O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[MadAmster]

All fair points, MA.

When such things happen and at a time when Marcus Rashford makes more sense over education policy than the Education Secretary there’s clearly something very wrong.

You’ll run the risk of being labelled a ‘lefty’ by some. Doesn’t particularly bother me...it’s all relative and I probably am slightly to the left of centre over many issues. Much more about right and wrong than Left and Right though, and you’re right...a ‘revolution’ in terms of values and priorities (as opposed to manning the barricades hopefully) is long overdue.

Right and wrong are indeed my values and it is those which place me left or right of centre.

I am RoC when it comes to we need people to take risks and start new businesses that fuel the economy and provide jobs. Taxes from those businesses and jobs help fund the social services which the majority of people want to see kept.

I am LoC when it comes to keeping the social services in tact.

I am LoC when it comes to workers being given a fair shake. A fair day's pay for a fair day's work. IMO, anybody working a 40 hour week should be able to feed, house and clothe a reasonably sized family. These days there are zero hour contracts and millions of part time workers. The bosses deserve a reasonable payback for their risk taking in putting money into a start up. They also have the responsibility to ensure that the people who create their wealth through their labour also get a decent living wage. In both NL and the UK we have people working multiple jobs and still not getting enough to get by. Not on IMO.

In the Western world it's all about increasing payouts to the 1% and/or the shareholders and this, all too often happens by squeezing the workforce.

As with everything. their has to be balance. Balance between owners/shareholders and their staff is hard to find.

[macstheman]

You've just described me to a tee MA!
Brilliant post.

Use of the word 'tee' makes me fancy a round on the links.
Sigh.

[ramAnag]

Right and wrong are indeed my values and it is those which place me left or right of centre.

I am RoC when it comes to we need people to take risks and start new businesses that fuel the economy and provide jobs. Taxes from those businesses and jobs help fund the social services which the majority of people want to see kept.

I am LoC when it comes to keeping the social services in tact.

I am LoC when it comes to workers being given a fair shake. A fair day's pay for a fair day's work. IMO, anybody working a 40 hour week should be able to feed, house and clothe a reasonably sized family. These days there are zero hour contracts and millions of part time workers. The bosses deserve a reasonable payback for their risk taking in putting money into a start up. They also have the responsibility to ensure that the people who create their wealth through their labour also get a decent living wage. In both NL and the UK we have people working multiple jobs and still not getting enough to get by. Not on IMO.

In the Western world it's all about increasing payouts to the 1% and/or the shareholders and this, all too often happens by squeezing the workforce.

As with everything. their has to be balance. Balance between owners/shareholders and their staff is hard to find.

Not sure that people taking risks and starting new businesses have to be ‘RoC’.
Look at mista...he seems to have done that but also seems to have been labelled a ‘Lefty’ by some. Seems to me he just understands that business owners need to treat their employees with respect.

Other than that I completely agree with everything in your post.

[MadAmster]

You've just described me to a tee MA!
Brilliant post.

Use of the word 'tee' makes me fancy a round on the links.
Sigh.

Courses over here are open mac. Last used my clubs about 3 years ago, 3 years on from my cycling accident when I thought I'd be OK to hit balls again. Got mesen a a bucket o' balls at the local driving range. After hitting a dozen or so balls I was feeling pain in my damaged shoulder. Gifted the balls to the guy on the next "tee" and not touched them since. Had them (1/2 set left handed) up for sale ever since at €50 including 20 or so balls, various tees, towel...... no takers yet. I've had them 45 years and they were at least 3rd hand at the time. Proper vintage.

Thinking about it. I may just give the range another whirl, see if I can hit a few without suffering pain. If I can I could then accept the 3 or 4 offers of a round I've had year the past year or so. Thanks for the idea mac.

[macstheman]

Play away MA, hope the body holds up.
For me, it's the body that's gone, even dog walking is hard work. The left leg only comes along for the ride whilst beating an egg knackers me up!
I hit a few airflow balls in the garden but that's it nowadays! I played almost daily for 30 years so can't complain......... on second thoughts yes I ducking can!!!!
Enjoy.

