#COVID19

[InvincibleBrianMan]

The analyses that I have read has suggested that Democrats are going 'normal'. As in, they are counting on Americans wanting to vote for someone who is just a normal president after the insanity of the last four years.

Say what you like about Bernie, but he is much more radical than any normal candidate and only looks reasonable in comparison to Trump. If Bernie was up against a "normal" presidential candidate then Americans would usually be expected to run a mile. He's up against Biden and they are.

Against Trump he looks much more reasonable but the fear is that if Americans are presented with two candidates way outside the box they'll stick with the whacko they know.

Lots of problems with Biden; not least a fairly frequent suggestion that he may be in the early stages of dementia. But then again, catch Bernie in the wrong interview (and the wrong colour) and you worry how many more beats his heart has got.

What this whole thing has hopefully done is make the idea of insurance led healthcare dead in the water for any country currently running single payer (IE Brexit Britain)

Possibly, but I have seen Facebook memes (one in particular from a Labour voting nurse of my acquaintance) asking us to stand behind Bojo as he needs our support in this crisis, blah, blah, vomit??!!!
I think that is the same wartime spirit that is swinging behind Trump in the states.
I don't think Saunders's policies are at all radical either when viewed across the Atlantic (or across lake Ontario in my case) and you only have to look at his compromising over, and supporting of the Schumer "bail out" bill that has just passed to see that he is at heart a member of the Democratic party leadership. He is backing his old classmate when there were far superior options that he could have been pressing for.
I can see a wave of belt tightening and "enforced" sell-offs coming after this crisis (that's the way disaster capitalism works) hope there is a post WW2 type swing to the left after all this based on realizations of shared interdependence and communal suffering. But I suspect vested interests will conspire to swing it the other way and we will see Bojo presenting the deeds to the NHS to King Don at his next Coronation ceremony at the new White House / Presidential palace at Mar-a-Largo, Florida.

 

[Pope John XXIII]

Possibly, but I have seen Facebook memes (one in particular from a Labour voting nurse of my acquaintance) asking us to stand behind Bojo as he needs our support in this crisis, blah, blah, vomit??!!!
I think that is the same wartime spirit that is swinging behind Trump in the states.
I don't think Saunders's policies are at all radical either when viewed across the Atlantic (or across lake Ontario in my case) and you only have to look at his compromising over, and supporting of the Schumer "bail out" bill that has just passed to see that he is at heart a member of the Democratic party leadership. He is backing his old classmate when there were far superior options that he could have been pressing for.
I can see a wave of belt tightening and "enforced" sell-offs coming after this crisis (that's the way disaster capitalism works) hope there is a post WW2 type swing to the left after all this based on realizations of shared interdependence and communal suffering. But I suspect vested interests will conspire to swing it the other way and we will see Bojo presenting the deeds to the NHS to King Don at his next Coronation ceremony at the new White House / Presidential palace at Mar-a-Largo, Florida.

I don't think any rape of the NHS is politically possible this decade now.

I'm not saying they don't have the desire to do it. Trump, if he remains in power, will be more determined than ever to force it.

But Johnson cannot afford any obvious NHS destruction. Certainly the insurance based system they all favour is a dead duck now

 

[InvincibleBrianMan]

I don't think any rape of the NHS is politically possible this decade now.

I'm not saying they don't have the desire to do it. Trump, if he remains in power, will be more determined than ever to force it.

But Johnson cannot afford any obvious NHS destruction. Certainly the insurance based system they all favour is a dead duck now

I am glad you are confident, however I remember the end of the days of Thatcher and Maggies Millions (3ish?) and with the looming possible global depression (rather than recession) and talk of 25% unemployment rates...How many millions will that be? I cannot see any way the Tories will be looking to spend their way out of that depression? I think they will be calling for (and implementing) cuts in social spending, saying we need to cut unemployment benefits and promoting selling off of Hospitals (hard times need hard measures) and setting enough of the 74% against the 25% to keep a strangle hold. (its a well tested playbook at this point)

I don't like the Rape imagery but we need a "Me Too" movement to save The NHS (and the burgeoning underclass) from the coming fallout).

