mind_messing
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ORIGINAL: warspite1
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ORIGINAL: mind_messing
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ORIGINAL: warspite1
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ORIGINAL: RFalvo69
(Really?)
Covid-19 response is a matter of politics.
warspite1
WTH?
So this is the "No Politics Version" and you post an article in The Guardian that, here's a shocker than no one could have possibly foreseen, blames a Tory Government for thousands of deaths. The left wing Grauniad taking a pop at a right of centre Government - Well as my old mate Iago would say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaIFT6iILaY
Who's to blame then?
warspite1
WTH? (Part Deux)
The point being made is that this is (or should be) a politics free zone or the thread get's closed down - as happened to the last one. Posting some old toss by that rag is no different than posting some equal load of toss from the rag that is the Daily Mail having a go at Sturgeon etc etc etc.
It's impossible to discuss Covid without touching on the political issues. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves on.
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Who is to blame? Well in a non partisan world, the virus is to blame. The politicians (whatever their political leanings) who happen to be in charge at the time, are the ones responsible for doing the best they can in truly unprecedented times. They are trying to meet the challenge of the virus, with the challenge of the economies they are responsible for, not falling off a cliff.
Agreed.
And yet, I would have taken a bit more comfort from knowing that the issue was taken semi-seriously by top political figures at the start of the year.
You may want to consider the issue was top of the national risk register in the UK for quite some time. Not exactly "unprecedented".
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What has been the performance so far? Well, in case anyone hasn't noticed, we are still living through this.
Compared to other European nations? Poorly.
Second highest total deaths per 100k of population. Most cases. Most deaths.
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Of course a Government (and I say again, of whatever political leanings) will be in the firing line no matter what they do.
And rightly so - well thought out and evidenced policy should be resilient to challenge.
Or at the very least, have consistent messaging.
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A prime example now is the accusation that tighter controls should have been put in place earlier. But now the Government is doing just that (re Spain and the quarantine) they are being blamed for that too.
Personally I'd have settled for senior government members and advisors following the measures that they themselves put in place, but fat chance of that. Given your previous criticism of Dr Calderwood I think you'd be in agreement.
A large part of the criticism appears to be driven by the inconsistent messaging.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmscotaf/314/31406.htm#_idTextAnchor018
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Point is, a Government will always be wrong because the nature of this virus is such that its going to go severe damage (lives, health, economy) no matter what it does.
True, but the gold standard is and remains "Were the actions taken at the time driven by the best available information?".
While some leeway can be granted in the early days given the wide and often conflicting reports, that passes eventually.
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Firstly, its not the place to have that conversation, but secondly, its just not helpful.
That's a peculiarly sentiment to the UK in my experience, and one that I think is actually incredibly harmful.
The notion that as a collective we should not be critical of the government because it's "not the place" or that it's "not helpful" is absurd.
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Twaty, self serving, self centred politicians need to put away their party politics and we all need to work together on this.
An interesting read here in regard to that aspect:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmscotaf/314/31406.htm#_idTextAnchor018
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Blame and recrimination can come later, but its really not helpful now is it?
Yes, it absolutely is. At the very least it would help impart a degree of responsibility and seriousness around decision-making.
Johnson's openness about things that could have been done differently sets a welcome and mature tone.
However, the real test will be the inquiry, which I suspect will be put off as far as possible. Now "is not the time" supposedly, but Covid isn't going anywhere and there are innumerable questions that need answered.
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I said at the start of this that the economic repercussions scare me more than the virus. There were those - people of a certain age on this thread who should know better - who seemed to take a head in the sand approach that its not so bad and it will be alright. Day after day of job losses and deserted high streets tell a different picture. The virus numbers are going up, and selfish anti-social morons are more interested in their holidays (that they should never have booked) than the big picture are likely the same ones that blame governments for not 'doing more' without bothering to understand what 'doing more' would have meant.
Now there is the key line in the government's current approach.
Blame for any increase in Covid 19 figures is going to be shifted to the public, and in this case other people. Why was it possible to book holidays in the first place, when it was well within the governments ability to prevent travel for leisure (either as a general ban or specifically targeted)?
It's the fault of the public. They're to blame for the testing, track and trace. They're to blame for the mixed public messaging. They're to blame for the poor reporting on Covid cases and test numbers.
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