Coronavirus Pandemic

[Niall_Quinn]

There are times I read NQ's posts and think - wtf is this guy on?

There are others where I think there is something in this.

This is one of those times where I think hmmmm....where is all this going?

I volunteered to be part of a pilot exercise to test our new covid secure work environment. I enjoyed my day at the office as I was able to work more comfortably and use resources not available to me at home. I wanted to go further with this and attend the office on a more regular basis so I could be more effective in my work. There are things that can be done better at home and others where you want to attend the workplace and use the resources there.

I was told today that if I wanted to do that, I would HAVE to download the track and trace app.

I suppose I could do that on a phone I don't intend to carry around with me - but FFS - being told I have to download an app to go to work?

Fuck that.

I think there's a reasonable explanation for this, on the part of your business at least. They need to be a "covid secure workplace" or the fascist pigs will shut them down. So they'll need to know if anyone catches this deadly killer plague and who they have been in contact with so they can exclude said plague carrier and victims from their covid secure workplace. So the fascist pigs don't shut them down.

This would all make even more sense if there really was a dangerous virus on the loose, if their tests were real tests and actually worked, and, let's face it, if their stupid app worked (which I bet it doesn't because, obviously, government I.T. contract)

I work from home. But I need liability insurance to go to a client's office. Same sort of shit I suppose.

[Letters]

There are times I read NQ's posts and think - wtf is this guy on?

There are others where I think there is something in this.

This is one of those times where I think hmmmm....where is all this going?

His post sounds exactly like the Harry Enfield character you referenced.
“Is that what you want, ‘cos that’s what’ll ‘appen!”

There’s not much further the conversation can go - his “Okay” response is about right.
He’s saying “this is what will happen”
I’m saying “no it won’t”
So I guess we will see who is right.

One thing I will say is that pretty much every country has imposed restrictions on their citizens this year. So either the entire world is simultaneously heading towards an unprecedented totalitarian regime or they’re responding to a crisis.
The fact that Italy got back to business as usual following a much stricter lockdown than we had here.
So I’m thinking the more likely answer is that it’s a response.

Whether it’s the right response is a different matter.

And yeah, I can see that certain people will be taking advantage and profiting from all this.
But for years “they” have known where I was at all times, or certainly had the ability to know.
And they have been able to track my purchases for years.
None of it has ever restricted any of my freedoms. Yet.

Could it? Sure.
Will it? We’ll see but personally I think it unlikely and I don’t think most of the things NQ prophesies will happen.

[Niall_Quinn]

His post sounds exactly like the Harry Enfield character you referenced.
“Is that what you want, ‘cos that’s what’ll ‘appen!”

There’s not much further the conversation can go - his “Okay” response is about right.
He’s saying “this is what will happen”
I’m saying “no it won’t”
So I guess we will see who is right.

One thing I will say is that pretty much every country has imposed restrictions on their citizens this year. So either the entire world is simultaneously heading towards an unprecedented totalitarian regime or they’re responding to a crisis.
The fact that Italy got back to business as usual following a much stricter lockdown than we had here.
So I’m thinking the more likely answer is that it’s a response.

Whether it’s the right response is a different matter.

And yeah, I can see that certain people will be taking advantage and profiting from all this.
But for years “they” have known where I was at all times, or certainly had the ability to know.
And they have been able to track my purchases for years.
None of it has ever restricted any of my freedoms. Yet.

Could it? Sure.
Will it? We’ll see but personally I think it unlikely and I don’t think most of the things NQ prophesies will happen.

Who are you trying to reassure? Yourself? As I said, these laws are on the books (and won't be coming off, ever), the majority of the technology is already in place and the live test has been successfully completed in China. So I don't know why you are referring to current action on the ground as a prophesy. Of course the whole world (with a few demonised exceptions) are doing it. That's what globalism is all about. You've seen the directives that the WHO is the only body whose declarations will be tolerated. All else is censored. Considering the typical politician can't take a shit without advice from several committees, the global coordination has been at least interesting in this case.

The people you are relying on to hand back control are the same types who lied to your face so they could bomb countless men, women and children to bits all across the Middle East. The same types who bailed out casino banks at your expense and plunged the world into a decade long recession in the process. The same types who were caught stealing the money they took from you with menaces, but never went to jail. Who sabotage elections, domestically and abroad while accusing others of their crimes. Who are lying straight to your face about a non-existent second wave, who ran a ghoulish death toll with manufactured statistics, who sent sick people into care homes thus imposing a death sentence on the most vulnerable in our society, who are crippling the economy once again with the only beneficiaries being, you guessed it, the mega corporations and the super wealthy.

Will troops marching up and down your street ordering you to stay in your home change your mind? Or will that be a normal and perfectly reasonable response too? All those dead bodies in the street, the overflowing hospitals, something has to be done - right? What about compulsory vaccination with a miracle cure that's 5-10 years early? Or severe curtailment of your liberties if you refuse? Will that be your line in the sand? Seems you don't mind being tagged and tracked like a dog, but maybe you can appreciate that some people have a shred of dignity?

