O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Geoff Parkstone]

Jeez...only you, these days, could bring fossil fuels into an observation about the emergency services in two different countries.

No, I could too if called upon. Back in the days of steam powered ambulances..........

[Geoff Parkstone]

What’s going on, AF? Are you on some sort of permanent wind up? It was you who, earlier today (#2234) drew a link between the poor - the ‘underclass’ - and benefit fraud. Anyone else will understand that that’s what Swale was talking about. Far harder to understand is you bringing coal into a comment about the comparative emergency services of two different countries.

I believe what AF said was not a reference to benefit fraud, per se, but rathe that said underclass knew how to obtain all the benefits they were entitled to fully, yet it was asserted that they were "unreachable". Those two scenarios are inconsistent

ie "working the system" as expressed in 2234 in no way equates to "defrauding the system"

[Trickytreesreds]

What’s going on, AF? Are you on some sort of permanent wind up? It was you who, earlier today (#2234) drew a link between the poor - the ‘underclass’ - and benefit fraud. Anyone else will understand that that’s what Swale was talking about. Far harder to understand is you bringing coal into a comment about the comparative emergency services of two different countries.

From what I am told, I believe Germany spends more GDP on health than us?

I back that completely.
Now compare Germans defence underspending and foreign aid to ours.
A good case for spending internally?

[Geoff Parkstone]

Okay...moving on.
I’m a little in limbo at the moment for reasons that may become apparent but two recent events have provided food for thought.

A week or so ago I was talking to a much younger friend of mine who is a selected ‘first responder’. He was recently called to an elderly lady in her nineties who had hurt herself as a result of a fall in her bathroom in a Derbyshire village about five miles from Derby. He rang for an ambulance and was informed that the waiting time would be ‘up to nine hours’!

Last night I had the misfortune to have to use the German emergency services for someone very close to me. The ambulance arrived within ten minutes. Initial diagnosis was made and the person concerned was in hospital and being treated within another half hour.
Fortunately the relevant EHIC does not expire till early 2023 and, despite us having left the EU, there was no reluctance on the part of the Germans to accept it.

It honestly gives me no pleasure to say this and I know it’s more about the NHS than Covid itself, but...compare and contrast. Is this the state of Brirain today and a reflection of how far we have fallen in recent years?

OK, a riposte. My brother in law who lives in Germany, and has done for donkeys years, fell down stairs, an ambulance was summoned and 6 hours later it arrived. Contrast that to my Mum who recently needed to go into hospital and an ambulance arrived promptly and efficiently.

Do I therefore conclude that this is "the state of Germany today and a reflection of how far they have fallen in recent years". No, I conclude that here is one unfortunate incident out of maybe many millions every year and not necessarily representative of anything.

Are you sure you havent been smoking the weed today rA, as some of your posts today seem to reflect an unbalanced mond!

[ramAnag]

OK, a riposte. My brother in law who lives in Germany, and has done for donkeys years, fell down stairs, an ambulance was summoned and 6 hours later it arrived. Contrast that to my Mum who recently needed to go into hospital and an ambulance arrived promptly and efficiently.

Do I therefore conclude that this is "the state of Germany today and a reflection of how far they have fallen in recent years". No, I conclude that here is one unfortunate incident out of maybe many millions every year and not necessarily representative of anything.

Are you sure you havent been smoking the weed today rA, as some of your posts today seem to reflect an unbalanced mond!

If you’d had the last twenty hours that I’ve had your ‘mond’ might not be the best. Never ‘unbalanced’ though.
I’d have put money on you being the first to make a ‘smoking weed’ gag - you’re that type of chap. Give you an inch and you’ll take a mile...but no, I haven’t...not for a great many years since I had kids of my own.
Still I take your opening point. Both are possible but the ambulance service I last required, also for my mother and approaching fif**** years ago, was superb by any standard and I’m not sure we may now rely on that.

[ramAnag]

"working the system" as expressed in 2234 in no way equates to "defrauding the system"

Really? Well I suppose you’d know...seems like it’s semantics day today.

[Geoff Parkstone]

yep, just like tax accounting - you know all the nooks and crannies of the rules, exploit them, but never step over the line into fraud or evasion

[Andy_Faber]

I believe what AF said was not a reference to benefit fraud, per se, but rathe that said underclass knew how to obtain all the benefits they were entitled to fully, yet it was asserted that they were "unreachable". Those two scenarios are inconsistent

ie "working the system" as expressed in 2234 in no way equates to "defrauding the system"

thank God someone understands, I started to doubt myself

[Andy_Faber]

What’s going on, AF? Are you on some sort of permanent wind up? It was you who, earlier today (#2234) drew a link between the poor - the ‘underclass’ - and benefit fraud. Anyone else will understand that that’s what Swale was talking about. Far harder to understand is you bringing coal into a comment about the comparative emergency services of two different countries.

I've resisted saying this before, but I've come to the conclusion that you've 'failed' to understand concepts I've put forward so often that you're trying to wind ME up

[ramAnag]

I've resisted saying this before, but I've come to the conclusion that you've 'failed' to understand concepts I've put forward so often that you're trying to wind ME up

Sorry Andy, but something’s changed and I don’t think it’s me.
You’ve been well and truly rumbled on at least three occasions this week.
Your point about extrapolation and risk made little sense and even you had no comeback when the error of what you had written was pointed out. Your point about the ‘underclass’ this morning was just recycled sh1t stirring which led to you clearly contradicting yourself prior to taking refuge in pedantry, and your barbed comment at Swale over your description of the poor/underclass ‘playing the system’/‘defrauding the system’ was just a piece of slightly malicious foolishness.
I’m sure GP will now try and jump to your assistance with some smart arse piece of nonsense as is his way but, although I’ve regularly disagreed with you, I always, for what it’s worth, respected Andy Mk1. Have to say that sadly I’m struggling with the new model, which seems to have swapped common sense and respect for bitterness and an overwhelming desire to be right about everything. None of us are fellah...and you’re certainly no exception.