Are We Destroying The Economy In Order To Prolong The Lives Of The Old And Frail?

[dave50]

Are we putting the livelihoods of millions of young people, some with children and mortgages at risk so some old lady in a care home can live a bit longer? Yes that is an extreme and some might say heartless example but basically that is what we are doing. When are politicians going to get a backbone and stand up and say that yes there may be more deaths as winter approaches but I'm afraid it's something we will have to live with, there is not much else we can do apart from what we are already doing. Another total lock down is out of the question and would be economic suicide. As I have often said, we can't save everybody and the sooner people accept that the better.

[dannyk13]

On the news this morning was a report that in a recent poll 40% of those interviewed said that after the end of the pandemic they would not be going back to the office.

[Jackdaw33]

So much for editorial neutrality.

[Bobbisox1]

If there's a spike and it looks like there will be ( or is)
At 74 this November , I get it , do I go away quietly to die to save the economy?
Really?

[iluvmargie]

Of course you should Bobbi, don't be so selfish!!

[Old_Geezer]

I don't see it as a 'lives don't matter' issue; especially since a bust economy, and over concentration on one medical issue, are both going to cause other deaths, in particular for those with other issues. It's more about getting a realistic attitude to the situation. Accepting death will inevitably be involved, and not trying to overprotect one section of the community to the detriment of others with different medical issues, and cause the degeneration of the economy as a whole, which affects us all.

[iluvmargie]

I hope they are made to go back danny.

[Maydup]

Well said Ed. As for the workers who refuse to go back to the office, let them be too. We need to accept that things will never be the same again and accept the new normal.

Finally and without trying, we have reduced the hideous commute, but that has taken with it the over provision of sandwich shops. Instead we have other companies taking on thousands of workers to deliver our food and parcels while we work and shop from home. I say embrace it rather than try to go back to how we were.

[ichkeria]

I do agree tho that another lockdown like the last one would be insane.
Given that the stated purpose of that was the “flatten the peak” of hospital cases” then it can be avoided by trying to ensure there is capacity to treat such cases.
But then that is at the expense of other illnesses as we know.
So there are difficult decisions there

[AB Editor]

Jackdaw - I mention the PhD to make the point that ill and disabled people are not only part of society but trying to make a valuable contribution to it, rather than sitting on their butts waiting for death in the way that's sometimes depicted.

As for editorial neutrality, as if the previous editor never voiced his opinion on a thread?

[ichkeria]

Old geezer is right

[fiction-factory]

I think there is something in what satprof says but it's clear no governments in any major economies are ready to take the risk yet of a second spike. Some countries are even stricter than the UK/English government- e.g. compulsory street masks on beaches/streets.
I am not convinced we have the right KPIs here but I think the idea is that if we just look at deaths/hospital beds it'd be too late before we spotted a clear spike, so we try to anticipate future deaths/hospital cases by looking at infections. I'm not sure it's working though as the stories of spikes in the younger age groups are generally not changing behaviours they have had enough of restrictions that seem pointless to them and want to go clubbing, socialising, partying, shopping without masks. Moreover there's little evidence I can see that spikes in Blackburn, Glasgow, Oldham etc are leading to increased hospital cases.
But the fact that all major countries and their equivalents of our PHE are all taking a similar approach makes me wonder if the epidemiologists know more about risks to health than they are telling us.

[iluvmargie]

Maydup - what do we do then about not being able to sort out problems over the 'phone when we ring up customer services or whatever with a query we need an answer to, when everyone is working fro home? Totally disagree with you.

[Bazile]

//So much for editorial neutrality.//

Why shouldn't the ed express an opinion on a topic ,like anyone else on here ?

[iluvmargie]

I think Jackdaw has woken up in a bad mood this morning.

[Maydup]

Iluvmargie - I know a whole call centre team who are working from home. They have their phones and headsets with them and calls are routed through the internet. I'm not saying that's a good thing for their well being, all very isolating, but the technology is there to make it possible and safe for them.

[bednobs]

jackdaw wakes up in a bad mood every morning, if his grumpy posts are anything to go by!
I would go back to work (despite being in the "extremely vulnerable" group, but my work are still saying if you can WFH you should

[iluvmargie]

Well Maydup I've had no joy with a couple of places I've rung recently, nor have any of my friends, so I stand by what I said.

[Maydup]

Some businesses have been forced to downsize and reduce their staff, others have used it as an excuse to! Try ringing at 3.30pm - most call centres go a little quieter at that time.

[zebo]

//Over 60s are the people most likely to vote and most vote Tory so not a good move//
They're also less likely to be attending mass events like raves or to be dropping down drunk in the street, thus wasting resources.

[jno]

So much for editorial neutrality

and what might that be? Who ever promised editorial neutrality? Is it something you just made up so you could complain when others disagree with you?

Ed's house, Ed's rules.