 

[CanadaRed]

Just want to point out as well that King Donald in the USA is not only planning to open the country up at Easter, but is revising the rules on social distancing. Not based on science, but based on his instinct.

Consequently, he is going to be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans on top of the ones he has already helped to kill through his inadequacy so far

Being a boring old CanEnglishAdian, I’m passing my time away in solitary watching cartoons, I really like The Donald Fuck Show at the moment, todays episode, Donald wants to send troops to his northern border to ensure that the virus laden, pox ridden Canadians don’t cross over our (mutually closed) border illegally and infect them.

Meanwhile in other news;
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52056586


I’m bored.

 

[Old Red Fart]

I read all of this with an almost religious fervour, to the extent that it's beginning to get me in a bit of a lather. So I'll repeat something that's been said before, not just by me either...........

I'm on a whisky diet.
I've lost 3 days already.

Feeling better already.................

 

[Pope John XXIII]

Donald Trump, employing his PhD in epidemiology to the New York State Governor's desperate plea for up to 30,000 ventilators to save American lives in the state Trump has resided in most of his adult life:

“I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they’re going to be,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday night. “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes, they’ll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they’re saying can we order 30,000 ventilators?”
He added: “Look, it’s a very bad situation. We haven’t seen anything like it, but the end result is we’ve got to get back to work, and I think we can start by opening up certain parts of the country.”

This man is a straight up murderer

 

[InvincibleBrianMan]

Donald Trump, employing his PhD in epidemiology to the New York State Governor's desperate plea for up to 30,000 ventilators to save American lives in the state Trump has resided in most of his adult life:

“I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they’re going to be,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday night. “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes, they’ll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they’re saying can we order 30,000 ventilators?”
He added: “Look, it’s a very bad situation. We haven’t seen anything like it, but the end result is we’ve got to get back to work, and I think we can start by opening up certain parts of the country.”

This man is a straight up murderer

Yes...and not just Donald

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.in...-pandemic-playbook-strategy-a9429241.html?amp

 

[JC21]

I don't think any rape of the NHS is politically possible this decade now.

I'm not saying they don't have the desire to do it. Trump, if he remains in power, will be more determined than ever to force it.

But Johnson cannot afford any obvious NHS destruction. Certainly the insurance based system they all favour is a dead duck now

This is exactly the time to 'rape' the NHS. This is exactly how most privatisation work; they run it down then privatise. We've already seen the rundown to a huge degree but that is going to be a lot worse after this is all cleared up and there's huge waiting lists.

 

[Chivalry Augustus]

The analyses that I have read has suggested that Democrats are going 'normal'. As in, they are counting on Americans wanting to vote for someone who is just a normal president after the insanity of the last four years.

Say what you like about Bernie, but he is much more radical than any normal candidate and only looks reasonable in comparison to Trump. If Bernie was up against a "normal" presidential candidate then Americans would usually be expected to run a mile. He's up against Biden and they are.

Against Trump he looks much more reasonable but the fear is that if Americans are presented with two candidates way outside the box they'll stick with the whacko they know.

Lots of problems with Biden; not least a fairly frequent suggestion that he may be in the early stages of dementia. But then again, catch Bernie in the wrong interview (and the wrong colour) and you worry how many more beats his heart has got.

What this whole thing has hopefully done is make the idea of insurance led healthcare dead in the water for any country currently running single payer (IE Brexit Britain)

I think the Democrats have had a lot of success painting Sanders as a radical - and it is from within the party that he faces the most opposition. Bernie is a democratic socialist, whereas the Democrats themselves are centrists, who are so entrenched in the everything has a price culture that they simply don't want anything to change.

