O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[swaledale]

Yep...that’s a point of view. Equally, does it not seem more than mere coincidence that the levels have spiked so drastically since the schools returned?

If young people do not pose a ‘high threat of transmission’ why did they close the schools in the first place? Isn’t it a little suspicious that the ‘expert advice’ has suddenly changed both where the youngest and older members of society are concerned? It’s not so long ago that there was even talk of all over 65’s having to stay indoors.

You’re right...as I have already acknowledged...the government aren’t ‘forcing’ grandparents into childcare...but they have now sown a seed that just a few months ago would have been unthinkable.
At the risk of being anecdotal, my own experience has been that for Mothers’ Day and one family birthday we visited but sat in the car talking from the front door...then as things eased a little we sat in different but adjacent rooms in the house with the doors and windows open...next we socially distanced on a terrace before progressing to playing garden football and cricket with appropriate use of sanitiser - as used at local cricket clubs - and none of the usual ‘high fives’.
That, largely instigated by my daughter and the oldest grandchild, has been our attempt to maintain family life and protect ourselves and our family.
Things appeared to be getting better...now they’re getting worse but the restrictions are being relaxed as far as grandparents providing childcare are concerned.
The last thing I’m doing is ‘moaning’ about it...but the logic just doesn’t stack up...imo.

If it was opening schools that upped the infection rate then Denmark who did it back in May would have the same increase surely?

There is divided scientific opinion on what to do, but in short there isn't the option of another lockdown. because if we did that nationally the death rate would soar from non coivd-19 issues, the economy would tank even more and that is and will continue to have serious issues on peoples lives. Closing schools will **** up a generation of children's education.

The fact is there are ways and means of managing the issue, just that politicians are more concerned with their ratings than actually doing whats required.

its very easy if you don't ahve to go to work to say the safest approach is tight restrictions and another lockdown, but frankly if you don't ahve to go to work, then you can take care of yourself, let those that need to work, get educated etc go about their lives.

Anyway people will rebel, i can sense it already, allowing Cummins's to cock a snoot at the lockdown last time has destroyed BoJos credibility.

All the way along there has been zero leadership from a guy who does not do detail, does not sweat the small stuff, whose strategy is to baffle with bull**** and now he and his arse licking cabinet have been found out.

I have basically worked out for myself what I need to do to protect myself an others because the so called advice and instructions from the government make zero sense.

[ramAnag]

If it was opening schools that upped the infection rate then Denmark who did it back in May would have the same increase surely?

There is divided scientific opinion on what to do, but in short there isn't the option of another lockdown. because if we did that nationally the death rate would soar from non coivd-19 issues, the economy would tank even more and that is and will continue to have serious issues on peoples lives. Closing schools will **** up a generation of children's education.

The fact is there are ways and means of managing the issue, just that politicians are more concerned with their ratings than actually doing whats required.

its very easy if you don't ahve to go to work to say the safest approach is tight restrictions and another lockdown, but frankly if you don't ahve to go to work, then you can take care of yourself, let those that need to work, get educated etc go about their lives.

Anyway people will rebel, i can sense it already, allowing Cummins's to cock a snoot at the lockdown last time has destroyed BoJos credibility.

All the way along there has been zero leadership from a guy who does not do detail, does not sweat the small stuff, whose strategy is to baffle with bull**** and now he and his arse licking cabinet have been found out.

I have basically worked out for myself what I need to do to protect myself an others because the so called advice and instructions from the government make zero sense.

Not sure, Swale...there have been rises in lots of countries...Spain, France, Germany and the UK since schools went back.
I think it was inevitable that as various aspects of ‘lock down’ eased then the ‘spikes’ grew, but I’m not saying schools should close again.

I am concerned about what is going to happen when the Colleges and Universities open. Tbh, thinking back to the early seventies I’d be looking to postpone for a year if I was about to start now. Student lifestyle was a massive part of the attraction for me and I don’t see that as being possible for the foreseeable.

Completely agree with your last sentence.

[swaledale]

Not sure, Swale...there have been rises in lots of countries...Spain, France, Germany and the UK since schools went back.
I think it was inevitable that as various aspects of ‘lock down’ eased then the ‘spikes’ grew, but I’m not saying schools should close again.

I am concerned about what is going to happen when the Colleges and Universities open. Tbh, thinking back to the early seventies I’d be looking to postpone for a year if I was about to start now. Student lifestyle was a massive part of the attraction for me and I don’t see that as being possible for the foreseeable.

Completely agree with your last sentence.

I agree with you about going to University, but then what else are they going to do? Finding a job is difficult, a gap year travelling isn't an option? Also who is to say that this time next year is going to be different? Also will there be places for them?