[MadAmster]

Play away MA, hope the body holds up.
For me, it's the body that's gone, even dog walking is hard work. The left leg only comes along for the ride whilst beating an egg knackers me up!
I hit a few airflow balls in the garden but that's it nowadays! I played almost daily for 30 years so can't complain......... on second thoughts yes I ducking can!!!!
Enjoy.

Thanks mac. It's only the shoulder that might be a problem. The rest of the body is fine apart from arthritic knees but they don't stop me reffing so should be OK for golf.. Did 53Km on the bike yesterday in under 2 hours so the stamina is there too. Lost 5 Kg since March and am looking to lose another 5 but no mad rush to do it. That extra 5 Kg would see my BMI at around 26.5 (over 25 is overweight, over 30 is obese although mine has never been that high). Losing enough to get under 25 would be fine but I'd be happy enough at 26.5 BMI. I'm looking more at the fat % which is now down to 24%. At my age and height anywhere between 18 and 23 is deemed fine and is, IMO, a better indicator than BMI.

[MadAmster]

Back to COVID. Latest Dutch figures show 4013 new cases last week. Down 23 on the week before. Hospitalisations 50, up 12. Deaths 16, up 7.

How they got the %s I'm not sure but the PM said at a press conference yesterday that 68% of the new cases were infections in the home. Following the most recent relaxations people have been having birthday and other parties at home, inviting friends and relations......

To combat this you may now have no more than 6 adult visitors at any one time. No limit on the number of children. If you want a party, hire a hall/room where social distancing is enforced was the message.

Meanwhile in Amsterdam, the figures are rising out of the home as well. Bars, restaurants etc have been told to enforce distancing much better. The authorities will be monitoring SD in bars etc far more frequently and stringently. First offence, a warning. Second offence, a forced 4 week closure. If offence numbers are high and/or "outside of the home" infections continue to rise, all bars will be forced to shut early, maybe as early as 22:00. Next step after that would be to shut all the bars 24/7. Hopefully people will start respecting the rules again now they have been warned of the consequences.

[Andy_Faber]

Back to COVID. Latest Dutch figures show 4013 new cases last week. Down 23 on the week before. Hospitalisations 50, up 12. Deaths 16, up 7.

How they got the %s I'm not sure but the PM said at a press conference yesterday that 68% of the new cases were infections in the home. Following the most recent relaxations people have been having birthday and other parties at home, inviting friends and relations......

To combat this you may now have no more than 6 adult visitors at any one time. No limit on the number of children. If you want a party, hire a hall/room where social distancing is enforced was the message.

Meanwhile in Amsterdam, the figures are rising out of the home as well. Bars, restaurants etc have been told to enforce distancing much better. The authorities will be monitoring SD in bars etc far more frequently and stringently. First offence, a warning. Second offence, a forced 4 week closure. If offence numbers are high and/or "outside of the home" infections continue to rise, all bars will be forced to shut early, maybe as early as 22:00. Next step after that would be to shut all the bars 24/7. Hopefully people will start respecting the rules again now they have been warned of the consequences.

'Here' in Spain it seems to be all kicking off again big style, SIX**** THOUSAND new cases yesterday. I pray for two things: that they can get it back under control: that the deaths dont start rising like they did last time: and that HMG do the necessary to avoid it happening in UK. In hindsight the quarantine thing from Spain was a good thing, I've changed my opinion on that. Locally, I'm in Northern Mallorca, its a ghost town, but I am aware through the local paper of massive flouting of the rules, mainly by tourists and those who service them (bar owners, boat cruises etc). IMO HMG should stop any transit in and out of Spain (after friday when I come home obvs!)

[ramAnag]

'Here' in Spain it seems to be all kicking off again big style, SIX**** THOUSAND new cases yesterday. I pray for two things: that they can get it back under control: that the deaths dont start rising like they did last time: and that HMG do the necessary to avoid it happening in UK. In hindsight the quarantine thing from Spain was a good thing, I've changed my opinion on that. Locally, I'm in Northern Mallorca, its a ghost town, but I am aware through the local paper of massive flouting of the rules, mainly by tourists and those who service them (bar owners, boat cruises etc). IMO HMG should stop any transit in and out of Spain (after friday when I come home obvs!)

You don’t recommend I drive to a quiet part of southern Spain in four weeks then, Andy? (Serious question.)

[Geoff Parkstone]

What does Swale advise?