I just don't see why Trump isn't going to run things like this on a loop for his campaign:

And you know Trump. He won't hold back. He'll probably call him a paedophile, and it will stick. One of the great strengths of Trump is his ability to ignore, deflect or absorb criticism, while returning fire at the opposition. No gaffe of his remains in the news cycle for long. A rubbish politician he maybe (he is), but he is a wily con artist.

 

[radfordinlondon]

Ours, as I said are LAC and they have been refused access all over the country. There are of course exceptions to this but the vast majority are saying that children in care should stay at home because they are safe. The announcement was clarity on the guidelines on what constitutes a vulnerable child so those educators refusing children who are looked after, will be taking children who have EHC plans.

This is perhaps not the forum, but carers are pretty much overlooked by the general public. They are doing a brilliant job. I have staff bringing to work several change of clothes in case they are quarantined at work. Amazing stuff, so dedicated.

Carers are not overlooked. Quite the reverse. Govts are well aware of the job they do but are, frankly, terrified by the size of the sector and the cost. If you work in the sector you know if carers were paid what they ought to be paid the system would go

Yes...and not just Donald

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-coronavirus-white-house-pandemic-playbook-strategy-a9429241.html?amp

At least they had a play book. We appear to be making it up as we go along.

 

[Strett]

Meanwhile, over in EU land...

After hours of disagreement, EU leaders have delayed a decision on coordinated fiscal response by another two weeks.

So whilst The PM and co are getting on with it, the EU fiddles while Rome burns!

 

[radfordinlondon]

Was nice to do the national clap yesterday, even if all the other news was rubbish.

 

[Pope John XXIII]

This is exactly the time to 'rape' the NHS. This is exactly how most privatisation work; they run it down then privatise. We've already seen the rundown to a huge degree but that is going to be a lot worse after this is all cleared up and there's huge waiting lists.

No, privatisations work by running down a service and then claiming it is not fit for purpose and something private will be better. When everyone is fed up of what they are getting, they believe it.

It doesn't come on the back of a service performing it's greatest feat of heroism ever, being applauded in the streets and showing immense bravery; nor does it come following horror stories of a private system completely failing while bankrupting people, as we will likely see in the US

 

[Woanz]

Meanwhile, over in EU land...

After hours of disagreement, EU leaders have delayed a decision on coordinated fiscal response by another two weeks.

So whilst The PM and co are getting on with it, the EU fiddles while Rome burns!

Where do you see this? In your mind? In another boomer bullshit post from Karen? Was it the same person who told you about them taking our ventilators? Is it the daily mail?

 

[Strett]

Where do you see this? In your mind? In another boomer bullshit post from Karen? Was it the same person who told you about them taking our ventilators? Is it the daily mail?

Lay off the crack, son.

https://intallaght.ie/the-eu-delays...crisis-by-two-weeks-and-worsens-its-division/

 

[Our Kids Dad]

Self employed 80% of profits averaged over 3 years.
Let’s hope the tax returns have been honest!!!

Many self employed, use a Limited Company - so, is that 80% of your share of a Limited Company Profit, or 80% of the dividends etc - these can be very different, many don't strip all of the profits via dividends - some take more.

Presumably small limited companies are covered by the Business Interruption Loan or the Small Business Grant - both, are loans that are repayable & thus, no assistance really - as you have to pay it back.

I know we will all pay it back in Taxes & NI in years to come though, but this seems aimed at sole traders.

I did note that Rishi said that any payment to the SE would be taxable, so anyone receiving 80% income via the Furlough scheme are still paying Tax & NI, above initial threshold.

More pertinent was the suggestion that they would be levelling up the taxation system between employed & self employed!

That will be interesting, because you then question whether there's any point being self employed.

Any help for SE is welcomed & we all have to pull together at a time of need, sadly - there will always be some that aren't covered, fortunately, not much to spend money on at present!

 

[JC21]

Joe Biden is an open Zionist. Bernie Sanders is being portrayed as an anti-Semite (even though he's Jewish).