Realistically they are going to have to get on with their lives in the new normal, I believe that eventually this will happen, politicians are just looking to find a way to do this without spooking the public and ruining their reelection chances.

[ramAnag]

I agree with you about going to University, but then what else are they going to do? Finding a job is difficult, a gap year travelling isn't an option? Also who is to say that this time next year is going to be different? Also will there be places for them?

Realistically they are going to have to get on with their lives in the new normal, I believe that eventually this will happen, politicians are just looking to find a way to do this without spooking the public and ruining their reelection chances.

Yep...can’t disagree with any of that. Difficult times.
Feel really sorry for youngsters about to begin or those who’ve already had their first year interrupted...should be such an important time...but I do think the Oxbridge colleges who, some time ago, took the decision to cancel ‘live’ lectures for the forthcoming year, showed far more vision and foresight than those in ‘power’.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Yep...can’t disagree with any of that. Difficult times.
Feel really sorry for youngsters about to begin or those who’ve already had their first year interrupted...should be such an important time...but I do think the Oxbridge colleges who, some time ago, took the decision to cancel ‘live’ lectures for the forthcoming year, showed far more vision and foresight than those in ‘power’.

My youngest is amongst the "interrupted first year" group and is going back to a very different second year experience to that which his older brother had just 4 years earlier. Virtual lectures, 3 hours contact time a week (even that is now questionable) and a curtailed lifestyle.

But he has adjusted to it and is ready to get going on his next year. Kids (or at least he) are more resilient and able to accept the new normal. He has his group of friends, 4 of them in a house and may be doing more drinking from home than you or I but will still learn independence which is important.

It may be a different learning experience than the generation before, but he's young enough to be adaptable. My worry is not his learning but his job prospects following graduation.

[MadAmster]

It may be a different learning experience than the generation before, but he's young enough to be adaptable. My worry is not his learning but his job prospects following graduation.

A couple of years ago, one report suggested that, for 25% of all graduates, the job they thought they started training for, 3 or 4 years earlier, no longer existed due to technological advances......

Unfortunately, it looks like current students will find that % higher due to companies closing....... I wish them all well.

[Ram59]

A couple of years ago, one report suggested that, for 25% of all graduates, the job they thought they started training for, 3 or 4 years earlier, no longer existed due to technological advances......

Unfortunately, it looks like current students will find that % higher due to companies closing....... I wish them all well.

It would be interesting to see what percentage of graduates end up with a job that's linked to their course. The number of graduates far exceeds the number of graduate jobs.

The policies started by the Blair government and continued and increased by successive governments, means that every year thousands of graduates leave university with worthless qualifications and massive debts.

[swaledale]

It would be interesting to see what percentage of graduates end up with a job that's linked to their course. The number of graduates far exceeds the number of graduate jobs.

The policies started by the Blair government and continued and increased by successive governments, means that every year thousands of graduates leave university with worthless qualifications and massive debts.

To an extent I agree, though far more jobs require graduates than was the case previously, Nursing just being one example. Its the course that matters rather than the degree.

But University isn't just about getting a degree, it gives young people a chance to gain independence of life and thought, the expereince itself is useful. Of course its not appropriate for everyone, one of my kids did a degree and the other an Apprenticeship, horses for courses in my view.

[MadAmster]

Both mine were Uni material. The eldest wanted to be a pilot so he entered a pilot training school. Cost him an awful lot and he'll be paying it off for a long time to come. The other wanted to go into sound engineering and took the requisite 4 year course at what would have been a Technical College had it been in the UK 40+ years ago and is possibly HND level (do they still exist). Pilot training, successfully completed, used to give you a Bachelor Degree in NL until about 10 years ago when the government decided it wasn't worthy of a degree because...... you don't write a thesis at the end. The fact that you have to know (and have to have got 80%+ in all the theory exams) the science behind flight, lift, the electrics, the electronics, the mechanics....... all to degree level is, apparently, irrelevant.

[swaledale]

Both mine were Uni material. The eldest wanted to be a pilot so he entered a pilot training school. Cost him an awful lot and he'll be paying it off for a long time to come. The other wanted to go into sound engineering and took the requisite 4 year course at what would have been a Technical College had it been in the UK 40+ years ago and is possibly HND level (do they still exist). Pilot training, successfully completed, used to give you a Bachelor Degree in NL until about 10 years ago when the government decided it wasn't worthy of a degree because...... you don't write a thesis at the end. The fact that you have to know (and have to have got 80%+ in all the theory exams) the science behind flight, lift, the electrics, the electronics, the mechanics....... all to degree level is, apparently, irrelevant.

Ah well thats governments for you.

The student debt issue in the UK is overhyped, for a start its not like "real debt" you only pay it off if you earn enough and after 30 years its written off anyway. I realise there are repayments but they are hardly onerous if working.