So trials of new tests in Manchester (Johnsons 100 million bullshit) have shown tat it identifies 46.7% of people with the virus. Thus is worse than no test at all. People who are covid positive are walking around thinking they are ok, thus spreading the disease.
Christmas. Should not be seen as some magical event. For many families it is an ordeal. I absolutely love cooking for 12 and having the family around. But it will not happen this year as that would be irresponsible. I believe the government should add a day to either or both of the May Bank holidays, or create a new Summer Solstice Bank Holiday, so that people can meet up outside when it will hopefully be safety do so. It would be a significant boost to the economy when hopefully safety do so. All this bull about preserving Christmas is dangerous; if the rates are high in mid-December it will be too late for the government to do anything about it as people will have made arrangements (well those who trust the government.
Instead of criticising The BBC all the time the government should be subsidising some decent night time tele to compensate for the lockdown. How about showing lower league football – clubs would benefit and without being rude to clubs like Brighton and Burnley – I think there are many matches which could be equally attractive. Do deals with Sky and Netflix for decent films, i.e. tell them to put on free to view or be fined.
American election. To be honest, a concern. Rural vs urban; white vs black; young vs old; The future over the next couple of years does not look good. Whoever wins will have not only a divided Congress. But one where opinions have become polarised. It would be interesting to do a poll of how many Americans would change their vote between Democrat and Republican. I suspect this is reducing all the time. The red/blue state maps are misleading as it is much more complicated as stated above.
I am guessing here – but does it work the same way in America, as here – i.e. London generates the highest gnp per person? As tax levels are lower, I guess not? Although California and New York and Illinois(Chicago) probably contribute more to the US economy than (OK I just checked it out – NY and California provide 20% of tax revenue with Florida and Texas doing another 14%, add in Illinois and 5 states account for 40% of wealth in USA). And then add in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts and it is over 50%.
So 8 states provide over 50% of income, but have 16% of votes in House of Representatives! Similar figures can be done on population – which might be a bit more of a liberal democratic view! But with the Supreme Court stitched up for the foreseeable future it looks like the USA is stuck with their crap system and a divided society.
As views become more polarised it seems likely that The USA might one day begin to break up? As stated above, will California and NY be happy to support and subsidise smaller states? Or will ±California do a BREXIT? I am sure it could survive very successfully without being part of the USA. NY is geographically more linked to surrounding states than California, but the original 13 states together? And then maybe the southern states (although I think most folks have moved on from the Civil War!).