No, privatisations work by running down a service and then claiming it is not fit for purpose and something private will be better. When everyone is fed up of what they are getting, they believe it.

It doesn't come on the back of a service performing it's greatest feat of heroism ever, being applauded in the streets and showing immense bravery; nor does it come following horror stories of a private system completely failing while bankrupting people, as we will likely see in the US

So in the first paragraph you've said EXACTLY the same as me but used a few more words.

The NHS is already being run down and becoming unfit for purpose, the privatisation of it is underway. There'll be a huge backlog after the virus that despite the "heroic effort" by the NHS that they won't be able to cope with, i.e. it will be unfit for purpose so there'll be 'no choice' but to privatise huge parts of it

 

[Pope John XXIII]

Joe Biden is an open Zionist. Bernie Sanders is being portrayed as an anti-Semite (even though he's Jewish).


So in the first paragraph you've said EXACTLY the same as me but used a few more words.

The NHS is already being run down and becoming unfit for purpose, the privatisation of it is underway. There'll be a huge backlog after the virus that despite the "heroic effort" by the NHS that they won't be able to cope with, i.e. it will be unfit for purpose so there'll be 'no choice' but to privatise huge parts of it

I'm not saying the same thing as you at all. Yes, we all know how privatisation is sold to the public. You don't get any plaudits for pointing that out.

But I am making completely the opposite prediction to you as to how it will all play out.

I see what you are saying in your last sentence and yes, it's possible for it to play out like that.

But the Tories never supported the creation of the NHS. It has always been a hard right Tory goal to abolish it and return to the murderous system we had before. For 70 years elements of the Tory party have wanted to destroy the NHS, while the rest make an uneasy peace with it.

And in 70 years they have never, ever had the balls to come close to moving to an insurance system.

Because to the British public, the NHS is sacrosanct.

Put the monarchy and the NHS up against each other. British people can only pick one. Does the Queen win? I don't think so.

That is going to be doubly the case now. Yes, the NHS will fail people in the months after this is over. But people will understand.

You are also assuming that the only comparable example of a private healthcare system, the USA, will stand up to scrutiny as a beacon of capitalist healthcare. It won't. America will likely have the worst death toll in the world. Nobody is going to envy their system after this.

 

[Woanz]

Lay off the crack, son.

https://intallaght.ie/the-eu-delays...crisis-by-two-weeks-and-worsens-its-division/

Wow what’s their readership 8k a week? It’s a step up from the last made up rubbish you posted I suppose.

 

[JC21]

I'm not saying the same thing as you at all. Yes, we all know how privatisation is sold to the public. You don't get any plaudits for pointing that out.

But I am making completely the opposite prediction to you as to how it will all play out.

I see what you are saying in your last sentence and yes, it's possible for it to play out like that.

But the Tories never supported the creation of the NHS. It has always been a hard right Tory goal to abolish it and return to the murderous system we had before. For 70 years elements of the Tory party have wanted to destroy the NHS, while the rest make an uneasy peace with it.

And in 70 years they have never, ever had the balls to come close to moving to an insurance system.

Because to the British public, the NHS is sacrosanct.

Put the monarchy and the NHS up against each other. British people can only pick one. Does the Queen win? I don't think so.

That is going to be doubly the case now. Yes, the NHS will fail people in the months after this is over. But people will understand.

You are also assuming that the only comparable example of a private healthcare system, the USA, will stand up to scrutiny as a beacon of capitalist healthcare. It won't. America will likely have the worst death toll in the world. Nobody is going to envy their system after this.

You're head's fucked int it?

I'm saying that they run a service down and then privatise.

You're saying they run a service down and then privatise

How the fuck is that different?

I don't want 'plaudits' and neither will you get any plaudits for saying the same thing (even though you think you've said different.

Yes you're predicting a different outcome but the FIRST paragraph you're saying EXACTLY the same.

Couldn't be bothered to read the rest of your shit. If YOU don't know what the fuck you're saying, how is anyone else supposed to?