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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

OK, this isn't funny any more. Where's the army?

999 replies

Orangejuicemarathoner · 27/09/2021 18:53

One quarter of staff and students late to school this morning, and 10% didn't get there at all. It has been announced that, excepting physical disability, any student within 4 miles or adult within 6 miles will be expected to walk in, but Its expected to be worse tomorrow with a good chance we will be closed by Wednesday.

AA reporting over 100 "incidents" on the road within a 10 mile radius of the school - mostly roads blocked, and mostly by queues outside petrol stations.

I struggled to get home by bike, because of the chaos on the roads - I got off my bike and walked several miles of it.

I called in at a supermarket on the way home. The shelves were more than three quarters empty. No bread or milk. So I'm sitting here drinking black tea planning rice for dinner instead of cheese on toast.

I know its not a catastrophe that I spent an extra hour getting home, and dont have milk in my tea, but what is that saying about the state we are in?

AIBU to say the army should be called in. What have we got an army for? Surely, an organisation of thousands of fit, capable, organised individuals, with vehicles and capacity and skills in logistics is exactly what we need to be utilised in this situation right here right now.

PS, is it ok to feed dog food to cats? does anyone know?

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 29/09/2021 11:48

There isn’t the same shortage of tanker drivers as there is HGV

Skyrocketing demand created it pretty much - 500% over weekend

It’s understandable yes but not due to shortage of fuel or drivers even

julieca · 29/09/2021 11:49

People are acting rationally. And as soon as fuel shortages were mentioned by the Road Haulage Association, then people were going to buy petrol. Most people need petrol to get to work.

DottyHarmer · 29/09/2021 11:56

Pleased to report I was able to fill up this morning… one pump open.

However, I was Hmm at the people before me (the display was tilted such that it was clear to see) who spent £10 and £18. Of course there will be queues and running out if idiots are constantly topping up.

julieca · 29/09/2021 12:01

Maybe that is all they could afford to put in an empty tank?

antoniawhite · 29/09/2021 12:05

Or maybe they thought it would be selfish to take more than they would need for a while. £10 could easily be enough for someone who just needs to make a couple of short journeys.

DottyHarmer · 29/09/2021 12:12

If the people putting in small amounts were poor…. then one should surely rethink driving an Audi TT….

LakieLady · 29/09/2021 12:17

Well, I don't if it's the army but Sky News tells me that "the Government's Reserve Tanker Fleet" will be delivering fuel this afternoon.

I'd be interested to know how big this "Reserve Tanker Fleet" is.

DameFanny · 29/09/2021 12:47

Lorry automation may be a while off but for years the job's been paying less and less, trucker facilities have been closing and not replaced, and it's still physically demanding work that yet makes it hard to stay physically fit, keeps you away from a family and makes it hard to eat healthy food.

And it costs a fortune to train. Yay, let's all be HGV drivers...

Biddie191 · 29/09/2021 13:02

What have we got an army for?
Well one thing is for sure - they are not primarily there to fix government/transport industry screw ups on the domestic front
From the MOD website:
“ The British Army has many uses, though it is primarily a war-fighting organisation to protect the nation and, if required, fight the nation's enemies with absolute commitment.”
Everything is secondary to that.

Does the current government constitute 'the nation's enemies'?

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 29/09/2021 13:06

@Coogee

This crisis is not entirely the governments fault it’s also down to a the HGV industry

There's more to it than that. The general population should shoulder their share the blame.

Without panic buying there wouldn't be a crisis.

and some transparency about what is happening at Stanlow oil refinery would help. It was "on the brink of collapse" on Sunday - then nothing at all until "breathing space" was mentioned in this morning's Times
OP posts:
Backwaterjunction · 29/09/2021 13:10

What is the ARMY for if it’s not to see you get your milk

Errrr defence of the country?

Blossomtoes · 29/09/2021 14:17

@Backwaterjunction

What is the ARMY for if it’s not to see you get your milk

Errrr defence of the country?

Exactly. What a ridiculously spoilt society we’ve become.
Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 29/09/2021 14:24

@Backwaterjunction

What is the ARMY for if it’s not to see you get your milk

Errrr defence of the country?

I will say it again.

No milk because I can't afford it - fine

No milk because I am living in a country without the infrastructure and economy on which to base the expectation of a reliable supply chain - fine

No milk because the UK supply chains, in 2021, are no longer reliable and cannot be depended on --not fine AT ALL

It isn't a question of whether I do or don't have milk. It is a question of how and when did our infrastructure fail to the extent that I have gone through my entire store of cat food and can't feed my cats, the bus I rely on to get to work as a teacher isn't running because of lack of fuel, AND I have to drink my tea black?

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 29/09/2021 14:26

What a ridiculously spoilt society we’ve become

yes, we have been extremely fortunate.

But we had a right to expect that good fortune to continue - there was no reason why it should have been thrown away for nothing

OP posts:
julieca · 29/09/2021 14:31

I don't think expecting to be able to buy petrol and food in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is a sign of a spoilt society.

antoniawhite · 29/09/2021 14:34

@julieca

I don't think expecting to be able to buy petrol and food in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is a sign of a spoilt society.
Nor do I.
Blossomtoes · 29/09/2021 14:34

@julieca

I don't think expecting to be able to buy petrol and food in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is a sign of a spoilt society.
It’s the very definition of it.
antoniawhite · 29/09/2021 14:37

Very different not being able to buy food and petrol because of an avoidable natural disaster, for example, as opposed to not bein able to buy it because things have been woefully mismanaged by a government that has been warned over and over again. In the latter instance people have a right to be a tad peeved.

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 29/09/2021 14:49

@antoniawhite

Very different not being able to buy food and petrol because of an avoidable natural disaster, for example, as opposed to not bein able to buy it because things have been woefully mismanaged by a government that has been warned over and over again. In the latter instance people have a right to be a tad peeved.
Yep

Im not particularly affected yet…but i can understand others peoples frustration with what is happening

Nearly47 · 29/09/2021 15:02

There is no arguing with crazy. Obviously it is ridiculous to say people are spoilt because due to government incopetence we are running out of basic suplies.

Pliudev · 29/09/2021 15:13

Are we at war? Who is the army presently defending us from? Careful, because, since modern warfare becomes increasingly reliant on technology and future wars may be fought by computers and drones, surely the numbers employed in the armed services may be reduced even further unless they can adapt to the needs of society.

julieca · 29/09/2021 15:19

I don't think anyone joins the armed forces to step in when the government is incompetent.

Blossomtoes · 29/09/2021 15:23

@Nearly47

There is no arguing with crazy. Obviously it is ridiculous to say people are spoilt because due to government incopetence we are running out of basic suplies.
Nobody said people were spoilt. Society most definitely is. Is it government incompetence or panic buying and greed?
GreatPotato · 29/09/2021 15:26

Amazing how many people think this isn't what the Army is for when their own website and their recruitment literature specifically states that dealing with a crisis at home is exactly what the Army is for Grin

Blossomtoes · 29/09/2021 15:27

@GreatPotato

Amazing how many people think this isn't what the Army is for when their own website and their recruitment literature specifically states that dealing with a crisis at home is exactly what the Army is for Grin
It’s not a crisis.