AndrewJB wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:53 am
The Chief Medical Officer didn't tell the government what to do, but set out possible ways forward along with their likely consequences. The government then chose the path - the decision probably balanced against economic impact and other considerations. Your idea that our science (which many say we are a leader in) was
different to that of other European countries doesn't stand up well against
my idea that the science was the same, but the government chose a
different path to those other European countries. For one thing we have Johnson's speech from
last week,
when he said many of our loved ones might be taken from us too early. This statement - along with the fact the government hadn't closed down public places and restricted travel, and wasn't testing everyone - suggests that the government chose to let the pandemic run its course, rather than intervene to save lives. This article from Sunday backs up my assertion:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... HuBc6MbxrA
The epidemiologist thought the UK government position (not the position of the chief medical examiner) was a satire.
Over to you.
Andrew, you're oh so quick to dismiss others if their opinion is reflected in certain " right wing newspapers , right wing media" as you like to put it . Does it
ever, ever occur to you , that, the newspapers and media that
you choose to read , are helping you to form a less objective opinion than you would otherwise have. Had you not read them in the first place?
It doesn't, does it.
I've highlighted your references to "other European countries"
Other European countries have different , unique, needs, strengths, weaknesses, demographics, infrastructure, resources. An example being that the Austrian and Slovenian governments closed their borders Tuesday last week. Where as, the German government didn't do it till Monday this week. Almost a full week behind. There's clearly not a one size fits all approach to tackling this horrendous epidemic.
Your claim that "the science was the same" is fundamentally wrong. The modelling is based on a fast changing , and , very fluid situation.
The variables will be changing by the hour. Importantly, initially, the information on which it was based, was coming from China. More recently it has been coming from Italy. The more information, the more accurate the advice should be.
I notice that the author of your column in the , let's say, less than politically neutral Guardian. Is
not part of the UK government's advisory team. Therefore, he will
definitely not be privy to information regarding, supply chains, infrastructure strengths and weaknesses, armed forces deployment availability, potential reserves capabilities, medical supplies, medical resources, staffing, the very real potential for civil unrest, how to mitigate it and just how quickly this can all be actioned.
Neither do
you, nor I.
I notice the column was published on Sunday. Its reasonable to assume he wrote the piece on Saturday 14th. In an extremely fast changing situation like the one the government faces. The
same fast changing situation that
any government would now be facing. A hell of a lot can happen in an hour, should fresh information come to light, never mind a day or two days!
Which brings me back to this
The one and only reason the PM has changed the government's approach. Is because his advice has now changed.
As a socialist, you'll , no doubt, be familiar with the words of John Maynard Keynes -
"When the facts change, I change my mind - what do you do, sir?"
Whether you like it or not. You have to put your trust in the government, and , more importantly, their medical advisers. Boris Johnson is not a medical expert. Jeremy Corbyn is not a medical expert. Had Corbyn been PM he would've had to seek advice from the same team of specialists.
I genuinely hope that the course of action we take , saves as many lives as is humanly possible. At this moment in time ,whether the government that takes that action , is Red or Blue, is utterly irrelevant. This is absolutely no time for petty point scoring and irrelevant tribal, partisan politics.
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