A sensible employer will be doing all this anyway, because working at lower efficiency because of Covid precautions is better than being shut down because all your staff are in quarantine. But as we all know, "sensible" isn't always available.
And let me add, because it's an important part of the puzzle, not allowing people who are at significant risk of having Covid-19 to come to work. This is a necessary, but not sufficient, part of the control process (not sufficient, because so many people are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic that you won't catch everyone.)
This is true. Running the country is a full-time job. And it's not like there's anyone else making the effort. The Cabinet, Tory Party and Civil Service won't run themselves!
By contrast, our own conservative Prime Minister here in Australia was given a good kicking by the media for being on holiday in Hawaii while bushfires were raging, and has been conspicuous by his presence at the podium during this crisis. Meanwhile, the premier of Victoria has just racked up his 50th straight day of at least hour-long press conferences as his state is in lockdown, and the NSW premier is not far behind in terms of daily briefings.
The link takes you to a sarcastic Guardian piece about the PM who likes to hide and holiday.
Engaging in superciliousness while ignoring/evading more serious issues is certainly an approach - but one that is out of kilter with the systematic corruption being observed. It is in large part responsible for Johnson being in the position he is and and serves to dissipate criticism. As Coe says:
"These days, every politician is a laughing-stock, and the laughter which occasionally used to illuminate the dark corners of the political world with dazzling, unexpected shafts of hilarity has become an unthinking reflex on our part, a tired Pavlovian reaction to situations that are too difficult or too depressing to think about clearly. Johnson seems to know this: he seems to know that the laughter that surrounds him is a substitute for thought rather than its conduit, and that puts him at a wonderful advantage"
It's supposed to work the other way round: the satire is supposed to be byproduct of the outrage generated by the exposure of the truth. I agree that this mechanism is malfunctioing at present, and indeed that this malfunction is largely responsible for Johnson's current position. However, the problem is not with the satirists; it's with their audience: we seem to have forgotten to read the truth behind the satire, and to act on that truth. That's where the change is needed. And it's needed NOW.
By contrast, our own conservative Prime Minister here in Australia was given a good kicking by the media for being on holiday in Hawaii while bushfires were raging, and has been conspicuous by his presence at the podium during this crisis. Meanwhile, the premier of Victoria has just racked up his 50th straight day of at least hour-long press conferences as his state is in lockdown, and the NSW premier is not far behind in terms of daily briefings.
And, the First Minister of Scotland continues daily updates and briefings (though, I don't think she does every briefing, certainly most of them - and all of the one's I've seen, which tend to be the ones with a major announcement). Stopping daily briefings gives the impression that the pandemic is over and there's nothing more that the public needs to be told.
By contrast, our own conservative Prime Minister here in Australia was given a good kicking by the media for being on holiday in Hawaii while bushfires were raging, and has been conspicuous by his presence at the podium during this crisis. Meanwhile, the premier of Victoria has just racked up his 50th straight day of at least hour-long press conferences as his state is in lockdown, and the NSW premier is not far behind in terms of daily briefings.
And, the First Minister of Scotland continues daily updates and briefings (though, I don't think she does every briefing, certainly most of them - and all of the one's I've seen, which tend to be the ones with a major announcement). Stopping daily briefings gives the impression that the pandemic is over and there's nothing more that the public needs to be told.
And the tories are demanding she stop because they're "politicised" i.e. they're showing what an inept box of corroded tools the Westminster government are.
However, the problem is not with the satirists; it's with their audience: we seem to have forgotten to read the truth behind the satire, and to act on that truth.
I think the blame lies with both and the elevation in the media of those without much skin in the game (in this case a minor aristo writing under a pseudonym).
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
I seem to recall a brief mention on the news that the Lord Protector, his holiday cottage having been discovered, had cut short his break from his labours.
So - where is he now? I think we should be told, so as to avoid the place...
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
I seem to recall a brief mention on the news that the Lord Protector, his holiday cottage having been discovered, had cut short his break from his labours.
