Yesterday, when questioned as to why the borders are still open, Boris Johnson stated that it would totally isolate the UK economy. Totally? The vast majority of businesses in the UK that are being affected by the lockdown don't rely on international travel one iota. Pubs, hairdressers, gyms, card shops, car dealerships, restaurants, caravan parks - none of them rely 100% on international travellers. These are the people that are being hit hardest and can least afford it. The only section of the economy that relies on international travel is the travel industry itself and big business. At the start of 2020 there were 5.94 million small businesses (with 0 to 49 employees), 99.3% of the total business. SMEs account for 99.9% of the business population (6.0 million businesses). SMEs account for three fifths of the employment and around half of turnover in the UK private sector.
Following the money usually provides the answer to a lot of conundrums. Who funds the Conservative Party? Big business and a lot of travel companies.
Most of the Isle of Man is now back to normal. Why? Because they closed the borders and they now have no cases. The Manx government strategy was eradication, not living with it. International travel is a vector for additional Covid cases, as well as bringing in mutations - mutations that current vaccines may not provide protection for. By the time they're discovered in the country of origin, they;ve already had a head start, as we're seen.
Other countries that have been least impacted? Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Vietnam (more populous than the UK), Iceland - all islands. What did they all do? Closed the borders, except for exceptional cases, and imposed severe isolation policies on anyone coming in.
It beggars belief. Whatever country is used as an example, the government comes up with an excuse why not to close the borders, excuses which just don't wash and appear illogical. Vaccine imports is the latest - so the countries listed above haven't had vaccines imported? Please!
Once more I say, follow the money.
To change subject: there should be a statue to Capt, Sit Tom Moore, not Edward bloody Colston - unless he's found to be a slaver, which is highly unlikely. In fact, melt Colston down and use the metal to make a statue of Sir Tom. I don't think anyone would complain - actually, I suspect some would.
To change subject again: authorities are proposing to fine Facebook and Twitter unless they take down racist comments. Determining whether something is racist is fraught with problem - it can be quite subjective and not that easy to find using trigger words alone. That aside, if I phone someone and make a racist comment, it's not Vodafone that gets into trouble, but me. The racists should be reported and them fined, heavily, not the social media companies. Fining social media companies won't stop it - it will turn into a cat and mouse game - only targeting the racists themselves will put a stop to it.
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