I'd think it is time for you to know your enemy. That's what's really in your best interests, I respectfully suggest. Because the more of you there are, the more chance all of us get fucked.

But let's wait and see if what's already happened, happens. Maybe the leopard has changed its spots this time?

And, by the way, who gave our "servants" permission to do any of this? Even parliament, the theatre where they at least pretend we get a say, has been bypassed. Are we certain they still view themselves as servants?

[Letters]

Who are you trying to reassure? Yourself?

No one. You are opining that a load of bad things will happen.
I’m saying no they won’t.
I might be wrong of course but even if some or even all of those things are happening in China, the regime here has never been as oppressive as that and I personally don’t think it will become so.

The people you are relying on to hand back control...

But they already have. Italy had a far more oppressive lockdown than we had here. When the worst of the crisis was over life got back to normal. I have friends who live there. I don’t know if any restrictions have been put back in place, I have friends on holiday right now so I don’t think so.
You were commending our government for not imposing as strict a lockdown as other countries did and when the numbers went down they DID start handing back control. At the height of this pubs, restaurants, cinemas etc were closed as were many shops. We were only “allowed” to go out once a day. None of that is in place now. Yes, there are still restrictions and we could be heading towards a second lockdown if the numbers keep rising. But all of this is a response to the crisis. The wrong response, but a response none the less. My evidence for that is the way governments around the world have lifted restrictions when the numbers improved.
I’m not saying that governments aren’t corrupt or self serving, but I don’t believe they have any interest in controlling our day to day lives in the way you imagine.

Will troops marching up and down your street ordering you to stay in your home change your mind?

Yes.
That didn’t happen at the height of lockdown and I don’t think it will but yes that would make me reconsider.
How in practice would that work? How many soldiers are there and how many streets? I’m not sure that maths works out too well.

Seems you don't mind being tagged and tracked like a dog, but maybe you can appreciate that some people have a shred of dignity?

I can certainly appreciate there is a legitimate concern there.
And yes, with a suitably oppressive regime this could all have massive implications for our day to day freedoms. But we have never had an oppressive regime here and I personally find it unlikely.
And as I’ve said these concerns have existed for decades, it’s never actually made any difference to my day to day life. Could it? Sure. Will it? I personally don’t think so. I could be wrong.
I should note here that you have posted even at the height of lockdown that people were largely disregarding it. So even in that time there were no troops on the streets ordering everyone inside.

And in the sort of oppressive regime you are talking about you wouldn’t be able to post half the stuff you do on here.

So I guess we’ll see who is right.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I'll judge the government at the end of the season.

[Mac76]

And, by the way, who gave our "servants" permission to do any of this? Even parliament, the theatre where they at least pretend we get a say, has been bypassed. Are we certain they still view themselves as servants?

the tories have never seen themselves as servants, they see themselves as our rightful masters, ruling over us with god-given permission

[Niall_Quinn]

I'll judge the government at the end of the season.

What of they suspend the season until further notice?

[Niall_Quinn]

Quite literally, when the early stages of covid was unfolding in China and the communist regime was locking people down, we had people over here saying it could never happen here. That's just not how our society works, they said. Fine for China, because that's what they do. But never in freedom loving Britain.

And then, suddenly it did work that way. It will never happen until it inevitably does.

[Letters]

I don’t think you can really compare the lockdown here to what happened in China

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-but-effective

Starting within hours of the announcement, transport into and out of the city was closed, with no exceptions even for personal and medical emergencies. Schools and universities were already on holiday, but that was extended indefinitely.
All shops shut except those selling food or medicine. Private vehicles were barred from the roads without special permission, and most public transport stopped, leaving the streets empty and silent.
Initially people were allowed out of their homes, but restrictions soon tightened. Some areas limited outings to one family member every two days to buy necessities. Others barred residents from leaving, requiring them to order in food and other supplies from couriers.
Later the policy became even more aggressive, with officials going door to door for health checks, and forcing anyone ill into isolation. A disabled boy reportedly died after he was left without food, water or help when his his father and brother were quarantined.
Most buildings have security guards monitoring temperatures of anyone going in. Residential compounds are closed to all but their inhabitants

[Niall_Quinn]

Really? Why not?

Do you think this is solely about the actual measures taken (many of which were similar here in fact), or the new reality that the government has assumed unaccountable powers even in the case of a so-called second wave they can't prove actually exists?

Sounds like you are saying authoritarianism, despotism, fascism and a whole bunch of other 'isms are okay, in principle, provided the glorious leaders are nice to you, in practice? From principle eventually comes all available practicality. Now they have assumed these powers there is very little difference between the UK and China in terms of governance. The people we have now are soft fascists. The first ones always are.

You are waiting for some benevolent type to strike down these new draconian measures and restore checks, balances and accountability? Just like they didn't after 911? Maybe that will happen. But not if we all sit here claiming everything is reasonable.