So - where is he now? I think we should be told, so as to avoid the place...
Obviously, in Greece at his dad's 80th birthday party.
Just a reminder that when the re-opening of schools was originally mooted, Johnson stated that this wouldn't happen until R was well under 1 and a proper track and trace system was in place (including a proper tracking app).
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
Oh look, another ridiculous comment
Is that really the best you can do ? You really need to stop thinking that you are infallible This is serious well intentioned advice.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
What part of 'He wants the privileges but not the hard bits' do you find difficult to comprehend?
You have an open public record of his failures - eg not attending COBRA meetings when the pandemic was already clearly a crisis, absenting from public briefings (unlike Nicola Sturgeon), continuing to holiday while the education system goes into meltdown - I mean what would convince you that this is someone who is incapable of stepping up to the responsibilities of his office?
It's really very obvious and straight forward. Imagine you have a job you love. You've craved it all your life. You adore everything about it.
Now, I give you that job. What do you do?
I'll tell you what you'd do. You'd turn up.
Currently, in the middle of about two dozen domestic and international crises, no one actually knows where the fuck Johnson is. He's probably not even in the country.
This is not analysis, it's not opinion, it's not something I read on the back of a cereal packet. It's straightforward fact.
Johnson loves being called Prime Minister. Actually being Prime Minister? Where the everloving fuck is he? His government has sat back and watched an island nation lose sixty-odd thousand people to a virus, crashed the economy, fucked over an entire cohort of schoolchildren, sent the universities into meltdown, panicked over being swamped by literally dozens of refugees, and that's just last week. I'm tempted to check my back garden in case he's accidentally pitched his tent in it (as if he knows how to pitch a tent, the insufferable cockwomble). Or my fridge.
Does he want the job? Of course he does. Does he want to do the job? Of course he doesn't. He never does. Everything he ever touched - employment, relationships, politics, simply can't put the work in. Tosser.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
Oh look, another ridiculous comment
Is that really the best you can do ? You really need to stop thinking that you are infallible This is serious well intentioned advice.
I don't, nor have I ever, thought my opinions infallible. I do however wish you could tell the difference between an opinion and a very simple fact that my analysis (whether it is right or wrong) is not in any way the same thing as 'making stuff up.' I also wish you didn't think that something couldn't be true because the PM (who's a proven liar) never said it...
Hence your comment is ridiculous.
As to my analysis: @Doc Tor has explained the reasoning very well.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, I will give it all the consideration it deserves.
AFZ
P.s. look up Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and learn from his wisdom.
I seem to recall a brief mention on the news that the Lord Protector, his holiday cottage having been discovered, had cut short his break from his labours.
So - where is he now? I think we should be told, so as to avoid the place...
Obviously, in Greece at his dad's 80th birthday party.
Well, I wondered that - will he have to go into quarantine when he returns?
I'm sure if he is in Greece and the data the UK government are using to decide on quarantine say that Greece should be added to the quarantine list this won't happen until after Mr Johnson has returned from his holiday. After all, he wouldn't let the welfare of the British people get in the way of his personal life ... not functionally different from waiting to call the lockdown until after the baby shower.
Either that or he'll come back when everyone else is quarantining, and make up some excuse that he claims means he doesn't need to. A press conference in the garden at No 10 would be a nice touch to make sure he can get away with it.
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
What part of 'He wants the privileges but not the hard bits' do you find difficult to comprehend?
You have an open public record of his failures - eg not attending COBRA meetings when the pandemic was already clearly a crisis, absenting from public briefings (unlike Nicola Sturgeon), continuing to holiday while the education system goes into meltdown - I mean what would convince you that this is someone who is incapable of stepping up to the responsibilities of his office?
I understand the allegations but I do not accept the verdict. Am I not allowed to do that ?
It's stunning really but I keep coming back to the conclusion that Johnson just doesn't want to be Prime Minister.
It's all a bit sad really but we are all victims.
