong, and others they got right, but its a pretty **** situation for anyone in power, and many dynamics in place, not just Covid. And yep, NZ have done fantastic, but i still dont think we would have been much better off with their PM or any other. NZ were able to shut down, its far easier to control a population such as theirs, which isn’t anywhere near as diverse as the one we enjoy here. I just dont think comparisons really help, we are where we are, and as people, individually and collectively, we could have acted more responsibly, and the damn media have made things 10x worse with how they have approached this.
We wouldn't have had a leader as lazy as Johnson and wouldn't have skipped all those important Cobra meetings. Defend him all you like, make all the excuses you like the incompetent fat **** and his apprentices have ****ed up big time.
Who is defending who here? If your post was directed at me, I haven’t defended anyone. I think you may be a little paranoid But Boris missing some Cobra meetings really didn’t impact Covid-19, it isn’t unusual to not be able to make every meeting that goes on in the Government, and having people in charge of key positions to be briefed later isn’t dangerous or unusual. I do believe there are short-Cummings, pun intended to calm you down, and your opinion is as welcome as mine. Have a great evening old fella
Ok what about Greece then? Geographically close to Italy and yet upto last week they only had 210 Covid related deaths. What did they do right that we didnt? they closed the borders early. Also the government said that the Track and Test would be world leading, i dont want it to be world leading, i just want it to work.
The point is that back in 28th January they were stay saying that the impact of Covid in the UK would be moderate. They didn't understand the potential impact so were arrogant and too flippant about it
I dont know much about Greece to be fair, so you maybe correct. Although again it isn't so populated, and we have zero information as to numbers being correct. I also agree boarders should have been closed sooner and that is likely that could have saved some of the impact. Again though with Test and Trace, it also requires the public to support and be diligent and responsible, and perhaps they're not being so helpful either.
Most countries World over did the same, there was lots of conflicting data around at that time from China and the WHO, and yes it turned out worse, but not sure about being arrogant or flippant. Back then the WHO I think were still suggesting there was no spread from person to person.
