I can't make up my mind as to whether Boris is channelling his inner Baldrick through his Lord Melchett persona, or the other way round. He certainly seems to favour a cunning plan, if ever we find out what it is.
The creeping consensus, and I'm tending to agree, seems to be that he's shifting responsibility to the public and away from government in a sloped shoulder strategy. Given the idiocy of certain sections of the public, that's perhaps not such a good idea if we want to avoid a 2nd wave, although it might improve the nations general IQ. The public should have access to medical and scientific advice and not be allowed to simply make up its own mind based on what's trending on social media.
The creeping consensus, and I'm tending to agree, seems to be that he's shifting responsibility to the public and away from government in a sloped shoulder strategy. Given the idiocy of certain sections of the public, that's perhaps not such a good idea if we want to avoid a 2nd wave, although it might improve the nations general IQ. The public should have access to medical and scientific advice and not be allowed to simply make up its own mind based on what's trending on social media.
Both Boris Johnson and Donald Trump epitomise the dangers of the electorate allowing their emotions to cloud their capacity for rational thought. Where there's a contest between emotions and rationality, emotions generally win - and invariably lead to disaster. It's just the nature of our species where, for millions of years, our emotions have been what have saved us from being eaten by something larger and more vicious. With a more complex, nuanced society we must learn to allow our recently evolved rational side to overcome primitive emotions - using our rational neocortex rather than our emotive bainstem. Political marketing is aimed at the latter, with soundbites and catchy, but vacuous slogans.
That said, I do have a certain sympathy with the logic of the current strategy. We had about 20,000 seasonal flu deaths in 2018/19 and the NHS was severely strained, but there was no dramatic government action. The objective of the government with C-19 is not complete eradication, but a flattening of the curve and for the NHS not to be overwhelmed. That has been achieved and thus, so long as the NHS remains capable of handling any future resurgence, it's job done - no matter how many deaths there may be in the longer term. They merely become an accepted, systemic problem - like seasonal flu and road deaths.
Yesterday I was halfway up the stairs in order to start my morning ablutions when Hay shouted out from her bed for another cup of tea. This is rather a dangerous situation, as once the human (or, in my case, part human) brain has made a conscious commitment to the body's once-a-day poo, the bowels gird their loins and anticipate having to kick into action within a very short space of time. Certain peristaltic contractions begin.
That said, I do have a certain sympathy with the logic of the current strategy. We had about 20,000 seasonal flu deaths in 2018/19 and the NHS was severely strained, but there was no dramatic government action. The objective of the government with C-19 is not complete eradication, but a flattening of the curve and for the NHS not to be overwhelmed. That has been achieved and thus, so long as the NHS remains capable of handling any future resurgence, it's job done - no matter how many deaths there may be in the longer term. They merely become an accepted, systemic problem - like seasonal flu and road deaths.
Yesterday I was halfway up the stairs in order to start my morning ablutions when Hay shouted out from her bed for another cup of tea. This is rather a dangerous situation, as once the human (or, in my case, part human) brain has made a conscious commitment to the body's once-a-day poo, the bowels gird their loins and anticipate having to kick into action within a very short space of time. Certain peristaltic contractions begin.
I did go back downstairs and prepare another cuppa, but it was a tense couple of minutes.
1 comment:
I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go!
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