Say what you like about May - and I could (and did) say plenty - at least she wanted to do the job!
AFZ
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
I have never heard him say that.
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
Oh look, another ridiculous comment
Is that really the best you can do ? You really need to stop thinking that you are infallible This is serious well intentioned advice.
I don't, nor have I ever, thought my opinions infallible. I do however wish you could tell the difference between an opinion and a very simple fact that my analysis (whether it is right or wrong) is not in any way the same thing as 'making stuff up.' I also wish you didn't think that something couldn't be true because the PM (who's a proven liar) never said it...
Hence your comment is ridiculous.
As to my analysis: @Doc Tor has explained the reasoning very well.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, I will give it all the consideration it deserves.
AFZ
P.s. look up Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and learn from his wisdom.
I accept that I was wrong about the 'making staff up' It was an exaggeration. I do not accept the rest. I also apologise for having my own opinion.
Comments
https://tinyurl.com/yxg6kcvr
The link takes you to a sarcastic Guardian piece about the PM who likes to hide and holiday.
And let me add, because it's an important part of the puzzle, not allowing people who are at significant risk of having Covid-19 to come to work. This is a necessary, but not sufficient, part of the control process (not sufficient, because so many people are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic that you won't catch everyone.)
Absolutely nailed it.
My favourite line:
"Mind of a show pony, body of a Shetland pony."
This is true. Running the country is a full-time job. And it's not like there's anyone else making the effort. The Cabinet, Tory Party and Civil Service won't run themselves!
You cannot be serious. If he did not want to do the job, he would resign.
He wants everything about being Prime Minister except the actual work.
Engaging in superciliousness while ignoring/evading more serious issues is certainly an approach - but one that is out of kilter with the systematic corruption being observed. It is in large part responsible for Johnson being in the position he is and and serves to dissipate criticism. As Coe says:
"These days, every politician is a laughing-stock, and the laughter which occasionally used to illuminate the dark corners of the political world with dazzling, unexpected shafts of hilarity has become an unthinking reflex on our part, a tired Pavlovian reaction to situations that are too difficult or too depressing to think about clearly. Johnson seems to know this: he seems to know that the laughter that surrounds him is a substitute for thought rather than its conduit, and that puts him at a wonderful advantage"
And the tories are demanding she stop because they're "politicised" i.e. they're showing what an inept box of corroded tools the Westminster government are.
I have never heard him say that.
I think the blame lies with both and the elevation in the media of those without much skin in the game (in this case a minor aristo writing under a pseudonym).
In this respect he much resembles Donald Trump, who wanted to be elected president far more than he wanted to be president.
It reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons in which Bart gets elected class captain because c'mon, it's a popularity contest.
Actually doing the work? Nope. You’ll find them on the golf course or in a country house somewhere.
Yet people continue to support them. It’s utterly baffling.
(Cue for someone to come along and tell us that It Is All The Will Of The People...)
So, coz (the oh so honest) Mr Johnson has never said it, it can't be true?
Nevermind that it's self-evident.
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
He was the same as Mayor of London.
AFZ
You don't like him and I don't like him. The diference is that I don't just make things up to suit my agenda.
Hope the brainwashing wears off eventually.
So - where is he now? I think we should be told, so as to avoid the place...
What a ridiculous comment.
OK. Now how about you explaining to me why it is ridiculous.
That's much more Fun...
Obviously, in Greece at his dad's 80th birthday party.
Not that anyone would notice, of course...
Perhaps the Lord Protector is lying low IYSWIM simply because he cannot think of a fib big enough to explain away his earlier assertion.
What on earth makes you think he'll bother? We've always been at war with East Asia.
We don't have a Lord Protector. We have a Monarch and a Prime Minister and leader of a party elected with a large majority of seats
Ok. One step at a time.
I presume - please correct me if I'm wrong - that your 'making stuff up' referred to my analysis of Johnson's character, personality and behaviour in the specific comment I made; namely "He doesn't actually want to do the job."
