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.

[naomi24]

I don’t think it’s a question of either/or and there should be no suggestion of the expendability of anyone. We tend to forget that millions have continued working throughout to no ill effect. The elderly and vulnerable may isolate if they need to - but the fit should get back to work - now.

[KARL]

"....should get back to work, now". For all but a few weeks people of all walks of life were and are working in Iceland (tourism related excepted), thanks to effectively addressing the threat. That is what I see as such a stark contrast (here and there), one that is tragic but not inevitable.

[teacake44]

(Millions have continued to work to no ill effect) @11.14. how do ( you) know this?

[naomi24]

Karl, Iceland can’t be compared to this country. Its total population amounts to less than half a million, its capital about 123,000. London alone is home to almost 9 million.

Teacake, because the vast majority of those who have continued to work aren’t dead.

[ichkeria]

Should Matt Hancock be saying things like “Don’t kill your gran”?
I know what he’s getting at, but all the same.

[jno]

sounds like first-class advice to me, ichkeria!

[ichkeria]

It’s excellent advice if you are standing over gran with a kitchen knife.
However ...

[jno]

also if you're standing over gran with Covid. It should be on every billboard in the country.

[ichkeria]

Which they aren’t of course - standing over gran.
And, naturally, it’s the “affluent youth”.
Not Workington man or anything like that .. :-)
Like I say, I know what he means, but it feels wrong.

[naomi24]

Ichkeria, if the government didn’t advise caution they would be criticised. If they do, they’re criticised. For them it’s a no win situation. People complain about the lack of services from various bodies and companies whilst simultaneously saying that the workforce should remain at home. How on earth do they expect to have what they want if there’s no one available to provide it? People who advocate continuing these extreme measures want it all ways - and that they cannot have. The fit and healthy need to get a grip on reality. This country needs to get back to normal - for everyone's sake.

[ichkeria]

I agree it’s a difficult situation.
Half the country it seems thinks we are being controlled needlessly, the other half is scared to breathe.
Whet bothers me is his way of putting it.

[youngmafbog]

Agree 100% Naomi

[dannyk13]

Naomi // The fit and healthy need to get a grip on reality.//
Difficult when there have been nearly 6,000 new cases in the last two days, and at least one outbreak in a school which had just re-opened.

[jno]

ichkeria, I suspect he's thinking of "affluent enough to pay to go to Glastonbury" or something similar (rather than affluent enough to go to the Royal Opera House)

[teacake44]

Your statement @ 11.14 stated ( ill effect) not dead. But that aside how do you know how many carried on working and did die?

[teacake44]

Its the fit and healthy that are taking this with a pinch of salt and spreading it.

[woofgang]

ichkeria "Half the country it seems thinks we are being controlled needlessly, the other half is scared to breathe."

teensy overstatement there don't you think?

as an aside, I wonder what percentage of Iceland residents are BAME?

[naomi24]

danny, //Difficult when there have been nearly 6,000 new cases ..//

'Cases', Danny, not 'deaths'. We can't stop the world because some people succumb to this virus - the vast majority of whom recover. People get 'flu too! This is hysterical fear-mongering - and it's not helping.

[naomi24]

//I wonder what percentage of Iceland residents are BAME? //

Very few I believe, Woofgang.

[dannyk13]

Naomi // This is hysterical fear-mongering - and it's not helping.//
I don't see it as fear mongering.There have been reports of people who have recovered and yet three months later are having severe breathing problems.