Topic: Corona Virus Panic/Discussion Thread

@kyleforrester87 quite. So easy for people to go it's all the Tories fault. Look at the rest of Western society - even those supposedly doing well, like Germany, are still struggling with this thing and their populations are hacked off. Just saying the NHS is underfunded is meaningless in an unprecedented situation like this.

@kyleforrester87 That may well be the case, but it doesn't change the fact that for the last decade Conservative led governments have deliberately underfunded the NHS by not increasing its budget at a level required for it to be run effectively. This has undoubtedly left it with a lack of resilience. The NHS may just about be managing with the pandemic, but it has come at the cost of many appointments, operations and services being cancelled. The UK has a low rate of intensive care beds per 100,000 people compared to other European countries, and many thousands of unfilled nursing and doctors positions. In addition, the government ignored the findings of a pandemic exercise a few years ago (which, surprise, surprise, found that the country was woefully unprepared), on the grounds that implementing it was too expensive. Here's the thing, the Tories have an uncanny ability to find billions of pounds to dish out expensive private contracts to their friends - something that has proven absolutely disastrous with the failed test and trace system and bungled PPE contracts - but spending money on public services is a no-go area. The sheer level of ineptitude this government have displayed is staggering, so I actually find it hard to believe that Labour wouldn't have handled it differently.

@mookysam Who knows, it's just as easy to argue that huge sums of money would just have been lost in the massive bureaucratic machine had it been pumped in over the past decade. I simply can't come down on either one side.

I do know I wouldn't be a front line nurse for less than 80k a year right now, and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way. And I don't think any government will rise to that!

@Rudy_Manchego
I never took part in the clapping thing. Seemed to be quite a bit of a thing in some areas to name and shame people online who didn't partake.

big things taking place behind the scenes...I have stated it before and been nearly crucified. The truth will be brought to light. Good will beat out evil. Originated in Wuhan, where there are many other demonic practices taking place that majority have been lied to about. CCP will be held responsible and pay grave consequences. Only a matter of time(days or hrs).

Sorry to go off topic for a moment but there's no thread for this... Three military style Ospreys just flew directly over my home. It was crazy loud. Everything shook. And now I'm like, I think Trump just flew over my house lol. Weird.

Edit: I guess he's not visiting until tomorrow actually so not sure what that was. A dry run?

@kyleforrester87 I’d have thought being a Centrist that Labour would be a bit too right wing for you 😉

Just seen the story about how many celtic players are having to isolate after jaunt to dubai. Absolute joke, in the middle of a pandemic but they get to swan off for a kick about in the sun. Why, what's essential about that?! Hope hibs do the business tonight

@RogerRoger Yeah it's my understanding Marine One is the mode of travel (if not I'm sure there's a Marine Two right) but mostly just assuming the aforementioned flyover must be connected. Either that or martial law is imminent. Could be either really.

@R1spam As a Celtic fan, it’s an absolute bloody disgrace. Not as if going to Dubai will make them not play like s**t like they have the rest of the season either.

@R1spam I've found the continued veneration of all things sports throughout all this to be quite galling. In the states the preservation of sports seems to be the one thing each side agrees on. Like takeaway whatever you want but by god I wanna see my team throwing a ball on TV.

Even those early instances of mass player testings in the midst of nationwide shortages didn't seem to cause too much of an uproar.

But criticizing sports in America is about as popular as saying you hate dogs so I've largely kept my mouth shut.

@nessisonett thats what makes it worse, blow a chance at 10 in a row with rangers winning new year old firm then pis5 off on holiday and get pictures on a sunlounger getting the beers in?! Surely Lennon has to go?

@R1spam Exactly, it’s a combination of them
being rubbish and also wholly irresponsible when it comes to the virus. My papa’s a Partick Thistle fan and I’ve been to quite a few games with him so might just root for them this season instead 😂

@zupertramp yeah, why are they worth so much testing capacity?! Dont get me wrong, I love my football but im finding the exceptionism extended to certain elite sports a farce. My team did a group photo with 50 folk and no social distancing. Positive cases and spread amongst some. I provide care for my gran and can't hug her and wear a mask constantly in her presence yet I'm watching grown men hug each other after scoring a goal? My patience is worn thin

@nessisonett I’m a full blown socialist by American standards

(Although I meant that as more of a disclaimer in case anyone suspected I was a full blown Tory.)

@RogerRoger i didn't even know what they were called... I had to look it up. they do appear to be incredibly awesome.

@zupertramp Last December I got stuck on the motorway because his motorcade, which I guess was transporting his entourage, had a whole lane to itself. I was not impressed.

@nessisonett Aye, Kier Starmer would make Thatcher's zombified corpse itself blush.

@kyleforrester87 "I have a very hard time believing this would all have been handled any differently under a Labour government"

I've run some numbers through my Alternate Reality Soothsaying Engine (TM). Prepare to feel very silly indeed Forrester.

March 2020 - Covid begins to take hold throughout the UK. Corbyn declares he is self-isolating on his allotment and urges us all to do the same.

April 2020 - Labour begin to deliver on their election promises. The wages of the elite are slashed, while those of NHS staff are increased hundredfold.
The proposed 'free broadband for all' policy is rolled out across the UK, ensuring that Joe Wicks is beamed into every home in the nation.

May 2020 - As Corbyn's condition worsens, Wicks spies his chance and marches on Downing Street, with his 3 million supporters in tow.

June 2020 - The coup complete, Prime Minister Wicks announces that 'Clap for Carers' will be replaced by 'Jog for Joe'. The sheer amount of people descending on our parks every Thursday evening puts a massive strain on both the NHS and the dogging community.

August 2020 - With the NHS buckling, Trump pounces, buying out all of Britain's hospitals in one swoop. Healthcare is now out of reach of all but the wealthiest individuals. "Go see your doctor" declares the new NHS advertisement campaign. "He's a really great guy. Everybody says so."

October 2020 - Following Labour's changes to the national wage structure, the only people who can now afford healthcare are the doctors and nurses working in our hospitals. News channels are awash with footage of NHS staff wandering around their own wards, getting in and out of the beds.

December 2020 - His reputation in tatters after his infamous Brexit deal which saw Europe retain all of Britain's exports and fishing rights in exchange for tax breaks on imported gym shorts, PM Wicks finally bows to public pressure and resigns. An election is called and in their search for the polar opposite of the lean, athletic Wicks, the British public vote for Boris Johnson in their droves.

January 2021 - With most of the British public now dead, Johnson is forced to declare mass immigration as the only way to kick-start Britain's economy. It is announced that the newly-arrived workforce will ride up and down our city streets on 'Boris Bikes' administering first aid to those in need. Faced with an economic slump, Johnson vows to "Get Brexit Undone" by next Christmas.

Christ. I did actually vote Labour last time. We dodged a bullet there!

Now do The Last of Us 2 if it had a good storyline!

@Gremio108 ARSE... lol... I'm assuming that's intentional.

Does Amazon carry those?