Massaging the unemployment figs

Wonder how this will be done.

I vaguely remember Maggie Thatcher govt moving a helluva lot of over 50s from unemployment benefit to incapacity benefit so they weren't counted as unemployed.

You could start shifting folk between the two different ESA groups so they become "economically inactive" and then don't count.....apart from that it's not so easy to manipulate this time round.

When Govts and the state start compiling and counting figs they are usually manipulated as we see with crime figs, covid figs, climate change etc.

Wonder what rabbit they will pull out the hat with unemployment.

It's not just the unemployed who are a concern. All state expenditure must be under threat. If you are running a business you often have to cut costs. Think the state will find their tax revenues drastically reduced and no serious expectation of increasing them through the traditional stimulus methods. If income can't be increased then more borrowing seems to be the only way to square the books. Borrow now and pay back when we can afford it. Might find that borrowing is more difficult so what family silver can the Government sell?

Brexit is hanging over everything. Just have to make sure that we don't import foodstuff from France if they block the shipping routes. might actually force us to look for new markets etc.

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Originally Posted by BCram

It's not just the unemployed who are a concern. All state expenditure must be under threat. If you are running a business you often have to cut costs. Think the state will find their tax revenues drastically reduced and no serious expectation of increasing them through the traditional stimulus methods. If income can't be increased then more borrowing seems to be the only way to square the books. Borrow now and pay back when we can afford it. Might find that borrowing is more difficult so what family silver can the Government sell?

Brexit is hanging over everything. Just have to make sure that we don't import foodstuff from France if they block the shipping routes. might actually force us to look for new markets etc.

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The real problems creep ever closer, the covid smokescreen gets ever thicker.

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Originally Posted by Returnofrros

The real problems creep ever closer, the covid smokescreen gets ever thicker.

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I think there needs to be a discussion about economic harm and covid harm. I know you have been banging on about this for ages and ages and ages but somehow it's not getting any traction. The media seem to think it is their duty to support any action that reduces or is claimed to reduce covid harm and that seems to be the end of the matter.

The regionalisation approach with different levels of action clearly can't work on a practical level and the social distancing requirement is also not practicable if we want a functioning economy. I think there's been a lack of understanding the difference between talking about our economy and our society. Somehow they appear to be two different entities but maybe they are different sides of the same coin. We damage both when we restrict one.

Sweden has been mentioned as an example of a different approach. I can't find out what their government does to support their countries efforts to deal with covid. It does not look as though they make one size fit all.

There just does not appear to be a rational way to discuss these issues. I think the infringements of our liberty is a weak argument and we would be better served if there was a proper discussion about how to solve the problems for our society and our economy which were caused by the covid restrictions.

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Originally Posted by BCram

I think there needs to be a discussion about economic harm and covid harm. I know you have been banging on about this for ages and ages and ages but somehow it's not getting any traction. The media seem to think it is their duty to support any action that reduces or is claimed to reduce covid harm and that seems to be the end of the matter.

The regionalisation approach with different levels of action clearly can't work on a practical level and the social distancing requirement is also not practicable if we want a functioning economy. I think there's been a lack of understanding the difference between talking about our economy and our society. Somehow they appear to be two different entities but maybe they are different sides of the same coin. We damage both when we restrict one.

Sweden has been mentioned as an example of a different approach. I can't find out what their government does to support their countries efforts to deal with covid. It does not look as though they make one size fit all.

There just does not appear to be a rational way to discuss these issues. I think the infringements of our liberty is a weak argument and we would be better served if there was a proper discussion about how to solve the problems for our society and our economy which were caused by the covid restrictions.

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BBC and SLY news it dosent get any traction because they get anihalated when they do.

I wonder how many people in this country even know about the great barrington declaration or how many should be dead in Sweden going by the modelling or the blessed NHS gets almost overun every year or that nobody now dies of flu and pneumonia.

As long as the govt keeps giving people "free funny money" 🙂 it will be tolerated.

Did you watch dispatches the other night. It was actually starting to dawn on a few of the folk how up **** creek we are.

Anyway new wedge 60degree....away to have a wee practice in meh new chipping net.😁

How can you go golfing. Thought Dundee was restricted?

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Originally Posted by BCram

How can you go golfing. Thought Dundee was restricted?

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Bcram....I've posted on here long enuf ..do you honestly think I'd do anything that half wit woman tells me to?

Nobody I know is abiding by these restrictions, not one.

I've a decent sized garden , I've a chipping net.

But in any case I've played golf 3 times this week, I'm not sure what tier I'm in as I refuse to recognise them but I think I heard someone say we are in tier 2.....so em allowed to wave a metal stick aboot my heid and walk about a field apparently.

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Originally Posted by Returnofrros

Bcram....I've posted on here long enuf ..do you honestly think I'd do anything that half wit woman tells me to?

Nobody I know is abiding by these restrictions, not one.

I've a decent sized garden , I've a chipping net.

But in any case I've played golf 3 times this week, I'm not sure what tier I'm in as I refuse to recognise them but I think I heard someone say we are in tier 2.....so em allowed to wave a metal stick aboot my heid and walk about a field apparently.

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I think you're level 2, I live half a mile from you and am level 3. You can actually see a big steel curtain about about 200 yards from me where Dundee becomes Angus protecting all the retired dodgers over there.

Honest, what a load of absolute ****e. Dundee tier 3 to stop Ninewells being overwhelmed - because only Dundee fowk go to Ninewells. Angus, Perth and Fife residents go somewhere else of course. She's a fkn idiot falling for all that 'science'.

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Originally Posted by Deeranged

I think you're level 2, I live half a mile from you and am level 3. You can actually see a big steel curtain about about 200 yards from me where Dundee becomes Angus protecting all the retired dodgers over there.

Honest, what a load of absolute ****e. Dundee tier 3 to stop Ninewells being overwhelmed - because only Dundee fowk go to Ninewells. Angus, Perth and Fife residents go somewhere else of course. She's a fkn idiot falling for all that 'science'.

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There's big signs on the Tay rd bridge saying you are entering Dundee, tier 3.

1984

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Originally Posted by Returnofrros

There's big signs on the Tay rd bridge saying you are entering Dundee, tier 3.

1984

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Incredible.

What languages are that sign in? English, Gaelic and Newspeak? Just don't think too much about why though.