The key concept here is analysis. You may disagree with my analysis, it is fair to say that in this specific comment, I gave very little justification for my assertion. Mostly because I have on several previous occasions. However to characterise it as something 'made up' is just silly.
Your counterpoint was that my analysis was wrong because 'he has never said so.' If I am right, and I can explain my reasoning further if you wish, but if I am right, it does not follow logically that he would say so. For a start, it's debatable whether he has enough self-awareness. There are lots of good reasons why he would never say it, despite it being true. Moreover, he is a man who is deeply (and demonstrably) dishonest.
Hence, I stand by this:
He loves the title and the attention and the place in the history books. However he still has no vision for what he wants to do and has thus far shown no inclination to doing any of the actual work of being the nation's chief-executive.
And I stand by saying that your comment was ridiculous because a) you totally ignored, rather than answered my point and b) you asserted that I was making stuff up, when that's demonstrably not what I am/was doing. Feel free to disagree with my analysis but at least understand the difference.
AFZ
*sigh*
Thank you for trying but you have failed to convince me. Everything you say boils down to your opinion.
Why do I bother?
I was not (in this situation) trying to convince you of my analysis. I was pointing out where you were factually wrong.
Learn the difference.
AFZ
You're assuming capacities not in evidence.
Why do you bother ? I don't know. You must learn to accept that your opinions are not infallible
I have never voted for Johnson. I don't like him and I don't trust him. However, I have yet to be convinced that he doesn't want the job.
Never the less, he gives his honest opinion.
Oh look, another ridiculous comment
Is that really the best you can do ? You really need to stop thinking that you are infallible This is serious well intentioned advice.
What part of 'He wants the privileges but not the hard bits' do you find difficult to comprehend?
You have an open public record of his failures - eg not attending COBRA meetings when the pandemic was already clearly a crisis, absenting from public briefings (unlike Nicola Sturgeon), continuing to holiday while the education system goes into meltdown - I mean what would convince you that this is someone who is incapable of stepping up to the responsibilities of his office?
It's really very obvious and straight forward. Imagine you have a job you love. You've craved it all your life. You adore everything about it.
Now, I give you that job. What do you do?
I'll tell you what you'd do. You'd turn up.
Currently, in the middle of about two dozen domestic and international crises, no one actually knows where the fuck Johnson is. He's probably not even in the country.
This is not analysis, it's not opinion, it's not something I read on the back of a cereal packet. It's straightforward fact.
Johnson loves being called Prime Minister. Actually being Prime Minister? Where the everloving fuck is he? His government has sat back and watched an island nation lose sixty-odd thousand people to a virus, crashed the economy, fucked over an entire cohort of schoolchildren, sent the universities into meltdown, panicked over being swamped by literally dozens of refugees, and that's just last week. I'm tempted to check my back garden in case he's accidentally pitched his tent in it (as if he knows how to pitch a tent, the insufferable cockwomble). Or my fridge.
Does he want the job? Of course he does. Does he want to do the job? Of course he doesn't. He never does. Everything he ever touched - employment, relationships, politics, simply can't put the work in. Tosser.
I don't, nor have I ever, thought my opinions infallible. I do however wish you could tell the difference between an opinion and a very simple fact that my analysis (whether it is right or wrong) is not in any way the same thing as 'making stuff up.' I also wish you didn't think that something couldn't be true because the PM (who's a proven liar) never said it...
Hence your comment is ridiculous.
As to my analysis: @Doc Tor has explained the reasoning very well.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, I will give it all the consideration it deserves.
AFZ
P.s. look up Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and learn from his wisdom.
Either that or he'll come back when everyone else is quarantining, and make up some excuse that he claims means he doesn't need to. A press conference in the garden at No 10 would be a nice touch to make sure he can get away with it.
I accept that I was wrong about the 'making staff up' It was an exaggeration. I do not accept the rest. I also apologise for having my own opinion.