To be ashamed to be British

[yesterdayschild]

Every day more and more British deaths. When compared to other countries some of them third world, we have an appalling death rate from Covid 19.
Why oh why did the government allow 3000 Spanish to enter just to watch a football match when Spain would not allow them to watch in their own country.
Why was the Stereophonics concert allowed when other countries had locked down.
Why are thousands of people still entering the U.K. with no checks.
Why are our NHS staff still begging for PPE

I am feeling very very low about all of this and wish I lived in some other country.

i guess your waiting for the latest guardian article to quote as usual

I’m waiting for you to post something clear and succinct but, based on past performance, I suspect I’ve got a long wait.

The grass isn't always greener! Other countries also have serious issues!!! I think very highly of British people and of our Country and seeing how people have worked together in this crisis shows you just how great is it!!

This is the Kensyian economics that was favoured by the left, it is being in a position to be able to throw money at the economy when the shit hits the fan, in 2008 we couldn't do that.

Firstly, do all economists think as the the economist Simon Wren Lewis does in the blog I am going to post below? No, but there are academic economists like him, Jonathan Portes is another, who actually think that for the first few years after the global crash there is strong evidence that Osborne should have continued the fiscal stimulus Gordon Brown began in 2009 which as you say is advocated by Keynes after a recession and was not impossible. Osborne achieved lower deficits but growth rates have been sluggish and wages in real terms only got back to where they were in 2008 in 2018 and it is feared they will never catch up.

Finally, save yourself writing citing this blog post is an appeal to authority. I am sharing this to illustrate not all economists would support your statement that it was not possible to continue borrowing for a few years after the crash.

mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2020/04/who-still-thinks-austerity-was-good-idea.html

I'm proud.
I always suspect that whiney moaners like you aren't contributing anything to the challenge. Prove me wrong OP. I'd love to be wrong. Tell me you got a job as a hospital cleaner, nurse, delivery driver or supermarket worker to help the community get through this. Tell me you volunteer on the front lines with the homeless.
'I could do better than the government, scientists and emergency services'. Whilst playing with a paddling pool in the garden, planting cress and baking sourdough?

@Biscuit0110 I don't believe we've had our "surge" yet, nowhere close I fear

@Deelish75 how the HELL is this "not the time"?! This is absolutely the time because if the right questions AREN'T asked now - and they're not being! - then more will die than need to! Peoples lives are the cost of this govt refusing to acknowledge they FUCKED UP!

@Brefugee Spot on about Germany. They acknowledge and analyse their past mistakes and endeavour not to repeat them. Uk seems to want to just ignore them!

@Emilyontmoor You ask why - I'm pretty sure the answer is MONEY

Someone's getting a backhander or inflated shares or whatever

@TheLadyAnneNeville Spot on - the moneys available when they need it to be!

the moneys available when they need it to be!

It certainly is. We’ve gone from “no magic money tree” to “whatever it takes” in less than three years.

@Justanotherlurker bore off... you consistently spout rubbish.

@Justanotherlurker. you could if you was economically illiterate. Have a look at that sentence. Illiterate.

@scrambledbananas

Yet another good comeback that doesn't attack my argument, are you struggling for Guardian articles to quote..

@scrambledbananas
Have a look at that sentence. Illiterate.

If you don't have an intellectual response go for down the pedant route, it really shows how educated you are.

Well done in reverting to being a pedant.

@Justanotherlurker

When you learn to tag your responses correctly, and don't talk out of your arse then, we can discuss.

Until then, you carry on believing that you are somehow superior. Myself, and several others (not only on this thread, but across Mumsnet, going by your posting history) shall know otherwise.

Firstly, do all economists think as the the economist Simon Wren Lewis does in the blog I am going to post below? No, but there are academic economists like him,

No, that's the crux of the argument, you can always find specialists who have different ideas, it's why the argument of believing experts has come back to bite a lot in the backside when the experts are not on their bias.

Quoting academics is not understanding the Eu regulations around deficit and are whitewashing the original comment re money tree when it is about the money tree wrt a global pandemic/recession.

It is because we went through the supposedly ideological austerity (if we ignore EU rules and what they implemented) we can actually apply Keynesian economic principals now during a global disaster.

@Justanotherlurker are you Dominic Cummings?

And, have you been drinking?

Ashamed of being British?
You see all those things you listed as your “why o why’s”...1st world problems.
Why don’t you move to one of those 3rd world countries and take on citizenship there? I’m originally from one of them, where the government tells the people with no food and no water and no electricity to go on enforced lock down, with severe beatings by police if they violate it. You do don’t know you’re born!

Im not ashamed to be British but i do see your point about whether the government could have handled things differently and stopped football matches, concerts etc sooner, monitored flights more closely etc .
My family have had a virus , possibly/ probably covid but we weren't tested .DC developed dry coughs the week before lockdown, at the time schools were still open and herd immunity was the buzzword, dont hear politicians saying herd
Immunity anymore.
And yes after watching panorama i do think the government f**d up the PPE ordering.

I've been ashamed to be British for years. When you see the "Brits abroad ". And then brexit vitriol against all non Brits. And now our simply awful response to covid. It's embarrassing seeing the way the foreign press are empathetic towards us while reporting our plight honestly whereas our own press are governments own propaganda.

As Zhou Enlai said about the French Revolution "it's too early to tell" is the government's response is right or not.

USA deaths aren't jut dependent on population, though. Population density isnt't as uniform as ours, so stats are more variable (look how low cases are in the northest of England for a les extreme version of the variance). Also, some state governors are more proactive than others.

That's sad I'm not ashamed to be British ever we've brought so much to the world and have alot to be proud of ! I find it really disrespectful when people say that ! People literally die trying to get to this country because of all it offers and you completely take it for granted 🙄

"@yesterdayschild*

I live in the US. We were completely unprepared, yet I'm not ashamed to be American. Even if Trump is POTUS. It is what it is.
Neither of our governments were "on the ball". However, I believe that most people really are doing their best.(There are exceptions...).
The country where this originated is not known for being transparent, sadly. And our leadership was focused on other, more immediate things.
80% of people in my state/country/town are being safe, without going overboard. Can't do anything about that 20%.
The only thing I'd be embarrassed about is neighbors/people tattling on each other.
So don't feel shamed. I have been to Britain twice and it was beautiful, wonderful, and I was treated so kindly!
And your spelling is so elegant = "colour," "favourite," etc. Yummy.

I've been ashamed to be British for years. When you see the "Brits abroad ". And then brexit vitriol against all non Brits
Agree.

Spot on about Germany. They acknowledge and analyse their past mistakes and endeavour not to repeat them. Uk seems to want to just ignore them!

I honestly love Germany. I've worked there several times, and for a German company and have many German colleagues. I think it can be one of the better places to live.
But it's not a utopia, and the people aren't all happy, perfect little idealists.
There's a huge far right movement, it's not even hidden or controlled in many areas. There was even a brewery selling nazi themed beer openly recently.

There are things that make me ashamed, though - shipping billions of arms to Saudi during the corona outbreak (hardly reported on), the brainless louts swilling lager in Spain in the middle of the epidemic, etc.

The UK is a wonderful country. I didn't agree with lockdown not being voluntary but on the whole we are managing fine. If people don't like the UK they can emigrate. I am sure we can manage without them and they might find other countries more to their taste. We have more than enough people here already.

Xenia you didn't agree with lockdown not being voluntary? Can't you see that's an oxymoron?

We have more than enough people here already.

Perhaps you could explain then why eastern european fruit pickers are being flown into the country and the NHS is currently indebted to foreign healthcare workers saving British lives?