The Economy Is Now Just As Important As The Risk Of The Virus.

[dave50]

It's alright for all these scientists and politicians pushing for harsher lock downs, they are on the public payroll, they don't have to worry about paying the bills and losing their jobs. It's about time they took a broader view of the implications. I don't know about anyone else but I am starting to get a little bit wound up when I hear them going on about it. I have never been one to support civil disobedience but I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that it might be the only way and when I see the young defying the rules I can't help but have a little sympathy as it is them whose lives will be affected for years to come.

[youngmafbog]

With you 100% Dave.

[ToraToraTora]

yep give yourself BA dave!

[New Judge]

Indeed. As I keep saying, a totally different strategy is required. All that scientists can come up with is various schemes to lock everybody away from contacting everybody else and all the politicians do is simply to agree with them.

It is absolutely outrageous that vast numbers of the population are prevented from seeing their relatives and at some time, probably around Christmas, there will be disobedience even more widespread than is occurring at present. The government needs to accept that lockdowns don't work and they cripple the economy. They need to deal with the problem as it is, not as they'd like it to be.

[bobbinwales]

They are taking a wider view that includes are economy tho. Thats why all shops are open now, pubs are open, restraunts are open, you can go on a plane on holiday, schools and unis open, grass roots football is played, gyms are open, zoos open, museums, ect, ect.
Newjudges point about not seeing relatives is of course changing the goalposts which his good at as it as almost nothing to do with the economy compared to all the things a mentioned above.

[198kHz]

Lockdown is merely pressing the pause button.

[bobbinwales]

Not really its stoppping it running riot. If it were a full complete lockdown -confined to are houses - it would die out. But your right in that we are buying time until winters over (flu)and a vacine and better testing and tracing of million's of tests a week. We got to hope.

[New Judge]

//Thats why all shops are open //
Those that are still in business following the debacle between March and July, that is.

//pubs are open, restraunts are open//

Not at all in Wales and with severe restrictions on their activities elsewhere.

…//you can go on a plane on holiday//

And, when returning from the places most people are likely to go to, you must spend two weeks under house arrest upon your return.

//Newjudges point about not seeing relatives is of course changing the goalposts//

I’m not moving the goalposts. I’m commenting on what is happening. Being unable to meet relatives is having an enormous effect on the economy. I’m in a Tier 2 area (along with about 12m others) and I would usually meet some friends or relatives for a drink and/or a meal probably once a week. I can’t do that and I doubt I’m alone in having to keep my money in my pocket. If you believe those measures are “nothing to do with the economy” just ask anybody who runs a pub or restaurant.

[Neveracrossword]

My pubs aren't open, my restaurants aren't open, my GP's surgery isn't open, my library isn't open, there are very few places that I could go on holiday (and some would need quarantining on arrival and on return). This is the state of affairs in many parts of the country.

[Sqad]

The same arguments from the same people for whom I have a certain sympathy.
Please,now refrain from repeating lockdown isn't working and suggest another method that is socially acceptable and will work.
Too many people are looking for ways to dodge the Governmental recommendations rather than complying.

[Neveracrossword]

Sqad, I have no idea if lockdown is working or not. My post was to offset the information in the 14.00 post, information that wasn't accurate for very many of us.

[Sqad]

neveracrossword.......my post was not personal but a general opinion that I hold.
There are cogent opinions ions on both sides,but someone has to formulate a policy that is likely to please only half of the population.
Who would want to be a Politician at this time?

[Old_Geezer]

Too little, and for many, too late.

The other method that is socially acceptable and will work is to protect the vulnerable and let the rest take their chances. If immunity lasts longer than presently feared then catching the disease or getting a working vaccine results in a society where the virus can't easily find another host, which is good; on the other hand, if the immune system doesn't retain memory and thus fails to protect for long, then we're stuck with it anyway, and can't be messing about like this for ever, so may as well carry on anyway and put up with it.

[Prudie]

I don't think the majority are trying to dodge the recommendations but rather think they are pointless, even if they are complying.
I'd assume of course lockdowns work while we are all locked down but there is this feeling it's like a tornado, batten down the hatches and once it's passed over we can all come out again - that's the bit I don't think works. However long we shut away it will always be there again when we come out. How long do the pro-lockdown of you expect this to go on? It's already clear it's going to stretch well into next year, who'd have believed that when we all did as we were told in March-June?

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, sqad. I think if there was a solution, one single solution, to the virus, someone in the world would have worked it out by now!

[Sqad]

prudie my love, yes,yes, but what alternative strategy have you to offer?

[Sqad]

neveracrossword....LOL...I certanly agree.
My medical contacts are now beginning to worry about capacity in the hospitals and inmy region the strain is starting to show.
It will be well into the middle of December before we can assess the effectiveness of lockdown.

[Prudie]

Well I can't base it on science nor politics so it will be flawed but personally I'd ensure the vulnerable (and the scared as there's plenty of those too) were able to protect themselves by isolating but still getting support and the rest of us just carry on as normal.
We've had posters on here throw the guilt ball by telling us about a relative that's died and 'you wouldn't say that were it your gran etc etc' however I could equally tell you that I now know of 7 work colleagues who've had this virus, they felt rough for a week, took another week off as they had to and all are back at work. Should the whole country's economy and social/family foundations be ruined for what is statistically a very small number percent wise who may succumb (admittedly sadly)?

[SparklyKid]

At the age of 75 I am now past caring. I go to neighbours house, visit kids. What will be will be.

[Sqad]

prudie........many people would agree with your suggestions but many would totally disagree,so which does one impose on the country?
Do you follow the science ,who also disagree or do you impose your philosophy on the nation?
The North is suffering now and you live in the South where the NHS is coping, but if this selective lockdown doesn't work,then the R factor will start to rise inthe South,before Christmas.

[Prudie]

Yes but the science isn't showing this as a permanent solution because they don't know one. Should we all carry on like this for another year, 2 years??
As for the NHS in my area I have no idea what they are doing because you have to jump through hoops and be direly ill to even start to get medical care for anything non-covid..