Do you think things are opening too fast?

[onestepat]

My friend has just said she's not rushing into anything /going anywhere for the rest of the year.
Do you think Lockdown is over too fast ?

Absolutely agree with everyone saying that it is not an 'economy v lives' dichotomy, but I would go further. It is not only about people having to work to keep a roof over their head and food on the table.
Enough of us have to work if we want a society with health care free at the point of need and free education for our children. We will lose that if it is not paid for through our taxes.
Poverty kills, and we have known that for a very long time, but even those privileged enough not to be facing poverty presumably value health care and education.
Life is not and never has been safe but until Covid we still mostly went about our lives regardless of the risks to our health of poor diets, drinking, smoking, air pollution, obesity, and all the lifestyle-caused illnesses of the global North, accidents etc etc. There has always been a balance between risk and benefit and Covid is not the only risk, or anything like the main risk to life at the moment.

people are so greedy and can't do without buying stuff

Do you not pay for food, internet access, utilities or rent, or own any clothing, furniture, toiletries, medicines, electronic devices or other items? Or is it just other people who are greedy because they 'can't do without buying things'?

I'm interested to hear your plan for government funding of public services without any income tax as well. Unless you expect teachers and nurses to work for free

Great posts from iamapixie and Icedpurple and others, but I fear that those with entrenched “economy vs lives” views will not be open to your excellent and well reasoned arguments

Ha Ha, government funding for NHS and education, now i know you're taking the piss, what funding, they cut it all.

Ha Ha, government funding for NHS and education, now i know you're taking the piss, what funding, they cut it all

They cut it all? All of it? Really?

So are schools and hospitals being privately funded now? And if they are, then where is that money coming from other than 'the economy'?

The economy IS human lives.

How is medical treatment for Covid and non Covid paid for if people don’t pay taxes?

I believe the science not the self-serving tories.

It doesn’t really matter what you believe, neither you nor that scientist have been elected to run the country. Of course it’s a political decision, that’s what governments do. There are more than scientific issues around Covid to take account of now.

People who are unhappy with the measures can stay locked up. Let everyone else get on with their lives which includes living with and managing the risk of the virus.

Yes. X

IcedPurple

I know hardly anyone who pays tax, they don't earn enough, I've not earned enough since the 80's.
Plus most people who earn enough have been paying their taxes due to wfh.
The economy is only important, because we live in a capitalist society. The only thing people haven't been able to do is go to pubs and other leisure activities.
You can buy whatever you want online, hence the economy hasn't been affected, much.

Some people would like to stay home (on furlough obvs) but happy for others to still have to work so they can get the services and stuff they need i.e. Doctors and nurses, supermarket staff, delivery drivers, teachers, postmen, pharmacists etc. You cant go forever without needing to buy something so i assume you think the amazon man is ok to work. You will want your gas and electric so people keeping that running can work. Most importantly broadband so you can continue to prophesise the second wave on mumsnet... Essential! As long as its not actually you that has to go

You can buy whatever you want online, hence the economy hasn't been affected, much

Britain's economy slumped by a quarter over the coronavirus lockdown, according to the Office for National Statistics

I know hardly anyone who pays tax, they don't earn enough, I've not earned enough since the 80's

Well, happily for you other people are earning and paying enough taxes to subsidise you.

Plus most people who earn enough have been paying their taxes due to wfh

"Most" people who earn 'enough' WFH? Don't be daft!

The economy is only important, because we live in a capitalist society

OK, I think we're starting to get an idea of your agenda now...

the economy hasn't been affected, much

No, we're only about to enter into the biggest depression in decades.

You can't really be taken seriously, can you?

Compared to other recessions, black line.

It’s unusual as forced suppression but there’s no doubt impact has been severe.

Now spending has to start otherwise irreparable.

Everyone would be adversely affected even those not paying tax. Especially those.

@Devlesko you know hardly anyone who earns over 12500 a year?
You haven’t earned over 12500 a year for 30 years?
Wow. You don’t know anyone who works full time then? As even minimum wage, full time, you’d pay tax.

people would like to stay home (on furlough obvs) but happy for others to still have to work so they can get the services and stuff they need i.e. Doctors and nurses, supermarket staff, delivery drivers, teachers, postmen, pharmacists etc.

This is my DF. "Everyone should be at home!" he trumpets. I point out that he'd starve to death and the electric and gas would soon go off and the water supply would fail etc, and he gets very angry and says well no of course delivery people and food production and utilities workers and HCPs and the emergency service and social care workers and so on shouldn't be at home. Just everyone else. For as long as it takes to get a vaccine. The man is mad.

Of course I'm serious, Amazon are advertising for drivers, people are buying as usual.
I've heard numerous in life and on here say they are treating themselves with money saved from childcare and commuting, and I don't blame them.
People are buying and will continue to, unless of course they lose their job.
It's all a smoke screen to get you all out working and spending, and guinea pigs. "Oh, look at the poor economy" "Get to work, risk your lives, proles"

The economy is only important, because we live in a capitalist society

Hello, I am unfashionably socialist and I would like to point out that the economy is always important whether you are living under capitalism, socialism, feudalism or any other system.

Develeko and the 25% drop?

Marsha

25% drop, ah, will soon be made up when the masses hit the pubs. I wouldn't worry to much, but I'm not a big consumer, so doesn't matter to me.

When will people realise that lockdown was NOT to stop people getting it (including the shielded) it was to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed. The peak has gone, the NHS was not overwhelmed. Job done.

It hopefully will bounce back somewhat otherwise the furloughed are about to revert to unemployed.

I say that as someone who's nan died in a care home from covid by the way and a mum who is shielding.

Definitely too fast.

@Devlesko people buying crap on amazon because they are bored is not the same as the economy being okay
People are losing their jobs. Even huge chains like Debenhams, Frankies and Bennys, Monsoon have not been able to reopen all or any of their stores. I dont have many good words about the government but they have paid peoples wages for months. They cannot do that indefinitely!

I've never shopped at those places and those that have will find somewhere else to shop, we have more choice than ever.
I'm sure staff will find jobs elsewhere, maybe as Amazon delivery, or supermarkets, cleaning, call centres etc.
Lots of jobs going atm in this work.